lewrockwell--2020-01-24--20 Million People Quarantined in China for Wuhan Coronavirus: What To Do Right Now

Yesterday we reported on everything we knew about the Wuhan Coronavirus , an outbreak in China that has reached Saudi Arabia , Singapore , Vietnam , the US , South Korea , Taiwan , Japan , and Thailand with confirmed cases .
This morning , we woke up to the news that China has quarantined three major cities with a combined population of more than 20 million people .
That seems rather excessive ( not to mention expensive and panic-inducing ) for a virus with a proclaimed 2 % death rate .
The Guardian reports : Authorities banned transport links @ @ @ @ @ @ @ province , on Thursday , as well as the nearby central Chinese cities of Huanggang and Ezhou , suspending buses , subways , ferries and shutting the airport and train stations to outgoing passengers .
Meanwhile the state-run Beijing News said the capital had cancelled events including two well-known lunar new year temple fairs .
Separately , the country ’ s railway operator , China State Railway Group , said passengers would be able to receive full refunds on tickets nationwide starting on Friday .
( source ) Chinese authorities still report only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition , and 17 deaths from the virus .
Be Ready for Anything : ... Daisy Luther Best Price : $ 10.45 Buy New $ 9.69 The move to quarantine Wuhan , Huanggang , and Ezhou has caused panic as residents of the cities rush to purchase food and other goods before supplies run out .
In Wuhan , supermarket shelves were empty and local markets sold out of produce as residents hoarded supplies and isolated themselves at home .
Petrol stations were overwhelmed as drivers stocked up on fuel , exacerbated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Local residents said pharmacies had sold out of face masks .
“ When I saw the news when I woke up , I felt like I was going to go crazy .
This is a little too late now .
The government ’ s measures are not enough , ” said Xiao , 26 , a primary schoolteacher in Wuhan , who asked not to give her full name .
Few pedestrians were out and families cancelled plans to get together for the new year holiday .
Special police forces were seen patrolling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers are now required to wear face masks while in public spaces .
Most outbound flights from the city ’ s Tianhe airport were cancelled .
( source ) Due to the nobody-in-nobody-out nature of the quarantine , it is unknown whether supplies will be replenished .
This certainly shows how quickly things can change .
Within a span of 24 hours , the people in these regions went from a warning about a virus to a near-SHTF scenario .
Those who weren ’ t already prepped have little chance of getting well-stocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escape the quarantine .
The Washington Post reports that censorship of information has been evident .
“ At present , there is an obvious increase in the number of patients with fever in the city , and it is true that there are long queues and a shortage of beds in fever clinics , ” the commission said .
A post from Wuhan Railway saying that 300,000 people traveled by train out of Wuhan on Wednesday , headed to every corner of the country , was also quickly deleted .
( source ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine may not have been instituted quickly enough to stop the spread of the virus .
Many people fled the cities , while others remain trapped and angry .
Neighboring Huanggang said it would join Wuhan ’ s quarantine from midnight on Thursday , shutting down transport networks and telling people they should not leave the city without special reason .
Nearby Ezhou announced it would close its railway stations “ to efficiently cut off channels for spreading the virus.
” …In Wuhan , a city with about 3 million more people than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the sudden announcement of the travel restrictions on Thursday .
“ I didn ’ t even receive a notice , ” said one woman who found herself stranded at Hankou Station .
She had been on her way from Henan province southwest to Sichuan and was changing trains in Wuhan when she got caught up in the suspension .
She said indignantly that she would go back to Henan .
But when a reporter asked how , she conceded that she did not know .
Others interpreted the fact that the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. as a sign that the outbreak was more serious than they were letting on .
“ The notice shouldn ’ t come out so late , when everyone ’ s asleep , ” said Jeffrey Yang , a 27-year-old Wuhan local working in the financial industry .
“ It makes people panic and feel like they ’ ve missed the opportunity to change their fate.
” …Some people resorted to extreme measures to escape the travel ban .
One man who could not get a taxi to the station to catch an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give him a lift on his scooter .
The desperate traveler paid $ 72 to have the delivery man , who would usually make less than half that in a day , drop him at the station .
“ We were flying , ” he said .
( source ) Imagine being a traveler and suddenly being stranded in a city that is quarantined due to a mysterious virus .
Precautions in the US Travelers from the Wuhan region are being routed for extra screening to Wuhan are being routed to five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Hare , JFK , Atlanta , Los Angeles , and San Francisco .
The following steps are being taken by the CDC .
The Prepperu2019s Wate ... Daisy Luther Best Price : $ 7.49 Buy New $ 9.94 Those who wish to be prepared should note the speed at which quarantines were put in place in China .
Don ’ t delay placing orders for supplies , fueling up your vehicle , and adding last-minute preps to your stockpile .
You may already have many of the supplies you need , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before panic-buying .
However , if you discover you do need supplies , get them now .
If you wait until a quarantine is announced , you ’ ve waited too long and you ’ ll be out there fighting for resources with everyone else in your area .
• Read this article for more information about pandemic preparedness .
Order any personal protection supplies you need .
• Download this book from Kindle .
It ’ s truly the best of its kind – don ’ t let the fact that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purchasing it .
• Read this article about Ebola to understand how pandemics spread .
• Stock up on food .
Here ’ s how to purchase it from the grocery store and here are the emergency buckets we recommend .
Whatever your plan is , don ’ t delay taking action .
Otherwise , you might find yourself in the same situation as 20 million Chinese people who were suddenly quarantined .
Reprinted with permission from The Organic Prepper .
The Best of Daisy Luther

Yesterday we reported on everything we knew about the Wuhan Coronavirus, an outbreak in China that has reached Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Vietnam, the US, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand with confirmed cases.
This morning, we woke up to the news that China has quarantined three major cities with a combined population of more than 20 million people. That seems rather excessive (not to mention expensive and panic-inducing) for a virus with a proclaimed 2% death rate. The Guardian reports:
Authorities banned transport links from Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, on Thursday, as well as the nearby central Chinese cities of Huanggang and Ezhou, suspending buses, subways, ferries and shutting the airport and train stations to outgoing passengers. Meanwhile the state-run Beijing News said the capital had cancelled events including two well-known lunar new year temple fairs. Separately, the country’s railway operator, China State Railway Group, said passengers would be able to receive full refunds on tickets nationwide starting on Friday. (source)
Chinese authorities still report only 633 cases, 95 patients in critical condition, and 17 deaths from the virus. Be Ready for Anything:... Daisy Luther Best Price: $10.45 Buy New $9.69 (as of 07:15 UTC - Details)
Panic rises across China
The move to quarantine Wuhan, Huanggang, and Ezhou has caused panic as residents of the cities rush to purchase food and other goods before supplies run out.
In Wuhan, supermarket shelves were empty and local markets sold out of produce as residents hoarded supplies and isolated themselves at home. Petrol stations were overwhelmed as drivers stocked up on fuel, exacerbated by rumours that reserves had run out. Local residents said pharmacies had sold out of face masks. “When I saw the news when I woke up, I felt like I was going to go crazy. This is a little too late now. The government’s measures are not enough,” said Xiao, 26, a primary schoolteacher in Wuhan, who asked not to give her full name. Few pedestrians were out and families cancelled plans to get together for the new year holiday. Special police forces were seen patrolling railway stations. Residents and all government workers are now required to wear face masks while in public spaces. Most outbound flights from the city’s Tianhe airport were cancelled. (source)
Due to the nobody-in-nobody-out nature of the quarantine, it is unknown whether supplies will be replenished.
This certainly shows how quickly things can change. Within a span of 24 hours, the people in these regions went from a warning about a virus to a near-SHTF scenario. Those who weren’t already prepped have little chance of getting well-stocked now.
People fled to try and escape the quarantine.
The Washington Post reports that censorship of information has been evident.
In a post that was online for less than an hour, the Wuhan Health Commission admitted Thursday that it was struggling under the strain of the outbreak.
“At present, there is an obvious increase in the number of patients with fever in the city, and it is true that there are long queues and a shortage of beds in fever clinics,” the commission said. A post from Wuhan Railway saying that 300,000 people traveled by train out of Wuhan on Wednesday, headed to every corner of the country, was also quickly deleted. (source)
According to the same report, the quarantine may not have been instituted quickly enough to stop the spread of the virus. Many people fled the cities, while others remain trapped and angry.
The central Chinese city of Wuhan pulsated with fear and anger Thursday, as 11 million people awoke to news that they were being confined to a metropolis-sized quarantine zone designed to contain a widening coronavirus outbreak. Many people flocked to the roads to try to avoid getting caught in the quarantine. Television footage showed health workers in hazmat suits taking motorists’ temperatures as they waited at toll booths.
Others did not make it out. Hubei’s highway management authority closed multiple expressways in and around Wuhan, and Wuhan traffic police confirmed that while vehicles were allowed to come into the city, they were prohibited from going out except in special cases.
Neighboring Huanggang said it would join Wuhan’s quarantine from midnight on Thursday, shutting down transport networks and telling people they should not leave the city without special reason. Nearby Ezhou announced it would close its railway stations “to efficiently cut off channels for spreading the virus.” …In Wuhan, a city with about 3 million more people than New York, many residents were incensed at the sudden announcement of the travel restrictions on Thursday.
“I didn’t even receive a notice,” said one woman who found herself stranded at Hankou Station. She had been on her way from Henan province southwest to Sichuan and was changing trains in Wuhan when she got caught up in the suspension. She said indignantly that she would go back to Henan. But when a reporter asked how, she conceded that she did not know. Others interpreted the fact that the health authorities announced the travel ban at 2:30 a.m. as a sign that the outbreak was more serious than they were letting on.
“The notice shouldn’t come out so late, when everyone’s asleep,” said Jeffrey Yang, a 27-year-old Wuhan local working in the financial industry. “It makes people panic and feel like they’ve missed the opportunity to change their fate.” …Some people resorted to extreme measures to escape the travel ban. One man who could not get a taxi to the station to catch an earlier train persuaded a food delivery driver to give him a lift on his scooter. The desperate traveler paid $72 to have the delivery man, who would usually make less than half that in a day, drop him at the station. “We were flying,” he said. (source)
Imagine being a traveler and suddenly being stranded in a city that is quarantined due to a mysterious virus.
Precautions in the US
Travelers from the Wuhan region are being routed for extra screening to Wuhan are being routed to five airports for screening: Chicago’s O’Hare, JFK, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The following steps are being taken by the CDC.
CDC established a 2019-nCoV Incident Management Structure on January 7, 2020. On January 21, 2020, CDC activated its Emergency Response System to better provide ongoing support to the 2019-nCoV response.
On January 21, 2020, CDC again updated its interim travel health notice for this destination to provide information to people who may be traveling to Wuhan City and who may get sick. The travel notice was raised from Level 1; Practice Usual Precautions, to a Level 2: Practice Enhanced Precautions advising travelers that preliminary information suggests that older adults with underlying health conditions may be at increased risk for severe disease.
CDC began entry screening of passengers on direct and connecting flights from Wuhan, China to the three main ports of entry in the United States on January 17, 2020. Entry screening will be expanded to airports in Atlanta and Chicago in the coming days.
CDC issued an updated interim Health Alert Notice (HAN) Advisory to inform state and local health departments and health care providers about this outbreak on January 17, 2020.
A CDC team has been deployed to support the ongoing investigation in the state of Washington in response to the first reported case of 2019-nCoV in the United States, including potentially tracing close contacts to determine if anyone else has become ill.
CDC has developed a real time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) test that can diagnose 2019-nCoV. Currently, testing for this virus must take place at CDC, but in the coming days and weeks, CDC will share these tests with domestic and international partners through the agency’s International Reagent Resource. (source)
Preparing for quarantine
The Prepperu2019s Wate... Daisy Luther Best Price: $7.49 Buy New $9.94 (as of 06:00 UTC - Details) Those who wish to be prepared should note the speed at which quarantines were put in place in China. Don’t delay placing orders for supplies, fueling up your vehicle, and adding last-minute preps to your stockpile. You may already have many of the supplies you need, so be sure to do an inventory before panic-buying.
However, if you discover you do need supplies, get them now. If you wait until a quarantine is announced, you’ve waited too long and you’ll be out there fighting for resources with everyone else in your area.
Whatever your plan is, don’t delay taking action. Otherwise, you might find yourself in the same situation as 20 million Chinese people who were suddenly quarantined.
Reprinted with permission from The Organic Prepper.
The Best of Daisy Luther


lewrockwell--2020-01-24--More Studies Show Fluoride Affects the Brain and Disrupts Sleep

While water fluoridation was never adopted or has been eliminated in many areas around the world , including most of western Europe,1 many U.S. water systems2 still add fluoride chemicals such as fluorosilicic acid3 ( also known as hydrofluorosilicic acid ) to their municipal water supplies .
As detailed in Christopher Bryson ’ s book , “ The Fluoride Deception , ” 4 water fluoridation as a public health measure ( ostensibly to improve dental health ) was invented by brilliant schemers who needed a way to get rid of toxic industrial waste .
They duped politicians with fraudulent science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ public health ” idea in which humans are essentially used to filter this poison through their bodies , while the vast majority simply goes down the drain .
Since the inception of water fluoridation in 1945 , fluorosilicic acid suppliers have been making hundreds of millions of dollars each year5 selling a hazardous industrial waste for use as a water additive rather than having to pay for toxic waste disposal .
The Fluoride Deception Christopher Bryson Best Price : $ 4.91 Buy New $ 15.99 “ Toxic Treatment : Fluoride ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Miracle ” in the March 2018 issue of Origins,6 a joint publication by the history departments at The Ohio State University and Miami University , notes : We now know fluoride — which serves no essential biological function7 — actually acts as an endocrine disruptor.8 Exposure has been linked to thyroid disease,9 which in turn can contribute to obesity , heart disease , depression and other health problems .
More disturbingly , fluoride has been identified as a developmental neurotoxin that impacts short-term and working memory , and contributes to rising rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in children.11 In all , there are more than 400 animal and human studies showing fluoride is a neurotoxic substance.12 Many of these studies have found harm at , or precariously close to , the levels millions of American pregnant women and children receive .
One of the most recent studies highlighting these dangers was a U.S. and Canadian government-funded observational study published in the August 19 , 2019 , issue of JAMA Pediatrics,13 which found that drinking fluoridated water during pregnancy lowers children ’ s IQ .
The research , led by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University in Ontario , looked at 512 mother-child pairs living in six Canadian cities .
Fluoride levels were measured through urine samples collected during pregnancy .
They also estimated the women ’ s fluoride consumption based on the level of fluoride in the local water supply and how much water and tea each woman drank .
The children ’ s IQ scores were then assessed between the ages of 3 and 4 .
As reported by Fluoride Action Network ( FAN ) :14 The findings were deemed so controversial , the study had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publication , making it one of the more important fluoride studies to date .
Its import is also demonstrated by the fact that it ’ s accompanied by an editor ’ s note15 explaining the journal ’ s decision to publish the study , and a podcast16 featuring the chief editors of JAMA Pediatrics and JAMA Network Open , in which they discuss the study .
An additional editorial17 by David Bellinger , Ph.D. , a world-renowned neurotoxicity expert , also points out that “ The hypothesis that fluoride is a neurodevelopmental toxicant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Few studies ever receive all of this added treatment .
In October 2019 , a Canadian study18 concluded that infants fed baby formula made with fluoridated water have lower IQs than those fed formula made with unfluoridated water .
As explained by the authors : Results revealed an increase of 0.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter ( mg/L ) , which was the difference between the fluoridated and non-fluoridated regions , corresponded with a 4.4 point lower IQ score at age 3 to 4 .
Not surprisingly , the researchers urge parents to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Other recent fluoride research has discovered it can have an adverse impact on sleep .
The study,19,20 published in the Environmental Health journal in 2019 , found that chronic low-level fluoride exposure altered the sleep patterns of adolescents aged 16 to 19 .
The hypothesis used to explain this effect is that fluoride is known to preferentially accumulate in the pineal gland , which might inhibit or alter the production of melatonin , the hormone that regulates sleep and wakefulness .
The study used data from the 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plasma fluoride and water fluoride measurements .
None of the included individuals were prescribed medication for sleep disorders .
Each 0.52 mg/L increase in water fluoride was associated with a 197 % higher odds21 of symptoms suggestive of sleep apnea , as well as a 24-minute later bedtime and 26-minute later waking time .
According to the authors:22 Amazon.com Gift Card i ... Buy New $ 10.00 Water is the only beverage you can not live without .
Unfortunately , pure water is hard to come by these days , as water pollution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fluoride render most municipal water supplies untrustworthy .
To ensure purity , you really need to filter your own tap water .
For guidance on selecting a suitable water filtration system for your home or apartment , see “ How to Properly Filter Your Water.
” Water filtration is particularly important if your water is fluoridated and you are combating chronic disease ( especially thyroid disease ) , have young children or are using your tap water to reconstitute infant formula .
Keep in mind that fluoride is very difficult to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When shopping for a filtration system , make sure it ’ s specifically rated to filter out fluoride .
According to the Water Quality Association23 and others,24 filters capable of removing fluoride include reverse osmosis , deionizers and activated alumina adsorption media such as Berkey filters .
Distillation , while not a form of filtration , will also remove fluoride .
Carbon filters such as PUR and Brita will not filter out fluoride , and neither will water softeners .
The Best of Joseph Mercola

While water fluoridation was never adopted or has been eliminated in many areas around the world, including most of western Europe,1 many U.S. water systems2 still add fluoride chemicals such as fluorosilicic acid3 (also known as hydrofluorosilicic acid) to their municipal water supplies.
As detailed in Christopher Bryson’s book, “The Fluoride Deception,”4 water fluoridation as a public health measure (ostensibly to improve dental health) was invented by brilliant schemers who needed a way to get rid of toxic industrial waste.
They duped politicians with fraudulent science and endorsements, and sold them on a “public health” idea in which humans are essentially used to filter this poison through their bodies, while the vast majority simply goes down the drain.
Since the inception of water fluoridation in 1945, fluorosilicic acid suppliers have been making hundreds of millions of dollars each year5 selling a hazardous industrial waste for use as a water additive rather than having to pay for toxic waste disposal. The Fluoride Deception Bryson, Christopher Best Price: $5.99 Buy New $16.35 (as of 03:45 UTC - Details)
“Toxic Treatment: Fluoride’s Transformation from Industrial Waste to Public Health Miracle” in the March 2018 issue of Origins,6 a joint publication by the history departments at The Ohio State University and Miami University, notes:
“Without the phosphate industry’s effluent, water fluoridation would be prohibitively expensive. And without fluoridation, the phosphate industry would be stuck with an expensive waste disposal problem.”
Fluoride Is a Neurotoxic Endocrine Disruptor
We now know fluoride — which serves no essential biological function7 — actually acts as an endocrine disruptor.8 Exposure has been linked to thyroid disease,9 which in turn can contribute to obesity, heart disease, depression and other health problems.
More disturbingly, fluoride has been identified as a developmental neurotoxin that impacts short-term and working memory, and contributes to rising rates of attention-deficit hyperactive disorder10 and lowered IQ in children.11
In all, there are more than 400 animal and human studies showing fluoride is a neurotoxic substance.12 Many of these studies have found harm at, or precariously close to, the levels millions of American pregnant women and children receive.
Government-Funded Research Confirms Fluoride Lowers IQ
One of the most recent studies highlighting these dangers was a U.S. and Canadian government-funded observational study published in the August 19, 2019, issue of JAMA Pediatrics,13 which found that drinking fluoridated water during pregnancy lowers children’s IQ.
The research, led by a Canadian team of researchers at York University in Ontario, looked at 512 mother-child pairs living in six Canadian cities. Fluoride levels were measured through urine samples collected during pregnancy.
They also estimated the women’s fluoride consumption based on the level of fluoride in the local water supply and how much water and tea each woman drank. The children’s IQ scores were then assessed between the ages of 3 and 4. As reported by Fluoride Action Network (FAN):14
“They found that a 1 mg per liter increase in concentration of fluoride in mothers’ urine was associated with a 4.5-point decrease in IQ among boys, though not girls.
When the researchers measured fluoride exposure by examining the women’s fluid intake, they found lower IQ’s in both boys and girls: A 1 mg increase per day was associated with a 3.7 point IQ deficit in both genders.”
The findings were deemed so controversial, the study had to undergo additional peer-review and scrutiny before publication, making it one of the more important fluoride studies to date.
Its import is also demonstrated by the fact that it’s accompanied by an editor’s note15 explaining the journal’s decision to publish the study, and a podcast16 featuring the chief editors of JAMA Pediatrics and JAMA Network Open, in which they discuss the study.
An additional editorial17 by David Bellinger, Ph.D., a world-renowned neurotoxicity expert, also points out that “The hypothesis that fluoride is a neurodevelopmental toxicant must now be given serious consideration.” Few studies ever receive all of this added treatment.
Fluoride Exposure From Infant Formula Lowers IQ
In October 2019, a Canadian study18 concluded that infants fed baby formula made with fluoridated water have lower IQs than those fed formula made with unfluoridated water. As explained by the authors:
“Consumption of infant formula reconstituted with fluoridated water can lead to excessive intake of fluoride in infants. We examined the association between water fluoride concentration and intellectual ability (IQ) among preschool children who lived in fluoridated or non-fluoridated cities in Canada and were either formula-fed or breastfed during the first six months after birth.”
Results revealed an increase of 0.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter (mg/L), which was the difference between the fluoridated and non-fluoridated regions, corresponded with a 4.4 point lower IQ score at age 3 to 4.
Not surprisingly, the researchers urge parents to avoid fluoridated water when reconstituting infant formula.
Fluoride Exposure Affects Sleep Patterns
Other recent fluoride research has discovered it can have an adverse impact on sleep. The study,19,20 published in the Environmental Health journal in 2019, found that chronic low-level fluoride exposure altered the sleep patterns of adolescents aged 16 to 19.
The hypothesis used to explain this effect is that fluoride is known to preferentially accumulate in the pineal gland, which might inhibit or alter the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep and wakefulness.
The study used data from the 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) that included plasma fluoride and water fluoride measurements. None of the included individuals were prescribed medication for sleep disorders.
Each 0.52 mg/L increase in water fluoride was associated with a 197% higher odds21 of symptoms suggestive of sleep apnea, as well as a 24-minute later bedtime and 26-minute later waking time. According to the authors:22
“Fluoride exposure may contribute to changes in sleep cycle regulation and sleep behaviors among older adolescents in the U.S. …
The high accumulation of fluoride in pineal gland hydroxyapatite (among those chronically exposed) points to a plausible mechanism by which fluoride may influence sleep patterns. In adults, pineal gland fluoride concentrations have been shown to strongly correlate with degree of pineal gland calcification.
Interestingly, greater degree of pineal calcification among older adolescents and/or adults is associated with decreased melatonin production, lower REM sleep percentage, decreased total sleep time, poorer sleep efficiency, greater sleep disturbances and greater daytime tiredness.
While there are no existing human studies on fluoride exposure and melatonin production or sleep behaviors, findings from a doctoral dissertation demonstrated that gerbils fed a high fluoride diet had lower nighttime melatonin production than those fed a low fluoride diet. Moreover, their melatonin production was lower than normal for their developmental stage …
It is possible that excess fluoride exposure may contribute to increased pineal gland calcification and subsequent decreases in nighttime melatonin production that contribute to sleep disturbances. Additional animal and prospective human studies are needed to explore this hypothesis.”
Purify Your Water and Avoid Fluoride
Amazon.com Gift Card i... Buy New $10.00 (as of 08:25 UTC - Details) Water is the only beverage you cannot live without. Unfortunately, pure water is hard to come by these days, as water pollution, inadequate water treatment and the addition of fluoride render most municipal water supplies untrustworthy.
To ensure purity, you really need to filter your own tap water. For guidance on selecting a suitable water filtration system for your home or apartment, see “How to Properly Filter Your Water.”
Water filtration is particularly important if your water is fluoridated and you are combating chronic disease (especially thyroid disease), have young children or are using your tap water to reconstitute infant formula.
Keep in mind that fluoride is very difficult to get out of the water once added. When shopping for a filtration system, make sure it’s specifically rated to filter out fluoride.
According to the Water Quality Association23 and others,24 filters capable of removing fluoride include reverse osmosis, deionizers and activated alumina adsorption media such as Berkey filters. Distillation, while not a form of filtration, will also remove fluoride. Carbon filters such as PUR and Brita will not filter out fluoride, and neither will water softeners.
Sources and References
The Best of Dr. Joseph Mercola


lewrockwell--2020-01-25--Your Chance of Dying From the Menacing Coronavirus That Now Threatens Global Human Populations Is 0.

Your Chance of Dying From the Menacing Coronavirus That Now Threatens Global Human Populations Is 0.0000001137%

My email box fills with questions : what about the coronavirus epidemic ?
Is death on its way from Asia to the West ?
There is no vaccine for this viral scourge .
Will our infants who have no antibodies against this virus die ?
Will vulnerable and frail senior adults be whisked off in ambulances to hospital intensive care units , never to return home as they drown from fluid in their lungs ( pneumonia ) ?
But coronavirus it is just a common cold virus .
Yep , the coronavirus is just a common virus that infects your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produces the same symptoms as a cold .
But the fear that is being spread by public health authorities and the news media would make one think the earth is in the middle of a historic human pandemic .
The Coronavirus that is menacing human populations around the globe right now is an RNA virus that is “ enveloped ” so it resists eradication by one ’ s own immune system .
In a very few subjects who are immune compromised , such as patients taking drugs for autoimmune disorders ( Cyclosporine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or youngsters who have undeveloped immunity , or others who are old and have weak immune systems due malnutrition , they may develop pneumonia ( drown in their own pus and fluid in their lungs ) and be hospitalized , placed on a respirator , or die .
Swanson Advanced Zinc ... Buy New $ 8.04 Just in case you are worried , out of a population of 7+ billion people on Earth , your chance of developing symptoms from this corona-shaped cold virus is ~1 in millions and for death ~1 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dramatically increases with advancing age and among malnourished populations such as in Asia where deficiencies of essential nutrients , namely zinc and vitamins C and D , are often prevalent .
Modern medicine casts a blind eye at nutrition .
But regardless of what you have just read here that minimalizes the risk , health officials are beating the Coronavirus drum , with mass contagion predicted and an expert predicting this outbreak could be ten times worse than the 2003 epidemic that left 813 dead .
That may only be true in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people like China .
The estimate that the Coronavirus will grow to 10,000 cases in the Chinese city of Wuhan ( 11 million population ) is still a very low risk — 1/100th of one-percent .
Public health officials are pulling off another of their ruses , wearing hazmat suits , quarantining whole cities , swabbing throats of airplane passengers who land in foreign countries after visiting the Coronavirus epicenter , Wuhan , China .
Public fear is created .
At this point , no one knows whether the death rate is higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And just so you know , there is no proven treatment or vaccine to prevent or abolish coronavirus infections .
Standard treatment to allay symptoms is comprised of steroids to reduce inflammation , judicious use of antibiotics and ( largely ineffective ) antiviral drugs like interferon or ribavirin .
Steroids reduce inflammation but deplete vitamin C. This makes it difficult to wean off cortisone .
Self-treated patients may opt for over-the-counter medicines that contain vitamin C-depleting medications such as aspirin and acetaminophen/Tylenol ( a prominent ingredient in Nyquil ) that depletes glutathione , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ C. Smokers further deplete vitamin C. Individuals on diuretics ( water pills ) for high blood pressure wash out their vitamin C faster .
Unwittingly , under these circumstances , viral infection could get worse , not better .
Based upon symptoms , public health authorities tend to overestimate the percentage of ill patients that actually have laboratory-confirmed coronavirus .
In one study , among 1460 cases of unexplained respiratory illnesses reported to the Centers For Disease Control , only 2 % were laboratory confirmed coronavirus .
In the often-cited 2003 SARS coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were attributed to air travel to the U.S. from Asia and “ there was no evidence of community transmission.
” Even in Hong Kong , in the 2003-2004 SARS coronavirus outbreak , only 3.4 % of patients died and all were over age 65 .
So , age is the mortal factor , not infection itself .
The Biotech industry prays for these infectious disease outbreaks to free-up public funds to develop drugs and vaccines .
Otherwise the drug/vaccine makers have to bear the research and development burden on their own .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wear a mask , wash your hands , is silly .
That is because the lack of hygiene is not why cold and flu viruses plague the planet in winter months .
It is just that winter months are when the human immune system crashes .
The disease is lack of internal defense , not external exposure and transmission .
The primary reason for this is plunging vitamin D levels from lack of sunlight as the earth tilts away from the sun in the winter solstice .
Sunshine vitamin D activates rapid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neutrophils that literally blow up viral-infected cells .
While fearmongers warn the coronavirus may mutate and spread faster , and news agencies lament the stock market is crashing while spreading fear to attract readers and viewers .
The 2019 coronavirus IS a new mutation .
But some mutations actually reduce its virulence .
The irresponsibility of news reports not to inform the public that any fast-mutating coronavirus would be self-limiting and rapidly “ peter out ” into a less virulent form .
During coronavirus infection , inflammation , particularly in the lungs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NF-kappa B. Coronaviruses activate NF-kappa-B which is the key signaling molecule that provokes the inflammation that ends up filling the lungs with fluid .
Any agent that targets and inhibits NF-kappa-B is a candidate for quelling coronaviruses .
While it is said there are no proven cures to battle coronavirus , and pharmaceutical companies attempt to develop patentable NF-kappa-B inhibitors , there are 785 natural NF-kappa-B inhibitors that have already been identified that include vitamins D , C & E , alpha lipoic acid , NAC ( sulfur ) , resveratrol , quercetin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , among many others , all commercially available at health shops .
There are two immune responses in humans : the rapid innate immunity and latent adaptive immunity .
The innate immune response is considered the “ key regulator in the virulence of coronavirus infections.
” The earliest arriving white blood cells at the site of infection are neutrophils and are part of the innate immune system .
Neutrophils comprise ~60 % of the white blood cells in circulation .
Vitamin D is the governor of innate immunity .
The protective benefits of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its ability to stimulate innate immunity and reduce inflammation.
” Vitamin D suppresses NF-kappa B signaling , dampens excessive inflammation while enhancing killing of viruses by neutrophils Senior adults have been found to have 2.6 times greater risk for pneumonia between highest and lowest blood levels of vitamin D. Particularly in winter months , or among people who don ’ t get much sunshine that produces natural vitamin D , children and adults need far more vitamin D than is recommended .
Due to a miscalculation , the need for supplemental vitamin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ units/day ; infants 1000 units ; children over age 1 year , 3000 units/day .
The Daily Value published on the back of bottles of vitamin D is 400-800 units , which doesn ’ t even raise blood levels .
This locks in a certain amount of otherwise preventable disease in the population at large .
This is akin to allowing some pyromaniac to start fires just to show off how fast fire departments respond .
In sunshine equivalents , 400-800 units of vitamin D = ~5 minutes of midday sun/skin exposure ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sun/skin exposure .
If you are not getting 30-60 minutes of midday sunshine , you do not have optimal blood levels of vitamin D. Around 42 % of the adult U.S. population has low blood levels of vitamin D. That figure rises in northern latitudes to almost everybody in winter months .
The liver stores about 3 months of this fat-soluble vitamin , so doctors inject up to 300,000 units for wintertime protection in vulnerable D-deficient subjects .
Forget blood tests , presume you are D-deficient in winter .
Don ’ t wait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50,000 units of vitamin D on the first hint of cold or flu symptoms for a day or two .
Otherwise you will endure ~7-8 days of misery until your adaptive immune system kicks in and produces B in bone marrow and T cells the thymus gland to produce tailor-made antibodies against the particular strain of coronavirus in circulation How to handle an over-responsive immune system One of the problems with the human immune system is that it over-responds .
Over-aggressive arrival of neutrophils can induce deadly inflammation in the lungs .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t over-respond to produce inflammation themselves that then results in your lungs filling up with fluid , vitamin D and the red wine molecule resveratrol normalize the immune response .
Resveratrol by itself is a potent anti-viral agent against coronavirus .
In a lab dish , resveratrol “ completely blocked viral replication even at a low concentration.
” With advancing age humans are increasingly susceptible to viral infection .
A Harvard Medical School Health Bulletin says : “ No one knows for sure why this happens , but some scientists observe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age ) correlates with a decrease in T cells , possibly from the thymus atrophying ( shrinking ) with age and producing fewer T cells to fight off infection.
” Don ’ t believe this .
T-cells are produced in the thymus gland , located under your breastplate bone .
Freshly-made T cells in the thymus will generate tailor-made antibodies against the particular strain of virus you are exposed to .
This age-related susceptibility to infection is associated with a significant reduction in the magnitude of the viral T-cell response .
T cells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to clear viruses and protect against lethal infection .
T-cells produce life-long immunity .
Dr. Cannellu2019s Adva ... Buy New $ 34.95 The thymus gland shrinks from the size of a walnut in youth to the size of a pea in old age .
This is largely due to lack of intake or poor absorption of the trace mineral zinc .
Zinc inhibits growth and replication of RNA viruses like coronaviruses .
The only food that contains an abundant amount of zinc is oysters .
Sufficient zinc intake is only achievable from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Very young children are often picky eaters .
Zinc deficiency is rampant among young children throughout the world .
For example , studies showed 70 % of children under age 5 in Vietnam were zinc deficient and 49 % in Colombia .
Zinc lozenges that provide 18 milligrams or more of zinc gluconate or acetate ( zinc acetate is the best , and don ’ t swallow them ) can rapidly quell a common-cold virus like the coronavirus .
Orally-ingested tablets , liquid and syrups are less effective .
Be watchful , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough zinc .
Zinc lozenges shorten common colds by 6-7 days .
Don ’ t be duped by all the fear-evoking news reports .
Turn off the television .
You would never imagine public health authorities plan these epidemics .
The current planned epidemic eerily follows the script of the 2011 movie CONTAGION , which shows the virus originating with a bat in China .
Just like the human immune system can over-respond to infection , the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control over-react to the imagined pandemic .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antidote .
Be wary of what you read in news reports .
An uninformed populace is blind .
Remember , in the land of the blind , the one-eyed man is king .

My email box fills with questions: what about the coronavirus epidemic? Is death on its way from Asia to the West? There is no vaccine for this viral scourge. Will our infants who have no antibodies against this virus die? Will vulnerable and frail senior adults be whisked off in ambulances to hospital intensive care units, never to return home as they drown from fluid in their lungs (pneumonia)?
But coronavirus it is just a common cold virus.
Yep, the coronavirus is just a common virus that infects your nose, sinuses and upper throat and produces the same symptoms as a cold. But the fear that is being spread by public health authorities and the news media would make one think the earth is in the middle of a historic human pandemic.
The Coronavirus that is menacing human populations around the globe right now is an RNA virus that is “enveloped” so it resists eradication by one’s own immune system. In a very few subjects who are immune compromised, such as patients taking drugs for autoimmune disorders (Cyclosporine, Prednisone, Methotrexate, Imuran), or youngsters who have undeveloped immunity, or others who are old and have weak immune systems due malnutrition, they may develop pneumonia (drown in their own pus and fluid in their lungs) and be hospitalized, placed on a respirator, or die. Swanson Advanced Zinc ... Buy New $8.04 (as of 10:41 UTC - Details)
Just in case you are worried, out of a population of 7+ billion people on Earth, your chance of developing symptoms from this corona-shaped cold virus is ~1 in millions and for death ~1 in hundreds of millions. However, risk dramatically increases with advancing age and among malnourished populations such as in Asia where deficiencies of essential nutrients, namely zinc and vitamins C and D, are often prevalent. Modern medicine casts a blind eye at nutrition.
But regardless of what you have just read here that minimalizes the risk, health officials are beating the Coronavirus drum, with mass contagion predicted and an expert predicting this outbreak could be ten times worse than the 2003 epidemic that left 813 dead. That may only be true in a country with a large portion of malnourished people like China. The estimate that the Coronavirus will grow to 10,000 cases in the Chinese city of Wuhan (11 million population) is still a very low risk — 1/100th of one-percent.
Public health officials are pulling off another of their ruses, wearing hazmat suits, quarantining whole cities, swabbing throats of airplane passengers who land in foreign countries after visiting the Coronavirus epicenter, Wuhan, China. Public fear is created. At this point, no one knows whether the death rate is higher than past cold and flu seasons.
Treatment but not a cure
And just so you know, there is no proven treatment or vaccine to prevent or abolish coronavirus infections. Standard treatment to allay symptoms is comprised of steroids to reduce inflammation, judicious use of antibiotics and (largely ineffective) antiviral drugs like interferon or ribavirin. Steroids reduce inflammation but deplete vitamin C. This makes it difficult to wean off cortisone.
Self-treated patients may opt for over-the-counter medicines that contain vitamin C-depleting medications such as aspirin and acetaminophen/Tylenol (a prominent ingredient in Nyquil) that depletes glutathione, a major internal antioxidant produced by vitamin C. Smokers further deplete vitamin C. Individuals on diuretics (water pills) for high blood pressure wash out their vitamin C faster. Unwittingly, under these circumstances, viral infection could get worse, not better.
Based upon symptoms, public health authorities tend to overestimate the percentage of ill patients that actually have laboratory-confirmed coronavirus. In one study, among 1460 cases of unexplained respiratory illnesses reported to the Centers For Disease Control, only 2% were laboratory confirmed coronavirus.
In the often-cited 2003 SARS coronavirus epidemic, most cases in the U.S. were attributed to air travel to the U.S. from Asia and “there was no evidence of community transmission.” Even in Hong Kong, in the 2003-2004 SARS coronavirus outbreak, only 3.4% of patients died and all were over age 65. So, age is the mortal factor, not infection itself.
The Biotech industry prays for these infectious disease outbreaks to free-up public funds to develop drugs and vaccines. Otherwise the drug/vaccine makers have to bear the research and development burden on their own.
Useless health advice
All the advice to stay away from crowds, wear a mask, wash your hands, is silly. That is because the lack of hygiene is not why cold and flu viruses plague the planet in winter months. It is just that winter months are when the human immune system crashes. The disease is lack of internal defense, not external exposure and transmission. The primary reason for this is plunging vitamin D levels from lack of sunlight as the earth tilts away from the sun in the winter solstice.
Sunshine vitamin D activates rapid responding class of white blood cells called neutrophils that literally blow up viral-infected cells.
Pray to God the virus doesn’t mutate?
While fearmongers warn the coronavirus may mutate and spread faster, and news agencies lament the stock market is crashing while spreading fear to attract readers and viewers. The 2019 coronavirus IS a new mutation. But some mutations actually reduce its virulence. The irresponsibility of news reports not to inform the public that any fast-mutating coronavirus would be self-limiting and rapidly “peter out” into a less virulent form.
Inflammation and coronavirus control
During coronavirus infection, inflammation, particularly in the lungs, is activated by a protein complex called NF-kappa B.
Coronaviruses activate NF-kappa-B which is the key signaling molecule that provokes the inflammation that ends up filling the lungs with fluid. Any agent that targets and inhibits NF-kappa-B is a candidate for quelling coronaviruses.
While it is said there are no proven cures to battle coronavirus, and pharmaceutical companies attempt to develop patentable NF-kappa-B inhibitors, there are 785 natural NF-kappa-B inhibitors that have already been identified that include vitamins D, C & E, alpha lipoic acid, NAC (sulfur), resveratrol, quercetin, zinc, garlic (allicin), among many others, all commercially available at health shops.
Innate immunity: vitamin D
There are two immune responses in humans: the rapid innate immunity and latent adaptive immunity. The innate immune response is considered the “key regulator in the virulence of coronavirus infections.”
The earliest arriving white blood cells at the site of infection are neutrophils and are part of the innate immune system. Neutrophils comprise ~60% of the white blood cells in circulation.
Vitamin D is the governor of innate immunity. The protective benefits of vitamin D are said to “lie in its ability to stimulate innate immunity and reduce inflammation.”
Vitamin D suppresses NF-kappa B signaling, dampens excessive inflammation while enhancing killing of viruses by neutrophils
Senior adults have been found to have 2.6 times greater risk for pneumonia between highest and lowest blood levels of vitamin D.
How much vitamin D?
Particularly in winter months, or among people who don’t get much sunshine that produces natural vitamin D, children and adults need far more vitamin D than is recommended. Due to a miscalculation, the need for supplemental vitamin D is underestimated; adults need ~8000 units/day; infants 1000 units; children over age 1 year, 3000 units/day.
The Daily Value published on the back of bottles of vitamin D is 400-800 units, which doesn’t even raise blood levels. This locks in a certain amount of otherwise preventable disease in the population at large. This is akin to allowing some pyromaniac to start fires just to show off how fast fire departments respond.
In sunshine equivalents, 400-800 units of vitamin D = ~5 minutes of midday sun/skin exposure; 8000 units = ~1 hour of midday sun/skin exposure. If you are not getting 30-60 minutes of midday sunshine, you do not have optimal blood levels of vitamin D.
Around 42% of the adult U.S. population has low blood levels of vitamin D. That figure rises in northern latitudes to almost everybody in winter months.
The liver stores about 3 months of this fat-soluble vitamin, so doctors inject up to 300,000 units for wintertime protection in vulnerable D-deficient subjects. Forget blood tests, presume you are D-deficient in winter. Don’t wait for cold and flu symptoms.
Take 50,000 units of vitamin D on the first hint of cold or flu symptoms for a day or two. Otherwise you will endure ~7-8 days of misery until your adaptive immune system kicks in and produces B in bone marrow and T cells the thymus gland to produce tailor-made antibodies against the particular strain of coronavirus in circulation
How to handle an over-responsive immune system
One of the problems with the human immune system is that it over-responds. Over-aggressive arrival of neutrophils can induce deadly inflammation in the lungs.
To normalize the immune response so the neutrophils don’t over-respond to produce inflammation themselves that then results in your lungs filling up with fluid, vitamin D and the red wine molecule resveratrol normalize the immune response. Resveratrol by itself is a potent anti-viral agent against coronavirus. In a lab dish, resveratrol “completely blocked viral replication even at a low concentration.”
Zinc to the rescue
With advancing age humans are increasingly susceptible to viral infection. A Harvard Medical School Health Bulletin says: “No one knows for sure why this happens, but some scientists observe that this increased risk (with advancing age) correlates with a decrease in T cells, possibly from the thymus atrophying (shrinking) with age and producing fewer T cells to fight off infection.” Don’t believe this.
T-cells are produced in the thymus gland, located under your breastplate bone. Freshly-made T cells in the thymus will generate tailor-made antibodies against the particular strain of virus you are exposed to.
This age-related susceptibility to infection is associated with a significant reduction in the magnitude of the viral T-cell response. T cells generate a memory antibody response and are able to clear viruses and protect against lethal infection. T-cells produce life-long immunity. Dr. Cannell’s Ad... Buy New $34.95 (as of 12:50 UTC - Details)
The thymus gland shrinks from the size of a walnut in youth to the size of a pea in old age. This is largely due to lack of intake or poor absorption of the trace mineral zinc.
Zinc inhibits growth and replication of RNA viruses like coronaviruses.
The only food that contains an abundant amount of zinc is oysters. Sufficient zinc intake is only achievable from consumption of a variety of foods. Very young children are often picky eaters. Zinc deficiency is rampant among young children throughout the world. For example, studies showed 70% of children under age 5 in Vietnam were zinc deficient and 49% in Colombia.
Zinc lozenges that provide 18 milligrams or more of zinc gluconate or acetate (zinc acetate is the best, and don’t swallow them) can rapidly quell a common-cold virus like the coronavirus. Orally-ingested tablets, liquid and syrups are less effective. Be watchful, many brands of zinc lozenges do not provide enough zinc. Zinc lozenges shorten common colds by 6-7 days.
Coronavirus propaganda
Don’t be duped by all the fear-evoking news reports. Turn off the television.
You would never imagine public health authorities plan these epidemics. The current planned epidemic eerily follows the script of the 2011 movie CONTAGION, which shows the virus originating with a bat in China. Just like the human immune system can over-respond to infection, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control over-react to the imagined pandemic. In either case, vitamin D is the antidote. Be wary of what you read in news reports. An uninformed populace is blind. Remember, in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.


lewrockwell--2020-01-25--The Plagues From China

The Plagues From China

Plagues from the east are nothing new .
The Black Death and other epidemics arrived in Europe from China during the 1300 ’ s , killing a large percentage of its population .
Much of this pestilence came from rats that stowed away on merchant ships coming from the east .
At the end of World War I , another pandemic , wrongly called the Spanish flu , killed an estimated 18 to 50 million people in Europe and North America .
Seventeen years after the SARS virus killed some 800 people in China and Canada and terrified the entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West : the Wuhan Coronavirus .
Officially named 2019-nCoV , the new virus has so far infected over 800 people in China .
This latest plague erupted in the central Chinese city of Wuhan , population 11 million , which is located on the Yangtze River and is an important hub for national communications .
American Raj : Liberati ... Eric Margolis Best Price : $ 4.99 Buy New $ 10.00 Like SARS , the Wuhan virus is believed to have come from a live animal market that specializes in exotic animals from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mountain regions .
Serving exotic animals at dinner parties is a big status symbol in China .
Sometimes they are even served while still alive .
Dog meat is a favorite in northern China .
SARS was believed to have come from civet cats .
As a result , thousands of these felines were brutally killed .
But it was later determined the virus originated from bats , then spread to other captive animals .
Bat soup is another Chinese delicacy .
Keeping large numbers of captive animals crammed together in cages with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideal vector for viral diseases .
Each year , China consumes 730 million pigs .
Fifty percent of China ’ s factory farmed pigs have so far contracted lethal swine flu .
Rising living standards have boosted demand for pork .
I have seen how China raises and transports pigs .
It ’ s a nightmare of brutality and inhuman behavior .
No wonder so many of these intelligent sensitive animals fall ill and die .
Swine fever could be payback for China ’ s terrible cruelty to pigs .
And it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North America are treated almost as badly .
A lady where I live was actually jailed and prosecuted for having given water to a truckload of thirsty , starving , terrified pigs on the way to the slaughterhouse .
In North America , animals destined for slaughter are packed together and then dosed with heavy antibiotics to combat communicable diseases from over-crowding and mistreatment .
These same antibiotics then enter our food chain , causing us ever growing viral resistance .
When the SARS epidemic erupted in South China 17 years ago , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the crisis , allowing infected people to travel to North America and Europe .
War at the Top of the ... Eric Margolis Best Price : $ 1.39 Buy New $ 19.50 This time , China did the right thing by jumping hard on the epidemic : shutting down all air , sea and land communications with the greater Wuhan region and 14 smaller cities – right in the middle of China ’ s huge new year celebrations when over 400 million people return to their homes .
The epidemic could not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some Wuhan residents have already flown to other parts of Asia and North America .
Simply checking incoming air travellers for fever will not prevent the virus from spreading or identify passengers who have contracted and are developing the illness .
A better solution would be to quarantine all people arriving from Central China and even bar airlines coming from there until we better understand the new virus .
We stop so-called ‘ terrorists ’ and Muslims from flying to our shores .
Why not potentially infective people ?
China must also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade in exotic wild animals and urged to treat all animals with humanity and care .
China is a major cause of species loss .
Aside from a few brave animal rights groups , there is very little consciousness of our animal neighbors in China nor understanding that animals are sentient beings with emotions similar to those of humans .
The Chinese are one of the most intelligent people on earth .
Yet when it comes to animals , all they see is walking food .
As I ’ ve seen on my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great strides in public sanitation and cleanliness as well as planting trees .
Now , it ’ s time to stop abusing animals or the plagues will keep coming .
The Best of Eric S. Margolis

Special for LewRockwell.com
Plagues from the east are nothing new. The Black Death and other epidemics arrived in Europe from China during the 1300’s, killing a large percentage of its population. Much of this pestilence came from rats that stowed away on merchant ships coming from the east.
At the end of World War I, another pandemic, wrongly called the Spanish flu, killed an estimated 18 to 50 million people in Europe and North America.
Seventeen years after the SARS virus killed some 800 people in China and Canada and terrified the entire world, a new plague threatens the West: the Wuhan Coronavirus.
Officially named 2019-nCoV, the new virus has so far infected over 800 people in China. This latest plague erupted in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, population 11 million, which is located on the Yangtze River and is an important hub for national communications. American Raj: Liberati... Eric Margolis Best Price: $4.99 Buy New $10.00 (as of 05:35 UTC - Details)
Like SARS, the Wuhan virus is believed to have come from a live animal market that specializes in exotic animals from the Himalayas or China’s remote mountain regions. Serving exotic animals at dinner parties is a big status symbol in China. Sometimes they are even served while still alive. Dog meat is a favorite in northern China.
SARS was believed to have come from civet cats. As a result, thousands of these creatures were brutally killed. But it was later determined the virus originated from bats, then spread to other captive animals. Bat soup is another Chinese delicacy.
Keeping large numbers of captive animals crammed together in cages with poor ventilation and no cleaning is an ideal vector for viral diseases. Each year, China consumes 730 million pigs. Fifty percent of China’s factory farmed pigs have so far contracted lethal swine flu. Rising living standards have boosted demand for pork.
I have seen how China raises and transports pigs. It’s a nightmare of brutality and inhuman behavior. No wonder so many of these intelligent sensitive animals fall ill and die. Swine fever could be payback for China’s terrible cruelty to pigs.
And it’s not just China. Pigs in North America are treated almost as badly. A lady where I live was actually jailed and prosecuted for having given water to a truckload of thirsty, starving, terrified pigs on the way to the slaughterhouse.
In North America, animals destined for slaughter are packed together and then dosed with heavy antibiotics to combat communicable diseases from over-crowding and mistreatment. These same antibiotics then enter our food chain, causing us ever growing viral resistance.
When the SARS epidemic erupted in South China 17 years ago, the Chinese communist party tried to hush up the crisis, allowing infected people to travel to North America and Europe. War at the Top of the ... Eric Margolis Best Price: $1.39 Buy New $19.50 (as of 10:05 UTC - Details)
This time, China did the right thing by jumping hard on the epidemic: shutting down all air, sea and land communications with the greater Wuhan region and 14 smaller cities – right in the middle of China’s huge new year celebrations when over 400 million people return to their homes. The epidemic could not have come at a worse time.
Some Wuhan residents have already flown to other parts of Asia and North America. Simply checking incoming air travellers for fever will not prevent the virus from spreading or identify passengers who have contracted and are developing the illness.
A better solution would be to quarantine all people arriving from Central China and even bar airlines coming from there until we better understand the new virus. We stop so-called ‘terrorists’ and Muslims from flying to our shores. Why not potentially infective people?
China must also be pressed to cease its dangerous, inhumane trade in exotic wild animals and urged to treat all animals with humanity and care. China is a major cause of species loss. Aside from a few brave animal rights groups, there is very little consciousness of our animal neighbors in China nor understanding that animals are sentient beings with emotions similar to those of humans. The Chinese are one of the most intelligent people on earth. Yet when it comes to animals, all they see is walking food.
As I’ve seen on my travels across China, it has made great strides in public sanitation and cleanliness as well as planting trees. Now, it’s time to stop abusing animals or the plagues will keep coming.
The Best of Eric S. Margolis


lewrockwell--2020-01-25--To Protect and Serve Means Only to Maim, Murder, and Control: The Empire’s Lie That Is National Secu

To Protect and Serve Means Only to Maim, Murder, and Control: The Empire’s Lie That Is National Security

He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt .
He has been given a large brain by mistake , since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice .
This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once .
Heroism at command , senseless brutality , deplorable love-of-country stance , how violently I hate all this , how despicable and ignoble war is ; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action !
It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murder .
~ Albert Einstein– “ Mein Weltbild ( My World-view ) ” .
Essay by Albert Einstein , 1931 .
War is an act of murder at every level , and at every turn a criminal undertaking .
Aggressive war is simply killing without just cause , and every war begun as self-defense has turned quickly into aggression at the first moment possible , usually the first day .
In the case of the United States , no war is or has ever been about real self-defense , meaning every war was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people claim patriotism in order to hide from this truth , they claim national pride , which is nothing more than state worship , and they rally round the flag as if that could protect them from being complicit in the slaughter of innocents .
Those who support aggressive war are simply immoral fools .
When any government or political power structure is in place , there is only one option to avoid war , and that is that none submit to the lies of the state , and none participate in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would send the children of others to die in war should volunteer to die themselves , but they are the true cowards among us , and always hide in the shadows when the killing they caused begins .
They are only capable of handing out medals posthumously to the families of those they used as fodder for their own benefit and political agendas .
All in the Executive Branch , all in Congress , all in any fascist political partnerships that profit from war , and all those who claim false intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all these and more should be the first and only causalities of any war .
No man of worth has the right to ask others to die in his stead for the state .
Against the Left : A Ro ... Llewellyn H Rockwell Jr Best Price : $ 13.57 Buy New $ 8.00 All war is immoral , illegitimate , and senseless , but due to government existence at every level , it is the lifeblood of the state .
The power of the state lies in its ability to control all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , society would take care of itself , and would have no need for rulers or wars .
But through fear , division , and greed , the people can be convinced to go along , and accept the lie that they are doing so voluntarily because they believe the absolute nonsense of “ We the people.
” This is the biggest lie of all .
No nation-state is valid , as all states tend to seek a hierarchal structure of power , specifically in the name of protecting the common man collectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual has need for such false protection .
The beginning of this American experiment to create a powerful state was said to be about freedom of the individual , while all along , the hierarchy of power became more and more evident .
What started out as a few separate colonies quickly became separate states with a new ruling class , and then one nation-state was formed and centralized , with allegiance to the flag of the United States of America .
This progression was intended all along , and so the sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Today we live as slaves in a society with a ruling structure akin to a fascist oligarchy .
This is now a nation that is in constant war , and has become the largest and most murderous empire in the history of the world .
We are told every day that we are at great risk from dangerous threats from afar .
We are told that terrorists are out to get us all , and that we need to allow the government and its hired murderers in the military to prosecute war around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is great , and that God is on our side .
We are told that we must pay taxes so that the war machine can grow and save us from these constant threats .
We are told to applaud and worship those that do the killing in our names .
We are told not to question the state ’ s motives , and not to expose the truths about these wars of aggression because that may cause dissent and harm our “ national security.
” These are all lies .
This is all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what this propaganda presents , and it is much of the rest of the world that could make these claims because of U.S. aggression .
In other words , “ the enemy is us.
” The U.S. is the terrorist state , the U.S. is the thief that steals our property , and the U.S. is the greatest threat to the world .
The U.S. is secure , but its targets in war are not , and have a real and legitimate national security risk .
All empires eventually fail , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no different , except that it will be one of the shortest empires in history .
The U.S. is the world ’ s only current empire , and without a forced stop to this madness , it will end in financial ruin , in riots and civil unrest , in war , and with more and more bloodshed .
Yes , the American Empire will fall , but it won ’ t be due to outside threats .
It will be due to the abandonment of falsely espoused values , of internal strife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of political upheaval , of monetary suicide , and of collective immorality .
Collectivism breeds empire and allows it to flourish , and because of the loss of individual thought , it becomes the internal disease that leads to the extermination of that empire .
This is the real America , not the land of the free and home of the brave , but a collective mob of ignorant sheep awaiting the slaughter due to their own weakness and stupidity .
The Best of Gary D. Barnett

He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, senseless brutality, deplorable love-of-country stance, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action! It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder. ~ Albert Einstein–“Mein Weltbild (My World-view)”. Essay by Albert Einstein, 1931.
War is an act of murder at every level, and at every turn a criminal undertaking. Aggressive war is simply killing without just cause, and every war begun as self-defense has turned quickly into aggression at the first moment possible, usually the first day. In the case of the United States, no war is or has ever been about real self-defense, meaning every war was aggressive and criminal murder. The common people claim patriotism in order to hide from this truth, they claim national pride, which is nothing more than state worship, and they rally round the flag as if that could protect them from being complicit in the slaughter of innocents. Those who support aggressive war are simply immoral fools.
When any government or political power structure is in place, there is only one option to avoid war, and that is that none submit to the lies of the state, and none participate in the killing of others on orders. Those that would send the children of others to die in war should volunteer to die themselves, but they are the true cowards among us, and always hide in the shadows when the killing they caused begins. They are only capable of handing out medals posthumously to the families of those they used as fodder for their own benefit and political agendas. All in the Executive Branch, all in Congress, all in any fascist political partnerships that profit from war, and all those who claim false intelligence to stoke the fires of conflict, all these and more should be the first and only causalities of any war. No man of worth has the right to ask others to die in his stead for the state. Against the Left: A Ro... Rockwell Jr, Llewellyn H Best Price: $2.85 Buy New $8.00 (as of 07:59 UTC - Details)
All war is immoral, illegitimate, and senseless, but due to government existence at every level, it is the lifeblood of the state. The power of the state lies in its ability to control all of society, for without that control, society would take care of itself, and would have no need for rulers or wars. But through fear, division, and greed, the people can be convinced to go along, and accept the lie that they are doing so voluntarily because they believe the absolute nonsense of “We the people.” This is the biggest lie of all.
No nation-state is valid, as all states tend to seek a hierarchal structure of power, specifically in the name of protecting the common man collectively with profoundly restrictive laws. No free individual has need for such false protection. The beginning of this American experiment to create a powerful state was said to be about freedom of the individual, while all along, the hierarchy of power became more and more evident. What started out as a few separate colonies quickly became separate states with a new ruling class, and then one nation-state was formed and centralized, with allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. This progression was intended all along, and so the sought after tyrannical state came to fruition. Today we live as slaves in a society with a ruling structure akin to a fascist oligarchy. This is now a nation that is in constant war, and has become the largest and most murderous empire in the history of the world.
We are told every day that we are at great risk from dangerous threats from afar. We are told that terrorists are out to get us all, and that we need to allow the government and its hired murderers in the military to prosecute war around the world. We are told America is great, and that God is on our side. We are told that we must pay taxes so that the war machine can grow and save us from these constant threats. We are told to applaud and worship those that do the killing in our names. We are told not to question the state’s motives, and not to expose the truths about these wars of aggression because that may cause dissent and harm our “national security.”
These are all lies. This is all propaganda. The facts are the opposite of what this propaganda presents, and it is much of the rest of the world that could make these claims because of U.S. aggression. In other words, “the enemy is us.” The U.S. is the terrorist state, the U.S. is the thief that steals our property, and the U.S. is the greatest threat to the world. The U.S. is secure, but its targets in war are not, and have a real and legitimate national security risk.
All empires eventually fail, and cease to exist. This one is no different, except that it will be one of the shortest empires in history. The U.S. is the world’s only current empire, and without a forced stop to this madness, it will end in financial ruin, in riots and civil unrest, in war, and with more and more bloodshed.
Yes, the American Empire will fall, but it won’t be due to outside threats. It will be due to the abandonment of falsely espoused values, of internal strife and divisiveness, of mass corruption, of political upheaval, of monetary suicide, and of collective immorality. Collectivism breeds empire and allows it to flourish, and because of the loss of individual thought, it becomes the internal disease that leads to the extermination of that empire. This is the real America, not the land of the free and home of the brave, but a collective mob of ignorant sheep awaiting the slaughter due to their own weakness and stupidity.
The Best of Gary D. Barnett


lewrockwell--2020-01-25--Logic Is a Tool of the Patriarchy

Logic Is a Tool of the Patriarchy

If you have ever had a conversation with a social justice warrior , you may be well aware that a confusing occurrence tends to take place .
For all your effort to use reason and evidence to truly understand the position that the person holds , it ’ s incredibly difficult to get even a semblance of either reason or evidence out of the social justice warrior in response .
It ’ s a fool ’ s errand .
The best that can be expected is often a collection of slogans practically chanted in a daisy chain in increasing volume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The more you invite the social justice warrior to use reason and evidence , the more you are informed you are “ splitting hairs ” or “ going around in circles.
” If the slogans fail , and the claimed faux pas of splitting hairs does not deter you , terms of derision may start to flow .
Bigot or nazi or racist may be used to describe situations that are not bigoted , national socialist , or racist .
However , if you protest the misapplication of such a serious term , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explain the application through the use of circular logic , or with another onslaught of slogans .
It is evident that these names do not actually fit this situation .
They are merely ugly words meant to silence you .
At this point where name-calling emerges for the sake of bullying a person , the conversation has grown abusive , and no respectable person would feel comfortable either doing the name-calling or being a recipient of the name-calling .
The conversation quickly grows very tiring as a great deal of energy is expelled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The volume of voices may grow elevated .
There is great emotion .
And sure everyone is invested in their personal opinions to some degree , everyone has topics they are passionate about , but intellectual discussion between two adults is the time to open the spigot on reason and evidence and to tighten that other spigot that prevents an uncontrolled outpouring of emotion .
Culturally , these seemingly thoughtless outpourings of emotion are increasingly encouraged in our era .
In fact , some will go so far as to call logic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s right .
The mental faculty that has helped humans to better our world , through millions and billions of applications a day for millennia , is to be dismissed as a mere tool of the patriarchy .
What a trendy and carelessly callous insult to lob at such an awesome human capacity .
One of the key distinctions between man and beast is to be dismissed because those who are poorly trained in using their executive function and limiting their emotional outpouring feel triggered by its use .
To follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closer to beast as individuals and as a society .
Mental illness is the involuntary parting with reality .
This social justice style of argumentation is the voluntary parting with reality .
They are two peas in the same pod .
And that ’ s a scary thing .
If given the power to do away with reason and evidence , the social justice warrior will do just that .
In intentionally insular silos of social interaction – through social media , academia , daily life , and often even the workplace – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasonable people .
It ’ s just not worth the pain of being yelled at ( or worse ) by someone who is either crazy and or willfully acting crazy .
Counter to logic and meritocratic notions , the unreasonable silence the reasonable .
The illogical application of law makes this situation all the more likely to occur .
And in the name of tranquility , treading on touchy ground is unwelcome .
Heaven forbid someone may even go so far as to burst into tears , at which point it grows evident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason and evidence is surely a savage brute worthy of derision .
Not only legal pressure , but also social pressure encourages the reasonable to bite their tongues .
It is not by choice , it is only by happenstance that a social justice warrior faces reason and evidence .
The rest of society grows up hearing the social justice lines parroted in school , in entertainment , in media , likely even in church .
Often the only controversial views welcomed in such environments are social justice views .
The astute thinker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeks out and is confronted with a host of additional views naturally , and must learn to reason through that conflict .
The discomfort of conflict and the ability to self-soothe enough to persevere in the midst of conflict are required to grow the faculty for logic .
The social justice warrior is often done the disservice of being insulated from opposing views to the point where reality is painfully intrusive when it comes about .
This aversion to the intrusion of reality has made it natural for college professors to preface material @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the event that someone in the room is not mature enough to handle a conflicting viewpoint without bursting out in great , seemingly uncontrollable , displays of emotion .
Even with a trigger warning , an academic risks disciplinary action if the conflicting viewpoint is seen as too intrusive .
This style of material from thinkers was once referred to as “ thought-provoking ” and was an important part of the reason for taking the time and effort to attend university .
A notable aversion to the intrusion of reality took place with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an outburst running up to , but most notably following the November 9 , 2016 presidential elections .
This has amounted to a multi-year tantrum in response to an election .
Yes , an election .
A measly election .
Thousands take place a year .
Politicians aren ’ t that meaningful .
They aren ’ t to be taken seriously .
They are a form of sardonic entertainment that allow us to feel better about the inordinate amount of the workday we must slave away just to afford the taxes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the losing candidate , if an election means that much to you , there is something seriously wrong with you .
And even the candidate probably didn ’ t belong in the election if they are still triggered years later .
Toughen up snowflake .
It ’ s an election .
But to say so , is to be patriarchal .
To abhor involuntary crazy and voluntary crazy alike and to pursue health and wellness is to be patriarchal .
To praise the successes of humanity through the ages and to want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patriarchal .
To desire to use emotion for all the things it is good for , and to desire to use logic for all the things it is good for , and to implement them together as a well-adjusted healthy person is to be patriarchal .
To demand those same high standards is to be patriarchal .
And that is othering .
And racist .
And literally what only someone who is literally a fascist , literal nazi , literal bigot would do .
Literally .
The Best of Allan Stevo

If you have ever had a conversation with a social justice warrior, you may be well aware that a confusing occurrence tends to take place.
For all your effort to use reason and evidence to truly understand the position that the person holds, it’s incredibly difficult to get even a semblance of either reason or evidence out of the social justice warrior in response.
It’s a fool’s errand. The best that can be expected is often a collection of slogans practically chanted in a daisy chain in increasing volume and intensity as the conversation progresses.
The more you invite the social justice warrior to use reason and evidence, the more you are informed you are “splitting hairs” or “going around in circles.”
If the slogans fail, and the claimed faux pas of splitting hairs does not deter you, terms of derision may start to flow.
Bigot or nazi or racist may be used to describe situations that are not bigoted, national socialist, or racist. However, if you protest the misapplication of such a serious term, the social justice warrior may attempt to explain the application through the use of circular logic, or with another onslaught of slogans. It is evident that these names do not actually fit this situation. They are merely ugly words meant to silence you. At this point where name-calling emerges for the sake of bullying a person, the conversation has grown abusive, and no respectable person would feel comfortable either doing the name-calling or being a recipient of the name-calling.
The conversation quickly grows very tiring as a great deal of energy is expelled and very little reason is utilized. The volume of voices may grow elevated. There is great emotion. And sure everyone is invested in their personal opinions to some degree, everyone has topics they are passionate about, but intellectual discussion between two adults is the time to open the spigot on reason and evidence and to tighten that other spigot that prevents an uncontrolled outpouring of emotion.
Culturally, these seemingly thoughtless outpourings of emotion are increasingly encouraged in our era.
In fact, some will go so far as to call logic, “a tool of the patriarchy.” That’s right. The mental faculty that has helped humans to better our world, through millions and billions of applications a day for millennia, is to be dismissed as a mere tool of the patriarchy. What a trendy and carelessly callous insult to lob at such an awesome human capacity. One of the key distinctions between man and beast is to be dismissed because those who are poorly trained in using their executive function and limiting their emotional outpouring feel triggered by its use. To follow in their wishes is to bring us closer to beast as individuals and as a society.
Mental illness is the involuntary parting with reality. This social justice style of argumentation is the voluntary parting with reality. They are two peas in the same pod.
And that’s a scary thing. If given the power to do away with reason and evidence, the social justice warrior will do just that. In intentionally insular silos of social interaction – through social media, academia, daily life, and often even the workplace – these ideas receive nearly no challenge by reasonable people. It’s just not worth the pain of being yelled at (or worse) by someone who is either crazy and or willfully acting crazy. Counter to logic and meritocratic notions, the unreasonable silence the reasonable.
The illogical application of law makes this situation all the more likely to occur. And in the name of tranquility, treading on touchy ground is unwelcome. Heaven forbid someone may even go so far as to burst into tears, at which point it grows evident to any onlooker that this stickler for reason and evidence is surely a savage brute worthy of derision. Not only legal pressure, but also social pressure encourages the reasonable to bite their tongues.
It is not by choice, it is only by happenstance that a social justice warrior faces reason and evidence. The rest of society grows up hearing the social justice lines parroted in school, in entertainment, in media, likely even in church. Often the only controversial views welcomed in such environments are social justice views. The astute thinker, constantly inundated with these views both seeks out and is confronted with a host of additional views naturally, and must learn to reason through that conflict. The discomfort of conflict and the ability to self-soothe enough to persevere in the midst of conflict are required to grow the faculty for logic.
The social justice warrior is often done the disservice of being insulated from opposing views to the point where reality is painfully intrusive when it comes about.
This aversion to the intrusion of reality has made it natural for college professors to preface material with “trigger warnings,” in the event that someone in the room is not mature enough to handle a conflicting viewpoint without bursting out in great, seemingly uncontrollable, displays of emotion. Even with a trigger warning, an academic risks disciplinary action if the conflicting viewpoint is seen as too intrusive. This style of material from thinkers was once referred to as “thought-provoking” and was an important part of the reason for taking the time and effort to attend university.
A notable aversion to the intrusion of reality took place with the so-called emergence of Trump Derangement Syndrome in an outburst running up to, but most notably following the November 9, 2016 presidential elections. This has amounted to a multi-year tantrum in response to an election. Yes, an election. A measly election.
Thousands take place a year. Politicians aren’t that meaningful. They aren’t to be taken seriously. They are a form of sardonic entertainment that allow us to feel better about the inordinate amount of the workday we must slave away just to afford the taxes the government levies on us.
Unless you are the losing candidate, if an election means that much to you, there is something seriously wrong with you. And even the candidate probably didn’t belong in the election if they are still triggered years later. Toughen up snowflake. It’s an election.
But to say so, is to be patriarchal. To abhor involuntary crazy and voluntary crazy alike and to pursue health and wellness is to be patriarchal. To praise the successes of humanity through the ages and to want less of the failures is to be patriarchal. To desire to use emotion for all the things it is good for, and to desire to use logic for all the things it is good for, and to implement them together as a well-adjusted healthy person is to be patriarchal. To demand those same high standards is to be patriarchal.
And that is othering. And racist. And literally what only someone who is literally a fascist, literal nazi, literal bigot would do. Literally.
The Best of Allan Stevo