Friday, March 20, 2020

20 March - Blogs I'm Following - 3 of 5

10 pm MDT

All-time record snowfall buries parts of Sweden

Robert at Ice Age Now - 11 hours ago
The first flakes of the season in Sweden’s northern town of Kiruna fell back on Sept 30 and from then on have continued relentlessly. Accumulations now comfortably surpass the region’s all-time snowfall record. On Thursday, March 19 heavy snow fell over Kiruna adding to the record-breaking 3.25 meters (10.7 ft) that had already accumulated this season–accumulations ... Read more All-time record snowfall buries parts of Sweden The post All-time record snowfall buries parts of Sweden appeared first on Ice Age Now.

The global panic is unnecessary and exaggerated, says leading virologist

Robert at Ice Age Now - 11 hours ago
‘People think this virus is going to attack them all, and then they’re all going to die,’ says Prof. Jihad Bishara. ‘Not at all. In fact, most of those infected won’t even know it’. ‘Calm down!’ ‘People are being whipped into unnecessary panic.’ Prof. Jihad Bishara, director of the Infectious Disease Unit at Petah Tikva’s ... Read more The global panic is unnecessary and exaggerated, says leading virologist The post The global panic is unnecessary and exaggerated, says leading virologist appeared first on Ice Age Now.

The whole world is watching....

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 11 hours ago
*Inside the State legislative House building in Nashville, Tennessee. In the state of Georgia, one Republican member of the state legislature came to a session knowing he had virus symptoms and now the entire state legislature is on quarantine. (Click on the photos for a better view. All photos from Washington Post.)* *Drive-thru testing tent outside a Houston, Texas hospital. One of the few in the country. The educated speculation is that the virus will be at least 10 times worse in the US than presently stated. There are not enough hospital beds, medical staff, respirators, ma... more »

‘For Unknown Reasons They Waited. And Watched’ – Lancet Editor Exposes Devastating Government Failure On Coronavirus

barovsky at The New Dark Age - 11 hours ago
Over the last 20 years, we have documented some shocking examples of journalistic irresponsibility, but the tweet from ITV’s political editor Robert Peston on March 14 was something special. With China, South Korea, Italy, Spain and other countries in shutdown, lockdown and general medical meltdown, with the UK reeling from rising cases and deaths – with the elderly, in particular, facing a terrifying threat that had already claimed thousands of lives around the world – Peston tweeted: ‘Revealed: elderly to be quarantined at home or in care homes for four months, in “wartime-style” ... more »

Special Solari Report: Vaccine Mandates with Mary Holland, J.D,

Joyce Ghen at Children's Health Defense - 11 hours ago
CHD’s Vice Chair and General Counsel Mary Holland recently joined The Solari Report’s C. Austin Fitts to do a special report to discuss vaccine and related mandates and what we need to do to prevent them. Here is the full transcript of the interview vs. the first four minutes from the video: Austin Fitts: […] The post Special Solari Report: Vaccine Mandates with Mary Holland, J.D, appeared first on Children's Health Defense.

Tamiflu & Influenza Vaccines: More Harm Than Good?

Joyce Ghen at Children's Health Defense - 11 hours ago
Published on February 23rd in BMJ, Allan S. Cunningham’s response to “What did we learn from Tamiflu?” asks why we spend so much money on influenza vaccines and not take into consideration that they actually increase the risk of illness from noninfluenza virus infections. Furthermore, no one looks at any vaccine adverse effects such as […] The post Tamiflu & Influenza Vaccines: More Harm Than Good? appeared first on Children's Health Defense.

"A Very Apt Description..."

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 11 hours ago
“While washing dishes after the family supper tonight, I was listening, rather idly, to BBC Radio 4, some radio play or dramatization. And suddenly I heard, in passing, what struck me as a very apt description of life itself: *"It felt intimate, surreal and meaningless, all at the same time."* Postscript: Looked it up later; the line came from the dramatization of a story called "The Warrah," by Lucy Catherine.” - http://www.chris-floyd.com/ Yeah, that's about what it feels like now...

"Regret: The Weight of the Past"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 11 hours ago
*"Regret: The Weight of the Past"* by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOM "Holding onto regret is like dragging the weight of the past with us everywhere we go. It drains our energy, leaving less available for life in the present because we are constantly feeding an old issue. This attachment can cause illness the same way watering a dead plant creates decay. We know that something new and beautiful can grow in its place if we only prepare the soil and plant the right seeds. We also know that we create our lives from our thoughts, so dwelling on the past may actually recreate a situation i... more »

The Poet: William Stafford, "You Reading This, Be Ready"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 11 hours ago
*"You Reading This, Be Ready"* "Starting here, what do you want to remember? How sunlight creeps along a shining floor? What scent of old wood hovers, what softened sound from outside fills the air? Will you ever bring a better gift for the world than the breathing respect that you carry wherever you go right now? Are you waiting for time to show you some better thoughts? When you turn around, starting here, lift this new glimpse that you found; carry into evening all that you want from this day. This interval you spent reading or hearing this, keep it for life. What can anyone give yo... more »

"Fools And Knaves..."

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 11 hours ago
"In the mass of mankind, I fear, there is too great a majority of fools and knaves; who, singly from their number, must to a certain degree be respected, though they are by no means respectable." - Philip Stanhope "There are more fools than knaves in the world, else the knaves would not have enough to live upon." - Samuel Butler

List of Grocery Stores with Special Hours for Seniors, the At-Risk, and Pregnant Women

Jordan Liles at Snopes.com - 11 hours ago
We've compiled a list of major grocery chains offering dedicated hours set aside for members of vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Was McDonald’s Giving Free Lunches to School Kids During Pandemic?

Dan Evon at Snopes.com - 11 hours ago
A few McDonald's locations in the U.S. made a major announcement about kid meals.

Tweets For Today

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
⚫ Global coronavirus deaths pass 10,000 ⚫ Spain registers more than 1,000 deaths ⚫ California announces stay at home order ⚫ UK retired medics asked to return to work ⚫ China again reports no new domestic cases Latest on coronavirus worldwide ➡️ https://t.co/cmkUvGsLR8 pic.twitter.com/abOrMoZNx3 — BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 20, 2020 Coronavirus cases in the US: March 1: 71 (1 death) March 20: 14,168 (205 deaths) pic.twitter.com/C1anEyfVTi — NBC News (@NBCNews) March 20, 2020 Sixteen more service members have tested positive for COVID-19, the Pentagon says. Source: DOD ... more »

Bureau appoints Chrissie Giles and Madlen Davies to global health team

James Ball at The Bureau of Investigative Journalism - 11 hours ago
Giles, formerly the editor of Mosaic, joins the Bureau as global health editor, while Davies is promoted to global chief health correspondent

White House Coronavirus Task Force Briefing – 11:45am ET Livestream…

sundance at The Last Refuge - 11 hours ago
The White House coronavirus task force briefing is being held today at 11:45am ET. WH Livestream Link – RSBN Livestream Link – Fox Business Livestream Link . .

Great News – Kevin Hassett Returning to White House To Assist With COVID-19 Economic Response…

sundance at The Last Refuge - 11 hours ago
Former White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Kevin Hassett is returning to the administration as a senior economic advisor to President Trump during the COVID-19 response. Kevin Hassett is very sharp and a happy warrior by disposition. Hassett was … Continue reading →

HUMAN REASON AND ITS DISCONTENTS: Give us this day our daily bread...

bob somerby at the daily howler - 11 hours ago
*FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2020...but also our daily logic:* As noted earlier, Ludwig Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations was published in 1953. Wittgenstein had died of cancer in 1951, at age 62. But within the world of English language academic philosophy, he'd been a type of cult figure for roughly thirty years. Upon publication, Philosophical Investigations became the definitive text of Wittgenstein's "later" period. But alas: Sixty years after the book's publication, Professor Horwich said that "professional philosophers" had thrown the later Wittgenstein under the bus. (See... more »

Next phase unleashed against Pandemic under way

Uriel at 'Nox & Friends - 11 hours ago
National Guard activated in six states to help fight coronavirus As of March 13, 2020, President Trump has deployed roughly 400 National Guard personnel in six states to help curtail the spread of the coronavirus, with another 600 expected to join them within 24 hours, the National Guard Bureau announced. There were already Guard boots on the ground in Tennessee helping clear recent tornado damage and in Puerto Rico helping after the January earthquake devastation there. Others had been involved in returning quarantined cruise ship citizens back to their homes. Some may have only re... more »

Democrats Hit by FULL Salvo in Penn.

GunnyG at 'Nox & Friends - 11 hours ago
This little gem slipped right by the Gunny and probably many of our readers out there as well. A YUGE stunning loss for the Democrud Party of Obama, Pelosi, and other Jackasses. EXCERPT: “Republicans in Pennsylvania gave President Trump and the national party a shot in the arm Tuesday, delivering three special state House elections to the GOP, including one district won by Hillary Clinton in 2016. While all three seats had been held by Republicans, the 18th District seat in Bucks County was expected to turn Democrat and confirm the Democratic swing that gave Clinton a 9-point win in... more »

Witch Hunt: The Storm is Upon Us

Hadenoughalready at 'Nox & Friends - 11 hours ago
Where We Go 1 We Go All 3/20/2020 ~Looks like the tide has finally turned and those who thought they had the world by the tail have realized that what they caught was themselves, in public and on camera, acting as the Satan-loving heathens they truly are. HEA

Tucker: What will higher education look like after coronavirus?

Hardnox at 'Nox & Friends - 11 hours ago
An entire nation has just been shown that it’s possible to deliver higher education in an entirely different way: online. This is certainly a silver lining. ~ Hardnox

Sunshine Week Round-Up, Ways to Strengthen the Presidential Records Act, COVID-19 Transparency Resources, and More: FRINFORMSUM 3/20/2020

Lauren Harper at UNREDACTED - 11 hours ago
Sunshine Week Round-Up GAO Report Released Today marks the end of this year’s Sunshine Week, the annual, week-long celebration of access to information. To mark the occasion, Senators Patrick Leahy, Charles Grassley, Dianne Feinstein, and John Cornyn, together with House Oversight Chair Carolyn Maloney, released the results of the first of two GAO reports on agency […]

New York Joins California in Locking Down Against Coronavirus

AP News at Snopes.com - 11 hours ago
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced he was directing all workers in nonessential business to stay home and banned gatherings statewide.

The Best-Case And Worst-Case Outcome For The Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
*DNYUZ:* *The Best-Case Outcome for the Coronavirus, and the Worst* Here’s the grimmest version of life a year from now: More than two million Americans have died from the new coronavirus, almost all mourned without funerals. Countless others have died because hospitals are too overwhelmed to deal adequately with heart attacks, asthma and diabetic crises. The economy has cratered into a depression, for fiscal and monetary policy are ineffective when people fear going out, businesses are closed and tens of millions of people are unemployed. A vaccine still seems far off, immunity a... more »

Reducing One Source of a Potential Election Meltdown

RPildes at Lawfare - 11 hours ago
An absentee ballot. Even before the arrival of the coronavirus, I was frequently asked what I saw as the biggest sources of a potential systemic crisis for the fall election—in particular, those risks there might still be time to mitigate. My answer has now become even more urgent, given that the pandemic might well lead many states to enact no-excuse absentee balloting (what some call “vote by mail”) or for Congress to do so for the entire country. One of the biggest risks arises from a new phenomenon: a very large number of ballots now do not arrive or are not counted until well... more »

JULIAN R. WILLIAMS

cmaadmin at Diverse - 11 hours ago
*JULIAN R. WILLIAMS* has been appointed the University of South Carolina’s first vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. Most recently vice president of inclusion and diversity at George Mason University, Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from Michigan State University.

SONJA S. WATSON

cmaadmin at Diverse - 11 hours ago
*SONJA S. WATSON* has been named dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Currently associate dean of academic affairs for the College of Liberal Arts and an associate professor of Spanish at the University of Texas at Arlington, Watson holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from William & Mary as well as a Ph.D. in Hispanic literature from the University of Tennessee.

KATHRIN ENGISCH

cmaadmin at Diverse - 11 hours ago
*KATHRIN ENGISCH* has been named interim dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at Wright State University. Interim dean from 2015 to 2016 and associate dean from 2012 to 2015, Engisch is an associate professor of neuroscience, cell biology and physiology. She holds a bachelor’s in chemistry from Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. in neural science from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

DORSEY SPENCER JR.

cmaadmin at Diverse - 11 hours ago
*DORSEY SPENCER JR.* has been appointed dean of students at Colgate University. Currently director of administration in the office of the vice president for student affairs at Florida State University, Spencer holds a bachelor’s degree from Temple University, a master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Ph.D. from Florida State University.

ROSITA SANDS

cmaadmin at Diverse - 11 hours ago
*ROSITA SANDS* has been named dean of the School of Fine and Performing Arts at Columbia College in Chicago. Previ-ously chair of the department of music and executive director of the Center for Black Music Research at the college, Sands has served as the school’s interim dean since 2018. She holds a doctorate in education.

KATIE CONBOY

cmaadmin at Diverse - 11 hours ago
*KATIE CONBOY* has been named president of St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana. Currently provost and senior vice president at Simmons University in Boston, Conboy has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Kansas as well as a Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Notre Dame.

ANNMARIE CAÑO

cmaadmin at Diverse - 11 hours ago
*ANNMARIE CAÑO* has been appointed dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Currently associate provost for faculty development and faculty success at Wayne State University in Detroit, Caño holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Princeton University as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D. in psychology from Stony Brook University.

Explainer: Social distancing to self isolation; what about seniors?; and how do we know there’s not community spread of COVID in Nova Scotia?

Tim Bousquet at Halifax Examiner - 12 hours ago
The Halifax Examiner is providing all COVID-19 coverage for free. Social distancing? Self-isolating? What does it all mean? What should I be doing? Here’s how the province’s chief medical officer, Dr. Robert Strang, has explained how we should be acting. I’ve transcribed Strang’s comments at a press conference Wednesday, only slightly editing for clarity. “It’s […]

Gavin Newsom Rose To The Occasion-- While Trump Is Looking For Ways To Use The Cover Of The Pandemic Emergency To Push The Country Further Right

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 12 hours ago
I'm not a big Gavin Newsom fan-- to put it mildly-- but he finally did what every governor needs to do and what that dumbass, predator in the White House needs to do, to *begin* the process that will flatten the curve enough to actually confront the pandemic in the U.S Newsom issued the statewide stay-at-home order that could save millions of lives. It took guts, guts other governors-- not to mention the cowardly Trump-- have not exhibited. Half steps won't do it. As Singapore and Taiwan showed (and perhaps China), total societal shutdowns work; half steps, like in Italy and Spain... more »

The Battle Against Disinformation Is Global

David Mikkelson at Snopes.com - 12 hours ago
Disinformation-spewing online bots and trolls from halfway around the world are continuing to shape local and national debates by spreading lies online on a massive scale.

Lessons from Nigeria in Responding to Coronavirus

ABUJA, Mar 20 (IPS) - Dr. Ifeanyi Nsofor is a medical doctor, the CEO of EpiAFRIC, Director of Policy and Advocacy for Nigeria Health WatchCoronavirus is now a pandemic and the World Health Organization considers Europe as its new epicenter. Italy, Spain and France are on lockdown and several nations are banning travelers from countries where cases are on the rise. Read the full story, “Lessons from Nigeria in Responding to Coronavirus”, on globalissues.org →

Thirsting for Water Security?

BERLIN, Germany, Mar 20 (IPS) - This article is to commemorate World Water Day on March 22 Inge Kaul is Senior Fellow, Hertie School, Berlin and Non-resident Senior Fellow, center for Global development, Washington, DC. Comments are welcome and can be sent to: contact@ingekaul.netWater is essential and indispensable for life on earth. We know that; and many of us have perhaps heard, written and uttered these words themselves a ‘million' times. Read the full story, “Thirsting for Water Security?”, on globalissues.org →

Never Give up on Women’s Rights – Edna Ismail

NEW YORK, Mar 20 (IPS) - For Dr Edna Adan Ismail maternal health and midwifery is deeply personal. In an interview with Women Deliver Young Leader Musu Bakoto Sawo, Ismail recalls her mother's devasting experiences which impacted on her own life's choices. Read the full story, “Never Give up on Women’s Rights – Edna Ismail”, on globalissues.org →

Could the Coronavirus Be a Biological Weapon in the Not-Too-Distant Future?

UNITED NATIONS, Mar 20 (IPS) - The devastating spread of the deadly coronavirus across every continent-- with the exception of Antarctica-- has triggered a conspiracy theory on social media: what if the virus was really a biological weapon? Read the full story, “Could the Coronavirus Be a Biological Weapon in the Not-Too-Distant Future?”, on globalissues.org →

PH businesses become more statists or state worshippers

Bienvenido Oplas Jr at Government and Taxes - 12 hours ago
Today, almost all big business organizations, many professional organizations in the Philippines issued a collective statement that more government, more spending, more borrowings, more taxes are the solution to the economic dislocations when government itself issued lockdowns in Metro Manila, Luzon, and practically nationwide. After many of these businesses have shown they can dig deep in their pockets and forego many revenues while government has foregone not a single peso in tax cut. Like climate alarmism of more government, more UN to "save the planet", this Wuhan virus alarmism... more »

Talks on China-EU investment deal will continue, EC president says

bilaterals.org - 12 hours ago
20-Mar-2020 Delayed negotiations will ‘proactively proceed', Ursula von der Leyen tells Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in phone call.

5 Ways You Can Help Your Fellow Humans During The Coronavirus Madness

WTStaff at Waking Times - 12 hours ago
*Matt Agorist* - The Federal government implemented sweeping recommendations, bans, and of course, bailouts for the rich.

Detect, Deter and Annihilate: How the Police State Will Deal with a Coronavirus Outbreak

WTStaff at Waking Times - 12 hours ago
*John W. Whitehead* - What do zombies have to do with the U.S. government’s plans for dealing with a coronavirus outbreak?

LEGO Bricks Can Survive in Oceans for 1,300 Years, Study Shows

WTStaff at Waking Times - 12 hours ago
*Jordan Davidson* - It turns out, LEGO bricks can survive in ocean waters for up to 1,300 years, according to the study.

Childhood Stress Can Make You Ill as an Adult

WTStaff at Waking Times - 12 hours ago
*Dr. Mercola* - Prolonged stress can have life-threatening consequences not only for adults but also for children.

There Is A Lot Of Fear, Panic, And Anger Out There

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 12 hours ago
It has been a rough 12 hours. While I am in my little world of peace and tranquility hidden in the woods of the Laurentians in Quebec, there is panic, fear, anger, and worry among many people that I know out there in the real world. My girlfriend's youngest daughter works part time at a pharmacy to help her earn extra money while going to university, and is afraid to go to work today because she knows that it it is only a question of time before those who are really sick start showing up to buy pain killers and flu medicine (I told her to go to work to assess the situation, and if i... more »

2 US Republican Senators -Burr & Loeffler- Reportedly Dumped Stocks After Coronavirus Briefing, While Burr & Trump Publicly Expressed Confidence in US Stocks in Face of Coronavirus; Burr Warned Businessmen at Exclusive Club

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 12 hours ago
And, how many more members of Congress will be caught? How many in Trump’s administration? They should require Congress to … Continue reading →

Inmate Release Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Exposes Tyranny of America’s For Profit Prisons

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 12 hours ago
[image: prison]As counties across the country move to release prisoners to prevent massive COVID-19 outbreaks behind bars, America is getting a lesson in the prison industrial complex.

3 ways the coronavirus pandemic is changing who we are

Arie Kruglanski, Professor of Psychology, University of Maryland at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 12 hours ago
The coronavirus pandemic alters who we are, writes a psychologist. It affects how we think, how we relate to others and what we value.

The battle against disinformation is global

Scott Shackelford, Associate Professor of Business Law and Ethics; Director, Ostrom Workshop Program on Cybersecurity and Internet Governance; Cybersecurity Program Chair, IU-Bloomington, Indiana University at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 12 hours ago
A scholar who has reviewed the efforts of nations around the world to protect their citizens from foreign interference says there is no magic solution, but there's plenty to learn and do.

The pandemic leads to an explosion in firearms and ammunition sales

Peter at Bayou Renaissance Man - 12 hours ago
I'm frankly astonished at the sudden, huge increase in demand for firearms and ammunition as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Gun shops are reporting land-office business, and ammunition vendors - even the largest online-only operations - are so swamped by sudden, massive orders that they're running out of stock. Some sample headlines: - Fears Over Coronavirus Pandemic Driving Up Gun Sales - It's not just toilet paper: People line up to buy guns, ammo over coronavirus concerns - Coronavirus triggers massive spike in firearms and ammunition sales - Crime Craze: P... more »

Jihadist group planned attacks against Russian forces in Syria: report

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:30 P.M.) – The jihadist rebels were planning to carry out attacks against the Russian Armed Forces in Idlib, sources from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) said this week. According to the sources, jihadist groups were planning ambushes along the M-4 Highway (Aleppo-Latakia Highway), as well as attacks behind enemy lines in Aleppo, […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Breaking: Putin and Assad discuss Idlib developments

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:10 P.M.) – Russian President Vladimir Putin phoned his Syrian counterpart Bashar Al-Assad to discuss the ongoing developments in the Idlib Governorate and wish all Syrian Muslims observing Al-Isra’a wal-Maraj (Prophet Muhammad’s Night Journey) a blessed weekend. “President Assad received a phone call from the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Turkish drone destroyed by Russian-made air defense system found in Idlib: photo

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:00 P.M.) – The Anna News Agency released a new photo this week that showed the remains of a Turkish drone that was shot down by a Russian-made air defense system in Syria. In the image released, the two field reporters are photographed with the remains of the Turkish drone, but the type […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Russian military kicks off naval exercises off Syrian coast

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
The Russian Black Sea Fleet’s frigate Admiral Essen, performing tasks in the Mediterranean Sea, conducted a number of exercises during its march, the Fleet’s press service said. “In accordance with the training plan, the crew practiced the tactics of fighting alleged enemy’s surface ships at sea by a solitary ship and ensuring air defense,” the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Militants cutoff of strategic M-4 Highway once again: video

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:45 P.M.) – The militant forces in the Idlib Governorate have once again cutoff the strategic M-4 Highway (Aleppo-Latakia Highway), blocking both the Russian and Turkish troops from conducting their agreed upon patrols. According to reports from the Idlib Governorate, the militant factions quickly moved to cutoff the M-4 Highway after it was […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Head of Lebanese military court steps down over Amer Al-Fakhoury’s release

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:30 P.M.) – The head of the Lebanese Military Court, Brigadier General Hussein ‘Abdullah, announced on Friday his decision to step down from this position after he issued a ruling that dismissed the criminal case against the former head of the infamous Khiam Prison and member of the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army, Amer […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Former Syrian Defense Minister passes away at 81

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:20 P.M.) – Former Syrian Defense Minister ‘Ali Mohammad Habib Mahmoud passed away on Friday, March 20th, the Syrian government announced shortly after learning about his death. According to reports, Mahmoud, who was from rural Tartous, passed away on Friday morning at the Al-Assad Hospital; he was 81-years-old at the time of his […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Trump refrained from launching,larger attack in Iraq over coronavirus

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 12 hours ago
NBC News has cited several unnamed US sources as saying on Thursday that the coronavirus pandemic prompted President Donald Trump last week to refrain from ordering a more aggressive response to an Iraqi paramilitary group’s recent attack on American troops in Iraq. The US sees Kataib Hezbollah as an Iranian proxy. According to the sources, […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Did Trump Tweet He’d Deny Stimulus Checks to Any Who Used #NotMyPresident?

Bethania Palma at Snopes.com - 12 hours ago
Fake Trump tweets were just the tip of the iceberg as misinformation swirled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington Post fact checking: Joe Biden doesn't mean what he says

trinko at Conversations about the obvious - 13 hours ago
In the last debate Joe Biden didn't want to lose any of the looney left voters to Bernie so Joe said that he too opposes any new fracking. But apparently he was lying, or having a "senior" moment, because his campaign and he have said in the past that he only opposes any new fracking on government owned land. However the WaPo "fact checkers" came to his rescue by saying that Joe was just "inaccurate" in what he said. Of course it's common practice for "fact checkers" to declare Trump to be lying even when he gets his facts straight because they disagree with how Trump interprets th... more »

Ryugu’s Clues to the Early Solar System

Paul Gilster at Centauri Dreams - 13 hours ago
Asteroid 162173 Ryugu, recently explored in depth by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft, is a C-type asteroid, rich in carbon. About a kilometer in diameter, it is evidently composed of highly porous material, and seems to have been formed by the agglomeration of fragments from a larger parent body that was broken apart by impacts. We learn […]

The Mutilated World Is Moved by the Nurses and Doctors : The Twelfth Newsletter (2020)

barovsky at The New Dark Age - 13 hours ago
19 March 2020 — Tricontinental Dear Friends, Greetings from the desk of the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. SARS-Co-2 or COVID-19 moves swiftly across the planet, leaving no region untouched. It is a powerful virus, with a long enough incubation period to hide the symptoms and therefore to gather more and more people in its deadly … Continue reading The Mutilated World Is Moved by the Nurses and Doctors : The Twelfth Newsletter (2020)

BioCubaFarma guarantees production of 22 medications for the treatment of Covid-19

barovsky at The New Dark Age - 13 hours ago
Although there is no preventive vaccine or specific treatment, at this time, for the new coronavirus SARS COV-2, which causes COVID-19, the Cuban pharmaceutical industry guarantees the production of proven, high efficacy medications, including recombinant human interferon alpha 2b, in addition to another group of drugs that are included in protocols for treating patients with this disease and the complications that may arise.

Income Tax Filing Deadline Moved to July 15 from April 15

AP News at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
The administration had announced earlier in the week that it would delay the payments, a move that Mnuchin said would leave $300 billion in the economy at a critical time.

A Pot Shop at Your Door: Home Delivery Surges Amid Outbreak

AP News at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
Marijuana users are on a buying binge, as they stock up for potential quarantines or simply light up in search of relief during anxious times and government lockdowns.

Don't Panic: In the last 21 days 0.09% of deaths in America were due to coronavirus

trinko at Conversations about the obvious - 13 hours ago
In the last 21 days about 162,000 Americans have died. Of those 150 were due to COVID 19. If we panic and let the economy tank because of coronavirus a lot more will die due to being unable to afford medical care or because of depression over losing their life savings. The reality is that once the epidemic ends, probably in a month or two, the vast majority of Americans will be untouched in any way worse than what they'd go through during a normal flu season. But if we trash the entire economy the suffering will go on for years. Short term restrictions are fine so long as people re... more »

Coronavirus Shows The Precautionary Principle Blocking Science Advances Has Failed - We Need To Stop It

Hank Campbell at Science 2.0 blogs - 13 hours ago
California Governor Gavin Newsom has gone just this side of declaring martial law due to a .000008 risk of death from COVID-19. His promotion of panic has led to depletion of essential goods nationwide. With 40,000,000 people and the fifth largest economy in the the world (if it were its own country), California can deplete the nation's short-term stores easily. And has. Forget survey results about equality, social justice, and kindness, in reality America's most progressive state is just as greedy and selfish as anyone when it comes to behavior. read more

Halifax Transit will cut service by 30% on Monday

Tim Bousquet at Halifax Examiner - 13 hours ago
News 1. Daily update I’ll be reporting on the daily updates from the province for the duration. Here was yesterday afternoon’s: • There are two more positive COVID-19 cases in Nova Scotia, bringing the total to 14. Both of the new cases are travel-related. One of the 14 people has recently been hospitalized; “they are […]

Democrat Newsom's strange idea of what's essential

trinko at Conversations about the obvious - 13 hours ago
Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom has just put the entire state of California on lockdown. That's not necessarily a bad thing but just what Newsom has defined as the exceptions are revealing. In addition to the standard stuff--gas stations, grocery stores, people who run nuclear reactors-- abortion mills and weed dispensaries are considered "essential". Given that both types of stores are highly likely to be places where the coronavirus could spread it seems odd. But what it's really saying is that Newsom, and Democrat politicians in general, think that killing babies and getting hig... more »

“We Gotta Find Something” — Cops Fist Bump After Planting Weed on Innocent Man

Jack Burns at The Free Thought Project - 13 hours ago
[image: drugs]Two NYPD Staten Island cops were caught on camera on multiple occasions planting drugs on suspects and were allowed to keep their jobs and supposedly keep planting drugs on innocent people to feed the prison industrial complex.

All non-essential travel to 76 remote NT communities banned

Jano Gibson at Just In - 13 hours ago
All non-essential travel to 76 Indigenous communities in the NT will be banned under new travel restrictions that may also require remote residents to self-isolate before returning home

Australian jogger faces deportation after allegedly violating Beijing's coronavirus quarantine

Zena Chamas And Bang Xiao at Just In - 13 hours ago
An Australian woman is facing deportation after Beijing authorities cancelled her visa for allegedly breaking a mandatory 14-day coronavirus quarantine by jogging outside her apartment.

Why Tom Cotton and Others Are Right To Question Where Coronavirus Started

Michael Rubin at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Michael Rubin* *Health, * History tells us that such questions are not out of bounds. Here's why. There is a bizarre tendency among the commentariat, especially in the media, to try to absolve U.S. competitors of mistakes or ills while applying a different standard to the United States. The latest involves the origin of the coronavirus. Journalists came down hard on Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) for listing a number of possibilities about the virus’ origin, including that it could have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. I wrote at the time that, whatever its origins, the p... more »

Everyone Needs A Wingman: The XQ-58A Valkyrie Is Ready To Accompany U.S. F-35s

Michael Peck at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Michael Peck* *Security, * A UCAV will only be as good as its AI. *Key point:* Or is this all just hype? What’s not to like about a robot wingman? There’s a lot of buzz about the first flight of an unmanned U.S. Air Force drone, designed to accompany manned combat aircraft into battle, that many believe will herald a new age of aerial warfare. Looking at a photo of the XQ-58A Valkyrie, and it’s easy to believe that something has changed. Today’s drones, such as the MQ-9 Reaper, are goofy-looking airplanes with fat noses, old-fashioned propellers and a cruising speed not much ... more »

Your Mall Could Close: How Coronavirus Could Kill Retail Stores

Anthony Fensom at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Anthony Fensom* *economy, * Airlines, cafes, hotels, restaurants and theaters are shutting down as COVID-19 infects the global retail sector. As shoppers shut their wallets, a consumer-driven global recession could be the next threat posed by the pandemic. Airlines, cafes, hotels, restaurants and theaters are shutting down as COVID-19 infects the global retail sector. As shoppers shut their wallets, a consumer-driven global recession could be the next threat posed by the pandemic. The latest U.S. Commerce report showed U.S. retail sales for February falling by 0.5 percent, the... more »

Is Africa Really Ready for a Massive Coronavirus Outbreak?

Akebe Luther King Abia at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Akebe Luther King Abia* *Public Health, Africa* [image: Reuters] Despite having only a few cases, Africa needs to be better prepared. The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, recently declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, has taken the world by surprise. The good news is that tremendous scientific and technological advances have permitted scientists to understand a lot about this virus in a short amount of time. Within just two months of the first case, the causative virus has been identified, its genetic makeup has been determined, and detection meth... more »

New Antibodies Study May Lead to a Solution to the Coronavirus Outbreak

Glenda Mary Davison at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Glenda Mary Davison* *Public Health, World* [image: Reuters] Here's what researchers are doing to find a solution. COVID-19, which first emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019, is relentlessly sweeping across the world. The scale of the epidemic has caused chaos and led to the World Health Organisation declaring it a pandemic in early February 2020. Understanding the virus is the preoccupation of scientists who are trying to unravel its mysteries as a first step to finding ways to stop the disease spreading, and to finding a vaccine. On a daily basis scientists are finding o... more »

Could the World Stop for 6 Months Thanks to Coronavirus?

Joel Miller at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Joel Miller* *Public Health, Oceania* A breakdown of how this number was derived. Scott Morrison yesterday warned Australians will face at least six months of disturbance to our day-to-day lives as we navigate the coronavirus pandemic. Social distancing measures such as restrictions on large group gatherings and events won’t just be in place until next week or the week after. But where does that six month number come from? It’s a combination of modelling and simulation using observational data from the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, and historical data from past pandemics. *Pa... more »

How This One Missile May Have Won the Yom Kippur War for Israel

Charlie Gao at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Charlie Gao* *History, Middle East* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2006%3Anewsml_GM1DTBKYVDAA&share=true] Is it true? *Key point:* Technical differences between weapon systems matter. Here is a tale of how one missile's performance could impact who wins and who dies. Israel’s 1973 war, otherwise known as the Yom Kippur War, cemented the country’s reputation as a military juggernaut in the region. Despite efforts by Arab armies to modernize and reform their military forces, the Israel Defense Forces scored a decisive military victory, repelling... more »

Forget Coronavirus: 10 Big Mix-Ups About the Greatest Pandemic in History

Richard Gunderman at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Richard Gunderman* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] In the pandemic of 1918, between 50 and 100 million people are thought to have died, representing as much as 5 percent of the world’s population. Pandemic: It’s a scary word. But the world has seen pandemics before, and worse ones, too. Consider the influenza pandemic of 1918, often referred to erroneously as the “Spanish flu.” Misconceptions about it may be fueling unfounded fears about COVID-19, and now is an especially good time to correct them. In the pandemic of 1918, between 50 and 100 million people are thought to ... more »

The U.S. Military Needs New Tactics for the F-35 Stealth Fighter. It’s Been Here Before

David Axe at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*David Axe* *Security, * The U.S. military’s new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter can’t turn fast enough to defeat a much older F-16 in mock air combat, according to one official test pilot report. So how will F-35s — on track to be the U.S. Air Force’s most numerous fighter — survive in battle against foes flying much more nimble Russian and Chinese jets? The U.S. military’s new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter can’t turn fast enough to defeat a much older F-16 in mock air combat, according to one official test pilot report. So how will F-35s — on track to be the U.S. Air Force’s most numero... more »

Coronavirus Is Coming for Russia

Stratfor Worldview at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Stratfor Worldview* *Economics, Europe* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2014%3Anewsml_GM1EAC11FY301&share=true] What emergency measures might Moscow take? The current crisis caused by low oil prices and COVID-19 bolsters skeptical perceptions of Russia's 2020 growth forecast. With no revenues entering the country's National Wealth Fund at current oil prices, financing for Russian President Vladimir Putin's much-hyped social spending plan could become impossible to carry out. Growing inflation, rising prices and declining purchasing power are al... more »

Coronavirus Help Is Coming: Military Field Hospitals Could Start Setting Up Soon

David Axe at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*David Axe* *Health, * But how much help is uncertain: What the field hospitals probably can’t do is directly treat coronavirus patients, most of whom would require isolation that the tent-based field hospitals aren’t equipped for. U.S. Military Sealift Command has activated both of its gargantuan hospital ships and is deploying one each to New York City and Seattle starting in late March 2020 in order to help relieve pressure on civilian hospitals in both cities that are struggling to handle thousands of coronavirus patients. The activations of the hospital ships *Comfort *and *... more »

UFOs vs. F-14 Tomcats and More: 10 Craziest Shoot-Downs in Military History

David Axe at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*David Axe* *Security, * A partial list of the oddest aerial combat victories of the modern era. On Sept. 25, 2013, an Afghan air force MD-530F helicopter crewed by an Afghan student pilot and his American instructor touched down on a hilltop near Shindand air base, in western Afghanistan, as part of routine training. An Improvised Explosive Device exploded, wrecking the copter and badly injuring the two crew. A U.S. airman coming to the rescue “faced a scene of broken bones, blood near the burning aircraft,” according to a U.S. Air Force report. “The location of the IED on top ... more »

Study: Only 6.5 Percent of U.S. Households Have a Landline

Ethen Kim Lieser at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Ethen Kim Lieser* *Technology, * Millennials might have a hard time believing this, but there was a time when an actual cassette tape-recorded phone messages. And what was this cassette tape recording device connected to? Yes, it was a landline phone. Millennials might have a hard time believing this, but there was a time when an actual cassette tape-recorded phone messages. And what was this cassette tape recording device connected to? Yes, it was a landline phone. Ahh the memories. Today, however, these landline phones are going the way of dinosaurs, and will likely be total... more »

The Latest Casualty in the Coronavirus Pandemic: Journalism in China

Dean Cheng at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Dean Cheng* *Security, * For Beijing, the situation presents a unique opportunity to shield from the world what goes on within its own borders. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the People’s Republic of China has taken the opportunity to further close off the rest of the world’s view of its internal behavior. Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a declaration Tuesday that expels journalists from The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. Chinese officials have ordered these reporters to hand in their journalist visas and permits within... more »

Tech Mystery: Whatever Happened To TiVo?

Ethen Kim Lieser at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Ethen Kim Lieser* *Technology, * In the late 1990s, it was indeed hard to find anyone who didn’t know about TiVo’s pioneering DVR set-top boxes. It was the talk of the town. In the late 1990s, it was indeed hard to find anyone who didn’t know about TiVo’s pioneering DVR set-top boxes. It was the talk of the town. Instead of using those bulky VCRs and costly VHS tapes, the entire process became digital, which enabled new personal interactions with this newfound technology. Pretty soon, everyone was bragging about how they could pause live TV, rewind or skip those annoying commerc... more »

"How It Really Is"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 13 hours ago

WATCH: Cops Drag Innocent Elderly Man in Robe from Home at Gunpoint, Smash Him to the Ground

Jack Burns at The Free Thought Project - 13 hours ago
[image: man]An elderly Kentucky man was dragged from his home at gunpoint and violently thrown to the ground after his mentally ill wife made a false 911 call.

COVID-19 and Medical Martial Law

A Political Junkie at Viable Opposition - 13 hours ago
On March 16, 2020, the French government of President Emanuel Macron decided to take very firm measures in its battle against the COVID-19 virus. This measure follows the third phase March 14, 2020 announcement that all places that are open to the public and that are not deemed essential services (food shops, pharmacies, service stations, banks, press outlets and essential public services) be closed until further notice. The most measure includes a prohibition on travel except in certain cases and requires residents of France to fill out a form that they must present to law enforc... more »

"Strength and Weakness"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 13 hours ago
*"Strength and Weakness"* by Jim Kunstler "Happy Colorectal Awareness Month, everybody ­- in case you’re wondering why it feels like fate shoved a four-by-four up your nether region where the sun don’t shine. Millions around the country must be stunned at how bad this suddenly is. And every new morning seems worse than the last: Friday the Thirteenth meets Groundhog Day. Jobs and incomes instantly gone. Businesses staring into the abyss. Retirements vaporizing. Everyone stuck home alone with nothing to think about but going broke and hungry. And the final indignity: the possibility... more »

Tulsi Gabbard Ends her 2020 Presidential Campaign; Endorses Joe Biden

James Murphy at rss - 13 hours ago
[image: tulsi-gabbard-ends-her-2020-presidential-campaign-endorses-joe-biden] Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) officially ended her campaign on Thursday. And in a surprise move, she threw her support behind the Democrats’ establishment candidate, Joe Biden.

OSEP Fast Facts: Children Identified with Autism

Joyce Ghen at Children's Health Defense - 14 hours ago
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs has put together these demographics and “Fast Facts” about children around the country identified with Autism. An interactive and accessible version is also available. The post OSEP Fast Facts: Children Identified with Autism appeared first on Children's Health Defense.

The Pros and Cons of Planting Trees To Address Global Warming

Yves Smith at naked capitalism - 14 hours ago
Why planting more trees is not a climate change magic bullet.

"Covid-19 Pandemic Updates As Available"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago
*"Covid-19 Pandemic Updates As Available"* *MAR 20, 2020 9:04 AM: *"Italy Declares 'Martial Law', Uses Army To Enforce Lockdown, As Too Many Citizens Defy Gov't: Live Updates" *MAR 19, 2020 1:24 PM: '*Italy Death Toll Overtakes China, NYC's First Covid-19 'Cluster' Emerges In Brooklyn: Live Updates" *Thu, 03/19/2020 - 11:30: *"What Is Our Country Going To Look Like If Millions Of Americans Start Dying From COVID-19?" *MAR 19, 2020 8:52 AM: *"Covid-19 Deaths In Italy On Track To Pass China As More Countries Close Borders; Confirmed US Cases Climb 50%: Live Updates"

Chinese Swimmer Sun Yang Is Being Falsely Punished

Rick STERLING at OrientalReview.org - 14 hours ago
Sun Yang is an Olympic Gold medalist and world record holding swimmer. He was recently ruled to be guilty of an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) and banned from competing for eight years. Unless his appeal to overturn the decision is successful, this will end the swimming career of the 28 […]

Remaking the World

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 14 hours ago
The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing the Trudeau government to rebuild the Unemployment System we once had. Tom Walkom writes: In 1995, Jean Chrétien’s Liberal government effectively gutted what it by then was calling Employment Insurance, reducing payouts and making it much more difficult for the jobless to qualify for benefits. In one blow, the federal government rendered irrelevant one of Canada’s premier social programs. That irrelevance only grew as governments across the country allowed businesses to avoid payroll taxes by treating their workers as self-employed, independent con... more »

"America Waits for the Feds to Rescue the Coronavirus-Stricken Economy"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago
*"America Waits for the Feds to Rescue * *the Coronavirus-Stricken Economy"* By Bill Bonner "The officials have alerted us to ensure we have a month’s worth of necessities. Zelda and I have stocked up on red wine, whiskey, rum, vermouth, absinthe, white wine, sherry, gin, and lord, if we need it, brandy. Please pray for us." – Fictional letter from F. Scott Fitzgerald, quarantined in the South of France, by Nick Farriella SAN MARTIN, ARGENTINA – "The fever gets worse. London closes subway stations. Friends in France say visits from children have been forbidden. Seattle, says The Wa... more »

Russia and Turkey "Flexible Rivals"

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 14 hours ago
*Well thank goodness for that!* *Flexibility rather then hostilities.Is that a bad thing? * *Anyone in a long term relationship understands reasonable flexibility is better then endless fighting.* *Oped below ties nicely in with the earlier post from today* - Earlier Today- Maria Zakharova : Russian/Turkish Agreement Annoys Washington *From Carnegie Moscow* *"Russia and Turkey are allies once again. On March 15, the two sides completed their first joint military patrol along Syria’s M4 highway." * - *Flashback :* *Russia and Turkey Complete First Joint Patrol of the M... more »

This Year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee has been Canceled

AP News at Snopes.com - 14 hours ago
Scripps said it would try to reschedule the bee for later this year but it did not commit to a new date.

No More Business as Usual

adam at LaRouchePAC Feed - 14 hours ago
[image: Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. This map was updated at 3/20/2020, 8:43:03 AM EDT.] The COVID-19 pandemic forcefully draws the world’s sometimes reluctant attention to the true state of human physical economy, to the present state of man’s ability to “be fruitful and multiply, [to] fill the earth and subdue it.” The overripe, globalized trans-Atlantic financial system is sinking, as leaks and fissures appear more rapidly than central banks can plug them with money. To address the first cr... more »

Time to Get Serious About Burying the Corpse of the Neoliberal, Geopolitical World Order

David at LaRouchePAC Feed - 14 hours ago
Time to Get Serious About Burying the Corpse of the Neoliberal, Geopolitical World Order Video of Time to Get Serious About Burying the Corpse of the Neoliberal, Geopolitical World Order The anti-China sentiment continues to hamper tendencies to cooperate in the effort to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the bankrupt, global financial system continues to fall apart at the seams prompting a call by Helga Zepp-LaRouche to stop trading an implement an orderly bankruptcy reorganization.

Fleeing Coronavirus for Vacation Homes, Some Find Welcome Mat Yanked

AP News at Snopes.com - 14 hours ago
Debates are raging in many shore and mountain towns as second homeowners from major cities seek shelter.

Most Renters Will Not Receive Protections Under White House Proposal

AP News at Snopes.com - 14 hours ago
Roughly 43 million households rented their homes in 2019, according to the U.S. Census, and they tend to be more economically vulnerable than their homeowner counterparts.

What happens with virus in prisons?

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 14 hours ago
By Noelle Hanrahan Prisons are a breeding ground for these kinds of diseases and once it its it will spread like wildfire; we are anticipating a devastating infection rate. Now is the time for Prison Abolition. People are going to die if we do not decarcerate right now. That means prisoners and guards alike are affected. Abolition has never been more necessary. We are all connected. Prison walls are an illusion, the create the false impression of separation. Prisoners and guards are at much greater risk than the general population. Our reaction to the pandemic must be equal t... more »

China Locked in Hybrid War with US

Geopolitics101 at Covert Geopolitics - 14 hours ago
Fallout from #Covid-19 outbreak puts Beijing and Washington on a collision course

Loyalty? From a Politician?

LL at Virtual Mirage - 14 hours ago
Do you expect loyalty from somebody who can't even give you honesty? And I'm not talking about the partner who did you wrong, took your money, your truck and your dog and headed south (cue a country song). On January 24, members of the US Senate received a classified briefing about the ECONOMIC threat posed by the Chinese Plague/COVID-19. According to public records, the following US Senators dumped stocks, taking a profit: Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) Senator Kelly Loefner (R-GA) Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) Senator Jim Hofe (R-OK) You don't have to look... more »

Senators Sold Stock Before Steep Market Losses from Virus

AP News at Snopes.com - 14 hours ago
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., sold as much as $1.7 million in stocks just before the market dropped in February amid fears about the coronavirus epidemic.

40 Million Californians Ordered to Stay Home to Halt Virus

AP News at Snopes.com - 14 hours ago
California's 40 million residents should stay home indefinitely and venture outside only for essential jobs, errands and some exercise, Gov. Gavin Newsom said, warning that the coronavirus threatens to overwhelm the state's medical system.

Extraordinary and Ordinary Government Speech

Mark Graber at Balkinization - 15 hours ago
For the Symposium on Helen Norton, The Government's Speech and the Constitution (Cambridge University Press, 2019). The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions are the best known instances of government speech in antebellum America. Both declared that the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional. James Madison, the author of the Virginia Resolutions, maintained that the Sedition Act “exercise[s . . . a power not delegated by the Constitution, but on the contrary expressly and forbidden by one of the amendments thereto.” Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Kentucky resolutions, ass... more »

Brexit: UK 'will not seek trade talks extension' despite Barnier having COVID-19

bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
20-Mar-2020 London insists it won't request an extension to EU-UK trade talks despite the EU's lead negotiator Michel Barnier announcing he has contracted COVID-19.

Le coronavirus révèle la fragilité de la mondialisation libérale

bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
20-Mar-2020 La crise actuelle peut agir comme révélateur des fragilités extrêmes de la mondialisation libérale et contribuer à sa condamnation.

PORTIONS OF THE RIGHT SWITCH FROM COVID-19 DENIALISM TO PROMOTION OF MIRACLE CURES

Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog - 15 hours ago
Every time I mention Jim Hoft's Gateway Pundit, I'm reminded that Hoft is widely known as "the stupidest man on the Internet." I don't believe it. I've been blogging since the Bush era. Back then, Gateway Pundit was just one of many reasonably well-known right-wing blogs. But others that seemed more prominent at the time have stopped publishing or gone into dormancy, while Gateway Pundit has 2.75 million unique visitors every month, or at least it did in January 2018, according to *The Washington Post.* If Hoft is stupid, he's stupid all the way to the bank. So what Gateway Pundit p... more »

Coronavirus pandemic: China and Cuba send medical teams, equipments and medicine to countries

barovsky at The New Dark Age - 15 hours ago
China and Cuba have stepped in with practical measures at international level amidst the near-collapse health care situation in a number of capitalist countries in the face of coronavirus pandemic.

Frustrated by a university’s lack of action, a journal retracts

Adam Marcus at Retraction Watch - 15 hours ago
Expression of concern, meet expression of frustration. Eight months ago, in the wake of skepticism about the data in a 2017 paper it had published, the Obstetrics & Gynecology issued an EoC about the article. At the time, the journal, an official title of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said it had contacted … Continue reading Frustrated by a university’s lack of action, a journal retracts

Coronavirus on the Nile : Chronicles of Friday 20/3/2020

egyptianchronicler@gmail.com (Zeinobia) at Egyptian Chronicles - 15 hours ago
Here are the latest developments and updates concerning Coronavirus in Egypt and Mideast as much as I can. The number of Coronavirus in Egypt reached Thursday to 256 including 7 deaths and 28 fully recovered cases.

Woolf’s Last Lines In "To The Lighthouse"

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
The last lines in Virginia Woolf’s *To The Lighthouse*: “It was done; it was finished. Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I have had my vision.” The exhaustion of the protagonist (Lily Briscoe), and perhaps the writer, is palpable in these two lines.

On The Myth of Cosmopolitanism

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
Cosmopolitanism preaches that people of all kinds of cultural backgrounds should feel equally at home in a nation. But human beings do not have the capacity to be at home everywhere. Truth is that many cultures are incompatible with each other and there is very little scope of unity and harmony between their people.

Dystopian Future Versus Dystopian Past

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
There are people who believe that the dystopian future has already arrived, that the enemies of their way of life have uprooted them from a golden past that would have been their life—they will make any sacrifice to take the world back, back to the golden past. But there are those who abhor the past which they believe was dystopian and which refuses to go away; they protest that they are being forced to live in a past to which they do not belong and they demand a future—any future, they think, will be better than the dystopian past which is devouring their present.

The Advanced & The Backward

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
Nature favors the economically and culturally disadvantaged. Communities that are mired in poverty, ignorance, and intractable conflicts have a high birth rate, while the advanced communities have a low birth rate. A community, it seems, can either produce the BMWs and iPhones or it can reproduce large number of children. There has never been a community that has achieved technological advancement and growth in its population at the same time. In case of a devastating global pandemic, it is the advanced communities that undergo lot of pain while for the backward communities there is... more »

Hope & Socialism

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
Humankind is hopeful, but it hopes without knowledge. Hope without knowledge entails spiritual bankruptcy; it entails a civilization’s premature old age, its temporary death. The popularity of socialism in the 21st century is a sign of the triumph of hope over knowledge.

On Frank Sinatra’s Opinion

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
"The best is yet to come!" —This is Frank Sinatra’s own opinion and not something written in stone. I think the best has already happened—the best is the gleaming specter of an impossible long-ago era that will never return. *#covid19*

Will to Self-immolation

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
If Nietzsche was living in the 21st century, he would have written a book called *Will to Self-immolation* (instead of the one that he actually wrote: *Will to Power*). The ones whom Nietzsche called “beasts,” have, in the 21st century, lost their lust for global power; they are plagued with pessimism and are terrified of the shadow of their own past achievements. Imagining cataclysms of one kind or another is their sole pastime. *#covid19*

On The Metaphysics of Lucretius

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
Stephen Greenblatt describes the metaphysics of Lucretius in a single 108-word paragraph in which every line points towards the word “atoms,” which appears at the very end. Here’s the paragraph from Greenblatt’s book *The Swerve: How the World Became Modern*: “That Lucretius and many others did more than simply associate themselves with Epicurus—that they celebrated him as godlike in his wisdom and courage—depended not on his social credentials but upon what they took to be the saving power of his vision. The core of his vision may be traced back to a single incandescent idea: that ... more »

On Nihilism

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
Nihilism is never inborn. It’s learned. It’s learned in the world’s best universities. It’s taught by the world’s best professors. It’s propagandized around the world by the world’s best media companies. But the final foot soldiers of nihilism are the world’s gullible masses.

On Mainstream Media

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
The mainstream media is the parrot that talks too much but flies too little. Most of them represent absolutely no values, they are thoroughly negative, but they enjoy a great power on our civilization—their power is similar to the power of a bandit or a tyrant. *#covid19*

Zeno’s Paradox & Progress Of Civilizations

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
Zeno’s paradox against movement is easily refuted; however, it can be used to draw some conclusions regarding progress of civilizations. The case can be made that no civilization founded with the aspiration of attaining moral value X can actually reach point X, because it must first cover half the distance between where it is and where it aspires to be, and before that, half of the half, and before that, half of the half of the half, and so on till infinity. This means that perfection is unattainable for any civilization and that all civilizations exhaust themselves in trying to ach... more »

The Politics Of Crisis

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
When people become convinced that the crisis they face is massive, their collective intelligence vanishes and they become conditioned to act according to blind instincts and reflexes. This is the seventh heaven for those who control the government, because, with the people transformed into unintelligent creatures, they are free to use the crisis as an excuse for advancing their own political agenda. They can redesign any political process or institution, pass new laws, impose new restrictions. The crisis has turned them into the god of the political system, the savior of the people,... more »

Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
I am thinking of Edgar Allan Poe’s story, "The Masque of the Red Death,” (published in 1842), in which Prince Prospero and many of his wealthy nobles try to save themselves from a dangerous plague by fortifying themselves in an abbey with high walls. They are having a wild revelry inside the abbey while the country’s population is succumbing to the plague. Unfortunately, the plague manages to enter the abbey in the form of a mysterious figure disguised as a Red Death. *#covid-19*

Is Freedom Of The Press Necessary?

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
When we think of freedom, we are apt to confine ourselves to freedom of the press. But this is because the press is telling us 24/7 that their freedom, and only their freedom, is a necessary condition for everyone’s freedom. They happily campaign for all sorts of restrictions on almost every other industry and on the general public, but they themselves want to enjoy an absolute freedom of speech; they want to be free to propagandize any kind of views, right or wrong, rational or irrational. Their attitude is indefensible. I no longer see freedom of press as a necessary condition for ... more »

Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorems And Philosophy

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
One of the philosophical implications of Kurt Gödel’s incompleteness theorems is that an all-inclusive definition of philosophical truth is not possible. The human brain has built-in limitations of its own, and there are several problems that it is incapable of solving. The obvious truths for which cogent proof is not possible are generally accepted by the philosophers as being prior to philosophy or axiomatic. But there can be a number of true statements which cannot be formally deduced from a given set of axioms and are neither provable nor refutable. It follows that philosophy is... more »

The Advantages Of Appeal To Authority

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
Appeal to authority (*argumentum ad verecundiam*) is a logical fallacy, but one that is quite useful in philosophical discussions. Citing something written in a book or paper by a popular scholar tends to shore up your own arguments, and that is why “appeal to authority” ranks among the commonly used logical fallacies—most people, who love to discuss philosophy, will be guilty of it.

Darwinianism Versus Classical Liberalism

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
Darwin’s theory of evolution is a challenge to the classical liberal movement. Instead of defining progress as the existence of free individuals in an environment of brotherhood and happiness, Darwinianism hypothesizes that progress entails the purge of all the unfit forms of life. If the Darwinian model of life on earth is true then we may draw the conclusion that all individuals are not equal or fit and that the purge of the individuals that are deemed unfit by the forces of nature is the very means by which space gets created for the rise of new types of species.

On External World

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
The existence of the external world cannot be proved by using philosophical arguments because the knowledge of its existence is prior to philosophy and serves as the basis for all philosophy.

On The Good & The Bad

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
Every idea will have good as well as bad consequences. There is no known way of introducing good ideas in society without the introduction of some kinds of evil. This implies that good and evil always go hand in hand and that a society free of evil is outside the bounds of possibility. Human nature is so mysterious that the notion of creating a perfect society, in which all is good and there is no evil, is not worth the price of the paper on which it has been printed.

Yoda's Version

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
*My version*: You lift weights when you want a workout; you lift a book when you want to learn philosophy. *Yoda’s version*: Workout you want, lift weights you will; philosophy you want, lift a book you will.

Don’t Feed Trolls

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
Edward Feser is being harried by trolls. In his post (on March 8, 2020), he says: “If someone seems to be a crank or otherwise not worth engaging with, then don’t engage with him. He may have nothing better to do, but surely you do… Sometimes I delete this garbage in the hope of saving the thread, but other times, by the time I see it, it is too late… Do your part! Don’t feed trolls!” In an early paragraph in the post, he notes: “[Trolling] is a continual problem, and sometimes bigger than it needs to be because of people who keep feeding trolls. Occasionally I have to ban people ou... more »

On The Hegelian Notion Of Civilization

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
As individuals grow to maturity, societies make progress from barbarism to civilization, but the civilizations are like snowflakes in the sense that no two civilizations are alike. If the term “civilization” is interpreted as an inexorable movement towards a single, unalterable, universal, and final form of society (as Hegel has envisioned in his Phenomenology of Spirit), then instead of moving towards civilization, society will regress into barbarism.

The Last Philosophy Book You’ll Ever Need

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
Imagine a philosophy book with the ghastly title: *The Last Philosophy Book You’ll Ever Need*. The title is ghastly, because it isn’t the last philosophy book that you’ll ever need. Philosophy is not a destination; it is a never-ending process of arguments and counterarguments, propositions and refutations; it is marked by chaos, conflict, and detours which result in unexpected theories. But modern philosophy has been motivated by the hope of writing the last philosophy book that humans will ever need. The Enlightenment philosophes wanted to write it; Hegel was convinced that he had... more »

Plato and His Enemies

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
It is impossible to visualize philosophy without the great figure of Plato. But there are three twentieth-century philosophers—Bertrand Russell, Karl Popper, and Ayn Rand—who have tried to destroy Plato by depicting him as the formidable enemy of reason and liberty. Russell refutes Plato in his *A History of Western Philosophy*, but he does not build a thorough case—that is something that Karl Popper does. In his *The Open Society and Its Enemies*, Popper indicts Plato as the father of modern totalitarianism. It is likely that Ayn Rand picked up her notion of Plato from her reading ... more »

On Excellence And Culture

Unknown at The Verma Report - 15 hours ago
The excellence that a nation achieves is directly linked to its culture. Another nation cannot achieve the same kind of excellence if its culture is different and if it’s not prepared to transform its culture. But cultural transformation is a time taking, divisive, destabilizing, and often a violent process, and the people in most nations are not up to the task. This implies that the excellence of nations with different cultures cannot be replicated for the creation of a perfect world, and that the world will always be divided between nations that are better managed and those that a... more »

"Economic Market Snapshot AM 3/20/20"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 15 hours ago
*AM 3/20/20, Updated as Available.* ◆ *March 20, 2020:* "Goldman Sachs warns data point to a historic and frankly apocalyptic surge in unemployment insurance claims, from current 281,000 to 2,250,000 in next week’s report." *03/20/2020 - 09:47: *"Stocks Plunge Into Red, Dow Dives Back Below 20k" *March 20, 2020: "*14 Million Americans Have Been Laid Off So Far Due To COVID-19" *Mar 20, 2020 12:34 AM:* “Will This Be ‘Just A Recession; Or Will It Be 'The Next Great Depression'?" ◆ *Perfect storm: "*A perfect storm is an event in which a rare combination of circumstances drastically a... more »

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Forefront of Promoting and Funding Coronavirus Vaccine

F. William Engdahl at Need To Know - 15 hours ago
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations are involved in all facets of the coronavirus pandemic including the promotion of RNA vaccines, which never have been approved for human use or to be safe. They also funded Moderna, the company that began vaccine trials on humans this week.

Maine Clinics Extend Birth Control Prescriptions for Fear of ‘Baby Boom’

Breitbart at Need To Know - 15 hours ago
A group of Maine abortion and birth-control clinics is extending contraception prescriptions for women by three months for fear more time at home due to the coronavirus will result in a “baby boom.”

Denmark Passes Law Enabling Forced Coronavirus Vaccinations

Summit News at Need To Know - 15 hours ago
Citizens who refuse to be tested for the coronavirus will face fines and potential prison time, and will be prevented from entering shops, grocery stores, public institutions and hospitals while also being restricted from using public transport.

Martial-Law Lockdown in France: Citizens Must Fill Out a Form Every Time They Leave Their Home

Newswars at Need To Know - 15 hours ago
Those without paperwork have to complete it on the spot and face fines if found lying about their activities. 100,000 extra police have been deployed to patrol streets and enforce the lockdown.

The President’s Legal Shell Game to Avoid Accountability

bberwick at Lawfare - 15 hours ago
President Trump disembarks Airforce One in Zurich. (Source: Flickr/Official White House Photo by Sheelah Craighead) It is a fundamental principle in our country that nobody is above the law, not even the president. This is not a new idea—it comes from the founding generation, which fought a war to escape from a king who legally “could do no wrong” and then tried to build “a government of laws, and not of men.” It is well documented that President Trump and his lawyers are engaged in a sustained assault on this principle. Again and again—in courts, in Congress and in public—they h... more »

"The Biggest Thing Since 1776 is Happening NOW… How the Coronavirus Will Spark the Greater Depression"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 15 hours ago
*"The Biggest Thing Since 1776 is Happening NOW… * *How the Coronavirus Will Spark the Greater Depression"* by International Man "*International Man:* Panicked people are emptying supermarket shelves and stockpiling toilet paper. Hand sanitizer is impossible to find anywhere. Is the impact of the fear and hysteria greater than the risk of the virus itself? *Doug Casey:* Yes, very much so. The virus itself is what we can call a first-order effect. I don’t want to spend much time talking about the flu itself because, even though worst-case numbers like a million deaths in the US are... more »

Latin American Airlines Leading Global Industry Downturn

Juan Martinez at The Rio Times - 15 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - In a sector ravaged by the coronavirus crisis, the losses of Latin American airlines have been even more significant. Five of the region's largest airlines - Latam Airlines, Go, Azul, Avianca and Volaris - lost US$12 (R¨60) billion in market value from late January until last Wednesday's close. These companies' […] The post Latin American Airlines Leading Global Industry Downturn appeared first on The Rio Times.

Automakers Close Plants in Brazil and Place 50,000 on Collective Holiday

Richard Mann at The Rio Times - 15 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Vehicle manufacturers have already announced that they will shut down their plants at the end of the month and have no idea when they will restart their operations, as this will depend on the situation in the country in relation to the epidemic of the novel coronavirus and market demand. […] The post Automakers Close Plants in Brazil and Place 50,000 on Collective Holiday appeared first on The Rio Times.

Federal Deputy Alexandre Frota Lodges Motion for Impeachment Against Bolsonaro

Lachlan Williams at The Rio Times - 15 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Federal Deputy Alexandre Frota lodged a motion for impeachment against President Jair Bolsonaro in the Chamber of Deputies on Thursday, March 19th. A fervent former Bolsonarist, Frota listed six crimes in the denunciation against the President. These are: crime of responsibility for calling a protest; crime against national safety, for […] The post Federal Deputy Alexandre Frota Lodges Motion for Impeachment Against Bolsonaro appeared first on The Rio Times.

Brazil’s Government to Allow Companies to Halve Hours and Wages

Richard Mann at The Rio Times - 15 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Jair Bolsonaro's government will allow companies to cut workers' wages by up to 50 percent amid the advancing coronavirus crisis. The initiative should be submitted to Congress through a Provisional Measure (MP). The Ministry of Economy states that the measure, which requires individual negotiation, will preserve jobs. "Offering companies and […] The post Brazil’s Government to Allow Companies to Halve Hours and Wages appeared first on The Rio Times.

Government Failure on a Grand Scale

Pierre Lemieux at Econlib - 15 hours ago
Any person or organization can make mistakes, including governmental organizations and the state itself. And, as the popular saying goes, it’s easy to criticize. The problem, however, is that governmental mistakes have much worse consequences than any individual error. It appears that the US government, just like the Chinese government, totally botched the initial response […] The post Government Failure on a Grand Scale appeared first on Econlib.

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Jenna Orkin at From the Wilderness' Peak Oil Blog - 15 hours ago
From Jenna Orkin Esper confirms Navy hospital ships won't treat coronavirus patients and will take weeks to deploy Asteroid Is Approaching Our Planet, According to NASA China Apologizes to Wife of Whistleblower Scientist Who Died of Corona Virus China COVID-19 study: blood type O are more resistant, type A are more susceptible to infection Tulsi Gabbard ends presidential run, endorses Biden Coronavirus updates: 2 members of U.S. Congress test positive, New York City cases double NYC Doctor: The Sky Is Falling China's coronavirus recovery is 'all fake,' whistleblowers and residents clai... more »

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