newswars--2020-05-22--NASA’s Curiosity Rover Finds Clues to Chilly Ancient Mars Buried in Rocks

By studying the chemical elements on Mars today — including carbon and oxygen — scientists can work backwards to piece together the history of a planet that once had the conditions necessary to support life .
Weaving this story , element by element , from roughly 140 million miles ( 225 million kilometers ) away is a painstaking process .
But scientists aren ’ t the type to be easily deterred .
Orbiters and rovers at Mars have confirmed that the planet once had liquid water , thanks to clues that include dry riverbeds , ancient shorelines , and salty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Curiosity Rover , scientists have found evidence for long-lived lakes .
They ’ ve also dug up organic compounds , or life ’ s chemical building blocks .
The combination of liquid water and organic compounds compels scientists to keep searching Mars for signs of past — or present — life .
Despite the tantalizing evidence found so far , scientists ’ understanding of Martian history is still unfolding , with several major questions open for debate .
For one , was the ancient Martian atmosphere thick enough to keep the planet warm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount of time necessary to sprout and nurture life ?
And the organic compounds : are they signs of life — or of chemistry that happens when Martian rocks interact with water and sunlight ?
In a recent Nature Astronomy report on a multi-year experiment conducted in the chemistry lab inside Curiosity ’ s belly , called Sample Analysis at Mars ( SAM ) , a team of scientists offers some insights to help answer these questions .
The team found that certain minerals in rocks at Gale Crater may have formed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have formed during a cold stage sandwiched between warmer periods , or after Mars lost most of its atmosphere and began to turn permanently cold .
Gale is a crater the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined .
It was selected as Curiosity ’ s 2012 landing site because it had signs of past water , including clay minerals that might help trap and preserve ancient organic molecules .
Indeed , while exploring the base of a mountain in the center of the crater , called Mount Sharp , Curiosity found a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meters ) thick that was deposited as mud in ancient lakes .
To form that much sediment an incredible amount of water would have flowed down into those lakes for millions to tens of millions of warm and humid years , some scientists say .
But some geological features in the crater also hint at a past that included cold , icy conditions .
“ At some point , Mars ’ surface environment must have experienced a transition from being warm and humid to being cold and dry , as it is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurred is still a mystery , ” says Heather Franz , a NASA geochemist based at NASA ’ s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt , Maryland .
Franz , who led the SAM study , notes that factors such as changes in Mars ’ obliquity and the amount of volcanic activity could have caused the Martian climate to alternate between warm and cold over time .
This idea is supported by chemical and mineralogical changes in Martian rocks showing that some layers formed in colder environments and others formed in warmer ones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the array of data collected by Curiosity so far suggests that the team is seeing evidence for Martian climate change recorded in rocks .
Carbon and oxygen star in the Martian climate story Franz ’ s team found evidence for a cold ancient environment after the SAM lab extracted the gases carbon dioxide , or CO2 , and oxygen from 13 dust and rock samples .
Curiosity collected these samples over the course of five Earth years ( Earth years vs. Mars years ) .
CO2 is a molecule of one carbon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with carbon serving as a key witness in the case of the mysterious Martian climate .
In fact , this simple yet versatile element is as critical as water in the search for life elsewhere .
On Earth , carbon flows continuously through the air , water , and surface in a well-understood cycle that hinges on life .
For example , plants absorb carbon from the atmosphere in the form of CO2 .
In return , they produce oxygen , which humans and most other life forms use for respiration in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carbon back into the air , again via CO2 , or into the Earth ’ s crust as life forms die and are buried .
Scientists are finding there ’ s also a carbon cycle on Mars and they ’ re working to understand it .
With little water or abundant surface life on the Red Planet for at least the past 3 billion years , the carbon cycle is much different than Earth ’ s .
“ Nevertheless , the carbon cycling is still happening and is still important because it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mars ’ ancient climate , ” says Paul Mahaffy , principal investigator on SAM and director of the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA Goddard .
“ It ’ s also showing us that Mars is a dynamic planet that ’ s circulating elements that are the buildings blocks of life as we know it.
” After Curiosity fed rock and dust samples into SAM , the lab heated each one to nearly 1,650 degrees Fahrenheit ( 900 degrees Celsius ) to liberate the gases inside .
By looking at the oven temperatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientists could tell what kind of minerals the gases were coming from .
This type of information helps them understand how carbon is cycling on Mars .
Various studies have suggested that Mars ’ ancient atmosphere , containing mostly CO2 , may have been thicker than Earth ’ s is today .
Most of it has been lost to space , but some may be stored in rocks at the planet ’ s surface , particularly in the form of carbonates , which are minerals made of carbon and oxygen .
On Earth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the air is absorbed in the oceans and other bodies of water and then mineralized into rocks .
Scientists think the same process happened on Mars and that it could help explain what happened to some of the Martian atmosphere .
Yet , missions to Mars haven ’ t found enough carbonates in the surface to support a thick atmosphere .
Nonetheless , the few carbonates that SAM did detect revealed something interesting about the Martian climate through the isotopes of carbon and oxygen stored in them .
Isotopes are versions of each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different chemical processes , from rock formation to biological activity , use these isotopes in different proportions , the ratios of heavy to light isotopes in a rock provide scientists with clues to how the rock formed .
In some of the carbonates SAM found , scientists noticed that the oxygen isotopes were lighter than those in the Martian atmosphere .
This suggests that the carbonates did not form long ago simply from atmospheric CO2 absorbed into a lake .
If they had , the oxygen isotopes in the rocks would have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air .
While it ’ s possible that the carbonates formed very early in Mars ’ history , when the atmospheric composition was a bit different than it is today , Franz and her colleagues suggest that the carbonates more likely formed in a freezing lake .
In this scenario , the ice could have sucked up heavy oxygen isotopes and left the lightest ones to form carbonates later .
Other Curiosity scientists have also presented evidence suggesting that ice-covered lakes could have existed in Gale Crater .
So where is all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Mars is puzzling , scientists say .
If there aren ’ t many of these minerals at Gale Crater , perhaps the early atmosphere was thinner than predicted .
Or maybe something else is storing the missing atmospheric carbon .
Based on their analysis , Franz and her colleagues suggest that some carbon could be sequestered in other minerals , such as oxalates , which store carbon and oxygen in a different structure than carbonates .
Their hypothesis is based on the temperatures at which CO2 was released from some samples inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but just right for oxalates — and on the different carbon and oxygen isotope ratios than the scientists saw in the carbonates .
Oxalates are the most common type of organic mineral produced by plants on Earth .
But oxalates also can be produced without biology .
One way is through the interaction of atmospheric CO2 with surface minerals , water , and sunlight , in a process known as abiotic photosynthesis .
This type of chemistry is hard to find on Earth because there ’ s abundant life here , but Franz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photosynthesis in the lab to figure out if it actually could be responsible for the carbon chemistry they ’ re seeing in Gale Crater .
On Earth , abiotic photosynthesis may have paved the way for photosynthesis among some of the first microscopic life forms , which is why finding it on other planets interests astrobiologists .
Even if it turns out that abiotic photosynthesis locked some carbon from the atmosphere into rocks at Gale Crater , Franz and her colleagues would like to study soil and dust from different parts of Mars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crater reflect a global picture .
They may one day get a chance to do so .
NASA ’ s Perseverance Mars rover , due to launch to Mars between July and August 2020 , plans to pack up samples in Jezero Crater for possible return to labs on Earth .

By studying the chemical elements on Mars today — including carbon and oxygen — scientists can work backwards to piece together the history of a planet that once had the conditions necessary to support life.
Weaving this story, element by element, from roughly 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) away is a painstaking process. But scientists aren’t the type to be easily deterred. Orbiters and rovers at Mars have confirmed that the planet once had liquid water, thanks to clues that include dry riverbeds, ancient shorelines, and salty surface chemistry. Using NASA’s Curiosity Rover, scientists have found evidence for long-lived lakes. They’ve also dug up organic compounds, or life’s chemical building blocks. The combination of liquid water and organic compounds compels scientists to keep searching Mars for signs of past — or present — life.
Despite the tantalizing evidence found so far, scientists’ understanding of Martian history is still unfolding, with several major questions open for debate. For one, was the ancient Martian atmosphere thick enough to keep the planet warm, and thus wet, for the amount of time necessary to sprout and nurture life? And the organic compounds: are they signs of life — or of chemistry that happens when Martian rocks interact with water and sunlight?
In a recent Nature Astronomy report on a multi-year experiment conducted in the chemistry lab inside Curiosity’s belly, called Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM), a team of scientists offers some insights to help answer these questions. The team found that certain minerals in rocks at Gale Crater may have formed in an ice-covered lake. These minerals may have formed during a cold stage sandwiched between warmer periods, or after Mars lost most of its atmosphere and began to turn permanently cold.
Gale is a crater the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. It was selected as Curiosity’s 2012 landing site because it had signs of past water, including clay minerals that might help trap and preserve ancient organic molecules. Indeed, while exploring the base of a mountain in the center of the crater, called Mount Sharp, Curiosity found a layer of sediments 1,000 feet (304 meters) thick that was deposited as mud in ancient lakes. To form that much sediment an incredible amount of water would have flowed down into those lakes for millions to tens of millions of warm and humid years, some scientists say. But some geological features in the crater also hint at a past that included cold, icy conditions.
“At some point, Mars’ surface environment must have experienced a transition from being warm and humid to being cold and dry, as it is now, but exactly when and how that occurred is still a mystery,” says Heather Franz, a NASA geochemist based at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Franz, who led the SAM study, notes that factors such as changes in Mars’ obliquity and the amount of volcanic activity could have caused the Martian climate to alternate between warm and cold over time. This idea is supported by chemical and mineralogical changes in Martian rocks showing that some layers formed in colder environments and others formed in warmer ones.
In any case, says Franz, the array of data collected by Curiosity so far suggests that the team is seeing evidence for Martian climate change recorded in rocks.
Carbon and oxygen star in the Martian climate story
Franz’s team found evidence for a cold ancient environment after the SAM lab extracted the gases carbon dioxide, or CO2, and oxygen from 13 dust and rock samples. Curiosity collected these samples over the course of five Earth years (Earth years vs. Mars years).
CO2 is a molecule of one carbon atom bonded with two oxygen atoms, with carbon serving as a key witness in the case of the mysterious Martian climate. In fact, this simple yet versatile element is as critical as water in the search for life elsewhere. On Earth, carbon flows continuously through the air, water, and surface in a well-understood cycle that hinges on life. For example, plants absorb carbon from the atmosphere in the form of CO2. In return, they produce oxygen, which humans and most other life forms use for respiration in a process that ends with the release of carbon back into the air, again via CO2, or into the Earth’s crust as life forms die and are buried.
Scientists are finding there’s also a carbon cycle on Mars and they’re working to understand it. With little water or abundant surface life on the Red Planet for at least the past 3 billion years, the carbon cycle is much different than Earth’s.
“Nevertheless, the carbon cycling is still happening and is still important because it’s not only helping reveal information about Mars’ ancient climate,” says Paul Mahaffy, principal investigator on SAM and director of the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA Goddard. “It’s also showing us that Mars is a dynamic planet that’s circulating elements that are the buildings blocks of life as we know it.”
The gases build a case for a chilly period
After Curiosity fed rock and dust samples into SAM, the lab heated each one to nearly 1,650 degrees Fahrenheit (900 degrees Celsius) to liberate the gases inside. By looking at the oven temperatures that released the CO2 and oxygen, scientists could tell what kind of minerals the gases were coming from. This type of information helps them understand how carbon is cycling on Mars.
Various studies have suggested that Mars’ ancient atmosphere, containing mostly CO2, may have been thicker than Earth’s is today. Most of it has been lost to space, but some may be stored in rocks at the planet’s surface, particularly in the form of carbonates, which are minerals made of carbon and oxygen. On Earth, carbonates are produced when CO2 from the air is absorbed in the oceans and other bodies of water and then mineralized into rocks. Scientists think the same process happened on Mars and that it could help explain what happened to some of the Martian atmosphere.
Yet, missions to Mars haven’t found enough carbonates in the surface to support a thick atmosphere.
Nonetheless, the few carbonates that SAM did detect revealed something interesting about the Martian climate through the isotopes of carbon and oxygen stored in them. Isotopes are versions of each element that have different masses. Because different chemical processes, from rock formation to biological activity, use these isotopes in different proportions, the ratios of heavy to light isotopes in a rock provide scientists with clues to how the rock formed.
In some of the carbonates SAM found, scientists noticed that the oxygen isotopes were lighter than those in the Martian atmosphere. This suggests that the carbonates did not form long ago simply from atmospheric CO2 absorbed into a lake. If they had, the oxygen isotopes in the rocks would have been slightly heavier than the ones in the air.
While it’s possible that the carbonates formed very early in Mars’ history, when the atmospheric composition was a bit different than it is today, Franz and her colleagues suggest that the carbonates more likely formed in a freezing lake. In this scenario, the ice could have sucked up heavy oxygen isotopes and left the lightest ones to form carbonates later. Other Curiosity scientists have also presented evidence suggesting that ice-covered lakes could have existed in Gale Crater.
So where is all the carbon?
The low abundance of carbonates on Mars is puzzling, scientists say. If there aren’t many of these minerals at Gale Crater, perhaps the early atmosphere was thinner than predicted. Or maybe something else is storing the missing atmospheric carbon.
Based on their analysis, Franz and her colleagues suggest that some carbon could be sequestered in other minerals, such as oxalates, which store carbon and oxygen in a different structure than carbonates. Their hypothesis is based on the temperatures at which CO2 was released from some samples inside SAM — too low for carbonates, but just right for oxalates — and on the different carbon and oxygen isotope ratios than the scientists saw in the carbonates.
Oxalates are the most common type of organic mineral produced by plants on Earth. But oxalates also can be produced without biology. One way is through the interaction of atmospheric CO2 with surface minerals, water, and sunlight, in a process known as abiotic photosynthesis. This type of chemistry is hard to find on Earth because there’s abundant life here, but Franz’s team hopes to create abiotic photosynthesis in the lab to figure out if it actually could be responsible for the carbon chemistry they’re seeing in Gale Crater.
On Earth, abiotic photosynthesis may have paved the way for photosynthesis among some of the first microscopic life forms, which is why finding it on other planets interests astrobiologists.
Even if it turns out that abiotic photosynthesis locked some carbon from the atmosphere into rocks at Gale Crater, Franz and her colleagues would like to study soil and dust from different parts of Mars to understand if their results from Gale Crater reflect a global picture. They may one day get a chance to do so. NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover, due to launch to Mars between July and August 2020, plans to pack up samples in Jezero Crater for possible return to labs on Earth.


newswars--2020-05-22--US Blacklists Multiple Chinese Entities Over Rights Abuses, Ties to Weapons of Mass Destruction

Citing human rights abuses in China ’ s Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region , the United States Department of Commerce has announced its intent to add a total of nine new Chinese entities to an economic black list .
A separate department measure called for two dozen Chinese companies “ with ties to Weapons of Mass Destruction ” to be added to that list .
The Department of Commerce ’ s Bureau of Industry and Security announced Friday that the People ’ s Republic of China ’ s Ministry of Public Security ’ s Institute of Forensic Science and eight additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ List and face future trade restrictions .
According to the release , the decision came about after it was determined that the associated parties are “ complicit in human rights violations and abuses committed in China ’ s campaign of repression , mass arbitrary detention , forced labor and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs , ethnic Kazakhs , and other members of Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region ( XUAR ) .
” The economic black list calls for a number of restrictions on US items subject to the Export Administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ license requirements , for individuals or organizations believed to be associated with “ activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests ” of the US .
The forthcoming move is supplemental to the department ’ s original Entity List designations in October 2019 related the XUAR repression campaign in Xinjiang .
In a related move , the BIS also announced the addition of 24 governmental and commercial organizations were also added to the Entity List after it was determined they posed “ a significant risk of supporting procurement of items for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties flagged over their ties to Weapons of Mass Destruction are based out of China , Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands .
“ The new additions to the Entity List demonstrate our commitment to preventing the use of U.S. commodities and technologies in activities that undermine our interests , ” Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said in the Friday news release .
Like the nine Chinese companies accused of complicity in human rights violations , these two dozen governmental and commercial organizations will be required to receive authorization from the US Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ domestically transfer items subject to the EAR .
The added restrictions for Chinese entities associated with the repression of Muslim minority groups in the country comes months after the US Department of State announced visa restrictions against officials linked to the “ highly repressive campaign.
” Over the past several months , numerous United Nations-affiliated countries have admonished China ’ s over its surveillance and mass detention of ethnic Uighurs .
However , nations such as Belarus have come to China ’ s defense , saying China has been engaging in anti-terror and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now safety and security have returned to Xinjiang and fundamental human rights of people of all ethnic groups there are safeguarded , ” argued Belarus Ambassador to the UN Valentin Rybakov in October , as reported by Reuters .
“ We commend China ’ s remarkable achievements in the field of human rights.
” China has slammed the UN countries ’ “ baseless accusations ” as a “ gross interference in China ’ s internal affairs and deliberate provocation of confrontation at the United Nations.
” Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ hidden political agenda and ulterior motive ” in its criticism of Beijing .
Alex Jones covers what is on the horizon with COVID-19 , the lockdown , the vaccine , and how Big Tech wants to run your life .

Citing human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, the United States Department of Commerce has announced its intent to add a total of nine new Chinese entities to an economic black list.
A separate department measure called for two dozen Chinese companies “with ties to Weapons of Mass Destruction” to be added to that list.
The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security announced Friday that the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Public Security’s Institute of Forensic Science and eight additional Chinese companies would be added to Entity List and face future trade restrictions.
According to the release, the decision came about after it was determined that the associated parties are “complicit in human rights violations and abuses committed in China’s campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, forced labor and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR).”
The economic black list calls for a number of restrictions on US items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), including added license requirements, for individuals or organizations believed to be associated with “activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests” of the US.
The forthcoming move is supplemental to the department’s original Entity List designations in October 2019 related the XUAR repression campaign in Xinjiang.
In a related move, the BIS also announced the addition of 24 governmental and commercial organizations were also added to the Entity List after it was determined they posed “a significant risk of supporting procurement of items for military end-use in China.”
The 24 parties flagged over their ties to Weapons of Mass Destruction are based out of China, Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands.
“The new additions to the Entity List demonstrate our commitment to preventing the use of U.S. commodities and technologies in activities that undermine our interests,” Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said in the Friday news release.
Like the nine Chinese companies accused of complicity in human rights violations, these two dozen governmental and commercial organizations will be required to receive authorization from the US Department of Commerce to export, re-export or domestically transfer items subject to the EAR.
The added restrictions for Chinese entities associated with the repression of Muslim minority groups in the country comes months after the US Department of State announced visa restrictions against officials linked to the “highly repressive campaign.”
Over the past several months, numerous United Nations-affiliated countries have admonished China’s over its surveillance and mass detention of ethnic Uighurs. However, nations such as Belarus have come to China’s defense, saying China has been engaging in anti-terror and deradicalization efforts in the regions.
“Now safety and security have returned to Xinjiang and fundamental human rights of people of all ethnic groups there are safeguarded,” argued Belarus Ambassador to the UN Valentin Rybakov in October, as reported by Reuters. “We commend China’s remarkable achievements in the field of human rights.”
China has slammed the UN countries’ “baseless accusations” as a “gross interference in China’s internal affairs and deliberate provocation of confrontation at the United Nations.” Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun also asserted that Washington specifically has a “hidden political agenda and ulterior motive” in its criticism of Beijing.
Alex Jones covers what is on the horizon with COVID-19, the lockdown, the vaccine, and how Big Tech wants to run your life.


newswars--2020-05-22--CDC Reveals Biggest Reason to End Virus Lockdowns

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) now estimates that 35 percent of coronavirus infections are asymptomatic .
But that ’ s not even the most important part of their latest estimates .
It ’ s the CDC ’ s new “ best estimate ” for the case fatality rate amongst symptomatic patients .
But , before I got to that , I should note that back in March , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) estimated a 3.4 percent fatality rate and Dr. Anthony Fauci estimated that the fatality rate of the coronavirus was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skeptical of both those numbers , particularly the WHO ’ s estimate : “ Well , I think the 3.4 percent is really a false number , ” Trump told Sean Hannity .
“ Now , and this is just my hunch , and — but based on a lot of conversations with a lot of people that do this .
Because a lot of people will have this and it ’ s very mild .
They ’ ll get better very rapidly .
They don ’ t even see a doctor .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctor .
I think that that number is very high .
I think the number , personally , I would say the number is way under 1 percent.
” Several studies have suggested that Trump was right .
But , now here ’ s what the CDC is saying about the fatality rate the coronavirus : According to the CDC ’ s current best estimate , the case fatality rate of the coronavirus is .4 percent .
And that ’ s just amongst symptomatic cases , which , the CDC estimates , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means the CDC estimates that the fatality rate for all infections across all age groups , symptomatic as well as asymptomatic , is approximately .26 percent .
The CDC does caution that the numbers are likely to change with new data , but considering we ’ ve gone from 3.4 percent to 2.0 percent to now 0.26 percent .
The more data we get , the lower the numbers get .
So , I ’ m thinking it might get even lower .
But , the bigger takeaway from this is that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all wrong .
Everything that justified the lockdowns and the shutting down of our economy was wrong .
We need to open this country back up .
Alex Jones covers what is on the horizon with COVID-19 , the lockdown , the vaccine , and how Big Tech wants to run your life .

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now estimates that 35 percent of coronavirus infections are asymptomatic.
But that’s not even the most important part of their latest estimates. It’s the CDC’s new “best estimate” for the case fatality rate amongst symptomatic patients.
But, before I got to that, I should note that back in March, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated a 3.4 percent fatality rate and Dr. Anthony Fauci estimated that the fatality rate of the coronavirus was about 2 percent.
President Trump was skeptical of both those numbers, particularly the WHO’s estimate: “Well, I think the 3.4 percent is really a false number,” Trump told Sean Hannity. “Now, and this is just my hunch, and — but based on a lot of conversations with a lot of people that do this. Because a lot of people will have this and it’s very mild. They’ll get better very rapidly. They don’t even see a doctor. They don’t even call a doctor. I think that that number is very high. I think the number, personally, I would say the number is way under 1 percent.”
Several studies have suggested that Trump was right. But, now here’s what the CDC is saying about the fatality rate the coronavirus:
0-49 years old: .05%
50-64 years old: .2%
65+ years old: 1.3%
Overall ages: .4%
According to the CDC’s current best estimate, the case fatality rate of the coronavirus is .4 percent. And that’s just amongst symptomatic cases, which, the CDC estimates, is 65 percent of all cases. This means the CDC estimates that the fatality rate for all infections across all age groups, symptomatic as well as asymptomatic, is approximately .26 percent.
The CDC does caution that the numbers are likely to change with new data, but considering we’ve gone from 3.4 percent to 2.0 percent to now 0.26 percent. The more data we get, the lower the numbers get. So, I’m thinking it might get even lower.
But, the bigger takeaway from this is that the early doomsday predictions about the coronavirus were all wrong. Everything that justified the lockdowns and the shutting down of our economy was wrong. We need to open this country back up.
Alex Jones covers what is on the horizon with COVID-19, the lockdown, the vaccine, and how Big Tech wants to run your life.


newswars--2020-05-22--“Central Banks Have Created A Fake Market”: BofA

It ’ s no longer fun to be a Wall Street macro strategist .
On one hand you have to divine the future for risk assets , looking at corporate and economic fundamentals and data , and recommend “ big picture ” trades based on your assessment of corporate profits and interest rates which have traditionally been the two key drivers to any macro asset allocation decision .
On the other , none of that matters in a time of central planning when central banks have taken over price discovery , making your job meaningless as asset prices are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank liquidity and explicit asset backstops .
As Deutsche Bank ’ s Stuart Sparks put it best , “ These are administered markets and market outcomes will be dictated by the policy goals of the Fed and Treasury , and the tools they select to implement policy ” Not only is it not fun , there is a sense of dejected resignation ( perhaps as market experts see their careers become obsolete ) , one which was especially palpable when reading the latest Flow Show report from BofA ’ s Chief Investment Strategist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ fake markets ” in which “ government and corporate bond prices have been fixed by central banks…why would anyone expect stocks to price rationally ?
” To be sure there is no rationality in a world in which over the past 8 weeks there has been a 38 million rise in US unemployment coupled with a $ 10 trillion forecast loss in global GDP in 2020/21 ; this however has been offset by $ 4 trillion of asset purchases by central banks resulting in a $ 15 trillion surge in global equity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market participants is laid bare as Hartnett lists the six most frequently asked questions Hartnett said investors have been asking since the lows including “ who is going bust ?
” , “ when will we retest the lows ?
” , and last but not least , “ why is the stock market so divorced from reality ?
” Addressing the last question , Hartnett responds with the following list : • Fake markets : government and corporate bond prices have been fixed by central banks…why would anyone expect stocks to price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 3042 global stocks remain in bear markets ( 20 % below their alltime highs ) ; $ 15tn stock rally must be placed in the context of $ 30tn collapse in Feb-Mar .
• History : bear market rallies in 1929 , 1938 , 1974 saw avg 61 % rebound from lows ( after avg 49 % drop ) …would take SPX to 3180 this rally .
• Positioning : BofA May Global Fund Manager Survey…just 1/10 expect a V-shaped recovery vs. 8/10 expecting U or W-shaped recovery & 7/10 saying it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bull & Bear Indicator pinned at 0.0 ( Chart 1 ) , i.e .
investors still very bearish .
• Policy : past 8 weeks central banks have been buying $ 2.4bn per hour of financial assets ( this will fade to $ 608mn in coming weeks ) .
• Polarization : rally concentrated in “ growth ” and “ yield ” and “ quality ” …market cap of FAAMG stocks > Emerging Markets , MAGA stocks > Eurozone , US healthcare > global banks outside of the US ( Table 1 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Hartnett ’ s job to provide his clients with a recommendation , and here too the schism between markets and the economy is visible , as the CIO is both bullish and bearish at the same time .
• Tactically bullish : still think positioning bearish and policy makers causing “ immoral hazard ” , forcing investors to buy , banks to lend , corporate zombies to issue in 2020 ; but clearly big technical levels immediately ahead ( SPX 3000 , NDX 10000 , DXY100 ) .
• Structurally bearish : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downside in 2021 than 2020 as policy makers to demand payback via taxes , tariffs , regulation ; possibility of negative US rates , pressure on bank dividends , election and peak globalization come into focus in autumn .
All that may be moot , however , in a market where capital flows – whether from the Fed or stimulus checks being used by retail investors to ramp up stocks – is all that matters .
In this context , here are the Flows to Know according to Hartnett : • # Cash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8 weeks we have seen $ 1.0tn into cash , this week saw first outflows since Feb 19th ( $ 5.9bn ) .
• # Leaders : Monday saw 5th largest single day inflow to tech since 2011 ( $ 1.2bn , largest since Jul ’ 19 ) , $ 16.7bn into healthcare past 8 weeks .
• # Laggards : better love for small caps , no love for EM…largest inflow to US small cap stocks ( $ 1.9bn ) since Dec ’ 19 this week , $ 3.8bn out of EM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t enough confusion , here are some other notable features of the ongoing bear market rally starting with the persistent bearishness of most “ smart money ” investors who have been dumping stocks for 6 consecutive weeks , dumping to retail investors who have been bidding up stocks with near total abandon : • BofA private clients : GWIM confirms cash mountain peak with 2nd week of outflow ( Chart 2 ) and rotation back into bonds ( largest inflow to debt since Mar ’ 19 into IG , MBS , HY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stocks 6 out of past 6 weeks .
• BofA private client AA : latest is 56.6 % in stocks , 23.2 % in bonds , 13.9 % in cash .
• Yield curve : Aug ’ 19 inversion of yield curve was lead indicator of recession ; yield curve now steepening 5-30s > 100bps ( steepest since 2017 ) ; but BofA reopening portfolio still slightly underperforming lockdown portfolio ( Chart 3 & Table 3 ) .
• US consumer vs Asian producer : US mortgage applications to purchase homes back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US unemployment claims down , BAC credit card data improving ; Korea May 20-day exports -20 % YoY…v coincident with global EPS growth ( Chart 5 ) ; but if US consumer improves investors should be long EM this summer as catch-up play Alex Jones covers what is on the horizon with COVID-19 , the lockdown , the vaccine , and how Big Tech wants to run your life .

It’s no longer fun to be a Wall Street macro strategist.
On one hand you have to divine the future for risk assets, looking at corporate and economic fundamentals and data, and recommend “big picture” trades based on your assessment of corporate profits and interest rates which have traditionally been the two key drivers to any macro asset allocation decision.
On the other, none of that matters in a time of central planning when central banks have taken over price discovery, making your job meaningless as asset prices are now a direct consequence of nothing but central bank liquidity and explicit asset backstops.
As Deutsche Bank’s Stuart Sparks put it best, “These are administered markets and market outcomes will be dictated by the policy goals of the Fed and Treasury, and the tools they select to implement policy”
Not only is it not fun, there is a sense of dejected resignation (perhaps as market experts see their careers become obsolete), one which was especially palpable when reading the latest Flow Show report from BofA’s Chief Investment Strategist Michael Hartnett who writes that these are “fake markets” in which “government and corporate bond prices have been fixed by central banks…why would anyone expect stocks to price rationally?”
To be sure there is no rationality in a world in which over the past 8 weeks there has been a 38 million rise in US unemployment coupled with a $10 trillion forecast loss in global GDP in 2020/21; this however has been offset by $4 trillion of asset purchases by central banks resulting in a $15 trillion surge in global equity market cap.


newswars--2020-05-22--Charlamagne The God & Other Black Liberals Cuck to Joe Biden & Democrat Party

Also catch the streams at infowars.com/show and Banned.video .
Tune in as we cover the war for the First Amendment @ @ @ @ @ tell the government not to interfere in their religious freedoms : David Knight Show : @ @ @ @ @ , Does The Election Matter ?
On this Friday transmission of The David Knight Show @ @ @ @ @ on today ’ s top news stories with an alternative take you won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ North Carolina gym owner Nick Koumalatsos joins the program to detail his encounter with police @ @ @ @ @ .
From COVID-19 tyrants to the technocrat move to steal the election from Trump , @ @ @ @ @ in this exclusive broadcast .

Owen Shroyer hosts this LIVE edition of War Room, weekdays 3-6 p.m. CT.
Also catch the streams at infowars.com/show and Banned.video.
IT’S HAPPENING! THOUSANDS OF CHURCHES REBEL AGAINST UN-CONTROLLED LOCKDOWN
Tune in as we cover the war for the First Amendment brewing inside America as churches tell the government not to interfere in their religious freedoms:
David Knight Show: If Microsoft Counts The Votes, Does The Election Matter?
On this Friday transmission of The David Knight Show, viewers will receive updates on today’s top news stories with an alternative take you won’t find on mainstream outlets. North Carolina gym owner Nick Koumalatsos joins the program to detail his encounter with police after he opened his business.
From COVID-19 tyrants to the technocrat move to steal the election from Trump, Knight will cover it all in this exclusive broadcast.


newswars--2020-05-22--Champion Racer Who Shot & Killed Armed Mugger Slams Democrat Politicians

Championship offroad racer B.J .
Baldwin appeared in an NRA video to tell the story of how he recently had to use deadly force against an armed individual who pointed their firearm at Baldwins ’ girlfriend .
The incident took place on April 22 in the parking lot of a Las Vegas , Nevada In-N-Out Burger restaurant .
Baldwin describes hearing his girlfriend Tori whispering in distress while sitting in the parking lot and seeing two men approaching .
“ Both of them had their hoods tied up over their faces like they didn ’ t want to be identified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it was pointed directly at Tori and they were walking as fast as they could in her direction .
It was clear that her life was in danger , ” he explained .
Next , the gunman moved his gun off of Tori and pointed it towards Baldwin , asking , “ What ’ s good ?
” before aiming for Tori once again .
Baldwin said , “ I realized that was my opportunity and I was not going to get another opportunity and I had to act as quickly and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He should have never took the gun off of me , ” B.J .
recounted .
“ He took two shots at Tori , six shots at me .
He didn ’ t get a single hit on either one of his targets because I got all of my hits ; all ten.
” It took nine shots to the chest and one bullet hitting the central nervous system to put down 43-year-old Josef Smith .
“ That ’ s what it took to neutralize the threat and save both of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home to our families , ” Baldwin stated .
B.J .
believes that if he wasn ’ t armed that night , he and his girlfriend would both be dead .
“ Joe Biden and Beto O ’ Rourke are totally comfortable with my girlfriend and I laying face down dead in that parking lot as long as it doesn ’ t interfere with their gun control agenda , ” he noted .

Championship offroad racer B.J. Baldwin appeared in an NRA video to tell the story of how he recently had to use deadly force against an armed individual who pointed their firearm at Baldwins’ girlfriend.
The incident took place on April 22 in the parking lot of a Las Vegas, Nevada In-N-Out Burger restaurant.
Baldwin describes hearing his girlfriend Tori whispering in distress while sitting in the parking lot and seeing two men approaching.
“Both of them had their hoods tied up over their faces like they didn’t want to be identified and one of them had a gun and it was pointed directly at Tori and they were walking as fast as they could in her direction. It was clear that her life was in danger,” he explained.
Next, the gunman moved his gun off of Tori and pointed it towards Baldwin, asking, “What’s good?” before aiming for Tori once again.
Baldwin said, “I realized that was my opportunity and I was not going to get another opportunity and I had to act as quickly and as proficiently as I possibly could.”
“He should have never took the gun off of me,” B.J. recounted. “He took two shots at Tori, six shots at me. He didn’t get a single hit on either one of his targets because I got all of my hits; all ten.”
It took nine shots to the chest and one bullet hitting the central nervous system to put down 43-year-old Josef Smith.
“That’s what it took to neutralize the threat and save both of our lives so that we could make it home to our families,” Baldwin stated.
B.J. believes that if he wasn’t armed that night, he and his girlfriend would both be dead.
“Joe Biden and Beto O’Rourke are totally comfortable with my girlfriend and I laying face down dead in that parking lot as long as it doesn’t interfere with their gun control agenda,” he noted.


newswars--2020-05-22--Japanic! Tokyo Tourism Tumbles 99.9% In April

Japan saw an estimated 2,900 foreign travelers in April , down 99.9 % from a year earlier , as COVID-19 travel restrictions and lockdowns left the once-booming tourism sector in a state of paralysis .
The drop in foreign visitors was the most significant percentage decline on record dating back to 1964 , the Japan National Tourism Organization ( JNTO ) reported .
It was the first time the monthly figure fell sub 10,000 .
The previous low for monthly foreign visitors was 17,543 set back in February 1964 .
The reason for the sharp decline stems from the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a surge in domestic virus cases and deaths .
On April 3 , entry restrictions for international travelers were applied to 100 countries , including China , the US , and Europe , resulting in a collapse of inbound travel that severely impacted the country ’ s tourism industry .
Before the pandemic , tourism in the country was increasing at healthy growth rates .
Around 31.8 million people visited Japan in 2019 , up 2.2 % over the previous year .
Japan had high aspirations to boost tourism to a record 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were crushed due to the now-postponed Tokyo Olympics that have been rescheduled for 2021 .
Travel restrictions and shutdowns have found success in mitigating the spread of the virus , Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday , adding that Japan could lift the state of emergency in Tokyo as early as next week , that is if virus infections can remain low .
Emergencies were recently lifted in Osaka , Kyoto , and Hyogo because of a drop in confirmed cases .
Japan ’ s tourism industry is expected to remain in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world ’ s third-largest economy dove into recession for the first time since 2015 : “ The economy entered the coronavirus shock in a very weak position , ” said Izumi Devalier , chief Japan economist at BofA , but “ the real big ugly stuff is going to happen in the April , June print .
It ’ s going to be three-quarters of very negative growth.
” Abe , like other world leaders , is quickly trying to reopen his crashed economy and simultaneously contain the pathogen ’ s spread .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ second virus wave later this year .
Japan ’ s low rate of testing for the virus suggests the scope of the outbreak is still yet to be known .

Japan saw an estimated 2,900 foreign travelers in April, down 99.9% from a year earlier, as COVID-19 travel restrictions and lockdowns left the once-booming tourism sector in a state of paralysis.
The drop in foreign visitors was the most significant percentage decline on record dating back to 1964, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) reported. It was the first time the monthly figure fell sub 10,000. The previous low for monthly foreign visitors was 17,543 set back in February 1964.
The reason for the sharp decline stems from the government’s restrictions on international travel following a surge in domestic virus cases and deaths. On April 3, entry restrictions for international travelers were applied to 100 countries, including China, the US, and Europe, resulting in a collapse of inbound travel that severely impacted the country’s tourism industry.
Before the pandemic, tourism in the country was increasing at healthy growth rates. Around 31.8 million people visited Japan in 2019, up 2.2% over the previous year. Japan had high aspirations to boost tourism to a record 40 million this year, but those estimates were crushed due to the now-postponed Tokyo Olympics that have been rescheduled for 2021.
Travel restrictions and shutdowns have found success in mitigating the spread of the virus, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday, adding that Japan could lift the state of emergency in Tokyo as early as next week, that is if virus infections can remain low. Emergencies were recently lifted in Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo because of a drop in confirmed cases.
Japan’s tourism industry is expected to remain in a slump throughout the year. The world’s third-largest economy dove into recession for the first time since 2015:
“The economy entered the coronavirus shock in a very weak position,” said Izumi Devalier, chief Japan economist at BofA, but “the real big ugly stuff is going to happen in the April, June print. It’s going to be three-quarters of very negative growth.”
Abe, like other world leaders, is quickly trying to reopen his crashed economy and simultaneously contain the pathogen’s spread. This difficult task could ignite into a second virus wave later this year.
Japan’s low rate of testing for the virus suggests the scope of the outbreak is still yet to be known.


newswars--2020-05-22--Trump Designates Houses of Worship as Essential, Orders US Governors to Reopen Them NOW

US President Donald Trump has declared that churches , synagogues and mosques are ‘ essential ’ establishments .
He ordered governors to allow them to reopen immediately , and threatened to override them if they refuse .
“ These are places that hold our society together and keep our people united , ” Trump announced at the White House on Friday , adding that it ’ s “ not right ” that some states have deemed liquor stores and abortion clinics as essential , but mandated that houses of worship remain closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
RELATED : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WORSHIP ARE ESSENTIAL ” Any governor that has a problem with this can call the president , but will not find understanding , Trump added .
If the governors refuse to allow the houses of worship to reopen immediately , this very weekend , “ I will override the governors , ” he said .
Trump ’ s announcement comes amid reports that religious communities across several states with Democrat governors have complained they are not being allowed to reopen , even as every state has relaxed the coronavirus quarantines to at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Lutherans in Minnesota , for example , appealed to Governor Tim Walz this week to relax the lockdown and signaled they would begin congregating in defiance of his orders .
Lockdown-favoring governors have pointed to the fact that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) had not issued guidelines for houses of worship , prompting Trump to order the CDC to do so on Friday .
The president ’ s critics reacted to the announcement by claiming more people will get the coronavirus and die as a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media after making his announcement , but his statement was followed with a presentation by White House Coronavirus Task Force chief Dr. Deborah Birx , showing the downward trend of Covid-19 cases across the US with the exception of Chicago , Los Angeles and the Washington , DC area – all of which remain under lockdown orders .
David Knight interviews Delaware Pastor Andy Stevens laying out the state ’ s arbitrary & ADDITIONAL restrictions on churches that don ’ t apply to businesses or other gatherings .

US President Donald Trump has declared that churches, synagogues and mosques are ‘essential’ establishments. He ordered governors to allow them to reopen immediately, and threatened to override them if they refuse.
“These are places that hold our society together and keep our people united,” Trump announced at the White House on Friday, adding that it’s “not right” that some states have deemed liquor stores and abortion clinics as essential, but mandated that houses of worship remain closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
RELATED: LIVE: TRUMP SAYS “HOUSES OF WORSHIP ARE ESSENTIAL”
Any governor that has a problem with this can call the president, but will not find understanding, Trump added. If the governors refuse to allow the houses of worship to reopen immediately, this very weekend, “I will override the governors,” he said.
Trump’s announcement comes amid reports that religious communities across several states with Democrat governors have complained they are not being allowed to reopen, even as every state has relaxed the coronavirus quarantines to at least some extent by now.
Both Catholics and Lutherans in Minnesota, for example, appealed to Governor Tim Walz this week to relax the lockdown and signaled they would begin congregating in defiance of his orders.
Lockdown-favoring governors have pointed to the fact that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had not issued guidelines for houses of worship, prompting Trump to order the CDC to do so on Friday.
The president’s critics reacted to the announcement by claiming more people will get the coronavirus and die as a result.
Wow!! Trump has ordered the CDC to label houses of worship as ‘essential’ and they must now admit parishioners. This is madness. Many people will get sick. Many will die. Governors were threatened Trump saying he will override any objections. CDC has lost all integrity. — Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) May 22, 2020
Trump took no questions from the media after making his announcement, but his statement was followed with a presentation by White House Coronavirus Task Force chief Dr. Deborah Birx, showing the downward trend of Covid-19 cases across the US with the exception of Chicago, Los Angeles and the Washington, DC area – all of which remain under lockdown orders.
David Knight interviews Delaware Pastor Andy Stevens laying out the state’s arbitrary & ADDITIONAL restrictions on churches that don’t apply to businesses or other gatherings.


newswars--2020-05-22--Lawmaker Proposes Plan for Governor to Confiscate Private Property

A piece of legislation being proposed in Illinois to deal with future state-declared “ emergencies ” would allow the governor to summarily confiscate vehicles , animals , food , clothing , medicines , even real estate from private citizens .
It is the Gateway Pundit that posted a warning about the idea of giving Gov .
J.B. Pritzker “ the power to confiscate property including cars , trucks , food , gas , animals , clothing etc.
” “ Senator William E. Brady , the Illinois minority leader in the state senate , introduced legislation on Wednesday that will give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business owners who defy their lockdown orders , ” the report said .
“ Senator Brady is a Republican.
” The proposal itself states that among the “ emergency powers of the governor , ” is to “ on behalf of this state to take possession of , and to acquire full title or a lesser specified interest in , any personal property as may be necessary to accomplish the objectives set forth in Section 2 of this Act , including : airplanes , automobiles , trucks , trailers , buses , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gasoline , and other fuels and means of propulsion ; explosives , materials , equipment , and supplies ; animals and livestock ; feed and seed ; food and provisions for humans and animals ; clothing and bedding ; and medicines and medical and surgical supplies ; and to take possession of and for a limited period occupy and use any real estate necessary to accomplish those objectives ; but only upon the undertaking by the state to pay just compensation therefor as in this Act provided… ”

A piece of legislation being proposed in Illinois to deal with future state-declared “emergencies” would allow the governor to summarily confiscate vehicles, animals, food, clothing, medicines, even real estate from private citizens.
It is the Gateway Pundit that posted a warning about the idea of giving Gov. J.B. Pritzker “the power to confiscate property including cars, trucks, food, gas, animals, clothing etc.”
“Senator William E. Brady, the Illinois minority leader in the state senate, introduced legislation on Wednesday that will give government the right to confiscate property from business owners who defy their lockdown orders,” the report said. “Senator Brady is a Republican.”
The proposal itself states that among the “emergency powers of the governor,” is to “on behalf of this state to take possession of, and to acquire full title or a lesser specified interest in, any personal property as may be necessary to accomplish the objectives set forth in Section 2 of this Act, including: airplanes, automobiles, trucks, trailers, buses, and other vehicles; coal, oils, gasoline, and other fuels and means of propulsion; explosives, materials, equipment, and supplies; animals and livestock; feed and seed; food and provisions for humans and animals; clothing and bedding; and medicines and medical and surgical supplies; and to take possession of and for a limited period occupy and use any real estate necessary to accomplish those objectives; but only upon the undertaking by the state to pay just compensation therefor as in this Act provided…”
Read more
Jennifer Bukowsky joins Robert Barnes to discuss civil rights and civil liberties.


newswars--2020-05-22--Founder of ‘Clap For NHS’ Movement Wants it to End

The founder of the ‘ Clap For Carers ’ movement , a weekly event where people in the UK applaud NHS workers , is calling for the spectacle to end because it has become too “ politicised.
” “ Annemarie Plas , a Dutch national living in south London , said she was “ overwhelmed ” by the support for the ritual , but said it was better to stop when it was at “ its peak , ” reports Sky News .
Plas , a yoga teacher , said , “ Without getting too political , I share some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it becoming politicised.
” “ I think the narrative is starting to change and I don ’ t want the clap to be negative , ” she added .
In reality , Plas is likely calling for an end to the event , which takes place every Thursday at 8pm , because it has begun to fizzle out and will begin to look increasingly pathetic as fewer people take part in it .
The optics of having one final big event will look far better than if the weekly clapathon was allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlighted , skeptics have pointed out that the event has turned into a bizarre kind of communal ceremony , with the NHS being deified as a religious institution .
Doctor and author Theodore Dalrymple says the NHS worship clapathon reminds him of communist despotism .
“ It reminds me a little , in its tendency to get longer and louder and almost more hysterical , of the applause after a speech by Nicolae Ceausescu or other communist despot , in which everyone in the audience had to show himself as enthusiastic and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applauding as long as someone else was applauding , for to be the first to stop might be taken as a sign of disloyalty and dissent from the official line , ” wrote the author .
In the United Kingdom , the National Health Service ( NHS ) is treated as a religious institution by many , who insist that it is the “ envy of the world ” and a sterling example of the supremacy of government health care .
However , a ranking of health care systems by The Lancet medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Slovenia , finding it to have “ an especially low score for cancer care.
” My voice is being silenced by free speech-hating Silicon Valley behemoths who want me disappeared forever .
It is CRUCIAL that you support me .
Please sign up for the free newsletter here .
Donate to me on SubscribeStar here .
Support my sponsor – Turbo Force – a supercharged boost of clean energy without the comedown .

The founder of the ‘Clap For Carers’ movement, a weekly event where people in the UK applaud NHS workers, is calling for the spectacle to end because it has become too “politicised.”
“Annemarie Plas, a Dutch national living in south London, said she was “overwhelmed” by the support for the ritual, but said it was better to stop when it was at “its peak,” reports Sky News.
Plas, a yoga teacher, said, “Without getting too political, I share some of the opinions that some people have about it becoming politicised.”
“I think the narrative is starting to change and I don’t want the clap to be negative,” she added.
In reality, Plas is likely calling for an end to the event, which takes place every Thursday at 8pm, because it has begun to fizzle out and will begin to look increasingly pathetic as fewer people take part in it.
The optics of having one final big event will look far better than if the weekly clapathon was allowed to fade away.
No TV allowed during worship. pic.twitter.com/h2qr67tSid — TheRawTweet (@RawTweet1337) May 21, 2020
As we previously highlighted, skeptics have pointed out that the event has turned into a bizarre kind of communal ceremony, with the NHS being deified as a religious institution.
Doctor and author Theodore Dalrymple says the NHS worship clapathon reminds him of communist despotism.
“It reminds me a little, in its tendency to get longer and louder and almost more hysterical, of the applause after a speech by Nicolae Ceausescu or other communist despot, in which everyone in the audience had to show himself as enthusiastic and the most enthusiastic applauder, and to continue applauding as long as someone else was applauding, for to be the first to stop might be taken as a sign of disloyalty and dissent from the official line,” wrote the author.
In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS) is treated as a religious institution by many, who insist that it is the “envy of the world” and a sterling example of the supremacy of government health care.
However, a ranking of health care systems by The Lancet medical journal placed the NHS below Estonia and Slovenia, finding it to have “an especially low score for cancer care.”
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Please sign up for the free newsletter here. Donate to me on SubscribeStar here.
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newswars--2020-05-22--Trump Exits Open Skies Treaty Over Russian Violations

“ Russia didn ’ t adhere to the treaty , so until they adhere , we will pull out , ” President Donald Trump announced this week , confirming that the United States will be leaving the 35-nation Treaty on Open Skies because of Russian violations .
Under the terms of the 1992 treaty , which has been in force since 2002 , members are allowed to have short-notice , unarmed reconnaissance flights over the land of the other members , so as to observe military forces and activities , by using specific , pre-approved observation aircraft .
The official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OC-135B Open Skies ( shown ) .
The stated purpose of the treaty is to reduce the chances that military miscalculations could cause a war .
The United States has objected to Russia ’ s imposition of restrictions on flights near Kaliningrad , an area between Poland and Lithuania , which has a significant Russian military presence .
Jonathan Hoffman , a Defense Department spokesman , said that Russia had denied U.S. flights “ within 10 kilometers of the Georgia-Russia border , and denying a flight over major military exercises the past year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity that was scheduled and approved previously .
Russia flagrantly and continuously violates its obligations under Open Skies and implements the treaty in ways that contribute to military threats against the United States and our allies and partners.
” Hoffman also noted that the United States is “ committed to our treaty obligations , but in this era of great power competition we are looking to advocate for agreements that benefit all sides and that includes partners who comply responsibly with their obligations.
” As DNC contractor CrowdStrike floats the same red herring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hillary ’ s DNC documents — but a recent announcement about the primaries proves they never believed the hacking narrative .

“Russia didn’t adhere to the treaty, so until they adhere, we will pull out,” President Donald Trump announced this week, confirming that the United States will be leaving the 35-nation Treaty on Open Skies because of Russian violations.
Under the terms of the 1992 treaty, which has been in force since 2002, members are allowed to have short-notice, unarmed reconnaissance flights over the land of the other members, so as to observe military forces and activities, by using specific, pre-approved observation aircraft. The official certified U.S. Open Skies aircraft is the OC-135B Open Skies (shown). The stated purpose of the treaty is to reduce the chances that military miscalculations could cause a war.
The United States has objected to Russia’s imposition of restrictions on flights near Kaliningrad, an area between Poland and Lithuania, which has a significant Russian military presence. Jonathan Hoffman, a Defense Department spokesman, said that Russia had denied U.S. flights “within 10 kilometers of the Georgia-Russia border, and denying a flight over major military exercises the past year which completely prevented imaging of military exercise activity that was scheduled and approved previously. Russia flagrantly and continuously violates its obligations under Open Skies and implements the treaty in ways that contribute to military threats against the United States and our allies and partners.” Hoffman also noted that the United States is “committed to our treaty obligations, but in this era of great power competition we are looking to advocate for agreements that benefit all sides and that includes partners who comply responsibly with their obligations.”
Read more
As DNC contractor CrowdStrike floats the same red herring about Burisma documents that they did about Hillary’s DNC documents — but a recent announcement about the primaries proves they never believed the hacking narrative.


newswars--2020-05-22--Creepy Joe Biden Has Always Been Creepy – Detained By Police For Following Women In College

Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden earned the nickname “ Creepy Joe ” a lot earlier than previously known .
His @ @ @ @ @ place in front of female Secret Service agents have been well documented .
Most Americans @ @ @ @ @ footage of Biden groping and sniffing girls and women .
Now , two separate videos @ @ @ @ @ being detained by an Athens , Ohio police officer during his college days for following @ @ @ @ @ women into an all-female dormitory.
” The first mention of the incident came in 2008 @ @ @ @ @ t get arrested , but I almost did , ” Biden stated during a 2012 @ @ @ @ @ back in those days , men weren ’ t allowed anywhere near a woman ’ @ @ @ @ @ thought I was walking into the waiting room and I got brought into the hallway @ @ @ @ @ very quickly by an Athens policeman .
”

Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden earned the nickname “Creepy Joe” a lot earlier than previously known.
His infamous nude swimming sessions taking place in front of female Secret Service agents have been well documented.
Most Americans have also seen the endless footage of Biden groping and sniffing girls and women.
Now, two separate videos have resurfaced where Joe recalls being detained by an Athens, Ohio police officer during his college days for following “a lovely group of women into an all-female dormitory.”
The first mention of the incident came in 2008:
“I didn’t get arrested, but I almost did,” Biden stated during a 2012 campaign stop. “Because back in those days, men weren’t allowed anywhere near a woman’s dorm.”
“I thought I was walking into the waiting room and I got brought into the hallway and I got escorted out very quickly by an Athens policeman.”


newswars--2020-05-22--Watch: Trump Says “Houses of Worship Are Essential”

President Trump declared all places of worship essential and stressed the importance of prayer during his brief appearance at Friday @ @ @ @ @ the White House .
BREAKING : President @ realDonaldTrump announces that the CDC will be @ @ @ @ @ worship ESSENTIAL , allowing them to re-open as of this weekend !
pic.twitter.com/G9TzIq1npK Alex Jones @ @ @ @ @ horizon with COVID-19 , the lockdown , the vaccine , and how Big Tech wants @ @ @ @ @

President Trump declared all places of worship essential and stressed the importance of prayer during his brief appearance at Friday’s press conference from the White House.
BREAKING: President @realDonaldTrump announces that the CDC will be issuing guidance declaring places of worship ESSENTIAL, allowing them to re-open as of this weekend! pic.twitter.com/G9TzIq1npK — Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) May 22, 2020
Mirror stream:
Alex Jones covers what is on the horizon with COVID-19, the lockdown, the vaccine, and how Big Tech wants to run your life.


newswars--2020-05-22--Genetic Code of Every Lifeform Under Attack by World Elite

An arrogant scientific elite has divorced themselves from common sense , natural law , and the rest of the human species in their quest for full spectrum domination .
The very genetic code of the planet ’ s biosphere is being overwritten ; The ultimate goal being the ability to manipulate , patent and program at will the biological processes of all life .
Tom Knight , professor at MIT ’ s Artificial Intelligence Lab , said in 2007 that “ The genetic code is 3.6 billion years old .
It ’ s time for a rewrite.
” In 2013 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future of synthetic biology : Synthetic biology , according to a 2005 European Commission paper is “ …the engineering of biology… the synthesis of complex , biologically based ( or inspired ) systems which display functions that do not exist in nature.
” Geneticist Craig Venter is a pioneer in the field of synthetic biology .
In 2010 the media hailed his team ’ s success in creating “ the first self-replicating species we ’ ve had on the planet whose parent is a computer.
” Venter and Google teamed up at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Edge Billionaire dinner – comparable to the secretive Bilderberg group – is an annual gathering of tech elites that has hosted Jeffery Epstein , Craig Venter , Bill Gates , Jeff Bezos , Larry Page , Bill Joy and many others .
Physicist Freeman Dyson described the individuals leading this group as having god-like power to create entirely new species on earth in a “ New Age of Wonder ” .
He describes them as : “ …a new generation of artists , writing genomes as fluently as Blake and Byron wrote verses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flowers and fruit and trees and birds to enrich the ecology of our planet.
” As revealed in the 2005 book “ The Google Story “ , Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin met with Craig Venter – credited with creating synthetic life – at the Edge Billionaires meeting .
Also present were representatives from the U.S. State Department , Bill Gates , Anne Wojcicki , Bill Joy and dozens of other tech company CEO ’ s and scientists .
The authors write , “ Not long after the dinner in California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Venter .
The biologist gained access to Google ’ s immense computing power and personnel.
” Coronavirus vaccine to use synthetic DNA created by computers The New York Times reported on the developing vaccine technology in 2015 .
As the Times reported , animal tests on the synthetic DNA vaccine “ are essentially re-engineering the animals to resist disease.
” Now , research-backed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will use genetic code created by computers in a potential coronavirus vaccine .
As reported , the Gates-funded synthetic biologists believe that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with self-assembling nanoparticles that will be injected into your body : “ With all due respect to nature , synthetic biologists believe they can do better .
Using computers , they are designing new , self-assembling protein nanoparticles studded with viral proteins , called antigens : these porcupine-like particles would be the guts of a vaccine.
” Another Gates-funded Malaria vaccine technology from Inovio aims to use electrical current to open cells and deliver synthetic DNA : Alex Jones covers what is on the horizon with COVID-19 , the lockdown , the vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run your life .

An arrogant scientific elite has divorced themselves from common sense, natural law, and the rest of the human species in their quest for full spectrum domination.
The very genetic code of the planet’s biosphere is being overwritten; The ultimate goal being the ability to manipulate, patent and program at will the biological processes of all life.
Tom Knight, professor at MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Lab, said in 2007 that “The genetic code is 3.6 billion years old. It’s time for a rewrite.”
In 2013, Fidelity Investments published a video outlining the future of synthetic biology:
Thinking Big: Synthetic Biology, Fidelity from Tian Hughes on Vimeo.
Synthetic biology, according to a 2005 European Commission paper is “…the engineering of biology… the synthesis of complex, biologically based (or inspired) systems which display functions that do not exist in nature.”
Geneticist Craig Venter is a pioneer in the field of synthetic biology. In 2010 the media hailed his team’s success in creating “the first self-replicating species we’ve had on the planet whose parent is a computer.”
Venter and Google teamed up at secretive gathering that hosted Jeffery Epstein
The Edge Billionaire dinner – comparable to the secretive Bilderberg group – is an annual gathering of tech elites that has hosted Jeffery Epstein, Craig Venter, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Larry Page, Bill Joy and many others.
Physicist Freeman Dyson described the individuals leading this group as having god-like power to create entirely new species on earth in a “New Age of Wonder”. He describes them as:
“…a new generation of artists, writing genomes as fluently as Blake and Byron wrote verses, might create an abundance of new flowers and fruit and trees and birds to enrich the ecology of our planet.”
As revealed in the 2005 book “The Google Story“, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin met with Craig Venter – credited with creating synthetic life – at the Edge Billionaires meeting.
Also present were representatives from the U.S. State Department, Bill Gates, Anne Wojcicki, Bill Joy and dozens of other tech company CEO’s and scientists. The authors write, “Not long after the dinner in California, Brin and Page teamed up with Venter. The biologist gained access to Google’s immense computing power and personnel.”
Coronavirus vaccine to use synthetic DNA created by computers
The New York Times reported on the developing vaccine technology in 2015. As the Times reported, animal tests on the synthetic DNA vaccine “are essentially re-engineering the animals to resist disease.”
Now, research-backed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will use genetic code created by computers in a potential coronavirus vaccine.
As reported, the Gates-funded synthetic biologists believe that they can “do better” than nature with self-assembling nanoparticles that will be injected into your body:
“With all due respect to nature, synthetic biologists believe they can do better. Using computers, they are designing new, self-assembling protein nanoparticles studded with viral proteins, called antigens: these porcupine-like particles would be the guts of a vaccine.”
Another Gates-funded Malaria vaccine technology from Inovio aims to use electrical current to open cells and deliver synthetic DNA:
Alex Jones covers what is on the horizon with COVID-19, the lockdown, the vaccine, and how Big Tech wants to run your life.


newswars--2020-05-22--IKEA to Employ “Social Distance Wardens” to Patrol Shoppers

IKEA is set to employ “ social distance wardens ” who tell people how to behave in stores as a whole new jobs market for Karens is created .
The Swedish furniture giant announced today that it would open 19 of its stores across the UK on June 1st .
However , families hoping to make a day of visiting the store can forget about it – only one adult and one child per household is allowed .
“ Other measures to ensure safer trading during the coronavirus outbreak include “ social distance wardens ” to help shoppers navigate a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guardian .
Get ready ; Our whole society is about to be patrolled by a new breed of busy-bodies telling you how to behave , where to stand , where to sit , where you can walk .
Karens all over the world are rejoicing at the prospect of getting paid for what they love the most – interfering in other people ’ s business .
All this in response to a virus which , according to the CDC , has a fatality rate of 0.26 % , making it no more deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ re pedantically re-arranging our entire society around social distancing cringe and empowering an army of new enforcers to make our lives miserable .
All in the name of transitioning out of a lockdown which , according to innumerable experts , will be responsible for more deaths than coronavirus itself .
My voice is being silenced by free speech-hating Silicon Valley behemoths who want me disappeared forever .
It is CRUCIAL that you support me .
Please sign up for the free newsletter here .
Donate to me on SubscribeStar here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – a supercharged boost of clean energy without the comedown .

IKEA is set to employ “social distance wardens” who tell people how to behave in stores as a whole new jobs market for Karens is created.
The Swedish furniture giant announced today that it would open 19 of its stores across the UK on June 1st.
However, families hoping to make a day of visiting the store can forget about it – only one adult and one child per household is allowed.
“Other measures to ensure safer trading during the coronavirus outbreak include “social distance wardens” to help shoppers navigate a new one-way system,” reports the Guardian.
Get ready; Our whole society is about to be patrolled by a new breed of busy-bodies telling you how to behave, where to stand, where to sit, where you can walk.
Karens all over the world are rejoicing at the prospect of getting paid for what they love the most – interfering in other people’s business.
All this in response to a virus which, according to the CDC, has a fatality rate of 0.26%, making it no more deadly than a bad bout of seasonal flu.
We’re pedantically re-arranging our entire society around social distancing cringe and empowering an army of new enforcers to make our lives miserable.
All in the name of transitioning out of a lockdown which, according to innumerable experts, will be responsible for more deaths than coronavirus itself.
Genius.
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Please sign up for the free newsletter here. Donate to me on SubscribeStar here.
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newswars--2020-05-22--Watch: Democrat Rep. Tells Biden, ‘I’m Black, and I’m Voting For Trump’

A Democrat representative from Georgia slammed comments from presumptive 2020 Democrat nominee Joe Biden , who asserted black people aren ’ t black if they vote for Donald Trump .
In a video message posted to Twitter Friday , Ga. State House Rep. Vernon Jones ( D ) rebuked comments made by Biden on the Breakfast Club morning show , where he told host Charlamagne the God , “ Well , I tell you what , if you have a problem figuring out whether you ’ re for me or Trump , then you ain ’ t black.
” Taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he ’ s tired of liberal democrats believing they can tell black people how to think .
“ First of all , I have a problem with his choice of language .
And secondly , this is a prime example of how liberal democrats , they love to dictate the way black people should think.
” “ Well , you know what ?
I have a message for Joe Biden .
Let me be clear about one thing : I ain ’ t voting for you , but I am black .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ J. Trump .
You got me Joe Biden and those other liberals who think you can think for us ?
Now we ’ re not even black if we don ’ t vote for you ?
What an insult !
” Biden ’ s stunning comments went viral after the interview premiered Friday , spawning social media hashtags # JoeBidenIsARacist and # YouAintBlack .
Biden senior adviser Symone Sanders , who said in 2016 , “ we don ’ t need white people leading the Democratic party , ” scrambled to defend Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ in jest.
” Joe Biden has finally found an adversary worthy of his formidable genius .
Who is this mystery man ?
The answer may shock you…

A Democrat representative from Georgia slammed comments from presumptive 2020 Democrat nominee Joe Biden, who asserted black people aren’t black if they vote for Donald Trump.
In a video message posted to Twitter Friday, Ga. State House Rep. Vernon Jones (D) rebuked comments made by Biden on the Breakfast Club morning show, where he told host Charlamagne the God, “Well, I tell you what, if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.”
Taking offense to the remark, Rep. Jones said he’s tired of liberal democrats believing they can tell black people how to think.
“First of all, I have a problem with his choice of language. And secondly, this is a prime example of how liberal democrats, they love to dictate the way black people should think.”
“Well, you know what? I have a message for Joe Biden. Let me be clear about one thing: I ain’t voting for you, but I am black. And I am voting for President Donald J. Trump. You got me Joe Biden and those other liberals who think you can think for us? Now we’re not even black if we don’t vote for you? What an insult!”
Biden’s stunning comments went viral after the interview premiered Friday, spawning social media hashtags #JoeBidenIsARacist and #YouAintBlack.
Biden senior adviser Symone Sanders, who said in 2016, “we don’t need white people leading the Democratic party,” scrambled to defend Biden’s comments claiming they were made “in jest.”
The comments made at the end of the Breakfast Club interview were in jest, but let’s be clear about what the VP was saying: he was making the distinction that he would put his record with the African American community up against Trump’s any day. Period. — Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) May 22, 2020
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Joe Biden has finally found an adversary worthy of his formidable genius. Who is this mystery man? The answer may shock you…


newswars--2020-05-22--Why Those COVID-19 Models Aren’t Real Science

Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis , Americans have been told countless times that public policy was based on Science ( with a capital S ) and that the public should just obey the scientists .
But the accuracy of their predictions and the consequent appropriateness of policies seems to have been little better than Ask Dr. Science and the 0 percent accuracy rate of its answers .
In fact , the massive errors in measurement that have been part and parcel of the scientific COVID Kops show should bring us back to what Lord Kelvin said about science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not measure it , then it is not science ” and “ your theory is apt to be based more upon imagination than upon knowledge.
” To get an idea of how serious the COVID measurement problems are , one need only look to the two medical experts most commonly appearing on our TV screens .
Dr. Anthony Fauci recently testified his belief that its death toll is “ almost certainly higher ” than reported , because “ there may have been people who died at home who did have COVID , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never really got to the hospital.
” In contrast , the Washington Post recently reported that Deborah Birx believes that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s ( CDC ) accounting system is double counting some cases , boosting case and mortality measurements “ by as much as 25 percent.
” And what could be a clearer statement of the measurement problems than Birx ’ s assertion that “ there is nothing from the CDC that I can trust ” ?
The mangled measurements have been with us from the beginning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were ( and still are ) frequently undetected .
That means that we have undercounted how many people have ( or have had ) the disease .
It also means that we have overestimated the risk of contagion , which is perhaps the most crucial determinant of COVID ’ s risk to others .
Early on , there were a very limited number of tests and many of the first ones were faulty .
So , as increasing numbers are being tested , especially systematically , rather than just targeting those who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must disentangle the portion of the uptick of reported cases , and the implied downward adjustment of the odds of death and the risk of spread , caused by testing more of the population to determine whether there is an increasing incidence of the disease .
When tests for COVID antibodies started to be done , it also suggested that more had already been exposed , changing the critical numbers again .
And then there are questions about herd immunity , including whether sheltering at home actually undermines its development .
Similarly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in particular areas overstated the risk to others , since those who have gotten better and are not a potential source of contagion are still included in those counts .
This continuing evolution of what Science tells us reveals that what we are being told at any given time is highly likely to be revised , if not reversed , soon , and perhaps repeatedly .
That should make us leery of all claims , including forecasts , premised on the truth of current Science .
And if that weren ’ t bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basic data has been compromised .
In some places , reported COVID deaths have included everyone who has it when they die , overstating ( to a degree that we can ’ t know without more detailed information than we now have , and may ever have , for many cases ) COVID risks .
The director of the Illinois Department of Public Health , Dr. Ngozi Ezike , illustrated the problem when she said , “ if you were in hospice and had already been given a few weeks to live , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have COVID , that would be counted as a COVID death… .
[ E ] ven if you died of clear alternative cause , but you had COVID at the same time , it ’ s still listed as a COVID death.
” Further , the miscounting is often not due to judgments about shades of gray .
For instance , Colorado counted a man who died of acute alcohol poisoning ( his blood alcohol content ( BAC ) was 0.55 , when 0.30 is considered lethal ) as a COVID death .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ only deaths caused by COVID , its total fell from 1,150 to only 878 .
New York has also counted as COVID deaths cases involving flulike symptoms , even when postmortem COVID tests have been negative .
CDC guidance explicitly advises that “ suspected ” cases , even in the absence of test evidence , can be reported as COVID deaths .
That is why the New York Times could report that on April 21 the city death toll was augmented by “ 3,700 additional people who were presumed to have died of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Then there is also lots of evidence that bears on appropriate COVID policy .
For instance , Charles Murray has demonstrated that “ The relationship of population density to the spread of the coronavirus creates sets of policy options that are radically different in high-density and low-density areas , ” so that “ too many people in high places , in government and the media , have been acting as if there is a right and moral policy toward the pandemic that applies throughout America .
That ’ s wrong.
” Randal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding that “ mass transportation systems offer an effective way of accelerating the spread of infectious diseases , ” that “ people who use mass transit were nearly six times more likely to have acute respiratory infections than those who don ’ t , ” that New York City subways were “ a major disseminator—if not the principal transmission vehicle—of coronavirus infection , ” and that there is “ a strong state‐by‐state correlation between transit and coronavirus , ” to ask why mass transit systems were not shuttered to stop the harm .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of New York ’ s Metropolitan Transit Authority was infected by the virus and the head of New Jersey Transit actually died from it.
” All this evidence reveals that the COVID Science and conclusions Americans were supposed to follow unquestioningly have been incredibly incomplete or wrong , with the stability of quicksand .
Such Science is too frail a reed to depend on in making policies with multitrillion dollar price tags .
What it does support is much more humility , reflecting Kelvin ’ s recognition that : When you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and express it in numbers , you know something about it ; but when you can not measure it , when you can not express it in numbers , your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind ; it may be the beginning of knowledge , but you have scarcely , in your thoughts advanced to the stage of science .

Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, Americans have been told countless times that public policy was based on Science (with a capital S) and that the public should just obey the scientists.
But the accuracy of their predictions and the consequent appropriateness of policies seems to have been little better than Ask Dr. Science and the 0 percent accuracy rate of its answers.
In fact, the massive errors in measurement that have been part and parcel of the scientific COVID Kops show should bring us back to what Lord Kelvin said about science and measurement: “If you cannot measure it, then it is not science” and “your theory is apt to be based more upon imagination than upon knowledge.”
To get an idea of how serious the COVID measurement problems are, one need only look to the two medical experts most commonly appearing on our TV screens. Dr. Anthony Fauci recently testified his belief that its death toll is “almost certainly higher” than reported, because “there may have been people who died at home who did have COVID, who were not counted as COVID because they never really got to the hospital.” In contrast, the Washington Post recently reported that Deborah Birx believes that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) accounting system is double counting some cases, boosting case and mortality measurements “by as much as 25 percent.” And what could be a clearer statement of the measurement problems than Birx’s assertion that “there is nothing from the CDC that I can trust”?
The mangled measurements have been with us from the beginning of the COVID crisis.
Mild cases were (and still are) frequently undetected. That means that we have undercounted how many people have (or have had) the disease. It also means that we have overestimated the risk of contagion, which is perhaps the most crucial determinant of COVID’s risk to others.
Early on, there were a very limited number of tests and many of the first ones were faulty. So, as increasing numbers are being tested, especially systematically, rather than just targeting those who are already suspected of having COVID, we must disentangle the portion of the uptick of reported cases, and the implied downward adjustment of the odds of death and the risk of spread, caused by testing more of the population to determine whether there is an increasing incidence of the disease. When tests for COVID antibodies started to be done, it also suggested that more had already been exposed, changing the critical numbers again. And then there are questions about herd immunity, including whether sheltering at home actually undermines its development. Similarly, the constantly updated numbers of COVID cases in particular areas overstated the risk to others, since those who have gotten better and are not a potential source of contagion are still included in those counts.
This continuing evolution of what Science tells us reveals that what we are being told at any given time is highly likely to be revised, if not reversed, soon, and perhaps repeatedly. That should make us leery of all claims, including forecasts, premised on the truth of current Science. And if that weren’t bad enough, even the accuracy of the basic data has been compromised.
In some places, reported COVID deaths have included everyone who has it when they die, overstating (to a degree that we can’t know without more detailed information than we now have, and may ever have, for many cases) COVID risks. The director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, illustrated the problem when she said, “if you were in hospice and had already been given a few weeks to live, and then you also were found to have COVID, that would be counted as a COVID death….[E]ven if you died of clear alternative cause, but you had COVID at the same time, it’s still listed as a COVID death.” Further, the miscounting is often not due to judgments about shades of gray. For instance, Colorado counted a man who died of acute alcohol poisoning (his blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.55, when 0.30 is considered lethal) as a COVID death. And when the state recounted to include only deaths caused by COVID, its total fell from 1,150 to only 878.
New York has also counted as COVID deaths cases involving flulike symptoms, even when postmortem COVID tests have been negative. CDC guidance explicitly advises that “suspected” cases, even in the absence of test evidence, can be reported as COVID deaths. That is why the New York Times could report that on April 21 the city death toll was augmented by “3,700 additional people who were presumed to have died of the coronavirus but had never tested positive.”
Then there is also lots of evidence that bears on appropriate COVID policy. For instance, Charles Murray has demonstrated that “The relationship of population density to the spread of the coronavirus creates sets of policy options that are radically different in high-density and low-density areas,” so that “too many people in high places, in government and the media, have been acting as if there is a right and moral policy toward the pandemic that applies throughout America. That’s wrong.”
Randal O’Toole has also cited studies finding that “mass transportation systems offer an effective way of accelerating the spread of infectious diseases,” that “people who use mass transit were nearly six times more likely to have acute respiratory infections than those who don’t,” that New York City subways were “a major disseminator—if not the principal transmission vehicle—of coronavirus infection,” and that there is “a strong state‐by‐state correlation between transit and coronavirus,” to ask why mass transit systems were not shuttered to stop the harm. Elsewhere, he noted that “The head of New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority was infected by the virus and the head of New Jersey Transit actually died from it.”
All this evidence reveals that the COVID Science and conclusions Americans were supposed to follow unquestioningly have been incredibly incomplete or wrong, with the stability of quicksand. Such Science is too frail a reed to depend on in making policies with multitrillion dollar price tags. What it does support is much more humility, reflecting Kelvin’s recognition that:
When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of knowledge, but you have scarcely, in your thoughts advanced to the stage of science.


newswars--2020-05-22--Obama’s Ambassador To Beijing Compares Trump To Hitler On Chinese TV

Since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak , American leftists have been repeatedly caught parroting the rhetoric of the CCP as they decried President Trump ’ s use of the term “ Chinese Virus ” as racist while amplifying unfounded claims that President Trump is solely responsible for all of the deaths in the US , despite the growing body of evidence that the coronavirus was spreading in the US even earlier than initially believed ( the first known death has been dated to Feb. 6 in California , which suggests the virus was likely spreading in the US before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reminder , China didn ’ t inform the world about the evidence of human to human transmission ( which they likely possessed for 6+ weeks at that point ) until Jan. 22 .
Despite all of this , Democrats have taken a distinctly “ soft on China ” tack , in opposition to President Trump ’ s increasing hawkishness , even going so far as to side with the CCP ( which , remember , just put 1 million+ Muslims into concentration camps ) over the White House , as the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, American leftists have been repeatedly caught parroting the rhetoric of the CCP as they decried President Trump’s use of the term “Chinese Virus” as racist while amplifying unfounded claims that President Trump is solely responsible for all of the deaths in the US, despite the growing body of evidence that the coronavirus was spreading in the US even earlier than initially believed (the first known death has been dated to Feb. 6 in California, which suggests the virus was likely spreading in the US before the end of January).
As a reminder, China didn’t inform the world about the evidence of human to human transmission (which they likely possessed for 6+ weeks at that point) until Jan. 22.
Despite all of this, Democrats have taken a distinctly “soft on China” tack, in opposition to President Trump’s increasing hawkishness, even going so far as to side with the CCP (which, remember, just put 1 million+ Muslims into concentration camps) over the White House, as the National Review pointed out in a recent article.
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