The Narrative Within

It’s time to grow your own.

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Art for Housewives

Day 12

Yesterday was a beautiful day because the sun was shining. Since the lockdown, smog is practically non-existent and the air feels good.

One thing you have to know about Italians is that they are addicted to sunshine. It’s not unusual to see them sitting at an outdoor café with their eyes closed and their heads leaning back pointed upwards just to feel the sun on their face. So on a day like yesterday, people were out like snails after the rain. They just had to get some sun. That’s why the line at the grocery store was unusually long. New way of sunbathing!

Pierluigi went to do the shopping so I got my sunshine on the balcony. Because we generally spend spring and summer in Greece, our balcony is populated by yuccas as they are a DIY plant and need little care. But now it will be difficult to go to Greece as no one knows how long this lockdown will last. So I’ve decided to reconfigure our balcony with the new reality. Here in Italy, at present, we have no problem with food shortages. However, since production of everything has been limited, it’s only obvious that soon less food will be available. It’s, therefore, important to get organized now.

Container Garden

my balcony lettuce

Unlike many of my American friends, we don’t have a yard. The only space we have is that of a very narrow balcony good for a limited container garden. I already have lettuce growing as well as herbs (thyme, parsley, chives, and rosemary) but want to plant even more.

Arugula, bok choy, kale, and chicory, from what I’ve read, only take a month to grow big enough for harvesting. Unfortunately, I have no seeds and can’t buy them because of the lockdown. But I do have some seeds I collected this winter to take to Greece—mainly cherry tomatoes and bell peppers.

There are many vegetables you can grow from scraps but many take time. Lettuce and green onions seem to be the easiest and quickest to do.

See, too, How to Grow Fruits & Vegetables from Food Scraps

Update:

Yesterday, in Italy, the worst death toll: 627 dead and 4670 new infections.

One problem with data given from various countries is that there is no standardization as to how data is interpreted. Some data is interpreted based on those who died only because of the coronavirus whereas other data is interpreted based of those who died of the virus in addition to other pre-existing conditions (such as old age, diabetes, heart problems, etc.). Italy’s statistics are based on the latter.

To determine the number of potentially infected, one method has been to multiply the number of dead by 100. For example, if 25 people have died, potentially 2,500 have been infected. However, there are many variables that can influence this number. In Italy, we have a high number of elderly so we have a higher rate of death. But, again, there is no certainty in these equations.

The peak in Italy is expected on March 25^th. If, after this date, the number of infected goes down, we will be ok. If, instead, it goes up, we are in deep trouble.

Because the death toll is so high and the number of stupid people walking around as if they are on holiday, the military has begun to patrol the streets in Milano and police in Rome are blocking the streets.

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related: Victory Gardens

8 Insanely Fast Vegetables You Can Harvest In One Month

‘If coronavirus doesn’t get us, starvation will’: A growing number of Americans say they can’t afford to stock up on groceries

Coronavirus impact on labour supply fuels food shortage fears

Farmers call for ‘land army’ to sustain UK food production during coronavirus crisis

Will coronavirus affect food supply? First problem: A possible shortage of workers

Coronavirus: What are shops doing about stockpiling? (Britain)

Posted in Ecofeminism, Lifestyle, Plants & Gardening, Rome/Italy | Tagged balcony, Container gardening, coronavirus, Living the Lockdown | 6 Comments

The greed of others is going to kill us all.

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Art for Housewives

Mourning

The other day I posted about coronavirus test kits being sent from Italy to the U.S. It seemed strange considering that we need them here.

Yesterday in La Repubblica, one of Italy’s main newspapers, an article was published regarding the sale of COVID-19 testing kits (Coronavirus, mezzo milione di tamponi da un’azienda di Brescia agli Stati Uniti).

Copan Diagnostics, with its Italian base in Brescia, the heart of the coronavirus outbreak here in Italy, sold 500,000 test kits to private companies and American distributors. Copan says the kits were not sold to the American government although an American military plane and an American military base in Italy (Aviano) were used to take the kits to the States. The plane’s destination was Memphis.

So first question, why is the American military, subsidized by the taxpayers, sponsoring private companies? This reminds me of the two republican senators who, after being briefed about the coronavirus, sold their stock before the markets crashed (Republican senators sold stocks before markets plunged on coronavirus fears). Once again, the taxpayers are subsidizing the elite who are so worried about socialism. The senators, who are paid by the citizens, have access to information they should use to help those who butter their bread instead of for personal profit.

As for Copan, they claim they were just doing the typical capitalistic thing to do and feel no shame. Furthermore, they say, there are enough kits for the Italians. The problem is, they claim, it takes time for testing. (Copan, l’azienda italiana che vende tamponi anche agli Usa: da noi non mancano kit, ma il tempo per l’analisi).

From what I’ve read, although it is true that testing takes not only time but qualified personnel, kits are not in abundance. Many doctors and nurses who work with the infected have not been tested and many have died.

Copan Diagnostics has its Italian base in Brescia, the heart of the infection. At the time kits were sent to the USA, in Italy there were almost 30,000 cases and 2,158 deaths (higher than in China). In the United States there were only 86 deaths and 4,500 positives.

What happens if one of Copan Diagnostics’ employees, busy making kits for Copan profit, gets infected, where will he go to be treated? Certainly not to Memphis. He will be treated in Italy in the very region that is overwhelmed and struggling for survival.

If you have the stomach for hardcore reality, look at this video to see what the doctors and nurses saving lives have to deal with on a non-stop basis: The shocking centre of the COVID-19 crisis

In Italy right now so many people and companies are donating money and equipment. Giorgio Armani donated E100.000 and encouraged the wealthy to do the same. Francesco Totti, famed soccer player, donated therapy equipment. Esselunga, grocery store chain, donated E2.5 million. Ferrari is now making hospital ventilators. And the list goes on and on.

Copan Diagnostics, what have you donated?

I visited the Copan Diagnostics FB page and, although the comments were in Italian, Copan’s answers were all in English. Why? Don’t they have any employees in Brescia capable of speaking Italian?

Maybe I should send them an email customercare@copangroup.com…

Day 11 of the Lockdown

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Whereas Trump “spiritual adviser” Paula White begs for cash to heal the “soul sick” during COVID-19 pandemic

(While White claimed the Bible could help people through coronavirus quarantine, it’s unclear how the $91 will help), in Italy the Methodists and the Waldensian churches give E8 million towards fighting the coronavirus (Coronavirus: le Chiese valdesi e metodiste stanziano 8 milioni di euro)

Posted in female consciousness, Rome/Italy | Tagged Copan Diagnostics, coronavirus, greed, Living the Lockdown, mourning | 4 Comments

Why not make a mask for a friend?

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Art for Housewives

Protective Mask

Face masks should be worn to limit infection and to protect those around you. Surgical masks are scarce and should be reserved for health professionals.

There has been much contradictory information as to the use of masks. I’ve even heard one doctor on TV say they do more harm than good. However, it’s obvious that, if every one were to wear one, we’d have less of those dangerous “droplets” flying around. Thus, a lot less infection.

So why not pass some of the lockdown time making masks? You can customized them and make enough so that they can be washed every day. And when you have enough for yourself, make some for your family and friends. This coronavirus is going to be around for awhile.

Day 10 of the Lockdown

Today is the feast of St. Joesph, the Italian Father’s Day.

Yesterday 475 died in Italy from COVID-19. The lockdown, scheduled to end April 3^rd, has now been extended. Source: Coronavirus: vittime, contagi e tutti gli ultimi aggiornamenti

The city of Bergamo, a city northeast of Milan, in the Lombardy region could not cope with the number of deaths, and bodies have been sent to be cremated outside the region. Source: Bodies of Coronavirus Victims Transported by Military Convoys in Italy

Without tourists and traffic, dolphins are now swimming in the canals of Venice. Source: HERE

The US Air Force has imported half a million Coronavirus test kits from Italy

Thank you Terry Quist for this link: Sharpen Your Razor, With the virus wreaking havoc in Italy, neighboring Spain prepares for the worst

In Sardegna, the doctors have been told not to give out info as to how bad the situation is. Source: Contagiati e imbavagliati, la Sardegna toglie il diritto di parola ai medici

Doctors Making Life & Death Decisions

WANTED IN ROME is an online magazine providing many updates in English.

The nuns praying and singing on the roof in Rome

The days of balcony singing are over as the nation mourns its dead. Source:”Camion militari pieni di bare: basta canti sui balconi, facciamo tre giorni di lutto nazionale”

Mask related:

The problem with outsourcing is that you may end up having things that you need… A company in Umbria starts making masks again and donates 100,000 to the hospital. Source: Coronavirus in Umbria: azienda ricomincia a produrre mascherine e ne dona 100 mila a Prociv e ospedali

Humor: Max Siedentopf suggests alternative masks to protect against coronavirus

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P.s.

Dai commenti che hanno seguito il mio post su di esse, mi sono reso conto di non essere stato sufficientemente chiaro.
Facciamo alcuni esempi:
1) situazione ideale, tutti hanno montagne di mascherine fp3 e guanti monouso. Si indossano i guanti, si indossa la mascherina, si entra al supermercato dopo aver disinfettato con alcool la maniglia del carrello, si cerca di rispettare la distanza di sicurezza, si fa la spesa per la settimana, si esce, si disinfettano i guanti con alcool senza toglierseli, si togli la mascherina, si getta nel contenitore di rifiuti speciali, si tolgono i guanti, si gettano anch’essi, ci si disinfetta di nuovo le mani con alcool e si torna a casa.
2) situazione che si vede adesso: la famiglia va a fare la spesa. nessuno ha mascherine neanche di carta. prendono il carrello senza disinfettarlo, entrano in gruppo, parlano, ridono, tossiscono, toccano la merce, la prendono, la riposano, la CONTAMINANO, e poi escono con un vasetto di maionese. Si portano a casa il coronavirus di altri che si sono comportati allo stesso modo, o se già lo avevano, hanno infettato almeno 10 persone!!
3)Situazione possibile; Non ci sono mascherine ne guanti, ma si cerca lo stesso di limitare la diffusione del virus.
uno solo per famiglia va a fare la spesa. si porta dietro alcool o simili e una mascherina fatta in casa sovrapponendo tre strati di stoffa fitta. Disinfetta la maniglia del carrello, disinfetta le mani, indossa la mascherina, entra nel supermercato, cerca di rispettare la distanza di sicurezza, fa la spesa di una settimana, esce, si toglie la mascherina mettendola in una busta, si disinfetta le mani, prima di entrare a casa butta la mascherina in una bacinella con acqua e varecchina 10%, la lascia 1/2 ora poi sciacqua e lascia asciugare, si disinfetta nuovamente mani. Se tutti hanno fatto cosi Non ha portato il corona virus a casa, non ha contaminato la merce. Se lo ha fatto solo lui, non ha contaminato la merce , ma potrebbe aver portato a casa merce sulla cui superficie potrebbe esserci una piccola carica virale lasciata dagli altri.
Lavare la merce bene ove possibile con varecchina diluita, disinfettare le altre cose con alcool spray.
__________________________________

Ecco perchè è fondamentale che tutti portino mascherina anche solo autocostruita . Per non contaminare gli ambienti ove possono esserci altre persone!
Tutte le mascherine sono usa e getta, anche le fp3 dovrebbero in una situazione ideale essere gettate dopo l’uso, max 6 ore. Però, nella nostra realtà basta disinfettarle dopo ogni uso con spray d’alcool internamente e esternamente e lasciarle asciugare. Questa procedura può essere ripetuta fino a 15 volte. Molto peggio usarla cinque minuti ogni tanto e reindossarla senza disinfezione.
Quelle di stoffa che impediscono la fuoriuscita delle goccioline infette possono essere disinfettate con acqua e varecchina praticamente all’infinito.
Vedete i post per preparare la soluzione disinfettante per mani e per farsi le mascherine. Anche quelle di carta forno sono valide ma si possono usare solo una volta!

Spero di essere stato chiaro e che abbiate capito che le regole sono queste:

1)NON USCIRE DI CASA SE NON INDISPENSABILE
2)SOLO UNO PER FAMIGLIA A FARE LA SPESA
3)LAVARE E DISINFETTARE LE MANI SPESSO
4)SE SI VA IN LUOGHI FREQUENTATI INDOSSATE MASCHERINA (QUALSIASI) PER NON CONTAMINARLI.

from Studio Polispecialistico “Il Piccolo Principe” Facebook page

Posted in Art Narratives, Rome/Italy | Tagged Living the Lockdown, masks | Leave a comment

Day 9 of the Lockdown

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Art for Housewives

Good news of the day: an infected mother gives birth to baby girl, Eva, who tests negative. Source: Coronavirus, mamma positiva partorisce figlia negativa: “Benvenuta Eva”

300 Chinese doctors and nurses are arriving in northern Italy to help Source: Coronavirus in Lombardia, arrivano 300 medici e infermieri in aiuto dalla Cina

Italian creativity: 3D printing of respiratory valves–At the hospital in Chiari, engineer Cristian Fracassi and his team started 3 D printing of much needed respiratory valves. Although the values are patented, there is no time to think of materialism. Source: Coronavirus, nel Bresciano mancano valvole per respiratori: ingegnere ne stampa 100 in 3d. “Coperte da brevetto? Non possiamo fermarci” …Related article in English HERE

Bad news: Whenever a positive case at Covid-19 is confirmed, another 5-10 not yet identified are still around. Why is this? “Basically because they are asymptomatic or with symptoms that are too light to “arouse suspicion”. Yet, precisely because they are difficult to identify, the “forgotten positives” are responsible for almost 80% of all new cases of infection. To say this is a study conducted by the team of scientists from Imperial College London in collaboration with Columbia University in New York and published in the journal Science.” Source: Coronavirus: per ogni caso confermato, altri 5-10 in giro

More bad news: In this time of global emergency, sharing information is fundamental. But much information is being censored as social media offices are shutting down and relying on automatic software moderation instead of real live people. Artificial intelligence is proving to be stupid. Source: Facebook, YouTube warn of AI moderation errors as coronavirus empties offices

pandemics-cover time b

Above is the cover of TIME magazine dated May 15, 2017. Three years ago it warned that we were not prepared for a pandemic.

Bill Gates talking about the virus in 2015

Almost 17 years ago, I started this blog after reading “1992 World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity”. Written by some 1,700 of the world’s leading scientists, including the majority of Nobel laureates in the sciences, it starts out like this:

“Human beings and the natural world are on a collision course. Human activities inflict harsh and often irreversible damage on the environment and on critical resources. If not checked, many of our current practices put at serious risk the future that we wish for human society and the plant and animal kingdoms, and may so alter the living world that it will be unable to sustain life in the manner that we know. Fundamental changes are urgent if we are to avoid the collision our present course will bring about.”

The intention of my blog, with the motto MAKE ART, NOT TRASH, was to spread the awareness that the Earth, this planet we call home, is crumbling away because of our irresponsible and narcissistic behaviour. Because of greedy, ruthless beings who worship money and not humanity. Because of herds of psychologically unemployed people who have distanced themselves from reality just to have objects they don’t need.

Why do people prefer to believe politicians with an agenda instead of the experts? Politicians are paid by the people and should protect, not exploit, us.

The World Health Organization, for years, has been warning about the possibilities of a pandemic. Source: Una pandemia annunciata.

Italy is praised by the World Health Organization for how it has handled the coronavirus outbreak and suggests other countries follow their example. Source: L’Oms ci batte le mani: “L’Italia un modello per tutti, va imitata”

conte macron

France and Spain are now in total lockdown copying the Italian model. Greece is close behind.

How Italy went from Stage 1 to Stage 6 in three weeks: “To the rest of the world, you have no idea what’s coming.”

Jason Yanowitz tweets about the coronavirus in Italy.

Those with blood type A are more at risk getting infected. Source: Le persone con gruppo sanguigno A potrebbero essere più soggette al Covid-19.

People with blood type A may be more vulnerable to coronavirus, China study finds

People with high blood pressure and diabetes could be at higher risk of severe or fatal coronavirus symptoms because of how their medicines work, scientists say. Coronavirus: Blood pressure medication ‘could worsen symptoms’.

non farti contaggiare

Risky surfaces poster showing the need to constantly clean those surfaces communally used. Even airport baggage handlers have been infected because they touched suitcases. Source: Coronavirus Covid-19: Two Heathrow baggage handlers test positive

Rome has been busy sanitizing streets and dumpsters. The city has never been so clean. Source: Coronavirus, inziata la sanificazione di strade e cassonetti: si procede un municipio per volta

The Chinese community of Prato self-quarantined themselves and no one has tested positive. Source: Coronavirus, a Prato la comunità cinese è in autoquarantena e registra zero contagi

Study says that the coronavirus can live in your body for up to 37 days

The strange case of Isernia, the only Italian province without a case of coronavirus. When the mayor was asked their secret was, he replied: “My people love to be outdoors, we have a large countryside. We are few, twenty-two thousand in the city, and with a lot of space around. This has preserved us, the distances, the woods, but now it is no longer sufficient. You have to stay holed up. ” They have no cases of contagion and want to keep it that way by keeping themselves in and others out. Source: Isernia è l’unica provincia italiana senza casi di coronavirus. Article in English.

University of Illinois professor and creator of the Biological Weapons Act, Francis Boyle, say the coronavirus was created in a lab. Source: Coronavirus, l’esperto americano di bioterrorismo: “Creato in laboratorio, è un’arma da guerra biologica”

And a FB buddy sent me this link about the Rockefeller Foundation and their “Scenarios for the Future of Technology and International Development”…the Deep State will use global pandemics to control the masses. Coronavirus – Rockefeller Foundation Plan youtube video

THE MAKERS OF TIKTOK, the Chinese video-sharing app with hundreds of millions of users around the world, instructed moderators to suppress posts created by users deemed too ugly, poor, or disabled for the platform, according to internal documents obtained by The Intercept.

And now it’s time for some Cumbia del Sol with Loz Valley Guyz! Let’s wake up the nieghbors.

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Posted in Art Narratives, Rome/Italy | Tagged coronavirus, Living the Lockdown, Time magazine | Leave a comment

Day 8 of the Lockdown

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Art for Housewives

Today is Italy’s birthday. On March 17, 1861, Italy became a unified country. And now, 159 years later, they are being united again.

Roman Balcony

The photo above was taken on a week-day at six in the evening. All the shops closed, no motion in the streets, even the sidewalks were alone. This is Rome, a city of over 4 million people. It has been like this for a week now and will continue to be like this for at least two more. The fear is that it could last even longer.

Daily life is no longer spontaneous.

Yesterday the number of dead went up but the number of infected went down. This is good news in that the fewer the infected, the fewer deaths there will be in days to come.

More good news: Mattia, the first discovered testing positive for Covid-19 in Italy (see HERE for more info) is now out of the hospital.

The supplies arriving from China had this written on the boxes “we are waves from the same ocean” referring to the quote from Seneca, Roman philosopher and statesman, “We are waves of the same sea, leaves of the same tree, flowers of the same garden.” Pity that, not understanding this, there are irresponsible idiots out there who spread their contamination around like butter on a hot piece of bread. So, wherever you are, STAY AT HOME. And if you see some jerk out on the street not following the rules, yell from your window “Serial killer, get the hell home!” (Scienziati concordi, la stretta dovrà proseguire oltre il 3 aprile)

One of the many problems of the coronavirus pandemic we are having in Italy now, are the lack of hospital beds. So, in record time, yesterday a new hospital, Columbus Covid 2, opened in Rome. (Coronavirus, Roma: apertura a tempo di record per l’ospedale Columbus Covid 2).

In Bergamo, one of the hardest hit cities, there are so many patients needing intensive care treatment that they are lined up in the hallways, too. If you have a strong stomach, here is a short video. When you watch this reportage, please keep in mind that this kind of situation and much worse will soon be all over the world.

Instead of bailing out banks and the financial market, the Italian government came up with a maxi decree to help Italians in economic difficulty. Effective as of yesterday, € 5 billion will be allocated to the expansion of social safety nets, starting with the reintroduction of the redundancy fund throughout Italy. Also, taxes and mortgage payments have been suspended as well as some utility bills. Indemnity of 600 euros for seasonal workers and for those who have stopped their activities, such as entertainment or tourism workers, but also for the self-employed, freelancers with a tax number and coordinated and continuous collaboration workers (ex. Housekeepers). (Source: Coronavirus: gli aiuti che entreranno in vigore da oggi). Question for non-Italians: will your country be doing the same for you?

At this time, if you are taking anti-inflammatories, it would be best to stop. Also, no to cortisone-based drugs. Apparently they weaken the immune system thus making you more susceptible to covid-19. In case of a fever, take paracetamol. (Covid-19: fortemente sconsigliato assumere antinfiammatori)

I am not a doctor/medical expert in any way and have never professed to be one. My desire is just to share the information we are receiving here in Italy. Please note that, because I live in Italy, I am, along with my family, directly affected therefore I have no intention of posting fake advice. As the information above came from the French Minister of Health as well as the University Hospital of Lausanne, I felt it worth sharing. However, to be read as well is a BBC article: Coronavirus and ibuprofen: Separating fact from fiction

PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR, HOWEVER, BEFORE FOLLOWING ANY ADVICE ON INTERNET.

In Rome, there is free taxi service now for doctors.

When I first arrived in Italy almost 40 years ago, it was not uncommon to use “pattine”, large pieces of felt to be placed under the shoes of anyone coming into your home. It was meant as a means of keeping the floors clean and to keep germs out of the house. They’re not used much today. However most Italians wear house shoes at home. Many countries have the practice of shoes being taking off by everyone entering inside a home. With so much fear of contagion, it’s something to consider.

This morning I read that a coronavirus vaccine is being tested on a woman in Seattle (Trial of Coronavirus Vaccine Made by Moderna Begins in Seattle). I find this a bit surprising. In Italy they have also come up with a vaccine but they are testing it on mice for at least a month and a half before testing it on humans.

Once it was understood that the coronavirus was going to be a problem, the World Health Organization shipped tests to nearly 60 countries. But, for some reason, the White House rejected these tests. Why? Could it be because Jared Kushner’s brother, Joshua, is the co-founder of Oscar Health, an insurance company that has launched a testing center locator for COVID-19 in the United States with more than 100 centers? Is the Kushner family trying to cash in on a pandemic that could kill millions of Americans?

Great News: Jared Kushner Doesn’t Think the Coronavirus Is a “Health Reality”…

intensive care face

Well Jared, here in Italy, the coronavirus is a “Health Reality”. The photo above is of an Italian doctor. After working 13 hours non-stop in intensive care, his face was marred by signs left by his protective mask.

Who do you prefer?

jared-kushner