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The Blog

Warning: these posts are for 'adults'; people with the ability to think for themselves, take responsibility for their actions, and prepared to work for the greater good. If that isn't you, remember to wash your hands and face with soap regularly and don't touch anything. Stay home. The Internet has plenty of content to entertain you.

Health Canada approves use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/astrazeneca-approved-1.5929050
"While it's less effective than the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines at preventing infection, the shot is 100 per cent effective in preventing the severe outcomes of COVID-19 — including serious illness, hospitalizations and death — the regulators said."

The vaccines are coming, but we're not out of the woods yet. We appear to be quite capable of being stupid enough to make this much, much worse before vaccines can bring transmission spread under control.

Muskoka put into immediate lockdown, North Bay Parry Sound remains in lockdown
https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/muskoka-put-into-immediate-lockdown-north-bay-parry-sound-remains-in-lockdown-3463431

Whatever's leading Legault to his decisions, it isn't science
https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/josh-freed-whatevers-leading-legault-to-his-decisions-it-isnt-science

Ditto for Ontario
Risk of a third wave of COVID-19 grows as infections rise and variants spread
https://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news-story/10339136-risk-of-a-third-wave-of-covid-19-grows-as-infections-rise-and-variants-spread/

Variants will likely make up 40% of Ontario's COVID-19 cases by mid-March, modelling predicts
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-ontario-february-25-2021-1.5927580

For current COVID-19 numbers, go to
https://epiforecasts.io/covid/posts/national/canada/
and https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/canada/ .

COVID-19 News Items

Ottawa Hospital to manufacture COVID-19 vaccine
https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ottawa-hospital-to-manufacture-covid-19-vaccine-1.5324501

Ontario says counterfeit N95 masks may have been distributed to healthcare providers amid coronavirus pandemic
https://www.cp24.com/news/ford-government-warns-of-potential-counterfeit-n95-masks-in-provincial-stockpile-1.5326025

Rapid Testing Kit Use to be Expanded in Saskatchewan
https://swiftcurrentonline.com/local/rapid-testing-kit-use-to-be-expanded-in-saskatchewan

(Digital) Deception

Low turnout for vaccine in northern Alberta hamlet blamed on social media disinformation
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/fort-chipewyan-covid-19-vaccine-1.5925328

You may have been seeing some brief news items about GameStop stock prices in the past few weeks in the mainstream media. In all likelihood, this was part of a concerted and massive disinformation campaign. If you have any interest in this, and a few minutes to read this piece, it sets the larger context and how GameStop is simply a flashpoint for massive greed that is now poised to create a liquidity problem for U.S. equities generally. I'm not a professional investor, and I don't offer advice. I do believe there is a direct linkage between the general fall in stock prices and Bitcoin's price in the past few days due to the massive naked shorting now in play against the GameStop stock. I do believe history is being made here, right now.

Naked Short Selling: The Truth Is Much Worse Than You Have Been Told
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Naked-Short-Selling-The-Truth-Is-Much-Worse-Than-You-Have-Been-Told.html

If the situation with GameStop was normal, business as usual, you would not be seeing mainstream media stories about it, and platforms where retail investors operate would not be shutting down the buy buttons for only that one stock, and bot attacks would not be launched specifically on the forums where retail investors specifically discuss this one stock.

Bots hyped up GameStop on major social media platforms, analysis finds
[dead link: https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/bots-hyped-gamestop-major-social-155705038.html] https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/bots-hyped-gamestop-major-social-155705038.html

If you believe government and the institutions they regulate should be transparent, and that democracy should be more than getting to cast a single ballot once every four years, this is worth a few minutes of your attention. GameStop is a test case for who will own your pension.

Last week you may have read that the electricity systems collapse in Texas was due to wind turbines not working in the cold and failing to supply power to the grid. Spoiler alert: that wasn't the big problem - wind turbines work perfectly fine in Alaska.
Texas natural gas production fell by almost half during recent cold snap
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=46896

Take care of you.

Life is hard. It's harder during the pandemic.
Respect other people's opinions even when they differ from your own.
As the late Larry King said, 'I never learned anything while I was talking.'

;-) “A rich man is nothing but a poor man with money.”      ~ W.C. Fields

Injection beats infection. But we gave infection a big head-start.
Spread knowledge, not the virus.
Stay well, stay safe, stay sane, stay home if you can.
We're not done yet, but that day is getting closer.
With thanks to those making the effort, every day, for us all.

Warning: these posts are for 'adults'; people with the ability to think for themselves, take responsibility for their actions, and prepared to work for the greater good. If that isn't you, remember to wash your hands and face with soap regularly and don't touch anything. Stay home. The Internet has plenty of content to entertain you.

COVID-19 was the leading cause of death in the U.S. this week, report says
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-leading-cause-of-death-united-states-this-week/

Canada to receive 640K vaccine doses this week with Pfizer, Moderna deliveries
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada-to-receive-record-640k-vaccine-doses-this-week-with-pfizer-moderna-deliveries

LeBlanc 'very confident' provinces can handle ramped-up vaccine delivery
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/dominc-leblanc-provinces-increased-vaccine-delivery-1.5922218

Personally, I don't share Minister LeBlanc's confidence in the big provinces. Ontario rolled out its roll-out plan for vaccinations yesterday. After weeks of whining about the federal government not delivering vaccines on their fantasy timeline, the provincial master plan for getting needles into arms is - punt - no plan. Apparently this is a real problem, so with no notice, the province has chosen to drop it in the lap of the 34 regional health authorities. That shouldn't lead to any confusion or mixed messaging, right?. Seriously, Doug? Perhaps the province could just step all the way out and let the feds deal directly with the regional health authorities.
Ontario says vaccine rollout up to local health units; Province reports 1,058 new cases
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/covid-19-ontario-reports-1058-new-cases-more-testing-clinics-opening-soon-in-ottawa

Also missing in action, Quebec's vaccination roll-out plan.
Can't find details on Quebec's vaccine rollout? You're not alone
https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/its-kind-of-disappointing-quebec-remains-quiet-on-vaccination-rollout

Ontario's vaccine rollout confusion is a deliberate political tactic
https://www.insidehalton.com/opinion-story/10336519-ontario-s-vaccine-rollout-confusion-is-a-deliberate-political-tactic/

For current COVID-19 numbers, go to
https://epiforecasts.io/covid/posts/national/canada/
and https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/canada/ .

COVID-19 News Items

We’re Just Rediscovering a 19th-Century Pandemic Strategy
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/02/bad-air/618106/

Canada's 'long-haulers' without family doctor need primary care: medical association
[dead link: https://www.timescolonist.com/canada-s-long-haulers-without-family-doctor-need-primary-care-medical-association-1.24285108] https://www.timescolonist.com/canada-s-long-haulers-without-family-doctor-need-primary-care-medical-association-1.24285108

U.S. reaches 500,000 deaths from the coronavirus
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/u-s-reaches-500-000-deaths-coronavirus-n1257992

AstraZeneca vaccine review is in the 'final stages,' Health Canada says
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/astrazeneca-final-stages-1.5923177

COVID Vaccines Curb Hospitalization And Virus Transmission, According To New Studies
https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/covid-vaccines-curb-hospitalization-and-virus-transmission-according-to-new-studies/

COVID-19 in Sask: 43 per cent of long-term care residents now fully vaccinated

'Playing with fire': Alberta's R-value creeps back above 1, signalling higher infection rate
https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/albertas-r-value-creeps-above-1-as-province-logs-328-more-cases

B.C. records more than 1,400 cases of COVID-19 over three days, and 8 deaths
https://globalnews.ca/news/7655992/bc-coronavirus-update-feburary-22-2021/

What can cities learn from Kingston's COVID-19 response? A lot, it turns out
[dead site: https://www.fr24news.com/a/2021/02/what-can-cities-learn-from-kingstons-covid-19-response-a-lot-it-turns-out.html] https://www.fr24news.com/a/2021/02/what-can-cities-learn-from-kingstons-covid-19-response-a-lot-it-turns-out.html

Brain fog is a real thing. Well-being columnist Jennifer Moss sheds some light on it
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/brain-fog-jennifer-moss-1.5920856

(Digital) Deception

Nova Scotia Health warns of contact tracing email scam
https://www.halifaxtoday.ca/coronavirus-covid-19-local-news/nova-scotia-health-warns-of-contract-tracing-email-scam-3446923

Australia was the first casualty of the big blackout lie blaming wind power – the US could be next
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/23/australia-was-the-first-casualty-of-the-big-blackout-lie-blaming-wind-power-the-us-could-be-next

A promising step forward on disinformation - Microsoft On the Issues
https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2021/02/22/deepfakes-disinformation-c2pa-origin-cai/

Chinese spies used hijacked NSA code in their hacking operations
https://nationalpost.com/news/chinese-spies-used-hijacked-nsa-code-in-their-hacking-operations

Nearly 30000 Macs reportedly infected with mysterious malware
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/article/nearly-30000-macs-reportedly-infected-with-mysterious-malware/

Life is hard. It's harder during the pandemic.
"The problem isn't that Johnny can't read. The problem isn't even
that Johnny can't think. The problem is that Johnny doesn't know
what thinking is; he confuses it with feeling."
- Thomas Sowell
(If you want to substitute 'the former guy' for 'Johnny', I'll
understand.)

;-) Warning: you are about to exceed the limits of my medication.

Injection beats infection. But we gave infection a big head-start.
Spread knowledge, not the virus.
Stay well, stay safe, stay sane, stay home if you can.
We're not done yet, but that day is getting closer.
With thanks to those making the effort, every day, for us all.

Warning: these posts are for 'adults'; people with the ability to think for themselves, take responsibility for their actions, and prepared to work for the greater good. If that isn't you, remember to wash your hands and face with soap regularly and don't touch anything. Stay home. The Internet has plenty of content to entertain you.

Now that the vaccine deliveries for the two mRNA varieties to Canada (the only ones yet approved for use in Canada), it's no longer a headline story. But I thought people should know that Canada is receiving over 400,000 doses this week, and will receive at least another 400,000 a week from Pfizer and millions more from Moderna from now until the end of March - about 6 weeks from now. With continuing supplies ramping up until September.
Note that is story appears under the Politics banner, not Health.
COVID-19 vaccine deliveries back on track following weeks of delay, says Public Health Agency
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid-19-vaccine-update-feb-18-1.5918175

(A little ironic though that deliveries this week to Canada are delayed because of winter in Louisville, KY.)

Now it's over to the provinces to get vaccines into arms. I have seen news of inconsistent and changing 'priority lists', and oversized, highly centralized distribution centres. These strike me as an inappropriate approach for reaching the mass population without creating more infection risk for them getting to and from these centres, not to mention waiting in lines at the centres.

This might be a help with Canadian distribution to smaller centres, possibly eliminating the need for the super-cold chain delivery system for the 'last mile' of delivery.
BioNTech/Pfizer say vaccine can stand warmer temperatures
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-02-biontechpfizer-vaccine-warmer-temperatures.html

I am particularly concerned that I don't see priority lists that include all Canadians yet, noting those people who probably should not take either of the mRNA vaccines and how they will be covered when other vaccines become available, or booking systems to set up scheduled appointments to reduce crowding at the inoculation sites, especially while winter is still with us.

For current COVID-19 numbers, go to
https://epiforecasts.io/covid/posts/national/canada/
and https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/canada/ .

COVID-19 News Items

U.K. gives go-ahead to expose healthy volunteers to COVID in world's first coronavirus 'human challenge' study
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/world/u-k-gives-go-ahead-to-expose-volunteers-to-covid-in-medical-trial/

As schools reopen in Ontario's hardest-hit regions, experts urge province not to lift COVID restrictions
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-school-reopening-toronto-peel-york-1.5914762

It's only 'the end of the beginning.' COVID-19 will be with us for years.
https://nationalpost.com/news/postpandemic/its-only-the-end-of-the-beginning-of-covid-19

What's behind the drop in COVID-19 cases in Canada and other parts of the world?
https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/article/whats-behind-the-drop-in-covid-19-cases-in-canada-and-other-parts-of-the-world/
Hmmm, lockdowns and following health guidance are the keys? How about that? TANZANC.

(Digital) Deception

AAhhh, Facebook, the grift that keeps on taking.
Heads-up for Canadian agencies and businesses: if Facebook turns its misfires on Canada in the days to come, make sure you have created an alternate channel to communicate with your community.
Facebook's botched Australia news ban hits health departments, charities and its own pages
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/feb/18/facebook-blocks-health-departments-charities-and-its-own-pages-in-botched-australia-news-ban

#BoycottZuckerberg: Aussies delete accounts en masse after Facebook blocks news feed
https://nationalpost.com/news/world/boycott-zuckerberg-aussies-share-hashtags-delete-accounts-after-facebook-blocks-news-feed
If you have the time and patience, I recommend you deactivate Facebook accounts, rather than deleting. There have been reports that deleted accounts have been re-created by others as identity-theft tools.

On Messenger, false information spreads undetected, unchecked
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/false-information-undetected-unchecked-facebook-messenger-app

But we also give the disinformation megaphone to those with an agenda, while pretending they are neutral observers. In those cases, track record and refusal to correct a long-term narrative after being corrected many times are the clue to there being a disinformation campaign.
Really, Rex Murphy?
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/02/19/opinion/rex-murphy-texas-weather-wind-energy

Coronavirus conspiracy shows vast reach of Chinese disinformation
https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/article/covid-19-conspiracy-shows-vast-reach-of-chinese-disinformation/

Data loss, credential compromise up in phishing attacks in 2020, says vendor report
[dead site: https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/data-loss-credential-compromise-up-in-phishing-attacks-in-2020-says-vendor-report/442082]

China and Russia ‘aggressively’ targeting Canadians, CSIS director warns
https://globalnews.ca/news/7629494/china-and-russia-targeting-canadians-csis-director/

Canadian vehicle rental service hit by ransomware
[dead site: https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/canadian-vehicle-rental-service-hit-by-ransomware/442384

Hacker poisons Florida water plant by remotely boosting lye level 100-fold
https://nationalpost.com/news/world/hacker-poisons-florida-water-plant-by-boosting-lye-level-100-fold

State of malware: 3 key findings in the latest Malwarebytes report
Spyware activity spiked in 2020, and the malware-as-a-service business model got more sophisticated.
https://www.techrepublic.com/article/state-of-malware-3-key-findings-in-the-latest-malwarebytes-report/

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is barred from Instagram over false coronavirus claims
[dead link: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/02/11/world/covid-19-coronavirus#robert-f-kennedy-jr-instagram-covid-vaccine] www.nytimes.com/live/2021/02/11/world/covid-19-coronavirus#robert-f-kennedy-jr-instagram-covid-vaccine

Millions of Counterfeit N95 Masks Were Bought in 5 States, U.S. Says
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/10/us/n95-mask-fraud-investigation.html?nl=coronavirus-briefing&pgtype=Article&segment_id=51487

Life is hard. It's harder during the pandemic.
A really good, solid, sincere laugh can really lift the spirits.

;-) For those of you who don't want Alexa listening in
     on your conversations, they're making a male version ....
     it doesn't listen to anything.

Injection beats infection. But we gave infection a big head-start.
Spread knowledge, not the virus.
Stay well, stay safe, stay sane, stay home if you can.
We're not done yet, but that day is getting closer.
With thanks to those making the effort, every day, for us all.

Warning: these posts are for 'adults'; people with the ability to think for themselves, take responsibility for their actions, and prepared to work for the greater good. If that isn't you, remember to wash your hands and face with soap regularly and don't touch anything. Stay home. The Internet has plenty of content to entertain you.

For current COVID-19 numbers, go to
https://epiforecasts.io/covid/posts/national/canada/
and https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/canada/ .

COVID-19 News Items

New Covid variant with potentially worrying mutations found in UK
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/15/32-cases-of-latest-covid-variant-of-concern-found-in-uk

B.C. officials detect first Canadian case of new COVID-19 variant sweeping the world
https://nationalpost.com/news/b-c-officials-detect-first-canadian-case-of-fourth-covid-19-variant-sweeping-the-world

Two Ottawa retirement home employees fired amid allegations of queue jumping for COVID-19 vaccine
https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/two-ottawa-retirement-home-employees-fired-amid-allegations-of-queue-jumping-for-covid-19-vaccine-1.5312730

Why it might be best to avoid painkillers as a precaution before your COVID-19 vaccine
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/fever-reducers-covid-vaccinations-1.5912295

Rapid testing will add to strain on long-term care sector, advocate warns
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/rapid-testing-concerns-long-term-care-added-pressure-staffing-1.5912517

Fortress Fossil Fuels Highlights/Gaslights

'Invisible killer': fossil fuels caused 8.7m deaths globally in 2018, research finds
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/09/fossil-fuels-pollution-deaths-research?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Limiting air pollution 'could prevent 50,000 deaths in Europe'
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/20/limiting-air-pollution-could-prevent-50000-deaths-in-europe

‘Transparency is critical’: buried report raises questions about oilsands bird monitoring program
https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-oilsands-bird-monitoring-foi/

Somehow, the headline on this story isn't 'Cenovus reports over half-billion dollar operating loss for 2020Q4'.
Cenovus reports 2020 fourth-quarter and full-year results
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/02/09/2172002/0/en/Cenovus-reports-2020-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-results.html

Chapter 11 filing for Asia Offshore Drilling
https://splash247.com/chapter-11-filing-for-asia-offshore-drilling/

How the Fossil Fuel Industry Convinced Americans to Love Gas Stoves
https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2021/02/how-the-fossil-fuel-industry-convinced-americans-to-love-gas-stoves/

150 years of spills: Philadelphia refinery cleanup highlights toxic legacy of fossil fuels
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-energy-refinery-cleanup-insight/150-years-of-spills-philadelphia-refinery-cleanup-highlights-toxic-legacy-of-fossil-fuels-idUSKBN2AG12O

Biggest US oil refinery shutting because of frigid weather
http://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/biggest-u-s-oil-refinery-shutting-because-of-frigid-weather-1.1563870

Frozen Wind Farms Are Just a Small Piece of Texas’s Power Woes
[dead link: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/frozen-wind-farms-just-small-002954294.html] https://ca.news.yahoo.com/frozen-wind-farms-just-small-002954294.html

Life is hard. It's harder during the pandemic.
“If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.”
~Michele Ruiz

;-) If you can't laugh at yourself, laugh at me. It's a low bar,
     but these days, take your moments of humour where you can get them.

Injection beats infection. But we gave infection a big head-start.
Spread knowledge, not the virus.
Stay well, stay safe, stay sane, stay home if you can.
We're not done yet, but that day is getting closer.
With thanks to those making the effort, every day, for us all.

Warning: these posts are for 'adults'; people with the ability to think for themselves, take responsibility for their actions, and prepared to work for the greater good. If that isn't you, remember to wash your hands and face with soap regularly and don't touch anything. Stay home. The Internet has plenty of content to entertain you.

Reporter: “Am I missing something here, or is this presentation actually predicting a disaster?”
Ontario health official Dr. Adelstein Brown: “No, I don’t think you’re missing anything.”
Modeling suggests COVID-19 cases in Ontario could rise in late February
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/modeling-suggests-covid-19-cases-in-ontario-could-rise-in-late-february

And at the same time as the modelling forecasts 'disaster', the king of mixed messaging Premier Ford announces lifting of pandemic health guidance restrictions, while also admonishing Ontarians to stay home, and cancelling March Break in schools as the more infectious COVID-19 variants are spreading through the province, all while vaccines are due to arrive in quantity in a matter of weeks. I wish the plague province premiers would stop whining about slow receipt of vaccines when they're not even prepared to give them a chance to increase immunity before unleashing the new variants on their citizens.

Coronavirus: Ontario’s infection prevention team sidelined due to politics, commission hears.
https://globalnews.ca/news/7636757/coronavirus-ontario-long-term-care-commission/

Canada is 'playing chicken' with COVID-19 by reopening while variants are spreading widely
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/variants-lifting-restrictions-second-opinion-1.5912760
This is a rigged game; Canadians will lose. You can't negotiate with a virus.

Canada is sleepwalking into a third wave, and it could be the worst one yet
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-canada-is-sleepwalking-into-a-third-wave-and-it-could-be-the-worst-one/

Canada will get some [9 million] doses of Pfizer's vaccine earlier than scheduled: PM Trudeau
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-canada-idUSKBN2AC26J

Canada prepares for single biggest Pfizer vaccine shipment to date
https://globalnews.ca/news/7641170/covid-canada-vaccine-pfizer-delivery/

Speaking of distribution of vaccines in Ontario ...
Ontario Minister Merrilee Fullerton 'Regrets' Falsely Saying Vaccinations Done In Nursing Homes [dead link: https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/long-term-care-homes-vaccinations-ontario_ca_6025918ec5b6d667582b8951] https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/long-term-care-homes-vaccinations-ontario_ca_6025918ec5b6d667582b8951

The track record in using rapid tests or simply keeping accurate data is not reassuring.
Millions of rapid COVID tests gather dust as some provinces use a fraction of their supply
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rapid-tests-provinces-use-unused-1.5909702

'Just a sample of what's really happening': increased screening could reveal reality of variant spread in Canada
https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/article/just-a-sample-of-whats-really-happening-increased-screening-could-reveal-reality-of-variant-spread-in-canada/

Newfoundland and Labrador postpones provincial election due to COVID-19 B.1.1.7 (UK) variant spreading rapidly after past success suppressing COVID-19 transmission.
N.L. election delayed for nearly half the province due to COVID-19
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/election-nl-staffing-shortages-1.5909976

P.E.I. confirms presence of coronavirus variant first found in U.K.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-covid19-briefing-feb-13-1.5913595

Canada’s vaccinations are lagging U.S., U.K.. Why experts say that shouldn’t be the focus.
https://globalnews.ca/news/7635461/coronavirus-vaccination-canada-world-united-states-united-kingdom/

For current COVID-19 numbers, go to
https://epiforecasts.io/covid/posts/national/canada/
and https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/canada/ .

COVID-19 News Items

While suicide rates in Canada in 2020 did not spike as some had predicted, we had another category of deaths which also rose last year - drug overdoses.
B.C. saw a record 1,716 people die from illicit drug overdoses in 2020
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/02/11/news/bc-saw-record-1716-people-die-illicit-drug-overdoses-2020

Sask. medical students join doctors, nurses calling for rethink of vaccine rollout plan
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/medical-students-join-doctors-nurses-rethink-vaccine-plan-1.5912768

Health-care workers speak out about being harassed on social media
https://www.newmarkettoday.ca/coronavirus-covid-19-local-news/health-care-workers-speak-out-about-being-harassed-on-social-media-3422612

Roche arthritis drug cuts deaths in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, study suggests
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-treatments-tocilizumab-1.5910509

Tam takes aim at COVID-19 'infodemic,' urges vigilance over misleading online content
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/theresa-tam-covid-19-infodemic-1.5914178

Facebook has launched a new crackdown on vaccine misinformation. Experts say it doesn't go far enough.
https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-anti-vaxx-misinformation-crackdown-robert-f-kennedy-inadequate-2021-2

COVID-19 'long-hauler' calls for greater availability of antibody tests in B.C. to determine spread of virus
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/covid-19-long-hauler-calls-for-greater-availability-of-antibody-tests-in-b-c-to-determine-spread-of-virus-1.5912623

These Three Things Are More Likely to Make Someone a Superspreader
https://www.sciencealert.com/these-three-things-are-more-likely-to-make-someone-a-superspreader

Here's why that second coronavirus shot can be such a doozy
https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/article/heres-why-that-second-coronavirus-shot-can-be-such-a-doozy/

Life is hard. It's harder during the pandemic.
There are 3 kinds of men.
The one that learns by reading.
The few that learn by observation.
The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.
~ Will Rogers

;-) Scientists say the universe is made up of protons,
     neutrons and electrons.
     They forgot to mention morons.

Injection beats infection. But we gave infection a big head-start.
Spread knowledge, not the virus.
Stay well, stay safe, stay sane, stay home if you can.
We're not done yet, but that day is getting closer.
With thanks to those making the effort, every day, for us all.

Warning: these posts are for 'adults'; people with the ability to think for themselves, take responsibility for their actions, and prepared to work for the greater good. If that isn't you, remember to wash your hands and face with soap regularly and don't touch anything. Stay home. The Internet has plenty of content to entertain you.

The roots of Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine shortage go back decades
https://theconversation.com/the-roots-of-canadas-covid-19-vaccine-shortage-go-back-decades-154792

Opinion: Poor choices in vaccine prioritization and its unethical provision are troubling front-line doctors like me
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/opinion-poor-choices-in-vaccine-prioritization-and-its-unethical-provision-are-troubling-front-line-doctors-like-me

Ottawa retirement home manager suspended after allegations his wife received vaccine instead of front-line staff
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-retirement-home-manager-suspended-after-allegations-his-wife-received-vaccine-instead-of-front-line-staff

Virus Variant First Found in Britain Now Spreading Rapidly in U.S.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/07/health/coronavirus-variant-us-spread.html?pgtype=Article&segment_id=51257

Really, with the three major active variants all now present in Ontario, why wouldn't we arbitrarily start re-opening everything in a haphazard manner that's confusing govenment officials, just before the mass vaccination program could actually be rolled out?
Because all the reasons.

Ontario likely to be hit by 'ugly' third wave of COVID-19 around April, expert says https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/ugly-third-wave-of-covid-19-around-april-inevitable-for-ontario-expert-says/

AstraZeneca says vaccine against new Covid variants may take six months
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/11/astrazeneca-says-vaccine-against-new-covid-variant-may-take-six-months

With the spread of more infectious variants, Germany extends its lockdown by at least a month
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/02/10/world/covid-19-coronavirus#with-the-spread-of-more-infectious-variants-germany-extends-its-lockdown-by-at-least-a-month

Variants: distribution of cases data
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-variants-genomically-confirmed-case-numbers/variants-distribution-of-cases-data

5 factors that could dictate the success or failure of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout
https://theconversation.com/5-factors-that-could-dictate-the-success-or-failure-of-the-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-152856
I'll add one more: lifting health guidance restrictions before the vaccines have a chance to take effect.

After police charged a man with forging COVID test results at Pearson, a Peel doctor worries travellers could try to ‘game the system’
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/02/10/after-police-charged-a-man-with-forging-covid-test-results-at-pearson-a-peel-doctor-worries-travellers-could-try-to-game-the-system.html

For current COVID-19 numbers, go to
https://epiforecasts.io/covid/posts/national/canada/
and https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/canada/ .

COVID-19 News Items

Many assumed suicides would spike in 2020. So far, the data tells a different story
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/suicides-alberta-bc-saskatchewan-canada-2020-no-increase-1.5902908

Ottawa Board of Health votes to press premier to guarantee paid sick leave for all
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-board-of-health-votes-to-press-premier-to-guarantee-paid-sick-leave-for-all

When it only takes 'seconds' to become infected with COVID variants, how do you protect yourself?
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/when-it-only-takes-seconds-to-become-infected-with-covid-variants-how-do-you-protect-yourself

Doctors who contracted COVID-19 at a bonspiel dug into how they got it. Here's what they found.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/bonspiel-superspreader-edmonton-covid-1.5907514

Life is hard. It's harder during the pandemic.
Commit random acts of kindness and practice senseless displays of beauty.
Imagine if you made someone else smile, even if you can't see it.

;-) If you can't laugh at yourself,      let me do it.

Injection beats infection. But we gave infection a big head-start.
Spread knowledge, not the virus.
Stay well, stay safe, stay sane, stay home if you can.
We're not done yet, but that day is getting closer.
With thanks to those making the effort, every day, for us all.

Warning: these posts are for 'adults'; people with the ability to think for themselves, take responsibility for their actions, and prepared to work for the greater good. If that isn't you, remember to wash your hands and face with soap regularly and don't touch anything. Stay home. The Internet has plenty of content to entertain you.

Nurses hardest hit by mental health impact of pandemic, survey says
https://www.newmarkettoday.ca/coronavirus-covid-19-local-news/nurses-hardest-hit-by-mental-health-impact-of-pandemic-survey-says-3355208

How healthcare workers came to feel 'expendable'
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55937864

For current COVID-19 numbers, go to
https://epiforecasts.io/covid/posts/national/canada/
and https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/canada/ .

(Digital) Deception

Cyberfraud is a growing concern for small businesses as the pandemic forces them to digitize
https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/media/news-releases/cyberfraud-growing-concern-small-businesses-pandemic-forces-them-digitize

Ottawa Perogies becomes the victim of fake online reviews
[dead link: https://www.iheartradio.ca/580-cfra/news/ottawa-perogies-becomes-the-victim-of-fake-online-reviews-1.14514492] https://www.iheartradio.ca/580-cfra/news/ottawa-perogies-becomes-the-victim-of-fake-online-reviews-1.14514492
Another form of digital ransoming of small businesses. I guess I'll have to go buy some perogies. The hardships I endure in combating digital deception. But seriously, be supportive of the small businesses you want to see survive, because the fake lockdowns are killing small businesses and rewarding big retailers. If you have time on your hands, go check out the web presence of local businesses, and if you see unwarranted storms of unfavourable reviews, respond with something honest, and if possible, use your real name. Anonymity is the internet armour of the nefarious.

The 24-year-old founder of 2 crypto hedge funds overseeing $100 million admits to fraud
https://www.businessinsider.com/stefan-he-qin-admits-fraud-crypto-hedge-funds-100-million-2021-2
Cryptocurrency Hedge Fund Founder Admits to Massive Fraud
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-04/cryptocurrency-hedge-fund-founder-pleads-guilty-to-fraud

The future of online disinformation following Trump’s departure
https://finance.yahoo.com/video/future-online-disinformation-following-trump-165246997.html

No wonder conspiracy theories are suddenly everywhere — our social media platforms reward inflammatory content
https://www.thestar.com/business/technology/opinion/2021/01/23/my-old-friend-started-posting-conspiracy-theories-on-facebook-how-can-we-help-the-truth-compete.html

Listen Carefully to What Facebook Isn't Saying About Apple's Upcoming Privacy Change. It's the Only Part that Matters.
https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/what-facebook-isnt-saying-about-apples-upcoming-privacy-change.html
You are the product.

Clearview AI violated privacy rights of Canadians with facial recognition tech, say privacy commissioners
[dead site: https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/clearview-ai-violated-privacy-rights-of-canadians-with-facial-recognition-tech-say-privacy-commissioners/441698]

At some point, I will be writing something about the GameStop / Reddit-WallStreetBets / Hedge Fund Shorts story and the misinformation / disinformation campaign currently in play. I have not done enough research yet to write the piece, but I can tell you today that mainstream media (MSM) are engaged and are not providing an honest or fair accounting, and are pushing up the noise level. A couple of examples. There is a media meme complaining that a self-selecting group of mostly small retail investors are acting in concert without transparency to game the system. Sadly for the MSM, this is incorrect.

This 'group' publicly posts its internal conversations live in real-time on the Internet. You want to know what this 'group' is thinking? Just open up their conversation platform in your web browser and read it (I have done - do an Internet search on 'wallstreetbets'). That's about as transparent as I can imagine. Perhaps more so than some people will be comfortable with - some of the content is not rated for general audiences. This 'group' is largely chaos, so if they're driving a concerted strategy which is bringing down hedge funds, you have to figure out what kind of house of cards the hedge funds are.

There's plenty of manipulation going on (e.g., trading platforms preventing customers from buying stocks, assymetric trading halts, trading permitted by large firms while retail investors are locked out). Second example, the real strategists in the world's financial circles are pushing their message via all channels, and the seams are showing.

In this article, which Google delivered to me at random, the author couldn't even take the time to get the name of the company/stock at the centre of the story correct.
COMMENTARY: How WallStreetBets is disrupting financial markets — and possibly permanently
https://globalnews.ca/news/7622629/wallstreetbets-game-stop-stock-market/

There's another meme playing in the MSM late last week and into the weekend: the GameStop shorting story is over. I don't think that's true. That's why the story needs time to be written.

Life is hard. It's harder during the pandemic.
Commit random acts of kindness and practice senseless displays of beauty. Imagine you made someone else smile, even if you can't see it.

;-) Keep calm and masks on.

Injection beats infection. But we gave infection a big head-start.
Spread knowledge, not the virus.
Stay well, stay safe, stay sane, stay home if you can.
We're not done yet, but that day is getting closer.
With thanks to those making the effort, every day, for us all.

Warning: these posts are for 'adults'; people with the ability to think for themselves, take responsibility for their actions, and prepared to work for the greater good. If that isn't you, remember to wash your hands and face with soap regularly and don't touch anything. Stay home. The Internet has plenty of content to entertain you.

Today, Canada will almost certainly surpass the 800,000 cases mark. It recently passed 20,000 deaths. Simple math: 2.5% of Canadians who are diagnosed with COVID-19, die. That looks better than the over 6% figure from the first wave, but it does not yet include the potential consequences from the new variants being discovered, and they're all going to arrive in Canada - if they haven't already - because our border crossing controls have been farcical. The 2.5% number also doesn't include the consequences of people who are labelled 'recovered', but end up with new chronic health impacts or become 'long-haulers'.

The vaccine alternatives for people with compromised immune systems
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2021/02/the-vaccine-alternatives-for-people-with-compromised-immune-systems/

Researchers engineer a tiny antibody capable of neutralizing the coronavirus.
https://phys.org/news/2021-02-tiny-antibody-capable-neutralizing-coronavirus.html

What Canada could do to take advantage of the lull in COVID-19 vaccine shipments
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-19-vaccine-shipments-lull-1.5901457

The Pandemic Broke the Flu
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/02/covid-19-flu-season/617924/

Australia crushed the pandemic. Canada didn’t. Why?
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-australia-crushed-the-pandemic-canada-didnt-why/

For current COVID-19 numbers, go to
https://epiforecasts.io/covid/posts/national/canada/
and https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/canada/ .

COVID-19 News Items

Canada is 'doing it right' with vaccine strategy: Novavax CEO
http://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/canada-is-doing-it-right-with-vaccine-strategy-novavax-ceo-1.1558603

What is COVAX and why is Canada getting backlash for receiving vaccines from it? https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/covax-explainer-canada-backlash-1.5902072

No one should be surprised that a massive new venture is not hitting every optimistic time-point on a fantasy schedule. Especially in the historically underfunded area of mass health-care, and which crosses multiple national borders. This week, Canada is expecting a resumption of shipments from Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. Let's see if the plague provinces can step up this time to deliver effectively and quickly to Canadian arms, unlike the case this past December.

Fortress Fossil Fuels Highlights/Gaslights

Denouncing 'Handouts to Big Oil,' Biden Calls on Congress to End $40 Billion in Taxpayer Subsidies for Fossil Fuels
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/01/27/denouncing-handouts-big-oil-biden-calls-congress-end-40-billion-taxpayer-subsidies

Incidentally, Canada and the U.S. (and the rest of the G20) all signed an agreement in 2009 to ELIMINATE subsidies to the fossil carbon industries. Since then, Canada has increased subsidies to the sector. This new stance by the new U.S. President is a massive game-changer for the world. Canada might want to get with the program, even if just by starting with not giving more new taxpayer-funded subsidies to the mostly foreign-owned oil and gas industry. Like funds for cleaning up abandoned oil wells, which the industry promptly gamed anyway.

Employment Transitions and the Phase-Out of Fossil Fuels
https://albertapolitics.ca/wp-content/uploads/Employment-Transitions-Report-Final.pdf
Just go read pages 4 and 5 (Summary and Main Findings).

Hmmm, if governments stop giving taxpayer money to oil and gas companies, and they have to make a profit by selling their product at a price that reflects real costs, that will drive the prices for heating oil, diesel, gasoline, etc. way up. Not a good place for petroleum companies, when electricity generation from wind and solar can already beat new-build natural gas and existing coal and nuclear on straight price per kWh. With electricity prices set by a floor from renewable energy sources and the price of advanced batteries coming down, the writing is also on the wall for gasoline and diesel as dominant transportation fuels. Which could lead to this sort of thing ...
Shell's Profits Plunge 87% In 2020
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Shells-Profits-Plunge-87-In-2020.html

Somewhere way back in time, I wrote a short piece demonstrating that oil and its derived products were the lifeblood of 20th century industrialized human civilization. Similarly, the lifeblood of the oil industry is money, and lots of it. It's increasingly capital intensive, with a lot of up-front investment for exploration, drilling, shipping, refining and distribution, with more for corporate PR, twisting political agendas and green-washing. It's one thing if governments stop increasing their subsidies and gifts. It's actually a bigger deal if the big banks stop providing the loans. Banks expect to get their money back on a loan, with interest. If they think their loan principle is at risk, they don't make the loan. That seems to be what's happening more frequently in the past few years. The loans are big. If there were a few significant defaults, even a big bank could have liquidity issues. That was the recipe for the 2008 financial crisis that was built on sub-prime mortgages and credit default swaps, and led to the biggest financial bail-out of the financial sector by taxpayers in history. As consumers and taxpayers, we're still paying for that, world-wide. But it does make you wonder, what if the banks stopped seeing the oil industry as a printing press for money.

European Lenders Exit Amazon Oil Trade After Scrutiny by Campaigners https://amazonwatch.org/news/2021/0124-european-lenders-exit-amazon-oil-trade-after-scrutiny-by-campaigners

If that domino falls, who knows what could happen next for the oil industry, especially the higher-risk portions of the 'extreme oil' sector (like offshore drilling, bitumen ...)

Oil’s decline will weaken its political influence
[dead site: https://energypost.eu/oils-decline-will-weaken-its-political-influence/]

Then watch for the oil industry to skirt even more of its obligations, like back-loaded plans for cleaning up abandoned wells, tailings ponds, brownfields and other contaminated sites. And expect more spills as staffing levels and maintenance are reduced in cost-cutting moves.

Life is hard. It's harder during the pandemic.
You can play the blame game, and use up time energy and create only enmity, not progress. Or,
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." ~ Theodore Roosevelt

;-) During COVID, I keep in touch with some people so they stay sane.
     Actually, using me as the measuring standard, it's pretty easy
     for them to believe they're doing fine.

Injection beats infection. But we gave infection a big head-start.
Spread knowledge, not the virus.
Stay well, stay safe, stay sane, stay home if you can.
We're not done yet, but that day is getting closer.
With thanks to those making the effort, every day, for us all.

Warning: these posts are for 'adults'; people with the ability to think for themselves, take responsibility for their actions, and prepared to work for the greater good. If that isn't you, remember to wash your hands and face with soap regularly and don't touch anything. Stay home. The Internet has plenty of content to entertain you.

Dear health officials: could you please stop using the word 'surveillance' for the gathering of useful data? I'm sure you consider it a useful shorthand, but not for the lay audience. What you mean for those of us who don't speak epidemiology or infectious diseases is: testing, recording, data analysis, forecasting, contact tracing, trend reports ... Not only does 'surveillance' have a completely different and negative connotation in plain English, this is also an opportunity for you to message these key elements of what it takes to successfully address virus transmission suppression. So far, transmission suppression has been the best tool we have to keep people healthy during the pandemic, and it will work on the new variants, even if those reduce the effectiveness of vaccines. Most importantly, in my opinion, fewer infected people means few chances for virus mutations and further transmission.

I wasn't the only one to link COVID-19's endless fake lockdown syndrome to the movie Groundhog Day. Here's a thing that struck me. None of the pieces I saw made this connection. The way the protagonist broke the cycle. He eventually used the time to acquire new skills, learns to control how he reacts to events beyond his control, and learns to care about others and not just himself. Sound familiar? COVID restrictions suck. What are you doing with it?

For current COVID-19 numbers, go to
https://epiforecasts.io/covid/posts/national/canada/
and https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/canada/ .

COVID-19 News Items

After a Rocky Start, Novavax Vaccine Could Be Here by Summer
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/03/health/vaccine-novavax.html

Long-term care outbreaks, deaths reveal how badly we undervalue seniors and people with dementia
https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/opinion-dementia-long-term-care-homes-1.5871981

Ontario won’t make Feb. 5 goal of vaccinating all LTC, high risk retirement residents
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2021/02/02/ontario-wont-make-feb-5-goal-of-vaccinating-all-ltc-high-risk-retirement-residents/

Where's the rest of the plan? Critics ask about Ottawa-based PSW training pilot
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/wheres-the-rest-of-the-plan-critics-ask-about-ottawa-based-psw-training-pilot

Remembering The Journalists Fooled By Doug Ford’s Pandemic Disguise
https://readpassage.com/remembering-the-journalists-fooled-by-doug-fords-pandemic-disguise/
"In Ontario, there have been more than 260,000 COVID-19 cases and nearly 6,000 deaths thus far. Ontario is also lagging far behind on vaccination rates compared to other provinces in Canada, which as a whole is performing poorly on a global scale."

Doctors call for systemic change to tackle burnout among health-care workers
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-feb-2-2021-1.5897412/doctors-call-for-systemic-change-to-tackle-burnout-among-health-care-workers-1.5897645

The COVID-19 Tracking Project [U.S. only]
https://covidtracking.com/

Climate Change

Court rules France failed to respect its climate change goal
https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/france-climate-change-goal-1.5899025
We need more than symbolic victories to tackle climate change. A government cannot be answerable only to itself between elections when there are annual targets to be measured against. Perhaps if there was a financial penalty to be paid to an international fund with a mandate to achieve real rogress on GHG emissions reductions. The amounts would have to be sizable so as to motivate real action in future years.

Canada pledges to strengthen 2030 climate targets. How ambitious should we be?
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/02/04/analysis/canada-pledges-strengthen-2030-climate-targets
Canada has NEVER achieved a climate change mitigation goal it has set for itself. It also needs some additional short-term motivation to make real progress. Clearly, doing it for the future survival of our grand-kids isn't enough. Perhaps financial penalties which could only be spent by Denmark would help, or giving up all claims to Han Island.

Huge methane emission rise follows extreme rainfall in East Africa
https://phys.org/news/2021-02-huge-methane-emission-extreme-rainfall.html

Life is hard. It's harder during the pandemic.
https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/how-to-be-more-efficient-with-your-time-and-energy-mens-journal/

;-) My body is a temple.
     Ancient and crumbling, probably cursed or haunted.

Injection beats infection. But we gave infection a big head-start.
Spread knowledge, not the virus.
Stay well, stay safe, stay sane, stay home if you can.
We're not done yet, but that day is getting closer.
With thanks to those making the effort, every day, for us all.

Warning: these posts are for 'adults'; people with the ability to think for themselves, take responsibility for their actions, and prepared to work for the greater good. If that isn't you, remember to wash your hands and face with soap regularly and don't touch anything. Stay home. The Internet has plenty of content to entertain you.

We live in a world of uncertainty. The gig economy means precarious employment. Disinformation drives political outcomes. Climate change is destabilizing weather patterns, which affects crop yields.

Why would it be different with a pandemic virus which we have seen for about a year, and is now mutating - as viruses do? Can the mouthpieces please just get over themselves about the reality that the vaccines aren't all already approved and supplied quantities aren't showing up on the most fantasy-based optimistic schedule possible?

The two major variants of concern are in Canada, likely because we imported them with a traveller. And we don't even know who or when because we could not be bothered with testing at points of entry. As for data for decision-making ...
Why Canada doesn’t know how many COVID-19 cases are linked to travel https://theconversation.com/why-canada-doesnt-know-how-many-covid-19-cases-are-linked-to-travel-154321

We're not just keeping health officials out of the decision-making process, apparently we're even keeping them out of the information loop until the public gets the announcements at photo-ops first.
Public health kept in the dark about provincial announcements, OPH report suggests
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/public-health-kept-in-the-dark-about-provincial-announcements-oph-report-suggests

We should be doing testing on all arrivals, because we likely can't trust test results provided from originating countries.
Criminal rings are selling fake COVID-19 test certificates at international airports, police warn
https://nationalpost.com/news/criminal-rings-are-selling-fake-covid-19-test-certificates-at-international-airports-police-warn

Outside the Atlantic bubble and the North, our elected leaders have chosen fake lockdowns to pander to the business sector.

We know what works to prevent virus transmission. A lot of Canadians have been doing their part for almost a year now. Day after Groundhog Day (movie reference). It's boring, it's tedious, it's hard to sort through the terrible and occasionally contradictory information hash, it causes daily inconveniences and for some, real hardships. For some it means facing a real hazard every time they just go to work. Some have fallen ill, and some have died. With time, the frustration mounts, and the anger is real when the entitled take advantage.

But the good news is that we DO know what works until the vaccine arrives.

This is what a real lockdown looks like. It's triggered by a single case.
Australia Puts Perth In Lockdown Over One Covid Case
[dead link: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/31/world/perth-covid-lockdown.html] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/31/world/perth-covid-lockdown.html
It looks like this ... "essential reasons like exercise, medical needs and shopping for groceries. Restaurants, bars and gyms will shut and mask-wearing will be compulsory in public. Schools, which were scheduled to reopen this week after the term break, will remain closed."

The vaccines we are starting to roll out now - well before the original optimistic
target of 2022 - appear to be phenomenally effective.
The vaccine news continues to be better than many people realize
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/01/briefing/vaccination-myanmar-coup-rochester-police.html

Canada on verge of deal to produce COVID-19 vaccines domestically
[dead link: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/canada-on-verge-of-deal-to-produce-covid-19-vaccines-domestically-1.5291835]

Idea from two Hamilton ultrasound technologists results in the creation of extended face shields
[dead link: https://www.chch.com/idea-from-two-hamilton-ultrasound-technologists-results-in-the-creation-of-extended-face-shields] https://www.chch.com/idea-from-two-hamilton-ultrasound-technologists-results-in-the-creation-of-extended-face-shields/

For current COVID-19 numbers, go to
https://epiforecasts.io/covid/posts/national/canada/
and https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/canada/ .

COVID-19 News Items

NYT Update
https://messaging-custom-newsletters.nytimes.com/template/oakv2?nl=coronavirus-briefing&segment_id=50781&uri=nyt%3A%2F%2Fnewsletter%2F09bd795f-2454-5056-b4b1-3fa6416fecdb

Worrisome New Coronavirus Strains Are Emerging. Why Now?
https://www.wired.com/story/worrisome-new-coronavirus-strains-are-emerging-why-now/

But this is how we continue to treat the 'front-line heroes'.
Tens of thousands of essential B.C. workers still waiting for ‘pandemic pay’: union
https://www.citynews1130.com/2021/01/31/panemic-pay-healthcare-workers-delay/

Life is hard. It's harder during the pandemic.
The vaccines are coming. Wait your turn, and stay healthy until then (and remember it takes about a month for the full immunity to take effect).

;-) A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology
     courses. She started her class by saying,
     'Everyone who thinks they're stupid, stand up!'
     After a few seconds, Little Larry stood up.
     The teacher said, 'Do you think you're stupid, Larry?'
     'No, ma'am, but I hate to see you standing there all by yourself!'

Injection beats infection. But we gave infection a big head-start.
Spread knowledge, not the virus.
Stay well, stay safe, stay sane, stay home if you can.
We're not done yet, but that day is getting closer.
With thanks to those making the effort, every day, for us all.

For earlier entries, see earlier blog file.
For the current blog, see the Econogics Blog.

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