lewrockwell--2020-01-17--Northam Declares State of Emergency in Virginia

The drama in Virginia has escalated again as Governor Ralph Northam declares an official State of Emergency before January 20th ’ s “ Lobby Day ” protests .
Citing violence that erupted in Charlottesville during a Unite the Right rally in 2017 , Northam said that there are credible threats that “ armed militia groups plan to storm the Capitol ” during Monday ’ s rally .
In an executive order , he announced he is banning all weapons from Capitol Square for the day .
Credible intelligence gathered by Virginia ’ s law enforcement agencies indicates that tens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Capitol Square for events culminating on January 20 , 2020 .
Available information suggests that a substantial number of these demonstrators are expected to come from outside the Commonwealth , may be armed , and have as their purpose not peaceful assembly but violence , rioting , and insurrection .
Assuring that Virginia ’ s Capitol Square and surrounding public areas are sheltered safe places for those who come to participate in the democratic process , as well as those who work on or near Capitol Square , is my greatest priority .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of tens of thousands of demonstrators on Capitol Square , some of whom may not come to assemble peacefully , constitutes an emergency as described in § 44-146.16 of the Code of Virginia ( Code ) .
Be Ready for Anything : ... Daisy Luther Best Price : $ 10.45 Buy New $ 9.69 Therefore , by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of Virginia , by §§ 2.2-103 and 44-146.13 et seq .
of the Code , as Governor and Director of Emergency Management and Commander-in-Chief of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proclaim that a state of emergency will exist starting on January 17 , 2020 through January 21 , 2020 .
Accordingly , I direct state and local governments to render appropriate assistance to prepare for this event , to alleviate any conditions resulting from the situation , and to implement recovery and mitigation operations and activities so as to return impacted areas to pre-event conditions as much as possible .
Emergency services shall be conducted in accordance with § 44-146.13 et seq .
of the Code .
( source ) The Executive Order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but also includes helmets , shields , and more .
The rally had been planned as an open carry event and the turnout is expected to be massive .
Monday , the state ’ s congress is expected to vote on a number of incredibly unpopular anti-gun laws , discussed here and here .
While one of the most alarming bills has been pulled due to overwhelming opposition , there are plenty more to take its place .
What are these threats ?
When you push a population to the brink , threatening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the National Guard and telling them that their lawful actions of rebellion are meaningless , you have to expect that population to push back .
Particularly a rural , gun-loving population that makes up most of the counties in Virginia .
According to a press release from Northam ’ s office , “ credible intelligence gathered by Virginia ’ s law enforcement agencies indicates that tens of thousands of advocates plan to converge on Capitol Square for events culminating on January 20 , 2020 .
Available information suggests that a substantial number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from outside the Commonwealth , may be armed , and have as their purpose not peaceful assembly but violence , rioting , and insurrection.
” Specifically , Northam said they ’ ve received threats including people detailing plans to storm the Capitol Building , use weaponized drones , and more .
A state official cited one posting that included a photo of an AR-15 with a caption that said there are “ great sight angles from certain buildings ” near Capitol Square .
( source ) Who is sponsoring the rally ?
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly every article on the mainstream media about this topic , you ’ ll find multiple references to “ white nationalists , ” making it seem as though the event is being hosted by white supremacists instead of law-abiding gun owners who have no intention of kowtowing to unconstitutional mandates .
It ’ s particularly interesting that it ’ s Governor Northam making most of these references , given his part in a recent “ blackface ” scandal .
Here are some examples : • From NBC : “ Northam ’ s declaration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shields , items that some white nationalists carried in Charlottesville .
“ • From USA Today : “ Northam said the decision was a response to threats , some of them made online in forums hosted by hate groups and white nationalists .
The governor called on rally organizers to dissuade out-of-state groups from coming to the rally and encouraged a “ peaceful day ” for Virginians.
” • From NPR : “ Northam is raising concerns about a reprise of the deadly violence surrounding the white supremacist march in Charlottesville in August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have identified threats and rhetoric online that mirrors the chatter they were picking up around that time.
” But in actuality , the group sponsoring the rally is Virginia Citizen ’ s Defense League , a group dedicated to “ defending your right to defend yourself in Virginia.
” The Prepperu2019s Wate ... Daisy Luther Best Price : $ 7.48 Buy New $ 9.93 This isn ’ t the first tyrannical move in Virginia this week .
An extremely popular Facebook post that has been shared thousands of times reads : So Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destroy 2A rights , militias , sale transfer and registration bills , and the People of Virginia says no , and we ’ re going to vote you all out next term .
Virginia says we ’ re not going to wait , we ’ ll petition your removal from office and gets almost a 3rd of the 240K signatures to remove the governor and starts petitions to remove deligates .
Virginia govornment responds by introducing a bill to raise the amount of signatures from 10 % of the prevailing vote , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the a textbook example of tyranny .
“ We ’ re the government , and we ’ ll do anything we want , whether you like it or not .
We won ’ t let you vote us out , we won ’ t let you remove us from office… .
And if you can ’ t possess the weapons that a militia would need to force us out , of office , then there ’ s absolutely nothing you can do about it ” ( source ) I guess we can add @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tyrannies above .
Reprinted with permission from The Organic Prepper .
The Best of Daisy Luther

The drama in Virginia has escalated again as Governor Ralph Northam declares an official State of Emergency before January 20th’s “Lobby Day” protests.
Citing violence that erupted in Charlottesville during a Unite the Right rally in 2017, Northam said that there are credible threats that “armed militia groups plan to storm the Capitol” during Monday’s rally. In an executive order, he announced he is banning all weapons from Capitol Square for the day.
Credible intelligence gathered by Virginia’s law enforcement agencies indicates that tens of thousands of advocates plan to converge on Capitol Square for events culminating on January 20, 2020. Available information suggests that a substantial number of these demonstrators are expected to come from outside the Commonwealth, may be armed, and have as their purpose not peaceful assembly but violence, rioting, and insurrection. Assuring that Virginia’s Capitol Square and surrounding public areas are sheltered safe places for those who come to participate in the democratic process, as well as those who work on or near Capitol Square, is my greatest priority. The anticipated effects of the potential convergence of tens of thousands of demonstrators on Capitol Square, some of whom may not come to assemble peacefully, constitutes an emergency as described in § 44-146.16 of the Code of Virginia (Code). Be Ready for Anything:... Daisy Luther Best Price: $10.45 Buy New $9.69 (as of 07:15 UTC - Details) Therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of Virginia, by §§ 2.2-103 and 44-146.13 et seq. of the Code, as Governor and Director of Emergency Management and Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth’s armed forces, I proclaim that a state of emergency will exist starting on January 17, 2020 through January 21,
2020. Accordingly, I direct state and local governments to render appropriate assistance to prepare for this event, to alleviate any conditions resulting from the situation, and to implement recovery and mitigation operations and activities so as to return impacted areas to pre-event conditions as much as possible. Emergency services shall be conducted in accordance with § 44-146.13 et seq. of the Code. (source)
The Executive Order doesn’t only ban guns, but also includes helmets, shields, and more.
“No weapons will be allowed on Capitol grounds,” said Northam, a Democrat. “Everything from sticks and bats to chains and projectiles…. The list also includes firearms. It makes no sense to ban every other weapon but allow firearms when intelligence shows that armed militia groups plan to storm the Capitol.” (source)
The rally had been planned as an open carry event and the turnout is expected to be massive. Monday, the state’s congress is expected to vote on a number of incredibly unpopular anti-gun laws, discussed here and here. While one of the most alarming bills has been pulled due to overwhelming opposition, there are plenty more to take its place.
What are these threats?
When you push a population to the brink, threatening them with gun confiscation at the hands of the National Guard and telling them that their lawful actions of rebellion are meaningless, you have to expect that population to push back. Particularly a rural, gun-loving population that makes up most of the counties in Virginia.
According to a press release from Northam’s office, “credible intelligence gathered by Virginia’s law enforcement agencies indicates that tens of thousands of advocates plan to converge on Capitol Square for events culminating on January 20, 2020. Available information suggests that a substantial number of these demonstrators are expected to come from outside the Commonwealth, may be armed, and have as their purpose not peaceful assembly but violence, rioting, and insurrection.” Specifically, Northam said they’ve received threats including people detailing plans to storm the Capitol Building, use weaponized drones, and more. A state official cited one posting that included a photo of an AR-15 with a caption that said there are “great sight angles from certain buildings” near Capitol Square. (source)
Who is sponsoring the rally?
It’s interesting to note that throughout nearly every article on the mainstream media about this topic, you’ll find multiple references to “white nationalists,” making it seem as though the event is being hosted by white supremacists instead of law-abiding gun owners who have no intention of kowtowing to unconstitutional mandates. It’s particularly interesting that it’s Governor Northam making most of these references, given his part in a recent “blackface” scandal.
Here are some examples:
From NBC: “Northam’s declaration will also ban items like helmets and shields, items that some white nationalists carried in Charlottesville. “
From USA Today: “Northam said the decision was a response to threats, some of them made online in forums hosted by hate groups and white nationalists. The governor called on rally organizers to dissuade out-of-state groups from coming to the rally and encouraged a “peaceful day” for Virginians.”
From NPR: “Northam is raising concerns about a reprise of the deadly violence surrounding the white supremacist march in Charlottesville in August 2017. He said state intelligence analysts have identified threats and rhetoric online that mirrors the chatter they were picking up around that time.”
But in actuality, the group sponsoring the rally is Virginia Citizen’s Defense League, a group dedicated to “defending your right to defend yourself in Virginia.” The Prepperu2019s Wate... Daisy Luther Best Price: $7.49 Buy New $9.94 (as of 06:00 UTC - Details)
This isn’t the first tyrannical move in Virginia this week.
An extremely popular Facebook post that has been shared thousands of times reads:
So Virginia introduces a bundle of radical laws to destroy 2A rights, militias, sale transfer and registration bills, and the People of Virginia says no, and we’re going to vote you all out next term. Virginia government responds by introducing a bill to eliminate voter ID. Virginia says we’re not going to wait, we’ll petition your removal from office and gets almost a 3rd of the 240K signatures to remove the governor and starts petitions to remove deligates. Virginia govornment responds by introducing a bill to raise the amount of signatures from 10% of the prevailing vote, to 25%. Folks, this is the a textbook example of tyranny. “We’re the government, and we’ll do anything we want, whether you like it or not. We won’t let you vote us out, we won’t let you remove us from office…. And if you can’t possess the weapons that a militia would need to force us out, of office, then there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it” (source)
I guess we can add this Executive Order to the list of tyrannies above.
Reprinted with permission from The Organic Prepper.
The Best of Daisy Luther


lewrockwell--2020-01-17--Burnout Linked to Atrial Fibrillation and Irregular Heartbeat

If you feel tired , irritable , or have low energy , it may be due to an irregular heartbeat .
These common symptoms belong to a syndrome called burnout , which is associated with a potentially deadly heart rhythm disturbance .
An estimated 17 million American ’ s experience atrial fibrillation , the most common form of heart arrhythmia .
Atrial fibrillation ( AF or A-fib ) is an abnormal heart rhythm ( arrhythmia ) characterized by the rapid and irregular beating of the atrial chambers of the heart .
During atrial fibrillation , the heart ’ s two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chaotically and irregularly out of coordination with the two lower chambers ( the ventricles ) of the heart .
This type of heartbeat can increase the risk of stroke , heart failure , and other heart-related complications .
What causes atrial fibrillation is not fully understood , but some suggest psychological distress could be a risk factor .
Until now , the specific association between vital exhaustion and atrial fibrillation had not been evaluated .
“ Vital exhaustion , commonly referred to as burnout syndrome , is typically caused by prolonged and profound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said study author Dr. Parveen K. Garg of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles .
“ It differs from depression , which is characterized by low mood , guilt , and poor self-esteem .
The results of our study further establish the harm that can be caused in people who suffer from exhaustion that goes unchecked.
” Amazon.com Gift Card i ... Buy New $ 10.00 The study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology surveyed more than 11,000 individuals for the presence of vital exhaustion , poor social support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All participants were then followed for a period of 25 years for the development of atrial fibrillation .
It was noted that participants with the highest levels of vital exhaustion were at a 20 % higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation over the course of follow-up compared to those with little or no evidence of vital exhaustion .
Dr. Garg noted that two mechanisms are likely at play .
“ Vital exhaustion is associated with increased inflammation and heightened activation of the body ’ s physiologic stress response , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ triggered that can have serious and damaging effects on the heart tissue , which could then eventually lead to the development of this arrhythmia.
” No connections to the development of atrial fibrillation were found with anger , antidepressant use , or poor social support .
“ The findings for anger and social support are consistent with prior research but two previous studies did find a significant association between antidepressant use and an increased risk of atrial fibrillation .
Clearly , more work still needs to be done , ” said Dr. Garg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already known that exhaustion increases one ’ s risk for cardiovascular disease , including heart attack and stroke .
We now report that it may also increase one ’ s risk for developing atrial fibrillation , a potentially serious cardiac arrhythmia .
The importance of avoiding exhaustion through careful attention to—and management of—personal stress levels as a way to help preserve overall cardiovascular health can not be overstated .
”

If you feel tired, irritable, or have low energy, it may be due to an irregular heartbeat. These common symptoms belong to a syndrome called burnout, which is associated with a potentially deadly heart rhythm disturbance.
An estimated 17 million American’s experience atrial fibrillation, the most common form of heart arrhythmia. Atrial fibrillation (AF or A-fib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) characterized by the rapid and irregular beating of the atrial chambers of the heart. During atrial fibrillation, the heart’s two upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly out of coordination with the two lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart. This type of heartbeat can increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.
What causes atrial fibrillation is not fully understood, but some suggest psychological distress could be a risk factor. Until now, the specific association between vital exhaustion and atrial fibrillation had not been evaluated.
Prolonged Stress to Blame
“Vital exhaustion, commonly referred to as burnout syndrome, is typically caused by prolonged and profound stress at work or home,” said study author Dr. Parveen K. Garg of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. “It differs from depression, which is characterized by low mood, guilt, and poor self-esteem. The results of our study further establish the harm that can be caused in people who suffer from exhaustion that goes unchecked.” Amazon.com Gift Card i... Buy New $10.00 (as of 08:25 UTC - Details)
The study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology surveyed more than 11,000 individuals for the presence of vital exhaustion, poor social support, anger, and antidepressant use. All participants were then followed for a period of 25 years for the development of atrial fibrillation. It was noted that participants with the highest levels of vital exhaustion were at a 20% higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation over the course of follow-up compared to those with little or no evidence of vital exhaustion.
Dr. Garg noted that two mechanisms are likely at play. “Vital exhaustion is associated with increased inflammation and heightened activation of the body’s physiologic stress response,” he said. “When these two things are chronically triggered that can have serious and damaging effects on the heart tissue, which could then eventually lead to the development of this arrhythmia.”
No connections to the development of atrial fibrillation were found with anger, antidepressant use, or poor social support. “The findings for anger and social support are consistent with prior research but two previous studies did find a significant association between antidepressant use and an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. Clearly, more work still needs to be done,” said Dr. Garg.
He concluded: “It is already known that exhaustion increases one’s risk for cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. We now report that it may also increase one’s risk for developing atrial fibrillation, a potentially serious cardiac arrhythmia. The importance of avoiding exhaustion through careful attention to—and management of—personal stress levels as a way to help preserve overall cardiovascular health cannot be overstated.”
Reprinted with permission from Bel Marra Health.


lewrockwell--2020-01-17--7 Major Earth Changes That Are Happening Right Now That Everyone Needs To Know About

There has never been a time in modern human history when our planet has been changing as rapidly as it is changing right now .
The sun is behaving very strangely , freakishly cold weather is breaking out all over the world , ocean temperatures continue to rise , volcanoes all over the globe are shooting ash miles into the air , Australia is experiencing the worst wildfires that they have ever seen , and the north magnetic pole has been moving at a pace that is deeply alarming scientists .
Could it be possible that all of this bizarre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a crescendo ?
Sadly , most people don ’ t even realize what is happening , and that is because the mainstream media only emphasizes stories that fit with the particular narratives that they are currently pushing .
But it has gotten to the point where nobody can deny that really weird things are happening .
The following are 7 major earth changes that are happening right now that everyone needs to know about… # 1 According to NASA , solar activity has dropped to the lowest level in 200 years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ website… The Prepperu2019s Blue ... Tess Pennington Best Price : $ 11.98 Buy New $ 18.98 Of course NASA insists that everything will be just fine , but others are wondering if this lack of solar activity could potentially spawn another “ Little Ice Age ” … # 2 When solar activity gets very low , it has traditionally meant very cold and very snowy winters , and right now we are seeing snow in places that are extremely unusual… # 3 Meanwhile , the oceans of the world just keep getting hotter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperatures off the California coast have been setting new all-time record highs .
It is odd that this is taking place at a time of such low solar activity , but according to NBC News this is definitely happening… # 4 There have always been wildfires , but we have never seen anything like this .
During the summer , countless catastrophic fires burned millions upon millions of acres in the Amazon rainforest , and this winter Australia ’ s fires have actually been a total of 46 percent larger than the fires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia has never seen anything like this before , and according to NASA the smoke from these fires will completely circle the Earth… # 5 During the first half of 2020 , volcanoes all over the world have been roaring to life and have been shooting giant clouds of hot ash miles into the sky .
For example , in the Philippines the Taal volcano shot ash nine miles into the air on Sunday , it has also been shooting scorching hot lava half a mile into the air , and the ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wide open .
But even after all the devastation that we have already seen , authorities are warning that it could “ re-explode at any moment ” … Let us hope that this volcanic activity does not spread throughout that general area , because the largest super volcano caldera in the entire world has been discovered not too far from the Philippines… # 6 All of this is taking place while the north magnetic pole is moving toward Russia at a very rapid pace .
The following comes from CNN… # 7 On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s magnetic field has been steadily weakening over time , and this has some experts extremely concerned… The Beginning Of The End Michael Snyder Best Price : $ 11.54 Buy New $ 18.04 Without our magnetic field , life on Earth could not exist for long .
And it doesn ’ t have to disappear completely to be a massive problem .
If it simply gets weak enough , dwelling on the surface is going to become exceedingly difficult .
As I keep warning , our planet is becoming increasing unstable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is just the beginning .
The demands of life can often cause us to focus on things that don ’ t really matter .
Hopefully we can get more people to wake up while there is still time , because the clock is ticking for humanity and for our planet as a whole .
Reprinted with permission from The Economic Collapse .
The Best of Michael Snyder

There has never been a time in modern human history when our planet has been changing as rapidly as it is changing right now. The sun is behaving very strangely, freakishly cold weather is breaking out all over the world, ocean temperatures continue to rise, volcanoes all over the globe are shooting ash miles into the air, Australia is experiencing the worst wildfires that they have ever seen, and the north magnetic pole has been moving at a pace that is deeply alarming scientists. Could it be possible that all of this bizarre activity is leading up to some sort of a crescendo?
Sadly, most people don’t even realize what is happening, and that is because the mainstream media only emphasizes stories that fit with the particular narratives that they are currently pushing.
But it has gotten to the point where nobody can deny that really weird things are happening. The following are 7 major earth changes that are happening right now that everyone needs to know about…
#1 According to NASA, solar activity has dropped to the lowest level in 200 years. The following comes from the official NASA website… The Prepperu2019s Blue... Tess Pennington Best Price: $11.98 Buy New $18.98 (as of 02:20 UTC - Details)
The forecast for the next solar cycle says it will be the weakest of the last 200 years. The maximum of this next cycle – measured in terms of sunspot number, a standard measure of solar activity level – could be 30 to 50% lower than the most recent one. The results show that the next cycle will start in 2020 and reach its maximum in 2025.
Of course NASA insists that everything will be just fine, but others are wondering if this lack of solar activity could potentially spawn another “Little Ice Age”…
When solar activity gets really low, it can have the effect of a “mini ice age.” The period between 1645 and 1715 was marked by a prolonged sunspot minimum, and this corresponded to a downturn in temperatures in Europe and North America. Named after astronomers Edward Maunder and his wife Annie Russell Maunder, this period became known as the Maunder Minimum. It is also known as “The Little Ice Age.”
#2 When solar activity gets very low, it has traditionally meant very cold and very snowy winters, and right now we are seeing snow in places that are extremely unusual…
The Egyptian capital, Cairo, was also turned white at the start of the month, despite the city not having snow in 112 years, and experiencing less than an inch of rain each year. Many parts of Greece were covered in snow in early January, with low temperatures and strong frost. The cold front named ‘Hephaestion’, after an Ancient Greek army general, thrashed the Greek landscape, bringing rain, sleet and ice in the east.
#3 Meanwhile, the oceans of the world just keep getting hotter and hotter. In fact, ocean temperatures off the California coast have been setting new all-time record highs. It is odd that this is taking place at a time of such low solar activity, but according to NBC News this is definitely happening…
The world’s oceans hit their warmest level in recorded history in 2019, according to a study published Monday that provides more evidence that Earth is warming at an accelerated pace. The analysis, which also found that ocean temperatures in the last decade have been the warmest on record, shows the impact of human-caused warming on the planet’s oceans and suggests that sea-level rise, ocean acidification and extreme weather events could worsen as the oceans continue to absorb so much heat.
#4 There have always been wildfires, but we have never seen anything like this. During the summer, countless catastrophic fires burned millions upon millions of acres in the Amazon rainforest, and this winter Australia’s fires have actually been a total of 46 percent larger than the fires that we witnessed in the Amazon. Australia has never seen anything like this before, and according to NASA the smoke from these fires will completely circle the Earth…
Once was bad enough, but smoke from Australia’s devastating bushfires is set to return to the country to complete a round-the-world trip that has seen it impact on air quality as far away as South America. By Jan. 8, the smoke had made its way halfway around the world and will make at least one full circuit, according to scientists at NASA, citing satellite tracking data. New Zealand experienced severe air quality issues, while hazy skies and colorful sunsets and sunrises were seen in parts of Chile and Argentina.
#5 During the first half of 2020, volcanoes all over the world have been roaring to life and have been shooting giant clouds of hot ash miles into the sky. For example, in the Philippines the Taal volcano shot ash nine miles into the air on Sunday, it has also been shooting scorching hot lava half a mile into the air, and the ground around the volcano is starting to crack wide open.
But even after all the devastation that we have already seen, authorities are warning that it could “re-explode at any moment”…
The gray ash is knee-deep. It covers the homes, the bloated cadavers of cows and horses, their limbs protruding at unnatural angles in the shadow of a sulking volcano that could re-explode at any moment. “My home is now gone,” said Melvin Mendoza, 39, a boatman who returned on Tuesday to Taal, the volcanic island in the middle of a freshwater lake just 40 miles south of Manila, which erupted on Sunday like an atomic bomb mushroom cloud.
Let us hope that this volcanic activity does not spread throughout that general area, because the largest super volcano caldera in the entire world has been discovered not too far from the Philippines…
A team including members from GNS Science have identified an ancient mega-volcano that could have the largest known caldera on Earth. The 150km (93.2 miles) wide feature is on the crest of Benham Rise, an oceanic plateau off the Philippines coast. In comparison, the caldera at Taupō is about 35km (21.8 miles) wide, and that at Yellowstone about 60km (37.3 miles).
#6 All of this is taking place while the north magnetic pole is moving toward Russia at a very rapid pace. The following comes from CNN…
The north magnetic pole has been slowly moving across the Canadian Arctic toward Russia since 1831, but its swift pace toward Siberia in recent years at a rate of around 34 miles per year has forced scientists to update the World Magnetic Model — used by civilian navigation systems, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and US and British militaries — a year ahead of schedule.
#7 On top of everything else, the Earth’s magnetic field has been steadily weakening over time, and this has some experts extremely concerned… The Beginning Of The End Michael Snyder Best Price: $9.97 Buy New $18.08 (as of 07:00 UTC - Details)
In a forum on Quora, science fiction writer and journalist C Stuart Hardwick revealed that satellite data, such as those collected by the European Space Agency’s SWARM mission, revealed that the magnetic field has been weakening for about 5 percent each century. He noted that currently, the strength of the magnetic field is at 29.5 microteslas, which is 14 percent weaker than its previous state three centuries ago. According to Hardwick, the SWARM satellites detected increased deterioration within regions of the magnetic field over North America. He said these regions weakened by about 3.5 percent over the span of just three years.
Without our magnetic field, life on Earth could not exist for long.
And it doesn’t have to disappear completely to be a massive problem. If it simply gets weak enough, dwelling on the surface is going to become exceedingly difficult.
As I keep warning, our planet is becoming increasing unstable, and what we have experienced so far is just the beginning.
The demands of life can often cause us to focus on things that don’t really matter. Hopefully we can get more people to wake up while there is still time, because the clock is ticking for humanity and for our planet as a whole.
Reprinted with permission from The Economic Collapse.
The Best of Michael Snyder


lewrockwell--2020-01-17--Opioid Crisis — A Result of Poverty, Availability, and Pain

In recent years , the devastating effects of wanton opioid use have become unmistakable , with opioid overdoses killing 47,600 Americans in 2017 alone.1 As of June 2017 , opioids became the leading cause of death among Americans under the age of 50,2 and President Trump declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency that year in October.3 I ’ ve written many previous articles detailing the background of how the U.S. ended up here .
While the opioid crisis was largely manufactured by drug companies hell-bent on maximizing profits , leading to exaggerated and even fraudulent claims about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ availability of opioids isn ’ t the sole cause .
As noted in a January 2020 article4 in The Atlantic , “ researchers … say opioid addiction looks like the result of a perfect storm of poverty , trauma , availability and pain.
” Commenting on some of the research cited in that article , David Powell , senior economist at Rand , told The Atlantic that to produce the most lethal drug epidemic America has ever seen “ you need a huge rise in opioid access , in a way that misuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand to misuse the product.
” 5 Poverty and pain , both physical and emotional , fuel misuse .
If economic stress or physical pain ( or both ) is a factor in your own situation , please be mindful that seeking escape through opioid use can easily lead to a lethal overdose .
The risk of death is magnified fivefold if you ’ re also using benzodiazepine-containing drugs .
The Hidden Influence of Poverty and Trauma Several investigations seeking to gain insight into the causes fueling the opioid epidemic have been conducted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ common trends where emotional , physical and societal factors have conspired to bring us to the point where we are today .
Among them is a 2019 study6 in the Medical Care Research Review journal , which looked at the effects of state-level economic conditions — unemployment rates , median house prices , median household income , insurance coverage and average hours of weekly work — on drug overdose deaths between 1999 and 2014 .
According to the authors:7 Similarly , an earlier investigation , published in the International Journal of Drug Policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with rises in illegal drug use among adults .
Twenty-eight studies published between 1990 and 2015 were included in the review , 17 of which found that the psychological distress associated with economic recessions and unemployment was a significant factor .
According to the authors:9 Abuse-related trauma is also linked to unemployment and financial stress , and that too can increase your risk of drug use and addiction .
As noted in The Atlantic,10 when the coal mining industry in northeastern Pennsylvania collapsed , leaving many locals without job prospects , alcohol use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many of these traumatized children , in turn , sought relief from the turmoil and ended up becoming addicted to opioids .
Another 2019 study11 published in Population Health reviewed the links between free trade and deaths from opioid use between 1999 and 2015 , finding that “ Job loss due to international trade is positively associated with opioid overdose mortality at the county level , ” and that this association was most significant in areas where fentanyl was present in the heroin supply .
Overall , for each 1,000 people who lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commonly due to factory shutdowns — there was a 2.7 % increase in opioid-related deaths .
Where fentanyl was available , that percentage rose to 11.3 % .
The study “ contributes to debates in the social sciences concerning the negative consequences of free trade , ” the authors note , adding : The National Bureau of Economic Research has also contributed to the discussion with the working paper12 “ Origins of the Opioid Crisis and Its Enduring Impacts , ” issued November 2019 .
In it , they highlight “ the role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OxyContin as a potential leading cause of the opioid crisis , ” showing that in states where triplicate prescription programs were implemented , OxyContin distribution rates were half that of states that did not have such programs .
“ Triplicate prescription programs ” refers to a drug-monitoring program requiring doctors to use a special prescription pad whenever they prescribed controlled substances .
One of the copies of each prescription written had to be submitted to a state monitoring agency .
Since it involved additional work , many doctors avoided prescribing drugs requiring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consequence , Purdue ( the maker of OxyContin ) , did not market its opioid as aggressively in those states .
The fact that triplicate prescription states had lower rates of lethal overdoses led the authors to conclude “ that the introduction and marketing of OxyContin explain a substantial share of overdose deaths over the last two decades.
” According to this paper , death rates from opioid overdoses could have been reduced by 44 % between 1996 and 2017 had triplicate prescriptions been implemented in nontriplicate states .
Importantly , the relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths held true even when economic conditions were taken into account , which shows that poverty alone did not contribute to the opioid crisis — aggressive marketing to doctors and the ease with which patients could get the drugs were an inescapable part of the problem .
Naturally , physical pain is also a driving force behind the opioid epidemic , especially the inappropriate treatment of back pain with opioids and dentists ’ habit of prescribing narcotics after wisdom tooth extractions.13,14 Statistics16 suggest 8 in 10 American adults will be affected by back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and low-back pain is one of the most common reasons for an opioid prescription.17 This despite the fact that there ’ s no evidence supporting their use for this kind of pain .
On the contrary , non-opioid treatment for back pain has been shown to be more effective.18 Research19 published in 2018 found opioids ( including morphine , Vicodin , oxycodone and fentanyl ) fail to control moderate to severe pain any better than over-the-counter ( OTC ) drugs such as acetaminophen , ibuprofen and naproxen , yet most insurance companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reimbursement , which makes them culpable for sustaining the opioid crisis , even as doctors and patients try to navigate away from them .
As noted by Dave Chase , author of “ The Opioid Crisis Wake-Up Call : Health Care Is Stealing the American Dream .
Here ’ s How to Take It Back , ” in an article for Stat:20 According to the American College of Physicians ’ guidelines,22 heat , massage , acupuncture or chiropractic adjustments should be used as first-line treatments for back pain .
Other key treatments for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mindfulness-based stress reduction , tai chi , yoga , relaxation , biofeedback , low-level laser therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy .
When drugs are desired , nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs ) or muscle relaxants should be used .
Opioids “ should only be considered if other treatments are unsuccessful and when the potential benefits outweigh the risks for an individual patient , ” according to the American College of Physicians ’ guideline.23 Struggling With Opioid Addiction ?
Please Seek Help It ’ s vitally important to realize that opioids are extremely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-term use for nonfatal conditions .
Chemically , opioids are similar to heroin , so if you wouldn ’ t consider using heroin for a toothache or backache , seriously reconsider taking an opioid to relieve these types of pain .
If you ’ ve been on an opioid for more than two months , or if you find yourself taking a higher dosage , or taking the drug more often , you may already be addicted .
Resources where you can find help include the following .
You can also learn more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” • The Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration can be contacted 24 hours a day at 1-800-622-HELP The good news is that many types of pain can be treated entirely without drugs .
Recommendations by Harvard Medical School25,26 and the British National Health Service27 include the following .
You can find more detailed information about most of these techniques in “ 13 Mind-Body Techniques That Can Help Ease Pain and Depression.
” In “ Billionaire Opioid Executive Stands to Make Millions More on Patent for Addiction Treatment , ” I discuss several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dietary changes — that can be used separately or in combination with the strategies listed above to control both acute and chronic pain .
The Best of Joseph Mercola

In recent years, the devastating effects of wanton opioid use have become unmistakable, with opioid overdoses killing 47,600 Americans in 2017 alone.1 As of June 2017, opioids became the leading cause of death among Americans under the age of 50,2 and President Trump declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency that year in October.3
I’ve written many previous articles detailing the background of how the U.S. ended up here. While the opioid crisis was largely manufactured by drug companies hell-bent on maximizing profits, leading to exaggerated and even fraudulent claims about the drugs’ safety profile, the increased availability of opioids isn’t the sole cause.
A Perfect Storm of Poverty, Trauma, Availability and Pain
As noted in a January 2020 article4 in The Atlantic, “researchers … say opioid addiction looks like the result of a perfect storm of poverty, trauma, availability and pain.”
Commenting on some of the research cited in that article, David Powell, senior economist at Rand, told The Atlantic that to produce the most lethal drug epidemic America has ever seen “you need a huge rise in opioid access, in a way that misuse is easy, but you also need demand to misuse the product.”5
Poverty and pain, both physical and emotional, fuel misuse. If economic stress or physical pain (or both) is a factor in your own situation, please be mindful that seeking escape through opioid use can easily lead to a lethal overdose. The risk of death is magnified fivefold if you’re also using benzodiazepine-containing drugs.
The Hidden Influence of Poverty and Trauma
Several investigations seeking to gain insight into the causes fueling the opioid epidemic have been conducted in recent years. The findings reveal common trends where emotional, physical and societal factors have conspired to bring us to the point where we are today.
Among them is a 2019 study6 in the Medical Care Research Review journal, which looked at the effects of state-level economic conditions — unemployment rates, median house prices, median household income, insurance coverage and average hours of weekly work — on drug overdose deaths between 1999 and 2014. According to the authors:7
“Drug overdose deaths significantly declined with higher house prices … by nearly 0.17 deaths per 100,000 (~4%) with a $10,000 increase in median house price. House price effects were more pronounced and only significant among males, non-Hispanic Whites, and individuals younger 45 years.
Other economic indicators had insignificant effects. Our findings suggest that economic downturns that substantially reduce house prices such as the Great Recession can increase opioid-related deaths, suggesting that efforts to control access to such drugs should especially intensify during these periods.”
Similarly, an earlier investigation, published in the International Journal of Drug Policy in 2017,8 connected economic recessions and unemployment with rises in illegal drug use among adults.
Twenty-eight studies published between 1990 and 2015 were included in the review, 17 of which found that the psychological distress associated with economic recessions and unemployment was a significant factor. According to the authors:9
“The current evidence is in line with the hypothesis that drug use increases in times of recession because unemployment increases psychological distress which increases drug use. During times of recession, psychological support for those who lost their job and are vulnerable to drug use (relapse) is likely to be important.”
Abuse-related trauma is also linked to unemployment and financial stress, and that too can increase your risk of drug use and addiction. As noted in The Atlantic,10 when the coal mining industry in northeastern Pennsylvania collapsed, leaving many locals without job prospects, alcohol use increased, as did child abuse. Many of these traumatized children, in turn, sought relief from the turmoil and ended up becoming addicted to opioids.
Free Trade Effects Implicated in Opioid Crisis
Another 2019 study11 published in Population Health reviewed the links between free trade and deaths from opioid use between 1999 and 2015, finding that “Job loss due to international trade is positively associated with opioid overdose mortality at the county level,” and that this association was most significant in areas where fentanyl was present in the heroin supply.
Overall, for each 1,000 people who lost their jobs due to international trade — commonly due to factory shutdowns — there was a 2.7% increase in opioid-related deaths. Where fentanyl was available, that percentage rose to 11.3%. The study “contributes to debates in the social sciences concerning the negative consequences of free trade,” the authors note, adding:
“Scholars have long focused on the positive effect of international trade on the overall economy, while also noting that it causes layoffs and bankruptcy for some groups.
Recent influential work by Autor, Dorn, and Hanson demonstrates that these negative impacts of trade are actually highly localized, with layoffs, unemployment, and lower wages concentrated in specific labor markets.
This study furthers our understanding of the local consequences of international trade by looking beyond wages and employment levels to the potential impact on opioid-related overdose death.”
Opioid Makers Have Had a Direct Impact
The National Bureau of Economic Research has also contributed to the discussion with the working paper12 “Origins of the Opioid Crisis and Its Enduring Impacts,” issued November 2019.
In it, they highlight “the role of the 1996 introduction and marketing of OxyContin as a potential leading cause of the opioid crisis,” showing that in states where triplicate prescription programs were implemented, OxyContin distribution rates were half that of states that did not have such programs.
“Triplicate prescription programs” refers to a drug-monitoring program requiring doctors to use a special prescription pad whenever they prescribed controlled substances. One of the copies of each prescription written had to be submitted to a state monitoring agency.
Since it involved additional work, many doctors avoided prescribing drugs requiring the use of triplicates, and as a consequence, Purdue (the maker of OxyContin), did not market its opioid as aggressively in those states.
The fact that triplicate prescription states had lower rates of lethal overdoses led the authors to conclude “that the introduction and marketing of OxyContin explain a substantial share of overdose deaths over the last two decades.”
According to this paper, death rates from opioid overdoses could have been reduced by 44% between 1996 and 2017 had triplicate prescriptions been implemented in nontriplicate states.
Importantly, the relationship between triplicate prescription programs and opioid overdose deaths held true even when economic conditions were taken into account, which shows that poverty alone did not contribute to the opioid crisis — aggressive marketing to doctors and the ease with which patients could get the drugs were an inescapable part of the problem.
Pain as a Source of Addiction
Naturally, physical pain is also a driving force behind the opioid epidemic, especially the inappropriate treatment of back pain with opioids and dentists’ habit of prescribing narcotics after wisdom tooth extractions.13,14
(While American family doctors prescribe an estimated 15% of all immediate-release opioids — the type most likely to be abused — dentists are not far behind, being responsible for 12% of prescriptions, according to a 2011 paper15 in the Journal of the American Dental Association.)
Statistics16 suggest 8 in 10 American adults will be affected by back pain at some point in their life, and low-back pain is one of the most common reasons for an opioid prescription.17 This despite the fact that there’s no evidence supporting their use for this kind of pain. On the contrary, non-opioid treatment for back pain has been shown to be more effective.18
Research19 published in 2018 found opioids (including morphine, Vicodin, oxycodone and fentanyl) fail to control moderate to severe pain any better than over-the-counter (OTC) drugs such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen, yet most insurance companies still favor opioids when it comes to reimbursement, which makes them culpable for sustaining the opioid crisis, even as doctors and patients try to navigate away from them.
As noted by Dave Chase, author of “The Opioid Crisis Wake-Up Call: Health Care Is Stealing the American Dream. Here’s How to Take It Back,” in an article for Stat:20
“Our entire health care system is built on a vast web of incentives that push patients down the wrong paths. And in most cases it’s the entities that manage the money — insurance carriers — that benefit from doing so …
An estimated 700,000 people are likely to die from opioid overdoses between 2015 and 2025,21 making it absolutely essential to understand the connections between insurance carriers, health plans, employers, the public, and the opioid crisis.
We will never get out of this mess unless we stop addiction before it starts … the opioid crisis isn’t an anomaly. It’s a side effect of our health care system.”
According to the American College of Physicians’ guidelines,22 heat, massage, acupuncture or chiropractic adjustments should be used as first-line treatments for back pain. Other key treatments for back pain include exercise, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, mindfulness-based stress reduction, tai chi, yoga, relaxation, biofeedback, low-level laser therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
When drugs are desired, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or muscle relaxants should be used. Opioids “should only be considered if other treatments are unsuccessful and when the potential benefits outweigh the risks for an individual patient,” according to the American College of Physicians’ guideline.23
Struggling With Opioid Addiction? Please Seek Help
It’s vitally important to realize that opioids are extremely addictive drugs that are not meant for long-term use for nonfatal conditions. Chemically, opioids are similar to heroin, so if you wouldn’t consider using heroin for a toothache or backache, seriously reconsider taking an opioid to relieve these types of pain.
If you’ve been on an opioid for more than two months, or if you find yourself taking a higher dosage, or taking the drug more often, you may already be addicted. Resources where you can find help include the following. You can also learn more in “How to Wean Off Opioids.”
Your workplace Employee Assistance Program
The Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration 24 can be contacted 24 hours a day at 1-800-622-HELP
Nondrug Pain Relief
The good news is that many types of pain can be treated entirely without drugs. Recommendations by Harvard Medical School25,26 and the British National Health Service27 include the following. You can find more detailed information about most of these techniques in “13 Mind-Body Techniques That Can Help Ease Pain and Depression.”
In “Billionaire Opioid Executive Stands to Make Millions More on Patent for Addiction Treatment,” I discuss several additional approaches — including helpful supplements and dietary changes — that can be used separately or in combination with the strategies listed above to control both acute and chronic pain.
Sources and References
The Best of Dr. Joseph Mercola