Working in Montréal today --Vein up

Good morning folks,

I will be working in Montréal today.

Pssst, hey buddy, wanna sell me your blood?  Nope, there is not too many ways of dressing up that question so that it doesn't sound unsavoury.

In the 1979 Carl Reiner film, The Jerk, Steve Martin's character Navin explains to his family in a letter that he had been down and out and had been raising money to eat by selling his blood several times a week.  But when he had cut himself shaving and only a hiss of air came out he decided that he should stop the practice.

Yeah, a bit unsavoury.

Yet..  A company, Canadian Plasma Resources, is seeking licence for two pumping stations, I mean clinics, one in Toronto (next door to the Scott Mission) and one in Hamilton.  If licenced, these exsanguination stations (clever eh? how about hypovolemia havens?) will lure in the indigent, the downtrodden, the hungry, the poor and siphon off their blood for a double sawbuck.

Currently in Canada the act of donating blood is a civic duty performed by members of our society that respond to a personal generosity.  The donation is performed freely, without compensation except for perhaps a glass of orange juice or water.

As a result, Canada's blood supply is of very high quality.  This as compared to the U.S. which pays for blood and therefore has established that the act of blood donation is not an act of community responsibility and charity, but a way to earn enough for cardboard box of red wine.

But you know, it's even worse than that.  It sets the poor and downtrodden to a particular low rung of our society, that of resource to be used up, consumed by the rest of us.

If blood is fine to purchased from the less fortunate that hang out at the Scott Mission, what about a kidney or some bone or ligament material?  You know I am having trouble with a ligament in my right wrist, how much ligament could I buy for a Mack King?

Incidentally, well not really Incidentally, since this has everything to do with the inequality of this, is that blood whether as plasma only or with the red blood cells, is fairly easy for a healthy person to make, but as the health and nutritional level of a sample person falls, blood production can be more taxing.

That crumpled green plastic note in the homeless' pocket may not adequately compensate him for the increased fatigue, protein loss, and compromised immune response.

Have a good day, vein up.

Working in Ottawa today --Stompin' Tom

Good morning folks,

I will be working in Ottawa today.

On the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia is a small city of 1300 or so Southerners.  Yeah, I know, city?  I agree an overly generous term for such an insignificant place, but what the hell, at least they don't call themselves a Metropolis.

In any event, in the last year they have experienced two burglaries (on Sublime trail no less:), four thefts, four assaults and one vandalism.

As such they have sought the only solution available to them.  Mandatory arming of the citizenry.  Whaaaat?  Oh yes.  Mandatory firearm ownership under the Family Protection Ordinance proses by Councilman Duane 'You're with me or you're with the Terrorists' Cronic each person must be armed unless they are physically or mentally incapable.

This means of course that assaulting and taunting the mentally infirm will still be a relatively safe pastime, but if you plan on assaulting the able-bodied, better bring your guns.

I am eager.. from an academic point of view, to see how many accidental firearm discharge injuries occur over the next year, and how many Fuller Brush men get shot whilst ringing doorbells.

Sigh.

In other news, Canada says good bye to Stompin' Tom Connors.  Stompin' Tom passed away after decades as a true Canadian icon.  From humble beginnings in NB and PEI  he remained a humble and fiercely patriotic Canadian entertainer even after receiving the Order of Canada and put on a postage stamp.  Where he has gone, I hope the beer is cold and hockey is played.

Have a good day.