10 pm MDT
The US economy before the virus struck
The purpose of this article is to determine the health of the US economy before it sickened from the virus. Why is this important? It is importance lies in this; the impact of the lockdown on the future of the US economy will be mediated by the state of the economy prior to the pandemic. A robust economy will exit this lockdown in better shape than will a non-robust economy.
Hokey-Smoke, It's Like We're Actually In Berlin -- Well, Sort Of -- For Easter Week
*Here we see (part of) the interior of the Great Hall of Berlin's Philharmonie, the (shall we say) unusual building built in 1960-63 -- under the watchful eye of then-chief conductor Herbert von Karajan -- to house one of the world's elite orchestras, the Berlin Philharmonic. Now imagine it even emptier. without anything on the stage floor, and mostly darkened, since at present the orchestra, like so many performers of all descriptions around the world, is unable to perform before live audiences.* *Now imagine, in that empty, so sparsely lit, Philharmonie, Stefan Dohr, the Berlin ... more »
Covid-19 had us all fooled, but we might have found its secret
Explains why chloroquine and Z-Pak (also known as azithromycin or Zithromax) work. ___________________ Covid-19 had us all fooled, but we might have found its secret Why chloroquine and Z-Pak (also known as azithromycin or Zithromax) work. Caroline Snyder I have been thinking this for several weeks now, so it is good to see other folks ... Read more Covid-19 had us all fooled, but we might have found its secret The post Covid-19 had us all fooled, but we might have found its secret appeared first on Ice Age Now.
For You Are As Gods ‒ A Quotation by M.N. Hopkins
*For you are as gods, yet you see it not. The ones of darkness have so irritated and damaged your normal thought processes, that you can no longer illuminate the pathway of your minds toward a happy destination.* *© **M.N. Hopkins * *To read more of my poems & quotations, please click on the link below:* *Poems & Quotations by M.N. Hopkins* *or visit:* *Pinterest* n no longer illuminate the pathway of your minds toward a happy destination.
Deputies Propose to “Self-Sacrifice” During the Crisis
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Faced with the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic and its public health, social, political and economic impacts, there has been an increase in the demand from society for sacrifices by the political world. In addition to investments in structure and equipment in the medical area, aid packages for the […] The post Deputies Propose to “Self-Sacrifice” During the Crisis appeared first on The Rio Times.
Coronavirus and Presidentialism: Potential Effects on Latin American Governments
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Although the spread of the novel coronavirus in Latin America and the response of the countries are diverse, a common approach to the strategy pursued by the various governments is evident. In particular, there is a strong emphasis on presidentialism. Presidents have monopolized the administration of the agenda, which in […] The post Coronavirus and Presidentialism: Potential Effects on Latin American Governments appeared first on The Rio Times.
CIA Intervened Against Independence Process in British Guiana
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Newly released documents of the US secret service CIA disclose the extensive scope of an influential operation in British Guiana in the years between 1961 and 1964. The operation was directed against the Social Democratic politician Cheddi Jagan, who was the first Prime Minister of the South American colony as […] The post CIA Intervened Against Independence Process in British Guiana appeared first on The Rio Times.
Brazilian Consumers Are Renegotiating Properties Bought on Instalment Plans
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The drop in income of a large number of Brazilians, due to the coronavirus crisis, has rekindled fears within the real estate market of facing once again an old problem in the sector: abrogation, jargon used by consumers to return property purchased on instalment plans before construction has begun. This […] The post Brazilian Consumers Are Renegotiating Properties Bought on Instalment Plans appeared first on The Rio Times.
Coronavirus and Violence: Plight of Indigenous People in Colombia
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Although the country's urban centers have so far been most affected, fears of an uncontrolled spread of the virus are also growing in the peripheral regions where many indigenous peoples live. While the coronavirus crisis is holding the whole of Latin America hostage, the virus is not the only threat […] The post Coronavirus and Violence: Plight of Indigenous People in Colombia appeared first on The Rio Times.
Sweden, Citing Side Effects, Suspends Chloroquine Use in Coronavirus Patients
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Leading hospitals in Sweden have discontinued the use of chloroquine in patients infected with the coronavirus as a result of reports of severe side effects - such as cardiac arrhythmias and loss of peripheral vision. Advocated by Presidents Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro as a potential cure for . . […] The post Sweden, Citing Side Effects, Suspends Chloroquine Use in Coronavirus Patients appeared first on The Rio Times.
“The List” – Interesting and Quietly Overlooked Remarks by Secretary Pompeo…
With an increased awareness of how some U.S. politicians appear to be reacting to the COVID-19 challenges; and with a new American perspective toward the way media outlets, some businesses and many politicians appear to be influenced by China; it’s … Continue reading →
British motorsport great Sir Stirling Moss dies aged 90
Just In - 16 hours ago
The winner of 16 grands prix and a four-time world championship runner-up, Sir Stirling is widely regarded as the greatest Formula 1 driver never to win a title.
The Federal Reserve’s Coronavirus Crisis Actions, Explained (Part 5)
Muni purchases are finally here
A Passover Story
There was a time in this blog’s evolution when I wrote short stories and posted them for the heck of it. This is a reprint with a brief edit of TEMPLE, one such story, originally posted here on September 20, 2015 It’s not the traditional Easter post. No crosses or newly hatched chicks. But I […] The post A Passover Story appeared first on Virtual Mirage.
The Lentiest Lent
Lent is the 40 days (not including Sundays) from Ash Wednesday to the Saturday before Easter. Lent is often described as a time of preparation and an opportunity to go deeper with God. This means that it’s a time for... more »
SA records fourth coronavirus death, as 750 Qantas staff ordered to self-isolate
Just In - 17 hours ago
An Adelaide man dies from COVID-19 in the Royal Adelaide Hospital, becoming the fourth person in the state to die from the virus.
The Only Way To Save the Economy Is To Stop Coronavirus
*Brent Orrell* *Politics, Americas* [image: People wearing protective face masks are seen outside a Holland & Barrett store in Durham, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Durham, Britain, April 8, 2020. REUTERS/Lee Smith] People are our most precious resource. Since the US COVID-19 outbreak, we’ve been presented with a choice between two catastrophes: widespread disease and death or a second Great Depression. This is the kind of either-or thinking that plagues the human mind. We might be better off adopting a trade-off perspective between these two cha... more »
Could a 'Second Wave' of COVID-19 Come to Australia?
*Nic Geard, James Wood* *Public Health, Australia* What are the risks? Following the emergence and rapid spread of COVID-19, several countries have succeeded in bringing local outbreaks under control. The most dramatic of these is China, where large scale restrictions on people’s movement appear to have halted domestic transmission. South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan also had early success containing local outbreaks, using a combination of extensive contact tracing, testing, border measures and differing degrees of social distancing. However, COVID-19 is now widespread across the... more »
Trump ‘Self-Isolates’ with Barbaric Sanctions
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this week reiterated that economic sanctions would continue against Iran until the goal of regime change was achieved. That was in spite of the fact that Iran’s death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has risen to over 4,000, and the country is clearly struggling to obtain medicines and equipment … Continue reading Trump ‘Self-Isolates’ with Barbaric Sanctions →
Unmasked: NATO’s Dog-Eat-Dog Pandemic Reaction
Despite its charter proclaiming mutual defense and security, the NATO military alliance is showing a rather unbecoming dog-eat-dog individualistic reaction in coping with the coronavirus pandemic. by Finian Cunningham The United States, the top dog in the 30-member pack of nations, is accused of “modern piracy” after it nabbed consignments of face masks which were … Continue reading Unmasked: NATO’s Dog-Eat-Dog Pandemic Reaction →
Truth Everlasting!
Proclaim The Truth To All The World: "HE IS RISEN, JUST AS HE SAID!"
Amid Coronavirus Pandemic, Brazil Lacks Coordination Distributing Hospital Beds
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - About to reach the peak of coronavirus contagion, projected by the Ministry of Health for the weeks between April and May, Brazil still lacks coordination between the SUS (public health care system) and the private network to expand assistance capacity and the number of hospital beds, mainly The post Amid Coronavirus Pandemic, Brazil Lacks Coordination Distributing Hospital Beds appeared first on The Rio Times.
Pope Francis Prophesied: “Prepare for Better Times”
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - In the interview he replied to a number of e-mails sent by the British author and journalist Austen Ivereigh. Pope Francis, who is in social isolation at the Vatican, started by saying: "Here at Saint Martha House, meal shifts have been established, otherwise, everyone works from their office or their […] The post Pope Francis Prophesied: “Prepare for Better Times” appeared first on The Rio Times.
Possible Coronavirus Vaccines Successful in Preclinical Testing in Italy
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Preclinical testing of candidates for the novel coronavirus (Sars-CoV-2) vaccine in Italy proved positive. In an interview with ANSA news agency on Friday, April 10th, Luigi Aurisicchio, CEO of the Roman company Takis Biotech, which is conducting studies with five vaccines, said there was "strong antibody production" with a single […] The post Possible Coronavirus Vaccines Successful in Preclinical Testing in Italy appeared first on The Rio Times.
São Paulo Police Arrest ten for Theft of two Million Masks and 15,000 Coronavirus Tests
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - According to police, they were storing the supplies in a warehouse in the Ipiranga neighborhood, south of the capital.Police officers from the Department of Strategic Operations (DOPE) arrested over ten suspected members of a gang that stole 15,000 Covid-19 tests and two million masks from Guarulhos International Airport on Saturday. […] The post São Paulo Police Arrest ten for Theft of two Million Masks and 15,000 Coronavirus Tests appeared first on The Rio Times.
Rio’s Iconic Copacabana Palace Temporarily Closes Due to Covid-19
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – The most iconic hotel in Brazil, the Copacabana Palace, closed its doors temporarily on Friday (April 10th), for the first time since its opening, due to the pandemic produced by the Covid-19. The hotel, inaugurated in 1923 and whose rooms have lodged rock stars and world leaders is scheduled to resume […] The post Rio’s Iconic Copacabana Palace Temporarily Closes Due to Covid-19 appeared first on The Rio Times.
In Reserved Meeting, Senate President Says Bolsonaro Government ‘is Finished’
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - There have been rounds of talks with party leaders, court justices and the Senate leadership to discuss the position of the Planalto Palace and the lack of political coordination and party support from Bolsonarists in Congress. According to sources, despite Maia's prominence, it was up to Senate President Davi Alcolumbre […] The post In Reserved Meeting, Senate President Says Bolsonaro Government ‘is Finished’ appeared first on The Rio Times.
Bolsonarists use Motorcade Against Doria, Globo and China in São Paulo
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The protest was summoned by WhatsApp and started outside the Ibirapuera Gymnasium, which will house the city's third campaign hospital. A man in the back of a pickup truck delivered a speech urging people not to watch these two stations and boycott any brand advertised by them. He also accused […] The post Bolsonarists use Motorcade Against Doria, Globo and China in São Paulo appeared first on The Rio Times.
Turkey could make coronavirus-positive migrants cross into Greece: media
Turkey could force migrants infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) into Greece and other EU countries, the Greek Kathimerini newspaper reported. Numerous migrants have been concentrating in Turkey’s western seaside towns, “as if ready to cross into neighboring Greece’s islands,” the newspaper said on Saturday, citing anonymous sources linked to the Greek authorities. According to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
UAE allegedly supplies Libyan Army with Israeli air defense system
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:10 A.M.) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has allegedly supplied the Libyan National Army (LNA) with an Israeli-made air defense system, the New Arab publication reported over the weekend. “The UAE has signed a contract with Israel to provide Haftar with an air defense system made by [an] Israeli defense firm. The […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Russian military expands presence in northeast Syria to challenge US forces
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:00 A.M.) – The Russian military has setup four new posts in northeastern Syria this past week, as they beef up their presence in the Al-Hasakah Governorate. According to a report from northeast Syria, the Russian military setup four observation posts in the Al-Qamishli and Tal Tamr districts, which is where they have […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Crews of 2 Russian warships placed in quarantine after Syria mission
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:40 A.M.) – The crews of two Russian warships are being placed under quarantine after completing their Syria mission, the Crews of two Russian warships, the newspaper of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Zvezda, said on Friday. According to the newspaper, the crews of frigate Admiral Makarov and the frigate Admiral Essen, which […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Libyan Army sends large number of reinforcements to Tripoli for final push
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:20 A.M.) – The Military Information Division of the Libyan National Army, led by Field Marshal Khalifa Hafter, announced on Saturday the dispatch of new military forces to participate in the offensive at the axes of the Libyan capital, Tripoli. The division said in a press statement that the “the Storm Battalion of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
US and Saudi officials hold talks after threat of withdrawing American forces
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:20 A.M.) – Republican members of the United States Senate from the oil producing states said they had held a two-hour phone call with three Saudi officials, and demanded that they take concrete action to reduce oil production, the Reuters News Agency reported. There were 11 Republican Senators on the call for nearly […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Has Air Pollution Reduced During Lockdown? Sheffield Says Not.
By Paul Homewood Following up the claims of cleaner air due to the lockdown, I thought I would do a few checks. Our local air monitoring site is Devonshire Green, close to Sheffield City Centre. It is a site I have posted on before. https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/networks/site-info?uka_id=UKA00575 DEFRA offer a tool to graph pollutants […]
Happy Easter
I love Easter, love it better than Christmas. I have decades of Easter traditions piled up, and of course, today, none of them will happen. I love tradition, but on the other hand, tradition can become an enabler, a means of just sleepwalking through life. I love tradition, but I always told my yearbook students that they were not allowed to make any decisions about the book "because that's what we did last year." So I'm going to try to see today as a reminder to be mindful and deliberate, to strip off the tradition and get back to thinking about why they were a good idea in the fir... more »
7 Bedtime Habits That Can Help Us Lose Weight
https://brightside.me/inspiration-health/7-bedtime-habits-that-can-help-us-lose-weight-784860/?utm_source=fb_brightside&utm_medium=fb_organic&utm_campaign=fb_gr_brightside_mini
11 Stretches to Relieve Neck and Shoulder Tension
https://brightside.me/inspiration-health/11-stretches-to-relieve-neck-and-shoulder-tension-656360/?utm_source=fb_brightside&utm_medium=fb_organic&utm_campaign=fb_gr_brightside_mini
BWorld 426, Electricity pricing under hysteria conditions
* My column in BusinessWorld, April 7, 2020. The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) which the government hoisted over the entire Luzon has resulted in large-scale business and economic losses. The overall impact on the 1st quarter GDP will be known in about two months from now, but the decline in electricity demand is known daily. I got weekly data for March 2020 from the Independent Electricity Market Operator Philippines (IEMOP), and also the data for March 2019, and I computed the difference between the two periods. There was a big decline in power demand starting March 15, the... more »
CFACT: Technology to enable private conservation of oceans?
New technology that could dramatically (and affordably) expand our ability to not only track destructive activities in the oceans, but to trace them back to particular actors and locations. The post CFACT: Technology to enable private conservation of oceans? appeared first on CFACT.
It Is As If ‒ A Quotation by M.N. Hopkins
*It is as if an evil spell has been caste upon the Land and the citizens are led to their own destruction through the deceptions and lies of the few who foolishly believe that they can control the many.* *© ** M.N. Hopkins * *Note: This quote is from an old writing of mine that explains very well what is happening with our current day, plannedemic that has resulted in Marshall law and broken economies in many Lands.*
New Left Media April 2020
Not so much a resurrection but new life for new left wing media products! One wonders if the extended lock down will see a surge in new blogs, new podcasts, new video channels, and new, well, stuff. We'll see! Anyway, new items that have risen to notice this last month are ... 1. COMRADIO (Twitter) 2. Sociosaurus (Twitter) 3. Street Hooker (Twitter) 4. The Benn Society (Twitter) If you know of any new(ish) blogs, podcasts, channels, Facebook pages or whatever that haven't featured before then drop me a line via the comments, email, Facebook, or Twitter. Please note I'm looking fo... more »
WA flattens the curve but borders set to remain closed for at least six months
Three more West Australians test positive for COVID-19 in what the Premier says is the lowest daily increase since the state's testing regime began, but border closures will stay in place "for a long period of time".
Tasmania closes two hospitals to 'stamp out' coronavirus outbreak
Just In - 19 hours ago
Tasmania's Premier Peter Gutwein says the North West Regional Hospital and North West Private Hospital in Burnie close today because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Purebred dingo that dropped out of the sky thrives in new sanctuary home
Six months after arriving at the Australian Dingo Foundation's sanctuary, Wandi the alpine dingo is living happily with his new playmate.
Hysteria Or Theology
National disasters and times of war seem to bring out the crazy in all of us, and the present Covid crisis is proving to be no exception. One finds some people suggesting that it is all a conspiracy and that no such virus actually exists, while others tell us that […]
COVID Orthodox Church closures part IV – Concluding thoughts
We hope that this series was helpful in shining some detailed and critical light on the matter of church closures, particularly in the various Eastern Orthodox Christian national churches in the United States and around the world. We looked at the historical precedents in Christianity that show the Church trying tirelessly to help her people. […] More The post COVID Orthodox Church closures part IV – Concluding thoughts appeared first on The Duran.
Why America Will Emerge Stronger From the Coronavirus Crisis
*Michael Shoebridge* *Economics, Americas* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_RC250G9PAQZ5&share=true] U.S. citizens and industry tend to learn, and bounce back from, crises. Lots of commentary—in fact, most—right now about America in the world is simplistic, binary and trapped in the moment. Not that the US isn’t in crisis right now. It is. Like the rest of us, it’s in the middle of a global pandemic, but it also has the awful distinction of being the current global Covid-19 epicentre. And Washington’s response has been confused and ... more »
A 21st Century Battleship Could Be Just What The Navy Needs To Beat China At Sea
*Salvatore Babones* *Security, Asia* How do you sink a steel dinosaur? The answer is: "with difficulty." *Key point: *That's where the battleship of the future comes in: it would give the United States a defensive option for limited conflict. In World War II, the Japanese super-battleships *Yamato* and *Musahi* each mounted nine 18.1-inch guns, the largest naval guns ever deployed, but they never sank a single American ship. In a conflict decided by naval aviation, *Yamato* and *Musahi* were used mainly as flagships and troop transports. Despite their huge armaments, they were st... more »
Poll: People in Taiwan Feel China is Unfriendly, Prefer Independence, and Favor Slower Pace of Cross-Strait Exchanges
*Russel Hsiao* *Politics, Asia* [image: Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-Wen, wearing a mask, observe soldiers demonstrate drills at a military base camp in Tainan, Taiwan, April 9, 2020. REUTERS/Ann Wang] The results of the newest government poll on public views toward China’s unfriendliness continued a multi-year increase in the number of Taiwanese who view China as unfriendly. Against the backdrop of increasing numbers of Chinese military exercises around Taiwan, political suppression in neighboring Hong Kong, and aggressive obstruction of the island democracy’s international spac... more »
The CDC Still Needs to Explain How to Protect the Elderly Once Stay-At-Home Orders End
*Mary Margaret Olohan* *Public Health, Americas* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_RC2SNF9BAI64&share=true] American needs answers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has yet to issue guidance on how to protect the elderly after social distancing ends in the United States, despite multiple requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation. Older adults are at much higher risk of developing serious complications from the novel coronavirus, the CDC has warned — eight out of 10 those who have died in the United Sta... more »
We Need To Get Ready For Nationwide Mail-In Voting Under Coronavirus
*Stan Veuger* *Politics, Americas* [image: A poll worker wearing a mask to help slow the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) sprays down a voting booth after use during the presidential primary election at Riverside High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. April 7, 2020. Mike De Sisti/Milwau] We shouldn't have to choose between saving democracy and stopping coronavirus. On Monday night, a last-minute intervention by the US Supreme Court effectively disenfranchised many of the Wisconsin voters who requested an absentee ballot to vote in the state’s April 7th election. The Co... more »
Can Canada Handle the Economic Cost of the Coronavirus?
*Jerome Gessaroli* *Economics, Americas* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_RC27JF98EK0L&share=true] Tough fiscal times. The federal and provincial governments have announced massive emergency spending measures to ease the financial hardships many Canadians are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Quick and significant spending is required. However, both levels of government will have to borrow heavily to pay for this financial support. Numbers from the independent Parliamentary Budget Office point to a 2021 federal budget deficit of... more »
America Is Winning The Arms Sales War With Russia And China For Indonesia
*Caleb Larson* *Politics, Asia* Jakarta could be the next nation to acquire the F-35. *Key point: *Indonesia’s decision to back out of two deals with Russia and China—both strategic adversaries of the United States—represent a triumph for the Trump administration Indonesia recently backed out of two separate arms deals with both China and Russia, bowing to pressure from the Trump administration. *High-tech Barter Goods* In August of 2017, Indonesia announced a deal with the Russian Federation in which Indonesia would buy eleven advanced Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets for approximate... more »
Will Venezuela's Maduro Give up Power for Coronavirus Sanctions Relief?
*Stratfor Worldview* *Politics, Americas* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_RC23VF95NYFM&share=true] A hard sell. To break Venezuela’s ongoing political stalemate, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced a plan on March 31 that outlines a path to a power-sharing framework and free elections in exchange for the potential removal of U.S. sanctions. Dubbed the "Democratic Transition Framework," the proposal specifically calls for both President Nicolas Maduro and U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido to step aside for the form... more »
Viral Marxists
I’ve just watched an interesting documentary about the origin of the Covid-19 virus. The conclusion is slightly inaccurate – the pandemic is better interpreted as a Marxist ploy to crash the West’s economies and thereby destroying capitalism. They have said … Continue reading →