10 pm MDT
Bankrupting A Democracy: Trudeau Delivers 700% INCREASE In Deficit Over 2019
April 5, 2020NewsBrad In order to successfully transform a nation away from its traditional form of governance, a number of critical pieces of a political agenda must be in place. Naturally, there is a social component, as well as an economic element. As it happens, for the past five years one individual Canadian has been … Continue reading Bankrupting A Democracy: Trudeau Delivers 700% INCREASE In Deficit Over 2019 →
Canadian heavy oil cheaper than a pint of beer as North American demand for fuel plummets
Gas prices in Edmonton reflect how little choice Alberta producers have to do anything but put their oil in storage and wait for better prices Gas prices vary with companies and locations, and range from about 48¢ a litre to around 96.9¢ a litre.Bloomberg file photo Geoffrey Morgan March 26, 2020 CALGARY – As commuters … Continue reading Canadian heavy oil cheaper than a pint of beer as North American demand for fuel plummets →
Exploding the New York Times’ Anti-American 1619 Project
March 13, 2020 By William Sullivan In what should prove to be the most embarrassing endeavor ever undertaken by a prominent periodical, the New York Times is publishing a series of essays called the “1619 Project,” which argues that “out of slavery grew nearly everything that has truly made America exceptional,” citing first and … Continue reading Exploding the New York Times’ Anti-American 1619 Project →
The Left is Loving This
March 27, 2020 By William Sullivan Consider, for a moment, what ideas Americans seem to have generally accepted in the last few weeks. First, there seems to no longer be a question as to whether or not the government has a responsibility to ensure health care for American citizens. The prospect of some hospitals, … Continue reading The Left is Loving This →
The Truth Is So Obvious Now! Look at this Scriptural Nuclear Bomb to Satan’s Falling Kingdom! (Video)
Date: April 5, 2020Author: thelightinthedarkplace FEATURED VIDEO: The TRUTH is SO OBVIOUS NOW !! LOOK at this SCRIPTURAL Nuclear Bomb to SATAN’s Falling Kingdom !! Description: The Scriptures Declare the Glory of the King and Also Indict ALL Those that seek to withstand the Truth.. The Truth IS SELF-SUFFICIENT and Stands Alone, Just … Continue reading The Truth Is So Obvious Now! Look at this Scriptural Nuclear Bomb to Satan’s Falling Kingdom! (Video) →
Feds Seize and Redistribute Medical Supplies From Preppers in Unprecedented Power Grab
So much for private property rights. Apr 3, 2020 ByShane Trejo The federal government has seized 192,000 N95 masks in New York and New Jersey and will redistribute the goods, having arbitrarily determined that these items were being “hoarded” during the coronavirus crisis. The Department of Justice is working with the Health and … Continue reading Feds Seize and Redistribute Medical Supplies From Preppers in Unprecedented Power Grab →
Graphed: COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, April 5, 2020
The Halifax Examiner is providing all COVID-19 coverage for free. Twenty-six new people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, bringing the total to 262. Six people are hospitalized; 53 people have fully recovered. The Halifax Examiner will be publishing these graphs daily. New known cases of COVID-19 by date Total known […]
Mask, mask, who’s got the mask? And other global games from the coronavirus killing fields.
The Halifax Examiner is providing all COVID-19 coverage for free. On Friday, five unions representing workers on the coughing, spewing, life-threatened front lines of our province’s particular finger in the dike of the global coronavirus outbreak, called on the Nova Scotia government to agree to the same protections Alberta is now providing its frontline healthcare […]
Did China Unleash A Bio-Weapon Upon The World?
Gordon Chang *WNU Editor:* The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists are saying no .... *Experts know the new coronavirus is not a bioweapon. They disagree on whether it could have leaked from a research lab* (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists), and they are using this Nature article to validate their conclusion .... *The proximal origin of SARS-CoV-2* (Nature). But many are now pointing out errors in the Nature article, and the publications close relationship with China ....* China owns Nature magazine’s ass – Debunking “The proximal origin of SARS-CoV-2” claiming COVID-19 definitely ... more »
Is China "helping" fight COVID19 by sending defective supplies to the rest of the world?
The #FakeNews media in it's monomaniacal desire to attack Trump has been heaping praise on China for sending masks, ventilators, etc to other countries. However there are problems with this even if we ignore the fact that it was deliberate Chinese government concealment that led to the pandemic in the first place. Note that the Chinese Communists actions are indisputable and don't depend on anyone believing that the virus accidentally escaped from a Chinese lab. The biggest problem is that in many cases China is selling the items but even worse the items often don't work. Spain, ... more »
How Do We Stop Coronavirus? The Answer Is Really Simple.
*Chris William Callaghan* *Public Health, World* [image: Reuters] The current R&D response may not be large enough to respond to COVID-19. COVID-19 is not the world’s first pandemic. Nor is it the only type of big problem that the world faces. Environmental degradation and drug-resistant diseases are other examples. What’s special about the new coronavirus is the speed with which it has arisen and multiplied. The current system of scientific and academic research can’t respond fast enough to problems like these, especially when data is still being generated. But there are pote... more »
Following Air Strikes on Syria, Israeli Official Insinuates Assad is Rebuilding Chemical Weapons
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * But not everyone is convinced. A terrifying pandemic may have the world in its grip, but it’s business as usual in the war-torn Middle East as Tehran and Damascus continue transferring weapons to proxies and Israel continues bombing them. The latest strike took place on March 31, 2020 when Israeli jets crossed over into Lebanese airspace near Tyre (video here) and reportedly launched eight missiles that streaked towards central Syria. ideo footage shows bursts of light anti-aircraft fire rippling across the sky—possibly the rapid-firing 30-millim... more »
I Live in New York City. Coronavirus Is Killing My Home.
*Daniel R. DePetris* *economy, * Hundreds of additional New Yorkers and thousands of additional Americans will die to this disease in the weeks to come. The death projections of 100,000-240,000 that once felt wild and unrealistic are now well within the range of possibility. I fear the 'bite' taken out of the 'Big Apple' thanks to COVID-19 might change my home--forever. When the national health catastrophe that is the coronavirus is finally over (hopefully sooner rather than later), there will be a time when the United States Congress appoints an independent, bipartisan commissi... more »
When you've lost Joe Rogan...
Joe Rogan is a big fan of Bernie Sanders. He's also a comedian, actor, martial arts fan who hosts an amazingly popular podcast. Of course it's not surprising that his podcast is popular, he lacks any skills that would actually make it informative. But he's not stupid. If given a choice between AWOL Joe Biden and Trump Rogan says he'd vote for Trump because in Rogan's opinion Joe can't cut it: *“I can’t vote for that guy,” Rogan said of the Democratic presidential primary front-runner. “I’d rather vote for Trump than him. I don’t think he can handle anything.”* Rogan even endorsed... more »
Why Social Distancing and Sheltering in Place make sense
Few young people are going to die from coronavirus. But that's assuming that they can get medical care. Hence anything that spreads out the onset of cases, even if it eventually doesn't reduce the total number of cases, will help because it will ensure that hospitals and care facilities aren't overwhelmed. Now clearly we can't shut down the country forever but it's clear that there would be an economic impact of not taking drastic measures as well. For example if suddenly people were dying who could have been saved due to limited resources people would probably start panicking bigly... more »
So many cannabis trade groups, but which is right for your business’ needs?
In response to the cannabis sector's staggering growth, more and more stakeholders are joining trade associations that represent the industry. So many cannabis trade groups, but which is right for your business’ needs? is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
Chinese Consul General Writes Powerful Open Letter to Eduardo Bolsonaro
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Chinese tone, typically tempered, is gradually rising, showing that China is patient, but patience has limits. Eduardo Bolsonaro, in a tweet The post Chinese Consul General Writes Powerful Open Letter to Eduardo Bolsonaro appeared first on The Rio Times.
HUGE! From CDC Website:
Hospitals to List COVID-19 as Cause of Death Even if It’s “Assumed to Have Caused Or Contributed to Death” – Lab Tests Not Required This is how the CDC reports it….this is how they have been doing it for many moons….all those Flu “deaths” over 95% are never tested for the flu…. From the Gateway Pundit: Excerpts: The Coronavirus crisis took the US by storm, spiking unemployment and crashing the stock market virtually overnight. The media is bombarding Americans around the clock with updates on the death count, highlighting death maps and scaring people into staying home. Governors are... more »
Has China Won The War For Global Supremacy?
Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Chuanshan port area of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, Zhejiang Province *Edward Lucas*: *China was once the cradle of the coronavirus pandemic but it has bounced back with astonishing speed, writes EDWARD LUCAS as he reveals the country may have won the war for global supremacy as well* * China's cases of coronavirus have stagnated while Western countries suffer * Country's regime used mandatory quarantine and other draconian measures * Virus outbreak has highlighted weaknesses in Western countries' reliance for resources such as medicine China has — ... more »
Blue America Endorsement: Julie Oliver (TX-25)
Late last year, Texas progressive Julie Oliver wrote a spectacular guest post for us about universal healthcare. She was in the midst of a primary battle with another worthy challenger eager to take on crooked conservative incumbent Roger Williams in the gerrymandered 25th congressional district. Julie won her primary 55,721 (70%) to 24,340 (30%) and is in the midst of a virtual campaign for the R+11 seat she made great strides towards winning in 2018, holding Williams down to a 53.5% win. Julie trounced Williams in the district's biggest county, Travis and beat him by an even big... more »
Covid19 Death Figures “A Substantial Over-Estimate”
Bizarre guidelines from health authorities around the world are potentially including thousands of deceased patients who were never even tested
As Gov’t Continues Seizing Power, COVID-19 Response Goes from Handwashing to House Arrest
[image: state]Just because we’re fighting an unseen enemy in the form of a virus doesn’t mean we have to relinquish every shred of our humanity, our common sense, or our freedoms to a nanny state.
Keeping to the Conditions of the U.S.-Taliban Agreement
Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, shakes hands with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, lead negotiator for the Taliban, after signing the agreement in Doha on Feb. 29, 2020. Photo Credit: State Dept/Ron Przysucha *Editor's Note: The U.S.-Taliban negotiations offer the possibility of a U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, but many of the agreement's specifics remain elusive. Carter Malkasian, a former senior adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, identifies several risks related to conditionality and intra-Afghan negotiations, and la... more »
Syrian Army attacks militant gathering in southern Idlib
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:30 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) carried out an attack inside the southern region of the Idlib Governorate on Sunday, following the refusal of the militant forces to withdraw from the agreed upon safe zone. According to a field report from the Idlib Governorate on Sunday, the Syrian Arab Army struck […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Israeli police arrest Jerusalem governor over ‘illegal activities’
Israeli authorities arrested on Sunday the Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem governor over “illegal” activities, Israel’s police said. “Adnan Ghaith was detained this morning for illegal activity in Jerusalem connected to the Palestinian Authority,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told Xinhua. Rosenfeld added that Ghaith is currently “being questioned by police units.” Video footage surfaced on social media […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Iran deploys missile launchers along Strait of Hormuz as tensions with US increase: video
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:30 P.M.) – The Iranian Armed Forces deployed missile launchers along the Strait of Hormuz in the Islamic Republic’s southern region. In a video shared on social media, the Iranian military can be seen deploying their missile launchers in an area that is believed to be the port city of Bandar Abbas in […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
China will not use support to other countries as ‘geopolitical weapon’: ministry
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:00 P.M.) – China would like to share its experience battling the coronavirus pandemic with other countries but “will not turn it into any kind of geopolitical weapon,” a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said in Beijing on Friday. “We would like to share China’s good practices and experience with other countries, but […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Watch: US military hands over Habbaniyah Base in Iraq
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:45 P.M.) – On Saturday, the U.S.-led International Coalition announced their official withdrawal from the Habbaniyah Base in Iraq’s Al-Anbar Governorate. In a short ceremony held on Saturday, the U.S. military can be seen signing over the base to the Iraqi security forces. Major General Tahsin al-Khafaji told RT Arabic that the agreement […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Two Chinese aid planes arrive in Iran to help country overcome coronavirus outbreak
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:25 P.M.) – Iran’s Ambassador to China Mohammad Kashwarzadeh announced on Saturday that two Chinese aid planes will arrive tonight in Tehran. The two Chinese aircraft will contain medical supplies like masks and gloves, along with medicines to help Iran overcome the coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 3,000 people in the Islamic […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Taxpayers Paid Millions To Design A Low-Cost Ventilator For A Pandemic
Five years ago, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services tried to plug a crucial hole in its preparations for a global pandemic, signing a $13.8 million contract with a Pennsylvania manufacturer to create a low-cost, portable, easy-to-use ventilator that could be stockpiled for emergencies. This past September, with the design of the new Trilogy Evo Universal finally cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, HHS ordered 10,000 of the ventilators for the Strategic National Stockpile at a cost of $3,280 each. But as the pandemic continues to spread across the globe, ther... more »
Covid-19’s Viral Lessons For Climate Heating
London − There are some glimmers of hope discernible in the loss, confusion, and misery that’s spreading worldwide, and one is that Covid-19’s viral lessons could help to equip us all to tackle the climate crisis that’s remorselessly building up. A major side effect of the battle against the spread of the coronavirus, for example, has been a significant reduction in the amount of climate-changing greenhouse gas being pumped into the atmosphere. Power plants and factories in China and elsewhere have been shut down: the use of fossil fuels, particularly oil, has plummeted. As a res... more »
Inmates At Privately-Run ICE Camp Go On Hunger Strike
Amidst a COVID-19 outbreak, around 100 detained migrants at a private, for-profit prison in Farmville, VA, have collectively gone on hunger strike, demanding their release on medical and humane grounds. That is according to Sanctuary DMV, a volunteer organization helping immigrants in the Washington, D.C. area. Phone lines to the dorms have been cut and visits have been suspended. Inmates claim that one dorm is under strict quarantine. “We are very concerned about the health and safety of everyone detained at Farmville and detention centers, prisons, and jails across the country,”... more »
US And Colombia Drive Drug Trade
Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Pino Arlacchi, the former Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Prevention, about the US decision to charge Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro with drug trafficking. Arlacchi explains that in his 40 years of anti-narcotic work, he never came across evidence of Venezuela’s involvement in the drug trade – instead saying that the US and Colombia drive drug production and consumption. As an expert on the Italian mafia, Arlacchi says the US government is actually the party behaving like an organized crime unit in ... more »
Interview With Chris Hedges: Coronavirus, Climate Change And What’s Next
A live XRTV #alonetogether interview with Chris Hedges, American journalist and author. Chris won the Pulitzer Prize while at the New York Times and has written a number of groundbreaking books on the crises we face. He will talk about the massive changes which are now upon us - why this has been coming for a long time and how it relates to the climate crisis. He will speak on what the future will look like and our responsibility to shape it into a humane outcome rather than the default of fascism which we are heading towards at the moment. The post Interview With Chris Hedges: C... more »
These Migrant Workers Did Not Suddenly Fall From the Sky
Madness engulfs the planet. Hundreds of millions of people are in lockdown in their homes, millions of people who work in essential jobs – or who cannot afford to stay home without state assistance – continue to go to work, thousands of people lie in intensive-care beds taken care of by tens of thousands of medical professionals and caregivers who face shortages of equipment and time. Narrow sections of the human population – the billionaires – believe that they can isolate themselves in their enclaves, but the virus knows no borders. The global pandemic driven by the variants of ... more »
Israel attacks Palestinians As They Fight COVID-19
As of Tuesday, there were 119 confirmed coronavirus cases among Palestinians, the vast majority of them in the occupied West Bank, though the number of cases is growing in Gaza. According to the UN humanitarian coordination agency OCHA, the relatively low number “may reflect the limited testing capacity.” Israel, whose caseload has surged to more than 5,000, is struggling to contain the outbreak. Even Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, army chief of staff Aviv Kochavi and other senior officers are now in isolation after coming into contact with infected persons. The outbreak in ... more »
SUNDAY SCREENING: ‘Surveillance Capitalism’ (2019)
*SUNDAY SCREENING* | Our weekly documentary curated by our editorial team at 21WIRE.
Episode #321 – ‘Blinded Me With Science’ with guests Andrew Mather and Olsi Jazexhi
*SUNDAY WIRE* | Strap yourselves in and lower the blast shield – this is your brave new world…
NEITHER TRUMP NOR THE DOCTORS SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT "WEEKS"
An unbylined *New York Times* report dispenses with euphemisms while describing the president's approach to the coronavirus crisis. Veering from grim warnings to baseless assurances in a single news conference, President Trump on Saturday predicted a surging death toll in what may be “the toughest week” of the coronavirus pandemic before also dispensing unproven medical advice. He suggested again that Americans might be able to congregate for Easter Sunday services. The unproven medical advice is more of Trump's incessant hyping of hydroxychloroquinone, which has been found to be no... more »
Navajo Nation coronavirus cases increase to 321, with 13 deaths, curfew in effect with fines
Arizona Air National Guard delivering some supplies on Navajo Nation, shortages continue 321 total positive cases of COVID-19 for the Navajo Nation, one more death confirmed Statements and photo by Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer Censored News WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The total number of positive tests for COVID-19 has reached 321 for the Navajo Nation
What happened to Bernie?
*On one list serve I frequent there is a growing discussion about Bernie Sanders, Biden, and the likelihood that the corporate-dominated Democrat National Committee (DNC) will do a backroom deal and appoint their next presidential candidate - done under 'extraordinary circumstances'. Here is my response to one man who was defending Bernie and mourning the deflating of his campaign. * Bernie endorsed and campaigned for Hillary – she opposed his key priorities In the last debate Bernie said he’d support Biden for prez – who has said, among other ramblings, that he would veto Med... more »
Charity workers receive JobKeeper boost
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announces that more charity workers will have access to the JobKeeper wage subsidy as eligibility rules are relaxed for the sector.
Brazil Has Daily Record Number of Covid-19 Cases
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Brazil reported a record daily increase in new coronavirus cases on Saturday. Between Friday and Saturday, there were 1,222 new confirmed cases, which increased the number of people infected in the country to 10,278. In the same period, there were 72 deaths, totaling 432. There was a 20 percent increase […] The post Brazil Has Daily Record Number of Covid-19 Cases appeared first on The Rio Times.
USA Sends Warships to Venezuela’s Coast
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The United States is increasing its military presence off the coast of Venezuela. US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that "additional destroyers, warships, planes and helicopters, coast guard vessels and surveillance aircraft" will be deployed in the Caribbean Sea. According to the US government these are to be used […] The post USA Sends Warships to Venezuela’s Coast appeared first on The Rio Times.
Four Brazilian States Could Enter Covid-19’s ‘Uncontrolled Acceleration’ Stage
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The latest study of the coronavirus epidemic in Brazil by the Ministry of Health shows that the country is currently facing a "very high" national risk from the The post Four Brazilian States Could Enter Covid-19’s ‘Uncontrolled Acceleration’ Stage appeared first on The Rio Times.
Washington refuses to stop its war machine
Abby Martin breaks down all the hidden acts of US foreign policy aggression under the cover of the COVID19 pandemic.
U.N. Rewards China for Killing Tens of Thousands Worldwide
In best globalist fashion, the United Nations three days ago seated communist China as one of five nations on the UN’s Human Rights Council. This advisory board is chartered to make decisions as to freedom of speech, health, arbitrary detentions, internet access, and a host of other regulations that supposedly protect a person’s God-given right to exist in nations worldwide. Forget for a moment COVID-19, the assault on the world’s population released by a communist Chinese bioweapons facility. China since 1949 has imprisoned / murdered / disappeared millions of its own citizens in... more »
A Brief History of Shopping Bags
1970’s :Paper bags BAD (Kills trees or something). Plastic bags GOOD! 1980’s :Plastic bags BAD (Kills dolphins or something). Reusable cloth bags GOOD! 2020: Reusable cloth bags BAD (All germy or something). Plastic bags GOOD AGAIN! Also in 2020 : All bags WORTHLESS! ( Grocery store shelves empty or something). Also in 2020 : Cloth bags and paper bags GOOD AGAIN! (For wiping butts or something). Also in 2020, ’21, ’22, ’23, ’24: It’s ALL Orange Man’s fault. IMPEACH! Since the 1970’s, the enviro freaks have been taking us on various rides in the name of protecting the Earth that run …... more »
The Importance of US Manufacturing
Sent in by Hershey, and we thank him. So, you’re a health care professional or first responder looking to wear sterile face masks? Not so fast. Take a look at this: Any questions? ~ Hardnox
Mike Pompeo pushes for war in Iraq (Video)
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 520. More The post Mike Pompeo pushes for war in Iraq (Video) appeared first on The Duran.
Only Arrest Made in Mass Shooting Was the Mother of a Victim—For ‘Excessive Grieving’
No arrests have been made in a Chicago mass shooting except for the mother of one of the victims — for excessive grieving.
Ain’t no sunshine when (he’s) gone
Bill Withers died a few days ago at the age of 81. If you don’t know who Withers is, you may know one or two of his songs. The one that is getting the most attention, and should is “Lean … Continue reading →
Right to Repair and Ventilators: Saving COVID-19 Patients
The coronavirus crisis highlights the importance of ensuring wide access to repair information for lifesaving machines, such as ventilators.
Tweets For Today
President Trump said there will be 'a lot of death' from the coronavirus in coming days https://t.co/fKH9cB6lY0 pic.twitter.com/Exr1VwJlWh — Reuters (@Reuters) April 5, 2020 Remember this? @cmhettich commutes home from Times Square on an empty New York subway pic.twitter.com/jfZnvOkrcI — Reuters (@Reuters) April 5, 2020 With sales evaporating and most factories closed, executives say they are flying blind not knowing when business will return to normal https://t.co/3poo4KfBTa — The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) April 5, 2020 Video released by the Venezuelan Navy shows them shoot... more »
Coronavirus News Overshadows Africa’s Worst Locust Invasion in History
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Locust clouds in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Iran, and Egypt could increase further and spread to other areas. The warning was issued on Monday by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO, which says these clouds are "unprecedented in size and destructive potential". Threat The agency's director general, […] The post Coronavirus News Overshadows Africa’s Worst Locust Invasion in History appeared first on The Rio Times.
Mexico Sees Record Number of Femicides in 2020
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - In Mexico, 632 women and girls have been killed in January and February this year. Some 166 cases have been classified as femicides, that is, the murder of women solely based on their gender. This makes the first two months of 2020 the most tragic since records began -- in […] The post Mexico Sees Record Number of Femicides in 2020 appeared first on The Rio Times.
Cadet Bone Spurs
Donald Trump now refers to himself as a "wartime president." That claim rings astonishingly hollow. Maureen Dowd writes: Donald Trump is trying to build a campaign message around his image as a wartime president. But as a commander in chief, Cadet Bone Spurs is bringing up the rear. “I would leave it up to the governors,” Trump said Friday, when asked about his government’s sclerotic response. Trouble is, when you leave it to the governors, you have scenes like we did in Florida with the open beaches — not to mention a swath in the middle of the country that, as of Friday night, ... more »
Impact Of COVID-19 On Prisons
Prisons and jails are amplifiers of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, because the conditions that can keep diseases from spreading - such as social distancing - are nearly impossible to achieve in correctional facilities. So what should criminal justice agencies be doing to protect public health? On this page, we're tracking examples of state and local agencies taking meaningful steps to slow the spread of COVID-19. (So far, however, no state or municipality has implemented all of our five key policy ideas, nor met the demands issued by various organizations nationwide.) Can'... more »
COVID-19 And Circuits Of Capital
COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the second severe acute respiratory syndrome virus since 2002, is now officially a pandemic. As of late March, whole cities are sheltered in place and, one by one, hospitals are lighting up in medical gridlock brought about by surges in patients. China, its initial outbreak in contraction, presently breathes easier.1 South Korea and Singapore as well. Europe, especially Italy and Spain, but increasingly other countries, already bends under the weight of deaths still early in the outbreak. Latin America and Africa are only now... more »
Was The Fed Just Nationalized?
Mainstream politicians have long insisted that Medicare for all, a universal basic income, student debt relief and a slew of other much-needed public programs are off the table because the federal government cannot afford them. But that was before Wall Street and the stock market were driven onto life-support by a virus. Congress has now suddenly discovered the magic money tree. It took only a few days for Congress to unanimously pass the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which will be doling out $2.2 trillion in crisis relief, most of it going to Corpora... more »
China Is Saying That It Is Saving The World
China is saving the world! pic.twitter.com/6wtmLrnIBH — Mike (@Doranimated) April 4, 2020 *WNU Editor*: The Chinese propaganda machine is working over time.
The Modern Man’s War On Dark Forces
The modern man has lost his fear of the demons from the underworld, but he continues to dream about the cataclysmic dark forces which are out to steal his happiness, his life, his prospect of attaining salvation, and, in extreme cases, unleash an apocalypse which will bring civilization to an end—the better his material condition becomes, the more weak and helpless the modern man feels. He no longer pines for liberty, justice, free markets, better infrastructure—having always had these things, he takes them for granted; he wants to devote his resources to saving the world from the n... more »
WHO Says Physical Distancing For COVID-19 Only Buys Time, Contact Tracing Is How To CRUSH This Virus And Win
Many governments, the UK included, focus their policy on physical distancing - which is the most obvious eye catching thing that filled the news about Wuhan. Contact tracing often gets far less attention - yet it is the absolute key to stopping this virus. It is also relatively easy to do. It doesn't need health workers. Other countries are using civil servants, community organizations and volunteers. Contact tracing is the key to winning. Physical distancing is buying time, like defensive tactics in a game of football. Having bought time in this way we can go into the attack, cr... more »
Picture Of The Day
The deserted Place de l'Etoile and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, April 1. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol *WNU Editor:* The above picture came from this must see photo-gallery .... *Cities around the world deserted* (Reuters).
Phone data used to track COVID-19 movements
New reports have revealed authorities are incorporating smart phone tracking as a means to monitor and control COVID-19 ‘clusters’ in various locations. Agencies are requesting metadata reports from telecommunications giants, leading to growing concerns that COVID-19 is enabling governments to amass unprecedented powers that will remain indefinitely. [...Continued]
ICYMI: I'm Pretty Sure It's Palm Sunday Edition (4/5)
So here we all are, sitting at home and nervously watching the numbers, while a whole lot of folks pretend that all they have to do is wave their hands and teachers will somehow fix the school part of this. Here's the reading. I've tried to include some things to brighten your day a bit. *Remote Learning Is Turning Out To Be A Burden for Parents* Yeah, a zillion folks have figured this out, but this is the New York Post, the newspaper that is pretty sure any dope can be a teacher. *This is not an experimen*t John Warner reminds us that while there is data to be gathered, this is n... more »
Musings from Morecambe
Sunny Morecambe (Saturday 10 am) Hello. Hoping you're all well. And thank you all *so much* for helping Sue to keep the blog not only afloat but positively buoyant, with open threads filling up faster than many people's cupboards with supplies of dried pasta and toilet rolls. ******* It's been another cloudy day in Morecambe today. So much for my high hopes yesterday that the prognosticators would prove to be correct about the sun driving up the M5 and the M6 and arriving here this morning. The sun has put in even fewer appearances in Morecambe than me here at *Is the BBC biased? ... more »
Did coronavirus leak from a research lab in Wuhan?Startling new theory is ‘no longer discounted’
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8188159/Did-coronavirus-leak-research-lab-Wuhan-Startling-new-theory-no-longer-discounted.html?ito=social-facebook
A sweary rant
This video well and truly breaks our Comments policy, but I enjoyed it and thought it worth sharing:
Driving to work
The BBC's Dan Johnson (of Sir Cliff fame) has posted a video of his drive to work. Being speeded-up, it looks as if he nearly crashes into a bus, twice! 😉 Filmed my drive in for the nightshift @BBCNews HQ and added some @MassiveAttackUK. Starts near Houses of Parliament - Whitehall - Trafalgar Sq - Picadilly Circus - Regent St pic.twitter.com/8niONtAdVw — Dan Johnson (@DanJohnsonNews) April 4, 2020
Pandemic Affected Alcohol and Drug Consumption in Almost One-third of Youths
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Nearly a third of Portuguese youths (62.4 percent) believe that the covid-19 pandemic has contributed to a change in the consumption of alcohol and drugs, with 18.1 percent saying they consume less alcohol or have stopped drinking. The findings are included in a national survey conducted by the European Institute […] The post Pandemic Affected Alcohol and Drug Consumption in Almost One-third of Youths appeared first on The Rio Times.
Manifesto ‘#donotfire’ Joined by Over 1000 Companies in 24 Hours
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Over a thousand companies of different sizes have adhered to the #nãodemita (#donotfire) manifesto in only 24 hours. In the public document, released on Friday, April 3rd, groups like Ânima Educação, WEG and Renner, among others, urged entrepreneurs not to reduce the number of employees until the end of May. […] The post Manifesto ‘#donotfire’ Joined by Over 1000 Companies in 24 Hours appeared first on The Rio Times.
Time to Bring Back the Pocket Battleship
*Salvatore Babones* *Security, * A lesson for the US Navy: armor works. If you want to maintain freedom of navigation in troubled waters, you have to be able to take a hit and keep on sailing. Bring back the battleship. Or at least the pocket battleship. Last week, the 8500-ton cruise ship *RCGS Resolute* was harassed by a Venezuelan patrol boat while sailing in international waters off the island of La Tortuga in the Caribbean Sea. The Venezuelans ordered the *Resolute* to change course, fired on her, and then rammed the ship in an apparent attempt to force it into territorial w... more »
This Could Kill You: Why the Coronavirus Is so Deadly
*Benjamin Neuman* *Public Health, World* [image: Reuters] Subtle genetic differences lead to significant differences in how we are infected. COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Coronaviruses belong to a group of viruses that infect animals, from peacocks to whales. They’re named for the bulb-tipped spikes that project from the virus’s surface and give the appearance of a corona surrounding it. A coronavirus infection usually plays out one of two ways: as an infection in the lungs that includes some cases of what people would call the common cold, or as an inf... more »
China's Outrage To America's THAAD Deployment In South Korea Is Based On A Lie
*Grant Newsham* *Security, Asia* It's part of a plot to undermine U.S. alliances. *Key point: *The Trump administration will do well to avoid focusing narrowly on specific events and responding to them, and instead consider the larger regional “architecture” and prioritize shoring up America’s formal and informal alliances in the Indo-Pacific. Chinese opposition to South Korea’s deployment of the THAAD missile defense system is less about missiles than about an ongoing effort to weaken—and ideally demolish—the United States’ network of formal and informal alliances in Asia that ... more »
Russia's Tsar Nuclear 'Bomba' Was Too Powerful To Ever Be Used
*Paul Richard Huard* *Security, Europe* So why did Russia build it? *Key point: *The Cold War's nuclear arms race was truly absurd. Maj. Andrei Durnovtsev, a Soviet air force pilot and commander of a Tu-95 Bear bomber, holds a dubious honor in the history of the Cold War. Durnovtsev flew the aircraft that dropped the most powerful nuclear bomb ever. It had an explosive force of 50 megatons, or more than 3,000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima weapon. Over the years, historians identified many names for the test bomb. Andrei Sakharov, one of the physicists who helped design ... more »
Watch Israel's Merkava Tank Brush Off An Attack From Islamic Jihad's Drone
*Michael Peck* *Security, * Did it really happen? *Key Point:* The best answer is that even if it wasn’t a real drone attack, it could have been – and some day it will be. Did an Islamic Jihad drone drop a bomb an Israeli tank outside Gaza last year? Islamic Jihad, a violent group based in Hamas-controlled Gaza, claims it does. Others aren’t so sure. The Youtube video shows what appears to be an aerial – or drone’s eye – view of an Israeli Merkava tank in arid terrain characteristic of southern Israel. As red crosshairs (which appear to have been added after the video was take... more »
Secret Weapon: Why Sleep Helps Our Bodies Fight Coronavirus
*Cassandra Pattinson, Kalina Ross, Simon Smith* *Public Health, World* [image: Reuters] It won't cure coronavirus, but it helps fight it. Getting a good night’s sleep can be difficult at the best of times. But it can be even harder when you’re anxious or have something on your mind – a global pandemic, for example. Right now though, getting a good night’s sleep could be more important than ever. Sleep is essential for maintaining our health and mood. Sleep can also boost our immune function and help us deal with stress. *How much do we need?* Social distancing has many of us s... more »
The Army's New Bullet Is Making Body Armor Obsolete
*James Clark* *Technology, Americas* For now. *Key point:* The Army wants to abandon 5.56 mm ammunition. The Army is developing a more powerful bullet that’ll penetrate body armor capable of stopping 5.56 mm rounds, the Army’s Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told senators on Thursday. “The 5.56 round, we recognize there is a type of body armor it does not penetrate, and adversarial states are selling that stuff on the Internet for about 250 bucks,” Milley explained during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, adding, “We think we have a solution … We know we have developed... more »
Will the Coronavirus Ruin Countries' Ability to Wage War?
*Stratfor Worldview* *Security, World* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_RC2ODF93IC7W&share=true] Too many infected troops. Amid the escalating COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the world are facing widespread disruptions to not only the health of their populations and economies, but their militaries. Even if the virus itself doesn't leave key personnel severely ill (or worse), quarantine measures can still severely thwart military operations. Meanwhile, military powers such as the United States may increasingly be forced to deploy... more »
Don't Leave Coronavirus Preparedness To Chance
*John Coyne* *Politics, Australia* [image: A healthcare professional waits at a pop-up clinic testing for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Bondi Beach, after several outbreaks were recorded in the area, in Sydney, Australia April 1, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott] Australia should make its own luck when it comes to pandemics. In their prophetic 2018 book, *The end of epidemics*, authors Jonathan Quick and Bronwyn Fryer warned that ‘a severe worldwide pandemic could cost the global economy up to [US]$2.5 trillion.’ They also warned of the need to constantly maintain a high level... more »
Untitled
*UK: Leading educationalist ANTHONY SELDON has a stark warning about the uncharted waters of home-schooling* *This is a rather strange article. Homeschooling in Britain is far from uncharted. It goes back to the 19th century. So what is the problem Seldon sees with it? Let me mention what he is really on about.It is black children. They get some discipline while in school but out of school they tend to run riot. And an extended riot of black criminal behavior is what Seldon reasonably fearsI met Seldon in 1977 and had some interesting chats with him. So I know him as a r... more »
Untitled
*I visit the Australian Antarctic Division, a sprawling space station-like complex on Hobart’s southern fringe, for a briefing from its director, Kim Ellis* *Most of the article excerpt reproduced below is devoted to prophecy of disaster from Antarctic melting. The melting is seen as an ongoing process that will eventually "tip" into disasterWhen we get to the actual facts however, it is a different story. Note in the last two paragraphs reproduced below that the senior antarctic scientist stresses how random are the actual changes in the Antarctic. They are so far from a s... more »
Death toll from coronavirus in Italy is likely to be much higher than the current 15,000
Death toll from coronavirus in Italy is likely to be much higher than the current 15,000 Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The death toll from coronavirus (Covid-19) in Italy is currently over 15,000 people. However, this shocking figure – that will continue to increase – is likely to be much higher. […]