Cruising through Memeorandum this morning, this item caught my attention: Michelle Obama’s Birthday Restaurant Has Occupy-Themed Burger Menu. The restaurant of her birthday festivities features a “99% Patty Melt”  on Wonder Bread for $9.99, and a “1% 8 oz Kobe burger” decorated with gold  leaf. Because Michelle Obama drives righties insane (smart, black, female), . . . → Read More: Meat to Barking Dogs …
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Not exactly relevant in Canada, but still useful for dealing with your fundamentalist relatives over the holiday season.   [Via.]   …
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Herman Cain sees the Virgin Mary on a tortilla: He has won over some voters . . . by telling them that, when he was suffering from colon cancer, he knew he would be cured because he met a hospital worker named Grace and had a surgical incision in the shape of a . . . → Read More: All You Really Need to Know About Herman Cain …
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Texas judge William Adams beats his daughter with a belt. Warning: this video will trigger victims of abuse. I could only watch about thirty seconds at a time. The video has gone viral, with well over five million hits as of this writing. A few points for context: the daughter’s “crime” was to . . . → Read More: “Christian” Family Values? …
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1. Just wondering. If the Greek people are being asked to make extraordinary sacrifices to resolve a crisis largely not of their own making (see here, for example, on the mythology surrounding the Greek debt crisis, which — dare I say it — has a lot of vaguely racist shite about lazy southern . . . → Read More: Three Thoughts on the Greek Debt Crisis …
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Kate at Small Dead Animals is virtually peeing herself with excitement: the lyin’ bastards have been caught again! Data manipulation! Climate change is a hoax! Etc.! She quotes from a Mail on Sunday article at length, which in itself quotes an American colleague of Richard Muller (of BEST climate study fame) named Judith . . . → Read More: It’s Climategate II! Except It’s Not. …
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Saturday’s National Post featured Rex Murphy doing his usual global warming shtick in the context of UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun. That is, he suggests, Britain having weather a Canadian would laugh at disproves at a blow the entire corpus of climate change science in all its gazillion-paged glory. He’s been down this road before. Last winter, it snowed in — wait for it — Vancouver, which again in his mind established beyond doubt climate change scientists are conspiring to make us all drive hybrids and eat turnips. Or something. Murphy is touted to be the …
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Shorter Jim Judd, former CSIS director: the rule of law is a crock of shit. …
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A short update: the elections in Haiti have nearly bumped cholera off the radar. The latest MSPP (Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population) report as of 24 November 2010 showed 75,888 cases of cholera accounting for 1,721 deaths since the outbreak began. There have been 31,210 hospitalizations. The hospital mortality rate is 3.6%. Cholera promptly treated has a mortality rate of 1-2%. As mentioned in my last update, political interference may be tainting the figures: note the sharp drop in hospitalizations on the bar graph to the right just prior to yesterday’s …
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A well-deserved shot at corporate pink ribbon campaigns. Pink Cigarettes Lest you think the satire is a little harsh, or if you get warm fuzzies donating to pink ribbon campaigns, consider that corporations jumped all over pink ribbon campaigns not just because of their intrinsic worth, but more importantly, because it’s a “safe”, non-controversial issue, and more to generate profits. Think Before You Pink, an advocacy website, makes a necessary corrective: She and the Times agree on the source of the disease’s peculiar popularity in corporate America. It is a quality …
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The latest MSPP (Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population) report as of 24 November 2010 showed 72,017 cases of cholera accounting for1,648 deaths since the outbreak began. There have been 31,210 hospitalizations. The hospital mortality rate is 3.6%. Cholera promptly treated has a mortality rate of 1-2%. There are reasons  to believe, as noted below, that these numbers are suspect. According to HaitiLibre, the release of data related to the epidemic is politically motivated: At less than 48 hours of the elections, the last official assessment of the Ministry of …
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As of writing, there are no updated figures from MSPP (Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population). The latest figures released on 16/11/10 showed 49,418 cases of cholera and 1186 deaths since the outbreak began. The hospital mortality rate is 3.9% Cholera promptly treated has a mortality rate of 1-2%. James Wilson reports on conditons in the epicenter: The rural camps, hardest hit by cholera are in the worst situation because there is NO relief aid presence and no UN presence.  During this last trip it would take almost 5 hours to drive from St. Marc back to Port au Prince to try …
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The last report of the MSPP (Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population) on 16 November 2010 states there has been 49,418 cases of cholera and 1186 deaths since the outbreak began. MSPP has begun reporting “cas vu” — “cases seen” — as compared to previously reported “hospitalizations”, numbered now at 19,646. (It is a bit of a mystery to me why the “cas vu” figure is not being more widely quoted.) If we assume the “cas vu” figure represents the 25% of cases that have a clinical presentation, approximately …
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The last report of the MSPP (Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population) on 12 November 2010 reports 14,642 cases of cholera and 917 deaths. The hospital mortality rate is 3.8%. Cholera promptly treated has a mortality rate of 1-2%. It is probably worthwhile to bear in mind that in the view of James Wilson at Haiti: Operational Biosurveillance, the number of cases is likely enormously under-reported. He currently estimates approximately 100,000 people have been infected. If 75% of these cases are subclinical, and we accept a (conservative) 3.8% mortality rate, the estimated number …
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As of 9 Novemeber 2011, MSPP (Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population) reports 11,125 cases of cholera and 724 deaths.  The hospital mortality rate is 3,9%. Cholera promptly treated has a mortality rate of 1-2%. HaitiLibre reports that there are now 278 confirmed cases of cholera in Port-au-Prince, and 10 deaths. In the outlying regions as well as in the Artibonite, the website reports, the situation is becoming dire: The epidemic is spreading each day a little more in Gonaives, agglomeration of more than 300,000 inhabitants : for the single day of November 8, 460 people …
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MSPP (Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population) has no updated figures on cholera deaths or hospitalizations as of writing (c. 1500 ET). However Al Jezeera quotes an MSPP official saying the death toll has risen to 587.  Al Jezeera also states there have been 120 suspected reported in Port-au-Prince. Five confirmed deaths have been reported at Wharf Jeremie, on the outskirts of Cité Soleil. James Wilson at Haiti: Operational Biosurveillance reports this number has increased to over 200 patients, and Haiti Epidemic Advisory System (HEAS) is urgently appealing for funding. …
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Margaret Wente’s Globe and Mail column of a few days ago — “Do you belong to the Elites? Take this test and see!” — caused a bit of a stir on this blog and other places. I’m going to commit the ultimate heresy: Margaret Wente, everyone’s favourite bête noir, is correct in the main premise of her column, but goes astray in drawing conclusions. You may kindly direct flames at CK, the owner of this blog. Aside from the silly quiz (more on that presently) the column contains, Wente’s basic point is that our vaunted meritocracy has created a …
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MSPP (Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population — PDF), as of 6 November 2010, there have been 544 deaths and 8138 hospital cases from cholera. Total deaths are divided between 309 hospital deaths and 235 deaths in the community. This represents a hospital mortality rate of 3.8%. Cholera promptly treated has a mortality rate of 1-2 % The total number of cases in the community is unknown. James Wilson at Haiti: Operation Biosurveillance estimates over 50, 000 persons have contracted the disease, either subclinically (75%) or actively (25%).  He writes: “Any claim of containment …
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The Harper government’s priority in Haiti, finely calculated to please the base: Canada has committed $10.8 million for Haiti, including $9.5 million toward construction of a new headquarters for the Haitian National Police, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon announced in Montreal yesterday. The two-year project will be carried out through Canadian Commercial Corp., a crown corporation that acts as Canada’s international contracting and procurement agency [Montreal Gazette] Next up: prisons. Because 1.3 million people living in tents for nine months are all potential …
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As of writing there have been no further reports of cases or deaths from cholera from MSPP (Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population). The MSPP’s last release three days ago noted 6,742 hospitalized cases of cholera and 442 deaths since the outbreak began. This represents a crude mortality rate of 6.6%. Cholera promptly treated has a crude mortality rate of 1-2%. Cholera is now found in five départements: Artibonite, where the outbreak began, and Centre, Nord, Nord-Ouest, and Ouest. It is important to note that even this information was stale at the time of its release, …
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Via the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), as of 3 November 2010, MSPP reports, there were in Haiti 6,742 hospitalized cases of cholera and 442 deaths since the outbreak began. This represents a crude mortality rate of 6.6%. Cholera promptly treated has a crude mortality rate of 1-2%. Cholera is now found in five départments: Artibonite, where the outbreak began, and Centre, Nord, Nord-Ouest, and Ouest. Tropical Storm Tomas has begun to affect Haiti’s southwest peninsula. However the latest forecasts have some good news: the storm has veered further west than expected, and it appears …
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The story of two men dressed as a KKK member and as a black man with a noose around his neck at a Legion hall dance has caused a furore, and rightly so. Royal Canadian Legion headquarters has effectively closed RCL Campbellford Branch 103. Both poppy sales and and Remembrance Day ceremonies associated with the branch are suspended. When I wrote about this Hallowe’en party yesterday, I feared I might have been too harsh. Clearly, not every person in Northumberland County or even Campbellford is a racist clown. But still, casual racism and bigotry is not very exceptional in rural …
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I think we all understood that, and it’s borne out by the evidence: the U.S. pollster has a significant bias towards the Right, and it’s not terribly accurate either. I can see the argument for having a right-(or left-)wing bias in polling, as far as creating momentum, driving the narrative, dominating the news-cycle — in short, spin. And frankly, a pollster’s honesty can be selective in releasing polls: if your candidate or party is doing poorly, you bury the poll. It’s an interesting if open question how polling and pollsters drive political discourse. But it …
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As of writing, MSPP (Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population) has not released updated information on cases/deaths. The latest figures were to be released at 1000 this morning, but I have been unable to find any information regarding them. The last report was on 30 October 2010 when 337 deaths and 4,764 were noted. According to HaitiLibre: ”[T]he government has not issued (at the time this article was written) any new assessment since Saturday on the evolution of the cholera epidemic in the country because of public holidays [!], this is, despite the maximum health warning …
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It’s entirely appropriate this time of year to reflect on the sacrifices of the thousands of young men and women who have given their lives in the service of their country, defending the rights and freedoms of all — including, one supposes, the right of two, um, men to dress respectively in a KKK hood and sheet and in blackface for a Hallowe’en dance. At the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 103 in Campbellford, Ontario.* We at Sister Sage note several astonishing things about this story, and make an observation. The first is out of the 200 people at the dance, only one person …
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PAHO released its ninth situational update yesterday evening (PDF). MSPP (Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population) still has not updated its case figures from 30 October 2010. Tropical Storm Tomas continues to strengthen, and is expected to cross Hispaniola beginning Friday and into Saturday morning. As of this morning, indications are it will not be a glancing blow. James Wilson at Haiti: Operational Biosurveillance writes that there is probable massive under-reporting of cases because cholera infection is subclinical in the majority of cases; the extent of the outbreak may be …
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Updated information on cholera deaths and cases from the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) or any of the other usual sources has been lacking this morning. Evidently MSPP (Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population has not issued any reports in the last day or so. As of 30 October 2010, via PAHO, MSPP reports 337 deaths and 4,764 cases since the epidemic began. This represents a crude mortality rate of 7.1%. Cholera promptly treated has a mortality rate of 1-2%. I will update this today if more recent figures become available. Tropical Storm Tomas is expected to regain …
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How else* can you explain this pernicious left-wing propaganda? __________ *Random example out of, let’s say, 3,680,000. …
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(*Except when it’s saving my life.) Doesn’t exactly transfer to Canada, though I am sure there are plenty of Glenn Beck conspiracy theorists here who believe universal health care is the foul work of the Illuminati under the guidance of the communo-socio-nazi-fascists (or vice versa), even as they’re getting their angioplasties and complaining about the food. But did you ever notice the guys who rail against health care in Canada tend to be those who, in the event, would have the resources for gold-plated health insurance? …
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According to the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), MSPP (Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population) reports, as of today, 30 October 2010, there have been 330 deaths from cholera and 4,714 confirmed cases. This represents a crude mortality rate of 14.28%. Cholera treated promptly has a mortality rate of 1-2%. PAHO also issued a statement about the release of supplies from the PROMESS warehouse near Port-au-Prince Airport: Since the start of the current cholera outbreak in Haiti, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has distributed more than 64,000 sachets of oral …
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Charles McVety just found a reason to support abortion on demand. …
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The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) reports as of  yesterday, 27 October 2010, there have been 292 deaths from cholera and 4,147 confirmed cases. This represents a crude mortality rate of 14.2%. Cholera promptly treated has a mortality rate of 1-2%. There was no situation report issued yesterday, and these numbers are taken from the daily briefing, in which  PAHO deputy director Jon Kim Andrus  was careful to emphasize were compiled by the Haitian Ministry of Health and Population (Ministère de la santé publique et de la population  — MSPP). Andrus also outlined …
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The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) reports (PDF) as of 1800 yesterday, 26 October 2010, there have been 284 deaths from cholera and 3,769 confirmed cases. This represents a crude mortality rate of 13.27%. Cholera treated promptly has a mortality rate of 1-2%. Deaths are about equally divided between hospitals and the community; 96% of the deaths are reported from the Artibonite region, where the outbreak began. HoweverHaitiLibre reports actual figures are somewhat higher: 304 deaths and 4,774 cases. [Via] The slowing of the death rate and the confirmed numbers of new cases has …
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The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) reports (PDF) as of 1800 yesterday, 24 October 2010, there have been 253 deaths from cholera and 3015 confirmed cases. This represents a crude mortality rate 11.92%. Cholera treated promptly has a mortality rate of 1-2%. According to PAHO, 46% of deaths have been in the hospital setting, the balance in the community. Twelve cholera treatment centres are being built in strategic points, in the Artibonite and Centre regions, as well as in Port-au-Prince. According to the Partners in Health (PIH) Twitter stream, the identified cholera patients in …
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As of 1800 last evening, according to the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), there have been 2,564 cases and 194 deaths from cholera in Haiti in the past week. This represents a crude mortality of 13.26%. With prompt treatment, mortality from cholera is around 1-2%. This morning there are reports of more than 200 dead. The latest PAHO situation report (PDF) seems to imply its initial emergency supplies are still in a warehouse near the Port-au-Prince airport. There may have been cases of the disease as early as the week before last, which are unconfirmed by PAHO. The present outbreak is …
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I was reflecting this morning over my cuppa joe, after listening to the news, that today of all days I am very glad to be Canadian. Russell Williams, I heard, is finally to be consigned to his well-deserved oblivion; the Canadian public is freed from horror of learning about the depraved monstrosities of this man, and most importantly, the families of the victims can finally start the long road to healing. Now imagine for a second if this had been in the U.S .  Start with the fact Williams’ parents were divorced. Wingnut Nation would have gone off the deep-end. We’d have …
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A few weeks ago, I was at triage when a pale young woman came in. She was suffering complications of a therapeutic abortion; we occasionally see post-procedure patients from the Morgentaler Clinic or some other provider of therapeutic abortions with ongoing bleeding or pain. A nurse colleague triaged the patient, and her distaste, even disgust, was evident with this patient. I was, I think, a bit appalled at her reaction. Afterwards I remarked she wore her feelings on her sleeve. “I can’t help it,” she replied. “I think abortion is wrong, and girls like her …
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A sad commentary on the nature of the age: [T]he president will not stop at the Golden Temple, a Sikh holy site and one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions, because visitors typically wear headscarves, turbans or Muslim caps. Obama was to visit the sprawling golden complex in Amritsar, “but the plan appears to have foundered on the thorny question of how Mr. Obama would cover his head, as Sikh tradition requires, while visiting the temple,” wrote the Times. Don’t blame him. Why cause yourself trouble by providing the dumb shits at home the final proof …
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On 19 September 2008, Brian Sinclair was sent to the emergency department of Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre by a clinic physician, who provided a letter for the ED physician asking for a foley catheter replacement and antibiotic treatment. For anyone who works in the emergency department, this is common practice. Yet Brian Sinclair, who was a double amputee, waited in vain for care and intervention, and thirty-four hours later, he died in his wheelchair from overwhelming sepsis resulting from a urinary tract infection. It was pretty obvious, to me at least, when I first read this terrible …
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Meanwhile, at Canada Free Press (. . . Because without America there is no Free World!), a screaming headline by Charles McVety (no link): Christians Concerned that Islamic Forces will Dampen Canada’s Support for Israel You see, in the worldview of Charles McVety, Islam — those dark “Islamic forces” — is a monolith, just like Christianity is a monolith. It’s the Clash of Civilizations,™ people! It’s also fundamentally dishonest. Well, this Christian is rather concerned about the state of Charles McVety’s soul, because of this inherent lie (all …
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