I'm all ears, give uz de juicy bits!

So, face masks are the order of the day in New York. I assume that's the city not the State? Otherwise Tommy you'll have to shave off your Grizzly Adams beard before you go out.

Nothing new here Mark, Jesse James wore one way back when. Quite an opportunity for the inner-city mud people in days to come.

3M pushes back on Trump administration order to stop sending N95 masks to Canada.

WASHINGTON — A battle is shaping up between Donald Trump's White House and one of the world's largest manufacturers of protective medical gear — and Canada's supply of surgical masks, a mission-critical tool in the fight against COVID-19, is hanging in the balance.

Minnesota-based 3M says the Trump administration is trying to prevent it from exporting its N95 respirators, the high-grade facemasks that are in high demand and dwindling supply around the world as health professionals, and now members of the North American public, try to defend themselves against the novel coronavirus.

The company, which calls itself a critical supplier of the masks around the world, says there would be "significant humanitarian implications" to acceding to the U.S. demand to limit exports to Canada and Latin America.

"In addition, ceasing all export of respirators produced in the United States would likely cause other countries to retaliate and do the same, as some have already done," 3M said in a statement Friday.

"If that were to occur, the net number of respirators being made available to the United States would actually decrease. That is the opposite of what we and the administration, on behalf of the American people, both seek."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau kept his diplomatic cool Friday as he was barraged with questions about whether Canada's critical supply of the masks is now in jeopardy.

As he has done from the outset of the outbreak, Trudeau insisted that ongoing talks with the U.S. to maintain the two-way flow of goods and services over a border now closed to non-essential travel would continue.

"We are receiving essential supplies from the United States, but the United States also receives essential supplies and products and indeed health-care professionals from Canada every single day," he said.

"These are things that Americans rely on, and it would be a mistake to create blockages or reduce the amount of back-and-forth trade of essential goods and services, including medical goods, across our border. That is the point we are making very clearly to the American administration right now."

The company was singled out for criticism Thursday by President Donald Trump, who has invoked the U.S.'s Defense Production Act to compel 3M to prioritize orders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for masks to help meet soaring American demand.

"We hit 3M hard today after seeing what they were doing with their Masks," Trump tweeted. "'P Act' all the way. Big surprise to many in government as to what they were doing — will have a big price to pay!"

Demand for so-called personal protective equipment — gloves, gowns, face shields and the all-important N95 masks — has been soaring around the world as overtaxed doctors, nurses and hospitals struggle to manage the spike in COVID-19 cases while protecting themselves from infection.

And now that the Centers for Disease Control and others in the health community have started recommending everyone wear some sort of face covering while out in public, the scarcity of medical-grade masks is sure to get even worse.

"Over the last several days, we had some issues making sure that all of the production that 3M does around the world, enough of it is coming back here to the right places," White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said Thursday.

"So what's going to happen, the signing of that order in 'Trump time,' is we're going to resolve that issue with 3M probably by tomorrow close of business because we can't afford to lose days or hours, even minutes in this crisis."

3M says it has already "gone above and beyond" to maximize production of the masks for the U.S. market, and was doing so long before the Defense Production Act was invoked.

"We appreciate the authorities in the DPA that provide a framework for us to expand even further the work we are doing in response to the global pandemic crisis," the company said.

"We will continue to maximize the amount of respirators we can produce on behalf of U.S. health care workers, as we have every single day since this crisis began."

Both Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland acknowledged 3M's message as a sign they would not be cutting off export markets any time soon.  

"3M has indicated that it understands how important it is to continue with delivering on orders to places like Canada, because there is much trade that goes back and forth in essential services and it could end up hurting Americans as much as it hurts anybody else," Trudeau said.

The prime minister said he's confident that message is getting through, and demurred when asked whether Canada was contemplating any retaliatory measures.

 "I am confident that the close and deep relationship between Canada and the U.S. will hold strong, and we will not have to see interruptions in supply chains in either direction."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2020

Boris had been admitted to hospital with high fever.

Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador takes aim at Trump over medical supplies

Donald Trump's suggestion the United States could ban exports of medical supplies to Canada has infuriated the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Dwight Ball made a point Sunday of reminding the president how the province helped thousands of stranded airline passengers after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

"In 2001, our province stepped up in the biggest way possible," Ball told a news conference in St. John's, N.L.

"When the United States was in crisis ... Newfoundland and Labrador accepted with open arms thousands of people from around the world. With no questions asked, with no prompting, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians acted fast and did what was necessary."On Friday, American manufacturer 3M — one of the largest producers of N95 medical-grade face masks — said it had been told by the White House to stop exporting the equipment to Canada and Latin America — a charge the White House has denied.

The White House later issued a statement that suggested its order was aimed at "wartime profiteers" who could divert protective equipment away from U.S. hospitals to foreign purchasers willing to pay significant premiums.

Media reports suggest Trump had singled out 3M after a Fox News report accused the Minnesota-based company's American distributors of selling its masks to "foreign buyers" that were outbidding U.S. customers.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, Trump's comments landed with an ugly thud, Ball said.

"To say that I'm infuriated with the recent actions of President Trump is an understatement," the Liberal premier said. "I cannot believe for a second that in a time of crisis that President Trump would even think about banning key medical supplies to Canada."

Ball isn't the only premier to be critical of U.S. actions in recent days. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford also expressed their disappointment on the medical supply situation recently.

Despite his anger, Ball said the province's population — renowned for its unqualified hospitality — would always be there to help those in need. 

"Newfoundland and Labrador will never give up on humanity," he said. "We would not hesitate for one second if we had to repeat what we did in 9/11. We would do it again."

Ball's harsh words for Trump came as the province reported 14 new cases of COVID-19, which raised the province's total to 217 confirmed cases. Ten people remain in hospital and there were three in intensive care.

The province reported the Atlantic region's first death related to novel coronavirus on March 30. The four provinces have not reported any deaths related to COVID-19 since then.

However, three of the provinces reported a total of 83 new cases on the weekend. Prince Edward Island did not record any new cases on either Saturday or Sunday.

In Nova Scotia, health officials reported 26 new cases on Sunday. The province's total now stands at 262 confirmed cases — the highest number in the region.

With the virus now spreading in communities, Nova Scotia has ramped up testing at the province's main laboratory, where the processing of results is expected to become a 24-7 operation as of Monday.

Premier Stephen McNeil confirmed Sunday that police in Halifax had handed out dozens of tickets on the weekend to people violating emergency health orders aimed at preventing the spread of the virus.

He repeated a warning he issued on Friday, which has since become a trending topic on social media.

"Stay the blazes home!" he said, acknowledging that his quaint Maritime turn of phrase is now being printed on T-shirts, coffee cups and all manner of kitschy memorabilia.

"On Friday, I told all of you to stay the blazes home," he said. "You had some fun with it and ... after all, we could all use a bit of humour now."

However, the premier doubled down on his original message.

"People are still walking on beaches and in parks, having garage parties and gathering in large groups," he said. "But what the reckless and selfish don't get is that they are putting everyone else at risk ... This virus spreads, and it spreads fast. Just look at what's going on in Ontario and Quebec."

In New Brunswick, health officials reported three new cases, bringing the province's total to 101 confirmed cases. Like Nova Scotia, most of the cases are travel-related, but five were the result of community spread.

"This is the time to be sensible, to be prudent and, more than anything, to be kind," Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick’s chief medical officer of health, said in a statement.

"But remember, you would not put someone else's oxygen mask on before your own. I urge you to think about your mental health the same way. Take care of yourselves so you can take care of others."

Boris had been admitted to hospital with high fever.

He's not in any grave danger, but his recovery is slower than we'd expect. The fact that he has still been "in charge" holding video meetings, telephone calls, dealing with papers etc means he's not resting and it has caught up with him.

Boris had been admitted to hospital with high fever.

He's not in any grave danger, but his recovery is slower than we'd expect. The fact that he has still been "in charge" holding video meetings, telephone calls, dealing with papers etc means he's not resting and it has caught up with him.

Remember what I said about the virus hitting the hardest on day 7 or 8. He made it to day 10 and is still in a high fever.

The Scottish Health Minister apologized today for not keeping to her quarantine rules herself.

She's a daft cow to be sure.

I'm off this week, we're taking it in turns week on/week off so the mail will still be processed, both in and out, but with minimum staffing.

You really have to wonder, wonder how much China pays in bribes to get positions of power and influence in the world, especially the west. They have been given a place on the UN's Human Rights Council, I mean,  it's like putting Hitler on the Jewish Benevolent Council. They don't have human rights, only governmental rights and everything is subordinate to that. It has a long and disastrous history of human rights abuses on the grand scale and if the UN think this will moderate their condition, they're dangerously deluded. To the Chines everything is political, everything, and their position on that council will be used solely for political purposes. Their deceitful handling of this virus epidemic has cost thousands of innocent lives around the world and they get on the HRC? Murder is not a form of protection. The western intelligence agencies have said that the Chinese figures for their own deaths are fake.... shock horror! They said there was no new cases, then all of a sudden photographs of stacks of urns suddenly turn up, smuggled out of China. I've mentioned before about this Chinese obsession with 'face' image is everything and to save that face they covered up the outbreak, the cases involved and their death count. Scientists were put in isolation from the world's view, censored and some have just disappeared. They threw the western press out immediately, including the lefty press of the US, who can't bring themselves to say a bad word about China, out of the country and immediately began a campaign of misinformation in the west, including the rumour that American troops were responsible for it and the left just swallow it right up, as the Chinks know they will. What did Lenin call them? Ah yes, useful idiots. China now boasts how quickly they controlled this virus but not being hindered by the usual western constraints of privacy, independence, rights and legality, they would wouldn't they but I don't think they've got rid of it at all. We'll wait and see. People in China generally have no idea what's going on, as they have no access to outside information on their computers, as they are prevented from access by what's called in the west "the great firewall of China." They get to see what the Chinese state wants them to see. The HRW (Human Rights Watch) stated in its annual report to the UN a few weeks back, that China was using its economic and diplomatic might to attack the global system for the protection of human rights and its director, Kenneth Roth was then banned from entering Hong Kong as a reprisal. Mr Roth stated that China had long used oppression to stifle domestic critics but now it's extending that policy to the rest of the world.

She's a daft cow to be sure.

I'm off this week, we're taking it in turns week on/week off so the mail will still be processed, both in and out, but with minimum staffing.

My youngest daughter works for Home Depot in town here and they up until Saturday at 11:59 when things changed, had to stay open and not close down like most other stores.

They said with the Virus they had to keep stores like that operating that sold necessities such as electrical and plumbing supplies. Now if you want anything you have to order it on line and pay for it and them stay outside in your car and the store will deliver it right to your car. People here were using the quarantine as a time to go out shopping with the family for everything other than electrical and plumbing supplies. A person at a Walmarts in Ontario was so mad that they have to practise safe distancing in the store that he jumped in his car and purposely ran over the security guard at the front door.

It should be two weeks off and two weeks on Mark. Less chance of catching and spreading the virus that way.

I get the face mask thing.  I really do.  And I'm complying.  Making my own.  But digging through the fabrics box to find material to match the shirt I'm wearing each day is becoming a challenge.

My personal seamstress is doing the same thing Shula. Has her vintage Singer featherlight model 221 humming this very moment. My former rebel flag bandana is now a face mask. 

It's to the point now that you have to make your own mask or go without. The Lone Ranger mask my wife made for me doesn't seem to be working all that well but at least I can still smoke cigarettes with little difficulty with it on. 

It's to the point now that you have to make your own mask or go without. The Lone Ranger mask my wife made for me doesn't seem to be working all that well but at least I can still smoke cigarettes with little difficulty with it on. 

New York City's Dept. of Health issued an advisory recommending masturbation during the pandemic. "You are your safest sex partner" the dept. noted. Well that's good news for a change. 

Don't be silly Shula, that's why most of them wear thick glasses and the girls all have first and last names for their vibrators just in case they get pregnant while using it.

New York City's Dept. of Health issued an advisory recommending masturbation during the pandemic. "You are your safest sex partner" the dept. So it's down to the ol' five knuckle shuffle is it? I can see the signs now..... Keep calm and keep shuffling. When I was watching everybody in the supermarkets fighting over the bog roll and the warning came out about a shortage, I thought to myself, if they think there's a shortage now, just wait until they've got five million young lads at home with nothing to do.

New York City's Dept. of Health issued an advisory recommending masturbation during the pandemic. "You are your safest sex partner" the dept. So it's down to the ol' five knuckle shuffle is it? I can see the signs now..... Keep calm and keep shuffling. When I was watching everybody in the supermarkets fighting over the bog roll and the warning came out about a shortage, I thought to myself, if they think there's a shortage now, just wait until they've got five million young lads at home with nothing to do.

To clarify the situation for our Brit members............Being a "wanker" is cool again.  

Do you know that in 2015 an Italian media company called RAI (Radio Television Italiana) exposed Chinese experiments to create a virus derived from the SARS strain?

Do you know that in 2015 an Italian media company called RAI (Radio Television Italiana) exposed Chinese experiments to create a virus derived from the SARS strain?

The Chinks are a naturally sneaky, evil lot & that was one conspiracy theory from the start of this pandemic. A biological warfare experiment gone awry. Then the lies, shift of blame, & the cover up. 

Do you know that in 2015 an Italian media company called RAI (Radio Television Italiana) exposed Chinese experiments to create a virus derived from the SARS strain?

The Chinks are a naturally sneaky, evil lot & that was one conspiracy theory from the start of this pandemic. A biological warfare experiment gone awry. Then the lies, shift of blame, & the cover up. 

So like which one of the 3 did you hear the conspiracy theory from Tommy. Was it Tucker, Hannity or the Judge who was never a judge, Judge Jeanine.

Do you know that in 2015 an Italian media company called RAI (Radio Television Italiana) exposed Chinese experiments to create a virus derived from the SARS strain?

The Chinks are a naturally sneaky, evil lot & that was one conspiracy theory from the start of this pandemic. A biological warfare experiment gone awry. Then the lies, shift of blame, & the cover up. 

So like which one of the 3 did you hear the conspiracy theory from Tommy. Was it Tucker, Hannity or the Judge who was never a judge, Judge Jeanine.

Now that's a low blow Pete. The judge was born & raised in Elmira NY & we consider her one of our own. BTW, I can barely stand Tucker & I always listen to Chris Cuomo who is opposite Hannity. In the AM it's Morning Joe, that & potatoes is why I am so "well rounded." My favorite on Fox is Gutfeld, now there is sarcasm in a elite form.

Do you know that in 2015 an Italian media company called RAI (Radio Television Italiana) exposed Chinese experiments to create a virus derived from the SARS strain?

The Chinks are a naturally sneaky, evil lot & that was one conspiracy theory from the start of this pandemic. A biological warfare experiment gone awry. Then the lies, shift of blame, & the cover up. 

So like which one of the 3 did you hear the conspiracy theory from Tommy. Was it Tucker, Hannity or the Judge who was never a judge, Judge Jeanine.

Now that's a low blow Pete. The judge was born & raised in Elmira NY & we consider her one of our own. BTW, I can barely stand Tucker & I always listen to Chris Cuomo who is opposite Hannity. In the AM it's Morning Joe, that & potatoes is why I am so "well rounded." My favorite on Fox is Gutfeld, now there is sarcasm in a elite form.

Now that's a low blow Pete. The judge was born & raised in Elmira NY & we consider her one of our own.

So if I said her parents should have left her on the bed sheets in that motel room in Elmira you'd probably say, don't blame the motel staff for doing a bad clean up job, right? You watch the same morning shows then that Trump watches every morning. Let's keep that tit bit of informations to ourself's, ok.

Are you managing to get walks in around the ranch? Actually would be a good way of fending off Cabin Fever.

Do you know that in 2015 an Italian media company called RAI (Radio Television Italiana) exposed Chinese experiments to create a virus derived from the SARS strain?

The Chinks are a naturally sneaky, evil lot & that was one conspiracy theory from the start of this pandemic. A biological warfare experiment gone awry. Then the lies, shift of blame, & the cover up. 

So like which one of the 3 did you hear the conspiracy theory from Tommy. Was it Tucker, Hannity or the Judge who was never a judge, Judge Jeanine.

Now that's a low blow Pete. The judge was born & raised in Elmira NY & we consider her one of our own. BTW, I can barely stand Tucker & I always listen to Chris Cuomo who is opposite Hannity. In the AM it's Morning Joe, that & potatoes is why I am so "well rounded." My favorite on Fox is Gutfeld, now there is sarcasm in a elite form.

Now that's a low blow Pete. The judge was born & raised in Elmira NY & we consider her one of our own.

So if I said her parents should have left her on the bed sheets in that motel room in Elmira you'd probably say, don't blame the motel staff for doing a bad clean up job, right? You watch the same morning shows then that Trump watches every morning. Let's keep that tit bit of informations to ourself's, ok.

Are you managing to get walks in around the ranch? Actually would be a good way of fending off Cabin Fever.

No, bad ankle right side & achilles left side. I am gimping around.

Sorry to hear that Tommy. Thought you might have a quad or something to get out back with. Even a truck to get around with is better that staying in the lodge all the time. Might be a bit mucky though with all this rain.

Not admitting I listened to the Tom Foolery story "Spank the Monkey", perhaps it should be required reading/listening for some of you guys. "Brenda's Beaver Needs a Barber" was sinfully funny.

Speaking of hair, have you all noticed that while many of us are having, or will have shortly, a bad hair day, no politician, newsperson or celebrity is suffering bad hair or a lack of make-up yet?

Grisham out as West Wing press secretary without having held a briefing.

She did talk to FOX News the odd time though. It's hard to leave a job and have to look for a new one with this virus still going on.

Pete, I expect you to dismiss any negative reporting of your heroes the Chinese. I think you're like Turdope. you lefty's love a good old fashioned dictatorship. You'll possibly notice that the man making the legitimate enquiries is a former Italian interior minister, obviously a person of importance and standing, who once being responsible for the welfare of Italians happens to ask questions about why thousands of his fellow countrymen and women have died, or been illegally murdered. How dare he question China.   

Former Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini is demanding answers about the origin of the Chinese coronavirus, particularly in relation to a revived 2015 Italian scientific documentary translated exclusively below by RAIR Foundation USA. In what appears to be a coordinated attack, the mainstream media has viciously targeted Salvini for asking reasonable questions, which suggests that he is onto something they would rather bury. In 2015, Italian state broadcaster RAI aired Leonardo, a show dedicated to science, which revealed that Chinese scientists had created a pulmonary “supervirus” from bats and mice “for study purposes” that is capable of attacking humans. Salvini and other party leaders are demanding to know if there is a connection with the research featured in the 2015 documentary and the Chinese coronavirus, which has wreaked havoc on Italy. In the scientific documentary, Chinese researchers in a laboratory in Beijing managed to graft a surface protein of a coronavirus found in bats onto a virus that causes SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in mice. It should be noted that SARS was a “114-day epidemic” which “swept 29 countries, affected a reported 8,098 people, [and] left 774 patients dead…”  Chinese military surgeon Jiang Yanyong exposed his government’s cover-up of the outbreak that originated in 2002–2003 in the Guangdong Province of China. According to the documentary, the researchers imagined that the hybrid (a “chimera virus”) was suitable for affecting humans, a hypothesis later confirmed by laboratory results. Furthermore, this specific coronavirus was shown to attach itself to our respiratory cells, triggering the syndrome and thus the organism can infect humans “directly from bats without going through an intermediate species, such as the mouse“.