Now, Here’s A Thing

The BBC says that the Australian government has decided to keep its borders closed to prevent the spread of the virus into next year.  Into next year ??

Additionally, a study finding shows that 56% of people who got a lot of their information from Facebook believe there was no hard evidence coronavirus exists !

Well, is there ?

And,  a decision by Oriel College in Oxford to remove an “iconic” statue of Cecil Rhodes follows a long-running campaign by those who argue the memorial is a symbol of imperialism and racism.  "End of the Rhodes" is the Daily Mail's headline.

I wonder if black recipients of Rhodes scholarships will return their grant ?

The CBC says that current and former employees of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg say its management would sometimes ask staff not to show any gay content on tours.

And, the four candidates vying for the federal Conservative leadership will be on stage tonight for the only English-language debate of this campaign.  The four contenders agree on many things — reducing the size of government, shrinking the tax burden and cracking down on crime. 

Hello, have we forgotten the huge fiscal burden made by the Chinese virus.

And, the CH-148 Cyclone was cutting-edge tech when it became the Canadian military's new maritime helicopter.  Industry experts said the digital system opened up a world of new possibilities for flight operations and the future of helicopter aviation in general. However, after a crash killed six service members, investigators are being confronted with some awkward questions about how ready both the machine and the military were for fly-by-wire technology.

May I assume that someone is dismissing a relationship with the B-737 MAX syndrome ?

So, there’s the thing.

News Worth Repeating

Systemic racism was a focus of Justin Trudeau’s comment today in a discussion that drew comment from the RCMP commissioner.  

The PM said that the issue was so difficult to address because it requires us to “look at the very building blocks of our institutions and of our country” — which favour privileged people over all others.  No promises were made … they had been made before.

Another promise made two-years ago by the RCMP relating to the MMIWG inquiry was mentioned, to examine the systemic causes of continuing violence against indigenous women and girls, and prevent and eliminate further violence.  “Is that the best !” was the answer.

An amazing recommendation was made to appoint more Black Canadians to commissions, boards, Crown corporations, etc., and one wonders how many Black Canadians are currently holding such hush-hush positions ?

Finally, permit me to add:

Black, Brown, Yellow, and White Lives Matter.

Children Are Our Future

Considering the psychological affect of this cliché on today’s children should be uppermost on the minds of those parents and teachers responsible for the development of innocent children, that have ‘social distancing’ imposed upon them. 

Studying this provocative picture brought tears to my eyes.

It should be enlarged and put on the wall of every classroom and, then, discussed ... between teachers and parents, and including children.

Physical Distancing With History-inspired Headwear

(Benoit Tessier/Reuters)

Artists wear colourful "deconfinement hats," made of paper maché and inspired by Chinese Song dynasty headwear, for physical distancing at an art gallery in Paris as it prepared to reopen this week. The first Song emperor is said to have ordered his officials to wear winged hats so that they could not gossip without being heard. "Back in the day, these were worn to prevent public officials from whispering," artist Dominique Pouzol, who created the coronavirus version of the hats, told Reuters.

CBC/Reuters

Astonishing News Alert

I apologize for a title that may be described as 'Click Bait'.

Today, I conducted an essential 'CoviD-19 Grocery Run'.

One item considered 'essential' was a jar of Nutella.  This was (believe me) the first time ever.  As with most new items, I sat down with my magnifying glass to read the 'small print'.

I looked for the expiry date ... and was flabbergasted !

BEST BEFORE:  2021 NOV 14

WHAT !

REALLY ?

I need some honest advice.  Because I'm sure that it'll be gone before then, probably, two days !  What then ?  Am I permitted to buy another one ?