New drugs alert

 The European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Abuse warns that new benzodiazepines a appearing on the black market.  30 new molecules (25 of them were first detected between 2014 and 2020) are causing apprehension.  At this point, the market is dominated by etiazolam and flualprazolam but this situation could change because repressive measures on those substances have been enacted by many countries.  In 2019, 1240 seizures of new benzodiazepines have been carried out in Europe.  Early on, these drugs were sold as research chemicals, mainly under the names Phenazepam or Pyralolam. But increasingly they are sold as fake Valium or Xanax, common benzodiazepines.  Those 30 new benzodiazepines are imported from China as powder and fabricated in pill form in Europe.  France has an interesting law on the books prohibiting new illicit drugs that belong to a family of controlled substances.   One impact of Covid-19 could be that more people would be tempted to auto-medicate with benzodiazepines.  For more information on legal benzodiazepines, read my article on this blog on june 24, 2008.  To learn more about life after being caught dealing with controlled substances, go to www.lacloture.ca  (it is in french)

Covid-19

New pills !

The Food and Drugs Administration has granted emergency approval for Merck's new antiviral, Molnupiravir.  The treatment should last 5 days and be given to adults who have a mild case.  England has already bought a large quantity.  

The Food and Drug Administration has also granted emergency approval for Pfizer's new antiviral, Paxlovid.  The treatment should last 5 days and should be given to mild cases, 12 years and up who weigh at least 40 kilos.  Only small quantities will be available for months.  

England

In September 2021, the positivity of PCR tests dropped suddenly from 3% to 1%.  This drop was not observed elsewhere.  Concerned health professionals asked the NSH to investigate.  On October 12 the Immensa lab was closed because the investigation revealed that 43,000 false negative results were issued.  The positivity rate then soared because infected people had not isolated.  On 14 November, Thiemo Fetzer, a graduate student from the University of Warwick, estimated in his study that 21,000 additional cases were attributable to that blunder.  And the number of excess deaths is 400 to 1100.  In 2020, a database error wiped out the data of 15,000 cases of Covid-19.  Contact tracing was wiped out.  1500 deaths were attributable to this other NHS blunder.

China

China was the first country to detect and treat Covid-19.  Its borders are closed and new arrivals must be quarantined for 14 days.  Vaccination with Sinovac and Sinopharm is rolled out.  The pandemic has killed 6,000 chinese, compared to 800,000 Americans.  The National Institutes of Health (of the American government) has spent 1,000,000,000 $ to develop treatments and prevention methods.  The winter olympic games will take place in front of a strictly chinese audience.  The "zero covid" policy is popular there because of results.  In the Shanghai Disneyland, 34,000 visitors were confined to the site and then tested at night because of a single case.  Visitors were then asked to isolate for 48 hours.  about 100 cases are discovered every day in China (against 70,000 cases in the United States.)  Foreigners make up only 0.06% of China's population.  Quarantines are required for all visitors to China including Hong Kong.

New Alzheimer diagnosis test

 Dr" Serge Gauthier, from McGill University, reports an accuracy of 96% by measuring p-tau-217 in blood to diagnose Alzheimer .  More accuracy is possible by measuring the presence of APO4 protein in blood.  Effective treatment remains evaive...

Death of Dr. Aaron Beck

 There are a lot of psychiatric therapies, like role-playing, Gestalt, psychoanalysis, group therapies, art therapy, music therapies, hypnosis, primal cry.  But the most used today is probably cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT).  Its effectiveness has been demonstrated for a wide array of psychiatric problems.  The american founder of CBT has passed away.

In the 1950s, he follows Freud, like most psychiatrists of the time.  But in 1961, he rejects psychoanalysis.  He notices that patients have negative thoughts on self, the future or the world around them.  He works with patients to demonstrate those thoughts are mostly falacies.  He wrote more than 600 scientific papers; he launched "Cognitive Therapy and Research" a refereed publication: and he participated to the writing of 25 books.  He is also known for the Beck scales, used to measure depression, affliction, anxiety, OCD, and youth troubles.  He founded the Beck Institute with his daughter Judith who is a psychologist.  

Aaron Beck (Providence, Rhode Island 18-07-1921 / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1-11-2021)

An Inuit killed by police

 In early November, in Rankin Inlet, police is notified of the presence of agitated drunk men.  A man then fired his gun towards the police, then fled in his truck.  The tactical intervention team (RCMP) found him, but the 22-years-old was dead.  The Ottawa police is investigating.  A protest march was organized from the Winnipeg police station to the courthouse on nov. 6.

Female soldiers in the american army !

 An amendment to the annual defense budget would have extended conscription to young women. Congresswoman Chrisey Houlahan (who was an air force officer) declares that it is about time to go ahead with the concept.  But the principle is not popular among women : only 36% approve.  In Afghanistan, the medical condition which sent the most soldiers home was pregnancy ! 

the Guantanamo prison

 Twenty years after its opening, there are still 39 prisoners left.  731 internees have been transfered or freed and 9 have died (6 suicides and 3 deaths related to torture).  Among those who have been held there, 29% were Afghans, 17% were from Saudi Arabia, 15% were Yemenis, 9% were Pakistanis.  In all, 50 different countries of origin were represented.  80% of the Pakistanis and Afghans were there because a bounty was pledged for their capture so someone took them up on it.  Between 17 and 22 were less than 18 years old when they entered the facility.  14 of them were from secret CIA prisons abroad.  To learn more on the matter, consult:https://original.antiwar.com or www.antiwar.com/blog/author/scott-horton

Hot off the press...

 The new book by Catherine Cho "Inferno : a memoir of motherhood and madness" is now available for 16$ (hardcover).

Empire of pain (about the Sackler family and OxyContin) by P.R. Keefe

The urge : our history of addiction, by Carl Erik Fisher (35$ or 18$ for kobo format)

It never ends : a memoir with nice memories, by Tom Sharpling

Begin by telling by Meg Remy (20$)

The light streamed beneath it : a memoir of grief and celebration by Shawn Hitchins (24$)

Even so by Loren B. Davis (22$)

For more French and English books, check out : schizomonteregie.blogspot.com

for the following dates: 22-11-2021, 27-01-2019, 10-9-2017, 30-04-2017, 29-06-2016, 11-04-2015, 3-12-2012  under "viennent de paraitre"

Homeless driven out of parks in Halifax

Wednesday morning the 18th of august, city workers and policemen cleared out shacks and tents from Horseshoe park, The Common, Peace and Friendship park and the former site of the Memorial library.  About 200 protesters taunted the police on Spring Garden road.  Some policemen had body armour; others pushed the crowd with their bicycle.  There was vandalism and 24 persons were arrested.  They were all released after they promised to appear in court.  Halifax mayor Mike Savage insists that sheds and tents are not part of the solution to the homeless problem.  There is a housing crisis in Halifax like in most important canadian cities.  Hotel rooms were used during the worst phases of the Covid-19 crisis but now they are unavailable.  Homeless shelters are overwhelmed.  Lise Lachance, who was just elected in the provincial parliement (NDP _ left) blames the previous government and promises more money for charities and community groups.

The agent was approached for two contracts while he was acting for the police!

 Surprise, surprise! at the Gouin courthouse.  The turncoat whose testimony is central to the Guy Dion and Marie-Josée Viau trial for murder was contacted by the mob!  The lawyers are dumbfounded.  The judge is surprised and rules that for the rest of the day (monday) the testimony will not touch this new matter.  The evidence consists of many documents, mostly long and heavily redacted.(blanked out) and it appears that this matter of the mob's approach was not discussed in the visible portions of the documents.  A new exercise of removing some of the blanks will obviously be nessessary.  The turncoat (let's call him the infiltration agent) has provided the police with a weapons cache in Laval and crutial testimony against Dion and Viau.  What else did he want in return? The prosecution of ladies who "raped" him and money, lots of money! at one point he was claiming 1,600,000 $.  The police was providing him with an appartment (he moved 3 times because of rats and dogs) and was paying him a stipend for his food, clothes and his... medical cannabis!  He was also expecting a car but he was provided with one only for a few months.  He was driving fast and he was expecting the police to pay for his speeding tickets. After difficult negociations, he was awarded 450,000 $ : 250,000 $ when Dion and Viau were arrested, 100,000 $ one year later, and two payments of 50,000 $ when the testimonies will be over.  He also asked repeatedly for a lawyer and a doctor or psychologist but he was never provided with those professionnals.  The infiltration agent fell in love with a staff member of Carrefour Nouveau Monde.  They shacked up together (first at the staff member's parents' place) and took a cruise to Greece.  That is where he surprised her in the toilets with an other man.

In January 22 to 24, the infiltration agent is provided with a quiet office to write the story of his life, including all his crimes.  He now claims that he was inapt at the time.  He would like to add to his police payments the collection of some debts which are due to him (drug money? we will probably never know) 40,000 $ here and 160,000 $ there ; but the police prohibits him from making those claims.  "I don't want to carry on with a meager 1,060 $ per month, I want shrimps in a nice decor, not hambergers and hot dogs" he tells us.  

The climate is tense between the infiltration agent and senior police officers.  "They are all fuckers! They forced me to wait for so long on my rape cases that now they are protected by prescription!  But I got genital herpes!  That is assault!"  Those complaints are still being investigaated by the police and the judge asked not to talk about them.  

The Dion Viau investigation was expected to last two months but lasted nine months.  It appears that the accused did not like to talk about the Guiceppe and Vincenzo Falduto murders.

The trial continues today (tuesday).

The coroner's inquiry on Stephen Rigby's death starts today

 Stephen Rigby was looking for help and was inciting policemen to kill him.  His phone store was successful but, at 27, he was abusing alcohol and drugs.  On december 19, Dr. Jasen Wagner recommends his hospitalization.  He was discharged a few days later.  His mother was told : "other patients without family support and addicted to methadone need a hospital bed more than Stephen".  When he was arrested, Stephen was driving his car and shot in the air with his revolver.  The coroner's inquiry will be held in a Saskatoon hotel.  The wish for a coroner's inquiry was posted on january 16, 2020 on this blog.

18 years! a landmark

 Youth protection services are usually cut off abruptly at the 18th or 19th anniversary.  In Ontario, since 12 months ago, youths can continue to receive services and this will continue until at least september 2022.  About 2500 youths are involved.  Approximately half of the homeless have lost their shelter at this crutial time.  Youths have trouble preparing food, budgeting and finding work.

In Kamloops, B.C., a 31-unit block will welcome youths and elders.  The Kikékyelc project brings mentoring to youths and allow elders to transmit their know-hoh and traditions.  The CMHC contributed to that project.  See for yourself the result on :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPunhSvNPR4

Julian Jones is killed by the RCMP !

 On the evening of 27 February, the police entered a residence in Opisaht (near Tofino, B.C.) looking for a woman in distress.  As a result of this intervention, Julian Jones died, another Tla-o-qui-aht member was arrested and a woman was taken to hospital,  On June 4, 2020, Chantel Moore, a 26 year-old woman, also a Tla-o-qui-aht member, died in a shoot-out with police in New Brunswick.  The independant investigations office of New Brunswick is investigating the Jones death and Quebec's Independant Investigation Office is investigating the Moore death.

Death strikes as prisoner released!

 Kimberly Squirrel had nowhere to go after her release from Pine Grove prison in Saskatchewan.  Her frozen body was found on 23 january in Saskatoon near Q and 18th streets.  Her sister has confirmed that Kimberly's family was not informed of her liberation and that she had mental health and addiction issues.  A spokesman for the Ministry has confirmed that transportation from prison is up to the detainee.  Greyhound closed all its sevices west of Sudbury, Ontario (except the Vancouver-Seattle shuttle) Some other bus companies have started offering some services on the most travelled roads.

Death of Yufei Wang

 20 years-old Yifei Wang who lived in Montreal died on february 7, 2021.  The Independent investigations unit is examining what happened because the police is involved.

2,560,000 $ for social housing in Manitoba

 Family minister Rachelle Squires announced that 50 furnished appartments are becoming available.  It is hoped that this will make a dent in situations of domestic violence, drug addiction and mental troubles.  The money is deposited to the Manitoba Non-Profit Housing Association.  There are 1500 homeless in Winnipeg.  It is cold in Winnipeg in winter and there is a large First Nations population.

The Winnipeg police is investigated

 An audience will be held on 15 march 2021 to decide who will participate in the coroner's inquest to be held on the following 4 deaths : Michael Bagot, Matthew Fosseneuve, Patrick Gagnon and Sean Thompson.

Michael Bagot died on may 21, 2018.  The Winnipeg police intervened because he behaved erratically on the street..

Matthew Fosseneuve died on july 29, 2018.  Two police cadets were dispached but because he acted agressively, regular policemen intervened.  A Taser was used thriced on him.  The 34 years old man died of a heart condition but the use of a Taser and the presence of méthamphétamines probably contributed.  However, the civilian director of the Office of Independant Investigations does not blame the police.  For more information on the Taser, consult : http://www.truthnottasers.blogspot.com

Patrick Gagnon died on october 25, 2018. The police intervened because he was on a railway.

Sean Thompson died on june 19, 2019.  The police was despatched for a possible break-in.  Instead they found Sean, who was bleeding.

The participants of the inquiry are authorised to question the witnesses.  The audience will be held at the Winnipeg courthouse, 408 York street, room 408.

An other death has occured in Manitoba : Dwayne Louis Simard, 37.  He died at the Stony Mountain prison on march 2, 2021.  He had been arrested, along with two other men on Winnipeg's McGee street on saturday, feb. 27.  A tense situation develloped as the police was serving two warrents, including one for Simard.  He was in breech of conditions.  Weapons charges have been introduced.

Fair parole in New York state

 The legislative assembly and the senate of New York State will soon deal with two important legislative changes to the parole system.  The first grants parole to prisoners 55+years who have been imprisoned for 15 years.  The second grants "fair and timely" parole in many other cases.

The New York state houses 34,000 prisoners, 900 of whom have Covid-19.  There has been more than 30 deaths and vaccine distribution has not been planned yet.

Free Britney!

 Since a brief hospitalisation in 2008, Britney Spears assets are administered by a court appointed conservator.  She had shaved her hair and attacked a paparazzi with an umbrella.  The first conservator was her father, Jamie Spears.  Later he shared this responsibility with Jodi Montgomery, Mr. Walle who paid himself 426,000$ per year, and Bessemer Trust.  At one point, her mother, Lynne tried to get a role of administrator but the judge denied the request.  A photo of Britney driving a car caused a commotion because she is not allowed to drive.  In november 2020, Britney said she will not perform until her conservatorship is lifted.  For more information, #freebritney and freebritney.net

Covid-19 at Bordeaux jail

On february 6, Radio-Canada was reporting 94 cases of Covid 19 among the prisoners and 17 cases among the prison staff.  In a more recent report, CTV was reporting 107 cases among the prisoners and 27 cases among the staff.  The institution can house 950 inmates.  The prisoners are bored in their cells and even books from the library are not available!  Cases of Covid19 have also been reported at Rivière des Prairies, Saint Jerome and Percé.

Killed by the police!

 Clive Mensah, a 30 year-old Black man, died on november 20, 2019.  A new post-mortem report by the forensic service of Ontario concludes that he died of unknown causes.  Responding to reports of a disturbance, the Peel police arrived at Mensah's backyard at 3:24 AM.  After he was tasered 6 times and pepper-sprayed, Mensah was unconscious.  The ambulance arrived at 3:39 and at 4:19 he was pronounced dead at hospital.  His two uncles, the only family he has in Canada, indicate he has a mental health condition but it is not clear that the 333 pounds man was going through a crisis.  The special investigations unit is still investigating.