HackSlash

I'm curious if you guys have something like Unemployment Insurance in Canada? The average employee here in the USA that has lost their job because of this virus is now collecting over $1,000 a week. That's why over 22 million people have filed for Unemployment Insurance in just the past few weeks. That's just the people that can qualify for it. Others are still working as essential under extreme pressure... and even more have lost work and have nothing. We're living in very strange times. I'll pay attention to the Governors that know what they're doing. The first out of the gate are Ron DeSantis of the great state of Florida for opening their beaches, and Greg Abbott of the great state of Texas with an Executive Order to get everything moving again. The smartest one of them all is Kristi Noem of the great state of South Dakota. She has been waiting at the finish line the entire time because she was never stupid enough to shut her state down to begin with. Our Democrat Governor Steve Sisolak is not even blinking. He must be waiting for new orders from Gavin Newsom. Doesn't matter... my friends in Carson City will be parking their cars all around him tomorrow morning. Yes, we do. Its called Employment Insurance, and the program is managed by the Federal Government. There is a minimum number of hours you need to be eligible and you can get a maximum of $573.00 a week depending on your income. As it happens my sister in law can apply for the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit.

In relation to some earlier posts about the lab release theory: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-52318539 The US is not the only nation asking some hard questions about the information disseminated by the WHO, and their reliance on data coming out of China. It seems to me that the WHO forgot the first rule when it come to dealing with a hostile, authoritarian regime, "If this is what they are saying, how bad it is really?" Yes, hostile. https://nationalpost.com/news/russia-greatest-short-term-threat-to-north-america-norad-deputy-commander Anyway, hope you all are doing well. Canada is, as of the time of this post at: 31 927 confirmed cases and 1 367 deaths. https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/coronavirustracker/ CAF members with medical training, are being sent to long term care facilities in Quebec: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/coronavirus-covid19-april17-canada-world-1.5535549 We are doing okay. I'm pounding back a few beers, possibly going to bake something later on. Hey drunk baking is the best baking. Yes, I do live up to some of the stereotypes! My sister in law lost her job yesterday, she worked for Air Canada. She seems to be doing okay, a lot worried. Not sure when I'm going back to work. I was supposed to go back at the end of the month, but that might get pushed back even further. I'm now required to wear a mask whenever I leave to house, if I have any.

OMG! Really? You gotta be kidding me. I believe our species has evolved way past those muttons. LOL! I think it's pretty awesome, keep at it! Unfortunately, somebody didn't like it. Somebody made me shave it off. It would have been epic! Happy Easter all. Saw this on CBC yesterday. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-easter-bunny-covid-pandemic-tooth-fairy-1.5529060

You should have played along. To the point where they asked you to input your credit card, banking information, and Social Insurance Number into a sketchy website. "A cartoon moose is asking for my credit card number. How can I go wrong?" Homer J. Simpson.

That's good news. I wish we could get a deadline to look forward to. All we get are continued extensions. Starts off at 15 days, then add another 15... that's not good enough so add another 15 days. It's like an open-ended prison term... but I can drink all I want. I picture George Armstrong Custer... then I remember you're Canadian... did you guys have a Civil War too? Nah, think of General Burnside . We had a few rebellions, nothing on the scale of the Civil War mind you. Hope all of all of you are doing well.

I've been reading this story. The reason Captain Crozier was relieved of command, was not because he questioned his orders. It was because he went to the media. Something we are not really not allowed to do. Lys, you are right to a point when you say the military is authoritarian. I'm a Section 2IC. The orders I give have to be obeyed, as long as they are lawful. That's the catch. it doesn't matter what nationality we are, all western soldiers, as part of the oath we take when we join, is unquestioning obedience to all lawful commands. If an order is unlawful, we are required, by oath, to disobey it. Captain Crozier was looking out for his troops when he did what he did. That's what a good officer is supposed to do, take care of his/her troops. I've got a lot of respect of that.

I hope all of you are doing well. Personally, I'm trying to stave off insanity. This enforced idleness is driving me nuts. I've been working since I graduated with a B.Ed in 2001. Not adapting well to sitting on my hands and doing nothing. At least I got some idea when this down time will end, I'm expecting (hoping), to go back to work on 1 May. At least that's the projection from the CDS. So tonight I'm sitting down and drinking a few Old Milwaukee, thinking about a scotch and soda or two...maybe three later on. I've cleaned the house, packed a bit of stuff. One good thing about all of this, we've been able to get some work done on the house we purchased. New flooring is being installed tomorrow. Now, I just have to get the chimney inspected and cleaned. I've done something I've always wanted to do. I've grown a Civil War era beard.

We are doing well enough. Hope things are going well with you. Wine! Can't do wine anymore, makes me sick as a dog. Personally bored out of my mind, at least I was able to find one of my favourite games on Steam, Sid Myers: Pirates. Damn good game and a great time waster. Read this last night on CBC, seems the snake oil salespeople are taking advantage of this whole situation to fatten their wallets. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/false-advertising-covid-19-fake-medical-advice-1.5520301 Sick Bastards. I'm hoping some of these "people" get prosecuted. I have a friend who is really into this nonsense. I was speaking to her earlier this week, and she was advising me to get an oil diffuser and what oils we needed to buy to ward off the virus. This is the same person who tried to convince me to get rid of my microwave because they are "evil". In that they are "full of radiation, and she saw a video on Youtube where someone gave microwaved water to a plant and the plant died, because the radiation killed all the nutrients in the water." I swear, I am not making this up.

"Go back and absorb the context of the conversation. Trump was accused of not believing the virus is real. I said everybody knows the virus is real. We have very different opinions on how to deal with the virus. I said that we get the same treatment with the issue of climate change. We always get accused of not believing... and I said I believe the climate is changing, but I don't believe it's the end of the world. So, when I said I don't trust who is paying them to say it... I was talking about climate change." My mistake Lys, I stand corrected. More likely than not, had a bit to do with the tasty scotch I was drinking at the time. I'd like to make a request, this is not directed at anyone in particular. Let's leave the partisan bickering out of this. I'd personally like to see this topic as a place where we can discuss what's happening in our localities, share information, and share our stories.

Yeah, I saw that earlier today. Here's a link to the story from The Washington Post if anyone is interested. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/04/02/train-derails-usns-mercy-coronavirus/ Idiots like that are everywhere. On the last day that I went to work I was listening to the Morning Show on K97. Terry and Pete were talking about a post that was made on the station's Face Book wall by someone called Dennis. Dennis claimed that the "virus didn't exist, and that it was all a big conspiracy to move towards a cashless society. The hosts' comments were hilarious. "Dennis you're an idiot." "Dennis, go lick a window." Sorry, if I get a bit disjointed, I'm making a pot of homemade soup. Just saw on CBC, alcohol sales are up nationally by 40% this month. That accounts for the poor selection at the Beer Store tonight. Jesus, I was getting a bit worried there. To get back to something. Lys, you mentioned earlier today that you don't trust the epidemiologists, because: "I don't believe what they say because I don't trust who is paying them to say it." Well, given that the epidemiologists are, for the most part, civil servants or work in publicly funded institutions. The the short but correct response is you are paying them to say "it". Just some food for tought.

Jesus Lys, drinking this hour in the day! Almost as bad as I am. Hope all of you, especially you Death Merchant are staying safe. Things are proceeding as I expected. All inter-provincial travel is restricted. I got a message yesterday, normal operations not expected to resume until June, and to stand by for deployment. Either for humanitarian relief or to act as replacement police. As a post script, I just got a text a few moments ago. Basically, be prepared for any scenario or deployment. Not that I'm complaining, it's my job and it's what I signed up to do. What I will complain about is the unbelievable level of stupidity that is on display. I mean, you've all seen the videos of the Spring Breakers in the States. I was talking with my parents in Newfoundland earlier today. In our small town, eight volunteer Firemen and four Paramedics are in 14 day isolation after they answered a call to bring someone to the hospital. The person didn't tell the dispatcher that she had "flu like symptoms", so they didn't take precautions. I was watching CBC yesterday and they were interviewing a Canadian who is stuck in India. She was ripping into the government because they weren't doing enough to bring her home. When asked if she had contacted the Embassy, she said "No. My sister in Canada tweeted a couple of MPs (Members of Parliament)". Or the people who ignored the government's instruction to come home, three weeks ago. Or the idiots who decided to go on vacation, and are now indigent that they can't get off their cruise ships, and are demanding the government take action. Or the assholes that return for foreign travel and decided that the Quarantine orders can't possibly apply to them, as they stop off to buy groceries, check their mail, and go to Tims for a f**king coffee. Or the entitled moron I encountered yesterday. I went to the grocery store to pick up some things. While there I noticed a 20 something Muslim (I only mention that because it's an important detail), who is hacking and coughing. When the Store Manager and Security Guard approached her and asked her to leave. They were met with screams of "Islamophobia." There is hope. An older Muslim lady approached and said (Yes, I was in ear shot), "No. Stop that now. You are not being asked to leave because you are Muslim. You are being asked to leave because you are sick, and endangering these other people. If you truly respected the tenants of our faith, you would not have come here." She shut up and left pretty quick. Stay safe and healthy all.

@ccabal: Thanks for sharing. Given the current state of affairs, my primary source of information (CBC), has been focused on what is going on here. It's unfortunate, but not unexpected. That national leaders with despotic tendencies will attempt to take advantage of this emergency to solidify their rule. Let's be honest, fear is a great motivator. On a side note, I've had to go into work a for a few days over this week. End of year purchasing, lots of things to update. I was supposed to go back to work on 6 April. That might not be the case. On 23 Mar, the CDS activated Stage 3 of Op Laser, we are standing by to lend assist to civil authorities. Needless to say I have my kit packed and am ready to go. If I'm not called out, it's looking like May before I'll go back to the CQ.

Welcome to IRON. Hope you are doing well, given the current situation. Speaking as a member of the LGBT+ community, we are very welcoming here. The out pouring of support I received when I announced my marriage was overwhelming. Yes, we're still working on the danged pictures! Hope you enjoy your time here.

Time for another update from the Great White North. @Lambaso, I feel your pain. I'm on the other end. I laugh my guts out when I have to go to the store to pick up a few odds and ends. Nothing left on the shelves. Jesus, I went to Wal-Mart yesterday to pick up a few things. There was nothing on the shelves. Stupid panic buyers. Yesterday, we had an interesting turn of events. The House was set to vote on a $82 billion stimulus package. Unanimous consent was expected, until the Opposition saw the clause that was added. The clause would have given the Trudeau government the ability to "tax and spend, without Parliamentary oversight until December 2021" Seriously, what kind of low down POS do you have to be to try and subvert the will of Parliament and take advantage of a public health emergency to further your own agenda? I mean, that dolt managed to unite two diametrically opposed parties against him. That clause was finally removed, and the House passed the bill. It received Royal Assent earlier today.

I would think so Lys. I've played off and on since 2012. Lot's more options as playable races. Plenty of things to do. Only thing I don't like is the inclusion of that awful Star Trek: Discovery. Hope you and yours are doing well.

First off, I'm taking off the mask. My name is Mike. Edmonton went into lock down a few hours ago. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-mayor-declares-state-of-local-emergency-1.5504990 At least all systems are go for Monday, when we have to meet with the lawyer for the conveyance. For now anyway. I've been stuck in the house since Monday. Tired of shooting Nazi Zombies in the head. Painted all my Robotech miniatures. Played the s**t out of Star Trek Online. Well, lets just say there's only so much intimacy one man can handle. I'm wondering how many babies are going to be born nine months from now? Tonight was the first time I've been out of the house since Monday. Went to the Beer Store. I got talking with the young lady who works there, she's from Newfoundland like me. They are shutting down on Monday. I'm on some pretty tight restrictions. Not allowed to travel more than 150 km from home. Not allowed on public transit, including Uber and Lyft. Have to check in with my Sgt every 24 hours, giving my status and readiness level. In all seriousness. We'll pull through this. Both myself and Ed (my husband), are wishing each and everyone of you, and your families all the best. We hope that you and your families and friends are doing well.

Well, Alberta just declared a Public Health Emergency, 97 cases. All public gatherings of over 50 people are banned, public spaces are closed. The West Edmonton Mall is shutting its doors tomorrow. We were stood down yesterday in the name of operational readiness, so I have a 14 day paid vacation, with a possible extension. I'm still on call, in case we are needed. I went to Darcy's Meats yesterday to get my Variety Box. I do that every three months. $240.00 for 50 pounds of meat, bloody good deal. They were cleared out of pork roasts, beef roasts, pork chops, and chicken breast. Still got my box, just a bunch more steak, ground beef, and whole chickens. I had a few errands to run today. Its madness out there. I was at the pharmacy to get a tax receipt for my husbands meds. When the pharmacist saw me use my bottle of Purell, he said (jokingly, I hope), "Be careful, you might get tackled for that." I ended up at the grocery store, nothing left. No bread, no meat, no rice, no canned fruits/vegetables, no pasta, no frozen foods, no toilet paper, paper towels, cleaners. I took the last box of rice that I could find, when a family came up and started to panic because there was no rice left. I just handed it to them. I think North and South America is only on the leading edge of this. Its going to get worst.

ccabal, you are right to worry about a recession. From everything I've seen it going to just as bad as 2008, if not worst. I know on Thursday the Dow Jones and NYSE posted their worst day since 1987. On the same day, the TSX posted its worst day since 1940. I'm not sure how the Asian and European markets fared, but I'm assuming they were just as bad. On that note, now is a good time to get in. Prices are down. I don't know where you are, or if you've been following international news. Last night the Bank of Canada cut the prime lending rate to 0.75%, and the Federal Government announced a one billion dollar stimulus package. Alberta's provincial government is announcing one as well, I just don't have the details. From what I've been able to gather, other national governments are doing the same. The bank called us on Thursday night, and told us our Mortgage Rate has dropped. Hell, it was my husband's birthday today. We went out to a nice restaurant. We were the only ones in the restaurant, and our waitress told us that normally at that time on a Saturday night, the place was packed.

In relation to the article I posted a few weeks ago.... I had to go out tonight to pick up a few things. I ended up at the No Frills grocery store. MADNESS! ABSOLUTE MADNESS! Nothing left on the shelves, no toilet paper, no junk food, no fruit, no vegetables, no meat, no canned vegetables, no flour, no rice. Nothing. Line ups around the bloody store. I waited 20 minutes to get through the self checkout line! I watched a lady buy a cart full of Mr.Noodle! I was having a lovely time, chatting with the other people around me. Common reaction to the people I spoke with was just to laugh at the panicked idiots. There are (currently), 40 cases reported in Alberta. Our Prime Minister and his wife are in self isolation after she tested positive for COVID 19. I'm glad that there are still people out there with a sense of humour about this. On the way to work, I listen to "Terry and Phillip In the Morning" on K97. They currently have a contest running based on the difficulty of finding toilet paper in Edmonton. "if you're the X caller, you'll win a two pack of Go Anywhere Bidet" that they found on Amazon. Here it is! https://www.amazon.ca/Brondell-GS-70-GoSpa-Travel-Bidet/dp/B008CSDKSQ I thought I'd share another article from the National Post, some of you might find it interesting: https://nationalpost.com/news/eighty-minutes-that-changed-our-world-how-covid-19-went-from-abstract-to-very-real-in-a-hurry On that note, (most of you know what I do for a living), I am not permitted to leave the country, as there may be a need for us to deploy domestically. That has already been released in the media, so I can disclose it. All I can say. Stay safe, and exercise some common sense. Don't buy a shopping cart of Mr.Noodle!

Thought some of you might find this interesting https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200304-coronavirus-covid-19-update-why-people-are-stockpiling

Good points all. Am I personally worried about this, not in the least. I personally don't give a damn what the Idiot in Ottawa, and his merry band of elves have to say. Jesus, the Minister of Health is advising us to stock pile food and meds. https://nationalpost.com/news/world/coronavirus-live-updates-who-covid19-covid-19-italy-china-canada-wuhan-deaths That being said. Try explaining that there is nothing to worry about to your autistic spouse. Yeah. Guess who spent the better part of today out buying groceries, just to avoid an argument.

I recently read this on the BBC. Given how charged political debates can become, I thought that some of you might like to have a read: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51387124 I found it interesting based on some of my own experiences. I am a member of the Conservative Party of Canada, and I have been accused of being homophobic, among other things. My response to that accusation is "Hi, I'd like you to meet my husband." Ever see the Loony Toons? When one of the characters gets hit in the head and their eyes turn into slot machines....yeah...that's what its like. These people are content to attack me (and other), based on a stereotype that has been reinforced by social media. At one point the author talks about how politicians play to the stereotypes. That sort of hit home. Earlier this week, I was gaming my Edge of Empire Star Wars RP group. I play a Mando Outlaw Tech. F**k Off! Yes I'm a nerd. Yes, I'm not ashamed of it! LOL I digress. Two of them are life long NPD (https://www.ndp.ca/), our far left party, supporters. One is a Youth Worker, the other is a Police Officer. They couldn't vote for them in the last election. The cop said, "I'm not a fiscal conservative, I believe in social spending, but money doesn't grow on trees." The Youth Worker couldn't bring herself to vote for the NPD, which she has done in every single election, because they were unrealistic. I feel betrayed by the Conservatives. They've gone from standing for the working person, stewardship, encouraging business, liberty, and responsible spending. To a party that is willing to shoot themselves in the foot, and damn the economic consequences, to cater to social conservatives. What are your thoughts?

Thanks all. Just getting back from another trg Field X in Wainwright. Drunk as , f**k right now. Cripes, after spending a week in the frozen hell that is the Wainwright training area, do you blame me!? Our realtor is a real ball breaker. Glad my CSM recommended her. Got them down to 260k, new dishwasher, fix any plumbing issues, and a new Real Property Report. I need the RPR, when I put in the garage next summer. @Plankborn: Yep we would have. Remember the Plastic, Fantastic Dipthna...or Bitchna from Elizabeth Ave? @onbekende: or Sally if I may. Glad I made you laugh. Oui, mon francais est tres pauvres. Je suis desole. However, I am a Newfie, and I really don't speak either of the official languages, by' That being said. If any of you are up Edmonton way, Plankborn especially. You have a place to stay. Alberta or Freedom Land, is like a red state in the USA. They love them some Trump. Lys, you'd feel right at home.

Thanks. Just some paperwork to sign with the lawyers and the house is ours. @SealTeamPi. Best of luck with your purchase. It can be daunting. Especially when you start talking about figures in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, it gets surreal. As long as you keep your expectations reasonable, you'll be fine. We told our Realtor we didn't want a McMansion or a damned palace. We just wanted a starter home, which is what we got. @onbekende: sounds strangely specific. Well, la Peite Roi (Little King), was the neighbor" from hell. Her and her boyfriend did whatever they liked, including throw parties in the middle of the week. They parked their cars where they wanted. I mean they had me blocked in one morning, and I had to knock on their door to ask them to move the car. Asshat told me "You can walk to work." and tired to close the door. He got down their pretty quick when he saw the tow truck pull in. If anything annoyed them, they called the police. They called the police the guy who lived across the hall, and the guy downstairs, for playing a bit of music in the middle of the day. The elderly couple had a police complaint about their little dog, as did I. They called the police on the family that lived in the building because their children we making noise. They call the police on the teenagers who lived in the next building, because they were making noise in the middle of the day and claimed they were smoking dope. They threatened to call the police on on two children (I think they were eight), who lived in the area, because they were making noise and she claimed they were "beating up" her car. On a side note, I heard that exchange, they were cursing out the two little girls. I mean, if an adult spoke to me they way they were speaking to those two children, that adult would have their teeth knocked down the back of their throat. When John, the guy across the hall, spoke to those two grown brats about their behaviour, the cursed him out and..you guessed it, threatened to call the police. John told the two little girls to tell their parents about it, and that he was going to call the police and that those two kidults would get in trouble. They disappeared for two days. I'm looking forward to not having to be concerned about something like that happening again.

Yes, I'm happy about it. I might owe my soul to the bank, but damn it I'm not paying for someone else's mortgage. I have my own. I've been renting since 1994. I scrimped and saved. We've bought our first house. An 1100 square foot, split level, single family, with a big back garden house. Something I can call my own. Damn it, if I want to paint my front door hot pink, I can. If I want to take a chainsaw to a wall, I can. I'm not sharing a floor, a wall, or a ceiling with someone. I'm not going to have to put up with some Petite Roi, who will call la gendarme when mon chein barks and annoys her entitled ass. It's magical. The realtor we hired is a real ball breaker. I'm glad she is on our side. The asking price was $279 990.00 CDN. Our initial was $255 000.00. Which was rejected. So she offered $265 000.00. Accepted! F**k Yeah! Then we had the inspection done. House is sound, all systems go. Except for some minor problems. Back to the drawing board, renegotiation. $260 000.00, plus a new dishwasher, and plumbing problems fixed, and a new Real Property Report. Accepted. Of course that's what happens in a buyer's market.