lewrockwell--2020-08-15--The ‘ New Normal’ Is De-Normalization

The ‘ New Normal’ Is De-Normalization

Here ’ s what denormalization means : there was no “ New Normal ” for the dinosaurs .
Everyone talks about the “ New Normal , ” as if there ’ s a guarantee that life will return to normal .
But the “ New Normal ” is De-Normalization , which I define as everything that was normal is gone and will not be replaced with some new normal .
In other words , normal is gone , done , over : old normal , new normal , doesn ’ t matter : normal is history .
Denormalization is currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it ’ s too valuable a concept to be limited to a narrow geekspeak term .
What I mean by Denormalization is the complete dismantling of what was taken for granted as normal and the loss of any future version of normal .
Consider sports as an example .
We all know the Old Normal that millions hope will magically return : $ 100 million player contracts , millions in TV ad revenues , pro franchises worth billions of dollars , NCAA playoffs , etc .
: a dominant kingdom in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pathfinding our Destin ... Smith , Charles Hugh Best Price : $ 9.95 Buy New $ 12.00 The dirty little secret that troubled the kingdom long before Covid-19 was a steady erosion in attendance at live games and in the viewing audience .
Younger generations have relatively little interest in all the trappings and habits of Boomer sports manias .
They ’ d rather watch the 3-minute highlight video on their phones than blow half a day watching games that are generally lacking in drama and are largely replaceable with some other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that the Old Normal had become insanely expensive , irksome and boring , activities that were habits coasting on momentum .
Those embedded in the Old Normal acclimatized to the absurdly overpriced seats , snacks , beer , parking , etc .
of live events and the insanely long commutes required to get to the venue and then back home , as their happy memories of $ 5 seats decades ago is the anchor of their lifelong devotion and habits .
The old fans coasting on ritual habituated to the cookie-cutter nature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never acquired the habit look with amazement at the seemingly endless dull progression of hundreds of interchangeable sporting events .
Advertisers will eventually notice that younger generations never acquired the habit of worshipping sports and so there is nothing to stem the collapse of the Old Normal but older fans , some percentage of whom will find they don ’ t miss it once they fall out of the habit .
Will You Be Richer or ... Smith , Charles Hugh Best Price : $ 10.99 Buy New $ 11.55 Some other percentage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to attend live games , or they ’ ll realize they no longer feel it ’ s worth it to grind through traffic or public transit just to sit for additional hours and then repeat the entire slog back home .
Another percentage will suddenly awaken to the artifice of the whole thing ; they will simply lose interest .
Others will finally realize the corporate machine ( which includes college sports ) has long since lost any connection to the era that they remember so fondly .
This same Denormalization will dismantle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel , healthcare , higher education and innumerable other iterations of normal that have become unaffordable even as the returns on the lavish investments of time and money required diminish sharply .
The Best of Charles Hugh Smith

Here’s what denormalization means: there was no “New Normal” for the dinosaurs.
Everyone talks about the “New Normal,” as if there’s a guarantee that life will return to normal. But the “New Normal” is De-Normalization, which I define as everything that was normal is gone and will not be replaced with some new normal. In other words, normal is gone, done, over: old normal, new normal, doesn’t matter: normal is history.
Denormalization is currently used to describe a database optimization process, but it’s too valuable a concept to be limited to a narrow geekspeak term.
What I mean by Denormalization is the complete dismantling of what was taken for granted as normal and the loss of any future version of normal. Consider sports as an example. We all know the Old Normal that millions hope will magically return: $100 million player contracts, millions in TV ad revenues, pro franchises worth billions of dollars, NCAA playoffs, etc.: a dominant kingdom in the nation’s media and mindshare. Pathfinding our Destin... Smith, Charles Hugh Best Price: $9.95 Buy New $12.00 (as of 03:30 UTC - Details)
The dirty little secret that troubled the kingdom long before Covid-19 was a steady erosion in attendance at live games and in the viewing audience. Younger generations have relatively little interest in all the trappings and habits of Boomer sports manias. They’d rather watch the 3-minute highlight video on their phones than blow half a day watching games that are generally lacking in drama and are largely replaceable with some other game.
What few seem to notice is that the Old Normal had become insanely expensive, irksome and boring, activities that were habits coasting on momentum. Those embedded in the Old Normal acclimatized to the absurdly overpriced seats, snacks, beer, parking, etc. of live events and the insanely long commutes required to get to the venue and then back home, as their happy memories of $5 seats decades ago is the anchor of their lifelong devotion and habits.
The old fans coasting on ritual habituated to the cookie-cutter nature of the games, while those who never acquired the habit look with amazement at the seemingly endless dull progression of hundreds of interchangeable sporting events.
Advertisers will eventually notice that younger generations never acquired the habit of worshipping sports and so there is nothing to stem the collapse of the Old Normal but older fans, some percentage of whom will find they don’t miss it once they fall out of the habit. Will You Be Richer or ... Smith, Charles Hugh Best Price: $10.99 Buy New $11.55 (as of 05:55 UTC - Details)
Some other percentage will find they can no longer afford to attend live games, or they’ll realize they no longer feel it’s worth it to grind through traffic or public transit just to sit for additional hours and then repeat the entire slog back home.
Another percentage will suddenly awaken to the artifice of the whole thing; they will simply lose interest. Others will finally realize the corporate machine (which includes college sports) has long since lost any connection to the era that they remember so fondly.
This same Denormalization will dismantle fast food, dining out, air travel, healthcare, higher education and innumerable other iterations of normal that have become unaffordable even as the returns on the lavish investments of time and money required diminish sharply.
Read the Whole Article
The Best of Charles Hugh Smith


lewrockwell--2020-08-15--Joe Biden’s Mask Mandate Is Only the Beginning

At a briefing on Thursday , Joe Biden called for a nationwide mask-wearing mandate “ for the next three months at a minimum.
” Never mind that such a federal mandate is likely unconstitutional , this is just one of a multitude of areas where Biden , and his running mate Kamala Harris , want to impose the federal government on even the most mundane of actions by Americans .
It is surely worth noting , especially by those who claim to value liberty , that Biden and Harris eagerly desire to take much of it away , always in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indeed , over the course of their campaigns , the two have proposed either to outlaw or force so many things there ’ s not enough room to list them all here .
So , as a reader service , we ’ ve gathered up a sampling of things they say they want to either ban or mandate should they gain access to the White House .
The Origins of Totalit ... Hannah Arendt Best Price : $ 8.49 Buy New $ 12.90 Plastic straws : When Harris was asked at a town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plastic straws , her answer was , “ I think we should , yes.
” Biden didn ’ t go that far , but did say that “ I don ’ t think we should be using plastic straws anymore.
” Plastic bags : Biden did , however , say he favored a ban on plastic grocery bags .
“ I agree with you , 100 % , ” Biden told a woman at a campaign stop .
“ We should not be allowing plastic .
What we should do is phasing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he will impose fuel economy mandates that will “ ensure ” 100 % electric cars .
Harris , meanwhile , was a co-sponsor of The Zero-Emission Vehicles Act , which would outlaw the sale of new gas-powered cars starting in 2040 .
The death penalty : Biden used to support the death penalty , but flipped so he could appeal to his party ’ s left wing .
Now he says that “ Because we can ’ t ensure that we get these cases right every time , we must eliminate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ echoed the same message .
Private prisons : Biden promises to “ end the federal government ’ s use of private prisons , ” says his campaign website , “ And he will make clear that the federal government should not use private facilities for any detention , including detention of undocumented immigrants.
” WHITE HOUSE REDS : Comm ... Loudon , Trevor Buy New $ 24.95 New oil and gas leases on federal lands and offshore : In a March debate , Biden promised that if elected there would be “ no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more drilling , including offshore , no ability for the oil industry to continue to drill , period , ends , number one.
” Later his campaign said he meant only to ban new permits .
Fracking : Biden has tried to straddle the fracking issue , but Harris said during her primary campaign that she supports an outright prohibition .
“ There is no question I am in favor of banning fracking.
” “ Assault ” Rifles .
Both Biden and Harris promise to ban so-called assault rifles such as the AR-15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She promised that if elected she would impose a mandatory buyback program .
“ We have to work out the details — there are a lot of details — but I do ” support a forced buyback , Harris said .
“ We have to take those guns off the streets.
” The Washington Examiner reported last August that Harris was even open to the idea of sending the police into homes to confiscate guns .
Right-to-work laws : In a sop to their union benefactors , both Biden and Harris promise to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 states .
Harris said the president needs “ to speak up about the need and the right workers have to be able to organize and fight for their rights … It has to be about banning right-to-work laws ” .
THE ENEMIES WITHIN : Co ... Loudon , Mr. Trevor Best Price : $ 25.19 Buy New $ 34.95 Trump from Twitter : Harris pushed Twitter to ban President Donald Trump from Twitter .
“ Twitter should be held accountable and shut down that site , ” Harris said during one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hate speech : Harris also wants to ban “ hate speech ” on social media .
” We will hold social media platforms accountable for the hate infiltrating their platforms because they have a responsibility to help fight against this threat to our democracy , ” Harris said during her campaign .
Private health insurance : During the campaign , Harris said she favored a ban on private insurance , then retreated somewhat .
The health plan she eventually released would have ended up putting private insurance out of business .
Biden says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” but his “ public option ” would also result in the eventual destruction of private insurance .

At a briefing on Thursday, Joe Biden called for a nationwide mask-wearing mandate “for the next three months at a minimum.” Never mind that such a federal mandate is likely unconstitutional, this is just one of a multitude of areas where Biden, and his running mate Kamala Harris, want to impose the federal government on even the most mundane of actions by Americans.
It is surely worth noting, especially by those who claim to value liberty, that Biden and Harris eagerly desire to take much of it away, always in the name of some greater good. Indeed, over the course of their campaigns, the two have proposed either to outlaw or force so many things there’s not enough room to list them all here.
So, as a reader service, we’ve gathered up a sampling of things they say they want to either ban or mandate should they gain access to the White House.
Bans
The Origins of Totalit... Hannah Arendt Best Price: $8.49 Buy New $12.90 (as of 06:35 UTC - Details) Plastic straws: When Harris was asked at a town hall whether the federal government should ban plastic straws, her answer was, “I think we should, yes.” Biden didn’t go that far, but did say that “I don’t think we should be using plastic straws anymore.”
Plastic bags: Biden did, however, say he favored a ban on plastic grocery bags. “I agree with you, 100%,” Biden told a woman at a campaign stop. “We should not be allowing plastic. What we should do is phasing it out.”
Gas-powered cars: Biden pledges that he will impose fuel economy mandates that will “ensure” 100% electric cars. Harris, meanwhile, was a co-sponsor of The Zero-Emission Vehicles Act, which would outlaw the sale of new gas-powered cars starting in 2040.
The death penalty: Biden used to support the death penalty, but flipped so he could appeal to his party’s left wing. Now he says that “Because we can’t ensure that we get these cases right every time, we must eliminate the death penalty.” Many Democratic presidential candidates echoed the same message.
Private prisons: Biden promises to “end the federal government’s use of private prisons,” says his campaign website, “And he will make clear that the federal government should not use private facilities for any detention, including detention of undocumented immigrants.” WHITE HOUSE REDS: Comm... Loudon, Trevor Buy New $24.95 (as of 03:32 UTC - Details)
New oil and gas leases on federal lands and offshore: In a March debate, Biden promised that if elected there would be “no more drilling on federal lands, no more drilling, including offshore, no ability for the oil industry to continue to drill, period, ends, number one.” Later his campaign said he meant only to ban new permits.
Fracking: Biden has tried to straddle the fracking issue, but Harris said during her primary campaign that she supports an outright prohibition. “There is no question I am in favor of banning fracking.”
“Assault” Rifles. Both Biden and Harris promise to ban so-called assault rifles such as the AR-15, but Harris went much further. She promised that if elected she would impose a mandatory buyback program. “We have to work out the details — there are a lot of details — but I do” support a forced buyback, Harris said. “We have to take those guns off the streets.” The Washington Examiner reported last August that Harris was even open to the idea of sending the police into homes to confiscate guns.
Right-to-work laws: In a sop to their union benefactors, both Biden and Harris promise to overturn the right-to-work laws in effect in 28 states. Harris said the president needs “to speak up about the need and the right workers have to be able to organize and fight for their rights … It has to be about banning right-to-work laws”. THE ENEMIES WITHIN: Co... Loudon, Mr. Trevor Best Price: $25.19 Buy New $34.95 (as of 03:23 UTC - Details)
Trump from Twitter: Harris pushed Twitter to ban President Donald Trump from Twitter. “Twitter should be held accountable and shut down that site,” Harris said during one of the Democrats’ debates.
Social media hate speech: Harris also wants to ban “hate speech” on social media. ”We will hold social media platforms accountable for the hate infiltrating their platforms because they have a responsibility to help fight against this threat to our democracy,” Harris said during her campaign.
Private health insurance: During the campaign, Harris said she favored a ban on private insurance, then retreated somewhat. The health plan she eventually released would have ended up putting private insurance out of business. Biden says he wants to “build on ObamaCare,” but his “public option” would also result in the eventual destruction of private insurance.
Read the Whole Article


lewrockwell--2020-08-15--Why Aren’t We Promoting Health To Combat COVID?

It ’ s an unfortunate fact that health officials and pandemic response authorities , by and large , are completely ignoring the role a healthy lifestyle plays in the COVID-19 pandemic , focusing instead , almost exclusively , on the necessity for a vaccine .
According to Reuters,1 the U.S. government is planning to launch an “ overwhelming ” COVID-19 vaccine campaign come November .
An unnamed “ senior White House administration official ” is quoted saying:2 But is a vaccine really going to be the answer people are hoping for ?
For example , many have bought into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay until or unless there ’ s a vaccine , and getting vaccinated would mean the end to mask mandates .
The Obesity Code : Unlo ... Dr. Jason Fung Best Price : $ 6.00 Buy New $ 7.67 Considering the fact that neither masks nor vaccines offer significant protection against the virus , chances are such hopes will get dashed .
Maria Elena Bottazzi , a COVID-19 vaccine developer at Baylor College of Medicine , recently warned3 that social distancing and face masks will likely still be required even after a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not offer 100 % protection against infection .
So , don ’ t be fooled .
Vaccines will be in addition to what we are told to do now , not a replacement .
Even Moderna ’ s CEO Stephanie Bancel stated4 that if the vaccine reaches 90 % effectiveness , which is a beyond overly optimistic projection , people with high-risk health conditions will need to continue wearing masks .
In addition to not necessarily removing the “ need ” for masks and social distancing mandates in the future , the novel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also be an autoimmune disorder disaster in the making , as explained in “ The Well-Known Hazards of Coronavirus Vaccines ” and “ Gates Tries to Justify Side Effects of Fast-Tracked Vaccine.
” SARS-CoV-2 Is Here to Stay The Atlantic succinctly stated the truth of the matter in the August 4 , 2020 , article , “ The Coronavirus Is Never Going Away ” :5 The Complete Ketogenic ... Amy Ramos Best Price : $ 1.98 Buy New $ 5.93 Many who have steadfastly isolated themselves for months on end and dutifully wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not want to hear this .
If the virus isn ’ t going away no matter what we do , then there are only two choices : Continue social distancing and mask-wearing for the remainder of our days , or return to life as it was pre-COVID , when influenza seasons were met with blasé equanimity .
Post-COVID World Needs to Focus on Health For many , neither of these options is satisfactory .
They are , however , reality .
COVID-19 is unlikely to be eradicated , and if you haven ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will at some point .
At present , it ’ s still unclear whether you can contract it more than once , but if that ’ s the case , then flu season will likely include the possibility of COVID-19 outbreaks as well .
Facing reality head-on is the best way forward , if you ask me , and that means your best bet is to get yourself into good shape through diet and exercise .
You simply can not hide from this virus , for the simple reason that you can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it may be worth reminding yourself that life involves the risk of illness and death .
Every day of every year of your life , you face the possibility of illness , be it an infectious disease or chronic illness .
Each year of your life you ’ ve faced the possibility of influenza , for example .
Maybe a mild case , maybe a really serious one .
Regardless , you ’ ve probably never considered isolating yourself for months each year and giving up on doing the things you love for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ die .
Despite the fact that uptake of seasonal influenza vaccines has seen an uptick thanks to various mandates , the flu continues to circulate and affects large numbers of vaccinated individuals every year .
Influenza has not been eradicated , and the flu vaccine has consistently been shown to provide very little in terms of protection against it .
In all likelihood , that ’ s where we ’ ll be with COVID-19 as well .
The good news is that , much like with influenza , your chances of staying well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are primarily dependent on your immune function , and this is something you can do something about .
The Complete Guide to ... Moore , Jimmy Best Price : $ 14.48 Buy New $ 17.92 We now have a significant amount of data showing that certain comorbidities raise your risk of severe COVID-19 illness and death .
Among the top ones is obesity , so addressing excess weight will go a long way toward lowering your risk .
In the U.K. , obesity is now being targeted as part of the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent announcement , Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he intends to ban TV junk food advertising before 9 p.m. and limit in-store promotions .
Online ads for unhealthy foods may also be banned.8 Johnson ’ s decision was in large part influenced by his own bout with COVID-19 , which he believes was made more serious by his excess weight .
Several studies support his suspicion .
As noted in the July 13 , 2020 , issue of the Journal of Virology:9 In the U.S. , few officials have addressed the proverbial elephant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Huntington in New York stands out as a rare exception .
As reported by Bill Maher in the featured video , Huntington officials have urged all 200,000 residents to “ go on a diet because [ with ] COVID-19 , you ’ re twice as likely to have a poor outcome if you ’ re obese.
” As noted by Maher , obesity has always killed us , albeit slowly .
“ Mixed with COVID , it kills you fast , ” he says , adding : Fat for Fuel Ketogenic ... Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : $ 7.87 Buy New $ 12.99 Food Industry Needs to Do Better Moving Forward Hopefully , the U.S. will eventually follow in the U.K. ’ s footsteps and take action against junk food advertisements .
Clearly , advertising works , and it ’ s not helping anyone make the right choices for their health .
In the meantime , you ’ d be wise to take matters into your own hands .
There ’ s little doubt that processed foods , junky snacks and soft drinks are key culprits in the rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inflate the risk of death from COVID-19 .
As such , they should be the first to be eliminated from your diet moving forward .
If anything good is to come of this pandemic , it would be the widespread recognition of the impact obesity has not just on chronic diseases , but also on viral contagions such as SARS-CoV-2 .
A recent editorial published in the BMJ highlights the importance of diet and the significant yet hidden influence the processed food industry has had in the COVID-19 pandemic:10 They not only call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promoting unhealthy food and drinks , but also call on governments to force reformulation of junk foods to better support health .
With research showing that being obese doubles the risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19,11,12 the authors noted:13 Johns Hopkins University researchers have also suggested obesity might eventually shift the burden of COVID-19 onto younger patients , as a dataset of 265 COVID-19 patients showed younger individuals admitted to the hospital were more likely to be obese.14 According to recent research , even mild obesity can influence COVID-19 severity .
Researchers from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Italy analyzed 482 COVID-19 patients hospitalized between March 1 and April 20 , 2020,15 concluding “ Obesity is a strong , independent risk factor for respiratory failure , admission to the ICU and death among COVID-19 patients.
” Using body mass index ( BMI ) to define obesity , the researchers found an increased risk for more severe COVID-19 infection started at a BMI of 30 , which is considered “ mild ” obesity ( a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight ) .
Lead study author Dr. Matteo Rottoli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients with mild obesity had a 2.5 times greater risk of respiratory failure and a five times greater risk of being admitted to an ICU compared to nonobese patients .
But get this , those with a BMI of over 35 were 12 times more likely to die from COVID-19.17 “ Whereas a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 identifies a population of patients at high risk for severe illness , a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 dramatically increases the risk of death , ” the researchers explained.18 Risk of Death Increases Along With Weight A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also reviews research demonstrating how excess weight affects COVID-19 outcomes .
For example , one systematic review found that , compared to healthy weight patients , patients with a BMI above 25 were : • 3.68 times more likely to die • 6.98 times more likely to need respiratory support • 2.03 times more likely to suffer critical illness The report also highlights data showing the risk of hospitalization , intensive care treatment and death progressively increase as your BMI goes up .
As for how obesity raises risks during viral infections , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a likely factor .
Inflammation triggered by obesity is also thought to be responsible for the threefold greater risk of pulmonary embolism ( blood clots in the lungs ) seen in obese COVID-19 patients.20,21 Obesity-related dysregulation of lipid synthesis can also aggravate lung inflammation , thereby contributing to increased disease severity in viral respiratory infections specifically.22 In addition to that , excess body weight and fat deposition around the internal organs put pressure on your diaphragm , which makes it more difficult to breathe when you have a respiratory infection.23 Other mechanisms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , include:24 • Increasing leptin resistance and lipotoxicity , as the accumulation of lipids may be exploited by viruses to enhance viral entry and replication • A combined effect of chronic systemic inflammation and the induction of a cytokine storm The take-home message here is that if you are obese , even if only mildly so , focusing on getting down to a healthy weight may help you ward off viral illnesses , including COVID-19 .
Losing weight will also help you avoid other obesity-related health problems such as diabetes , high blood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which , by the way , raise your risk of COVID-19 complications and death .
According to a study by The Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Italy ’ s national health authority,25 more than 99 % of fatalities from COVID-19 occurred among people who had underlying medical conditions .
Among that 99 % , 76.1 % had high blood pressure , 35.5 % had diabetes and 33 % had heart disease either alone or as comorbidities.26 One of the most powerful strategies to optimize your weight is to restrict your eating window to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making sure to eat your last meal at least three hours before bedtime .
This is known as time-restricted eating or intermittent fasting , and is a powerful intervention to reduce insulin resistance and restore metabolic flexibility .
With respect to diet recommendations , my experience is consistent with a cyclical ketogenic diet being highly effective to restore metabolic flexibility and reduce insulin resistance .
This involves radically limiting carbs ( replacing them with healthy fats and moderate amounts of protein ) until you ’ re close to or at your ideal weight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to start burning fat as its primary fuel and to increase the sensitivity of your insulin receptors .
Most people use carbs as their primary fuel source ( thanks to excessive and frequent carb intake ) .
They have lost the ability to effectively burn fat for fuel , which in turn leads to metabolic dysfunction , insulin resistance and weight gain .
Once you have regained your ideal body weight , then you can cycle carbs back in a few times a week .
One of the best books written on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fuel.
” If you haven ’ t read it , then you are in for a treat , as COVID-19 is the catalyst that will motivate you to not only read the book but apply its radical metabolic benefits .
Additionally , get regular exercise each week and increase physical movement throughout your waking hours , with the goal of sitting less than three hours a day .
Making sure you ’ re getting sufficient sleep ( typically eight hours for most adults ) and tending to your emotional health are also important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general health and immune function .
Chronic stress , for instance , may increase your risk for visceral fat gain over time,27 which means addressing your stress levels is imperative for maintaining your ideal weight .
Taking steps to lead a healthy lifestyle overall will have a snowball effect , helping you to reach a healthy weight while also bolstering your resilience against infection and disease .
The Best of Joseph Mercola

It’s an unfortunate fact that health officials and pandemic response authorities, by and large, are completely ignoring the role a healthy lifestyle plays in the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing instead, almost exclusively, on the necessity for a vaccine.
According to Reuters,1 the U.S. government is planning to launch an “overwhelming” COVID-19 vaccine campaign come November. An unnamed “senior White House administration official” is quoted saying:2
“The fine line we are walking is getting the American people very excited about vaccines and missing expectations versus having a bunch of vaccines in the warehouse and not as many people want to get it. You may not hear a lot about promoting vaccines over the airwaves in August and September but you’ll be overwhelmed by it come November.”
But is a vaccine really going to be the answer people are hoping for? For example, many have bought into the mainstream narrative that masks are here to stay until or unless there’s a vaccine, and getting vaccinated would mean the end to mask mandates. The Obesity Code: Unlo... Dr. Jason Fung Best Price: $6.00 Buy New $7.67 (as of 07:50 UTC - Details)
Considering the fact that neither masks nor vaccines offer significant protection against the virus, chances are such hopes will get dashed. Maria Elena Bottazzi, a COVID-19 vaccine developer at Baylor College of Medicine, recently warned3 that social distancing and face masks will likely still be required even after a vaccine becomes available, as the vaccine will not offer 100% protection against infection.
So, don’t be fooled. Vaccines will be in addition to what we are told to do now, not a replacement. Even Moderna’s CEO Stephanie Bancel stated4 that if the vaccine reaches 90% effectiveness, which is a beyond overly optimistic projection, people with high-risk health conditions will need to continue wearing masks.
In addition to not necessarily removing the “need” for masks and social distancing mandates in the future, the novel mRNA vaccines being developed against COVID-19 may also be an autoimmune disorder disaster in the making, as explained in “The Well-Known Hazards of Coronavirus Vaccines” and “Gates Tries to Justify Side Effects of Fast-Tracked Vaccine.”
SARS-CoV-2 Is Here to Stay
The Atlantic succinctly stated the truth of the matter in the August 4, 2020, article, “The Coronavirus Is Never Going Away”:5
“If there was ever a time when this coronavirus could be contained, it has probably passed. One outcome is now looking almost certain: This virus is never going away … We will probably be living with this virus for the rest of our lives …
What does the future of COVID-19 look like? That will depend, says Yonatan Grad, on the strength and duration of immunity against the virus. Grad, an infectious-disease researcher at Harvard, and his colleagues have modeled6 a few possible trajectories.
If immunity lasts only a few months, there could be a big pandemic followed by smaller outbreaks every year. If immunity lasts closer to two years, COVID-19 could peak every other year …
In SARS, antibodies … wane after two years. Antibodies to a handful of other coronaviruses that cause common colds fade in just a year. ‘The faster protection goes away, the more difficult for any project to try to move toward eradication,’ Grad told me.”
The Complete Ketogenic... Amy Ramos Best Price: $1.98 Buy New $5.93 (as of 06:45 UTC - Details) Many who have steadfastly isolated themselves for months on end and dutifully wear a mask everywhere they go probably do not want to hear this. If the virus isn’t going away no matter what we do, then there are only two choices: Continue social distancing and mask-wearing for the remainder of our days, or return to life as it was pre-COVID, when influenza seasons were met with blasé equanimity.
Post-COVID World Needs to Focus on Health
For many, neither of these options is satisfactory. They are, however, reality. COVID-19 is unlikely to be eradicated, and if you haven’t contracted it already, you likely will at some point.
Facing reality head-on is the best way forward, and that means your best bet is to get yourself into good shape through diet and exercise. You simply cannot hide from this virus, for the simple reason that you cannot stop breathing.
At present, it’s still unclear whether you can contract it more than once, but if that’s the case, then flu season will likely include the possibility of COVID-19 outbreaks as well.
Facing reality head-on is the best way forward, if you ask me, and that means your best bet is to get yourself into good shape through diet and exercise. You simply cannot hide from this virus, for the simple reason that you cannot stop breathing.
At this point, it may be worth reminding yourself that life involves the risk of illness and death. Every day of every year of your life, you face the possibility of illness, be it an infectious disease or chronic illness.
Each year of your life you’ve faced the possibility of influenza, for example. Maybe a mild case, maybe a really serious one. Regardless, you’ve probably never considered isolating yourself for months each year and giving up on doing the things you love for fear you might get the flu and die.
Despite the fact that uptake of seasonal influenza vaccines has seen an uptick thanks to various mandates, the flu continues to circulate and affects large numbers of vaccinated individuals every year. Influenza has not been eradicated, and the flu vaccine has consistently been shown to provide very little in terms of protection against it.
In all likelihood, that’s where we’ll be with COVID-19 as well. The good news is that, much like with influenza, your chances of staying well, or only getting a mild case, are primarily dependent on your immune function, and this is something you can do something about. The Complete Guide to ... Moore, Jimmy Best Price: $14.48 Buy New $17.92 (as of 05:00 UTC - Details)
Obesity Is a Significant Risk Factor for Severe COVID-19
We now have a significant amount of data showing that certain comorbidities raise your risk of severe COVID-19 illness and death. Among the top ones is obesity, so addressing excess weight will go a long way toward lowering your risk.
In the U.K., obesity is now being targeted as part of the country’s coronavirus prevention strategy.7 In a recent announcement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he intends to ban TV junk food advertising before 9 p.m. and limit in-store promotions. Online ads for unhealthy foods may also be banned.8
Johnson’s decision was in large part influenced by his own bout with COVID-19, which he believes was made more serious by his excess weight. Several studies support his suspicion. As noted in the July 13, 2020, issue of the Journal of Virology:9
“Over the years, humans have adopted sedentary lifestyles and dietary patterns have shifted to excessive food consumption and poor nutrition. Overnutrition has led to the constellation of metabolic abnormalities that not only contributes to metabolic reprogramming but also limits host innate and adaptive immunity.
Impaired immune responses and chronic inflammation in metabolically diseased microenvironments provide the ideal conditions for viral exploitation of host cells and enhanced viral pathogenesis.”
Huntington Officials Urge Residents to Lose Weight
In the U.S., few officials have addressed the proverbial elephant in the room. The town of Huntington in New York stands out as a rare exception. As reported by Bill Maher in the featured video, Huntington officials have urged all 200,000 residents to “go on a diet because [with] COVID-19, you’re twice as likely to have a poor outcome if you’re obese.”
As noted by Maher, obesity has always killed us, albeit slowly. “Mixed with COVID, it kills you fast,” he says, adding: Fat for Fuel Ketogenic... Dr. Joseph Mercola, Pe... Best Price: $7.87 Buy New $12.99 (as of 08:05 UTC - Details)
“Why not an all-out campaign to educate the public on the dangers of a diet of sugary, chemical-laden crap? … Why not campaign to get decent food into poorer neighborhoods? Why not for every PSA for masks, a PSA for a recipe of a healthy meal?
I think so many lives could have been saved if at the very beginning of this crisis the medical establishment had made a more concerted effort to tell Americans, ‘While you’re in lockdown, getting free money for not working, you need to do something too.’ Even the poorest person could switch out soda at meals for water …
A national campaign to improve health could have improved our chances against this disease [and] made us feel better about ourselves to boot. But it was never even mentioned … We cannot have body positivity be a third rail anymore … This issue is too fundamental to who lives and who dies.”
Food Industry Needs to Do Better Moving Forward
Hopefully, the U.S. will eventually follow in the U.K.’s footsteps and take action against junk food advertisements. Clearly, advertising works, and it’s not helping anyone make the right choices for their health. In the meantime, you’d be wise to take matters into your own hands.
There’s little doubt that processed foods, junky snacks and soft drinks are key culprits in the rise of obesity and chronic diseases that also inflate the risk of death from COVID-19. As such, they should be the first to be eliminated from your diet moving forward.
If anything good is to come of this pandemic, it would be the widespread recognition of the impact obesity has not just on chronic diseases, but also on viral contagions such as SARS-CoV-2. A recent editorial published in the BMJ highlights the importance of diet and the significant yet hidden influence the processed food industry has had in the COVID-19 pandemic:10
“It is now clear that the food industry shares the blame not only for the obesity pandemic but also for the severity of COVID-19 disease and its devastating consequences.
During the COVID-19 pandemic an increase in food poverty, disruptions to supply chains, and panic buying may have limited access to fresh foods, thus tilting the balance towards a greater consumption of highly processed foods and those with long shelf lives that are usually high in salt, sugar, and saturated fat.
Moreover, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic the food industry has launched campaigns and corporate social responsibility initiatives, often with thinly veiled tactics using the outbreak as a marketing opportunity (for example, by offering half a million ‘smiles’ in the form of doughnuts to NHS staff).”
They not only call on the food industry to immediately stop promoting unhealthy food and drinks, but also call on governments to force reformulation of junk foods to better support health. With research showing that being obese doubles the risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19,11,12 the authors noted:13
“These findings suggest that modification of lifestyle may help to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and could be a useful adjunct to other interventions, such as social distancing and shielding of high risk.”
Johns Hopkins University researchers have also suggested obesity might eventually shift the burden of COVID-19 onto younger patients, as a dataset of 265 COVID-19 patients showed younger individuals admitted to the hospital were more likely to be obese.14
Even Mild Obesity Raises COVID-19 Risks
According to recent research, even mild obesity can influence COVID-19 severity. Researchers from the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna in Italy analyzed 482 COVID-19 patients hospitalized between March 1 and April 20, 2020,15 concluding “Obesity is a strong, independent risk factor for respiratory failure, admission to the ICU and death among COVID-19 patients.”
Using body mass index (BMI) to define obesity, the researchers found an increased risk for more severe COVID-19 infection started at a BMI of 30, which is considered “mild” obesity (a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight). Lead study author Dr. Matteo Rottoli said in a news release:16
“Health care practitioners should be aware that people with any grade of obesity, not just the severely obese, are a population at risk. Extra caution should be used for hospitalized COVID-19 patients with obesity, as they are likely to experience a quick deterioration towards respiratory failure, and to require intensive care admission.”
Specifically, patients with mild obesity had a 2.5 times greater risk of respiratory failure and a five times greater risk of being admitted to an ICU compared to nonobese patients. But get this, those with a BMI of over 35 were 12 times more likely to die from COVID-19.17
“Whereas a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 identifies a population of patients at high risk for severe illness, a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 dramatically increases the risk of death,” the researchers explained.18
Risk of Death Increases Along With Weight
A July 2020 report19 by Public Health England also reviews research demonstrating how excess weight affects COVID-19 outcomes. For example, one systematic review found that, compared to healthy weight patients, patients with a BMI above 25 were:
3.68 times more likely to die
6.98 times more likely to need respiratory support
2.03 times more likely to suffer critical illness
The report also highlights data showing the risk of hospitalization, intensive care treatment and death progressively increase as your BMI goes up. As for how obesity raises risks during viral infections, the chronic, low-grade inflammation it causes is a likely factor.
Inflammation triggered by obesity is also thought to be responsible for the threefold greater risk of pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs) seen in obese COVID-19 patients.20,21 Obesity-related dysregulation of lipid synthesis can also aggravate lung inflammation, thereby contributing to increased disease severity in viral respiratory infections specifically.22
In addition to that, excess body weight and fat deposition around the internal organs put pressure on your diaphragm, which makes it more difficult to breathe when you have a respiratory infection.23 Other mechanisms by which obesity may increase COVID-19 severity, include:24
Increasing leptin resistance and lipotoxicity, as the accumulation of lipids may be exploited by viruses to enhance viral entry and replication
A combined effect of chronic systemic inflammation and the induction of a cytokine storm
Losing Weight Will Lower Your COVID-19 Risk
The take-home message here is that if you are obese, even if only mildly so, focusing on getting down to a healthy weight may help you ward off viral illnesses, including COVID-19. Losing weight will also help you avoid other obesity-related health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease — all of which, by the way, raise your risk of COVID-19 complications and death.
According to a study by The Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy’s national health authority,25 more than 99% of fatalities from COVID-19 occurred among people who had underlying medical conditions. Among that 99%, 76.1% had high blood pressure, 35.5% had diabetes and 33% had heart disease either alone or as comorbidities.26
One of the most powerful strategies to optimize your weight is to restrict your eating window to six to eight hours each day, making sure to eat your last meal at least three hours before bedtime. This is known as time-restricted eating or intermittent fasting, and is a powerful intervention to reduce insulin resistance and restore metabolic flexibility.
With respect to diet recommendations, my experience is consistent with a cyclical ketogenic diet being highly effective to restore metabolic flexibility and reduce insulin resistance.
This involves radically limiting carbs (replacing them with healthy fats and moderate amounts of protein) until you’re close to or at your ideal weight, as this will allow your body to start burning fat as its primary fuel and to increase the sensitivity of your insulin receptors.
Most people use carbs as their primary fuel source (thanks to excessive and frequent carb intake). They have lost the ability to effectively burn fat for fuel, which in turn leads to metabolic dysfunction, insulin resistance and weight gain. Once you have regained your ideal body weight, then you can cycle carbs back in a few times a week.
One of the best books written on this subject is my classic “Fat for Fuel.” If you haven’t read it, then you are in for a treat, as COVID-19 is the catalyst that will motivate you to not only read the book but apply its radical metabolic benefits.
Additionally, get regular exercise each week and increase physical movement throughout your waking hours, with the goal of sitting less than three hours a day. Making sure you’re getting sufficient sleep (typically eight hours for most adults) and tending to your emotional health are also important factors that can influence your weight, general health and immune function.
Chronic stress, for instance, may increase your risk for visceral fat gain over time,27 which means addressing your stress levels is imperative for maintaining your ideal weight. Taking steps to lead a healthy lifestyle overall will have a snowball effect, helping you to reach a healthy weight while also bolstering your resilience against infection and disease.
Sources and References
The Best of Dr. Joseph Mercola


lewrockwell--2020-08-17--The Real Target of ‘Anti-Racism’ Protests: Western Civilization, and Its Values

That Western civilization is in crisis has been obvious to some people for some time .
The dramatic events of recent months in America and Europe have brought home with great vividness and immediacy the seriousness of this crisis .
The protests and looting that swept through the United States quickly turned dozens of inner American cities into something akin to bombed out war zones .
The surging wave of violence and anarchy , however , was not the only issue of deep concern .
Equally alarming was our society ’ s response to it .
Instead of taking measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law , our political system malfunctioned at the moment of emergency .
Fractious and paralyzed , the political establishment not only failed to implement meaningful measures to take control of the situation , it – unbelievably – tied the hands of the law enforcement , forcing it to stand by as destruction unfolded right before our eyes .
Rather than encouraging and empowering the police to fight the unfolding anarchy , the events took a truly bizarre twist when some politicians and public officials began cutting funding for the very bodies and agencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is no exaggeration to say that the protests shook our society to its very foundations .
They exposed a number of latent fault lines and further exacerbated those that had been painfully obvious before .
The situation suddenly appeared to be so dire that many people began to fear that our nation – and indeed the whole of Western society – may be on the brink of disintegration .
These fears may well be justified , since America was not the only country so shaken .
Protests of similar natured gripped other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Th ... Collection , Essay Best Price : $ 16.66 Buy New $ 9.95 Most would now agree that the West is in the throes of an existential crisis .
What is not so clear or agreed upon , however , is the nature of the crisis or even what the core issues and problems are .
This lack of clarity is disconcerting , because if we can not accurately identify the cause , we can not take effective measures to address it .
The first step toward understanding the nature of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grasp what these protests were really about , since they obviously represented a violent eruption of the discontent and pathologies that have been festering in the Western psyche and which now threaten to engulf and destroy our societies .
The stated reason for these protests – both in the United States and Europe – was racism , which is said to be the great moral failing of our civilization .
In the United States especially , we saw protesters asserting with great vehemence and anger that our society is oppressive toward minorities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who knows the situation in the United States there was something fundamentally problematic with these assertions .
They just don ’ t ring true .
Even though it is true that the United States has had a history of racial injustice – as , in fact , almost all countries have – it is most definitely not the case today .
In a sincere effort to correct past wrongs , in the last sixty years the United States has undertaken tremendous efforts to assist and uplift its black population .
This massive multipronged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolution and at tremendous cost .
It took the form of financial and material assistance , of various types of reverse discrimination , racial quotas in employment and education , preferential treatment of various kinds , lowering of professional and educational standards for black people and a host of other measures .
Most of this was motivated by a genuine desire to improve the lives and situation of African Americans .
CANCEL CULTURE : How to ... Reich , Alexander Buy New $ 12.99 After six decades of this we can say with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a power-yielding majority done so much for a racial minority as white Americans have done for black Americans .
As the writer Fred Reed put it : “ In truth , America has made the greatest effort ever essayed by one race to uplift another .
The fact is that not only black people have equal rights – individual , civil , legal and political – with whites , but our current societal system is actually biased in favor of racial minorities .
If truth be told , blacks in America today enjoy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white people do .
American whites are the only ruling majority that has voluntarily relinquished its hold on power and made blacks the most protected , financially supported and privileged racial minority in history .
This much is obvious to any objective observer .
Racism the American way : The 44nd President of the United States with the first lady and the first family The claim that the United States is a racist society is thus completely at variance with reality .
It is simply not true .
One of the countless examples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spectacular rise of Barack Obama who was elected to the highest office in America even though his prior accomplishments would – in the words of one commentator – barely fill the back of a postage stamp .
A community organizer with a past about which he did not want to speak , Mr. Obama ’ s main qualification for becoming President of the United States was apparently the fact that his skin was black .
Needless to say , the bulk of the votes that catapulted Mr. Obama into office was cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this ever happen in a racist country ?
Unassailable : Protect ... Jeftovic , Mark E Best Price : $ 26.03 Buy New $ 14.95 There are , of course , instances of racism on the individual and private levels .
All racial groups are prone to this kind of prejudice and black people themselves are no exception .
In fact , black racism is a well-known phenomenon , and it is probably more widespread and corrosive than white on black racism today .
But be that as it may , any public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – whether it be in employment , education , politics or in any other area – is quickly dealt with by a range of mechanisms designed to stop and correct any such occurrences .
Acts of racism or discrimination are unlawful in the United States and the country enforces its anti-discriminatory laws with considerable vigor and strictness .
So much so that the law is often abused in the opposite direction .
Few countries are more sensitive to the issue of racism than the US .
Rather than being discriminatory , American society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a way to give minorities advantage over the majority .
This is not to deny that large parts of the black community are plagued by severe pathologies and ills .
But these are certainly not the result of discrimination .
The seventy five percent illegitimacy rate and the decadent black street culture are among some of the root causes of the black predicament .
The chances of a child born to a single mother who grows up in the grip of black street culture – as so many black children do – to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who can lead a fulfilling life are virtually zero .
This , we would suggest , is the real driver of the black crisis .
In other words , the problems that plague the black demographic are moral in nature and not a consequence of racism .
To give legitimacy to their claims , race activists point to instances like the George Floyd incident .
But in a nation of more than 320 million people in which every year there are more than three million police-public contacts such events are extremely rare .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police do not apply lethal force in a racially biased manner ( see here , here and here ) .
In the vast majority of cases where black men die in the hands of the police , it is not because they are targeted for the color of their skin .
This may also have been the case with George Floyd as there is a substantial body of evidence that his death was a result of cardiopulmonary arrest brought about by a combination of pre-existing conditions with lethal levels of Fentanyl in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd was killed by a rogue cop because of the color of his skin , it would not indicate that America as such is a racist nation .
There are bad cops , of course , as there are bad , lawyers , doctors and teachers .
But that does not mean that such individuals are reflective of the society as a whole .
Such bad apples are exceptions and whenever their actions are brought to light they are dealt with by appropriate mechanisms .
This is most certainly the case with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to extensive inquiry and investigation .
Beyond Woke Michael Rectenwald Buy New $ 19.99 The false basis of the protests that swept across large portions of the western world become even more obvious when we look at the situation on the other side of the Atlantic .
Not long after rioting broke out in the US , similar stirrings began manifesting themselves in Great Britain as well .
As in the US , the protests there were organized by Black Lives Matter and featured almost identical rhetoric and posturing .
Like in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the protests was racism which is – so it was alleged – endemically and systemically embedded in British society .
There was , however , a jarring incoherence in the whole enterprise .
Even though the protests were ostensibly about the supposedly pervasive racism in Britain , they were launched and conducted in the name of George Floyd .
The question that arises is this : If you are protesting racism in the UK , why do you do it in the name of a man who had nothing to do with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British citizen , had no ties to Britain and died thousands of miles away in another country .
His death had absolutely nothing to do with British society , the British government or the British police .
Why , then , do the protesters who demonstrate against the alleged racial injustices in the UK carry posters of George Floyd and chant his name as they march along ?
If they are protesting racism in the UK , why don ’ t they bring up instances of racism from Great Britain ?
If Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say it is , they should have no difficulties pointing to genuine home-made instances of racial oppression .
Why don ’ t they do it then ?
The answer is quite simple : It is because they can not not really find any .
Rather than being oppressed , the black minority in the UK enjoys similar kinds of special protections , privileges , rights and benefits that are enjoyed by their counterparts across the ocean .
The UK , like America , is not racist country… far from it .
Like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backwards to help and accommodate its racial minorities whom it treats with great consideration and good will .
Hence the difficulties of the protestors to find an authentic homemade cause around which to rally their movement .
Instead they had to disingenuously exploit an unfortunate and unrepresentative incident that happened an ocean away in a country not their own .
What all this shows is that the “ anti-racism ” protests that took place on both sides of the Atlantic were launched and conducted on a fraudulent basis and under false pretenses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cause .
Or , to be more precise , they were rebels with a fake cause .
Their fake cause was systemic racism which , however , they could not document with any bona fide evidence .
The question , then , becomes : What was the real reason for the protests ?
What were these protests in their core really about ?
Before we go further , we should observe that the protestors did not form a monolithic front .
They were made of various groups , subgroups and factions who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different agendas .
They ranged from looters who come to get their free Nikies and iPhones through spoilt white college students in search of meaning to aging boomers who longed to relive the excitement of their 60s heyday .
There were also those who were seeking an outlet for the surfeit of their energies generated by the prolonged COVID lockdowns , and then there were the menacing Antifa types .
Yet despite all of this variance of groups and motives , the overall thrust and energy inclined in specific direction against a definite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target was when we consider the kind of symbolic objects the protestors consciously and systematically targeted for physical destruction .
One class of such objects were the statues representing distinguished men of the past .
Revealingly , the mob was not after a particular group of historical figures .
The statue slayers attacked memorials of men who distinguished themselves across the spectrum of human endeavors – thinkers , national leaders , explorers , religious figures .
Even though the destruction was carried out under the generic charge of racism , many people were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature .
The attacks , however , were not random in the deeper sense , for what these men shared was that they all played some part in the advancement and progress of Western civilization .
In other words , each in his own way contributed in some measure to the flourishing of Western culture .
And it was precisely this fact that drew the ire of the raging mob .
The racism charge with which they sought to cover their motives was purely nominal and obviously false , given that they targeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much in the cause of liberation of black people .
Abraham Lincoln would be one example of this .
But even the attacks on men who have done less for minorities than Lincoln did were contrary to reason , since their contributions helped to build the only civilization in human history that grants racial minorities equal freedoms and rights .
If the protestors were indeed concerned with racial progress , they would feel gratitude toward these individuals .
Their attacks , however , betray what these protests were in their core about – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This becomes clear when we contemplate other classes of objects that protestors targeted for destruction such as , for example , Christian churches .
More than one hundred houses of worship have been attacked and vandalized in the course of the protests to the surprise of many observers .
But there is nothing surprising about this once we understand the protestors ’ frame of mind .
Conscious of the fact that Christianity played an instrumental role in the development of Western civilization , they sought to destroy its structures and symbols .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dutifully destroying Christian churches , the protestors felt no compulsion to complain about Muslim mosques .
This is strange indeed given that mosques represent a genuinely oppressive civilizational stream that not only brutally oppresses minorities to this very day but thinks there is nothing particularly wrong with such treatment of people .
But it is not only the crass destruction of physical symbols of Western civilization that betray the protestors ’ true motivation .
Underneath these crude physical gestures is a more subtle and far more dangerous assault on the foundational values and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of speech , open discourse , freedom of expression , tolerance of opposing views , freedom of conscience , etc .
All of this we will develop and discuss in greater details in the essays that will follow .
For now , we leave you with these observations : The protest movement which is unfolding before our eyes on American streets and in European cities is in its inmost essence nothing other than a wholesale , thinly-disguised assault on Western civilization and its values .
It is hatred of the West that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-racist ” crusade and that actuates the protestors ’ destructive energies .
It is this , rather than the non-existent racism , that represents the real existential threat to our Western culture and the way of life .
The Best of Vasko Kohlmayer

That Western civilization is in crisis has been obvious to some people for some time. The dramatic events of recent months in America and Europe have brought home with great vividness and immediacy the seriousness of this crisis. The protests and looting that swept through the United States quickly turned dozens of inner American cities into something akin to bombed out war zones. The surging wave of violence and anarchy, however, was not the only issue of deep concern. Equally alarming was our society’s response to it. Instead of taking measures to reestablish order and the rule of law, our political system malfunctioned at the moment of emergency. Fractious and paralyzed, the political establishment not only failed to implement meaningful measures to take control of the situation, it – unbelievably – tied the hands of the law enforcement, forcing it to stand by as destruction unfolded right before our eyes. Rather than encouraging and empowering the police to fight the unfolding anarchy, the events took a truly bizarre twist when some politicians and public officials began cutting funding for the very bodies and agencies tasked with protection of public order.
It is no exaggeration to say that the protests shook our society to its very foundations. They exposed a number of latent fault lines and further exacerbated those that had been painfully obvious before. The situation suddenly appeared to be so dire that many people began to fear that our nation – and indeed the whole of Western society – may be on the brink of disintegration. These fears may well be justified, since America was not the only country so shaken. Protests of similar natured gripped other Western democracies as well. Dissenters Project: Th... Collection, Essay Best Price: $16.66 Buy New $9.95 (as of 05:08 UTC - Details)
Most would now agree that the West is in the throes of an existential crisis. What is not so clear or agreed upon, however, is the nature of the crisis or even what the core issues and problems are. This lack of clarity is disconcerting, because if we cannot accurately identify the cause, we cannot take effective measures to address it. The first step toward understanding the nature of our plight, therefore, is to grasp what these protests were really about, since they obviously represented a violent eruption of the discontent and pathologies that have been festering in the Western psyche and which now threaten to engulf and destroy our societies.
The stated reason for these protests – both in the United States and Europe – was racism, which is said to be the great moral failing of our civilization. In the United States especially, we saw protesters asserting with great vehemence and anger that our society is oppressive toward minorities, particularly black people. But for anyone who knows the situation in the United States there was something fundamentally problematic with these assertions. They just don’t ring true.
Even though it is true that the United States has had a history of racial injustice – as, in fact, almost all countries have – it is most definitely not the case today. In a sincere effort to correct past wrongs, in the last sixty years the United States has undertaken tremendous efforts to assist and uplift its black population. This massive multipronged undertaking has been carried out with great resolution and at tremendous cost. It took the form of financial and material assistance, of various types of reverse discrimination, racial quotas in employment and education, preferential treatment of various kinds, lowering of professional and educational standards for black people and a host of other measures. Most of this was motivated by a genuine desire to improve the lives and situation of African Americans. CANCEL CULTURE: How to... Reich, Alexander Buy New $12.99 (as of 04:40 UTC - Details)
After six decades of this we can say with complete confidence that never in history has a power-yielding majority done so much for a racial minority as white Americans have done for black Americans. As the writer Fred Reed put it: “In truth, America has made the greatest effort ever essayed by one race to uplift another.
The fact is that not only black people have equal rights – individual, civil, legal and political – with whites, but our current societal system is actually biased in favor of racial minorities. If truth be told, blacks in America today enjoy more protections, rights and advantage than white people do. American whites are the only ruling majority that has voluntarily relinquished its hold on power and made blacks the most protected, financially supported and privileged racial minority in history. This much is obvious to any objective observer.
Racism the American way: The 44nd President of the United States with the first lady and the first family
The claim that the United States is a racist society is thus completely at variance with reality. It is simply not true. One of the countless examples one could mention to illustrate this is the spectacular rise of Barack Obama who was elected to the highest office in America even though his prior accomplishments would – in the words of one commentator – barely fill the back of a postage stamp. A community organizer with a past about which he did not want to speak, Mr. Obama’s main qualification for becoming President of the United States was apparently the fact that his skin was black. Needless to say, the bulk of the votes that catapulted Mr. Obama into office was cast by white people. Could anything like this ever happen in a racist country? Unassailable: Protect ... Jeftovic, Mark E Best Price: $26.03 Buy New $14.95 (as of 05:08 UTC - Details)
There are, of course, instances of racism on the individual and private levels. All racial groups are prone to this kind of prejudice and black people themselves are no exception. In fact, black racism is a well-known phenomenon, and it is probably more widespread and corrosive than white on black racism today. But be that as it may, any public manifestation of vestigial private racism against minorities – whether it be in employment, education, politics or in any other area – is quickly dealt with by a range of mechanisms designed to stop and correct any such occurrences. Acts of racism or discrimination are unlawful in the United States and the country enforces its anti-discriminatory laws with considerable vigor and strictness. So much so that the law is often abused in the opposite direction. Few countries are more sensitive to the issue of racism than the US. Rather than being discriminatory, American society as it exists now is structured in a way to give minorities advantage over the majority.
This is not to deny that large parts of the black community are plagued by severe pathologies and ills. But these are certainly not the result of discrimination. The seventy five percent illegitimacy rate and the decadent black street culture are among some of the root causes of the black predicament. The chances of a child born to a single mother who grows up in the grip of black street culture – as so many black children do – to become an upright, well-adjusted human being who can lead a fulfilling life are virtually zero. This, we would suggest, is the real driver of the black crisis. In other words, the problems that plague the black demographic are moral in nature and not a consequence of racism.
To give legitimacy to their claims, race activists point to instances like the George Floyd incident. But in a nation of more than 320 million people in which every year there are more than three million police-public contacts such events are extremely rare. Studies and investigations have repeatedly shown that the police do not apply lethal force in a racially biased manner (see here, here and here). In the vast majority of cases where black men die in the hands of the police, it is not because they are targeted for the color of their skin. This may also have been the case with George Floyd as there is a substantial body of evidence that his death was a result of cardiopulmonary arrest brought about by a combination of pre-existing conditions with lethal levels of Fentanyl in his system.
But even if George Floyd was killed by a rogue cop because of the color of his skin, it would not indicate that America as such is a racist nation. There are bad cops, of course, as there are bad, lawyers, doctors and teachers. But that does not mean that such individuals are reflective of the society as a whole. Such bad apples are exceptions and whenever their actions are brought to light they are dealt with by appropriate mechanisms. This is most certainly the case with the police where every lethal event is subject to extensive inquiry and investigation. Beyond Woke Michael Rectenwald Buy New $19.99 (as of 11:37 UTC - Details)
Protests in Britain
The false basis of the protests that swept across large portions of the western world become even more obvious when we look at the situation on the other side of the Atlantic. Not long after rioting broke out in the US, similar stirrings began manifesting themselves in Great Britain as well. As in the US, the protests there were organized by Black Lives Matter and featured almost identical rhetoric and posturing. Like in the United States, the declared cause of the protests was racism which is – so it was alleged – endemically and systemically embedded in British society.
There was, however, a jarring incoherence in the whole enterprise. Even though the protests were ostensibly about the supposedly pervasive racism in Britain, they were launched and conducted in the name of George Floyd. The question that arises is this: If you are protesting racism in the UK, why do you do it in the name of a man who had nothing to do with the UK? George Floyd was not a British citizen, had no ties to Britain and died thousands of miles away in another country. His death had absolutely nothing to do with British society, the British government or the British police. Why, then, do the protesters who demonstrate against the alleged racial injustices in the UK carry posters of George Floyd and chant his name as they march along? If they are protesting racism in the UK, why don’t they bring up instances of racism from Great Britain? If Britain is such a racist country as they say it is, they should have no difficulties pointing to genuine home-made instances of racial oppression. Why don’t they do it then?
The answer is quite simple: It is because they cannot not really find any. Rather than being oppressed, the black minority in the UK enjoys similar kinds of special protections, privileges, rights and benefits that are enjoyed by their counterparts across the ocean. The UK, like America, is not racist country… far from it. Like the United States, the UK has bent backwards to help and accommodate its racial minorities whom it treats with great consideration and good will. Hence the difficulties of the protestors to find an authentic homemade cause around which to rally their movement. Instead they had to disingenuously exploit an unfortunate and unrepresentative incident that happened an ocean away in a country not their own.
What all this shows is that the “anti-racism” protests that took place on both sides of the Atlantic were launched and conducted on a fraudulent basis and under false pretenses. The protestors were thus literally rebels without a cause. Or, to be more precise, they were rebels with a fake cause. Their fake cause was systemic racism which, however, they could not document with any bona fide evidence.
The movement’s true objective
The question, then, becomes: What was the real reason for the protests? What were these protests in their core really about?
Before we go further, we should observe that the protestors did not form a monolithic front. They were made of various groups, subgroups and factions who took part for various reasons and with different agendas. They ranged from looters who come to get their free Nikies and iPhones through spoilt white college students in search of meaning to aging boomers who longed to relive the excitement of their 60s heyday. There were also those who were seeking an outlet for the surfeit of their energies generated by the prolonged COVID lockdowns, and then there were the menacing Antifa types.
Yet despite all of this variance of groups and motives, the overall thrust and energy inclined in specific direction against a definite target. We can see what that target was when we consider the kind of symbolic objects the protestors consciously and systematically targeted for physical destruction. One class of such objects were the statues representing distinguished men of the past. Revealingly, the mob was not after a particular group of historical figures. The statue slayers attacked memorials of men who distinguished themselves across the spectrum of human endeavors – thinkers, national leaders, explorers, religious figures. Even though the destruction was carried out under the generic charge of racism, many people were startled by its apparently indiscriminate and random nature. The attacks, however, were not random in the deeper sense, for what these men shared was that they all played some part in the advancement and progress of Western civilization. In other words, each in his own way contributed in some measure to the flourishing of Western culture. And it was precisely this fact that drew the ire of the raging mob. The racism charge with which they sought to cover their motives was purely nominal and obviously false, given that they targeted statues even of men who had done much in the cause of liberation of black people. Abraham Lincoln would be one example of this.
But even the attacks on men who have done less for minorities than Lincoln did were contrary to reason, since their contributions helped to build the only civilization in human history that grants racial minorities equal freedoms and rights. If the protestors were indeed concerned with racial progress, they would feel gratitude toward these individuals. Their attacks, however, betray what these protests were in their core about – an attack on Western civilization and culture.
This becomes clear when we contemplate other classes of objects that protestors targeted for destruction such as, for example, Christian churches. More than one hundred houses of worship have been attacked and vandalized in the course of the protests to the surprise of many observers. But there is nothing surprising about this once we understand the protestors’ frame of mind. Conscious of the fact that Christianity played an instrumental role in the development of Western civilization, they sought to destroy its structures and symbols. Revealing also is the fact that while dutifully destroying Christian churches, the protestors felt no compulsion to complain about Muslim mosques. This is strange indeed given that mosques represent a genuinely oppressive civilizational stream that not only brutally oppresses minorities to this very day but thinks there is nothing particularly wrong with such treatment of people.
But it is not only the crass destruction of physical symbols of Western civilization that betray the protestors’ true motivation. Underneath these crude physical gestures is a more subtle and far more dangerous assault on the foundational values and principles of Western culture such as freedom of speech, open discourse, freedom of expression, tolerance of opposing views, freedom of conscience, etc. All of this we will develop and discuss in greater details in the essays that will follow. For now, we leave you with these observations:
The protest movement which is unfolding before our eyes on American streets and in European cities is in its inmost essence nothing other than a wholesale, thinly-disguised assault on Western civilization and its values.
It is hatred of the West that is the true drivers of the faux “anti-racist” crusade and that actuates the protestors’ destructive energies. It is this, rather than the non-existent racism, that represents the real existential threat to our Western culture and the way of life.
The Best of Vasko Kohlmayer


Pavlov’s Protesters

The masses recently took to the streets again , this time in Sheboygan , Wisconsin , to protest yet another police shooting of a black man , one Kevan Ruffin .
“ Being black is not a crime !
” they shouted .
“ No justice , no peace !
” They bore aloft placards that read “ Jail Killer Cops Now !
” “ Stop Police Brutality , ” and “ Until the color of your skin is the target , you will never understand.
” The black man was murdered , opined one relative .
Would the officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black , wondered another .
Yet another relative pointed out that the officer could have shot Ruffin in the leg , arm , shoulder , or foot to incapacitate him ; that he didn ’ t do so indicated the officer was deliberately shooting to kill .
The black marchers were joined by a surprisingly large percentage of useful white woke idiots—oops !
—make that allies .
So what actually happened with Kevan Ruffin ?
Police received an early morning call that a woman had been terrorized by a man wielding a pair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to be Ruffin , who was also known to have mental problems .
The weapons actually turned out to be Asian martial arts implements called sai .
At first glance , they appear to be long , narrow dirks with prominent crossguards that angle forward .
In reality , they ’ re not blade weapons at all but rather tapering steel batons .
They can ’ t cut , but if swung , they can fracture a skull , and if used to thrust , they can put out an eye and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cops : How t ... Mac Donald , Heather Best Price : $ 16.73 Buy New $ 16.61 The responding officer , Bryan Pray , observed Ruffin walking down the opposite side of the street , sai and all .
Officer Pray approached Ruffin respectfully , calling him by name , asking how he was doing , and inviting him to have a seat .
Ruffin—a rather big lout—immediately advanced on Officer Pray , who backed up , issued verbal commands , and finally deployed his stun gun , but to no avail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in earnest , the latter having to draw his pistol and get off rapid shots while precariously backpedaling in circles .
After taking a number of rounds , Ruffin finally crumpled to the pavement in the middle of the street .
The shooting—caught on video—demonstrates the silliness of suggesting that Officer Pray should have aimed for Ruffin ’ s extremities to incapacitate him .
In a “ fight or flight ” situation , a person experiences an adrenaline dump that interferes with the functioning of fine motor skills .
Under such stressful circumstances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center mass ” shots to the torso than to the extremities .
And this doesn ’ t mean that police are being trained to “ shoot to kill ” ; rather they ’ re being trained to shoot to end the threat .
If a single non-fatal shot to the torso puts a suspect on the ground and takes the fight out of him , the threat has been ended .
In this case , however , even after Officer Pray had fired his last shot , Ruffin continued to chase him before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chaix , JC Best Price : $ 35.81 Buy New $ 18.99 This was a totally justified shooting of a maniac running amok and attacking a police officer after having terrorized a civilian ; no telling what he might have gone on and done had Officer Pray not stopped him .
Yet on the same day of the shooting , without having all the facts , demonstrators later made false accusations that Officer Pray was a “ killer cop ” who needed to be jailed , that he was a murderer , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the color of Ruffin ’ s skin , that he was guilty of police brutality , and that this was an injustice for which there would be no peace .
What we have here is a mindless , manipulable mob , and a mindless , manipulable mob is a very dangerous thing .
What is really scary is that this has become a conditioned response , even in instances of perfectly justified police shootings .
Oh , and one other thing : Officer Pray is black .
Does his life matter ?
@ @ @ @ @

The masses recently took to the streets again, this time in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to protest yet another police shooting of a black man, one Kevan Ruffin. “Being black is not a crime!” they shouted. “No justice, no peace!” They bore aloft placards that read “Jail Killer Cops Now!” “Stop Police Brutality,” and “Until the color of your skin is the target, you will never understand.” The black man was murdered, opined one relative. Would the officer have acted differently had Ruffin not been black, wondered another. Yet another relative pointed out that the officer could have shot Ruffin in the leg, arm, shoulder, or foot to incapacitate him; that he didn’t do so indicated the officer was deliberately shooting to kill. The black marchers were joined by a surprisingly large percentage of useful white woke idiots—oops!—make that allies.
So what actually happened with Kevan Ruffin? Police received an early morning call that a woman had been terrorized by a man wielding a pair of knives, and the wielder turned out to be Ruffin, who was also known to have mental problems. The weapons actually turned out to be Asian martial arts implements called sai. At first glance, they appear to be long, narrow dirks with prominent crossguards that angle forward. In reality, they’re not blade weapons at all but rather tapering steel batons. They can’t cut, but if swung, they can fracture a skull, and if used to thrust, they can put out an eye and pierce the brain. The War on Cops: How t... Mac Donald, Heather Best Price: $16.73 Buy New $16.61 (as of 05:30 UTC - Details)
The responding officer, Bryan Pray, observed Ruffin walking down the opposite side of the street, sai and all. Officer Pray approached Ruffin respectfully, calling him by name, asking how he was doing, and inviting him to have a seat. Ruffin—a rather big lout—immediately advanced on Officer Pray, who backed up, issued verbal commands, and finally deployed his stun gun, but to no avail. Ruffin then began chasing Officer Pray in earnest, the latter having to draw his pistol and get off rapid shots while precariously backpedaling in circles. After taking a number of rounds, Ruffin finally crumpled to the pavement in the middle of the street.
The shooting—caught on video—demonstrates the silliness of suggesting that Officer Pray should have aimed for Ruffin’s extremities to incapacitate him. In a “fight or flight” situation, a person experiences an adrenaline dump that interferes with the functioning of fine motor skills. Under such stressful circumstances, it is easier to land “center mass” shots to the torso than to the extremities. And this doesn’t mean that police are being trained to “shoot to kill”; rather they’re being trained to shoot to end the threat. If a single non-fatal shot to the torso puts a suspect on the ground and takes the fight out of him, the threat has been ended. In this case, however, even after Officer Pray had fired his last shot, Ruffin continued to chase him before finally collapsing. The Courageous Police ... Chaix, JC Best Price: $35.81 Buy New $18.99 (as of 04:27 UTC - Details)
This was a totally justified shooting of a maniac running amok and attacking a police officer after having terrorized a civilian; no telling what he might have gone on and done had Officer Pray not stopped him. Yet on the same day of the shooting, without having all the facts, demonstrators later made false accusations that Officer Pray was a “killer cop” who needed to be jailed, that he was a murderer, that he killed Ruffin for no other reason than the color of Ruffin’s skin, that he was guilty of police brutality, and that this was an injustice for which there would be no peace. What we have here is a mindless, manipulable mob, and a mindless, manipulable mob is a very dangerous thing. What is really scary is that this has become a conditioned response, even in instances of perfectly justified police shootings.
Oh, and one other thing: Officer Pray is black. Does his life matter?
The Best of George Hollenback


lewrockwell--2020-08-17--More Covid Political Theatre

More Covid Political Theatre

I worked in healthcare research for 15 years .
My wife worked in geriatric healthcare for 30 years .
A fair amount of experience but we are not doctors .
Here is an anecdote about Covid-19 and Hydroxychloroquine .
A friend of ours came down with Covid-19 .
This person , that we will call Pat , came down with the symptoms and a couple of days later was admitted to a hospital .
Testing for Covid-19 was administered three times just to be sure .
Pat had a good friend that was a doctor who followed Pat ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not in the three oldest age groups the CDC generates statistics for .
My wife was in cell phone contact with Pat multiple times per day and on the second or third day she said Pat was no longer making sense talking .
Now my wife has had multiple geriatric patients die in her arms and in her clinics over the years .
She knows the symptoms of the end game very well .
Undercover Epicenter N ... Olszewski , Erin Marie Buy New $ 24.29 The doctor friend administered Hydroxychloroquine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pain being severe but they could not prescribe opiates because they depress respiration .
Pat had to ride it out , about three days of non-fun .
Soon thereafter Pat was discharged as recovered .
A sample of one is useless statistically as a clinical trial .
Should I get Covid-19 and I have been in public working or shopping everyday in this pandemic , I would certainly want the option to take this drug .
I would literally demand it .
P.S .
Having worked side by side with doctors for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few things .
Unreported Truths abou ... Berenson , Alex Buy New $ 5.99 • Always be demanding of a physician verbally .
They have a legal requirement/responsibility to answer all questions and discuss all possible treatments ; now not later !
Hydroxychloroquine is an off-label treatment so they must consider it and explain why pro or con .
• Do not let them leave an exam or treatment room until they have satisfied you by answering all questions .
If they do not then demand of the Nurse to put you in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Every hospital has one at all times , another legal requirement !
• They also have a doctor in the facility at all times called a ‘ Hospitalist ’ this is an Internal Medicine specialist that can be seen by every patient , as a patient you can always demand a second opinion from the hospitalist .
“ The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
” ~Albert Einstein The Best of George Giles

I worked in healthcare research for 15 years. My wife worked in geriatric healthcare for 30 years. A fair amount of experience but we are not doctors. Here is an anecdote about Covid-19 and Hydroxychloroquine.
A friend of ours came down with Covid-19. This person, that we will call Pat, came down with the symptoms and a couple of days later was admitted to a hospital. Testing for Covid-19 was administered three times just to be sure. Pat had a good friend that was a doctor who followed Pat’s condition closely. Pat is middle aged but not in the three oldest age groups the CDC generates statistics for.
My wife was in cell phone contact with Pat multiple times per day and on the second or third day she said Pat was no longer making sense talking. Now my wife has had multiple geriatric patients die in her arms and in her clinics over the years. She knows the symptoms of the end game very well. Undercover Epicenter N... Olszewski, Erin Marie Buy New $24.29 (as of 02:20 UTC - Details)
The doctor friend administered Hydroxychloroquine. Pat said it burned like fire, the pain being severe but they could not prescribe opiates because they depress respiration. Pat had to ride it out, about three days of non-fun. Soon thereafter Pat was discharged as recovered.
A sample of one is useless statistically as a clinical trial. Should I get Covid-19 and I have been in public working or shopping everyday in this pandemic, I would certainly want the option to take this drug. I would literally demand it.
P.S. Having worked side by side with doctors for more than a decade I learned a few things. Unreported Truths abou... Berenson, Alex Buy New $5.99 (as of 03:17 UTC - Details)
Always be demanding of a physician verbally. They have a legal requirement/responsibility to answer all questions and discuss all possible treatments; now not later! Hydroxychloroquine is an off-label treatment so they must consider it and explain why pro or con.
Do not let them leave an exam or treatment room until they have satisfied you by answering all questions. If they do not then demand of the Nurse to put you in immediate contact with the Administrator On-Call. Every hospital has one at all times, another legal requirement!
They also have a doctor in the facility at all times called a ‘Hospitalist’ this is an Internal Medicine specialist that can be seen by every patient, as a patient you can always demand a second opinion from the hospitalist.
“The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.” ~Albert Einstein
The Best of George Giles