Open (More or Less) Post on Covid 26

[ecosophia]

The semi-open posts  I've hosted here on the Covid-19 narrative, the inadequately tested experimental drugs for it, and the whole cascading mess surrounding them have continued to field a very high number of comments, so I'm opening yet another space for discussion. The rules are the same as before: 

1. If you plan on parroting the party line of the medical industry and its paid shills, please go away. This is a place for people to talk openly, honestly, and freely about their concerns that the party line in question is dangerously flawed and that actions being pushed by the medical industry et al. are causing injury and death. It is not a place for you to dismiss those concerns. Anyone who wants to hear the official story and the arguments in favor of it can find those on hundreds of thousands of websites.

2. If you plan on insisting that the current situation is the result of a deliberate plot by some villainous group of people or other, please go away. There are tens of thousands of websites currently rehashing various conspiracy theories about the Covid-19 outbreak and the vaccines. This is not one of them. What we're exploring is the likelihood that what's going on is the product of the same arrogance, incompetence, and corruption that the medical industry and its tame politicians have displayed so abundantly in recent decades. That possibility deserves a space of its own for discussion, and that's what we're doing here. 
 
3. If you plan on using rent-a-troll derailing or disruption tactics, please go away. I'm quite familiar with the standard tactics used by troll farms to disrupt online forums, and am ready, willing, and able -- and in fact quite eager -- to ban people permanently for engaging in them here. Oh, and I also lurk on other Covid-19 vaccine skeptic blogs, so I'm likely to notice when the same posts are showing up on more than one venue. 

4. If you don't believe in treating people with common courtesy, please go away. I have, and enforce, a strict courtesy policy on my blogs and online forums, and this is no exception. The sort of schoolyard bullying that takes place on so many other internet forums will get you deleted and banned here. No, I don't care if you disagree with that: my journal, my rules. 

With that said, as the toll of death and injury from the Covid vaccines mounts steadily upwards and the prime minister of Canada flees into hiding in the face of protests against vaccine mandates, the floor is open for discussion. 

Comments

[open_space]

From a meeting today at work:

"Yeah. Sorry guys, I don't know what's going on it seems I am sick again but I haven't even gone out."

[(Anonymous)]

Frig, man.

I don't wanna clog up the comments with this sort of chronicle, because I could; I could, you know.

But since you mentioned it, just from this week:

"Doc, I got this weird ringing in my ears, it's almost like it's been happening ever since the COVID shot."

"Hey doc, nice to meet ya. Yeah, I just moved here. Yeah, I had a heart attack last year, 4 days after my COVID shot. Whaddya think" - pressing me to see what kind of person I am - "ya think I should get the booster? I'm kinda leery."

"Oh I just can't believe it" - this from a bubbly 24 year old young lady - "can you believe it, I JUST GOT my booster, and THEN I got COVID!! I didn't think this could happen, please tell me it can't happen again in the future!"

"I got this weird rash, it started before Christmas, right after I got my booster, I can't even sleep, I suppose it'll go away, right? Right??"

-Bofur

Retweet from Steve Ludlow

[(Anonymous)]

I thought this was interesting.

Michael Rectenwald, PhD

Neil Young sold 50% interest in his music catalogue to Hipgnosis, which is a billion dollar company which is owned by Blackstone. Blackstone just announced their newest senior advisor is the CEO of Pfizer.

Re: Retweet from Steve Ludlow

[open_space]

I am glad Eric Clapton is releasing protest music again.

[(Anonymous)]

A few updates from someone living in Ottawa:

a) OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) has been called in to assist with maintaining order, and the official reason given was that there aren't enough people available in the local police department to handle this. Of course it's being denied, but the real reason is that a number of Ottawa police officers are joining the protests. OPP is thus being brought in to deal with the possibility of a mass defection of officers from the Ottawa police, which might even be starting. OPP is better payed, funded, and disciplined, so it's less likely to defect, but it's not impossible they too will join, given just how miserable the last couple years have been for them.

b) No one here has ever seen anything quite this large, and while everyone in the media insisted on the weekend it wouldn't last once people needed to go to work Monday, it's still going. There's so much support, much of it from the area, and much of it from across the country, that I doubt it will stop until either force is used or the governments back down.

c) Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, just handed the protesters a massive rhetorical victory by saying we need to let people in Ottawa get on with their lives, that we need to let business open, and that therefore the protests need to stop, because it is not reasonable to expect people to put their lives on hold for an indeterminate period of time.

The True Believers are siding with him, but a large number of people on the fence are looking at this and realizing it applies better to the provincial government's ordered shutdowns than it did to the protesters, who haven't even shut things down for a week yet.

[(Anonymous)]

Apparently the mayor has started calling around to the tow companies. They’ve all said “sorry, we have covid”. 🤣

https://mobile.twitter.com/AlGarciaUSA/status/1488555001463164937

Gathering anecdotal evidence

[kimberlysteele]

From my Facebook group, Speakeasy Illinois. Right now Cook County (Chicago's county) is forcing restaurants to require any diners coming in to show a vaccination card. Restaurant business also seems to be booming in counties surrounding Cook County such as DuPage and Will.

"A stat that a friend gave me... I don't have links to back it up:
The restaurants in Cook County that are disobeying the mandate are seeing a boom in business. Meanwhile, the drop in businesses that are enforcing are between 30% to 80%."

Re: Gathering anecdotal evidence

[(Anonymous)]

If the Cook Co. restaurant doesn’t have to keep photographic or Xerox records of the cards, probably the easiest way to stay in business is to say “Yes, Officer, we asked everybody!”

Princess Cutekitten

FDA FOIA status?

[team10tim]

The FDA was supposed to release 12,000 pages of Pfizer documents yesterday to comply with a court order. I haven't been able to find anything about whether or not they did.

Does anyone know the status?

Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency filled a FOIA and then a lawsuit to compel the FDA to release the Pfizer documents in a timely manner (The FDA asked the court for 75 years to comply) and the first batch of documents was due the end of January. There is nothing in the news or on their website https://phmpt.org/

Does anyone know how or where to check the status?

Thanks,
Tim

Re: FDA FOIA status?

[(Anonymous)]

A federal judge in Texas ruled back in early January that they needed to release the documents over a period of eight months not the 75 years FDA asked for. At that rate most of us will be in our next incarnations before we can see the darn thing. Since then, crickets from what I've been able to determine. So, there's definitely the aroma of eau de rattus floating about, but that's probably not news to anybody.

JLfromNH/Mauve Bilious Groundhog

A Plea to my Left-Leaning Friends

[(Anonymous)]

Lighter on science, heavier on social commentary this week.

http://www.luterra.com/blog/?p=1390

I feel like we're getting to the "fracked natural gas is green energy" stage of science and narrative distortion. Stage 11?

Mark L

Re: A Plea to my Left-Leaning Friends

[(Anonymous)]

Wonderfully well written!

Monochrome Impudent Turtle

[(Anonymous)]

Fellow Canadians: what kinds of plans are you making for the possibility of a serious and ongoing internet disruption? If these protests and the government response follows the standard colour revolution pattern, then the internet will be locked down rather tightly at some point, and as someone who has had internet access my entire life and is finding it hard to figure out how to function without it, I'd like to hear what people are doing to prepare for that.

Internet lock

[(Anonymous)]

I'm going to sit back and enjoy the ride while putting some specific affirmations in my daily ritual. Considering the trucker is generally communicate through their own radio systems, I'm not sure internet shutdown will happen. Shutting down the internet would cause a massive mental health epidemic... People would be held accountable.

[(Anonymous)]

Reported by the Ottawa Citizen this morning:

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/trucker-convoy-shutdown-continues-for-fifth-day-shepherds-of-good-hope-overwhelmed-by-donations

“Meanwhile, donations have flowed into the Shepherds of Good Hope since Saturday when the shelter said some protesters harassed its staff into feeding them for free. So much food has been donated to the Shepherds since then that there’s no more place to store it. 'Your generosity warms our hearts,' the Shepherds of Good Hope tweeted Monday night, noting that more than 10,000 individual donations were received.”

That's hardly the picture of the Canadian people “being shocked and frankly disgusted at protesters stealing food from the homeless” that our fearless leader claims it is. (From 'an undisclosed safe location', that is. He's probably hiding under his bed.) What it does portray is the Canadian people showing overwhelming support for those among them bold enough to stand up and say “This isn't what we signed up for. KNOCK IT OFF!!”

[(Anonymous)]

I gave one of the truckers a donation Saturday morning for gas, and the trucker proceeded to bring me over the Shepherds of Good Hope and tell me to give them the money instead. I wonder how much of the money and food is coming from people in the protests...

[(Anonymous)]

No violence does not equal peaceful. It's almost like to the people caught up in whatever madness has gripped so much of our society, "peaceful" means "pushing for causes I like".

https://www.thestar.com/politics/2022/01/31/calling-the-ottawa-protests-peaceful-downplays-non-violent-dangers-critics-say.html

[(Anonymous)]

This comment makes me feel like I'm losing my mind.

Good News!!!

[(Anonymous)]

Virginia's brand new Attorney General just told Virginia State colleges and universities that they CANNOT mandate Covid 19 vaccinations.

https://www.wavy.com/news/education/ag-miyares-virginia-colleges-cant-mandate-covid-19-vaccine-for-students/

The colleges and universities are being sneaky about it; their websites now say that they "strongly encourage" or "strongly recommend" vaccines and boosters (they used to say "required"). They don't ever say that they can't actually require students and staff to be vaccinated, but according to the AG, they can't! And local news is reporting that they have dropped their mandates, even if they are not overtly advertising that fact. I am beginning to love being a resident Virginia again.

Re: Good News!!!

[(Anonymous)]

Where in VA are you? I am near Charlottesville.

Our local school board just voted 3-2 to make it so students and teachers were are not required to wear masks. I am told 80% still do.

[stcathalexandria]

Looking forward to our writing group at 4pm EST today! If you have trouble logging in, message me through here or the email address on the invite. See you soon!

[queenjane]

I'm looking forward to it too! See you soon!

[(Anonymous)]

Is that picture of Canadian truck drivers?

—Princess Cutekitten

[ecosophia]

That's the protest convoy as it arrived on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

.epub and single .html file of open threads and hypothesis to date

[(Anonymous)]

Here is the updated .epub (open ebook format) of the hypothesis and all open threads and comments
https://mega.nz/file/gRBWWZjY#L81b5nSWenczATA8X9WsqT7tQsu1SmwPZRv_M_qXu10


I thought to create also something more portable a single .html file that has all the posts and comments, you can just open it in you browser:
https://mega.nz/file/gAZ2FTab#cKIf0CGH1JxSFhsqYxIyHTOPEcVQ98AvonjCdURm4vE

Also I want to please ask some recommendation for strengthening the solar chakra for historical curiosity.
Take in mind that since there is no such thing in modern medicine as solar chakra I don't think it counts as medical advice.

Thanks

Re: .epub and single .html file of open threads and hypothesis to date

[(Anonymous)]

I don't know nothin' bout strengthenin' no solar chakras! But I do love all those glorious drawings and images of the solar chakra bathed in the beneficial light of the sun. So many images of the solar chakra getting plenty of sunlight every day.

When I think of all the plants that just love bathing in sunlight and concentrating the benefits of the sun's energy in all their cells, I'm left wondering if they might have little solar chakras themselves. Plants like Saint John's Wort and Dandelion with their sun-like flowers just look so solar, don't they?

— Christophe

[(Anonymous)]

Update from my blue town in the NW corner of the US. I mentioned before that I'm a PT not working due to mandates. I do have the option to apply for an exemption but haven't done this as I don't want to be a focus of negativity in the skilled nursing setting where I work. I am considering the exemption option now, but I am realizing there are other factors limiting how much work there is in the skilled nursing setting: limited ability to admit rehab patients due to covid restrictions (1 person per room instead of 4, no admissions with active covid cases in building...) as well as significantly decreased medicare reimbursement.

Just prior to March 2020 Medicare changed how they would pay for rehab in the skilled nursing setting. Previously the more rehab the patient needed the more reimbursement and income for facility. Rehab is the only thing keeping these building afloat. Skilled nursing facilities have both long term care residents and short term people that come for rehab for a few weeks and then go home. The long term care residents are often medicaid, and medicaid does not reimburse enough to pay for their needs. The facility makes money through the short term rehab patients. The revenue they bring in for PT, OT and speech keeps the facility afloat, and even with a healthy rehab program, just barely.

Then in 2020 came a reimbursement change. Instead of paying for services provided, medicare would pay per diagnosis. It's more complicated than I understand, but what I do know is that they will pay a lot less for rehab. The only way to function now is to provide the very minimum rehab services. Implementation of this was somewhat delayed as facilities struggled to meet all the covid demands, but now 2 years later, the effect on rehab is becoming more clear.

Talking to the director of rehab of one of the buildings up here, they will be seeing patients for less than 1/2 hour per day now down from 1 hr. If the patient needs speech as well as OT and PT, then they may only get 20 mins per day of each. That is not good for the patients who need rehab. It may take 10 minutes of their time just to get seated at the edge of the bed with shoes on and ready to participate in rehab activities.

So I don't know, but it seems like medicare is attempting to save huge amounts of money, but will cost us nursing facilities, which will no longer be able to stay afloat. There were problems before, but these facilities serve a needed purpose. And now hospital patients who can't go home and don't have family to help have no where to go if they can't go to these facilities. That is happening in this state right now. The hospitals are full, but only partially due to covid, the other big factor is the people that can't be discharged anywhere and are staying longer in the hospital, occupying a bed that is now no longer available for other needs.

So even with an exemption Im not sure that there will be work in this setting for much longer. Covid may be blamed for these problems, but the problem was already in motion prior to March 2020. Maybe Medicare is trying to significantly limit the outflow of money, but the result is that problems are spiraling with impacts everywhere in our healthcare system.

Tamar

So

[(Anonymous)]

In the not too distant future, the bankrupt US government is not going to be paying for much of anything, including Medicare. I don't know if the government is so much trying to limit the outflow of money (which it can endlessly print) to Medicare, as it is trying to discontinue any useful historical government services, which it can no longer hope to provide.

Is that because of real financial constraints? I don't think so. There's no longer any commitment to a balanced budget, so the decision to defund Medicare services while bailing out the stock market and the pharmaceutical behemoths is purely political. They're trying delay any official declaration of bankruptcy (commonly known as defaulting on one's debts) by only pretending to get anything accomplished in the real world. On paper, everything's rosy; in the real world, they can't even get the highways plowed.

Any rehab clinics whose model was dependent on government largess is going to have to adapt very quickly soon or perish. If your goal is to provide services to people in need, the standard healthcare model has almost stopped doing that at this point. You might be better off moving into the disintermediated end of healthcare — patient as payer, cash only, alternative modalities, small insurers, concierge services, house calls etc.

This dysfunctional interregnum period is a challenge, as the government continues to bankroll the flotilla of lawyers and judges guaranteeing that the endless threat of malpractice keeps the over-complex system of unnecessary regulations hanging over everyone's head. Learning to perform the ever-more-impossible contortions required to keep practicing inside the medical establishment, is a decidedly short-term investment at this point. None of the required ornate rituals or genuflections in some agency's general direction will be remotely useful once the government spigots cease delivering.

Being able to care for people directly and to communicate effectively what you are doing and why will be a much better guarantee of getting paid for your services in the future we're all hurtling towards. Your skills and training are incredibly needed right now, but their handcuffs are making it decidedly difficult for you to put your skills and training to good use. Deciding which dark night will be most optimal for breaking those manacles and making a run for it has always been a frighteningly uncertain science.

— Christophe

[(Anonymous)]

Visual representation of the demonic hypothesis
https://twitter.com/Lanyihunter1/status/1488386362315358208

Federal Contractor Mandates

[(Anonymous)]

Is anyone aware if SCOTUS has ruled on the Federal Contractor mandate? The Enormous State University where I work is requiring everyone (even remote workers) be vaccinated or tested weekly if you get a religious or medical exemption because they say they can't guarantee an employee won't come into contact with a contractor in, say, the lunch room (no, it doesn't make sense for remote workers). I thought they were to rule in late January, but I haven't heard anything about it. And while I am grateful to have the option of weekly testing instead of having to quit my job, and even more grateful it's a spit test from the comforts of my home, the waste involved in testing what I call the formerly known as healthy and the insane amount of plastic involved has me hoping for something to make it stop.

Viridian Nocturnal Platypus

Re: Federal Contractor Mandates

[(Anonymous)]

SCOTUS hasn't ruled anything directly on it. It was the Texas courts that struck it down just a few weeks ago. They did cite the SCOTUS ruling on OSHA as one of the reasons the Texas Courts struck it down, but its possible that it could still go to SCOTUS.

My concern is that the Supreme Court didn't strike the mandates as unlawful themselves, only that the way they were worded was too broad. That is why the Health Care Workers one was upheld. I fully expect this scummy administration to be working on rewording the OSHA mandate to make it less likely to be struck down by the Courts but still screw over as many working men and women as they can.

[open_space]

I hadn't heard this Clapton song that came out 5 months ago, but I dig it. It's some up beat, protest blues.

https://youtu.be/dNt4NIQ7FTA

This has gotta stop
Enough is enough
I can't take this BS any longer
It's gone far enough
If you wanna claim my soul
You'll have to come and break down this door
I knew that something was going on wrong
When you started laying down the law
I can't move my hands
I break out in sweat
I wanna cry
Can't take it anymore
This has gotta stop
Enough is enough
I can't take this BS any longer
It's gone far enough
If you wanna claim my soul
You'll have to come and break down this door
I've been around
Long long time
Seen it all
And I'm used to being free
I know who I am
Try to do what's right
So lock me up and throw away the key
This has gotta stop
Enough is enough
I can't take this BS any longer
It's gone far enough
If you wanna claim my soul
You'll have to come and break down this door
Thinkin' of my kids
What's left for them
And then what's coming down the road
The light in the tunnel
Could be the southbound train
Lord, please help them with their load
This has gotta stop
Enough is enough
I can't take this BS any longer
It's gone far enough
If you wanna claim my soul
You'll have to come and break down this door
This has gotta stop
Enough is enough
I can't take this BS any longer
It's gone far enough
If you wanna claim my soul
You'll have to come and break down this door

[open_space]

Now that I read it again it sounds more like desperation after the first five lines.

Conspiracy

[(Anonymous)]

I learned recently that hospitals for the most part offer no treatment until after hospitalization, and then mostly hideously expensive pharmaceuticals some with damaging and even potentially deadly consequences.

It was a deliberate conspiracy to eliminate for most the possibility that Ivermectin and Hydroxycloroquine could be used to treat Covid.

There are emails detailing Fauci's involvement in funding the Wuhan clinic and likely gain-of-function research, his manipulating doctors from speaking against mRNA vaccines, and even detailing plans to ruin the reputation of doctors who question lockdowns - and yet there is zero accountability.

It is truly a testament to the power of the major media to control discourse and manufacture consent. The treatment of Joe Rogan lately too is a reminder how "misinformation" and anti-vaxx" have been weaponized, not just to ruin people but to keep those who fling the accusation from any need to understand any actual content.

I'm not sure what can pierce through this "mass-formation". It is getting dangerous to challenge it directly..



WHD

Re: Conspiracy

[(Anonymous)]

From the current chapter Realization in Greer's study of Levi:

"In general it is bad for your health to have enemies, and one cannot brave anyone's disapproval with impunity. Before opposing a force or a current, one must assure oneself that one has the strength or that one is supported by the contrary current, otherwise one will be crushed or struck down, and many sudden deaths have no other cause."

"Unpopularity can be a proof of integrity and of courage, but it is never a proof of prudence or good politics; injuries done to public opinion are deadly ....Stigmatization due to public opinion can be of great injustice, but it will in any case always be the reason for lack of success, and often for sudden death.

"It is because of these terrible laws of solidarity that Christianity so highly recommends forgiveness of insults and reconciliation."

[realmscryer]

Various foxation and covidnation anecdotes from my life:

1. Doctor appointment this morning. No suggestion to get foxed during the appointment and they gave me a mask to use instead of my cloth mask. Though he did tell me about covid going through his presumably vaccinated household via his kids and school a few weeks ago.

2. After being very low key on Facebook for many years I am on a roll. Second post in a row turned into a poop storm. Apparently, I triggered a friend from high school. What I did was put up a profile pic stating support for the truckers. Shaming and being called selfish for not caring about the deaths of children was her response to my picture. I was surprised because she is very intelligent and highly educated. Which does make me wonder again about the quality of higher education. Interestingly, there was quiet support from a diversity of other connections. Some were rather unexpected.

3. My wife is listening to Joe Rogan! She had never heard of him before and very much liked that he was asking questions and engaging in deep discussions with his guests.

4. At least in our very blue town in the PNW the hysteria appears to be far from over. Most friends and family are as deep in the muck as ever. I am preparing for a chunk of the population to be permanently affected somehow. Looking at relocating.

[(Anonymous)]

I am in Montana. We have seen some of the crazy where I am but not like in the western end of the state. You, Sir are not the only one looking at relocating, and, this isn't too bad a spot.

--Wolf

[kashtan]

This post has some of the best memes I've seen regarding the hypocrisy of the elites and PMC class,

https://boriquagato.substack.com/p/seizing-the-memes-of-production

[(Anonymous)]

That meme creating cat is pretty awesome.

Petition

[(Anonymous)]

Mr. Greer,

I believe that posting this petition is in the spirit of this board. I apologize and please remove if not.

Online petition calling for a live debate between Dr. Fauci and "Opposing Doctors" such as Dr. Peter McCullough and others from the Senate hearings:

https://www.change.org/p/cnn-anthony-fauci-live-tv-debate-with-opposing-doctors

Re: Petition

[(Anonymous)]

I signed it.

I would love to see Fauci debate Dr Malone. That would be the end of Fauci and he knows it, which is why he would never agree to it, nor would the White House.

WHD

[(Anonymous)]

I continue to wonder how long and how thickly the "black oobleck" on the lower astral plane can just keep accumulating and accumulating. Next month, we'll be heading into our seventh year of this. I really hope it isn't going to take some civilization-destroying event to make it finally disperse. --Mr. Nobody

[(Anonymous)]

Just be wary and check that it isn't also a localised build up, it isn't much fun having it play out in your own backyard.

[(Anonymous)]

Some time ago, my spouse and I agreed to disagree about the vixens, but I’ve recently been thrown for quite a loop. Please excuse my the androgynous obfuscation that follows (done for privacy). I will call my spouse “Pat.” I’m unfoxxed; Pat was double foxed with no visible issues fairly early in 2021 and had told me (rather casually) “I don’t think I’ll get the booster.” several months ago.

Before too long, s/he will be doing some international travel with an old friend, for pleasure. Travel requirements for a booster shot had been a question in the back of my head, but I deliberately hadn’t asked about it-- there is little to be gained from dwelling on a point of clear disagreement. S/he has not nagged me to change my mind, and has been supportive of my own right to make my own decisions about the fox. I am the one who digs for Covid studies and news; Pat largely trusts the MSM.

Last weekend, the conversation provided an opening, and I asked what Pat’s plans were around getting a booster. I then learned that s/he had already gotten the booster, some time in the fairly recent past, never once even mentioning it to me, or discussing it. I was gobsmacked, speechless, and felt incredibly betrayed. I have withdrawn and not said more than a few dozen words of small talk since. I don’t do conflict well, and my default response is to clam up and avoid saying something in anger that I will later regret. (Instead, I don’t say something, and later regret that!)

Now this is not about trying to make Pat’s medical decisions-- I know from long experience that Pat does what s/he wants to do, regardless of my opinion about it. I am deeply concerned about the cumulative effects of spike exposure-- all the things mentioned here numerous times-- cancers, clots, cardiac isssues, neurodegenerative disease, autoimmunity/immune suppression, increasing death rates. I at least wanted to share those concerns, but it seems that my opinions were not considered worth even a pro forma talk. What Pat would do, again, was really never in doubt to me, but the way this all happened hurt immensely. This also plays into some old, patterns that have bothered me for much of the time we’ve been married, so it’s not just about the fox. There is a lot to love about our life together, but I don’t know if I can keep going like this. I would be grateful for any words of wisdom, and for your prayers. Thanks.

YQY

[(Anonymous)]

I am also struggling at points to understand the person I've been married to for 22 years and our division on the vixen as we call it for fun here. My Pat said to me in July that an appointment had been made to go get it even though I had expressed my doubt and concerns about it. That evening there was a collapse at 1:00am with a high fever. I thought I'd have to call an ambulance. After 45 minutes went back to bed and seemed fine in the morning. Then went back dutifully for the second shot!!! I was livid and like you could not say anything. Of course had a couple of sleepless nights followed by weeks of worry and dread.

JMG reminded me here or over on the main blog that each person has their own path to walk in this life. I don't know what my Pat's situation is. I mean, I think things, but I can't possibly know. I've settled on its my job to live my life as authentically as possible - communicate my concerns and deal with this anger that I have around the vixens. I'm in a hope for the best and prepare for the worst mindset.

I wish I had more to offer but please know that you are not alone in your feelings.

Reporting from Ottawa, Canada

[(Anonymous)]

I drove up to Ottawa with a friend last Saturday for the grand opening of the truckers' occupation. (We ought to stop calling it a convoy now, right?) When we got within fifty kilometres of the city almost all the traffic alongside us was personal vehicles sporting emblems of some kind- painted maple leafs, Canadian flags hoisted on hockey sticks, painted signs saying 'F*** Trudeau'. We passed under five or six highway overpasses manned by locals with welcome signs, then a crowd of about five hundred more standing next to the highway cheering.

I'm sure you've all seen the pictures, but let me just say that the mood in the city centre in front of the parliament buildings was joyous. Simply moving amid a crowd of people without masks, gathered to affirm something positive and necessary, was a good feeling.

There was some police presence, standing around in groups of 6 or 7, and they seemed relaxed. It's the nation's capital, they've seen protests before. We said 'thank you, merci' as we walked by, and one officer winked at me. Inside the Rideau Centre Mall all the storefronts were dark, but people were strolling through, unmasked, greeting each other and taking a break from the cold. The two coffee shops that were open in the mall and in Byward Market seemed to be making a killing.

We saw the one guy with the Confederate flag and my friend asked him to put it away, but he declined. Probably the government is paying him too much for him to just walk off the job.

The trucks are parked neatly all along one side of the streets, leaving room for emergency vehicles as promised. They don't look like they're going to move any time soon. People I know are talking about driving up there next weekend to give more support. The whole thing is getting slimed in the MSM and social media, but we have MOMENTUM now and it's likely to keep on trucking.

I've lived in the US and the UK and have previously bemoaned how much quicker those folks are to organize and stand up for themselves than we are in the great polite north. I never expected to see this kind of movement in my country and my head is still spinning.

-Dylan

Re: Reporting from Ottawa, Canada

[methylethyl]

Thanks for the on-the-ground report!

Alchemical Writers First Meeting

[stcathalexandria]

Hi everyone -
The first meeting of the Alchemical Writers was today. We hit a snag with the Zoom link not working as it should have but still managed to gather, meet, and write.

It was a creative and encouraging time and I look forward to doing it again next Tuesday at 4pm. With a properly working link this time!

Details here if you want to join https://lu.ma/2ibdysdq

Re: Alchemical Writers First Meeting

[the_copper_dragon]

When it says write about anything...we could write about anything?