3:30 AM, in a tent miles from anywhere, you awaken with an unignorable urge to pee. The moment you unzip the tent it hits you, millions of stars with clarity, unlike anything you have seen before. A powerful experience for anyone, regardless of background or interests. Hard to imagine, as incredible as it looks, you are viewing it through a dirty window called the atmosphere.
Now imagine you had a fascination with space and astronomy and had the same view from above the atmosphere’s distorting effects. Add in the excitement of space flight, weightlessness, the amplifying effect adrenalin has on experiences, and what you feel would most likely be in the life-changing zone. A normal experience for all astronauts you would think, but not so. In fact, no astronaut to date may have had this experience. Light from the sun, earth, and ambient light from the spacecraft wash out the light from faint stars. It also inhibits the physiological conditions of “3:30 am eyes” needed to see them.
Most photos taken by astronauts show space as being deep black and starless due to the abundance of light from the sun. Much like the sky from the earth throughout the day appears blue and starless. Even when a spacecraft’s orbit brings it in opposition to the sun, light from the earth and the interior of the spacecraft inhibit the astronaut’s eyes from achieving both the physical and chemical adaptation needed to be able to see in low light, as we can in the camping example.
Testing for this experience is not hard and may have already been done. The astronaut must be placed in a pitch-black part of the spacecraft for a minimum of 1 hour before, to allow full dilation of their pupils and give time for the chemical dark adaptation of their eyes to take place. The sun and moon need to be in opposition. Without exposure to ambient light from the spacecraft and using the spacecraft to block ambient light from the earth, the largest observation window facing away from the earth should provide the most spectacular experience and view of the universe.
The same experience could also be possible on sub-orbital flights, by wearing VR goggles 1 hour before apogee. During launch and ascent, cameras on the outside of the goggles convert what would normally be seen, to a red light image on the screen inside below 650 nanometers. Red light below 650 nanometers does not affect our night vision. During a nighttime launch, after main engine cut off when the spacecraft gets to its apogee, the goggles would be removed.
Life-changing experiences are not uncommon for astronauts. Years ago, only the most hard-core test pilots made it into the Mercury / Apollo programs. Many of these highly disciplined, stone-cold astronauts admitted to being overcome with emotion when traveling to space. Most notably is an experience called the “Overview Effect”. The overview effect is a well-documented feeling of enlightenment, reported by many astronauts when they view Earth from space. There is no reason seeing the universe from space would be any less intense, a sort of “Outerview-Effect”
We live our entire life in this house with dirty windows we call Earth, a unique and insignificant spec in an unimaginable vastness of space. How can we claim to have lived a full life if we have never punched through the atmosphere, gone outside on the front lawn, and clearly seen and felt the universe we live in, even if it’s only for a few moments?
Russia 1993, in a small cafe in downtown Moscow, I sat with my tour guide, Olga. It was the middle of winter and I was the only one on the city tour that day. With the formalities of the tour over, it was the perfect opportunity to ask some personal questions. Olga was in her mid 60’s and had lived through the extreme communism of Russia’s past, so I couldn’t wait to ask. “What was it like growing up?” She hesitated for a moment then told me “Everyone had their own opinions, anything that was against government policies would only be talked about with close friends and family, we would never dare voice it in public.” At the time I couldn’t fathom what that would be like, now in Canada 2022, I fear I am starting to understand.
At first thought, for most people, Canada may seem to be the same free Country now as it was back in 1993, but things have changed. Ever so slowly year after year, barely noticeable, freedom of speech has been slipping away. The repressers now are not only the government, but mainstream media and social media.
Disagree? Have you ever had a point of view, no matter how valid you thought it was, you only shared with friends and felt intimidated to admit publicly? Almost everyone I know today seems to. I remember back in 1993, trying to relate to Olga’s statement, I couldn’t think of anyone that did.
Today, even questioning mainstream ideas in public can immediately label you as an extremist that is uneducated, sexist, racist, an idiot, or has some phobia. Careers and businesses can be wiped out with 1 sentence taken out of context, even if made in private.
The latest example of the erosion of our free speech is the trucker’s protest in Ottawa against Covid-19 vaccinations. Although I strongly disagree with them occupying the streets of Ottawa, there are existing traffic laws that gave the police the authority to tow and impound their trucks. There are also existing laws that allow the police to arrest anyone that obstructs them from doing their job. However, the government’s response was beyond extreme, threatening to confiscate their trucks, cancel their insurance, and freeze their bank accounts. They even went so far as to threaten to freeze the bank accounts of anyone that donated to their cause, intimidating anyone that even partially supported the truckers. How long will it be before the government threatens to take everything you have for speaking out against any of their other policies.
The slow loss of our freedoms since 1993 shows no sign of stopping. If it is allowed to continue, where will we be in the next 30 years?
When Canadian truckers started their freedom convoy 2022 to Ottawa, the protest was based on a valid concern, they were against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for all. With mandatory vaccinations for truckers crossing the Canada / US border starting Jan 15, 2020 and Quebec talking about a tax for the unvaccinated, the government is slowly taking away the freedom of choice for Canadians. Unfortunately, the truckers lost much credibility when anyone, against any number of COVID restrictions, for any number of sometimes wild or questionable reasons, made it about them.
Before I go on, I would like to state that I am fully vaccinated and boosted. I also support lockdowns when medical resources become overwhelmed. No one that gets sick and can be saved, should die because hospitals are unable to treat them. That being said I support the truckers 100 percent on their original concern against mandatory vaccinations, and question the timing and reasons for mandatory vaccinations for drivers that cross the Canada / US border.
VACCINES SHOULD NOT BE MANDATORY
-When vaccines first became available in Canada they were in short supply and depending on the brand, offered different amounts of protection. It was in the national interest to get as many shots into arms with whatever was available as quickly as possible to slow the spread. We were told to take the first vaccine offered to us. If vaccines were mandatory, imagine losing a loved one to Covid-19 if they were forced to take the less effective Astra Zenica and would have survived if they had the choice to hold out for Maderna or Pfizer.
-As I stated above, I am triple vaccinated with 3 shots of Pfizer. If I was not able to get Pfizer for all 3 shots I’m not sure if I would have taken a different brand. No one knows what the long-term effect could be for each of the vaccines, let alone the effects of mixing them. Had vaccines been mandatory, I would not have a choice as Health Canada has deemed it safe to mix and match vaccines.
-I also question Health Canada’s approval for vaccines. It normally takes years to approve a new drug once developed, yet covid vaccines took less than a year, it only took a few months for Health Canada to declare it was safe to mix vaccines. We were told there is absolutely no difference between Pfizer and Maderna when it came to mixing vaccines, yet Pfizer is safe for kids and Maderna isn’t. In fact, Health Canada flip-flopped several times on what ages different vaccines were safe, undermining their own credibility.
-Listen to the Science is what we are told, but science is large amounts of data that needs to be interpreted. Multiple, equally qualified scientists looking at the same data will disagree with the best strategy to follow. Evidence of this can be seen around the world and even across Canada with the different approaches of Federal, Provincial, and Municipal strategies on dealing with the virus. On top of that, understanding the big picture from other aspects like mental health, the economy, freedoms, rights, and logistics have to be factored in to obtain the best strategy. A medical doctor can only offer expertise on a part of this strategy.
-Common sense has not always been applied when it comes to Public Health’s interpretation of science and its recommendations. In March 2020 Theresa Tam of Canada Health repeatedly stated cloth masks offered absolutely no protection from Covid-19. If my 10-year-old grandson was head of Canada Health back then, and I explained to him, “If a virus is spread mostly through people coughing and breathing”, then asked him “if putting a cloth in front of someone’s mouth who was infected, would make it easier? harder? or have no effect? on other people catching it”. The answer “harder” was obvious to him and he may have saved lives. An article by the Toronto Sun on March 6, 2020, is even more disturbing. Toronto Transit drivers were prevented from wearing masks on the job because of public health recommendations such as “that masks are not only unnecessary, they can be harmful for healthy people”. The article goes on to say “We have had inquiries from employees about the use of masks and when they are educated on the public health position, they agree not to wear them”.
-With all this being said, my point is not to discourage anyone from taking the vaccine but that everyone should have a choice. I personally, would strongly recommend the vaccine to everyone, and I worry about loved ones that remain unvaccinated. This is my choice, and I respect the choice of others!
MANDATORY VACCINATION OF CROSS BORDER TRUCKERS MAKES NO SENSE NOW
Of course, there wouldn’t even have been a trucker protest had the federal government not forced all truckers crossing the Canada / US border to be fully vaccinated starting Jan 15th, 2022. For two years, since the start of Covid truckers have been able to cross the border without being vaccinated. Now, in the middle of an economic inflation crisis blamed on a fragile supply chain, after 85% of the eligible Canadian population is fully vaccinated, and hospital rates are going down, Mr. Trudeau has suddenly decided all truckers crossing the border need to be vaccinated. Why he has done this at this time, boggles the mind. His lack of common sense discredits all other valid Covid restrictions in place and validates those with conspiracy theories such as Covid restrictions are only a form of government’s control of us.
-It’s bad enough Mr. Trudeau is risking the derailment of a fragile Canadian economy but unvaccinated truckers currently pose no more threat than any other unvaccinated Canadian. Canada is currently on fire with Covid-19 with more daily cases than we can count, yet the Prime Minister is still worried the odd case brought in from the US from unvaccinated truckers will make a huge difference. With the limited testing on infection and transmission now, there is no reasonable or scientific evidence to support him. In fact, it’s reasonable to assume an unvaccinated driver crossing the country would pose little risk difference to a driver crossing the Canada / US border. Even if there was a greater risk, a simple 15 min rapid test given to unvaccinated drivers at the border makes more sense than mandatory vaccines.
-Cross-border truckers also pose little risk of transmission. They usually drive large transports that simply drop a trailer at a warehouse and pick up another one. Most don’t unload the trailer themselves and have little contact with people at the warehouse. When working they are usually alone, isolated in the cab of the truck. When in Canada, unvaccinated drivers/people are not allowed to eat in restaurants, go to movies, sporting events, or any place an infected person could spread Covid-19 to large groups of people. They do not have contact with vulnerable people and would not even be able to enter a long-term care facility.
-None of the Covid-19 vaccines currently offered in Canada are a cure for the disease. They are only a treatment for the symptoms should we catch it. They will not stop you from getting Covid-19 and they will not stop you from transmitting it to other people if you do. Vaccinated people are now most likely the main source of the spread of Covid-19. Fully vaccinated people are more likely to be Asymptomatic, contagious with little or no symptoms, unaware they are spreading it, and when not in lockdown have the ability to spread it through indoor dining, gyms, cinemas, and sporting events. Evidence of this can be seen in the recent lockdown in Ontario where indoor dining, gyms, cinemas, and admission to sporting events was implemented to slow the spread. It worked, and hospitalizations dramatically declined. All these activities could only be used by fully vaccinated people and required proof of vaccine to enter. It should have made no difference in hospitalizations if most of the spread was by the unvaccinated.
-Scientific evidence shows the protection of vaccines is temporary, there is already talk of a 4th dose. The more boosters we have, the greater the chance of long-term side effects. I have already had 3 shots and I’m not sure how many more I would be comfortable taking. Thankfully the government is changing its strategy from “trying to eliminate Covid-19” to “living with it“. Building antibodies from catching the virus while under the maximum protection of the vaccine should provide a safe and more lasting resistance.
REPEAL THE MANDATORY VACCINATIONS OF CROSS BORDER TRUCKERS
There is no scientific proof now that mandatory vaccinations of cross-border truckers is necessary to slow the spread of Covid-19. Vaccinated people are probably more responsible for the spread of Covid-19 than unvaccinated. It threatens the Canadian economy and discredits valid Covid-19 restrictions. With 85% of the eligible population vaccinated, almost everyone that wants the vaccine is now protected leaving those that choose to remain unvaccinated most at risk, by choice. In this case, it cuts to the nerve of our freedom of rights, one that can trigger a powerful response.
The Ontario government has published its priority list for who will be the first to receive the life saving Covid-19 vaccinations. Among the group consisting of anyone over the age of 80 are any healthy indigenous adults of any age living on or off a reservation.
If we are ever going to develop a culture that is fair to everyone and eliminates racism, all accepted government, and nongovernment policies that involve race should be applicable to any race, including white. Imagine the priority list above if Indigenous was replaced with White.
AS LONG AS WE HAVE POLICIES TREAT PEOPLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF RACE, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE TREATED DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF RACE
WE ARE ALL EQUAL!!!!!!!
Dave Lister
listerlogic.com
Note: I have deleted my blog post “WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CANADIAN” from 5 years ago as it no longer applies
The immediate hiring of thousands of unskilled medical people and training them as para-nurses is the solution for the upcoming surge of Covid-19 hospitalizations. So, what is a para-nurse? A para-nurse (nurse assistant) would be someone whose only medical skill before being deployed to a hospital maybe how to use their own PPE. They would be assigned to a nurse and trained on the fly to assist him/her with their duties, eventually performing basic tasks on their own.
Some of the tasks a para-nurse might do are getting a bedridden patient a drink of water, helping them get to the washroom, feeding, or helping with a video call to a relative. This would free up the nurse to better use their time for the high skilled tasks they were trained for. Para-nurses could even be trained to very specific more complicated tasks such as assisting a doctor in rolling an intubated covid patient.
A para-nurse can be hired, trained in PPE, and deployed to a hospital in as little as a couple of days. With unemployment as high as it is, there is a large pool of candidates to choose from. The ideal person, in this case, would be someone that has already had, recovered, and most likely immune to Covid-19. They should be quick learners in good physical condition and no underlying health problems. Other assets would be an empathetic people-person with medical or computer background.
Even though para-nurses could be deployed within days of hiring, ideally, time permitting, a para-nurse would be given the vaccine the day they are hired and go through 6 weeks of training while, at the same time building up immunity. At that point, they would be deployed to a hospital. Being able to wait 6 weeks for a para-nurse however, may not be possible due to sudden rapid demand.
The current lockdown has temporarily reduced the new total number of daily cases in Ontario, but cases will climb rapidly as soon as restrictions are eased. Even if we maintain the lockdown until enough people are vaccinated to establish herd immunity (probably end of 2021), compliancy burnout and the more contagious variants will still eventually drive hospitalizations beyond what we can currently handle. Construction of field hospitals and hiring of para-nurses NOW is critical in saving lives.
