wnd--2020-05-15--Cops lecture parents about son's toy gun – after Zoom snitch

There 's really nothing worse than neighbors ratting out neighbors .
But that 's what Democrats are urging citizens to do across the country .
And more often than not innocent Americans are getting caught in the cross-hairs .
Sheila Perez Smith tells `` The Todd Starnes Show '' that she was stunned when the police showed up at her home near Harrisburg , Pennsylvania .
Mrs. Smith 's 7-year-old son had just completed a Zoom class from the den of their home when she received an urgent email from her son 's first-grade teacher .
It just so happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gifted a toy gun , and the child had placed his `` new favorite thing '' on the table next to the computer .
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Many of you have complained that you never see our content in your news feeds .
There 's only one way to fight back — and that 's by subscribing to my FREE weekly newsletter .
Click here .
`` Another parent had been very uncomfortable by the fact that the gun had been in view of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on my radio show .
`` It 's such an innocent thing that someone used to make a judgment and an accusation . ''
A few hours after they received the email , there was a knock at the front door .
It was the police .
`` The police officer came to our door right after breakfast and asked us to step outside of our home as a result of the Zoom call , '' she told me .
Mrs. Smith 's husband tried to explain to the officer that there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the toy gun their son had received .
`` He essentially lectured us on child safety and the fact that our children are too young to interact with any guns and weapons , '' she said .
The officer said it did not matter that it was a toy gun , and he continued to lecture the couple .
`` I said , this is a toy .
No one is unsafe in our home .
Everyone is safe and well and healthy , '' she said .
`` They took it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some sort of chance we had weapons in the home . ''
Mrs. Smith said her children were terrified by the police visit .
`` They were scared their parents were going to go to jail that day for something that was completely untrue , '' she said .
The family was not cited , and there were no follow-up visits from authorities , but they were definitely shaken by the ordeal .
`` What really troubled me was the fact that someone made a claim , an accusation with zero facts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely bogus , and it left our kids really scared . ''
Life is returning to normal for the Smith family , but they have made one important decision regarding education .
`` We opted out of Zoom calls , '' she said .
The German government perfected the process of snitching on neighbors during the 1920s and '30s – leading up to World World II .
It 's horrifying to imagine that such tendencies might exist in modern-day America .

There's really nothing worse than neighbors ratting out neighbors. But that's what Democrats are urging citizens to do across the country. And more often than not innocent Americans are getting caught in the cross-hairs.
Sheila Perez Smith tells "The Todd Starnes Show" that she was stunned when the police showed up at her home near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Smith's 7-year-old son had just completed a Zoom class from the den of their home when she received an urgent email from her son's first-grade teacher.
It just so happened that the little boy had recently been gifted a toy gun, and the child had placed his "new favorite thing" on the table next to the computer.
Note: Social media is cracking down on Conservative content. Many of you have complained that you never see our content in your news feeds. There's only one way to fight back — and that's by subscribing to my FREE weekly newsletter. Click here.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"Another parent had been very uncomfortable by the fact that the gun had been in view of the Zoom call," Mrs. Smith said on my radio show. "It's such an innocent thing that someone used to make a judgment and an accusation."
A few hours after they received the email, there was a knock at the front door. It was the police.
"The police officer came to our door right after breakfast and asked us to step outside of our home as a result of the Zoom call," she told me.
Mrs. Smith's husband tried to explain to the officer that there were no guns in the house – other than the toy gun their son had received.
"He essentially lectured us on child safety and the fact that our children are too young to interact with any guns and weapons," she said.
The officer said it did not matter that it was a toy gun, and he continued to lecture the couple.
"I said, this is a toy. No one is unsafe in our home. Everyone is safe and well and healthy," she said. "They took it very seriously, as if there was some sort of chance we had weapons in the home."
Mrs. Smith said her children were terrified by the police visit.
"They were scared their parents were going to go to jail that day for something that was completely untrue," she said.
The family was not cited, and there were no follow-up visits from authorities, but they were definitely shaken by the ordeal.
"What really troubled me was the fact that someone made a claim, an accusation with zero facts," she said. "It was completely bogus, and it left our kids really scared."
Life is returning to normal for the Smith family, but they have made one important decision regarding education.
"We opted out of Zoom calls," she said.
The German government perfected the process of snitching on neighbors during the 1920s and '30s – leading up to World World II. It's horrifying to imagine that such tendencies might exist in modern-day America.


wnd--2020-05-15--Lockdown lawsuit: Doctors hit Gov. Whitmer with lawsuit over medical 'time bomb'

( WASHINGTON TIMES ) Medical professionals and a patient in Michigan have filed a lawsuit against Democratic Gov .
Gretchen @ @ @ @ @ between her and those favoring relaxing the economic shutdown she has imposed in response to @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit in federal court comes at a time when Ms. Whitmer continues to engage in @ @ @ @ @ 77-year-old barber , who has defied various orders and as of Thursday morning continued to @ @ @ @ @ shop .
The plaintiffs allege in federal court that Ms. Whitmer ’ s “ drastic @ @ @ @ @ unilateral executive actions ” to cease economic activity that her office deemed nonessential were based @ @ @ @ @ models that no longer apply and therefore should be lifted .

(WASHINGTON TIMES) Medical professionals and a patient in Michigan have filed a lawsuit against Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as the battles grow between her and those favoring relaxing the economic shutdown she has imposed in response to the coronavirus crisis.
Their lawsuit in federal court comes at a time when Ms. Whitmer continues to engage in a public spat with a 77-year-old barber, who has defied various orders and as of Thursday morning continued to cut hair at his Owosso shop.
The plaintiffs allege in federal court that Ms. Whitmer’s “drastic, unprecedented [and] unilateral executive actions” to cease economic activity that her office deemed nonessential were based on “grossly inaccurate” models that no longer apply and therefore should be lifted.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-05-15--Republican set to lobby for Big Tech's right to censor conservatives

( BREITBART ) Bradley Smith , a law professor and former Republican Federal Election Commissioner , is set to serve @ @ @ @ @ new advocacy group aimed at defending Big Tech companies from regulation .
Smith previously ran @ @ @ @ @ Speech , ” which similarly opposed the regulation of Silicon Valley giants .
As Breitbart @ @ @ @ @ new lobbying group called “ American Edge ” is being set up with the quiet @ @ @ @ @ group ’ s aim is to defend big tech against Republican and Democrat efforts to @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the Washington Post , which broke the story , the group will @ @ @ @ @ are “ essential ” to free speech on the internet .

(BREITBART) Bradley Smith, a law professor and former Republican Federal Election Commissioner, is set to serve on the board of a new advocacy group aimed at defending Big Tech companies from regulation. Smith previously ran the “Institute for Free Speech,” which similarly opposed the regulation of Silicon Valley giants.
As Breitbart News reported yesterday, a new lobbying group called “American Edge” is being set up with the quiet support of Facebook. The group’s aim is to defend big tech against Republican and Democrat efforts to rein in their unaccountable power.
According to the Washington Post, which broke the story, the group will argue that Big Tech companies are “essential” to free speech on the internet.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-05-16--College students join together to combat Chinese influence on American universities

A bipartisan student-led effort to rid American college campuses of Chinese government influence is calling on institutions of higher learning to sever ties with Confucius Institutes .
Confucius Institutes are funded by the Chinese government and are prevalent on campuses across the country .
The Confucius Institute at the University of Oklahoma , for example , has a stated purpose of supporting “ Oklahoma educators in their efforts to teach the Chinese language , and to assist Oklahoma businesses that wish to do business in the Chinese speaking world.
” But the programs are controversial , particularly given the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there have been concerns about China ’ s taking advantage of its influence on American education through propaganda and disinformation .
While Democratic politicians nationally have largely kowtowed to China , even as the country struggles with a pandemic which originated from China ’ s suppression of information about the coronavirus , students are ready to expel Chinese influence from their schools , and the issue has bipartisan support .
The Athenai Institute , which was recently formed and describes itself as a “ nonprofit dedicated to limiting the influence of the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” is calling on schools to sever all ties with communist China .
In a letter that was signed by the national chairs of both the College Republicans and College Democrats , Athenai demanded the closure of the Confucius Institutes and “ full and public disclosure of all ties , both financial and academic , between centers of higher learning and all Chinese state agencies and proxies.
” '' The Chinese government ’ s flagrant attempts to coerce and control discourse at universities in the United States and around the world pose an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know it .
It is a civic and moral imperative that we protect that freedom , ” the letter read .
Athenai was started “ in consultation with activists including Yang Jianli , Teng Biao , and Nury Turkel , Athenai advocates for free discussion of human rights abuses on campuses by pushing student governments and university administrations to close Confucius Institutes , disclose ties to authoritarian governments , and establish mechanisms and policies to prevent the Chinese regime and other authoritarian governments from encroaching on academic discourse , ” the group explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hawley of Missouri challenged the influence of Confucius Institutes in 2019 , describing them as “ a known threat to academic freedom , ” and “ a danger to our national defense and security , ” according to National Review .
Hawley was particularly concerned about the influence of communist China on campuses at the University of Missouri and the Missouri-based Webster University .
But the potential for China to impact American education is far-reaching .
The National Association of Scholars estimates there are currently 86 Confucius Institutes on campuses in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has sponsored Confucius Institutes on college and university campuses around the world .
An agency of the Chinese Ministry of Education , called the Hanban , provides teachers , textbooks , and operating funds , ” an article on the NAS website read .
Some of the institutes have closed since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic , but the Athenai Institute , which is led by students , wants them removed from all campuses nationwide immediately .
At National Review , Rachelle Peterson reported on the nefarious motivations of the Chinese presence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger is subtle .
Confucius Institutes teach the Chinese government ’ s preferred version of Chinese culture , a version whitewashed of Muslim Uighurs , 1 million of whom are currently held in concentration camps in Xinjiang .
Confucius Institute teachers , Chinese nationals hired and paid by the Chinese government , are coached to omit the Tiananmen Square massacre and to represent Taiwan as part of China , ” Peterson wrote .
In its letter , the Athenai Institute outlined serious concerns about how Confucius Institutes parrot Chinese “ propaganda ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against universities.
” The group particularly called out China for its human rights abuses and its censorship of free speech .
While Democrats such as presumptive nominee Joe Biden have either a blind spot or a soft spot with regard to the problem posed by Chinese interests in America , these students seem to understand that China is no ally to global freedom .
Unlike the old guard of Democrats , young Democratic leadership is willing to sign on to protect the rights of American students to receive an education that is at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is something that should be recognized .
Indeed , it signals that the next generation of Democrats might be willing to protect their sovereign rights and recognize that China is a threat to Democracy and is currently the country 's greatest geopolitical foe .
“ The world is watching , and the fate of liberal democracy -- based on the fundamental dignity of the human person -- depends on our success , ” the Athenai Institute concluded in its letter .
Republicans on the House Oversight Committee announced an investigation into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , according to National Review .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

A bipartisan student-led effort to rid American college campuses of Chinese government influence is calling on institutions of higher learning to sever ties with Confucius Institutes.
Confucius Institutes are funded by the Chinese government and are prevalent on campuses across the country.
The Confucius Institute at the University of Oklahoma, for example, has a stated purpose of supporting “Oklahoma educators in their efforts to teach the Chinese language, and to assist Oklahoma businesses that wish to do business in the Chinese speaking world.”
But the programs are controversial, particularly given the country’s current health situation, and there have been concerns about China’s taking advantage of its influence on American education through propaganda and disinformation.
While Democratic politicians nationally have largely kowtowed to China, even as the country struggles with a pandemic which originated from China’s suppression of information about the coronavirus, students are ready to expel Chinese influence from their schools, and the issue has bipartisan support.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The Athenai Institute, which was recently formed and describes itself as a “nonprofit dedicated to limiting the influence of the Chinese Communist Party on U.S. college campuses,” is calling on schools to sever all ties with communist China.
In a letter that was signed by the national chairs of both the College Republicans and College Democrats, Athenai demanded the closure of the Confucius Institutes and “full and public disclosure of all ties, both financial and academic, between centers of higher learning and all Chinese state agencies and proxies.”
"The Chinese government’s flagrant attempts to coerce and control discourse at universities in the United States and around the world pose an existential threat to academic freedom as we know it. It is a civic and moral imperative that we protect that freedom,” the letter read.
Athenai was started “in consultation with activists including Yang Jianli, Teng Biao, and Nury Turkel, Athenai advocates for free discussion of human rights abuses on campuses by pushing student governments and university administrations to close Confucius Institutes, disclose ties to authoritarian governments, and establish mechanisms and policies to prevent the Chinese regime and other authoritarian governments from encroaching on academic discourse,” the group explained on its website.
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri challenged the influence of Confucius Institutes in 2019, describing them as “a known threat to academic freedom,” and “a danger to our national defense and security,” according to National Review.
Hawley was particularly concerned about the influence of communist China on campuses at the University of Missouri and the Missouri-based Webster University.
But the potential for China to impact American education is far-reaching.
The National Association of Scholars estimates there are currently 86 Confucius Institutes on campuses in the U.S.
“Since 2004, the Chinese government has sponsored Confucius Institutes on college and university campuses around the world. An agency of the Chinese Ministry of Education, called the Hanban, provides teachers, textbooks, and operating funds,” an article on the NAS website read.
Some of the institutes have closed since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, but the Athenai Institute, which is led by students, wants them removed from all campuses nationwide immediately.
At National Review, Rachelle Peterson reported on the nefarious motivations of the Chinese presence on American schools.
“The greater danger is subtle. Confucius Institutes teach the Chinese government’s preferred version of Chinese culture, a version whitewashed of Muslim Uighurs, 1 million of whom are currently held in concentration camps in Xinjiang. Confucius Institute teachers, Chinese nationals hired and paid by the Chinese government, are coached to omit the Tiananmen Square massacre and to represent Taiwan as part of China,” Peterson wrote.
In its letter, the Athenai Institute outlined serious concerns about how Confucius Institutes parrot Chinese “propaganda” and use “the threat of financial pressure against universities.”
The group particularly called out China for its human rights abuses and its censorship of free speech.
While Democrats such as presumptive nominee Joe Biden have either a blind spot or a soft spot with regard to the problem posed by Chinese interests in America, these students seem to understand that China is no ally to global freedom.
Unlike the old guard of Democrats, young Democratic leadership is willing to sign on to protect the rights of American students to receive an education that is at least free of Chinese influence, and that is something that should be recognized.
Indeed, it signals that the next generation of Democrats might be willing to protect their sovereign rights and recognize that China is a threat to Democracy and is currently the country's greatest geopolitical foe.
“The world is watching, and the fate of liberal democracy -- based on the fundamental dignity of the human person -- depends on our success,” the Athenai Institute concluded in its letter.
Republicans on the House Oversight Committee announced an investigation into the presence of Chinese Confucius Institutes earlier this month, according to National Review.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-05-17--Islamic cow slaughter in Home Depot parking lot prompts closure of halal meat store

( NBC NEWS ) A young cow was slaughtered in a Home Depot parking lot in public view , and @ @ @ @ @ the business that owned the livestock is closed , and in hot water with multiple @ @ @ @ @ agencies .
This involved the Saba meat store in Bloomfield , which had multiple live @ @ @ @ @ and advertises it prepares its products observing all Islamic laws .

(NBC NEWS) A young cow was slaughtered in a Home Depot parking lot in public view, and NBC Connecticut Investigates has learned the business that owned the livestock is closed, and in hot water with multiple local, state and federal agencies.
This involved the Saba meat store in Bloomfield, which had multiple live animals on its premises, and advertises it prepares its products observing all Islamic laws.
Police dashcam obtained exclusively by NBC Connecticut Investigates tells the story.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-05-17--Ohio professor the latest to be arrested over China ties

( CAMPUS REFORM ) A Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine professor and former Cleveland Clinic employee was arrested @ @ @ @ @ to China .
The Justice Department announced that Qing Wang was arrested at his Shaker @ @ @ @ @ part of a joint operation conducted by the FBI and the Department of Health and @ @ @ @ @ Inspector-General .
Wang was charged with wire fraud related to more than $ 3.6 million @ @ @ @ @ and his research team at the Cleveland Clinic had received from the National Institutes of @ @ @ @ @ criminal complaint , Wang failed to disclose affiliations with Chinese universities .
He also allegedly @ @ @ @ @ had received grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China for a nearly identical @ @ @ @ @ the title Dean of the College of Life Sciences and Technology at Huazhong University of @ @ @ @

(CAMPUS REFORM) A Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine professor and former Cleveland Clinic employee was arrested Wednesday over his alleged ties to China.
The Justice Department announced that Qing Wang was arrested at his Shaker Heights, Ohio home as part of a joint operation conducted by the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Service Office of the Inspector-General. Wang was charged with wire fraud related to more than $3.6 million in grant funding that Wang and his research team at the Cleveland Clinic had received from the National Institutes of Health.
According to the criminal complaint, Wang failed to disclose affiliations with Chinese universities. He also allegedly failed to disclose that he had received grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China for a nearly identical research project. He held the title Dean of the College of Life Sciences and Technology at Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-05-17--Academics say using wedding or family photo for Zoom background is offensive

( COLLEGE FIX ) If an attendee of a virtual meeting has an image of their heterosexual wedding as his @ @ @ @ @ they are committing a microaggression .
So says a pair of researchers in a Michigan @ @ @ @ @ According to MSU ’ s Amy Bonomi , director of the university ’ s Children @ @ @ @ @ Neila Viveiros , associate vice chancellor for academic operations at the University of Colorado Denver @ @ @ @ @ virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom and Skype has created “ a ripe setting for @ @ @ @ @ setting your background to an image of your wedding .

(COLLEGE FIX) If an attendee of a virtual meeting has an image of their heterosexual wedding as his or her virtual background, they are committing a microaggression.
So says a pair of researchers in a Michigan State University press release.
According to MSU’s Amy Bonomi, director of the university’s Children and Youth Institute, and Neila Viveiros, associate vice chancellor for academic operations at the University of Colorado Denver, the expanded use of virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom and Skype has created “a ripe setting for unconscious bias.”
This includes setting your background to an image of your wedding.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-05-17--YouTube removes John Piper's audiobook 'Coronavirus and Christ'

( FAITHWIRE ) The audiobook version of theologian John Piper ’ s latest book , “ Coronavirus and Christ , @ @ @ @ @ YouTube for “ violating community guidelines.
” Piper ’ s book , intended to help @ @ @ @ @ crises like the one we ’ re currently facing , was released for free April @ @ @ @ @ six biblical answers to the question , What is God doing through the coronavirus ?
@ @ @ @ @ at work in this moment in history , ” according to the book ’ s @ @

(FAITHWIRE) The audiobook version of theologian John Piper’s latest book, “Coronavirus and Christ,” has been removed from YouTube for “violating community guidelines.”
Piper’s book, intended to help Christians navigate the theology of crises like the one we’re currently facing, was released for free April 8 and offers readers “six biblical answers to the question, What is God doing through the coronavirus?—reminding us that God is at work in this moment in history,” according to the book’s description.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-05-16--Korean institute finds COVID-19 treatment candidate 600 times stronger than Remdesivir

( BUSINESS KOREA ) Institut Pasteur Korea announced on May 14 that nafamostat , an acute pancreatitis treatment and a @ @ @ @ @ antiviral effects against the new coronavirus .
Institut Pasteur Korea has been conducting drug recreation @ @ @ @ @ candidates for COVID-19 treatments among drugs already licensed or under development .
According to the @ @ @ @ @ strongest antiviral efficacy against the COVID-19 virus among about 3,000 drugs analyzed through cell culture @ @ @ @ @ its efficacy is approximately 600 times stronger than Ebola treatment Remdesivir , which was approved @ @ @ @ @ Drug Administration for emergency use .

(BUSINESS KOREA) Institut Pasteur Korea announced on May 14 that nafamostat, an acute pancreatitis treatment and a blood anticoagulant component, has antiviral effects against the new coronavirus.
Institut Pasteur Korea has been conducting drug recreation research since February to discover candidates for COVID-19 treatments among drugs already licensed or under development. According to the institute, nafamostat showed the strongest antiviral efficacy against the COVID-19 virus among about 3,000 drugs analyzed through cell culture experiments. In particular, its efficacy is approximately 600 times stronger than Ebola treatment Remdesivir, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-05-16--3000-year-old horned Israelite altar discovered in Samaria earns protection

( WORLD ISRAEL NEWS ) An ancient horned Israelite altar dating back 3,000 years that was in danger of being @ @ @ @ @ after having been damaged by recent building activity at the site , Makor Rishon reported @ @ @ @ @ from stone , is one of only three discovered in Israel to date and the @ @ @ @ @ according to Prof. Yoel Elitzur of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem , who discovered the @ @ @ @ @ with attorney Doron Nir-Tzvi .
“ One winter evening Doron suddenly calls me and says @ @ @ @ @ it looks to me like I have an altar in the yard.
’ I came @ @ @ @ @ were indeed absolutely talking about an altar , and from there things developed.
” Elitzur @ @ @ @

(WORLD ISRAEL NEWS) An ancient horned Israelite altar dating back 3,000 years that was in danger of being destroyed will now be protected after having been damaged by recent building activity at the site, Makor Rishon reported.
The altar, hewn from stone, is one of only three discovered in Israel to date and the most perfect of them, according to Prof. Yoel Elitzur of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who discovered the altar 17 years ago together with attorney Doron Nir-Tzvi.
“One winter evening Doron suddenly calls me and says, “‘Listen, it looks to me like I have an altar in the yard.’ I came immediately and saw that we were indeed absolutely talking about an altar, and from there things developed.” Elitzur told the paper.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-05-16--VA defends preservation of swastika headstones for Nazi troops buried in U.S. national cemeteries

( BUSINESS INSIDER ) There are Nazi troops buried in US national cemeteries with headstones adorned with swastikas , and @ @ @ @ @ for preserving the grave markers .
At Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in Texas and @ @ @ @ @ Utah , there are three headstones featuring a swastika in the center of iron cross @ @ @ @ @ the German inscription : `` He died far from his home for the Führer , @ @ @ @ @

(BUSINESS INSIDER) There are Nazi troops buried in US national cemeteries with headstones adorned with swastikas, and Veterans Affairs is taking heat for preserving the grave markers.
At Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in Texas and Fort Doublas Post Cemetery in Utah, there are three headstones featuring a swastika in the center of iron cross.
The markers also display the German inscription: "He died far from his home for the Führer, people and fatherland."
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-05-16--California town declares itself 'sanctuary city' for businesses

( WASHINGTON EXAMINER ) A central California city has declared itself a “ sanctuary city ” for businesses and will @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s stay-at-home order .
The city council in Atwater passed a resolution @ @ @ @ @ despite Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s order for businesses to remain closed , @ @ @ @ @ Vasconcelos .
“ A resolution of the city council of the city of Atwater affirming @ @ @ @ @ to fundamental rights of life , liberty , and property , and declaring the city @ @ @ @ @ for all businesses , ” the resolution stated .

(WASHINGTON EXAMINER) A central California city has declared itself a “sanctuary city” for businesses and will open up in defiance of the state’s stay-at-home order.
The city council in Atwater passed a resolution Friday allowing businesses to open despite Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order for businesses to remain closed, according to ABC30's Vanessa Vasconcelos.
“A resolution of the city council of the city of Atwater affirming the city’s commitment to fundamental rights of life, liberty, and property, and declaring the city of Atwater a sanctuary city for all businesses,” the resolution stated.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-05-16--Coronavirus masks a boon for crooks who hide their faces

( ASSOCIATED PRESS ) The way the FBI tells it , William Rosario Lopez put on a surgical mask and @ @ @ @ @ store looking to the world like a typical pandemic-era shopper as he picked up plastic @ @ @ @ @ a few other items .
Then , when the only other customer left , he @ @ @ @ @ pulled out a small pistol , pointed it at the clerk and demanded that he @ @ @ @ @ The scene , the FBI contends in a court document , was repeated by Lopez @ @ @ @ @ stores over eight days before his April 9 arrest .
It underscores a troubling new @ @ @ @ @ Masks that have made criminals stand apart long before bandanna-wearing robbers knocked over stagecoaches in @ @ @ @ @ bandits held up banks now allow them to blend in like concerned accountants , nurses @ @ @ @ @ avoid a deadly virus .

(ASSOCIATED PRESS) The way the FBI tells it, William Rosario Lopez put on a surgical mask and walked into the Connecticut convenience store looking to the world like a typical pandemic-era shopper as he picked up plastic wrap, fruit snacks and a few other items. Then, when the only other customer left, he went to the counter, pulled out a small pistol, pointed it at the clerk and demanded that he open the cash register.
The scene, the FBI contends in a court document, was repeated by Lopez in four other gas station stores over eight days before his April 9 arrest. It underscores a troubling new reality for law enforcement: Masks that have made criminals stand apart long before bandanna-wearing robbers knocked over stagecoaches in the Old West and ski-masked bandits held up banks now allow them to blend in like concerned accountants, nurses and store clerks trying to avoid a deadly virus.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-05-16--Trump tips brand-new 'super-duper missile,' reportedly beggars anything China has

If you 're developing something that 'll put China 's best missiles to shame , what do you dub it ?
The `` super-duper missile , '' of course .
The media 's going to seize upon that moniker bestowed upon a new missile tipped by President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday .
It 's made it into pretty much every headline I 've seen ( including ours , to be fair ) .
And , if the missile turns out to live up to the specs laid out at the event , it 's going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The occasion was the unveiling of the official Space Force flag at the White House , but Trump had one more thing to talk about : a new hypersonic missile that would match or beat similar efforts from China and Russia .
`` We ’ re building right now incredible military equipment at a level that nobody ’ s ever seen before , '' Trump said at the news conference .
TRENDING : Obama intel chief James Clapper ca n't recall why his office made Flynn unmasking requests '' We have no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the adversaries we have out there .
We have , I call it the super-duper missile , '' he continued .
`` I heard the other night , 17 times faster than what they have right now . ''
`` You 've heard Russia has five times , and China is working on five or six times , we have one 17 times , and it 's just gotten the go-ahead . ''
It 's the `` fastest in the world by a factor of almost three , '' Trump added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ over this one -- particularly after the Pentagon refused comment and deferred to the White House , only for White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany to defer back to the Pentagon .
In response , Pentagon official Jonathan Rath Hoffman tweeted back that they were working on `` a range of hypersonic missiles . ''
So , what is a hypersonic missile ?
It 's defined as any missile which goes past Mach 5 , or five times the speed of sound .
The United States conducted a test of a newly developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reuters reported .
The missile follows an unpredictable path , which makes it difficult to neutralize .
It 's fired on a rocket up to 25 miles in the atmosphere , at which point the hypersonic glide body detaches and flies toward the target .
This unpredictability is actually why they 're considered so lethal ; regular ballistic missiles have a predictable arc , whereas hypersonic glide vehicles can do extraordinary things to evade a country 's missile defenses .
A senior NATO official told Agence France-Presse that in a hypersonic missile strike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what happened “ until there ’ s a boom on the ground . ''
It 's unclear whether this was the missile Trump was referring to in his comments on Friday , but given the context , one would assume it was something else .
Both China and Russia have tested hypersonic missiles , and Russia says it has an operable version .
It 's always a good day at the White House when both China and Russia can be put on notice like this .
It 's even better when you consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aiming their putative hypersonic missile arsenal at the United States if we were to deploy intermediate-range ballistic missiles in Europe .
Russia , however , clearly is n't the main target for the `` super-duper missile , '' when it arrives .
China has been fairly aggressive about pushing its hypersonic missile , the DF-17 .
When 16 of them appeared at last year 's National Day parade , the Beijing-friendly South China Morning Post said the `` boost-glide missile may be powerful enough to penetrate US missile shields in the region , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of containing independence-leaning forces in the Taiwan Strait . ''
That 's a dangerous statement to begin with , particularly when it comes from a paper that -- if certainly not under the heel of the Chinese Communist Party the same way Xinhua news agency or similar propaganda mills are -- clearly amplifies pro-Beijing voices .
If Beijing is going to saber-rattle over the issue of Taiwan with its hypersonic missiles , well , the best medicine is to saber-rattle right back .
Mutually assured destruction worked during the Cold War .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still works .
Every headline seemed to trumpet what the president called the missile .
Few seemed to grasp the import of those words .
If this missile can deliver on something even remotely like what the president said it would , the big news from Friday 's news conference wo n't be that Space Force flag .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

If you're developing something that'll put China's best missiles to shame, what do you dub it? The "super-duper missile," of course.
The media's going to seize upon that moniker bestowed upon a new missile tipped by President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday.
It's made it into pretty much every headline I've seen (including ours, to be fair). And, if the missile turns out to live up to the specs laid out at the event, it's going to be very much worthy of the branding.
The occasion was the unveiling of the official Space Force flag at the White House, but Trump had one more thing to talk about: a new hypersonic missile that would match or beat similar efforts from China and Russia.
"We’re building right now incredible military equipment at a level that nobody’s ever seen before," Trump said at the news conference.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"We have no choice. We have to do it with the adversaries we have out there. We have, I call it the super-duper missile," he continued. "I heard the other night, 17 times faster than what they have right now."
"You've heard Russia has five times, and China is working on five or six times, we have one 17 times, and it's just gotten the go-ahead."
It's the "fastest in the world by a factor of almost three," Trump added.
The media had its usual field day over this one -- particularly after the Pentagon refused comment and deferred to the White House, only for White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany to defer back to the Pentagon.
Update: The White House has referred back to the Pentagon on the "super duper missile." The circle is complete. “Yeah I would just refer you back to the president's remarks & the Pentagon. I don't have any new information on that at this point," said press sec Kayleigh McEnany. https://t.co/yVQXKAvdDh — Elizabeth McLaughlin (@Elizabeth_McLau) May 15, 2020
In response, Pentagon official Jonathan Rath Hoffman tweeted back that they were working on "a range of hypersonic missiles."
The Department of Defense is working on developing a range of hypersonic missiles to counter our adversaries. https://t.co/ATb1XLHFtl — Jonathan Rath Hoffman (@ChiefPentSpox) May 15, 2020
So, what is a hypersonic missile?
It's defined as any missile which goes past Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. The United States conducted a test of a newly developed hypersonic missile glide body in March, Reuters reported.
The missile follows an unpredictable path, which makes it difficult to neutralize.
It's fired on a rocket up to 25 miles in the atmosphere, at which point the hypersonic glide body detaches and flies toward the target. This unpredictability is actually why they're considered so lethal; regular ballistic missiles have a predictable arc, whereas hypersonic glide vehicles can do extraordinary things to evade a country's missile defenses.
A senior NATO official told Agence France-Presse that in a hypersonic missile strike, the target country wouldn't know what happened “until there’s a boom on the ground."
It's unclear whether this was the missile Trump was referring to in his comments on Friday, but given the context, one would assume it was something else. Both China and Russia have tested hypersonic missiles, and Russia says it has an operable version.
It's always a good day at the White House when both China and Russia can be put on notice like this. It's even better when you consider that Russia has used the threat of aiming their putative hypersonic missile arsenal at the United States if we were to deploy intermediate-range ballistic missiles in Europe.
Russia, however, clearly isn't the main target for the "super-duper missile," when it arrives.
China has been fairly aggressive about pushing its hypersonic missile, the DF-17. When 16 of them appeared at last year's National Day parade, the Beijing-friendly South China Morning Post said the "boost-glide missile may be powerful enough to penetrate US missile shields in the region, transforming Beijing’s previously defensive strategy of containing independence-leaning forces in the Taiwan Strait."
That's a dangerous statement to begin with, particularly when it comes from a paper that -- if certainly not under the heel of the Chinese Communist Party the same way Xinhua news agency or similar propaganda mills are -- clearly amplifies pro-Beijing voices.
If Beijing is going to saber-rattle over the issue of Taiwan with its hypersonic missiles, well, the best medicine is to saber-rattle right back.
Mutually assured destruction worked during the Cold War. Even in the 21st century, that paradigm still works.
Every headline seemed to trumpet what the president called the missile. Few seemed to grasp the import of those words.
If this missile can deliver on something even remotely like what the president said it would, the big news from Friday's news conference won't be that Space Force flag.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-05-19--Alan Dershowitz: State has right to 'plunge a needle into your arm'

Harvard Law School emeritus professor Alan Dershowitz claimed in an interview that the government has a constitutional right under the 10th Amendment to forcibly vaccinate a citizen to curb the spread of a contagious disease .
`` Let me put it very clearly , you have no constitutional right to endanger the public and spread the disease , even if you disagree .
You have no right not to be vaccinated , you have no right not to wear a mask , you have no right to open up your business , '' he said .
The interviewer , Jason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ famed constitutional scholar was saying that if the government decides `` you have to be vaccinated , we have to be vaccinated . ''
`` Absolutely , '' Dershowitz replied .
`` And if you refuse to be vaccinated , the state has the power to literally take you to a doctor 's office and plunge a needle into your arm . ''
`` Where is that in the Constitution ? ''
Goodman asked on his web-based show , `` Crowdsource the Truth . ''
Dershowitz clarified that if a person is threatened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contagious , he can refuse treatment .
`` But you have no right to refuse to be vaccinated against a contagious disease , '' he said .
`` Public health , the police power of the Constitution gives the state the power to compel that , '' Dershowitz said .
`` And there are cases in the United States Supreme Court . ''
Dershowitz added there are `` cases after cases after cases '' in which the public health permits `` reasonable actions to prevent the spread of communicable diseases . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his Senate impeachment trial -- was referring to the state police power doctrine derived from the 10th Amendment .
The Supreme Court has recognized each state 's `` police power '' -- defining `` police '' as polity or government rather than law enforcement specifically -- which gives the state authority to enact health laws , including quarantine and vaccination laws , to protect public health .
The argument against forcible vaccination is based on the 14th Amendment 's provision that no state `` shall make or enforce any law which shall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the United States ; nor shall any state deprive any person of life , liberty , or property , without due process of law . ''
But Dershowitz points to the 1905 Supreme Court 's Jacobson v. Massachusetts decision , which concluded a state may require vaccination if the board of health deems it necessary for public health or safety .
The court found the police power of a state included reasonable regulations established by the legislature to protect public health and safety .
The regulations did n't violate the 14th Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because they fell within the restraints to which everyone is subject for the common good .
If any individual is allowed to act without regard to the welfare of others , true liberty does not exist , the court argued .
An article in the AMA Journal of Ethics noted that more than a century later , the Jacobson decision `` has not been revisited in any meaningful way . ''
It has stood all this time , not allowing `` a single individual to refuse vaccination while he or she remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that to make such an exception would strip the legislative branch of its function to care for the public health and safety when threatened by epidemic disease , '' wrote Sarah Fujiwara , MD , then a student at DePaul University College of Law and an intern at the American Medical Association .
`` This ruling prevails despite occasional injurious results from vaccinations and the impossibility of determining whether a particular person can be safely vaccinated , '' she wrote .
`` The only exception to a mandatory vaccination is an offer of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s board of health that the vaccination would seriously impair health or probably cause death . ''

Harvard Law School emeritus professor Alan Dershowitz claimed in an interview that the government has a constitutional right under the 10th Amendment to forcibly vaccinate a citizen to curb the spread of a contagious disease.
"Let me put it very clearly, you have no constitutional right to endanger the public and spread the disease, even if you disagree. You have no right not to be vaccinated, you have no right not to wear a mask, you have no right to open up your business," he said.
The interviewer, Jason Goodman, interjected, asking if the famed constitutional scholar was saying that if the government decides "you have to be vaccinated, we have to be vaccinated."
"Absolutely," Dershowitz replied. "And if you refuse to be vaccinated, the state has the power to literally take you to a doctor's office and plunge a needle into your arm."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"Where is that in the Constitution?" Goodman asked on his web show, "Crowdsource the Truth," which was posted Sunday on YouTube.
Dershowitz clarified that if a person is threatened with a deadly disease that is not contagious, he can refuse treatment.
"But you have no right to refuse to be vaccinated against a contagious disease," he said.
Does the government have a right to forcibly vaccinate you? Yes No Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use You're logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out. 4% (72 Votes) 96% (1613 Votes)
"Public health, the police power of the Constitution gives the state the power to compel that," Dershowitz said. "And there are cases in the United States Supreme Court."
Dershowitz added that there are "cases after cases after cases" in which courts have ruled in favor of "reasonable actions to prevent the spread of communicable diseases."
RELATED: DRUNK ON POWER: Pandemic crisis reveals many politicians' love affair with totalitarianism
The Harvard professor – who defended President Trump in his Senate impeachment trial – was referring to the state police power doctrine derived in part from the 10th Amendment.
The Supreme Court has recognized each state's "police power" – defining "police" as polity or government rather than law enforcement specifically – which gives the state authority to enact health laws, including quarantine and vaccination requirements, to protect public health.
On Monday, amid a race for a vaccine against the novel coronavirus, the drugmaker Moderna received positive results from a Phase 1 clinical trial for its experimental COVID-19 vaccine, sparking a 900-point rise in the Dow.
See Dershowitz's remarks:
Right to liberty
The argument against forcible vaccination is based on the 14th Amendment's provision that no state "shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."
But Dershowitz points to the Supreme Court's Jacobson v. Massachusetts decision in 1905, which concluded a state may require vaccination if the board of health deems it necessary for public health or safety.
The court found the police power of a state included reasonable regulations established by the legislature to protect public health and safety.
The regulations didn't violate the 14th Amendment right to liberty, the court said, because they fell within the restraints to which everyone is subject for the common good.
If any individual is allowed to act without regard to the welfare of others, true liberty does not exist, the court argued.
More than a century later, the Jacobson decision "has not been revisited in any meaningful way," noted the AMA Journal of Ethics in 2006.
It has stood all this time, not allowing "a single individual to refuse vaccination while he or she remains within the general population on the grounds that to make such an exception would strip the legislative branch of its function to care for the public health and safety when threatened by epidemic disease," wrote Sarah Fujiwara, MD, then a student at DePaul University College of Law and an intern at the American Medical Association.
"This ruling prevails despite occasional injurious results from vaccinations and the impossibility of determining whether a particular person can be safely vaccinated," she wrote.
"The only exception to a mandatory vaccination is an offer of apparent or reasonably certain proof to the state’s board of health that the vaccination would seriously impair health or probably cause death."


wnd--2020-05-19--Oregon governor's lockdown declared 'null and void'

( OREGONIAN ) -- A Baker County judge on Monday ruled that Gov .
Kate Brown ’ s restrictions on @ @ @ @ @ her other “ Stay Home Save Lives ” coronavirus orders are `` null and void @ @ @ @ @ 28-day limit .
Less than three hours later , the governor ’ s office appealed @ @ @ @ @ to keep her emergency orders in effect .
“ This will ensure we can continue @ @ @ @ @ all Oregonians — including frontline health care workers , those living in nursing homes , @ @ @ @ @ processing plants , and Oregonians with underlying health conditions –– while the legal process moves @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .

(OREGONIAN) -- A Baker County judge on Monday ruled that Gov. Kate Brown’s restrictions on religious gatherings as well as her other “Stay Home Save Lives” coronavirus orders are "null and void'' because they exceed a 28-day limit.
Less than three hours later, the governor’s office appealed to the state Supreme Court to keep her emergency orders in effect.
“This will ensure we can continue to safeguard the health of all Oregonians — including frontline health care workers, those living in nursing homes, workers in agriculture and food processing plants, and Oregonians with underlying health conditions –– while the legal process moves forward,“ she said in a statement.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-05-18--Dozens of groups ask FDA to shut down online abortion-pill sources

During the COVID-19 pandemic , people have turned to online options for shopping , renewing licenses , meeting up with friends , communicating with family , work and many other activities .
Most are not a particular safety concern .
But one is .
That 's the online availability of abortion pills .
So leaders of a number of pro-life and faith-based organizations have written a letter to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn asking him to crack down .
`` Black market websites are illegally selling unregulated abortion pills in the United States , and we are taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut down their illicit and dangerous activity , '' said Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice .
His name was on the letter to Hahn , along with the names of Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List , Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America , Catherine Foster of Americans United for Life , Donna Harrison of American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists , Jeanne Mancini of March for Life , Lila Rose of Live Action , Carol Tobias of National Right to Life , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russell Moore of the Southern Baptists Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and many others .
The letter urges the government agency to `` seize the website domains for AidAccess , Rablon , and any other entities illegally prescribing and/or selling mifepristone in the United States . ''
The letter points out that the FDA already sent letters to those companies warning that their websites were in violation of U.S. law .
Yet they remain active , and orders for the abortion-inducing drug are `` purportedly filled by pharmacies in India , and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The previous letters warned of `` misbranded and unapproved new drugs '' and said that if the companies failed to stop the violations , `` regulatory action '' could follow .
Sekulow explained , `` These companies are putting women at risk by providing them with abortion-inducing drugs that have not met with the FDA ’ s regulatory requirements . ''
He noted AidAccess and websites within Rablon ’ s network , including abortionrx.com , abortionpills247.com and nopregnancy.net , `` continue to flagrantly subvert the REMS guidelines by marketing mifepristone to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with misoprostol , induces abortions .
They are advertised as one solution for `` home '' abortions .
Patients are required to sign an agreement form , and the drugs are dispensed from a health care facility under the supervision of a `` certified prescriber . ''
Sekulow said he `` signed on to this letter because at the ACLJ we believe in defending every life , including the precious life of the mother and the unborn child .
Dangerous practices like the ones these companies are engaging in can be very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The FDA must act now to seize these website domains and to stop these blatantly illicit activities from happening . ''

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people have turned to online options for shopping, renewing licenses, meeting up with friends, communicating with family, work and many other activities.
Most are not a particular safety concern.
But one is. That's the online availability of abortion pills.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
So leaders of a number of pro-life and faith-based organizations have written a letter to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn asking him to crack down.
"Black market websites are illegally selling unregulated abortion pills in the United States, and we are taking action demanding the Food and Drug Administration shut down their illicit and dangerous activity," said Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice.
His name was on the letter to Hahn, along with the names of Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List, Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America, Catherine Foster of Americans United for Life, Donna Harrison of American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Jeanne Mancini of March for Life, Lila Rose of Live Action, Carol Tobias of National Right to Life, Frank Pavone of Priests for Life, Russell Moore of the Southern Baptists Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and many others.
The letter urges the government agency to "seize the website domains for AidAccess, Rablon, and any other entities illegally prescribing and/or selling mifepristone in the United States."
The letter points out that the FDA already sent letters to those companies warning that their websites were in violation of U.S. law. Yet they remain active, and orders for the abortion-inducing drug are "purportedly filled by pharmacies in India, and then shipped to customers in the United States."
The previous letters warned of "misbranded and unapproved new drugs" and said that if the companies failed to stop the violations, "regulatory action" could follow.
Sekulow explained, "These companies are putting women at risk by providing them with abortion-inducing drugs that have not met with the FDA’s regulatory requirements."
He noted AidAccess and websites within Rablon’s network, including abortionrx.com, abortionpills247.com and nopregnancy.net, "continue to flagrantly subvert the REMS guidelines by marketing mifepristone to U.S. customers."
Mifeprex, along with misoprostol, induces abortions. They are advertised as one solution for "home" abortions.
Patients are required to sign an agreement form, and the drugs are dispensed from a health care facility under the supervision of a "certified prescriber."
Sekulow said he "signed on to this letter because at the ACLJ we believe in defending every life, including the precious life of the mother and the unborn child. Dangerous practices like the ones these companies are engaging in can be very harmful to mothers and unborn babies. The FDA must act now to seize these website domains and to stop these blatantly illicit activities from happening."


wnd--2020-05-18--Resist the 'fear porn': What COVID numbers really say

COVID-19 has been a part of our lives since January .
We 've witnessed unprecedented measures across the nation along with untold numbers of arguments and debates every single step of the way .
We 've been bombarded with all manner of news and information telling us what COVID-19 is supposed to mean to us personally .
Not a day goes by without COVID-19 being front and center everywhere we look .
And to say it 's been a draining five or so months feels like a complete understatement .
Fortunately , we now find ourselves in the middle of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen the country and hopefully put COVID-19 behind us .
Unfortunately , however , this discussion is proving to be anything but an exercise in consensus – which is no real surprise given the history to date .
Some are arguing for extended closures citing the rising counts of people dying from COVID-19 .
Others are arguing for rapid reopenings citing the diminishing trends of infection and death .
They all have their data charts to support their arguments .
And most of the time , none of the arguments and charts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of us really want to know are things like `` What is the real threat level of COVID-19 to me and my loved ones ? ''
And things like `` Is it really safe to go back to work , go to a restaurant , a store or a park ? ''
We want to know whether or not our leaders are doing the right things and whether or not life will ever be normal again .
But what we get bombarded with daily is what some critics have labeled as `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be described as intentionally cloaking disingenuous messages within real facts .
And while there is at least some good information to be heard amidst all of the noise , it 's largely being drowned out , so the phenomenon of fear porn is something that needs to be addressed .
A good example of it would be when someone says , `` If we reopen the country too quickly , there will be needless death and suffering . ''
Now granted , an incompetently executed reopening is not going to go well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this scenario , and is it being made in proper context ?
And is its obvious message that `` you 're going to be guilty of intentionally killing people '' really the right message to send ?
Is that message actually disingenuous , or worse ?
The answers to all of our questions lie in the data .
But as we all know , data can also be used to drive political agendas , financial interests , fear and most anything else under the sun if you slice and dice it to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else 's .
Data is a fragile commodity .
And while it 's true that numbers never lie , they can definitely be made to mislead when placed in skillful hands .
So , I took it upon myself to slice and dice CDC 's latest COVID-19 data in a way that , to the best of my ability , allows the numbers to have their own voices and to tell their own stories , free from outside agendas and in a language we can all easily understand .
And it turns out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the numbers have stories to tell us that look and sound very different from what we see and hear in the media every day .
The chart is below , but here are some of the highlights : Student ( age 6-18 ) deaths from COVID-19-involved illnesses are projected at a rate of 0.0001 % as a percentage of their peers .
They died from influenza-involved illnesses at a rate of 0.0005 % in 2018 .
Workforce ( age 19-55 ) deaths from COVID-19-involved illnesses are projected at a rate of .01 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They died from influenza-involved illnesses at a rate of .007 % in 2018 .
Retired ( age 66-77 ) deaths from COVID-19-involved illnesses are projected at a rate of 1 % as a percentage of their peers .
They died from influenza-involved illnesses at a rate of .05 % over the same period .
Geriatric ( age 78-up ) deaths from COVID-19-involved illnesses are projected at a rate of 4 % as a percentage of their peers .
They died from influenza-involved illnesses at a rate of .3 % over the same period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tell us too , and they stand ready to answer new questions as we continue to come up with them .
But they 've already given us the answers to questions like : Should we close the national school system for a disease with a projected .0001 % student fatality rate when we left it open for a different disease with about five times that rate ( i.e .
the 2018 flu season ) ?
Do we keep the nation closed when the projected threat to the workforce is .01 % , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , .02 % ?
Do we need to continue to warn retirees to take precautions ?
Do we need to craft policy measures that protect the geriatric population as opposed to policies exposing them ?
Do we need to deal with hot spots differently than places where COVID-19 is contained ?
The 5 trillion-dollar question is : Do we as a nation heed what the numbers are telling us ?
Or do we instead listen to all of the fear porn when crafting state recovery plans ?
The numbers are also telling us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost and to seek answers to how and why COVID-19 made it into the wild in the first place .
They 're telling us that we need to keep using reasonable precautions but summarily reject all of the fear porn we 're bombarded with on a daily basis .
The numbers are telling us that we 'll get past this , but we had better listen to them if we have any expectation that our self- concocted national remedy is not to be worse than the disease itself .
So , I encourage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the chart below and allow the numbers to tell you their stories in full .
See the chart footnotes if you 're interested in the particulars of how the numbers were arrived at .
Michael Schisler is recently retired from a long career of analyzing , designing and constructing large-scale data systems for the energy sector .
Data analysis and interpretation is one aspect of his accumulated knowledge that he has chosen to put to use in various subject matter projects such as this one .

COVID-19 has been a part of our lives since January. We've witnessed unprecedented measures across the nation along with untold numbers of arguments and debates every single step of the way. We've been bombarded with all manner of news and information telling us what COVID-19 is supposed to mean to us personally. Not a day goes by without COVID-19 being front and center everywhere we look. And to say it's been a draining five or so months feels like a complete understatement. Fortunately, we now find ourselves in the middle of a national discussion over how and when to reopen the country and hopefully put COVID-19 behind us.
Unfortunately, however, this discussion is proving to be anything but an exercise in consensus – which is no real surprise given the history to date. Some are arguing for extended closures citing the rising counts of people dying from COVID-19. Others are arguing for rapid reopenings citing the diminishing trends of infection and death. They all have their data charts to support their arguments. And most of the time, none of the arguments and charts answer our most basic questions.
What most of us really want to know are things like "What is the real threat level of COVID-19 to me and my loved ones?" And things like "Is it really safe to go back to work, go to a restaurant, a store or a park?" We want to know whether or not our leaders are doing the right things and whether or not life will ever be normal again.
But what we get bombarded with daily is what some critics have labeled as "fear porn," something that can be described as intentionally cloaking disingenuous messages within real facts. And while there is at least some good information to be heard amidst all of the noise, it's largely being drowned out, so the phenomenon of fear porn is something that needs to be addressed.
A good example of it would be when someone says, "If we reopen the country too quickly, there will be needless death and suffering." Now granted, an incompetently executed reopening is not going to go well. But is the statement above actually addressing this scenario, and is it being made in proper context? And is its obvious message that "you're going to be guilty of intentionally killing people" really the right message to send? Is that message actually disingenuous, or worse?
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The answers to all of our questions lie in the data. But as we all know, data can also be used to drive political agendas, financial interests, fear and most anything else under the sun if you slice and dice it to make it fit your case and ignore everyone else's. Data is a fragile commodity. And while it's true that numbers never lie, they can definitely be made to mislead when placed in skillful hands.
So, I took it upon myself to slice and dice CDC's latest COVID-19 data in a way that, to the best of my ability, allows the numbers to have their own voices and to tell their own stories, free from outside agendas and in a language we can all easily understand. And it turns out that when given their own voices, the numbers have stories to tell us that look and sound very different from what we see and hear in the media every day. The chart is below, but here are some of the highlights:
Student (age 6-18) deaths from COVID-19-involved illnesses are projected at a rate of 0.0001% as a percentage of their peers. They died from influenza-involved illnesses at a rate of 0.0005% in 2018.
Workforce (age 19-55) deaths from COVID-19-involved illnesses are projected at a rate of .01% as a percentage of their peers. They died from influenza-involved illnesses at a rate of .007% in 2018.
Retired (age 66-77) deaths from COVID-19-involved illnesses are projected at a rate of .1% as a percentage of their peers. They died from influenza-involved illnesses at a rate of .05% over the same period.
Geriatric (age 78-up) deaths from COVID-19-involved illnesses are projected at a rate of .4% as a percentage of their peers. They died from influenza-involved illnesses at a rate of .3% over the same period.
The numbers have plenty of sub-plots to tell us too, and they stand ready to answer new questions as we continue to come up with them. But they've already given us the answers to questions like:
Should we close the national school system for a disease with a projected .0001% student fatality rate when we left it open for a different disease with about five times that rate (i.e. the 2018 flu season)?
Do we keep the nation closed when the projected threat to the workforce is .01%, and if things get twice as bad, .02%?
Do we need to continue to warn retirees to take precautions?
Do we need to craft policy measures that protect the geriatric population as opposed to policies exposing them?
Do we need to deal with hot spots differently than places where COVID-19 is contained?
The 5 trillion-dollar question is: Do we as a nation heed what the numbers are telling us? Or do we instead listen to all of the fear porn when crafting state recovery plans?
The numbers are also telling us that we should mourn those we've lost and to seek answers to how and why COVID-19 made it into the wild in the first place. They're telling us that we need to keep using reasonable precautions but summarily reject all of the fear porn we're bombarded with on a daily basis. The numbers are telling us that we'll get past this, but we had better listen to them if we have any expectation that our self- concocted national remedy is not to be worse than the disease itself. So, I encourage you to take a good long look at the chart below and allow the numbers to tell you their stories in full.
See the chart footnotes if you're interested in the particulars of how the numbers were arrived at.


wnd--2020-05-18--Journalist: 'Media elites are dinosaurs unaware of the asteroid'

A senior journalism fellow at Hillsdale College says `` media elites '' must realize they ca n't continue to ignore the politicization of the nation 's intelligence agencies under Barack Obama .
`` Many of our supposedly smart media elites are dinosaurs who are completely unaware of the asteroid headed right to them , '' posted a commentarywrote Mollie Hemingway , a senior editor at The Federalist .
Hemingway , a Fox News contributor , is co-author of `` Justice on Trial : The Kavanaugh Confirmation and the Future of the Supreme Court . ''
She said media are engaged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushing out Democratic talking points that got them into the mess . ''
`` This week , that meant they regurgitated the Democratic claim that the Obama administration ’ s spying and leaking was 'normal ' and that to be concerned about it is nothing more than a 'distraction . '
'' She said that if reporters `` think they can continue to ignore the very real concerns about politicization of intelligence agencies under Obama , or gaslight Americans by claiming such spying and leaking is normal and even good , they should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prompted by recent release of documents confirming the Obama administration 's `` broad spying-and-leaking campaign against the incoming Trump administration . ''
The Department of Justice moved to drop charges against Michael Flynn after documents confirmed the former national security advisers claim he was framed by the FBI .
`` As new details emerge about the Obama administration ’ s broad spying-and-leaking campaign against the incoming Trump administration , reporters have a choice to make about whether to cover this story honestly , at long last , '' she explained .
`` There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the media to get the story right .
They should take advantage of it . ''
Journalist Lee Smith pointed out media peddled the Russia collusion theory for years before it imploded .
Now , Smith said , `` Russiagate is an extinction level event . ''
Hemingway said MSNBC 's Brian Williams is one of the `` less deft '' at pushing out partisan talking points .
He `` literally asked implicated former CIA chief John Brennan if he could 'once and for all ' explain to people who had heard about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best efforts why it was no big deal . ''
Other biased comments came from Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo , the Daily Beast ’ s Sam Stein , Susan Glasser at the New Yorker and Peter Baker of the New York Times , she said .
`` Many of these people are simply in too deep .
They ’ re not giving back the awards they got for peddling the false story uncritically .
To do so is a level of honesty they are not currently capable of .
But not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberal media who want to be honest , there is plenty of ground between shouting 'OBAMAGATE ! '
in all caps and denying the spying and leaking ever happened , '' Hemingway said .
There are some , she explained , who `` are honest enough to say that political spying and criminal political leaking is not what our intelligence agencies should have been doing . ''
`` The world is eager to see if there are many real journalists left , '' she wrote .
`` No , not the types of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peddling false narratives that the average American can see right through .
But real journalists who can think critically when a spy chief or operative comes to them with a ludicrous claim about prostitutes and videotaped urination in a Moscow hotel or Jeff Sessions being a Russian spy or the key to the 2016 election result involving subliterate Facebook memes .
`` If reporters think they can continue to ignore the very real concerns about politicization of intelligence agencies under Obama , or gaslight Americans by claiming such spying and leaking is normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , '' she said .

A senior journalism fellow at Hillsdale College says "media elites" must realize they can't continue to ignore the politicization of the nation's intelligence agencies under Barack Obama.
"Many of our supposedly smart media elites are dinosaurs who are completely unaware of the asteroid headed right to them," posted a commentarywrote Mollie Hemingway, a senior editor at The Federalist.
Hemingway, a Fox News contributor, is co-author of "Justice on Trial: The Kavanaugh Confirmation and the Future of the Supreme Court."
She said media are engaged "in an all-hands-on-deck effort to continue pushing out Democratic talking points that got them into the mess."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"This week, that meant they regurgitated the Democratic claim that the Obama administration’s spying and leaking was 'normal' and that to be concerned about it is nothing more than a 'distraction.'"
She said that if reporters "think they can continue to ignore the very real concerns about politicization of intelligence agencies under Obama, or gaslight Americans by claiming such spying and leaking is normal and even good, they should wake up."
Her comments were prompted by recent release of documents confirming the Obama administration's "broad spying-and-leaking campaign against the incoming Trump administration."
The Department of Justice moved to drop charges against Michael Flynn after documents confirmed the former national security advisers claim he was framed by the FBI.
Do you trust the national mainstream media? Yes No Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use You're logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out. 1% (1 Votes) 99% (73 Votes)
"As new details emerge about the Obama administration’s broad spying-and-leaking campaign against the incoming Trump administration, reporters have a choice to make about whether to cover this story honestly, at long last," she explained. "There is a brief window of time afforded the media to get the story right. They should take advantage of it."
Journalist Lee Smith pointed out media peddled the Russia collusion theory for years before it imploded.
Now, Smith said, "Russiagate is an extinction level event."
Hemingway said MSNBC's Brian Williams is one of the "less deft" at pushing out partisan talking points. He "literally asked implicated former CIA chief John Brennan if he could 'once and for all' explain to people who had heard about the scandal despite his corporation’s best efforts why it was no big deal."
Other biased comments came from Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo, the Daily Beast’s Sam Stein, Susan Glasser at the New Yorker and Peter Baker of the New York Times, she said.
"Many of these people are simply in too deep. They’re not giving back the awards they got for peddling the false story uncritically. To do so is a level of honesty they are not currently capable of. But not everyone needs to follow them. For liberal media who want to be honest, there is plenty of ground between shouting 'OBAMAGATE!' in all caps and denying the spying and leaking ever happened," Hemingway said.
There are some, she explained, who "are honest enough to say that political spying and criminal political leaking is not what our intelligence agencies should have been doing."
"The world is eager to see if there are many real journalists left," she wrote. "No, not the types of journalists who give each other awards for peddling false narratives that the average American can see right through. But real journalists who can think critically when a spy chief or operative comes to them with a ludicrous claim about prostitutes and videotaped urination in a Moscow hotel or Jeff Sessions being a Russian spy or the key to the 2016 election result involving subliterate Facebook memes.
"If reporters think they can continue to ignore the very real concerns about politicization of intelligence agencies under Obama, or gaslight Americans by claiming such spying and leaking is normal and even good, they should wake up," she said.


wnd--2020-05-18--Reprobate Democrats and backstabbing Republicans

It 's hard to find a lower species of life form today than Democrats holding political office .
However , backstabbing , duplicitous Republicans will challenge the most reprobate Democrat any day of the week – and twice on Sunday when they 're pretending to be the pious – for the title of `` America 's most undesirable . ''
Democratic politicians are pernicious liars and godless mercenaries of Satan , but Republicans are no less pernicious and godless , in addition to being nauseatingly craven .
It 's not the Democrats who have sold patriots down the river ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who promise time after time to defend the Constitution and uphold the will of the voters who elected them .
Republicans either help the enemy or sit passively on the sidelines as the Fabian Democratic Socialist machine works to destroy our way of life .
It 's the Senate Republicans who are refusing to hold Obama , Biden , Hillary Clinton et al .
accountable .
We the People elected President Trump , but he 's been betrayed and back stabbed at every turn by Republicans .
Congressional Democrats spent nearly four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowingly pushing false impeachment charges .
Democrats spent the entirety of President Trump 's first term promoting fake news , fallacious accusations and obstruction , with complete disregard per any consequences for their heinous and systematic deluge of manufactured grievances .
And Republicans have sat passively by allowing this to take place .
Why is the Mitch McConnell-led Senate allowing Clinton , Biden and Obama not to be held criminally accountable ?
What kind of investigation is Attorney General Bill Barr running/overseeing when he comes out yet again , well ahead of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as AG , and tells We the People he does n't expect the Russian probe will lead to criminal investigation of either Obama or Biden ?
He only halfheartedly suggested `` potential criminality '' pursuant to the probe as it relates to others .
Republicans have perfected the art of greasing the tracks for Democrats to go unpunished in the face of incontrovertible evidence against them .
Why is Obama allowed to strut around like a sissified-banty rooster , as he stutters and stammers his way through the fomenting of discord based upon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be offered for not holding Hillary Clinton criminally accountable in the murder of Tyrone Woods , Ambassador Stevens , Glen Doherty and Sean Smith in Benghazi ?
Why did Obama get away without even a slap on the wrist for his refusal to save the brave four men who were murdered in Benghazi ?
What 's the real reason Republicans refused to question Obama per his approval of the illegal gunrunning operation called Fast and Furious ?
An illegal gunrunning operation in which American border officers were killed by the weapons Obama was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexican drug cartels ?
Why have n't Obama and his AG , Eric Holder , been brought to justice for the murder of hundreds of innocent Mexicans including Mexican officials ?
President Trump might be the only billionaire Republican in office in D.C. , but he certainly is n't the only wealthy Republican on Capitol Hill .
But , President Trump is the only Republican to donate his entire salary during the financial calamity Americans are suffering thanks to Anthony Fauci and the COVID-19 charade ?
President Trump has donated his entire paycheck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Are we to believe Republicans could n't donate their salaries during the shutdown ?
Mitt Romney does n't count , because every fiber of his lucifarian being is a Democrat , although he was elected by pretending to be a Republican .
Why did n't Romney donate his senatorial salary , considering his tremendous personal wealth ?
Republicans have shown amazing ability in allowing Democrats to attack President Trump with impunity from the moment he announced his intention to run .
Trump was forced to promise he would n't undermine the Republican Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so-called Republican leadership have done nothing but support the relentless attacks against him .
Patriotic Americans have waited since President Reagan for a president who loved America and revered the American people .
President Trump is fighting for us , and he 's indeed worked mightily to `` Make America Great Again . ''
It has been and continues to be Republicans who are backstabbing him and betraying us .
Senate Republicans are a contentious lot of blueblood elitists , and the Kevin McCarthy House Republicans are little more than country-club types genteelly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted for President Trump because we believed in him .
It 's time to start slashing the political throats of feckless RINO backstabbers who refuse to uphold the rule of law .
Why are n't the Republican National Committee and congressional Republicans running massive ad campaigns detailing the corruption of Democrats and expressing support for President Trump ?
Why are n't congressional Republicans fighting as hard for President Trump as Romney is fighting against him ?
Why are congressional Republicans sitting idly by as Pelosi Democrats begin another round of wasted taxpayer money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inspector General Steve Linick , who should have been fired before he was hired ?
I 'm disgusted by never-Trumper PACs funded by Koch money and bipedal variola masquerading as persons of political integrity .
No president in our history has faced the relentless assaults President Trump and his family has .
And yet , no president has done more for America in modern times .
Order Mychal Massie 's new book , `` I Feel the Presence of the Lord , '' a collection of devotions intended to encourage the reader to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aspect of life .

It's hard to find a lower species of life form today than Democrats holding political office. However, backstabbing, duplicitous Republicans will challenge the most reprobate Democrat any day of the week – and twice on Sunday when they're pretending to be the pious – for the title of "America's most undesirable."
Democratic politicians are pernicious liars and godless mercenaries of Satan, but Republicans are no less pernicious and godless, in addition to being nauseatingly craven.
It's not the Democrats who have sold patriots down the river; it's the plexus of contumacious Republicans who promise time after time to defend the Constitution and uphold the will of the voters who elected them. Republicans either help the enemy or sit passively on the sidelines as the Fabian Democratic Socialist machine works to destroy our way of life.
It's the Senate Republicans who are refusing to hold Obama, Biden, Hillary Clinton et al. accountable. We the People elected President Trump, but he's been betrayed and back stabbed at every turn by Republicans.
Congressional Democrats spent nearly four years pursuing fraudulent charges of Russian collusion and knowingly pushing false impeachment charges. Democrats spent the entirety of President Trump's first term promoting fake news, fallacious accusations and obstruction, with complete disregard per any consequences for their heinous and systematic deluge of manufactured grievances. And Republicans have sat passively by allowing this to take place.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Why is the Mitch McConnell-led Senate allowing Clinton, Biden and Obama not to be held criminally accountable?
What kind of investigation is Attorney General Bill Barr running/overseeing when he comes out yet again, well ahead of the completed investigations taking place on his watch as AG, and tells We the People he doesn't expect the Russian probe will lead to criminal investigation of either Obama or Biden? He only halfheartedly suggested "potential criminality" pursuant to the probe as it relates to others.
Republicans have perfected the art of greasing the tracks for Democrats to go unpunished in the face of incontrovertible evidence against them. Why is Obama allowed to strut around like a sissified-banty rooster, as he stutters and stammers his way through the fomenting of discord based upon skin color?
What plausible excuses can be offered for not holding Hillary Clinton criminally accountable in the murder of Tyrone Woods, Ambassador Stevens, Glen Doherty and Sean Smith in Benghazi? Why did Obama get away without even a slap on the wrist for his refusal to save the brave four men who were murdered in Benghazi?
What's the real reason Republicans refused to question Obama per his approval of the illegal gunrunning operation called Fast and Furious? An illegal gunrunning operation in which American border officers were killed by the weapons Obama was responsible for putting in the hand of Mexican drug cartels? Why haven't Obama and his AG, Eric Holder, been brought to justice for the murder of hundreds of innocent Mexicans including Mexican officials?
President Trump might be the only billionaire Republican in office in D.C., but he certainly isn't the only wealthy Republican on Capitol Hill. But, President Trump is the only Republican to donate his entire salary during the financial calamity Americans are suffering thanks to Anthony Fauci and the COVID-19 charade? President Trump has donated his entire paycheck since Day 1 of his presidency. Are we to believe Republicans couldn't donate their salaries during the shutdown?
Mitt Romney doesn't count, because every fiber of his lucifarian being is a Democrat, although he was elected by pretending to be a Republican. Why didn't Romney donate his senatorial salary, considering his tremendous personal wealth?
Republicans have shown amazing ability in allowing Democrats to attack President Trump with impunity from the moment he announced his intention to run. Trump was forced to promise he wouldn't undermine the Republican Party if he wasn't elected, but so-called Republican leadership have done nothing but support the relentless attacks against him.
Patriotic Americans have waited since President Reagan for a president who loved America and revered the American people. President Trump is fighting for us, and he's indeed worked mightily to "Make America Great Again." It has been and continues to be Republicans who are backstabbing him and betraying us.
Senate Republicans are a contentious lot of blueblood elitists, and the Kevin McCarthy House Republicans are little more than country-club types genteelly feeding off We the People.
We voted for President Trump because we believed in him. It's time to start slashing the political throats of feckless RINO backstabbers who refuse to uphold the rule of law.
Why aren't the Republican National Committee and congressional Republicans running massive ad campaigns detailing the corruption of Democrats and expressing support for President Trump? Why aren't congressional Republicans fighting as hard for President Trump as Romney is fighting against him? Why are congressional Republicans sitting idly by as Pelosi Democrats begin another round of wasted taxpayer money for investigation into why President Trump fired Inspector General Steve Linick, who should have been fired before he was hired?
I'm disgusted by never-Trumper PACs funded by Koch money and bipedal variola masquerading as persons of political integrity. No president in our history has faced the relentless assaults President Trump and his family has. And yet, no president has done more for America in modern times.
Order Mychal Massie's new book, "I Feel the Presence of the Lord," a collection of devotions intended to encourage the reader to seek and see the Lord in every aspect of life.