Gyms Are Open? (Sort of)

    ENTRY 480  July 31 /2020


Gyms Are Finally Allowed To Open In Toronto, but...

Today is the day that gyms and fitness centres are supposed to begin the re-opening process. However, not all of them feel that they need to follow that protocol. The boxing gym I attend is one of them.

Apparently, Cabbagetown Boxing Club will not be re-opening. I am hearing that they are not ready and that it will be three to four months.

Three to four months? I am already down six months of training. Why are they not ready to open? I need to get back to proper training. I mean, walking and running and exercising are okay, but I am an athlete. I need to get back to my sport, properly. 

Other gyms are preparing to switch into Drive, but Cabbagetown isn't even in Neutral. They are still in Park.

This is okay for the time being since combat sports have not started up yet, but I still want to hit the heavy bag. It has been months since I have even seen one. 
Once sparring starts again, definitely, I need to jump back in. 
From the timeline I have calculated, I figure that sparing will be able to start sometime in October.

Until sparring starts, I will train at Bloor Fitness. I can hit the heavy bag upstairs. Hopefully, they will have that part open. I have heard nothing about not being able to have heavy bags available, except that they have to be further apart. That should be as easy as just removing some.
However, once sparring starts, I will need to go to a gym that offers it regularly. If Cabbagetown is open by then, I will go back to Cabbagetown, but they will have to be ready when I am ready. Otherwise, I will find someplace else. It certainly won't be the first time. 
I like Cabbagetown because I like the people there. Nobody is really an asshole. It is pleasant and fun. My only beef with them is that they won't let me compete, and of anyone there, I am the one who deserves to compete. I have broken my butt in half six days a week. If I do go back, there is going to be a change. 
Regardless of where I train, beginning in 2021, I will compete at least twice a year. I still don't want to do tournaments, just local club events. I train hard, and I have been boxing for a long time. What I am requesting is not in any way unreasonable. 

I am already ticked off over this whole "pandemic" crap with all the cry-babies and their bullshit, and it is getting worse. Now, Mayor John Tory is annoying me with his dictatorship bullshit, but that is a story for another entry.
Believe me, this is not a good time to agitate me.

I am done. Done. That's it.

That is my plan, and I am sticking to it. 
I am not waiting for anyone any more.



--Paul 'The Brick' Brec

Thank You For Helping Spread COVID-19

    SPECIAL ENTRY

Thank You For Helping Spread COVID-19

In this special edition of "Blue Corner", I have no report on boxing, because there is no boxing. This entry is about the reason why there is no boxing, and what our society has become as a whole.

I try to stay away from political topics. To me, politics and religion are taboo on the internet. However, this has been bothering me for a couple of months, and I really need to get it off my chest. 
Unfortunately, my views on the following topics are contrary to the opinion of the majority. That is the reason I have been hesitant to post this, but now is the time. 

Is the general population taking the COVID-19 pandemic too far? 

Yes. They are also handling the situation incorrectly. They have fallen slave to the news and politicians instead of thinking for themselves. Independent thought is a lost art since the take-over of the Snowflakes, Cry-babies, and Libtards.

Let me get one thing straight, I have a lot of friends who are Liberal. That is okay, but some Liberals are extreme, and those are Libtards. I used to be Liberal, right up until March 2020. This whole "pandemic" crap has been pushing me further to the Right over the past few months. I am having trouble understanding how so many intelligent people can not see through this situation as nothing more than an attempt at government control, and a money-grab.

It is. Nothing anyone who we used to be able to trust can say anything that makes sense any more. 

It seems that the majority of the population has just gone crazy paranoid over this thing just because the news is telling us to do so.


Let's first look at Theresa Tam. 
She comes out of hibernation, and suddenly she's a freaking genius. I didn't even know who this was until the "pandemic" started. Oh, yeah, the Know-It-All she is. She works for the government, people. She is just telling us what the government wants us to hear, which is a crock of crap. The governments want people to be afraid so they can keep their power. 
Listen, lady, go back into hibernation, because nobody is interested in your crap. 

Humans have been on this planet for about 200,000 years. Do you think we had vaccines 200,000 years ago? Of course not.  Humans built up an immunity to common viruses such as the cold and influenza by letting it run its course. That is what we have to do with COVID-19. Stop running from it and fight it. Let it run its course so we can build up an immunity to it. Some may die in the process, but that is par for the course. The world's an imperfect place. 
It is like a bully. If you run from him, he will keep coming back, but if you stand up to him, he will go away. The same is true for COVID-19 and any other virus.

COVID-19 is just a different strain of influenza. It has always been around, but it has just never infected humans, and it is only infecting less than 4% of the population. Usually, influenza infects about 20% of the population, so this is nothing. However, the governments are making a deal out of it because they can. "Normal" influenza isn't scary enough.

You are not going to get sick and die if you take care of yourself. If you take care of your body, your body will take care of you. There is no reason to go crazy and close everything, and this Stage One, Stage Two...whatever crap. That is just the government testing us to see how long a free society will tolerate socialism. The answer is "three months". Then there was a race riot, and somewhere in there the police became our enemy and Aunt Jemima became offensive. 

Oh, yes.  The work of the Snowflakes. Offended by life itself, and expecting everyone else to change to suit their needs.

It is all about money, people. Isn't it convenient that right after the federal government offered financial assistance to the lower levels of government, suddenly the premier decided that everything had to close because of the "pandemic", so the province needs money? Then, soon after, the municipalities did the same. Hmmm...

For months we have been puppets to governments and large corporations.

Going shopping was like walking through a mouse maze.

One-way aisles? 
Why?

What difference does it make which way you walk in the aisle?

If you get a slow-ass in front of you, you are still going to pass that person, What is the difference which direction you pass?

It doesn't make sense.

I personally don't follow those. I walk in whatever direction is convenient for me at the time.



This one, in particular, is pointless, because it shows traffic going in both directions.





...and the signs telling us to wash our hands? Really? I'm glad we have those posters because I don't think I would have washed my hands without them.

Oh, and don't board the bus at the front door, and don't sit behind the driver, because Heaven forbid the driver might get sick. 
Oh, and don't sit too close to another passenger

Although front-door boarding has resumed on buses, at least it has in Toronto, some buses still have the seat directly behind the driver sealed off. The TTC told me that it was to protect the driver from the virus.
Why?
There is a wall between the seat and the driver.  Do they really think the virus is going to work its way around the wall and onto the driver? That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.

Here is another.
How about visiting a city, and not being able to go to the bathroom?

Back in March, I was in St. Catherines, and their bus terminal was already closed, and no toilet around.

Last week, I visited Hamilton and the same thing. Nobody had a working toilet. Not at the bus terminal, or the mall.

Why? What does closing toilets have to do with COVID-19? As long as they are kept clean, it isn't a problem. Washrooms should be kept clean at all times anyway, even when there is no "pandemic". 

Not having working toilets, is in itself, a health risk.












Now, let's look at this whole mask thing.

Let me put it bluntly. I absolutely refuse to put on any kind of face covering.
There are a few reasons for this, other than the obvious that I am refusing to play that game.
I am not really convinced that they work. 
If you can breathe through them, the virus can get through. Those things are not really made to block viruses. They are made to block dust particles.

Some people have medical issues that prevent them from wearing a face-covering. That's fine, but nobody is allowed to ask the reason due to the Privacy Act. So, just say, "I can't." That's it. There is nothing they can do.

Toronto made a by-law making it mandatory, but they can't enforce it because it is unconstitutional. I don't even know how they got away with creating the law in the first place.
Then, within a day, Hamilton did the same "...because Toronto did."
Hamilton is always copying Toronto. I don't know why. Toronto constantly sets the perfect examples of how to NOT do things. Hamilton doesn't really like Toronto, but of course, there goes Hamilton right up Toronto's ass as usual.

Why are masks mandatory when the government isn't supplying them?
To create artificial demand. You buy them and the government gets sales tax from it. The municipalities jump on board because they know that if Ottawa and the provinces are getting more money from HST, that means more money can be accessible to the cities. It is in the municipalities' best interests to make face-coverings mandatory. Even if a few don't comply, enough people will comply to make it worth the city's while.

If the government is so concerned about this being a health issue, and they really cared about us, why don't they distribute them for free? 
It is because the government won't make any money that way. 

It is all about governments and large businesses.

We were not allowed to have meetings and were therefore "forced" to use Zoom.

Look at Zoom. It is a multi-million dollar tech giant. They made $622 Million last year. Now they can charge more for advertising since there is an artificial demand for their base product. 

Governments want small businesses to fail. 
Large corporations can afford to give large "donations" to political parties, while small businesses can't. Who do you suppose the governments are supporting? 
Otherwise, why are they not helping small companies? They are helping everyone else.

Finally, how accurate are the numbers we are getting from the news. These days, if somebody dies, it is automatically from COVID-19. 
What about all those "COVID-19 deaths" in retirement homes? I mean, did anyone stop to think that maybe these people died because they were 100 years old?

It all comes back to the All-mighty Dollar.

Of course, the lazy Libtards want this to continue, so they can sit back doing F.A. and get paid for it.

I worked through this whole thing and didn't get so much as a "thank you", so forgive me if I don't feel sorry for you.

I hope I was able to shed some light on this and was able to get you to think. 

You can't trust the news and you definitely can't trust any politician.


--Paul 'The Brick' Brec

A Quick Update

    ENTRY 479

A QUICK UPDATE


I wanted to get something in before the next month.

The fact is that not much has changed. Boxing still isn't happening, but it needs to start happening soon.

I tell you, this whole COVID thing has gone beyond annoying, and there is something just not right about the whole thing.

Of course, I have my own theory that I would like to share with you, but not this time.

Next month look for a special entry of "Blue Corner" to see my article on my theory of COVID-19.

That's all for now.


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--Paul 'The Brick' Brec

LINKS:

MASTERS BOXING ON REDDIT

ANOTHER 'BRICK' IN THE SPRAWL 

New Rules Regarding the Re-Opening of Boxing Gyms In Ontario

    ENTRY 478


NEW RULES REGARDING THE RE-OPENING OF BOXING GYMS IN ONTARIO


I mentioned at the end of the last entry that I hope this entry would be about boxing. It is, but ...

Boxing Ontario conducted a virtual meeting on Wednesday. The meeting was to discuss with members the re-opening of boxing gyms across Ontario over the next couple of weeks.

Here is an outline of what the 90-minute meeting covered.

Boxing Ontario has put together a "KO COVID" task force which includes Richard Soucé and Matt Standish, both former coaches of mine. Plus a few other people.

This task force has put together a series of rules that must be followed in order for an Ontario boxing gym to be open during stage one of the re-opening process.

Here are the highlights of the rules:

Only athletes and certified coaches will be allowed inside the gyms at this time. That means only those registered with Boxing Ontario. No guests, no visitors, nobody who wants to just 'train for fun'.

There will be a maximum capacity of five people in total allowed inside a gym at any one time, regardless of the size of the facility. That means one coach and four athletes, or any combination thereof.

No training on soft surfaces. That means padded floors and the ring.

No close-contact training. That includes focus pad work and sparring.

Gyms must be cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized daily.

Boxers will be 'encouraged' to wash hands frequently while using the gym facilities.

Common areas will not be allowed to be used. That includes change rooms, locker rooms, and showers.

A verbal screening will need to be conducted by the gym before anyone will be allowed to enter, and posters indicating such must be posted at the gym entrance.

Physical distancing must be observed while training. The means a minimum of two metres, but four metres around heavy bags. That means about every-second bag will only be allowed to be used.

Sharing of equipment will not be allowed. "Community" ropes, gloves, and other gear will not be allowed, and boxers will need to use their own equipment.

These are the highlights and most important parts of the findings of the task force.

Now, as expected, here are my findings.

It is obvious that the task force did not think this through, and it appears that Boxing Ontario is trying to 'rush' the opening of gyms, which is completely and totally useless. With these rules in place, there is really no point in going to the gym in the first place. There is nothing you can do at the gym right now that you can't do at home. The whole point of going in to train is to work with your coach and sparring. For everything else, you may as well stay home.
Also, what the hell are we supposed to do if we can't use the change room? Drop our drawers in the middle of the gym floor?

Gyms may as well stay closed until the restrictions are lifted.



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--Paul 'The Brick' Brec

LINKS:

MASTERS BOXING ON REDDIT

ANOTHER 'BRICK' IN THE SPRAWL 

Quarantined and Bored

    ENTRY 477


Quarantined and Bored

Okay, so, it has been over five weeks of no boxing gym, and that also means over five weeks without sparring.

With no boxing going on, i have nothing to talk about. Therefore, I am going to use this month's entry to discuss something other than boxing. I couldn't let a month go by without an entry.

I would like to discuss the whole reason for why this is no boxing or any other sport.

I realize most are sick and freaking tired of hearing about this whole COVID-19 crap, as am I. 

Allow me, if you will, to shed some light onto this subject. 

this thing has had a very negative affect on the economy. It is said that in Toronto alone, over 375,000 have lost their jobs, not to mention the numerous businesses that had to close and will not re-open.
My feeling on this is that, technically, there was no reason for anything to have to close.
The reason this had to be done is because people were not, and still are not doing what they have been asked to do.

You can have restaraunts open, but just have the tables further apart.
The boxing gym can still be open, we just have to practice distancing. Sparring would be out, then again, you could have two guys standing apart and just practicing, although it would obviously have to be non-contact, but it is still practice.

Some countries have avoided the virus and ddin't have to quaranitine anything, so there is no reason we can't.

Our politicians are doing the best they can despite this is something they have never experienced before, but we need to get moving. We can not afford for people to be out of work for too long.

That is all I am going to say about this. 

Hopefully, the next time I write something here it is about boxing.




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--Paul 'The Brick' Brec

LINKS:

MASTERS BOXING ON REDDIT

ANOTHER 'BRICK' IN THE SPRAWL 

This Report Is Postponed Due To COVID-19

    SPECIAL ENTRY



THIS REPORT IS POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19

Hello all. It has been a while since posting something here, and the reason for that is because I have had nothing to report. There is no boxing right now. The gyms are closed, and Boxing Ontario has announced that all sanctioned events are postponed.
These along with a lot of other things. 
Therefore, I am going to use this time to discuss how I feel about all this.

I am going to warn you that some of you may disagree and even be offended by what I am going to write here. However, those who know me well won't be the least bit surprised.

When all of this COVID-19 crap began, I found the behaviour of people to be rather humorous. It was funny to me then, but now it has gone beyond funny. Now, it is getting annoying, and there is no reason for it. 
Let me explain.

This whole 'outbreak' is the result of three things; people not listening; people panicking; greed for money.

I am not in any way denying that something is going around out there. Whatever it is, it is only affecting less than 3% of the population, but less than 1% in North America. More people than that get Influenza every year. Why then, is this situation so much different?

Unreasonably-high media attention is one, but that is not unusual. Remember SARS? Do you remember what stopped it? The Iraqi war. Remember? As soon as the war in Iraq started, we heard no more about SARS, and it just fizzled out. 
The same will happen to this. As soon as a war breaks out somewhere, or the Royal family does something "interesting", we won't hear any more about Corona unless it's a beer.

That still does not explain the craziness that has been going on with this.  Therefore, I will explain it.

Empty toilet paper shelves at the Stockyards Walmart

First of all, people are not listening to what the medical professionals had suggested we do. That was to maintain proper hygiene, maybe a bit more than usual. That was all we are supposed to be doing.
Nobody said to close restaurants, close gyms, close theatres, close other public areas, or restrict travel. Nobody said that we can't sit behind the bus driver, and nobody said to hoard toilet paper.

I have no idea how the toilet paper hoarding began, but it has now spread to all paper products. Paper towels and napkins are now hard to find. The reason it is happening is due to the fact that people are now afraid they are not going to be able to get these items due to the hoarders.
People, relax. The world is not going to ever run out of toilet paper and paper towels.

Notice on the doors of the St. Catharines (Ontario) bus terminal

St. Catharines has closed its bus terminal. Completely. The other day, I had to wait almost two hours in the cold and rain for my bus back to Toronto. 
Why? 
Any sickness I am going to get is a cold from being out in cold and rainy weather for two hours because the city of St. Catharines are idiots.

Coach Canada notice on the seats behind the driver

Coach Canada, along with many city bus service operators, are not allowing passengers to sit in the seats directly behind the driver.

Here is a newsflash: Any chance of the driver not catching any kind of a virus from any passenger went right out the window the moment the passenger passed the driver whilst entering the vehicle.
Viruses move fast.

Keeping passengers away from the driver during the journey is not going to help, and is a false sense of security.

Hamilton Street Railway bus (Hamilton, Ontario)

The HSR in Hamilton, Ontario has taken it one step further by moving the yellow line back to behind the front wheel wells, and not collecting fares or allowing anyone to communicate with the driver.
Okay, that makes sense as long as the driver remains in the vehicle, but what happens if a driver has to pee, or wants to grab a coffee?

My wife and I waited in St. Catharines outside for almost two hours due to a closed terminal

People are panicking and are doing irrational things because they didn't listen, and are not doing what was suggested to them. That combined with the media circus surrounding this 'pandemic' has irrational people in a state of panic, causing them to become even more irrational. 

Finally, there is the money. You know that anytime something like this happens, especially when the government is involved, money is also involved.

Did you notice that premier Doug Ford called a state of emergency shortly after Ottawa announced financial help to 'anyone who needed it'? How convenient.
Now, all of the business who 'had to close' and all the cities 'affected by the virus', and individuals 'affected by the virus' are all now going to turn to Ottawa for 'financial help'. 
Socialism at its finest. 
Oh, no, It is the evil 'S'-word. 
Well, what else is it?


I am still going about my normal business as if nothing is happening. I am not going to get sick because I am following what the medical professionals have asked me to do and no more.

I think we all need to go back and read "The Stand" by Stephen King. Just to remind us of how lucky we are, and that this has not, and will not turn into the same situation as portrayed in that novel. 

Just do what the medical professionals are advising, and nothing more. 
Relax, you will not get sick and die. This is the 21st century. Our medical care is advanced enough to not allow that to happen. At least to anyone like myself who maintains a healthy lifestyle.
Yes, a few have died, but do we really know the root cause? The media circus is assuming that it is COVID-19, but it more than likely isn't. It is more sensible to believe that it was due to age, an underlying condition, or simply an unhealthy lifestyle.

Relax, and read "The Stand".



═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
--Paul 'The Brick' Brec

LINKS:

MASTERS BOXING ON REDDIT

ANOTHER 'BRICK' IN THE SPRAWL 

The New Kid In (Welland) Town

    ENTRY 475


Congrats To Former Coach Jim

This past Saturday, one of my former coaches from Cabbagetown had his grand opening of his new boxing club in Welland.
I went to his grand opening, and I have to say the place is really large. I'd say it is Cabbagetown times three.
Congrats to Jim Bland on his newest addition to Welland, the Bland's Boxing Club.

Here are some photos from the grand opening:

You can visit the Bland's Boxing Club in Welland at 298 Crowland Ave.


Beaver Boxing Club Invite--Part 3

If all goes well (I am still working at the same building) by August, I will finally be able to make the trip to Ottawa.

It is too early to make arrangements, but I have a good idea of how I will get there and where to stay. 
I have decided to stay 4 days, and visit the Beaver Boxing Club twice. My Boxing Ontario registration will allow me to spar there. 

I will have a couple of additional days to see the rest of the city.

More on that as it gets closer to the date.

═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
--Paul 'The Brick' Brec

LINKS:

MASTERS BOXING ON REDDIT

ANOTHER 'BRICK' IN THE SPRAWL