Opening Statement



Tuesday 25 January 2022

Toronto Covid Diary: Omicron Daze!

A sip of coffee. A puff of smoke. I awake and bake. Gaze at the blizzard swirling outside my window to the world as it snarls traffic, burying the streets below beneath a blanket of snow. Truly, it's the dead of winter, in more ways than one. 

Janet and I are stuck indoors at home in Toronto again. The fifth wave struck fast and hard, just when it seemed like the pandemic was finally over. It'll soon be two years since Covid put our retirement travel plans on hold. We're still here, as the Omicron variant now wrecks further chaos upon our once fine city.

How fucking frustrating! Every time things improve, we get hopeful. Then the province eases restrictions, takes it's foot off the break, throwing caution to the wind. Everyone goes back to school and work, plunging us into the thick of it again.

With the arrival of the Omicron variant, the Ford government has completely sacrificed province wide testing, tracing, and an accurate daily case count to the corporate god$ of busine$$ and indu$try. Little i$ being $aid or done about it; a $tupefying Canadian media fail. The end re$ult? 

Just read between the lines: We're kept in the dark as the pandemic spirals out of control like never before. Clearly, our lives are now expendable. Amongst the disinformation and mass stupidity, few seem to realize what's really going on or even care anymore. 

It wears you out! It's totally insane! Even our own family and friends aren't immune to the sheer folly. It wasn't being "paranoid" to following the Covid restrictions at Christmas. We dodged a huge super spreader event. But lots of them got sick as the virus spread like crazy!

Our self isolation has become an old friend. It doesn't bother me much anymore. During the summer we relax outdoors enjoying a safe respite at the lake. Then come fall we retreat back indoors to our city condo. Rather all or nothing, but it's a comforting routine.

Fortunately we renovated our place before the pandemic. I quite enjoy being here with my books, music, and computer to entertain myself. Janet's got her cellphone TV and games. We don't go far on date nights. Mostly, we just cuddle a lot, talking and relaxing together on the couch. Then once a week make a supply run like Rick and Michonne, dodging all the walking deadheads at the store. Too bad it's not as much fun as on TV!

Bottom line? The Omicron variant is scary as shit. We just try to go with the flow, biding our time, keeping it all in perspective. It isn't easy. It takes lots of love and patience just to get by. After all is said and done, it's just the two of us together alone. It's difficult sometimes, but in my heart of hearts, I love her even more for just being here with me.

However, the madness outside our own little world continues unabated.

The Ford government has asked retired teachers like myself to fill in for the recent crush of ... ahem ... "absent" classroom teachers. I taught almost thirty years. The extra pocket money might be nice. But my answer is a resounding "no"! Here's why:

Would you go into a crowded classroom? Where someone has signed out sick? Then sit at their desk? During a pandemic? For more money?

Proper ventilation, sanitation and hygiene in our schools were huge, ongoing problems throughout my teaching career. They can't possibly be now fixed overnight. The teacher and student vaccines are too late; they are voluntary anyway, and take three weeks to kick in. Add the lack of proper masking, testing, tracing and reporting. The list of horrors goes on and on and on. 

The health risk, especially in my senior years, is far too great. Moreover, I'm not going to enable Ford and Lecce's criminal negligence in sending everyone back into our unsafe schools during a surge. Not when even the unions are doing next to nothing to really protect the teachers and students. It's complete bullshit. 

No? Just watch the virus spread in the daze ahead, at school, home and work! 

Bet it'll be a total shit storm! We can't even get accurate case counts to plan accordingly, so that we can keep our family and loved one's safe! 

Premier Doug Fraud's so called Science Table has proven to be of very little help whatsoever. However, there are numerous, reliable medical science experts still privately tracking the province's hospitalization, ICU and retransmission rates. They can provide very detailed analysis along with useful tips on how to get by. Unlike the Science Table, they are usually proven right too.

I'm still retweeting their links on Twitter for you to check out, if you haven't already. My favourites are Ryan Imgrund, Bill Comeau, and Dr. Jennifer Kwan. You'll find each @ Ryan @ Bill @  Jennifer

My full guide to Teacher Free Speech News and Views -The Twitter edition is coming, but in the meantime, you can still follow me for more updates @davidchiarelli

So, here I am, staying at home, spinning records and getting stoned on reefer. I've got some tasty leftover Racing Fuel, Bruce Banner, and Girl Scout Cookie buds from last summer. Plus I scored some trez kool Tremblant black hashish from my local dispensary. I'll toke a tiny jeeb. It's real exquisite and laid back! 

Yummy yum yum!

Come evening, Janet and I will curl up on the couch with a pot of CBD tea. For a clean, smokeless high, I also enjoy a drop or two or three of CBD and/or THC oil. Helps get me going in the morning. So too, during the harsh Toronto Covid nights! 

Cannabis is very calming. It's legal now. It can provide a creative spark when the going gets tough. Plus it's way healthier than booze. Take too much and the worst that will happen is you'll get a good nights sleep. I highly recommend it!

However you decide to get by, please stay safe and remember to look out for each other!

See you on Twitter!

David C

COMMENTS:

Sunday 2 January 2022

Oh Cannabis -The Twitter Edition!


Hi Stoners!

For over 5 years, Oh Cannabis Newz and Viewz has provided a grassroots perspective of the legalization movement from here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It's one of those very rare stories that actually ends well. We won the fight! A lot of fine tuning is still needed. However, legalization has taken root on the home front. It's now spreading and growing around the world. 

So much so, that I can't keep up with all the news links any longer. It's time to change how I cover the scene. I still plan to write about the high life. I just won't be posting the latest links in a news compendium here on my blog site anymore. They're on Oh Cannabis -The Twitter Edition! instead:

@davidchiarelli

You'll find lots of links to our weed lifestyle, music and art, with plenty of laughs along the way. I cover the unfinished business of legalization in Canada and around the world too. 

Medical cannabis? The Reefer Madness stigma? Topicals? CBD's? Toking lounges? The government and corporate monopolies? Safety measures? Legal pardons? Criminal records? Equity issues? Or the policing of Prohibition 2.0? 

Please follow Oh Cannabis -The Twitter Edition for way, way more links than I could ever possibly post on my site! Plus keep checking here for more special features too!

MY BLOGSITE ARCHIVES

My original Oh Cannabis Newz y Viewz blogs are available in the Blogsite Archive, at the top left of your screen. 

They document the Canadian legalization process from Prime Minister Trudeau's 2015 election promise, through Legalization Day, October 18, 2018. Then how it was implemented, for better or worse, over the next three years. 

Hopefully, my primary news links and first hand insights will provide a useful historical record of our legalization movement for future reference, in the daze ahead!

A POT WINDFALL

Was it all worthwhile? Being an activist is risky. It means standing up for your rights and beliefs. Sometimes it works out, other times not, but still we do it because it is the right thing to do. Here are some of the many gains we've made in fighting for our cannabis rights:

We're free from the fear and paranoia of getting busted by the cops, or ripped off by some creep. Buying weed could be dangerous, back when I started toking in the early 1970's. Getting arrested meant jail time and a criminal record, a huge problem at home, school or work. Goodbye to all that anxiety and stress

My stash is an embarrassment of riches. There are more strains and extracts than I can smoke. More infused products than I can possibly eat or drink. Good bye to dry spells too!

The rich bounty of edibles is great for self medicating or just having fun. I've come to often prefer the cleaner, convenient and more healthier high! 

Cannabis is perfect for hibernating indoors during the winter. Also for relaxing outdoors in summer at the lake. Almost everyone use to drink but me. Drinkers argue and fight. The conversation sucks. Legalization means I'm a lonesome toker no more!

We can grow our own weed; up to 4 plants per person, even more with a medical license. Cultivation once meant serious jail time. They'd throw away the keys. Now it's just a cheaper, homegrown alternative to buying weed.

Legal dispensaries are everywhere. The underground market too. I get oils, tinctures and sprays from the first. Cheaper, more potent boo from the latter! The competition is driving prices down and the THC count up. While quality and selection just keep getting better and better. It's a huge pot windfall for consumers. We are the winners for a change!  

Perhaps there's hope yet for a more progressive approach to legalization. Our long time activist-entrepreneurs have some real skin in the game. They're now becoming consultants. Opening very cool shops. Talking real sensi on the corporate boards and even helping run the Ontario Cannabis Store too. Move over Norbert the Narc and you other dazed and confused Johnny Come Lately's! Enough of your BS, the real pros are here!

What a long strange trip it's been! I am truly honoured to have met and fought alongside so many of the great's in our struggle. I'm so glad that I could help out, even if in small part, by participating and reporting on the legalization scene.

After all is said and done, what's best of all, is that weed's now legal in Canada. I am just happy that I can self medicate the aches and pains of my senior years without hassle, at peace with our favourite weed. 

Pax!

David C

LINKS

New Directions in Blogging: Here's where I am at with these changes @ HERE!

A Stoners Guide To Oh Cannabs Newz y Viewz: Much more detailed notes @ HERE!

On My Blogsite Archives: Find links from "as it happened" in my coverage of the Karma Cup, the Project Claudia and Gator dispensary busts, Marc and Jodie Emery and the Cannabis Culture 5 Toronto Court dates, Green Market Toronto, Grandmasta P's Nugswap, and the High Society Supper Club, Toronto Vapour Lounges and Shops, Tyendinaga etc. etc. etc. @ THERE! 


COMMENTS:

Communist Girls ARE More Fun!

Communist Girls ARE More Fun!
See below ...

Communist Girls Are More Fun #1

Communist Girls Are More Fun #1

Communist Grrrls are More Fun #2

Communist Grrrls are More Fun #2

Communist Grrrls Are More Fun #3

Communist Grrrls Are More Fun #3

Communist Girls Are More Fun #4

Communist Girls Are More Fun #4

Art at the Paris Louvre: What does it mean?!?

Art at the Paris Louvre: What does it mean?!?
A careful analytical study!

Help! I Have No Arms!

Help! I Have No Arms!
Please scratch my back.

I can't find my underwear!.

I can't find my underwear!.
Have you seen them!

Weee! I can fly!

Weee! I can fly!
Look! I can crawl thru walls!

I have a headache!

I have a headache!
And a broken nose.

I have a square hole in my bum!

I have a square hole in my bum!

Here try this, it's very good!

Here try this, it's very good!
No. You have a bird face.

I have an ugly baby!

I have an ugly baby!
No I'm not!

Let's save all our money + buy pants!

Let's save all our money + buy pants!
OK but I need a new hand too!

Oh no! I got something in my eye!

Oh no! I got something in my eye!

You don't look well.

You don't look well.
No. My head hurts +I have a sore chest.

Would you like a bun?

Would you like a bun?

Chichen-Itza: Lost Maya City of Ruins!

Chichen-Itza: Lost Maya City of Ruins!
The Temple of Kukulkan!

Gotta love it!

Gotta love it!
Truly amazing!

Under Reconstruction!

Under Reconstruction!

Temples + Snakes!

Temples + Snakes!

The Snake!

The Snake!
It runs the length of the ball field!