Thought of the Day - January 25 - An Ode to Burns

Happy Burns Day! I would imagine many of you have never heard of Robert Burns yet alone have attended a Burns Supper. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and as a pioneer of the Romantic movement. After his death he became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism, and a cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish diaspora around the world. Probably his most familiar work is his poem (and song) "Auld Lang Syne" is often sung at Hogmanay (the last day of the year).

This year the celebrations have been a bit different due to COVID. Unlike the Highland Games, that were cancelled out-right around the world back last summer, tributes to Robbie/Rabbie Burns have gone virtual. Here is a link to once such celebration held in my old stomping-grounds Saint John, New Brunswick: Robbie Burn Program, Grace Presbyterian Church, You Tube Broadcast

The last address to the haggis I attended was at the Surrey Campus of Simon Fraser University a few years ago. Speaking of SFU, they have just published a report on the potential effects on Canada of the more infectious COVID variants. It is not a pretty sight. The country of Scotland, like the rest of the United Kingdom, was ravaged through the year-end, and if we are not careful (or lucky) the same will happen in a March third-wave here in Canada.

This graph shows the modelling from SFU. The green-blue shows the current expected trend, the red the effect of a 40% more contagious variant (from UK, SA or Brazil) taking hold in February, both with the same restrictions in place. This is the reason there is so much talk about banning travel, both international and inter-provincial.

Anyway, in the meantime, from the Fraser and MacLean Clans - Sláinte Mhath!

Cheers

Cliff