activistpost--2020-04-23--The State of the Police State — New World Next Week

Welcome to the 405th episode of # NewWorldNextWeek — the video series from Corbett Report and Media Monarchy that covers some of the most important developments in open source intelligence news .
This week : Story # 1 : Here ’ s What You Need to Know About Australia ’ s Coronavirus Tracking App • Alberta ’ s “ Bill 10 ” Is An Affront To The Rule Of Law • LGBT People In Japan Worry Getting Coronavirus May Result In Outing Story # 2 : Neo-Nazis Nab 20,000 Leaked Email Addresses , Passwords From WHO and Gates Foundation • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First Open Source , Low-Cost Ventilator • Original Jerusalem Post Story : “ US Department of Defense Give 1 Million Masks To IDF For Coronavirus Use ” • Some Doctors Moving Away From Ventilators For Virus Patients You can help support our independent and non-commercial work by visiting http : //CorbettReport.com/Support & http : //MediaMonarchy.com/Join .
Thank You .
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By The Corbett Report
Welcome to the 405th episode of #NewWorldNextWeek — the video series from Corbett Report and Media Monarchy that covers some of the most important developments in open source intelligence news. This week:
Story #1: Here’s What You Need to Know About Australia’s Coronavirus Tracking App
Story #2: Neo-Nazis Nab 20,000 Leaked Email Addresses, Passwords From WHO and Gates Foundation
Story #3: Colombia Mass-Producing Ventilators Using Open Source Techniques

You can help support our independent and non-commercial work by visiting http://CorbettReport.com/Support & http://MediaMonarchy.com/Join. Thank You.
Visit James Corbett at CorbettReport.com. Subscribe to his channel on YouTube and Bitchute, and support him on Patreon.
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, HIVE, Flote, Minds, and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-04-23--CCTV Cameras Are Being Turned Into Heartbeat Measuring Social Distancing Monsters

Facial recognition company VSBLTY announced that they are working with Photon-X to turn smart city cameras into heartbeat measuring cameras .
The two firms are collaborating to develop a multi-sensor camera capability specifically for security and smart buildings applications .
Photon-X object recognition and analytics combined with VSBLTY facial recognition will provide an advanced screening tool for facilities to identify and validate that someone with a high temperature is about to enter a building .
Fever , cough and difficulty breathing are some of the common symptoms of COVID-19 .
The new model will have several advanced features to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to measure body surface temperature .
The VSBLTY-Photon-X cameras will additionally measure heartbeat and oxygen saturation levels with the goal of helping to produce less false positives than the standard infrared cameras now in use .
Police will no longer need to use facial recognition to identify and track someone because now they can use a person ’ s heartbeat and oxygen saturation levels to identify them .
Allowing law enforcement to track people ’ s heartbeats proves that our politicians care more about monitoring everyone and less about our privacy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ screens into secret facial recognition devices .
Artificial Intelligence company , Landing AI announced they have developed software that turns CCTV cameras into social distancing police monitors .
The video below shows how Landing AI ’ s “ Social Distancing Detector ” can be used to enforce social distancing rules .
As the demo shows below , the detector could highlight people whose distance is below the minimum acceptable distance in red , and draw a line between to emphasize this .
The system will also be able to issue an alert to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the protocol is violated .
Does anyone really believe that Landing AI is marketing social distancing software to private companies ?
What happens when governments let police use Landing AI to enforce public social distancing in real-time ?
The system works by using an artificial ‘ neural network ’ to detect each person and puts them ( oh the irony ) in a box .
Then , if two boxes get too close to each other they change from green to red .
At that point it will be up to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kill squads , or whatever they have decided we deserve .
Two weeks ago , MLive revealed that another AI social distance tracking company called Voxel51 has been using CCTV cameras to observe people in public settings in at least three locations .
What makes VSBLTY ’ s software and social distancing software so unnerving is their ability to transform existing CCTV cameras into privacy destroying monsters .
As Professor Corso said , “ the street cams are public on the internet , so we can just connect to them and pull the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a month ago , the biometrics industry views the coronavirus as a money-making bonanza at the expense of everyone ’ s privacy .
It is up to each of us to stop these invasive surveillance devices before they spread across the country .
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By MassPrivateI
Facial recognition company VSBLTY announced that they are working with Photon-X to turn smart city cameras into heartbeat measuring cameras.
The two firms are collaborating to develop a multi-sensor camera capability specifically for security and smart buildings applications. Photon-X object recognition and analytics combined with VSBLTY facial recognition will provide an advanced screening tool for facilities to identify and validate that someone with a high temperature is about to enter a building. Fever, cough and difficulty breathing are some of the common symptoms of COVID-19.

VSBLTY’s software will turn CCTV cameras into privacy destroying MONSTERS!
The new model will have several advanced features to the typical infrared cameras that are currently being used to measure body surface temperature. The VSBLTY-Photon-X cameras will additionally measure heartbeat and oxygen saturation levels with the goal of helping to produce less false positives than the standard infrared cameras now in use.
Police will no longer need to use facial recognition to identify and track someone because now they can use a person’s heartbeat and oxygen saturation levels to identify them.
Allowing law enforcement to track people’s heartbeats proves that our politicians care more about monitoring everyone and less about our privacy.
VSBLTY is also infamous for turning video screens into secret facial recognition devices.
CCTV cameras turned into social distancing monsters
Artificial Intelligence company, Landing AI announced they have developed software that turns CCTV cameras into social distancing police monitors.
To complement our customers’ efforts and to help ensure social distancing protocol in their workplace, Landing AI has developed an AI-enabled social distancing detection tool that can detect if people are keeping a safe distance from each other by analyzing real time video streams from the camera.
The video below shows how Landing AI’s “Social Distancing Detector” can be used to enforce social distancing rules.
As the demo shows below, the detector could highlight people whose distance is below the minimum acceptable distance in red, and draw a line between to emphasize this. The system will also be able to issue an alert to remind people to keep a safe distance if the protocol is violated.

Does anyone really believe that Landing AI is marketing social distancing software to private companies? What happens when governments let police use Landing AI to enforce public social distancing in real-time?
Summit News explains, As
The system works by using an artificial ‘neural network’ to detect each person and puts them (oh the irony) in a box. Then, if two boxes get too close to each other they change from green to red. At that point it will be up to the police to send in compliance robots, kill squads, or whatever they have decided we deserve.
Two weeks ago, MLive revealed that another AI social distance tracking company called Voxel51 has been using CCTV cameras to observe people in public settings in at least three locations.
Voxel51, a company that services the artificial intelligence industry for image and video processing and understanding, was founded by Jason Corso, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Michigan. Two weeks ago, Corso said he and his team began tracking physical distancing at locations like Times Square in New York, Miami Beach, Abbey Road in London and the Ruthven Museums Building at UM.
What makes VSBLTY’s software and social distancing software so unnerving is their ability to transform existing CCTV cameras into privacy destroying monsters. As Professor Corso said, “the street cams are public on the internet, so we can just connect to them and pull the data from them.”
As I mentioned a month ago, the biometrics industry views the coronavirus as a money-making bonanza at the expense of everyone’s privacy. It is up to each of us to stop these invasive surveillance devices before they spread across the country.
Source: MassPrivateI Blog
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, HIVE, Flote, Minds, and Twitter.
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activistpost--2020-04-23--Bill Gates Continues To Push “Immunity Passports” And Tech-Enabled Surveillance State To Combat COVI

Bill Gates Continues To Push “Immunity Passports” And Tech-Enabled Surveillance State To Combat COVID

Bill Gates has inserted himself into the national dialogue as a self-proclaimed coronavirus sage who will lead the world out of dark times through a digitally-assisted brave new world of testing , contact tracing , and of course – a vaccine .
Of course , some of this might not be such a bad idea if it wasn ’ t coming from Gates , who ’ s written an op-ed in the Washington Post to elaborate on his thoughts – which makes the whole thing seem even more nefarious .
‘ Sure , my Dad was on the board of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a eugenicist , and yes , I ’ ve talked about the need for population reduction for years .
And sure , I want you to take my vaccines and get chipped .
And ok , maybe India kicked us out after our immunization campaign was blamed for paralyzing 490,000 kids .
And yeah , there was that whole ‘ coronavirus pandemic ‘ simulation my foundation spearheaded late last year which modeled 65 million dead .
BUT , hear me out… ‘ All jokes aside , here ’ s what Gates proposes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen the economy.
’ Widespread , at-home testing – “ We can ’ t defeat an enemy if we don ’ t know where it is , ” says Gates , who advocates home testing kits which “ produces results that are just as accurate ” as nasal swabs performed by healthcare professionals .
Ok , not evil .
Probably a good idea .
Choosing who to test – Essential workers and symptomatic people , or those who have been in contact with someone who tested positive , should be prioritized , otherwise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources and potentially missing big reserves of the virus.
” Asymptomatic people who aren ’ t in the above categories should not be tested until there are enough tests , according to Gates .
Again , not a terrible idea .
Using technology to enable a surveillance state – ah , here we go .
Gates says the United States needs to follow Germany ’ s example ; “ interview everyone who has tested positive and use a database to ensure someone follows up with all their contacts.
” And how to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An even better solution would be the broad , voluntary adoption of digital tools .
For example , there are apps that will help you remember where you have been ; if you ever test positive , you can review the history or choose to share it with whoever comes to interview you about your contacts .
And some people have proposed allowing phones to detect other phones that are near them by using Bluetooth and emitting sounds that humans can ’ t hear .
If someone tested positive , their phone would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and their owners could get tested .
If most people chose to install this kind of application , it would probably help some .
-Bill Gates Gates suggests this would be voluntary , unlike South Korea – which forces COVID-19 positive patients to self-isolate and install a tracking app on their smartphones which will alert authorities when an infected person has left their home , while warning them to return immediately .
Admittedly , South Korea – which also employed widespread testing and the use of face masks , has had just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Treatment options – Gates notes that while hydroxychloroquine has ‘ received a lot of attention , ’ his foundation is funding a clinical trial which will determine if it works on COVID-19 by the end of May , and that “ it appears the benefits will be modest at best , ” despite overwhelming anecdotal evidence of its efficacy by doctors using it in the field .
We ’ re guessing Gates ’ trial doesn ’ t include the use of zinc , much like most of the other studies which are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t work .
This is disingenuous science , as HCQ acts as an ‘ iononpore ‘ which allows zinc into infected cells , disrupting virus replication .
On its own , HCQ only allows low levels of zinc to enter cells , vs. the high-dose cocktail employed by doctors such as Vladimir Zelenko , who claims he ’ s cured over 700 patients with the combination .
Gates , meanwhile , is promoting the use of plasma therapy , which involves “ drawing blood from patients who have recovered from covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus and other infections , and giving the plasma ( and the antibodies it contains ) to sick people .
Several major companies are working together to see whether this succeeds.
” Another treatment he ’ s proposing is synthesizing antibodies that are “ most effective against the novel coronavirus , ” which may face manufacturing constraints .
If you want to get back to large gatherings , we need a vaccine !
Perhaps , but immeasurably more creepy coming from Gates considering his history .
Every additional month that it takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which the economy can not completely return to normal .
The new approach I ’ m most excited about is known as an RNA vaccine .
( The first covid-19 vaccine to start human trials is an RNA vaccine . )
Unlike a flu shot , which contains fragments of the influenza virus so your immune system can learn to attack them , an RNA vaccine gives your body the genetic code needed to produce viral fragments on its own .
When the immune system sees these fragments , it learns how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essentially turns your body into its own vaccine manufacturing unit .
-Bill Gates Gates then says that distributing vaccines will be the next hurdle – and that governments which fund vaccine development , countries which test the vaccines , and hardest-hit regions “ will all have a good case that they should receive priority , ” and that “ Ideally , there would be a global agreement about who should get the vaccine first.
” In short – get tracked , don ’ t trust hydroxychloroquine , and take the shot .
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By Tyler Durden
Bill Gates has inserted himself into the national dialogue as a self-proclaimed coronavirus sage who will lead the world out of dark times through a digitally-assisted brave new world of testing, contact tracing, and of course – a vaccine.
Of course, some of this might not be such a bad idea if it wasn’t coming from Gates, who’s written an op-ed in the Washington Post to elaborate on his thoughts – which makes the whole thing seem even more nefarious.
‘Sure, my Dad was on the board of planned parenthood – an organization founded by a eugenicist, and yes, I’ve talked about the need for population reduction for years. And sure, I want you to take my vaccines and get chipped. And ok, maybe India kicked us out after our immunization campaign was blamed for paralyzing 490,000 kids. And yeah, there was that whole ‘coronavirus pandemic‘ simulation my foundation spearheaded late last year which modeled 65 million dead. BUT, hear me out…‘
All jokes aside, here’s what Gates proposes in his WaPo Op-Ed in order to ‘reopen the economy.’
Widespread, at-home testing – “We can’t defeat an enemy if we don’t know where it is,” says Gates, who advocates home testing kits which “produces results that are just as accurate” as nasal swabs performed by healthcare professionals. Ok, not evil. Probably a good idea.
Choosing who to test – Essential workers and symptomatic people, or those who have been in contact with someone who tested positive, should be prioritized, otherwise “we’re wasting a precious resources and potentially missing big reserves of the virus.” Asymptomatic people who aren’t in the above categories should not be tested until there are enough tests, according to Gates. Again, not a terrible idea.
Using technology to enable a surveillance state – ah, here we go. Gates says the United States needs to follow Germany’s example; “interview everyone who has tested positive and use a database to ensure someone follows up with all their contacts.” And how to ensure accuracy? Digital big brother tools!
An even better solution would be the broad, voluntary adoption of digital tools. For example, there are apps that will help you remember where you have been; if you ever test positive, you can review the history or choose to share it with whoever comes to interview you about your contacts. And some people have proposed allowing phones to detect other phones that are near them by using Bluetooth and emitting sounds that humans can’t hear. If someone tested positive, their phone would send a message to the other phones, and their owners could get tested. If most people chose to install this kind of application, it would probably help some. -Bill Gates
Gates suggests this would be voluntary, unlike South Korea – which forces COVID-19 positive patients to self-isolate and install a tracking app on their smartphones which will alert authorities when an infected person has left their home, while warning them to return immediately. Admittedly, South Korea – which also employed widespread testing and the use of face masks, has had just under 11,000 confirmed cases and 240 deaths.
Treatment options – Gates notes that while hydroxychloroquine has ‘received a lot of attention,’ his foundation is funding a clinical trial which will determine if it works on COVID-19 by the end of May, and that “it appears the benefits will be modest at best,” despite overwhelming anecdotal evidence of its efficacy by doctors using it in the field.
We’re guessing Gates’ trial doesn’t include the use of zinc, much like most of the other studies which are ‘proving’ that the anti-malaria drug doesn’t work. This is disingenuous science, as HCQ acts as an ‘iononpore‘ which allows zinc into infected cells, disrupting virus replication. On its own, HCQ only allows low levels of zinc to enter cells, vs. the high-dose cocktail employed by doctors such as Vladimir Zelenko, who claims he’s cured over 700 patients with the combination.
Gates, meanwhile, is promoting the use of plasma therapy, which involves “drawing blood from patients who have recovered from covid-19, making sure it is free of the coronavirus and other infections, and giving the plasma (and the antibodies it contains) to sick people. Several major companies are working together to see whether this succeeds.”
Another treatment he’s proposing is synthesizing antibodies that are “most effective against the novel coronavirus,” which may face manufacturing constraints.
If you want to get back to large gatherings, we need a vaccine! Perhaps, but immeasurably more creepy coming from Gates considering his history.
Every additional month that it takes to produce a vaccine is a month in which the economy cannot completely return to normal. The new approach I’m most excited about is known as an RNA vaccine. (The first covid-19 vaccine to start human trials is an RNA vaccine.) Unlike a flu shot, which contains fragments of the influenza virus so your immune system can learn to attack them, an RNA vaccine gives your body the genetic code needed to produce viral fragments on its own. When the immune system sees these fragments, it learns how to attack them. An RNA vaccine essentially turns your body into its own vaccine manufacturing unit. -Bill Gates
Gates then says that distributing vaccines will be the next hurdle – and that governments which fund vaccine development, countries which test the vaccines, and hardest-hit regions “will all have a good case that they should receive priority,” and that “Ideally, there would be a global agreement about who should get the vaccine first.”
In short – get tracked, don’t trust hydroxychloroquine, and take the shot.
Source: ZeroHedge
Image: Spiro Skouras
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Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-04-22--Botnet Targets Millions of “Smart” and Internet of Things Video Recorders, Thermal Cameras, and Rout

Botnet Targets Millions of “Smart” and Internet of Things Video Recorders, Thermal Cameras, and Routers

All wireless , “ Smart ” and IoT devices are vulnerable to hacking .
This includes medical devices and electric , gas , and water utility smart meters ( see 1 , 2 ) .
The media frequently reports about adults and children being spied on and harassed through baby monitors ( see 1 , 2 ) and other home devices ( see 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) .
Cybersecurity experts and even 5G proponents continue to warn against 5G / IoT vulnerability .
From TechRadar on one of the most recent threats : dark_nexus has already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new botnet that looks to infect common smart IoT devices like video recorders , thermal cameras and routers .
This botnet , known as dark_nexus , is capable of launching a range of various DDoS attacks , spreading multiple malware strains , and can infect devices running on 12 different CPU architectures .
According to researchers at Bitdefender , who has been tracking this botnet for the last three months , the botnet has already infected over a thousand devices already and is now spreading .
Wired Ethernet connections have always been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts .
In fact , American Academy of Pediatrics and other health experts have warned for many years that children are especially vulnerable to exposure to wireless – 5G , Bluetooth , cell phone and WiFi radiation .
Despite the warnings , there is still NO safe level that has been scientifically determined for kids or pregnant women .
Research has determined that wireless exposure can cause increased cancer risk ( see 1 , 2 ) and much more for humans of all ages and our furry friends .
So why risk it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Activist Post reports regularly about ALL issues associated digital , electronic , and wireless tech .
For more information visit our archives and the following websites : Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $ 1 per month at Patreon .
Follow us on SoMee , Flote , Minds , Twitter , and HIVE .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
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By B.N. Frank
All wireless, “Smart” and IoT devices are vulnerable to hacking. This includes medical devices and electric, gas, and water utility smart meters (see 1, 2). The media frequently reports about adults and children being spied on and harassed through baby monitors (see 1, 2) and other home devices (see 1, 2, 3, 4). Cybersecurity experts and even 5G proponents continue to warn against 5G / IoT vulnerability.
From TechRadar on one of the most recent threats:
dark_nexus has already seen 30 version updates Researchers have identified a new botnet that looks to infect common smart IoT devices like video recorders, thermal cameras and routers. This botnet, known as dark_nexus, is capable of launching a range of various DDoS attacks, spreading multiple malware strains, and can infect devices running on 12 different CPU architectures. According to researchers at Bitdefender, who has been tracking this botnet for the last three months, the botnet has already infected over a thousand devices already and is now spreading. Read full article
Wired Ethernet connections have always been recommended by both security experts AND health experts. In fact, American Academy of Pediatrics and other health experts have warned for many years that children are especially vulnerable to exposure to wireless – 5G, Bluetooth, cell phone and WiFi radiation. Despite the warnings, there is still NO safe level that has been scientifically determined for kids or pregnant women.
Research has determined that wireless exposure can cause increased cancer risk (see 1, 2) and much more for humans of all ages and our furry friends. So why risk it when you can go wired instead?
Activist Post reports regularly about ALL issues associated digital, electronic, and wireless tech. For more information visit our archives and the following websites:
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, Flote, Minds, Twitter, and HIVE.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-04-24--Bill Gates Continues To Push “Immunity Passports” And Tech-Enabled Surveillance State To Combat COVI


activistpost--2020-04-24--Pandemic And Economic Collapse: The Next 60 Days

The news cycle moves so quickly these days writing analysis on current events becomes difficult ; the moment you publish an examination of the situation people have already moved on to the next disaster .
So , today I ’ m not going to do that .
Instead , let ’ s look at current trends and project what is likely to happen in the next couple of months .
In my article ‘ How The Pandemic Crisis Will Probably Develop Over The Next Year ’ published in early March , I outlined what I believed would be the major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these predictions have already occurred .
Now I would like to tackle a shorter timetable and focus more specifically on the economic side of things , along with the effects of government lockdowns and how they will continue .
Yes , that ’ s right , if you think the “ reopening ” of the economy is going to be widespread , or that it will last , don ’ t get your hopes up .
I am using a 60-day model because I have observed that the average non-aware person appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us in the liberty movement in terms of seeing the dangers ahead .
First and foremost , the lockdown issue is on almost everyone ’ s mind , and as I ’ ve been saying for the past month , it would not take long before people start freaking out about their financial prospects once they realize this thing may not be over “ in two weeks ” as we keep hearing every two weeks from the mainstream media , state governments and Donald Trump .
The “ two weeks until reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public placated and docile , and the establishment will continue to use it until people are finally fed up , which is already beginning to happen .
Lockdown protests are sparking up across the country and it ’ s only going to get worse from now on .
Understand , though , that establishment elites probably expected this , especially in the US , and they are planning to use civil unrest to their advantage .
Do not be surprised if some areas of the country do indeed “ reopen ” next month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primarily rural .
Do NOT count on first- and second-tier cities to reopen , at least nowhere near the activity that they had previous to the viral outbreak .
In fact , while rural towns try to go back to normalcy , many major cities will probably double-down and increase restrictions rather than loosen them .
Why do I think this will happen ?
I ’ ve noticed an odd narrative being pushed in the mainstream media lately that has me concerned .
The MSM is aggressively promoting the notion that rural states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the coronavirus , and looser restrictions in these places are “ a danger to everyone ” .
Now , if you read between the lines in this propaganda , what I see is not the media reporting on what is happening now , but what they expect to happen soon .
In my area of Montana there is no community spread of the virus , and this is common to many parts of rural America .
However , what if rural towns reopen while large metropolitan areas remain closed for business ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a FLOOD of city dwellers to pour into rural areas looking for a taste of freedom and some open bars and restaurants .
See : 177 Different Ways to Generate Extra Income If your small town is within 1-2 hours drive of a large city , get ready for a parade of yuppies on mainstreet looking for a vacation from lockdown .
This in itself is not a big deal .
If people want to drive from the city to spend money in small town America then that ’ s a benefit to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 180-degree shift from the norm ) .
But here is what I think will happen next : After about two weeks of reopening , small towns across the US will have a massive spike in infection numbers and community spread .
Viral clusters will develop and some people will die .
Does this mean our economy should be frozen to the point of collapse or that medical martial law is the answer ?
No , absolutely not .
But the media is already gearing up for the big “ we told you so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state governments and the federal government will start calling for renewed lockdowns even more harsh than before .
The rest of the world will say “ that ’ s what those Americans ( conservative Americans ) get for being selfish and trying to reopen too soon ” .
The economy can not be opened one piece at a time , it has to be opened all at once .
Otherwise , you are going to get a huge influx of people to reopened regions and an inordinate amount of infection cases will follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus .
Of course , a full reopening of the nation is not going to happen .
Get ready for a great big fake wrestling match between state governments and Trump in terms of how to handle ending lockdowns .
Take note though that Trump flip-flops so much on state power vs. executive power that no one actually knows where he really stands on the issue ; this is by design .
We hear a lot of complaints about the World Health Organization and China hiding or suppressing information on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the public .
Yet Trump was downplaying the pandemic in the EXACT same way in January , claiming that Chinese data was trustworthy and that the virus was under control .
This past week Trump seems to be taking the WHO and China to task , but is any of this real ?
Trump ’ s persona is meant to be ambiguous and chameleon-like , so that he can be presented as all things to all people .
For the political left he ’ s a bogeyman , a bumbling conservative villain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; he acts as a catalyst to drive them even more insane than they already are .
For some on the political right , Trump is a savior , or a martyr .
They place him on a pedestal so high that he can do no wrong and some even believe he is actually fighting a “ secret war ” with the elites using subversive tactics despite the fact that half of his cabinet is made up of banking and Council on Foreign Relations alumni .
This absurdity has divided the liberty movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is a fraud , and those who treat him like a 4D chess playing god .
I fully expect Trump to flip-flop again in the next two months .
For now , he is acting like a champion of the people defending lockdown protesters and pushing for a quick reopen .
After the next wave of infections and deaths occur , do not be surprised in he suddenly calls for stringent lockdown procedures .
Economically , new lockdowns after a short reopen will devastate small businesses that are clamoring for oxygen already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package was a dud , and it burned up in less than a week .
Another stimulus is on the table , but it is being contested .
If another bailout is passed it will vanish yet again with most small businesses still not receiving a dime .
Bottom line : Too-big-to-fail corporations are going to get their money , and small businesses will get little or none after the next 60 days .
This means that 50 % of the jobs in the country are now on the chopping block , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these businesses were already on the ropes with razor thin margins and extensive debt obligations .
The economy is already dead , the pin to the grenade has already been pulled , the majority of Americans simply don ’ t realize it yet .
In terms of individual government aid , some laid off employees are sitting pretty , though , at least for a little while .
The stimulus measures are beginning to reach the newly jobless on top of their normal unemployment benefits , so even if businesses reopen , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work for them .
You can make more money from government checks right now than you can working full time at almost any service-based business while also avoiding “ the Rona ” .
But what these people don ’ t realize is that this windfall is going to dissipate quickly .
Other recently unemployed people are still waiting for their checks , showing the government response to be uneven .
Stimulus is drying up fast and everyone and their mother has a hand out to get theirs , with corporations being the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small business stimulus disappeared in under a week should tell you what is about to happen with individual stimulus measures .
But beyond this problem is the unspoken issue of supply chain disruptions and inflation .
What good is your government check if 90 % of the stores are shut down , 50 % of the items you want to buy are considered “ non-essential ” and restricted , and the items you are allowed to buy are skyrocketing in price ?
The common American is being set up for a shock they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that government checks ( Universal Basic Income ) are barely going to keep them alive , let alone grant them months of paid leisure .
I think the awareness of this will hit the general public in around 60 days .
To reiterate , the supply chain breakdown will go mainstream in a couple months .
The stores are sparse right now ; they are stretching inventory to fill gap in shelves and limiting purchases on a long list of items to one per customer , but they aren ’ t in crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of meat products shutting down as well as farms having trouble hiring workers to process produce and other goods .
The lockdowns caused an initial drop in some prices due to closed restaurants and oversupply , but this is soon to end as supply is about to be destroyed because of lack of production .
Economic collapse rarely if ever leads to advantages for consumers ; this is a fallacy from the depression era which for some reason is still perpetuated by uneducated economists today .
The name for this type of event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is something I have been warning about for years .
It means price inflation in necessities while deflation occurs in wages , many assets and some commodities .
The oil market is an indicator of these mechanics in action .
As oil plunges , the public gets cheap gasoline , but the price collapse also represents a collapse in global energy demand , and thus a collapse in production .
A collapse in production leads to less supply , and thus higher prices , and the cycle continue until everything breaks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two choices – poverty or self sufficiency .
The extent of the crisis will become much more clear in the next two months to the majority .
The result will be civil unrest in the summer , likely followed by extreme poverty levels in the winter .
No measure of “ reopening ” is going to do much to stop the avalanche that has already been started .
The solution is always the same : localized trade and production and removing yourself and your community from dependency on the establishment controlled economy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is possible .
What is not possible is fixing the broken and corrupt economy we have now or stopping the current collapse .
This is a fool ’ s errand for people living in unicorn land .
If you would like to support the work that Alt-Market does while also receiving content on advanced tactics for defeating the globalist agenda , subscribe to our exclusive newsletter The Wild Bunch Dispatch .
Learn more about it HERE .
With global tensions spiking , thousands of Americans are moving their IRA or 401 ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical gold .
Now , thanks to a little-known IRS Tax Law , you can too .
Learn how with a free info kit on gold from Birch Gold Group .
It reveals how physical precious metals can protect your savings , and how to open a Gold IRA .
Click here to get your free Info Kit on Gold .
You can contact Brandon Smith at : [ email protected ] Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Become an Activist Post Patron for as little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Follow us on SoMee , HIVE , Flote , Minds , and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Brandon Smith
The news cycle moves so quickly these days writing analysis on current events becomes difficult; the moment you publish an examination of the situation people have already moved on to the next disaster. So, today I’m not going to do that. Instead, let’s look at current trends and project what is likely to happen in the next couple of months. In my article ‘How The Pandemic Crisis Will Probably Develop Over The Next Year’ published in early March, I outlined what I believed would be the major developments on a longer timetable. Some of these predictions have already occurred.
Now I would like to tackle a shorter timetable and focus more specifically on the economic side of things, along with the effects of government lockdowns and how they will continue. Yes, that’s right, if you think the “reopening” of the economy is going to be widespread, or that it will last, don’t get your hopes up. I am using a 60-day model because I have observed that the average non-aware person appears to be about two months behind those of us in the liberty movement in terms of seeing the dangers ahead.
First and foremost, the lockdown issue is on almost everyone’s mind, and as I’ve been saying for the past month, it would not take long before people start freaking out about their financial prospects once they realize this thing may not be over “in two weeks” as we keep hearing every two weeks from the mainstream media, state governments and Donald Trump. The “two weeks until reopen” mantra is designed to keep the public placated and docile, and the establishment will continue to use it until people are finally fed up, which is already beginning to happen.
Lockdown protests are sparking up across the country and it’s only going to get worse from now on. Understand, though, that establishment elites probably expected this, especially in the US, and they are planning to use civil unrest to their advantage.
Do not be surprised if some areas of the country do indeed “reopen” next month, but expect these locations to be primarily rural. Do NOT count on first- and second-tier cities to reopen, at least nowhere near the activity that they had previous to the viral outbreak. In fact, while rural towns try to go back to normalcy, many major cities will probably double-down and increase restrictions rather than loosen them.
Why do I think this will happen? I’ve noticed an odd narrative being pushed in the mainstream media lately that has me concerned. The MSM is aggressively promoting the notion that rural states and counties are about to be crushed by the coronavirus, and looser restrictions in these places are “a danger to everyone”.
Now, if you read between the lines in this propaganda, what I see is not the media reporting on what is happening now, but what they expect to happen soon. In my area of Montana there is no community spread of the virus, and this is common to many parts of rural America. However, what if rural towns reopen while large metropolitan areas remain closed for business? Unless travel restrictions are instituted, expect a FLOOD of city dwellers to pour into rural areas looking for a taste of freedom and some open bars and restaurants.
If your small town is within 1-2 hours drive of a large city, get ready for a parade of yuppies on mainstreet looking for a vacation from lockdown.
This in itself is not a big deal. If people want to drive from the city to spend money in small town America then that’s a benefit to struggling rural communities (and a bizarre 180-degree shift from the norm). But here is what I think will happen next:
After about two weeks of reopening, small towns across the US will have a massive spike in infection numbers and community spread. Viral clusters will develop and some people will die. Does this mean our economy should be frozen to the point of collapse or that medical martial law is the answer? No, absolutely not. But the media is already gearing up for the big “we told you so”, and as rural infections skyrocket state governments and the federal government will start calling for renewed lockdowns even more harsh than before. The rest of the world will say “that’s what those Americans (conservative Americans) get for being selfish and trying to reopen too soon”.
The economy cannot be opened one piece at a time, it has to be opened all at once. Otherwise, you are going to get a huge influx of people to reopened regions and an inordinate amount of infection cases will follow in those areas, exaggerating the spread of the virus. Of course, a full reopening of the nation is not going to happen.
Get ready for a great big fake wrestling match between state governments and Trump in terms of how to handle ending lockdowns. Take note though that Trump flip-flops so much on state power vs. executive power that no one actually knows where he really stands on the issue; this is by design.
We hear a lot of complaints about the World Health Organization and China hiding or suppressing information on the coronavirus and the extent of the danger to the public. Yet Trump was downplaying the pandemic in the EXACT same way in January, claiming that Chinese data was trustworthy and that the virus was under control. This past week Trump seems to be taking the WHO and China to task, but is any of this real?
Trump’s persona is meant to be ambiguous and chameleon-like, so that he can be presented as all things to all people. For the political left he’s a bogeyman, a bumbling conservative villain and statist that is destroying the country; he acts as a catalyst to drive them even more insane than they already are. For some on the political right, Trump is a savior, or a martyr. They place him on a pedestal so high that he can do no wrong and some even believe he is actually fighting a “secret war” with the elites using subversive tactics despite the fact that half of his cabinet is made up of banking and Council on Foreign Relations alumni.
This absurdity has divided the liberty movement into different camps – Those who realize Trump is a fraud, and those who treat him like a 4D chess playing god.
I fully expect Trump to flip-flop again in the next two months. For now, he is acting like a champion of the people defending lockdown protesters and pushing for a quick reopen. After the next wave of infections and deaths occur, do not be surprised in he suddenly calls for stringent lockdown procedures.
Economically, new lockdowns after a short reopen will devastate small businesses that are clamoring for oxygen already. The much vaunted small business stimulus package was a dud, and it burned up in less than a week. Another stimulus is on the table, but it is being contested. If another bailout is passed it will vanish yet again with most small businesses still not receiving a dime. Bottom line: Too-big-to-fail corporations are going to get their money, and small businesses will get little or none after the next 60 days. This means that 50% of the jobs in the country are now on the chopping block, and most of them will not return because these businesses were already on the ropes with razor thin margins and extensive debt obligations.
The economy is already dead, the pin to the grenade has already been pulled, the majority of Americans simply don’t realize it yet.
In terms of individual government aid, some laid off employees are sitting pretty, though, at least for a little while. The stimulus measures are beginning to reach the newly jobless on top of their normal unemployment benefits, so even if businesses reopen, they may have a hard time finding people to work for them. You can make more money from government checks right now than you can working full time at almost any service-based business while also avoiding “the Rona”. But what these people don’t realize is that this windfall is going to dissipate quickly.
Other recently unemployed people are still waiting for their checks, showing the government response to be uneven.
Stimulus is drying up fast and everyone and their mother has a hand out to get theirs, with corporations being the biggest drain. The fact that the small business stimulus disappeared in under a week should tell you what is about to happen with individual stimulus measures. But beyond this problem is the unspoken issue of supply chain disruptions and inflation.
What good is your government check if 90% of the stores are shut down, 50% of the items you want to buy are considered “non-essential”and restricted, and the items you are allowed to buy are skyrocketing in price? The common American is being set up for a shock they are not prepared for when they realize that government checks (Universal Basic Income) are barely going to keep them alive, let alone grant them months of paid leisure. I think the awareness of this will hit the general public in around 60 days.
To reiterate, the supply chain breakdown will go mainstream in a couple months. The stores are sparse right now; they are stretching inventory to fill gap in shelves and limiting purchases on a long list of items to one per customer, but they aren’t in crisis mode yet. With the biggest producers of meat products shutting down as well as farms having trouble hiring workers to process produce and other goods.
The lockdowns caused an initial drop in some prices due to closed restaurants and oversupply, but this is soon to end as supply is about to be destroyed because of lack of production. Economic collapse rarely if ever leads to advantages for consumers; this is a fallacy from the depression era which for some reason is still perpetuated by uneducated economists today.
The name for this type of event is a “stagflationary crisis” and it is something I have been warning about for years. It means price inflation in necessities while deflation occurs in wages, many assets and some commodities. The oil market is an indicator of these mechanics in action. As oil plunges, the public gets cheap gasoline, but the price collapse also represents a collapse in global energy demand, and thus a collapse in production. A collapse in production leads to less supply, and thus higher prices, and the cycle continue until everything breaks and the populace is reduced to one of two choices – poverty or self sufficiency.
The extent of the crisis will become much more clear in the next two months to the majority. The result will be civil unrest in the summer, likely followed by extreme poverty levels in the winter. No measure of “reopening” is going to do much to stop the avalanche that has already been started. The solution is always the same: localized trade and production and removing yourself and your community from dependency on the establishment controlled economy. It’s certainly difficult, but it is possible. What is not possible is fixing the broken and corrupt economy we have now or stopping the current collapse. This is a fool’s errand for people living in unicorn land.
Source: Alt-Market
If you would like to support the work that Alt-Market does while also receiving content on advanced tactics for defeating the globalist agenda, subscribe to our exclusive newsletter The Wild Bunch Dispatch. Learn more about it HERE.
With global tensions spiking, thousands of Americans are moving their IRA or 401(k) into an IRA backed by physical gold. Now, thanks to a little-known IRS Tax Law, you can too. Learn how with a free info kit on gold from Birch Gold Group. It reveals how physical precious metals can protect your savings, and how to open a Gold IRA. Click here to get your free Info Kit on Gold.
You can contact Brandon Smith at: brandon@alt-market.com
Image: Anthony Freda
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, HIVE, Flote, Minds, and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-04-24--Coronavirus Response: Ban Alcohol, Free Speech, and Homeschooling (This Week’s Dystopian News)

For this week ’ s round-up of articles , we ’ re taking a look at some of the things the government thinks should be banned in response to coronavirus .
WHO urges governments to ban alcohol during lockdown Last week we talked about how the World Health Organization was coming for your sick family members .
This week , they want your booze .
WHO says that alcohol compromises the immune system .
And since we are fighting a virus , they think that prohibition is necessary .
In fact , alcohol restrictions can be justified by governments for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
WHO notes that even in good times , alcohol is the cause of major health issues , addiction , and death .
Alcohol accounts for 3 million deaths per year worldwide– far more than the coronavirus .
So it almost seems like WHO ’ s argument for banning alcohol has little to do with the coronavirus .
If it ’ s all about good health and saving lives , why not mandate a WHO-approved diet and exercise regimen for the masses as well ?
Why not ban sugar while they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop ?
Click here to read the full story .
Not that you can disagree with the WHO anyhow… Speaking of which , it ’ s difficult to even disagree with the WHO anymore ; YouTube ’ s CEO indicated yesterday that her video platform would delete any content that goes against official WHO guidance .
Specifically she told CNN : “ Anything that goes against WHO recommendations would be a violation of our policy.
” Bear in mind that the WHO was totally incompetent , especially in the early days of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review : December 31 : China first notifies WHO of the outbreak January 5 : WHO “ does not recommend any specific measures for travellers ” and “ advises against the application of any travel or trade restrictions on China ” January 23 : Even as China begins its lockdown of Wuhan and the virus spreads across Asia , WHO still insists “ it is still too early to declare a PHEIC ” [ Public Health Emergency of International Concern ] .
January 30 : WHO still “ does not recommend any travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese government ’ s “ commitment to transparency.
” February 27 : After many countries began introducing travel restrictions , WHO lamented that these restrictions would lead to “ unnecessary interference with international traffic , including negative repercussions on the tourism sector.
” March 11 : After more than 100,000 cases in dozens of countries worldwide , WHO finally declares this a global pandemic .
Oh I almost forgot : the WHO is the same organization that made a brutal murderer– former Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe– one of its GOODWILL ambassadors !
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And now YouTube wants to ban content that disagrees with an organization that is corrupt and incompetent .
Click here to read the full story .
Amyiah Cohoon is a high school sophomore who went on a band trip to Disney World in March .
When she came back home she developed a fever and dry cough and doctors “ concluded that her symptoms matched those of COVID-19.
” Amyiah posted a picture from the Disney trip on Instagram with a caption telling her friends she had Covid-19 and would not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while she quarantined herself .
After a short stay in the hospital , Amyiah posted a picture from her stay , again with a caption that she was recovering from Covid-19 .
The next day , a Sheriff ’ s Deputy knocked on the family ’ s door .
He demanded that Amyiah delete the Instagram posts , or else he would cite the family for disorderly conduct and “ start taking people to jail.
” The family offered to show the Deputy the documents from the hospital proving that doctors believed Amyiah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interested .
He said the Sheriff told him to make sure the posts were deleted , because the county officially had no confirmed cases of Covid-19 .
Intimidated , and threatened with jail , Amyiah compiled and deleted the posts .
Turns out it was the school superintendent who contacted the Sheriff about the Instagram post who claimed it was Amyiah ’ s “ foolish means to get attention.
” Click here to read the lawsuit .
Harvard professor : parents can ’ t be trusted with their kids With American schools closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many families .
This trend was already increasing , and will probably be accelerated by fears of the continuing spread of coronavirus .
But a Harvard professor Elizabeth Bartholet , the faculty director of the Child Advocacy Program at the law school , is calling for a ban on homeschooling .
She says that homeschooling , “ not only violates children ’ s right to a meaningful education and their right to be protected from potential child abuse , but may keep them from contributing positively to a democratic society.
” She adds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are driven by conservative Christian beliefs , which she seems to think constitutes child abuse .
.
.
Professor Bartholet says that some parents are deliberately trying to keep their kids from the mainstream culture taught in schools which includes “ democratic values , ideas about nondiscrimination and tolerance of other people ’ s viewpoints.
” Yep .
She ’ s all about tolerance of other people ’ s viewpoints .
As long as those viewpoints conform with her own .
Otherwise she ’ s not tolerant .
It is hard to imagine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not a caricature villain created by Ayn Rand .
Click here to read the full story .
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $ 1 per month at Patreon .
Follow us on SoMee , HIVE , Flote , Minds , and Twitter .
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By Simon Black, Sovereign Man
For this week’s round-up of articles, we’re taking a look at some of the things the government thinks should be banned in response to coronavirus.
WHO urges governments to ban alcohol during lockdown
Last week we talked about how the World Health Organization was coming for your sick family members.
This week, they want your booze.
WHO says that alcohol compromises the immune system. And since we are fighting a virus, they think that prohibition is necessary.
In fact, alcohol restrictions can be justified by governments for the same reason coronavirus lockdowns are needed.
WHO notes that even in good times, alcohol is the cause of major health issues, addiction, and death. Alcohol accounts for 3 million deaths per year worldwide– far more than the coronavirus.
So it almost seems like WHO’s argument for banning alcohol has little to do with the coronavirus.
If it’s all about good health and saving lives, why not mandate a WHO-approved diet and exercise regimen for the masses as well? Why not ban sugar while they’re at it?
Where does the madness stop?
Click here to read the full story.
Not that you can disagree with the WHO anyhow…
Speaking of which, it’s difficult to even disagree with the WHO anymore; YouTube’s CEO indicated yesterday that her video platform would delete any content that goes against official WHO guidance.
Specifically she told CNN: “Anything that goes against WHO recommendations would be a violation of our policy.”
Bear in mind that the WHO was totally incompetent, especially in the early days of this pandemic. Here’s a quick review:
December 31: China first notifies WHO of the outbreak
January 5: WHO “does not recommend any specific measures for travellers” and “advises against the application of any travel or trade restrictions on China”
January 23: Even as China begins its lockdown of Wuhan and the virus spreads across Asia, WHO still insists “it is still too early to declare a PHEIC” [Public Health Emergency of International Concern].
January 30: WHO still “does not recommend any travel or trade restriction” and praises the Chinese government’s “commitment to transparency.”
February 27: After many countries began introducing travel restrictions, WHO lamented that these restrictions would lead to “unnecessary interference with international traffic, including negative repercussions on the tourism sector.”
March 11: After more than 100,000 cases in dozens of countries worldwide, WHO finally declares this a global pandemic.
Oh I almost forgot: the WHO is the same organization that made a brutal murderer– former Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe– one of its GOODWILL ambassadors! You can’t make this stuff up.
And now YouTube wants to ban content that disagrees with an organization that is corrupt and incompetent.
Click here to read the full story.
Police threaten arrest for Instagram post about coronavirus
Amyiah Cohoon is a high school sophomore who went on a band trip to Disney World in March.
When she came back home she developed a fever and dry cough and doctors “concluded that her symptoms matched those of COVID-19.”
Amyiah posted a picture from the Disney trip on Instagram with a caption telling her friends she had Covid-19 and would not be able to see anyone for a while while she quarantined herself.
After a short stay in the hospital, Amyiah posted a picture from her stay, again with a caption that she was recovering from Covid-19.
The next day, a Sheriff’s Deputy knocked on the family’s door. He demanded that Amyiah delete the Instagram posts, or else he would cite the family for disorderly conduct and “start taking people to jail.”
The family offered to show the Deputy the documents from the hospital proving that doctors believed Amyiah had Covid-19. The Deputy was not interested.
He said the Sheriff told him to make sure the posts were deleted, because the county officially had no confirmed cases of Covid-19.
Intimidated, and threatened with jail, Amyiah compiled and deleted the posts.
Turns out it was the school superintendent who contacted the Sheriff about the Instagram post who claimed it was Amyiah’s “foolish means to get attention.”
Click here to read the lawsuit.
Harvard professor: parents can’t be trusted with their kids
With American schools closed, homeschooling is the new normal for many families. This trend was already increasing, and will probably be accelerated by fears of the continuing spread of coronavirus.
But a Harvard professor Elizabeth Bartholet, the faculty director of the Child Advocacy Program at the law school, is calling for a ban on homeschooling.
She says that homeschooling, “not only violates children’s right to a meaningful education and their right to be protected from potential child abuse, but may keep them from contributing positively to a democratic society.”
She adds that a large percentage of homeschool families are driven by conservative Christian beliefs, which she seems to think constitutes child abuse. . .
Professor Bartholet says that some parents are deliberately trying to keep their kids from the mainstream culture taught in schools which includes “democratic values, ideas about nondiscrimination and tolerance of other people’s viewpoints.”
Yep. She’s all about tolerance of other people’s viewpoints. As long as those viewpoints conform with her own. Otherwise she’s not tolerant.
It is hard to imagine that this is a real person, and not a caricature villain created by Ayn Rand.
Click here to read the full story.
Source: The Daily Bell
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, HIVE, Flote, Minds, and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-04-24--The Oil Futures Crash Is a Warning to Gold Speculators

The metals complex showed relative stability this week as the oil market suffered a historic meltdown .
West Texas Intermediate Crude crashed 70 % at one point this week on the continuous contract , bringing prices briefly below $ 7 per barrel .
By Thursday , prices were trading between $ 14 and $ 18 per barrel .
The volatility on the May futures contract was even more extreme .
On Monday , May futures for crude oil crashed to one dollar , then to zero , then to a few pennies below zero , then to an unbelievable negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world literally running out of places to store oil , oil contracts for immediate physical offtake represented a liability rather than an asset .
Nobody wanted to take delivery of oil .
That left speculators , hedge funds , and exchange-traded funds that hold oil futures as financial instruments only needing to unload their contracts at any price .
They ultimately would rather pay buyers to take unwanted barrels of oil than assume the obligation and hassle of owning them .
Some traders cried foul over the apparent forced selling and filed complaints @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world ’ s largest commodity exchange , and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission .
Billionaire oil executive Harold Hamm of Continental Resources wrote a letter to the CFTC calling for the agency to investigate possible market manipulation .
CME Group Chairman Terry Duffy responded on CNBC by insisting the futures market was functioning just fine and had not mispriced oil contracts when they began trading below zero .
CNBC Anchor : There was one that comment he put in his letter to the CFTC .
He asked them to investigate whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems or computer programs that played a part in our going negative .
If they carried out that investigation , can you answer what they ’ d find for us now ?
Terry Duffy : You know , the CME , we are a neutral facilitator of risk management , and we ’ re happy if people want to look into the markets .
Futures contracts have been around for hundreds of years and I will tell you since day one , everybody knows that it ’ s unlimited losses in futures .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ perception that it can ’ t go below zero .
Regardless of whether the market was manipulated , the deeply negative futures price was disconnected from physical reality .
Nobody could call up an oil producer and expect to be able to buy barrels of oil for less than nothing because of a negatively trading futures contract .
No oil company announced to investors that its oil assets had suddenly become liabilities because of a negative futures quote .
In fact , energy stocks traded higher this week .
Although many oil producers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s not because they are literally selling oil at a negative price .
It ’ s because their production and storage costs are exceeding the real-world prices they can fetch for their product .
And that real-world price is now in the teens per barrel .
The absurd negative $ 37 figure on a particular futures contract was never seen as a credible gauge of the global value of physical oil .
The credibility of the gold and silver futures markets is also being called into question .
Earlier this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the London so-called spot price grew to a record high of more than $ 80 .
Something strange is going on .
The COMEX and London markets curiously changed their rules to allow 400-ounce gold bars located in London to be substituted for delivery of 100-ounce bars in satisfaction of U.S. contracts , actions which have drawn the attention of Congressman Alex Mooney of West Virginia .
Rep. Mooney is now demanding the CFTC explain why U.S. markets are permitted to carry so little deliverable physical gold and silver to back the exchanges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it could throw the entire financial system into chaos , Mooney warned .
At the same time , an enormous divergence between spot prices and the prices on bullion coin , bars , and rounds have developed .
So what is the real price of gold ?
What is the real price of silver ?
The answer is that it depends on the form in which it is traded .
Paper contract settlements carry one price .
Bullion bars carry another .
And American Eagles carry yet another .
For example , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15.36 on Thursday , Silver Eagles were selling for $ 27 or more at Money Metals ’ higher-priced competitors .
Certainly a few of these dealers are getting greedy or struggling with insufficient capital , but the elevated premiums in general DO reflect extraordinarily strong retail demand on the one hand – and on the other , higher sourcing costs and U.S. Mint closures that threaten to crimp supply .
Coin values can not be manipulated arbitrarily on a futures exchange .
No physical bullion product will suddenly acquire a negative price because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unload contracts at a particular time and can ’ t find buyers .
As long as you aren ’ t using leverage , your downside risk in bullion is limited .
That ’ s certainly not the case if you choose to play gold and silver futures .
There , as you heard the head of the CME/COMEX admit , you could potentially lose more than 100 % of the capital you deploy .
The upshot for holders of physical is that in the event the highly leveraged precious metals futures markets lose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down and default on obligations to deliver , a squeeze on available inventories of physical metal could push bullion prices explosively higher – regardless of what the paper quotes for gold and silver happen to be .
Mike Gleason is a Director with Money Metals Exchange , a national precious metals dealer with over 50,000 customers .
Gleason is a hard money advocate and a strong proponent of personal liberty , limited government and the Austrian School of Economics .
A graduate of the University of Florida , Gleason has extensive experience in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as precious metals investing .
He also puts his longtime broadcasting background to good use , hosting a weekly precious metals podcast since 2011 , a program listened to by tens of thousands each week .
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $ 1 per month at Patreon .
Follow us on SoMee , HIVE , Flote , Minds , and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free @ @ @ @ @ @

By Mike Gleason
The metals complex showed relative stability this week as the oil market suffered a historic meltdown. West Texas Intermediate Crude crashed 70% at one point this week on the continuous contract, bringing prices briefly below $7 per barrel. By Thursday, prices were trading between $14 and $18 per barrel.
The volatility on the May futures contract was even more extreme. On Monday, May futures for crude oil crashed to one dollar, then to zero, then to a few pennies below zero, then to an unbelievable negative $37 per barrel.
With the world literally running out of places to store oil, oil contracts for immediate physical offtake represented a liability rather than an asset. Nobody wanted to take delivery of oil.
That left speculators, hedge funds, and exchange-traded funds that hold oil futures as financial instruments only needing to unload their contracts at any price. They ultimately would rather pay buyers to take unwanted barrels of oil than assume the obligation and hassle of owning them.
Some traders cried foul over the apparent forced selling and filed complaints with the CME Group, which runs the world’s largest commodity exchange, and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Billionaire oil executive Harold Hamm of Continental Resources wrote a letter to the CFTC calling for the agency to investigate possible market manipulation.
CME Group Chairman Terry Duffy responded on CNBC by insisting the futures market was functioning just fine and had not mispriced oil contracts when they began trading below zero.
CNBC Anchor: There was one that comment he put in his letter to the CFTC. He asked them to investigate whether there had been market manipulation or failed systems or computer programs that played a part in our going negative. If they carried out that investigation, can you answer what they’d find for us now?
Terry Duffy: You know, the CME, we are a neutral facilitator of risk management, and we’re happy if people want to look into the markets. Futures contracts have been around for hundreds of years and I will tell you since day one, everybody knows that it’s unlimited losses in futures. So, nobody should be under the perception that it can’t go below zero.
Regardless of whether the market was manipulated, the deeply negative futures price was disconnected from physical reality.
Nobody could call up an oil producer and expect to be able to buy barrels of oil for less than nothing because of a negatively trading futures contract. No oil company announced to investors that its oil assets had suddenly become liabilities because of a negative futures quote. In fact, energy stocks traded higher this week.
Although many oil producers are losing money at the moment, it’s not because they are literally selling oil at a negative price. It’s because their production and storage costs are exceeding the real-world prices they can fetch for their product.
And that real-world price is now in the teens per barrel. The absurd negative $37 figure on a particular futures contract was never seen as a credible gauge of the global value of physical oil.
The credibility of the gold and silver futures markets is also being called into question. Earlier this month the spread between COMEX gold futures and the London so-called spot price grew to a record high of more than $80.
Something strange is going on. The COMEX and London markets curiously changed their rules to allow 400-ounce gold bars located in London to be substituted for delivery of 100-ounce bars in satisfaction of U.S. contracts, actions which have drawn the attention of Congressman Alex Mooney of West Virginia.
Rep. Mooney is now demanding the CFTC explain why U.S. markets are permitted to carry so little deliverable physical gold and silver to back the exchanges. If there are widespread defaults, it could throw the entire financial system into chaos, Mooney warned.
At the same time, an enormous divergence between spot prices and the prices on bullion coin, bars, and rounds have developed.
So what is the real price of gold? What is the real price of silver?
The answer is that it depends on the form in which it is traded. Paper contract settlements carry one price. Bullion bars carry another. And American Eagles carry yet another.
For example, while the silver spot price closed at $15.36 on Thursday, Silver Eagles were selling for $27 or more at Money Metals’ higher-priced competitors.
Certainly a few of these dealers are getting greedy or struggling with insufficient capital, but the elevated premiums in general DO reflect extraordinarily strong retail demand on the one hand – and on the other, higher sourcing costs and U.S. Mint closures that threaten to crimp supply.
Coin values cannot be manipulated arbitrarily on a futures exchange. No physical bullion product will suddenly acquire a negative price because a handful of traders desperately need to unload contracts at a particular time and can’t find buyers.
As long as you aren’t using leverage, your downside risk in bullion is limited. That’s certainly not the case if you choose to play gold and silver futures. There, as you heard the head of the CME/COMEX admit, you could potentially lose more than 100% of the capital you deploy.
The upshot for holders of physical is that in the event the highly leveraged precious metals futures markets lose credibility, and especially if they melt down and default on obligations to deliver, a squeeze on available inventories of physical metal could push bullion prices explosively higher – regardless of what the paper quotes for gold and silver happen to be.
Mike Gleason is a Director with Money Metals Exchange, a national precious metals dealer with over 50,000 customers. Gleason is a hard money advocate and a strong proponent of personal liberty, limited government and the Austrian School of Economics. A graduate of the University of Florida, Gleason has extensive experience in management, sales and logistics as well as precious metals investing. He also puts his longtime broadcasting background to good use, hosting a weekly precious metals podcast since 2011, a program listened to by tens of thousands each week.
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, HIVE, Flote, Minds, and Twitter.
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activistpost--2020-04-24--Cops Wage Elaborate Undercover Scheme to Arrest Woman for Giving a Manicure Out of Her Home

Two Texas police officers went undercover in an elaborate sting operation to catch citizens giving salon services for money in their own home .
The cops posed as regular citizens needing to get a manicure .
Tipsters ( also known in some neighborhoods as “ rats ” or “ snitches ” ) pointed police to a woman who was advertising manicure services on social media — the horror .
Laredo police arrested Ana Isabel Castro-Garcia , 31 , at the 1200 block of Harding Street after she allegedly agreed to provide an undercover officer with a manicure .
Again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged with “ Violation of Emergency Management Plan C/B ” and was taken to the Webb County Jail where she was offered a $ 500 bond .
In a separate and unrelated case Brenda Stephany Mata , 20 , was arrested at the 1100 block of Hubner Street after she allegedly offered to do an undercover cop ’ s lashes .
Just like Castro-Garcia , she was charged with “ Violation of Emergency Management Plan C/B ” and was also taken to Webb County Jail for booking .
Only 11 of the nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly died of COVID-19 complications .
Had the ladies not been making money for their salon services the police would never have been tipped off by citizens ratting out their neighbors for presumably trying to feed themselves and their families .
Yes , America .
Police officers in Laredo Texas presumably had nothing better to do than enforce an arbitrary decree from a politician for people not to work and earn a living during a pandemic — in their own home .
To arrest the two cosmopolitan ladies the officers pretended to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to break the rules and give them a manicure and lash treatment respectively .
Placing the citizens further in harm ’ s way they then arrested them , instead of citing them , which forced the two presumably healthy women to be inside the confines of a jail cell with other individuals who themselves could have been infected with COVID-19 .
The defiance of logic in these two situations is utterly absurd and speaks to the arbitrary nature of the enforcement of such laws .
The Cuban-style block monitoring will likely not stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
No , police all over the country have made a point to make examples out of people for paddle boarding by oneself in the ocean , creating satirical posts on social media , and for feeding the homeless during a social distancing mandate .
We ’ ve been told by cop apologists the actual beat cops do not really want to enforce the laws but are forced to do so by their higher-ups .
For those apologists we have one simple question : If the government told you to stop being a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay with your family , how would you provide a living for those you love ?
Somewhere along the way the insanity needs to stop .
Where is the outrage in Texas ?
As TFTP reported this week , a video of a mother being arrested for bringing her kids to the park caused outrage across the internet and manifested into a massive act of police accountability .
After Sara Walton Brady ’ s arrest , dozens of protesters went to the home of the Meridian Police Department officer who arrested Brady .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bundy , who as TFTP reported last week , has been planning resistance to the lockdowns .
As the crowd grew larger at the officer ’ s home , his fellow cops helped guard him .
“ There was a woman at a park with her children and she was arrested !
” Bundy screams at the four or five cops standing in the driveway .
“ Completely inappropriate.
” “ The people will not allow you guys to do this for very long !
” Bundy yells at the cops in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the park and arrest people !
You will not go into parks and arrest mothers , and you will not go anywhere and arrest us for exercising what our rights are.
” The cops seemed receptive to the message and appeared to have an actual conversation with the protesters instead of simply ignoring them .
We need more of these conversations , now .
Jack Burns is an educator , journalist , investigative reporter , and advocate of natural medicine .
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for as little as $ 1 per month at Patreon .
Follow us on SoMee , HIVE , Flote , Minds , and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Jack Burns
Two Texas police officers went undercover in an elaborate sting operation to catch citizens giving salon services for money in their own home. The cops posed as regular citizens needing to get a manicure. Tipsters (also known in some neighborhoods as “rats” or “snitches”) pointed police to a woman who was advertising manicure services on social media — the horror.
Laredo police arrested Ana Isabel Castro-Garcia, 31, at the 1200 block of Harding Street after she allegedly agreed to provide an undercover officer with a manicure. Again, the horror. Castro-Garcia was arrested and charged with “Violation of Emergency Management Plan C/B” and was taken to the Webb County Jail where she was offered a $500 bond.
In a separate and unrelated case Brenda Stephany Mata, 20, was arrested at the 1100 block of Hubner Street after she allegedly offered to do an undercover cop’s lashes. Just like Castro-Garcia, she was charged with “Violation of Emergency Management Plan C/B” and was also taken to Webb County Jail for booking.
Only 11 of the nearly 300,000 residents of Laredo, Texas have reportedly died of COVID-19 complications. Had the ladies not been making money for their salon services the police would never have been tipped off by citizens ratting out their neighbors for presumably trying to feed themselves and their families.
Yes, America. Police officers in Laredo Texas presumably had nothing better to do than enforce an arbitrary decree from a politician for people not to work and earn a living during a pandemic — in their own home.
To arrest the two cosmopolitan ladies the officers pretended to be potential clients, offering money to citizens to break the rules and give them a manicure and lash treatment respectively. Placing the citizens further in harm’s way they then arrested them, instead of citing them, which forced the two presumably healthy women to be inside the confines of a jail cell with other individuals who themselves could have been infected with COVID-19.
The defiance of logic in these two situations is utterly absurd and speaks to the arbitrary nature of the enforcement of such laws.
The Cuban-style block monitoring will likely not stop with the arrest of the two beauticians. No, police all over the country have made a point to make examples out of people for paddle boarding by oneself in the ocean, creating satirical posts on social media, and for feeding the homeless during a social distancing mandate.
We’ve been told by cop apologists the actual beat cops do not really want to enforce the laws but are forced to do so by their higher-ups. For those apologists we have one simple question: If the government told you to stop being a police officer and to stay home without pay with your family, how would you provide a living for those you love?
Somewhere along the way the insanity needs to stop. Where is the outrage in Texas?
As TFTP reported this week, a video of a mother being arrested for bringing her kids to the park caused outrage across the internet and manifested into a massive act of police accountability. After Sara Walton Brady’s arrest, dozens of protesters went to the home of the Meridian Police Department officer who arrested Brady. The protest was reportedly spearheaded by Ammon Bundy, who as TFTP reported last week, has been planning resistance to the lockdowns.
As the crowd grew larger at the officer’s home, his fellow cops helped guard him.
“There was a woman at a park with her children and she was arrested!” Bundy screams at the four or five cops standing in the driveway. “Completely inappropriate.”
“The people will not allow you guys to do this for very long!” Bundy yells at the cops in the video. “You will not go into the park and arrest people! You will not go into parks and arrest mothers, and you will not go anywhere and arrest us for exercising what our rights are.”
The cops seemed receptive to the message and appeared to have an actual conversation with the protesters instead of simply ignoring them. We need more of these conversations, now.
Source: The Free Thought Project
Jack Burns is an educator, journalist, investigative reporter, and advocate of natural medicine.
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, HIVE, Flote, Minds, and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


activistpost--2020-04-24--“Scan Your Code!” — Dystopian Post-Lockdown ‘Normal’ In Wuhan Enforced By ‘Anti-Virus Patrols’

The industrial hub of over eleven million people and ground zero for the global outbreak , Wuhan , has come roaring back to life but more in the way of a dystopian version of itself after the virus peaked there in February and now with almost no new infections occurring according to official numbers .
Under strict lockdown since late January as the virus ripped through the original ‘ hot zone ’ epicenter of Hubei province , the capital city provides a glimpse of what hard-hit urban centers in the West may look like in a new post-lockdown world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer has been to create a version of normal that would appear utterly alien to people in London , Milan , or New York — at least for the moment , ” Bloomberg writes .
It ’ s a situation that appears ‘ normal ’ but with a totalitarian twist : Just to get a major Lenovo tablet and phone factory on the outskirts of the city up and running again – previously closed for over two months – workers are first greeted by a series of four temperature checks .
If flagged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( above 99.1F ) they get referred to an in-house “ anti-virus task force ” to make determinations .
The steps the factory as well as businesses and offices across the city have taken are designed to spot any potential resurgence in infections a mere minutes after symptoms appear .
And this is after returning employees have already been exhaustively tested for both the virus and antibodies before being able to go back to their place of work .
And yet still , as Bloomberg describes , there ’ s a detailed regimen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the ‘ new normal ’ : Once cleared , they returned to work to find the capacity of meeting rooms built for six reduced to three and the formerly communal cafeteria tables partitioned off by vertical barriers covered in reminders to avoid conversation .
Signs everywhere indicate when areas were last disinfected , and robots are deployed wherever possible to transport supplies , so as to reduce the number of people moving from place to place .
Elevators , too , are an artifact of the Before Times ; everyone now has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distance from others all the way .
Amid a surge in global demand for laptops and tablets given schools around the world have gone to remote learning , the Lenovo factory has added more than 1,000 workers since reopening operations , with over 10,000 employees on-site .
Head of Wuhan ’ s Lenevo operations Qi Yue told Bloomberg the entire factory would immediately shutter again should even one employee get coronavirus .
“ In my meetings with my staff I always tell them , ‘ No loosening up , no loosening up.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
Ever worried also about asymptomatic spreaders which could could trigger a second wave , an elaborate electronic surveillance tracking system has also been erected and mandated for anyone wishing to take public transport , such as trains .
This is where scores of black-clad police officers will meet citizens , checking the app : Police in black uniforms and medical masks seemed to be everywhere .
“ Scan your code !
” they shouted at travelers approaching the departure gates .
The public-private “ health code ” system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hosted on the Alipay and WeChat apps but deeply linked with the government , assigns one of three viral risk statuses — red , yellow , or green — to every citizen .
It ’ s a powerful tool with clear potential for abuse .
A green QR code , which denotes a low risk of having the virus , is the general default , while coming into contact with an infected person can trigger a yellow code and a mandatory quarantine .
Red is for a likely or confirmed case .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politicians and tech companies in the West have batted around the idea of app-based ‘ infection trackers ’ and/or ‘ immunity certificates ’ and ‘ special passports ’ .
Places like banks , restaurants , and coffee shops are opening back up , but with significant alterations , such as outdoor waiting areas , screening areas and temperature checks before going in , and often outdoor seating and dining .
One area the government has controversially maintained strict controls and curtailments on is funerals , out of concern that large family gatherings can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the policy say Chinese authorities are sensitive to political aspects to how the virus was handled , as Bloomberg describes : Officially , no patients in Wuhan are still dying from Covid-19 , but the treatment of those who did pass away remains an extremely sensitive subject .
On Tomb-Sweeping Day in early April , when Chinese families traditionally gather to pay respects to their ancestors , Wuhan ’ s cemeteries were kept closed .
Funerals have been banned until at least the end of the month , and family members of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mourn quickly and quietly .
…But the restrictions also help Beijing avoid having funerals become a venue for people to vent anger about how the epidemic was handled , or to ask uncomfortable questions about subjects such as China ’ s true death toll .
The political anger is there beneath the surface , as a new FT piece also documents of “ a small but tight-knit group of dissidents based in Wuhan who took it upon themselves to document the earliest days of coronavirus , a period that has become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Communist party.
” They are angry not only over the slow reaction of government authorities in late December , of a lingering aggressive silencing of those who dared and continue to speak up .
As far as recovery in the West , and comparing the current crisis to the post-9/11 world , and how American relatively quickly recovered , Bloomberg notes , “ It ’ s reasonable to think this time will be different.
” “ Different ” and with collective trauma on a larger scale because in the current societal crisis “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic this severe , and the basic problem it ’ s created — that anyone , whether friend , family , or stranger , might be a vector for lethal infection — is uniquely corrosive to the daily interactions that keep countries and economies going.
” Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $ 1 per month at Patreon .
Follow us on SoMee , HIVE , Flote , Minds , and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Tyler Durden
The industrial hub of over eleven million people and ground zero for the global outbreak, Wuhan, has come roaring back to life but more in the way of a dystopian version of itself after the virus peaked there in February and now with almost no new infections occurring according to official numbers.
Under strict lockdown since late January as the virus ripped through the original ‘hot zone’ epicenter of Hubei province, the capital city provides a glimpse of what hard-hit urban centers in the West may look like in a new post-lockdown world.
“So far, Wuhan’s answer has been to create a version of normal that would appear utterly alien to people in London, Milan, or New York — at least for the moment,” Bloomberg writes. It’s a situation that appears ‘normal’ but with a totalitarian twist:
Bolstered by China’s powerful surveillance state, even the simplest interactions are mediated by a vast infrastructure of public and private monitoring intended to ensure that no infection goes undetected for more than a few hours.
Just to get a major Lenovo tablet and phone factory on the outskirts of the city up and running again – previously closed for over two months – workers are first greeted by a series of four temperature checks. If flagged for even slightly higher than normal temperature (above 99.1F) they get referred to an in-house “anti-virus task force” to make determinations.
The steps the factory as well as businesses and offices across the city have taken are designed to spot any potential resurgence in infections a mere minutes after symptoms appear. And this is after returning employees have already been exhaustively tested for both the virus and antibodies before being able to go back to their place of work. And yet still, as Bloomberg describes, there’s a detailed regimen involved at every step of the day in the ‘new normal’:
Once cleared, they returned to work to find the capacity of meeting rooms built for six reduced to three and the formerly communal cafeteria tables partitioned off by vertical barriers covered in reminders to avoid conversation. Signs everywhere indicate when areas were last disinfected, and robots are deployed wherever possible to transport supplies, so as to reduce the number of people moving from place to place. Elevators, too, are an artifact of the Before Times; everyone now has to take the stairs, keeping their distance from others all the way.
Amid a surge in global demand for laptops and tablets given schools around the world have gone to remote learning, the Lenovo factory has added more than 1,000 workers since reopening operations, with over 10,000 employees on-site.
Head of Wuhan’s Lenevo operations Qi Yue told Bloomberg the entire factory would immediately shutter again should even one employee get coronavirus. “In my meetings with my staff I always tell them, ‘No loosening up, no loosening up.’ We can’t allow any accidents,” he said.
Ever worried also about asymptomatic spreaders which could could trigger a second wave, an elaborate electronic surveillance tracking system has also been erected and mandated for anyone wishing to take public transport, such as trains.
This is where scores of black-clad police officers will meet citizens, checking the app:
Police in black uniforms and medical masks seemed to be everywhere. “Scan your code!” they shouted at travelers approaching the departure gates. The public-private “health code” system that China developed to manage Covid-19, hosted on the Alipay and WeChat apps but deeply linked with the government, assigns one of three viral risk statuses — red, yellow, or green — to every citizen. It’s a powerful tool with clear potential for abuse. A green QR code, which denotes a low risk of having the virus, is the general default, while coming into contact with an infected person can trigger a yellow code and a mandatory quarantine. Red is for a likely or confirmed case.
It should be recalled, too, that politicians and tech companies in the West have batted around the idea of app-based ‘infection trackers’ and/or ‘immunity certificates’ and ‘special passports’.

Places like banks, restaurants, and coffee shops are opening back up, but with significant alterations, such as outdoor waiting areas, screening areas and temperature checks before going in, and often outdoor seating and dining.
One area the government has controversially maintained strict controls and curtailments on is funerals, out of concern that large family gatherings can reactivate COVID-19 spread, though critics of the policy say Chinese authorities are sensitive to political aspects to how the virus was handled, as Bloomberg describes:
Officially, no patients in Wuhan are still dying from Covid-19, but the treatment of those who did pass away remains an extremely sensitive subject. On Tomb-Sweeping Day in early April, when Chinese families traditionally gather to pay respects to their ancestors, Wuhan’s cemeteries were kept closed. Funerals have been banned until at least the end of the month, and family members of the dead have reported pressure from government officials to mourn quickly and quietly. …But the restrictions also help Beijing avoid having funerals become a venue for people to vent anger about how the epidemic was handled, or to ask uncomfortable questions about subjects such as China’s true death toll.
The political anger is there beneath the surface, as a new FT piece also documents of “a small but tight-knit group of dissidents based in Wuhan who took it upon themselves to document the earliest days of coronavirus, a period that has become a closely guarded secret by China’s Communist party.”
They are angry not only over the slow reaction of government authorities in late December, of a lingering aggressive silencing of those who dared and continue to speak up.
As far as recovery in the West, and comparing the current crisis to the post-9/11 world, and how American relatively quickly recovered, Bloomberg notes, “It’s reasonable to think this time will be different.”
“Different” and with collective trauma on a larger scale because in the current societal crisis “Hardly anyone alive today has endured a pandemic this severe, and the basic problem it’s created — that anyone, whether friend, family, or stranger, might be a vector for lethal infection — is uniquely corrosive to the daily interactions that keep countries and economies going.”
Source: ZeroHedge
Image: Pixabay
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, HIVE, Flote, Minds, and Twitter.
Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.