The Juggler (a story/ish)

The Juggler

There were 10 plastic bottles sitting there for Master to juggle. And he was quite convinced he’d be able to do it. Until he picked them up and realized that some of them were weighted more than others.

Two of the bottles had the most weight. So he quickly colour coded them so he could easily tell them from the others. He called them trade and tourism as a joke.

Then there were lesser weighted ones. These he colour coded as well. And called them health and social security.

There was one bottle that had no bottom on it and he wondered who had thought of this prank for him. But he colour coded it as well. And called it military spending.

First he began with health and social security as they weighed the least. They were easy to juggle. on their own.

Then he added military spending and a couple of the middle-range weighted bottles. So far so good. It did get harder when he added the rest of the mid-range bottles though. And he was starting to get worried.

How would this go when the highest weight bottles were added? Was he up to the task?

He had to try so he could find out.

As soon as he added the two last bottles, his routine collapsed. The extra weight confused his hands. He was used to juggling things of similar or equal weight, after all.

So the Master juggler thought for a minute. And picked up a light and a heavy bottle with each hand, as if they adopted each other. Now his hands had an even distribution of weight.

And he added the rest two by two. Until he was juggling them all with relative ease. Ah! So that was it!

The Master practiced for a bit. Then called in the students to see his demonstration. And to hear the names of his bottles.

Some of the students thought the names were funny. Others were quite upset. Some just didn’t care.

So he paired the students who thought it was funny with one neutral and one negative and called his packs atoms. That made a few others laugh. No one got upset.

But a couple were confused. So he changed the groups. Till one student was paired with a student who thought the joke was funny, one who was neutral and one who was confused.

Each new grouping changed the way the students worked together, so he called them viruses, since they were mutating before his eyes. It seems none of his students thought he was funny this time.

So he sent them all away and brought in another class of students to see his demonstration. And called this a purge and infestation cycle.

It seems the old group and new group had met in the hall and the new group knew the jokes. So no one laughed. Which the Master was quite saddened by. HE thought he was funny as hell.

So he brought in an independent group. And made sure they didn’t hear the jokes before hand. These students didn’t laugh either. So Master sent them away.

And practiced both his juggling and delivery of the jokes for the rest of the day. By himself.

In the next few days, he tried repeatedly to get at least some of the students to laugh. Or some of the students to get upset. And could not.

So he called this period immunity. And put the bottles away for another time.

It seems there was such a thing as too much of a good thing. Esp when no one else got the joke as much as he did.

When They Talk About Covid 19 and it’s Morbidity as Numbers….

They tend to skate over the human factors. Like who is it that is most likely to get the disease? Everyone might get the virus. They might get no symptoms or pretty mild flu-LIKE symptoms.

But so far the percentages of deaths at the world level are holding at under 5% of the confirmed cases group. Which is pretty awesome when you consider how varied the health systems are around the world. And pretty amazing considering this is a new beast that scientists have just barely discovered and have had to fly by the seat of their pants in treatment options.

So far, they’ve been trying a bunch of shit. Think like Jackson Pollock, throwing a bunch of paint at a sheet of paper and seeing what sticks.

But end of third month, they have a list now of stuff they have tried that has had success. At least to mitigate the symptoms. And trust me, they’re talking to each other. That will slow down the growth in morbidity numbers more than anything else. No matter what your risk is.

But let’s focus on which groups are most likely to suffer/perish:

• The frail are a significant group. And it is possible that everyone of them will drop, Unlikely, but possible. And their caregivers and the governors do have to protect them as if they all could die. So the care centers have cracked down on visitors. Families and agencies who tend to those in the community are trying to look out for the ones who are still on their own. That should reduce that morbidity impact number significantly. That and the fact that a lot of these frail have food, shelter and a place to self-isolate and wash their hands. They are now not the biggest worry, for getting it or for transmitting it.
• The disenfranchised are a significant problem area. They are by nature wanderers, With no reliable access to food, shelter or sanitary, hygiene resources.

Some places are trying to make these things available to as many as will take the help. But in a community that have at best temporary states of paranoia (drug or psychotic induced) that is going to be a hard sell. 100% compliance to any public health efforts is likely unachievable. Every one that does is a coup. But at least these people aren’t gathering in groups while they roam. So yes there is a fear for them, but they are a limited contagion vector now. They will more likely starve to death or succumb to the weather or be a victim of their addiction than get Covid 19.

• A major issue is going to be the prisons, shanty towns, barrios and refugee camps of the world. Where people have no choice but to gather, and have limited resources for hygiene and food, water, shelter, clothing. And they’ll be lucky if they can access an aspirin if they get a fever. Let alone a ventilator. This is the most likely population for a wildfire contagion. But other than aid workers and guards and their families who are near them, they will be pockets of contagion.
• In the daily traffic aspect, a lot of work spaces have closed, or gone to web-commuting where possible. Most people are willing to be distant (esp in urban centers) for the duration of the pandemic. They’re somewhat used to that, with things like colds and flus. They get the need for it.
  But there will always be people who don’t want to be distant or can’t be.

Of the groups that can’t be are essential services:

• like the first responders. (Police, fire, EMTs, nurses, doctors and miitary) They have food, water and shelter. They have hygiene resources. And if properly supplied with PPE they have a good chance of surviving virus-free.
• Like the utility workers and repair services (plumbing, electric, maintenance…) Who don’t have to be that physically near someone to do their job. Unlike the first responders. But they do have to enter premises that may not be that hygenic. And they may be closer than 3-6 feet with an inhabitant of the space. But their risk isn’t as high as first responders. And they can ask before they enter, whether of not the inhabitant has symptoms. They can refuse service, if it’s not an emergency.
• Like the public transportation workers. Taxis, buses, trains, planes. (Even though most of the planes are grounded atm, there are still some in flight.) Their risk isn’t as high as first responders either.
• In the exchange of goods and money, you can also count store clerks and bank tellers. But considering the distancing already done by their desks or counters, they aren’t that exposed. This isn’t the likeliest risk. Though gloves during the exchange of money should be adhered to.

So those are the civilian and essential service providers who need to be cared for, and given adequate PPE for their risk of exposure.

…

So when you see the numbers and look at the millions or thousands, depending on the source, consider your risk by which group you and your loved ones fall into. Those in your actual household/those you see regularly, being your primary chain of vectors.

Maybe that will help you relax a bit? Not enough to go to an orgy tonight though, I hope! Just enough to not be another Chicken Little. Because we really don’t need more of those. Enough have signed on already.
And if nothing else grabs you, remember that humanity is resilient
Just because you get the virus, even if you are at higher risk than others, it doesn’t mean you will be the one who dies. So take your day a breath at a time.

And wash your hands!!

…. tracking sites for the numbers.

(how many cases are in your pocket of the world now?)
ecdc
govt of Canada
Ontario
(I’m taking a breath in and out right now, because in my area, there are only 5 known cases )

the economic fall out?

Considering that most people already pay the govt six months of their annual income? And all the money they’re laying out now on economic incentives and protective measures? Yeah when we come out of this… expect higher taxes. (pouts, grinds teeth)

So that has been Ms P’s thinky thoughts while others have focused on whether a particular dungeon or munch was closed…

This is real, it is scary. But stop looking at the numbers and consider your actual risks here. Live according to them. We have enough Chicken Littles. All they do is encourage hoarding. Or worse.

UN’s call for a cease fire to combat Covid 19 together as a world effort.

Opening remarks of the United Nations’ Secretary-General’s appeal for global ceasefire

….In the words of António Guterres,

Our world faces a common enemy: COVID-19.

The virus does not care about nationality or ethnicity, faction or faith. It attacks all, relentlessly.

Meanwhile, armed conflict rages on around the world.

The most vulnerable — women and children, people with disabilities, the marginalized and the displaced — pay the highest price.

They are also at the highest risk of suffering devastating losses from COVID-19.

Let’s not forget that in war-ravaged countries, health systems have collapsed.

Health professionals, already few in number, have often been targeted.

Refugees and others displaced by violent conflict are doubly vulnerable.

The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war.

That is why today, I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world.

It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives.

To warring parties, I say:

Pull back from hostilities.

Put aside mistrust and animosity.

Silence the guns; stop the artillery; end the airstrikes.

This is crucial…

To help create corridors for life-saving aid.

To open precious windows for diplomacy.

To bring hope to places among the most vulnerable to COVID-19.

Let us take inspiration from coalitions and dialogue slowly taking shape among rival parties in some parts to enable joint approaches to COVID-19. But we need much more.

End the sickness of war and fight the disease that is ravaging our world.

It starts by stopping the fighting everywhere. Now.

That is what our human family needs, now more than ever.

the places

where a contagion goes thru like a wildfire.
no indoor plumbing, or electricity, no way to self-isolate, reliant on others for food and water, where hygiene is a pipe dream.

…..

the new humanitarian
interactive war map
World Vision
refugees/internment camps
World Atlas
shanty towns in developing nations
World Prisons – in totalitarian regimes, how many are political prisoners?
arcgis.com

……

council on foreign relations re: USA conflict map
cfr.org
int’l crisis group
crisisgroup.org

Safe(r) Sex During a Pandemic

They met at a pharmacy where each bought a sealed thermometer, an individual use set of gloves, a face mask, marked as able to block viruses, a condom and a dental dam. They picked up packages of wet wipes as well.

Then they moved on to a sex shop where they waited outside till noone but the clerk was in the store. Then they picked up some packaged dildos and other insertables.

Next they went to the hardware store and got some laundry clips, a fishing line, and some wax candles. And a box of camping matches.

They drove separately to a hotel room and booked in.
In the lobby, they put on the protective gear, before getting in the elevator. And went to their room.

There was a bathroom inside the door. Where they took turns taking their temp and left the thermometer on the sink so the other could see neither had a fever.

Then they put the dildos and insertables, fishing line, candles and clips on the coffee table between the two couches and took off their clothes. Each sat on a different couch. On top of their clothes.

Their nipples were clipped, his peen was tied in a chain of loops. They poured hot wax over their chests and stomachs. Then they started inserting their dildos and other insertables and rubbing their breasts and genitals. Faster and faster, till they came into the protective condom or dental dam.

They wiped their genitals with the wipes and quickly got dressed and left in turns. Putting all their used items into a plastic baggy to discard at the garbage chute. They put a sign on the bag that it contained bio-wastes and should not be opened.

They took a different path to the lobby. They waved at each other before they got in their cars and drove to their respective homes. And skyped each other to chat and coo at each other. She cuddled her fave stuffy and he cuddled a pillow.

It was a good day and they were still in lust with each other. Looking forward to a day when they could have sex with only a condom on. And touching might be nice too!?

The Story of My Nephew and Human Resilience and Support Resources

They say kids are resilient… and if there was ever a story that I’ve known, it’s the one of my nephew. There are some things I cannot share as they’d out my family in a major way. But as much as I can share, I will.

A was 5 years old when he was diagnosed with a form of cancer (I can’t share the name/type) that up to that point had always been fatal. (This was a few years back) They had no treatments for it. Any they gave him would be palliative only. And maybe stretch his life by weeks or months. At most.

My sister and BIL decided they were going all in. They wanted to save their son’s life. Or at least have him as long as they could. So they went for the full hog. Chemo and radiation. They had a shunt put into his chest to try to save his veins, and a 5 yr old all those needles. Surgery wasn’t on the table. Considering where it was,

And it began. The nausea, the vommiting, the headaches, the fatigue, the hair loss. The weeks of spending 2 hrs back and forth everyday to be with their son. The time off work. Shifting the family to take care of their older son and my BIL’s parents who lived with them, due to their aging, and health issues. (They both died within that year). Trust me, that wasn’t that easy. The people they asked had to be willing to follow my sister’s directions and have a good amount of sobriety (several of my family have addictions) and common sense. If they had medical training at all, so much the better. Only my step monster and I qualified for that. But she was taking care of my gram (who also died that year). So I booked off work and stuck in. But what I couldn’t cover, they had to make due with those who’d follow directions. My family aren’t good at that. There was a LOT of fuss at a time when they really didn’t need it. My family is like that.

My sister and BIL had to decide if they were going to tell my nephew it looked like he was going to die. They chose not to. They told him he was in good hands. And he was. They went to Toronto Sick Kids Hospital. It has a good rep around the world.

And they held his hand thru all the symptoms and treatment. And they held their worry, rage and tears for when he wasn’t around.

They watched their somewhat chubby son go to quite slender. They tried to tempt him with treats to get him to eat. They held him when he cried.

My sister read everything the doctors gave her on his cancer. And tried everything she could do at home to support him and his immune system. Which wasn’t easy. He didn’t have one. But you know moms. She tried a few homeopathic and dietary tricks as well. Who knows if they helped or not?

Weeks went by. There was serious squabbling in the family and it really hurt my sister and BIL to deal with this as well as just juggling their household’s needs. Make sure nobody got lost in the shuffle.

Somehow they managed. I hope I helped.

And weaker, smaller son finally was told that his numbers were improving!! The doctors were dumbfounded!

Seriously this cancer had always been fatal before. It was a journal-writing moment!

So they finally got him in remission and threw a party. Trust me. But they still had a sense of caution. Those of you who know anything about cancer know that that bugger often returns.

They carted their son to all his checkups. And weeks went by, then months. Finally year 1 went by. Then year two. Year three. Year four and yay year five!!! He had survived what no one else ever had before!

My nephew is a record breaker. I’m sure the doctors learned a LOT from him.

I honestly believe a good part of that is because he had no clue there was another option. He fought hard as a slugger for his life and his health. Because his parents and his doctors never told him there was another choice.

Same as he and his brother fought when they had learning delays, same as they fought when they had to have corrective surgery when they had a small procedure done that went pear-shaped. Which had serious effects on their health for awhile.

And his parents jumped in to fight with him/them.

The funny thing is, my family had done everything they could to break up my sister and BIL, since they met when they were 16. And nothing they tried worked. So they were used to having challenges and finding a way thru them. Together.

Their worry, their rage? The family’s resistance? It hurt them. My BIL had never liked my family, and when the bell was clear on his son, and his parents had died, he soon refused to have anything further to do with them. My sister attended family events with her sons. The BIL wouldn’t go any more. Frankly I didn’t last much longer in the group.

They were beyond cruel in their timing and attitudes toward my sister and BIL.

These days, my nephew is a grown man. Who beat impossible odds. And his mom and dad managed to stay together too. They have the longest marriage among any of my family members. And they were always on each other. It could be embarassing to be around them TBH.

Pretty amazing considering what they had to go thru. And that to me shows resilience. Something we often forget iabout human beings in our darkest hours.

factors within resilience and studies on it

and how human nature is viewed

• who is doing the viewing, what their aim is,
• who is being viewed and how valued/understood they feel
• the people involved and their attitudes/support of each other:
• your history with them and their reliability with meeting your needs
• the people involved and their belief systems
• the types of support people can be to each other :
  emotional, instrumental, informational, and experiential.
• how securely bonded you are
• being told “you can do this”, “we love you/need you”
• not being told just how bleak your prospects are, expectations/mgmt
• people respond differently when under duress:
  (autonomic system) fight, flight, freeze, fuck
• seeing it isn’t necessarily a “choice”/ vs “shaming/blaming” them for their response.
• chronic or incidental stress syndromes like PTSD.
• how you express love, fear, sadness – need for affection to sexual intimacy.
• whether your “information” bias is one toward:
  rhetoric x fact, fear mongering x complacency
• whether your “information” bias:
  actually informs you or distances you from emotions and bonds
• Freudian defense mechanism:
  perhaps what you see as complacency or disinterest is intellectualization or rationalization and is under many coats of paint vs you seeing it as superficial.

resilience and human nature resources

link springer
apa

four core components — connection, wellness, healthy thinking and meaning — can empower you to withstand and learn from difficult and traumatic experiences. To increase your capacity for resilience to weather — and grow from — the difficulties, use these strategies.

positive psychology

Resilience isn’t about floating through life on a breeze, or skating by all of life’s many challenges unscathed; rather, it’s about experiencing all of the negative, difficult, and distressing events that life throws at you and staying on task, optimistic, and high-functioning.

verywellmind
nih
psychology today
types of support
stanford
nih
prayer, meditation, belief
univ of glasgow
Hawthorne vs Rosenthal effects, quantum theories in health, caregiver and patient biases
mayo clinic
stress symptoms
issues.org
psychology today

COVID 19 – Does Being Disenfranchised Mean They Deserve to Die?

Most people don’t care about the homeless, the poor, the mentally ill, the drug addicts… Most people want to forget they exist and go on to their jobs and social lives. Thinking that there are people looking out for the frail of society.
Most people think we can forget they exist.

You might change your answer for that if you realized that the people society discards are now armed vectors to spread the disease to you and your loved ones, because the govts of your country aren’t taking their needs into account.
They are refusing them a place to self isolate. The shelters and food banks are closed or even further limited than usual, the libraries are closed.

They are refusing them a place to wash their hands. Most public bathrooms they previously used are closed as the restaurants, bars, gas stations refuse access to them to contain the spread of the disease.

They are refusing them a safe way to pan-handle. And even if they could,
They are refusing them places to buy food. When they have no ID, no credit cards. And a lot of places of business are refusing to trade in cash. Because it takes more handling than credit or debit cards do.

But maybe you’ll care about the fact that people who used to be somewhat contained by things like shelters and drop in centers no longer are.

And are wandering the city, looking for food and shelter. And since they are more mobile are more at risk of getting the virus,
And more at risk of giving it to you and people you might care about.

This is a country that claims to care and act in a crisis. But they have left out a group that could bring this country and others to it’s death.
Maybe you’ll care about that.

Ontario Coalition Against Poverty held a news conference outside to high light these issues to the media and the govt. Because the people they are acting for are dying. As they would be any winter. But now as they try to follow directives (to wash hands, to isolate in place) that will reduce the spread of the virus. Directives from govts that have shown their callousness and disregard for their lives, they find that if they do so, it will cost their lives. Lives that didn’t need to be lost.

This has been a long time coming and the govts have ignored the threat they have been creating. Maybe now they will see that cutting funds to programs not only leaves people destitute, but also creates vectors when a pandemic hits.

You may not care about the homeless or the poor. You may not care about the mentally ill or the drug addicts. But maybe now you’ll care that they are a threat to you and those you love.

So what do you want to have the govts do?

ACT.

Meanwhile, tourism is closed down and hotels are empty. So there is a way to help them and protect us.
It was suggested in the conference that homeless people could be set into them so they can be fed, washed and isolate safely.

Speaking at OCAP’s conference were:

Speakers included Gaetan Heroux
and Yogi Acharya from OCAP,
Greg Cook of the Shelter and Housing Justice Network,
Dr. Ritika Goel, physician who has extensive experience working with people who are homeless,
and Franky Morris, overdose prevention worker in the downtown east end.

the conference:

held outside in Regent Park, one of the poorest, most crowded areas of Metro Toronto, which is the biggest city and govt HQ for the province of Ontario. The most populous province in one of the riches nations on earth.
OCAP

point to ponder:

Canada claims to have a govt based on Judao-Christian beliefs. So I leave you with a Bible verse with the words of Jesus Christ:

Matthew 25:40-45

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

added

London UK plan
state of California

The Pandemic and it’s Master Blogger (an internet fable)

Master sent his students out to tell the story of the new plague that hit town. With one mission…. get people to care about the plague. And all he wanted them to do was wash their hands. Seems simple, right?

Each student thought they had the mission right, and just the thing. So they wrote their post, full of facts and mission statements. Full of calm in some cases and hysteria in others.

And his students posted before they showed the theme they had picked to their master. After all, blogging was easy. Anyone could do it, right? (famous last words)

Some of the students decided to tell the people they should worry. Well yes, they should. As much as is reasonable. But some people don’t do reason well. When told to worry, they panic. Then they do silly things like buy toilet paper for the next century. And little Timmy had none the next time he had to take a dump. Worse, Cathy had IBS and needed TP several times everyday, but there was none. Soon Timmy and Cathy were feeling helpless, and TBH were rather smelly. While the TP got damp in a basement and it ended up useless to everyone.

Or they rise up in mobs and smash shop windows and snatch all the TP in the place and fight over who will go home with it. Some people ended up in jail, and some in the morgue, when their face got in the way of someone getting that last roll of TP. And there were the stampedes. Never corner someone who is in a panic.

The students who wrote about worry realized they had done the wrong thing and ran to Master for help.
TG Master was a Master because his writing came from a place of magic, rather than emotion. He cast a spell
🎤 🎧 Abra Cadabra Alla Cazoo Cazaam •♫♪¸¸.♫♪*•♫♪¸
Bring this crowd back •♫♪¸¸.♫♪*•♫♪¸
To an even tack •♫♪¸¸.♫♪*•♫♪¸
Abra Cadabra Alla Cazoo Cazaam 🎤 🎧
that added humour and choice to the students’ works and the panic began to dissipate. The people felt they had some control again. And the hoarding soon began to calm down.
Other students decided to get people to act. So they sent out a rally cry. A mission statement full of facts, and bleeding heart stories. Sent out to get people a little angry. But mostly to move, to do something. They meant to wash their hands.

But out of anger comes bigotry. People want someone to blame, someone to shame. A scapegoat they can lynch in their rage. They went to the house of the local TP producer and seller and killed his family. Instead of gathering to their need and washing their hands. They came back with blood on them, not hands that were clean.
The students who wrote the calls to action realized they had done the wrong thing and ran to the Master for help.
TG Master was a Master because his writing came from a place of magic, rather than emotion. He cast a spell
🎤 🎧 Abra Cadabra Alla Cazoo Cazaam •♫♪¸¸.♫♪*•♫♪¸
Bring this crowd back •♫♪¸¸.♫♪*•♫♪¸
To an even tack •♫♪¸¸.♫♪*•♫♪¸
Abra Cadabra Alla Cazoo Cazaam 🎤 🎧
that added humour and choice to the students’ works and the rage began to dissipate. The people felt they had some control again. And the mobs and revenge seekers soon calmed down. As did the hate.

Another group of students thought they had just the ticket. They wrote essays full of facts and dispassionate pieces that provoked nothing. People were told every little thing they needed to know. In long, seemingly informed pieces that drove the crowd…. but only to sleep. There was nothing to attach to, nothing to do and it was just so full of information people couldn’t process it. It was like reading a dictionary.

The students who wrote the essays realized they had done the wrong thing and went to Master for help.
TG Master was a Master because his writing came from a place of magic, rather than emotion. He cast a spell
🎤 🎧 Abra Cadabra Alla Cazoo Cazaam •♫♪¸¸.♫♪*•♫♪¸
Bring this crowd back •♫♪¸¸.♫♪*•♫♪¸
To an even tack •♫♪¸¸.♫♪*•♫♪¸
Abra Cadabra Alla Cazoo Cazaam 🎤 🎧
that added humour and choice to the students’ works and the inertia began to dissipate. He broke down the information into smaller bites. The people were able to sit thru the reading without falling asleep. The people felt they had some control again.

And the last group of students wrote their pieces. They wanted to move people and gave them a list of things they could do. Without citing the reasons why or the people who would benefit. Or how it could change or protect their lives. Just a list of what was recommmended.

The people looked at the list and went back to their daily track. But walked more firmly within it. The track got deeper. And the people were soon buried in their movement. In their rut.

Some saw no reason to try, so they jumped off roofs. There was nothing they could do and no reason to do it either.
Some fucked and got high like their lives depended on it. Instead of washing their hands. None of them washed their hands. Their itchy, grabby, slutty hands were filthier than ever.

The students soon realized they had done something wrong and went running to Master for help.
TG Master was a Master because his writing came from a place of magic, rather than emotion. He cast a spell
🎤 🎧 Abra Cadabra Alla Cazoo Cazaam •♫♪¸¸.♫♪*•♫♪¸
Bring this crowd back •♫♪¸¸.♫♪*•♫♪¸
To an even tack •♫♪¸¸.♫♪*•♫♪¸
Abra Cadabra Alla Cazoo Cazaam 🎤 🎧
that added humour and choice to the students’ works and the ruts soon filled again and the flurry of sameness began to dissipate. The people felt they had some control again.
The Master called his students together and told them why they had not achieved the one thing needed in this situation. The washing of hands.

It seems in their effort to EXCITE, they had lacked knowledge of people and their ways of handling information and duress. They had tapped into the bad of humanity rather than getting them to do this one thing. Instead of exciting the people to wash their hands, they had INCITED them to panic, hate and learned helplessness.

People have to feel that things can be done that are within their own control, not the politicians, media or bloggers. That way they feel less manipulated.

When a true magician is behind the blog, people see the sense of doing that one thing. Which in this case is: washing their hands during a pandemic.

The students realized that before they sent out another blog, they’d run it by the Master. He was the one who knew about how humans were. How to work the bloggers’ spells. That is why he was the master after all. Right?
And they were here solely to learn at his knees. How to get the people to wash their hands, Not to manipulate the people, but to excite them.

And the Master? Was dead pleased with his students.

Check your country’s COVID 19 numbers – how are you doing as a nation?

You know your country better than the statisticians do.
So if you are panicking about the COVID 19 virus/pandemic, try answering some questions for yourself:

• how open was your border BEFORE Dec 31,2019 when the first case was known?
• how quickly did your country respond by shutting down the border and large meeting places?
• how good are your health services?
• how likely are your citizens to report it to authorities if they fall ill?
• how quickly did your country act to protect the care centers from contagion?
• does the supply chain reach the poor and/or vulnerable over the rich?
• how close are you to China, Europe, and the USA?
• how much is there travel between you and the epicenters?

(remember the answers when you have your next elections)

the world numbers

Total cases 271364 deaths 11252
15 days 173202

10 most populated countries

China,

Cases 81416
Deaths 3261
15 days 749

India,

Cases 231
Deaths 4
15 days 202

United States,

Cases 19624
Deaths 260
15 days 19391

Indonesia,

Cases 309
Deaths 25
15 days 307

Pakistan,

Cases 495
Deaths 3
15 days 490

Brazil,

Cases 904
Deaths 11
15 days 896

Nigeria,

Cases 12
Deaths 0
15 days 11

Bangladesh,

Cases 17
Deaths 0
15 days 17

Russia

Cases 253
Deaths 0
15 days 249

Mexico.

Cases 203
Deaths 2
15 days 198
ecdc

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Growth By Country From 3/18 to 3/19 (top 10)

1. United States

cases grew by 5,894 equalling a growth of 76%

Italy

cases grew by 5,322 equalling a growth of 15%

Spain

cases grew by 4,053 equalling a growth of 29%

Germany

cases grew by 2,993 equalling a growth of 24%

France

cases grew by 1,828 equalling a growth of 20%

Switzerland

cases grew by 1,047 equalling a growth of 35%

Iran

cases grew by 1,046 equalling a growth of 6%

Netherlands

cases grew by 409 equalling a growth of 20%

Austria

cases grew by 367 equalling a growth of 22%

Portugal

cases grew by 337 equalling a growth of 75%
forbes.com

How is my country doing?

Total confirmed 1,048 probable 33 deaths 13 canada.ca
6% required hospitalization

At Canadian borders

As of March 18, 2020, the Government of Canada will:

ban foreign nationals from all countries except the United States from entering Canada. This measure does not apply to air crews, travellers arriving in Canada in transit to a third country, Canadian permanent residents, diplomats or immediate family members of Canadian citizens.
redirect international passenger flight arrivals to 4 airports:
Calgary International Airport
Vancouver International Airport
Toronto-Pearson International Airport
Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport

canada.ca

U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed on Wednesday morning to bar travellers crossing the world’s longest land border for “recreation and tourism” purposes. ( a lot of companies are tele-commuting or closed as non-essential as well)
national post

how is my province doing?

Currently under investigation 7239
Confirmed positive 369
Resolved 6
Deceased 2
Ontario is the most populous Canadian province.
ontario.ca

International Day of Happiness 20 March

International Day of Happiness
20 March

What is the International Day of Happiness?

It’s a day to be happy, of course! Since 2013, the United Nations has celebrated the International Day of Happiness as a way to recognise the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world. In 2015, the UN launched the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which seek to end poverty, reduce inequality, and protect our planet – three key aspects that lead to well-being and happiness.

The United Nations invites each person of any age, plus every classroom, business and government to join in celebration of the International Day of Happiness.

Background

The General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 66/281 of 12 July 2012 proclaimed 20 March the International Day of Happiness, recognizing the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives. It also recognized the need for a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness and the well-being of all peoples.

The resolution was initiated by Bhutan, a country which recognized the value of national happiness over national income since the early 1970s and famously adopted the goal of Gross National Happiness over Gross National Product. It also hosted a High Level Meeting on “Happiness and Well-Being: Defining a New Economic Paradigm” during the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly.

source

……

17 Goals to Transform Our World

The Sustainable Development Goals are a call for action by all countries – poor, rich and middle-income – to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.

• No Poverty.
• Zero Hunger
• good health and well being
• quality education
• gender equality
• clean water and sanitation
• affordable and clean energy
• decent work and economic growth
• industry, innovation and infrastructure
• reduced inequalities
• sustainable cities and communities
• responsible consumption and production
• climate action
• life below water
• life on land
• peace, justice and strong institutions
• partnerships
  target 2030

who gets affected when you demand social distancing? (One frail group)

As care centers in Canada and other countries are being closed to non-essential visitors,

As doctors use tele-health technology to skype with patients and reduce the in-office traffic. (Trust me that is actually a good idea, cuzz you can sit in a specialist’s waiting room or clinic for a good 3-4 hours here)

I hope that you remember there are frail people in the community who need supervision and care as well.

……

It may seem like a joke to some people who like spending time alone, and they say they’d be glad to have months to themselves with no interruption.

But people I deal with are a fall away from being in a care center. They have a home maker who comes in 1-2x a week to muck out. They have a meal delivery every day or two so they can eat better, healthier meals than their deli or fast food places who deliver will give them. Or better than cat food and PBJ. They have an attendant in to lift them in and out of the tub or shower, because they and/or their partner can’t navigate that safely. They have nurses or social workers who come in to make sure their support plan is in place and going well. They have pharmacy deliveries of meds they cannot live without. They have doctors’ appts.

They may have nurses in several times a day to check their oxygen, blood sugar, IV bag, stats…. They may have a therapist of some kind (occupational, physio…) in for rehab after a fall or a stroke. Or to maintain their memory or physical function. They may need a dressing changed on an open wound. Remember that Christopher Reeve may have died due to treatment of an ulcerated bed sore. (Not from his actual injuries/quadraplegia.) And you may realize how important professional eyes on a patient are.

They may have a standing visit to a frail adult “babysitting” agency so their family caretaker or spouse can hold down a job, and/or run errands because they cannot safely be left on their own. That is how falls, and fires get started. That is how wanderers at early stages of dementia end up in a lake or in front of a train. Because they are unsupervised and get confused.

And then there are the people who went/or will go home to die. Who need nurses for pain control and easing their passage safely and comfortably… Do we send them screaming into the abyss?

…..

So is this the person you want to drop off supplies for and leave for months? Trust me, they’d be dead. Virus or not. It isn’t that they might be a bit anxious or sad. It’s that they could not survive for four months alone. But given proper support, they can survive for years and be quite happy with it. And it will cost society less than a bed in a care center or hospital will ever do.

So what do you plan to do for them?

And how dare you say you’d be grateful to have those months alone??!! Because it won’t be you who is asked to be alone. EVER!! It’s them. Especially as the already short-staffed health care system gets taxed with hospitalized virus patients and sick staff. And there aren’t enough respite spots in care centers to take these people in to keep them safer either. I hope they have family, who are willing to take them on. And can.

Maybe the govt will use those promised dollars for this crisis to integrate in doctors and nurses, within our borders already, who we have refused opportunity to practice. So far they’ve been keeping body and soul together by taking menial jobs, since they’re not allowed to practice here. Even if they were treated as interns/students on a team, it’d flesh out the staff we already have. And it could be they are off work at the job they took till they could get their Canadian certificates. So they may be available. Because the system would open up a lot wider if there was an influx of staff. Some training has to be far better than none. An interned position has to be better than loss of a bed due to staff shortages. That is part of the reason why so few beds are available for respite or critical care. The two bed types needed in this pandemic. I’m sure Canada isn’t the only country that could resolve some of their health care staffing situations by thinking like this. Just a thought…

….

CCAC stats
These are some of the public numbers, not those who have family or privately funded people in to help. And there are also programs like the March of Dimes and the Victorian Order of Nursing. And they have to triage their wait lists. Some weren’t getting the full support they need, even before COVID 19 hit. These are real people who will be affected, not panic projections.