lewrockwell--2020-03-02--Trump and the Politics of the Coronavirus

Normally I agree with Moon of Alabama ’ s analysis on foreign affairs and certainly geopolitics .
But the latest post discussing the political fallout from spread and potential mismanagement of nCOVID-19 is nothing short of fantasy .
I don ’ t disagree that China , assuming that the numbers they ’ ve published are any more real than a lot of their economic numbers , has shown remarkable power to stop the spread of the disease .
And they have done so so as to disrupt supply chains all across the world .
This week the equity markets finally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effects of such a disruption , even if the disease itself is , in the end , controllable and the response to it to this point , overblown .
I ’ m not saying it is one way or the other .
I ’ ve heard every conspiracy theory about this virus you can imagine .
It speaks directly to the power of rumor and the ability for people absent good information to make up stories that fit their personal bias .
And in this post B. betrays his in a way that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he understands America , its culture and the electorate .
Against the Left : A Ro ... Llewellyn H Rockwell Jr Best Price : $ 13.57 Buy New $ 8.00 Under the U.S. medical system testing will be expensive for the patients .
Insurances may not pay for it .
Many people will be unable or unwilling to spend money on it .
Care for serious cases will also be limited by high prices .
This guarantees that the virus will spread further .
China was smart enough to guarantee 100 % state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The U.S. should follow that principle but is unlikely to do so .
Trump announced that Vice-President Pence , a man who does not believe in science , will lead the response .
The libertarian and neo-liberal approach to the problem will further the epidemic ’ s growth .
Only after it becomes really severe will the necessary measures be taken .
His assumptions are ridiculous .
People in the U.S. get the annual flu shot , which is demonstrably ineffective , by the millions .
The flu shot is subsidized through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxes .
If the threat becomes truly real to people in the U.S. they will get tested .
The Trump administration will allocate billions to it and the people here , already inculcated over the generations in public health will respond accordingly .
If China was able to test 320,000 people that quickly , and the test is so effective , why is the CDC going it alone developing its own test and not just using China ’ s ?
This is what we pay governments to do , coordinate disaster response , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infrastructure for society .
The dysfunctional medical system in the U.S. isn ’ t a function of the “ libertarian or neo-liberal approach , ” which itself is a criticism that doesn ’ t understand the very real difference between those two schools of thought .
It ’ s a function of the ever-growing push to socialize medical care ( and everything else ) in the first place .
The great myth of central planning is that capital can be rationally allocated through the elimination of profit and incentive .
And that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society .
Because in the end , the U.S. doesn ’ t have a libertarian medical system .
It has a socialized system so arcane and expensive that is designed to make the argument for more control over public health not less .
But this isn ’ t B.
’ s biggest error .
His biggest error is in thinking that Donald Trump is some kind of bastion of the free market and in favor of the rational allocation of scarce resources through it .
He ’ s not .
He never has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be .
Trump likes markets he can control and doesn ’ t believe in open competition .
If he did he wouldn ’ t erect trade barriers and engage in economic strangulation .
So to say that Trump is in trouble because of this virus to this point is nonsensical .
Trump ’ s re-election chances will rise with this coronavirus .
Those who hate him will hate him more , like B .
( who is German and doesn ’ t vote here ) .
Those who love him will rally around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this point I agree with Pat Buchanan who also feels like this is an opportunity for Trump to rise above the petty politics of Congress and show leadership and strength , allocating resources at his disposal the same way he did for domestic natural disasters like the recent Hurricanes that pounded the Gulf Coast and Florida .
And this is something he can and will do .
I wan ’ t crazy about Trump ’ s presser the other day , blasting the CDC for creating a panic which Trump feels helped drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not leadership .
That ’ s whining .
And the biggest threat to Trump ’ s re-election at this point is Trump , not Bernie Sanders or whomever the Democrats nominate after stealing it from him .
The biggest fear the leftists in the U.S. and Europe have at this point is that Trump and his band of ‘ know-nothings ’ like Pence actually steer the U.S. through the upcoming crises well .
Getting Libertarianism ... Hans-Hermann Hoppe Best Price : $ 3.95 Buy New $ 7.95 The CDC is facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s no shock that they would try to blindside Trump to make him look reckless now .
But Trump shouldn ’ t take that bait and move past it .
What if the U.S. healthcare system survives this ?
What if the doom porn purveyors are all wrong ?
What if COVID-19 really isn ’ t that much worse , in the end , than the annual flu ?
Trump can and will make easy political work of his opponents trying to hector him for spending cuts by reminding them all that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to control the border to the country .
If anything this will strengthen Trump ’ s hand across a number of real issues .
During times of crisis and/or war how often is there a radical change in leadership ?
Not often .
It will take a lot more than a few thousand points off the Dow and some fear-mongering to shift the electoral map of the U.S. far enough for Bernie Sanders to beat him .
Public health crises are not the time to grind political axes .
The fact that even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to that tells you the depth to which the failures of Marxism scare them .
Because make no mistake , any failure to contain this virus will come from our having too much faith in the myth of central planning , not in not having enough of it .
The Best of Thomas Luongo

Normally I agree with Moon of Alabama’s analysis on foreign affairs and certainly geopolitics. But the latest post discussing the political fallout from spread and potential mismanagement of nCOVID-19 is nothing short of fantasy.
I don’t disagree that China, assuming that the numbers they’ve published are any more real than a lot of their economic numbers, has shown remarkable power to stop the spread of the disease.
And they have done so so as to disrupt supply chains all across the world. This week the equity markets finally came to terms with the real world effects of such a disruption, even if the disease itself is, in the end, controllable and the response to it to this point, overblown.
I’m not saying it is one way or the other. I’ve heard every conspiracy theory about this virus you can imagine. It speaks directly to the power of rumor and the ability for people absent good information to make up stories that fit their personal bias.
And in this post B. betrays his in a way that, frankly, highlights just how little he understands America, its culture and the electorate. Against the Left: A Ro... Rockwell Jr, Llewellyn H Best Price: $2.85 Buy New $8.00 (as of 07:59 UTC - Details)
Under the U.S. medical system testing will be expensive for the patients. Insurances may not pay for it. Many people will be unable or unwilling to spend money on it. Care for serious cases will also be limited by high prices. This guarantees that the virus will spread further. China was smart enough to guarantee 100% state coverage for testing and all necessary care. The U.S. should follow that principle but is unlikely to do so. Trump announced that Vice-President Pence, a man who does not believe in science, will lead the response. The libertarian and neo-liberal approach to the problem will further the epidemic’s growth. Only after it becomes really severe will the necessary measures be taken.
His assumptions are ridiculous. People in the U.S. get the annual flu shot, which is demonstrably ineffective, by the millions. The flu shot is subsidized through insurance and government redistribution of wealth via taxes.
If the threat becomes truly real to people in the U.S. they will get tested. The Trump administration will allocate billions to it and the people here, already inculcated over the generations in public health will respond accordingly.
If China was able to test 320,000 people that quickly, and the test is so effective, why is the CDC going it alone developing its own test and not just using China’s?
This is what we pay governments to do, coordinate disaster response, work with other governments, provide basic infrastructure for society.
The dysfunctional medical system in the U.S. isn’t a function of the “libertarian or neo-liberal approach,” which itself is a criticism that doesn’t understand the very real difference between those two schools of thought.
It’s a function of the ever-growing push to socialize medical care (and everything else) in the first place.
The great myth of central planning is that capital can be rationally allocated through the elimination of profit and incentive. And that will just magically produce the right outcomes for society.
Because in the end, the U.S. doesn’t have a libertarian medical system. It has a socialized system so arcane and expensive that is designed to make the argument for more control over public health not less.
But this isn’t B.’s biggest error. His biggest error is in thinking that Donald Trump is some kind of bastion of the free market and in favor of the rational allocation of scarce resources through it.
He’s not. He never has been and he won’t ever be. Trump likes markets he can control and doesn’t believe in open competition. If he did he wouldn’t erect trade barriers and engage in economic strangulation.
So to say that Trump is in trouble because of this virus to this point is nonsensical.
Trump’s reelection chances are sinking as Covid-19 cases rise. The incompetence of his administration will come under new light. The stock markets will continue to tumble and erase the economic gains Trump had claimed. Bernie Sanders’ chances of winning, if he survives the pandemic, will increase as his prime campaign promise -Medicare for all- will become even more acceptable when the problems with the current U.S. healthcare system come under new public scrutiny.
Trump’s re-election chances will rise with this coronavirus. Those who hate him will hate him more, like B. (who is German and doesn’t vote here). Those who love him will rally around him if he leads.
And on this point I agree with Pat Buchanan who also feels like this is an opportunity for Trump to rise above the petty politics of Congress and show leadership and strength, allocating resources at his disposal the same way he did for domestic natural disasters like the recent Hurricanes that pounded the Gulf Coast and Florida.
… the president occupies what Theodore Roosevelt called the “bully pulpit,” the White House. He can use that pulpit daily to command the airwaves and inform, lead, unite and direct the nation during what could be a months-long crisis. And Trump alone has the power to declare a national emergency, should that be needed. If Trump acts as a leader, urging unity in the struggle to contain the virus and discover a vaccine, the hectoring from the Democratic left, already begun, can come to be seen as unpatriotic.
And this is something he can and will do. I wan’t crazy about Trump’s presser the other day, blasting the CDC for creating a panic which Trump feels helped drop the stock markets this week.
That’s not leadership. That’s whining. And the biggest threat to Trump’s re-election at this point is Trump, not Bernie Sanders or whomever the Democrats nominate after stealing it from him.
The biggest fear the leftists in the U.S. and Europe have at this point is that Trump and his band of ‘know-nothings’ like Pence actually steer the U.S. through the upcoming crises well. Getting Libertarianism... Hans-Hermann Hoppe Best Price: $3.95 Buy New $7.95 (as of 12:25 UTC - Details)
The CDC is facing a large budget cut so it’s no shock that they would try to blindside Trump to make him look reckless now. But Trump shouldn’t take that bait and move past it.
What if the U.S. healthcare system survives this? What if the doom porn purveyors are all wrong? What if COVID-19 really isn’t that much worse, in the end, than the annual flu?
Trump can and will make easy political work of his opponents trying to hector him for spending cuts by reminding them all that they have done nothing but block his ability to control the border to the country.
If anything this will strengthen Trump’s hand across a number of real issues.
During times of crisis and/or war how often is there a radical change in leadership? Not often. It will take a lot more than a few thousand points off the Dow and some fear-mongering to shift the electoral map of the U.S. far enough for Bernie Sanders to beat him.
Public health crises are not the time to grind political axes. The fact that even the best critics of the U.S. succumb to that tells you the depth to which the failures of Marxism scare them.
Because make no mistake, any failure to contain this virus will come from our having too much faith in the myth of central planning, not in not having enough of it.
Reprinted with permission from Gold Goats ‘n Guns.
The Best of Tom Luongo


lewrockwell--2020-03-02--The CIA’s Role in Operation Condor

The CIA’s Role in Operation Condor

The Washington Post is reporting today that top secret documents confirm the role that the CIA played in Operation Condor , the international state-sponsored assassination , kidnapping , torture , and murder ring run by U.S.-supported military dictatorships in South America in the late 1970s .
The documents confirm that the CIA ’ s role in the operation was to provide communications equipment to the ring , which enabled them to coordinate cross-border efforts to kidnap , torture , and kill suspected communists , which , of course , were nothing more than people who believed in socialism or communism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written about Operation Condor , and FFF has linked to many article detailing this sordid , dark-side conspiracy .
See here .
The Post article make it clear that the CIA was fully aware of the horrific human-rights abuses that the Latin America military regimes were engaged in and said and did nothing to prevent them .
One of the most laughable parts of the secret documents are ones that imply that the CIA struggled on whether it should do anything about the abuses .
Why is that laughable ?
The Kennedy Autopsy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Pricing .
Because it is clearly nothing more than a “ cover ourselves ” protection in the event that Operation Condor ever was uncovered .
How do we know that ?
Because the Operation Condor goons were doing precisely what the U.S. national-security apparatus wanted them to do — eradicate the threat of communism in the Americas !
Remember : This was the Cold War , when the U.S. national security establishment was 100 percent convinced that there was a worldwide communist conspiracy to take over the United States and the rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was supposedly based in Moscow , Russia .
( Yes , that Russia ! )
The American people were exhorted to be on the constant lookout for communists .
“ Security ” was the byword .
People were looking for communists in the State Department , the military , Congress , Hollywood , and lots of other places .
Suspected communists were hauled before Congress and asked whether they had ever been a member of the Communist Party .
Even Republican President Dwight Eisenhower was suspected in some circles of being a communist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sense of what life was like in the United States during the Cold War , take all the national-security hoopla surrounding the “ war on terrorism ” and multiply it by about a thousand .
After World War II , the federal government was converted from a limited-government republic to a national-security state , a type of totalitarian governmental structure with omnipotent , dark-side powers , such as the powers to assassinate , kidnap , and torture suspected communists .
For example , unbeknownst to the American people at the time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Mafia to assassinate Cuban leader Fidel Castro , even though Cuba had never attacked the United States or even threatened to do so .
Former President Lyndon Johnson would later refer to the CIA ’ s assassination program as a “ damned Murder Inc. ” In principle , Operation Condor ’ s assassination program was no different from the CIA ’ s assassination program .
It was the national-security state ’ s obsessive fear of communism that led to the CIA ’ s orchestration of the coup in Chile in 1973 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the country , Salvador Allende , and replaced him with the brutal right-wing unelected military dictator Augusto Pinochet .
Although it appears that Allende ended up committing suicide , no doubt to avoid being tortured , there is no doubt that at the inception of the coup , the Chilean national-security establishment was trying to assassinate him with missiles fired from Chilean fighter planes into Allende ’ s position in the national palace , with the full approval of its counterparts in the U.S. national-security establishment .
Moreover , we mustn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and murder of Gen. Rene Schneider , the head of Chile ’ s armed forces .
They targeted him because he was opposed to the U.S.-orchestrated coup .
He took the position that his oath to support and defend the constitution of Chile superseded US .
demands for a coup to protect Chile from Allende ’ s socialism .
Thus , U.S. officials targeted him for removal .
After Pinochet took power , he instituted a reign of terror in which his national-security henchmen kidnapped , tortured , raped , disappeared , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the full support of U.S. officials .
The CIA , Terrorism , an ... Jacob Hornberger Check Amazon for Pricing .
Operation Condor followed from that reign of terror .
To ensure that suspected communists could not escape to neighboring countries , several other South American right-wing military dictatorships conspired with the Pinochet military dictatorship to coordinate efforts to ensure that no suspected communists could get away .
As the secret documents revealed in the Washington Post article confirm , the CIA ’ s role in this Cold War operation was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its Latin American counterparts to efficiently coordinate their efforts .
Moreover , don ’ t forget also that the Pentagon and the CIA had just been defeated by the communists in Vietnam .
Given their mindsets that the communists were winning and that America was now in greater danger than ever before of being taken over by the Reds , the Operation Condor brutes were viewed as great heroes for protecting America and the world from a communist takeover .
The people who paid the price for this sordid , dark-side paranoia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of innocent people who were rounded up , tortured , raped , abused , disappeared , assassinated , and murdered .
The worst mistake the American people have ever made was permitting the federal government to be converted from a limited government republic to a national-security state .
That conversion perverted America ’ s sense of moral values , conscience , and right conduct .
Operation Condor is further proof of that fact .
Reprinted with permission from The Future of Freedom Foundation .
The Best of Jacob G. Hornberger

The Washington Post is reporting today that top secret documents confirm the role that the CIA played in Operation Condor, the international state-sponsored assassination, kidnapping, torture, and murder ring run by U.S.-supported military dictatorships in South America in the late 1970s. The documents confirm that the CIA’s role in the operation was to provide communications equipment to the ring, which enabled them to coordinate cross-border efforts to kidnap, torture, and kill suspected communists, which, of course, were nothing more than people who believed in socialism or communism.
Over the years, I have written about Operation Condor, and FFF has linked to many article detailing this sordid, dark-side conspiracy. See here.
The Post article make it clear that the CIA was fully aware of the horrific human-rights abuses that the Latin America military regimes were engaged in and said and did nothing to prevent them.
One of the most laughable parts of the secret documents are ones that imply that the CIA struggled on whether it should do anything about the abuses.
Why is that laughable? The Kennedy Autopsy 2:... Hornberger, Jacob Buy New $2.99 (as of 11:13 UTC - Details)
Because it is clearly nothing more than a “cover ourselves” protection in the event that Operation Condor ever was uncovered.
How do we know that?
Because the Operation Condor goons were doing precisely what the U.S. national-security apparatus wanted them to do — eradicate the threat of communism in the Americas!
The Cold War
Remember: This was the Cold War, when the U.S. national security establishment was 100 percent convinced that there was a worldwide communist conspiracy to take over the United States and the rest of the world, a conspiracy that was supposedly based in Moscow, Russia. (Yes, that Russia!)
The American people were exhorted to be on the constant lookout for communists. “Security” was the byword. People were looking for communists in the State Department, the military, Congress, Hollywood, and lots of other places. Suspected communists were hauled before Congress and asked whether they had ever been a member of the Communist Party. Even Republican President Dwight Eisenhower was suspected in some circles of being a communist agent.
If you want to get a sense of what life was like in the United States during the Cold War, take all the national-security hoopla surrounding the “war on terrorism” and multiply it by about a thousand.
After World War II, the federal government was converted from a limited-government republic to a national-security state, a type of totalitarian governmental structure with omnipotent, dark-side powers, such as the powers to assassinate, kidnap, and torture suspected communists.
For example, unbeknownst to the American people at the time, the CIA entered into a secret conspiracy with the Mafia to assassinate Cuban leader Fidel Castro, even though Cuba had never attacked the United States or even threatened to do so. Former President Lyndon Johnson would later refer to the CIA’s assassination program as a “damned Murder Inc.”
In principle, Operation Condor’s assassination program was no different from the CIA’s assassination program.
The Chilean coup
It was the national-security state’s obsessive fear of communism that led to the CIA’s orchestration of the coup in Chile in 1973 that ousted the democratically elected socialist president of the country, Salvador Allende, and replaced him with the brutal right-wing unelected military dictator Augusto Pinochet. Although it appears that Allende ended up committing suicide, no doubt to avoid being tortured, there is no doubt that at the inception of the coup, the Chilean national-security establishment was trying to assassinate him with missiles fired from Chilean fighter planes into Allende’s position in the national palace, with the full approval of its counterparts in the U.S. national-security establishment.
Moreover, we mustn’t forget the CIA’s kidnapping and murder of Gen. Rene Schneider, the head of Chile’s armed forces. They targeted him because he was opposed to the U.S.-orchestrated coup. He took the position that his oath to support and defend the constitution of Chile superseded US. demands for a coup to protect Chile from Allende’s socialism. Thus, U.S. officials targeted him for removal.
After Pinochet took power, he instituted a reign of terror in which his national-security henchmen kidnapped, tortured, raped, disappeared, or murdered tens of thousands of suspected communists, with the full support of U.S. officials. The CIA, Terrorism, an... Hornberger, Jacob Buy New $0.99 (as of 08:15 UTC - Details)
Operation Condor
Operation Condor followed from that reign of terror. To ensure that suspected communists could not escape to neighboring countries, several other South American right-wing military dictatorships conspired with the Pinochet military dictatorship to coordinate efforts to ensure that no suspected communists could get away. As the secret documents revealed in the Washington Post article confirm, the CIA’s role in this Cold War operation was to provide the communications equipment that enabled its Latin American counterparts to efficiently coordinate their efforts.
Moreover, don’t forget also that the Pentagon and the CIA had just been defeated by the communists in Vietnam. Given their mindsets that the communists were winning and that America was now in greater danger than ever before of being taken over by the Reds, the Operation Condor brutes were viewed as great heroes for protecting America and the world from a communist takeover.
The people who paid the price for this sordid, dark-side paranoia, of course were the tens of thousands of innocent people who were rounded up, tortured, raped, abused, disappeared, assassinated, and murdered.
The worst mistake the American people have ever made was permitting the federal government to be converted from a limited government republic to a national-security state. That conversion perverted America’s sense of moral values, conscience, and right conduct. Operation Condor is further proof of that fact.
Reprinted with permission from The Future of Freedom Foundation.
The Best of Jacob G. Hornberger


lewrockwell--2020-03-02--And They Ask Me Why I Drink….

And They Ask Me Why I Drink….

What follows began as a reader question about electric cars and their “ low maintenance.
” I replied to this reader here .
She replied to me , below .
Since the topic is of general interest , I decided to give it the Treatment , in the manner of fungicide .
I have an engineering degree and you don ’ t fool me for one second .
The engine ( in an IC car ) is by far the most expensive part of the car .
In electric and hydrogen cars , they ’ re maintenance free .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the age of the motor car .
I ’ m not selling anything , Samantha .
Nor trying to “ fool ” anyone .
I never claimed the engine in an IC car isn ’ t “ by far the most expensive ” part of it .
Do you know what a straw man argument is ?
I did state that in an electric car the battery is extremely expensive .
Amazon.com Gift Card i ... Buy New $ 10.00 I also pointed out – in re your original question – that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed ) lower maintenance than IC cars .
Maybe the electric motor is – but that is only one part of the EV .
Aside from the motor , EVs have many of the same maintenance issues ( e.g.
, wear and tear on brakes ands tires , suspension components as well as the cooling/heating system for the battery , which isn ’ t ] easy for the average person to deal with ; in some cases , the EV ’ s body must be lifted off the chassis to access these systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right that an EV doesn ’ t need oil and air filter changes and occasional tuneups but these are very infrequent in a modern IC car – which you ought to know since you ’ re an engineer – and such regular maintenance is generally inexpensive , while the EV itself is extremely expensive .
For example , the Nissan Leaf – which is currently the lowest-priced EV available – stickers for $ 30,000 .
This is for the version with the low-capacity battery and a 150 mile “ best case ” range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an IC economy car that ’ s otherwise similar in terms of size and so on , such as Nissan ’ s Versa – which stickers for about $ 15k ( and can travel 300-plus miles on a tank ) .
How many oil and filter changes does that $ 15k difference pay for ?
Well , let ’ s do some math – which engineers are good at .
Let ’ s say an oil change costs $ 50 and let ’ s posit that the oil needs to be changed once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call it twice a year , so $ 100 annually .
The math does not look good… The Best of Eric Peters

What follows began as a reader question about electric cars and their “low maintenance.” I replied to this reader here. She replied to me, below. Since the topic is of general interest, I decided to give it the Treatment, in the manner of fungicide.
First, Samantha, who writes:
I have an engineering degree and you don’t fool me for one second. The engine (in an IC car) is by far the most expensive part of the car. In electric and hydrogen cars, they’re maintenance free. You’re selling horses in the dawn of the age of the motor car.
I’m not selling anything, Samantha. Nor trying to “fool” anyone.
I never claimed the engine in an IC car isn’t “by far the most expensive” part of it. Do you know what a straw man argument is? I did state that in an electric car the battery is extremely expensive. Amazon.com Gift Card i... Buy New $10.00 (as of 08:25 UTC - Details)
Which is inarguably true.
I also pointed out – in re your original question – that electric cars are not (as you claimed) lower maintenance than IC cars. Maybe the electric motor is – but that is only one part of the EV. Aside from the motor, EVs have many of the same maintenance issues (e.g., wear and tear on brakes ands tires, suspension components as well as the cooling/heating system for the battery, which isn’t] easy for the average person to deal with; in some cases, the EV’s body must be lifted off the chassis to access these systems, etc).
You’re right that an EV doesn’t need oil and air filter changes and occasional tuneups but these are very infrequent in a modern IC car – which you ought to know since you’re an engineer – and such regular maintenance is generally inexpensive, while the EV itself is extremely expensive.
For example, the Nissan Leaf – which is currently the lowest-priced EV available – stickers for $30,000. This is for the version with the low-capacity battery and a 150 mile “best case” range.
This is twice the cost of an IC economy car that’s otherwise similar in terms of size and so on, such as Nissan’s Versa – which stickers for about $15k (and can travel 300-plus miles on a tank).
How many oil and filter changes does that $15k difference pay for? Well, let’s do some math – which engineers are good at. Let’s say an oil change costs $50 and let’s posit that the oil needs to be changed once every 5,000 miles. Let’s call it twice a year, so $100 annually.
The math does not look good…
Read the Whole Article
The Best of Eric Peters


lewrockwell--2020-03-02--5G and the China Epidemic

5G and the China Epidemic

When a momentous event occurs , people weigh in .
One person says , ‘ X is the cause.
’ Another says , ‘ No , Y is the cause.
’ Is it possible that X and Y are both causing the event ?
Of course .
But people have a tendency to aim for one and only one explanation .
This is a psychological factor that has nothing to do with the truth .
If a person is starving and also going without water , is there only one reason for his illness ?
Both causes together are creating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ epidemic , ” the combination of deadly air pollution in Chinese cities , and the rollout of 5G technology , could both be operating with horrific effect .
Here is a typical standard definition of 5G , from the industry : “ 5G is the 5th generation mobile network .
It will take a much larger role than previous generations .
5G will elevate the mobile network to not only interconnect people , but also interconnect and control machines , objects , and devices .
It will deliver new levels of performance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiences and connect new industries.
” ( Qualcom.com ) Several petitions have circulated , with the aim of stopping 5G deployment altogether .
From principia-scientific.org , here is an excerpt from one petition , which is claimed to have 26,000 scientists as signatories : “ We the undersigned scientists , doctors , environmental organizations and citizens from ( __ ) countries , urgently call for a halt to the deployment of the 5G ( fifth generation ) wireless network , including 5G from space satellites .
5G will massively increase exposure to radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 2G , 3G and 4G networks for telecommunications already in place .
RF radiation has been proven harmful for humans and the environment .
The deployment of 5G constitutes an experiment on humanity and the environment that is defined as a crime under international law.
” EMF*D : 5G , Wi-Fi & Cel ... Dr. Joseph Mercola Buy New $ 22.49 “ Telecommunications companies worldwide , with the support of governments , are poised within the next two years to roll out the fifth-generation wireless network ( 5G ) .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be unprecedented societal change on a global scale .
We will have ‘ smart ’ homes , ‘ smart ’ businesses , ‘ smart ’ highways , ‘ smart ’ cities and self-driving cars .
Virtually everything we own and buy , from refrigerators and washing machines to milk cartons , hairbrushes and infants ’ diapers , will contain antennas and microchips and will be connected wirelessly to the Internet .
Every person on Earth will have instant access to super-high-speed , low- latency wireless communications from any point on the planet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Antarctic.
” “ What is not widely acknowledged is that this will also result in unprecedented environmental change on a global scale .
The planned density of radio frequency transmitters is impossible to envisage .
In addition to millions of new 5G base stations on Earth and 20,000 new satellites in space , 200 billion transmitting objects , according to estimates , will be part of the Internet of Things by 2020 , and one trillion objects a few years later .
Commercial 5G at lower frequencies and slower speeds was deployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-2018 .
The rollout of 5G at extremely high ( millimetre wave ) frequencies is planned to begin at the end of 2018.
” “ Despite widespread denial , the evidence that radio frequency ( RF ) radiation is harmful to life is already overwhelming .
The accumulated clinical evidence of sick and injured human beings , experimental evidence of damage to DNA , cells and organ systems in a wide variety of plants and animals , and epidemiological evidence that the major diseases of modern civilization—cancer , heart disease and diabetes—are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forms a literature base of well over 10,000 peer-reviewed studies.
” “ If the telecommunications industry ’ s plans for 5G come to fruition , no person , no animal , no bird , no insect and no plant on Earth will be able to avoid exposure , 24 hours a day , 365 days a year , to levels of RF radiation that are tens to hundreds of times greater than what exists today , without any possibility of escape anywhere on the planet .
These 5G plans threaten to provoke serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage to all of the Earth ’ s ecosystems.
” Because 5G signal transmissions can only move , with useful accuracy , across very short distances , you see the reference , in the petition , to millions of base relay stations that will be built around the world .
I would say MANY millions , if not billions .
They will be positioned on light poles , on buildings , on fences , on all sorts of structures .
Coming soon to your neighborhood ; perhaps to the sidewalk right outside your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when tiny nanomachines ( sensors ) are installed in the body to report , in real time , on physical changes , and diagnose diseases , you ’ ll have your very own internal 5G transmitter .
Will wonders never cease ?
A number of independent researchers have attributed the so-called “ epidemic ” effects in China to the rollout of harmful 5G technology .
I have written and published several backgrounders on 5G , and I ’ m printing excerpts at end of this piece .
The first issue is : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running in major Chinese cities ?
And an allied question : how much of China ’ s 5G is operating at the 60HGz frequency band—which appears to be the most harmful to health ?
Here is a statement from lightreading.com , dated February 24 of this year .
It combines prediction with report : “ China Unicom and its rollout partner China Telecom agreed at a special conference last Thursday to speed up their 5G buildout.
” “ The two telcos , which last year struck an agreement to jointly build and share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 250,000 base stations by the end of the third quarter – one quarter ahead of schedule… ” “ In the first half of 2020 they expect to roll out 100,000 base stations in 47 cities , China Security Times reported.
” “ As of February 20 , the two operators had put into service 64,000 5G base stations nationwide.
” What is a base station ?
The term seems to apply to both small and large relay installations for passing along 5G transmissions .
A small station might be the size of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It might be much , much larger , a hub containing many antennae .
For the moment , let ’ s assume the base stations referred to in the above article are a combination of large and small installations .
Both types would be necessary to launch an extensive 5G network .
64,000 5G base stations currently up and running in all of China might not seem like a very big number .
But it could be a big number , if only a limited number of cities are hosting these stations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very active , and perhaps they have installed more stations .
How much 5G is currently deployed in Wuhan , which is said to be the initial Chinese center for 5G deployment ?
Wuhan , of course , has been called “ the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic.
” If 2018 and 2019 5G predictions are close to accurate , the answer would be : a lot .
Any significant deployment of 5G in Chinese cities can create human damage .
And of course , in order to hide this damage , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invoked .
“ Don ’ t blame our corporate 5G , or try to derail the hundreds of billions of dollars immediately coming our way .
It ’ s the coronavirus .
Salute the virus.
” One VERY serious claim : when 5G employs a frequency band at 60GHz , disruption in oxygen molecules occurs—and the crucial ability of hemoglobin to pick up oxygen and transport it throughout the body is seriously impaired .
I ’ ve consulted with a trusted source .
So far , as I continue to look for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too convincing to dismiss .
The lack of open debate among professionals is a sign that the vital issue is being pushed into the background .
All in all , given the available literature on 5G , in the face of stonewalling and the refusal of telecom industry professionals to step forward with honest reports , common sense tells us to look to Wuhan and other major Chinese cities , and their rollout of 5G , for understanding the human damage there , which is being falsely labeled : “ THE VIRUS IS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 5G are immense .
Here are excerpts from earlier articles I wrote on the subject : A few decades ago , a movement was started to create an interconnected power grid for the whole planet .
We were told this would be the only way to avoid wasting huge amounts of electricity and , voila , bring all nations and all people into a modern 21st century .
But now , it ’ s a different story , a classic bait and switch .
The bait was the promise of One Grid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5G will bring us : 100 billion or more NEW devices online , all connected to the Internet and the Cloud .
What could be more wasteful ?
What could be more ridiculous ?
This is the opposite of sane energy use .
Who really cares whether his 5G-connected refrigerator keeps track of the food items inside it and orders new items when the supply dwindles ?
Who has to have a 5G driverless car that takes him to work ?
Who must have a 5G stove that senses what is being cooked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Who lives and who dies if a washing machine doesn ’ t measure how much soap is stored inside and doesn ’ t order new soap ?
Who is demanding a hundred devices in his home that spy on him and record his actions ?
Who needs to load a movie in two seconds ?
With 5G , the ultimate goal is : every device in every home that uses energy will be “ its own computer , ” and the planetary grid will connect ALL these devices to a monitoring and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details in his classic , Technocracy Rising , that worldwide Energy Authority was the dream of the men who launched the Technocracy movement , in America , in the 1930s .
They set out the key requirements—which weren ’ t technically possible then , but are quite doable now : continuous real-time measuring of both energy production and energy use from one end of the planet to the other… …So that both energy production and energy consumption could be controlled .
“ For the good of all , ” of course .
5G @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Globalists : “ We ’ re promising a stunning long-range future of ‘ automatic homes ’ , where everything is done for you .
But really , that ’ s the cover story .
Ultimately , we want to be able to measure every unit of energy used by every device in every home—and through AI , regulate how much energy we will let every individual consume , moment to moment .
We control energy .
We are the energy masters .
If you want to run and operate and dominate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Terms and projects like smart grid , smart meters , sustainability , Agenda 21 , smart cities , climate change—all this is Technocratic planning and justification for Rule through Energy .
The beginning of an actual rational plan for energy would start this way : DUMP 5G .
Dump the whole plan of installing small transmitter-cells on buildings and homes and trees and lampposts and fences all over the planet .
Forget it .
Don ’ t bring 100 billion new devices online .
Aside from the extreme health dangers , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the order of saying we need hundred-foot robots standing on sidewalks washing the windows of office buildings .
If some movie star wants to install 30 generators on his property and have engineers build him an automatic home , where he can sit back , flip a switch , and have three androids carry him into his bathtub and wash him and dry him , fine .
But planning a smart city completely interconnected by 5G to the Internet of Things ?
Who gave informed consent to that ?
Nobody .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to decide that a small African country needs to be given much more energy , while Germany or France or the US will have to sacrifice energy for the cause of social justice .
But this is yet another con , because you won ’ t see governments cleaning up the contaminated water supplies of that small African country , or installing modern sanitation , or curtailing the forced movement of populations into poverty-stricken cities , or reclaiming vast farm land stolen by mega-corporations and giving that land back to local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Energy Authority is control .
And because the Authority is Globalist and Technocratic , it aims to lower energy use in industrial nations and help wreck their economies , making it much easier to move in and take over those countries .
Who in his right mind would propose a wireless system that relies on many , many , many cells/transmitters placed closely to each other , all over the world ?
This system would be far more vulnerable to physical disruption than the present 4G .
You can find many articles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5G for their most advanced planes—and for their developing AI-controlled weapons .
How does that work ?
Where will all the transmitter/cells be placed on the ground and in the air ?
?
Something is missing here .
Is there another version of 5G we ’ re not being told about ?
Is geoengineering of the atmosphere the means for tuning up space so 5G signals can be passed along without cells/transmitters ?
Part of the US obsession to bring 5G online quickly stems from competition with China , which at the moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exporting the technology .
“ If China has it , we have to have it sooner and better.
” This attitude sidesteps the issue of why we must have 5G in the first place .
“ Along with the 5G there is another thing coming – Internet of Things .
If you look at it…the radiation level is going to increase tremendously and yet the industry is very excited about it… .
they project 5G/IoT business to be a $ 7 trillion business.
” — Prof. Girish Kumar , Professor at Electrical Engineering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gets what ?
The ability to watch the reruns of Law & Order he ’ s already watching ?
His current TV reception isn ’ t good enough ?
The appliances in his home will all be connected to Internet and talk to each other and spy on him and record his energy use , in conjunction with smart meters , for the Greater Good .
Somehow , you really need your toaster connected to the Internet ?
You want that ?
You can ’ t get along without that ?
UNDOUBTEDLY , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IS , EVENTUALLY , MASSIVE NUMBERS OF DRIVERLESS CARS ON ROADS ALL OVER THE WORLD .
This is the plan .
Cars are connected and talk to each other .
Humans play no role in this .
The Technocratic Internet of Things decides how , at any given moment , to regulate traffic flows .
Humans learn to be passive .
AND WITH THE INTERNET OF THINGS , THE TECHNOCRATIC ELITE WILL BE ABLE TO INSTALL ENERGY-USE QUOTAS AND CEILINGS FOR EVERY PERSON AND EXERT TOP-DOWN CONTROL ON THE PLANET .
“ Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of your house speaking .
You have reached the assigned limit of your energy use for the month .
Try to get along without energy until next month ’ s allotment comes online… ” At electricsense.com ( 5/12/17 ) , the fatuous “ upside ” of 5G is exposed : “ 5G and IoT [ Internet of Things ] promises to connect us in our homes , schools , workplaces , cities , parks and open spaces to over a trillion objects around the world .
It promises cars that drive themselves , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powder and softener plus of course super fast downloads and streaming.
” “ According to Fortune.com 5G will support at least 100 billion devices and will be 10 to 100 times faster than current 4G technology .
( 4G was already about 10 times faster than 3G ) .
” “ It ’ ll bring download speed up to 10 Gigabits per second .
This would let us have an entire building of people send each other data in close to no time , thus improving productivity.
” electricsense.com : “ 5G will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology of beamforming ) that ’ ll scramble/unscramble and redirect packets of data on a no-interference path back to us .
This could mean wireless antennas on every lamp post , utility pole , home and business throughout entire neighborhoods , towns and cities.
” “ Thousands of studies link low-level wireless radio frequency radiation exposures to a long list of adverse biological effects , including : * DNA single and double strand breaks * oxidative damage * disruption of cell metabolism * increased blood brain barrier permeability * melatonin reduction * disruption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stress proteins ” “ Given that 5G is set to utilize frequencies above and below existing frequency bands…But the tendency ( it varies from country to country ) is for 5G to utilize the higher frequency bands .
Which brings its own particular concerns… ” “ The biggest concern is how these new wavelengths will affect the skin .
The human body has between two million to four million sweat ducts .
Dr. Ben-Ishai of Hebrew University , Israel explains that our sweat ducts act like ‘ an array of helical antennas when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we become more conductive .
A recent New York study which experimented with 60GHz waves stated that ‘ the analyses of penetration depth show that more than 90 % of the transmitted power is absorbed in the epidermis and dermis layer ’ .
” “ The effects of MMWs [ millimeter waves ] as studied by Dr. Yael Stein of Hebrew University is said to also cause humans physical pain as our nociceptors flare up in recognition of the wave as a damaging stimuli .
So we ’ re looking at possibilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as physical pain to our skin.
” “ A 1994 study found that low level millimeter microwave radiation produced lens opacity in rats , which is linked to the production of cataracts.
” Exposed : The Electroni ... Bill Cadwallader Best Price : $ 17.10 Buy New $ 14.96 “ An experiment conducted by the Medical Research Institute of Kanazawa Medical University found that 60GHz ‘ millimeter-wave antennas can cause thermal injuries of varying types of levels .
The thermal effects induced by millimeter waves can apparently penetrate below the surface of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1992 Russian study found that frequencies in the range 53-78GHz ( that which 5G proposes to use ) impacted the heart rate variability ( an indicator of stress ) in rats .
Another Russian study on frogs whose skin was exposed to MMWs found heart rate changes ( arrhythmias ) .
” “ 5G will use pulsed millimeter waves to carry information .
But as Dr. Joel Moskowitz points out , most 5G studies are misleading because they do not pulse the waves .
This is important because research on microwaves already tells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biological effects on our body compared to non-pulsed waves .
Previous studies , for instance , show how pulse rates of the frequencies led to gene toxicity and DNA strand breaks.
” This is just a sampling of 5G ’ s disastrous effects .
There is much more .
Once the effects on the population take hold , doctors will make diagnoses of DISEASES that seem to have nothing to do with 5G .
They ’ ll call it Chronic Fatigue Syndrome , or a variety of blood disorders , they ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll develop new drugs…the one cause they won ’ t find is 5G .
What do you know ?
I wrote that last item about THE VIRUS on March 26 , 2018 , long before the current “ China epidemic ” emerged .
The Best of Jon Rappoport

When a momentous event occurs, people weigh in. One person says, ‘X is the cause.’ Another says, ‘No, Y is the cause.’ Is it possible that X and Y are both causing the event? Of course. But people have a tendency to aim for one and only one explanation. This is a psychological factor that has nothing to do with the truth. If a person is starving and also going without water, is there only one reason for his illness? Both causes together are creating a dire situation. In the current “epidemic,” the combination of deadly air pollution in Chinese cities, and the rollout of 5G technology, could both be operating with horrific effect.
Here is a typical standard definition of 5G, from the industry: “5G is the 5th generation mobile network. It will take a much larger role than previous generations. 5G will elevate the mobile network to not only interconnect people, but also interconnect and control machines, objects, and devices. It will deliver new levels of performance and efficiency that will empower new user experiences and connect new industries.” (Qualcom.com)
Several petitions have circulated, with the aim of stopping 5G deployment altogether. From principia-scientific.org, here is an excerpt from one petition, which is claimed to have 26,000 scientists as signatories:
“We the undersigned scientists, doctors, environmental organizations and citizens from (__) countries, urgently call for a halt to the deployment of the 5G (fifth generation) wireless network, including 5G from space satellites. 5G will massively increase exposure to radio frequency (RF) radiation on top of the 2G, 3G and 4G networks for telecommunications already in place. RF radiation has been proven harmful for humans and the environment. The deployment of 5G constitutes an experiment on humanity and the environment that is defined as a crime under international law.”
EMF*D: 5G, Wi-Fi & Cel... Dr. Joseph Mercola Buy New $22.49 (as of 09:53 UTC - Details) “Telecommunications companies worldwide, with the support of governments, are poised within the next two years to roll out the fifth-generation wireless network (5G). This is set to deliver what is acknowledged to be unprecedented societal change on a global scale. We will have ‘smart’ homes, ‘smart’ businesses, ‘smart’ highways, ‘smart’ cities and self-driving cars. Virtually everything we own and buy, from refrigerators and washing machines to milk cartons, hairbrushes and infants’ diapers, will contain antennas and microchips and will be connected wirelessly to the Internet. Every person on Earth will have instant access to super-high-speed, low- latency wireless communications from any point on the planet, even in rainforests, mid-ocean and the Antarctic.”
“What is not widely acknowledged is that this will also result in unprecedented environmental change on a global scale. The planned density of radio frequency transmitters is impossible to envisage. In addition to millions of new 5G base stations on Earth and 20,000 new satellites in space, 200 billion transmitting objects, according to estimates, will be part of the Internet of Things by 2020, and one trillion objects a few years later. Commercial 5G at lower frequencies and slower speeds was deployed in Qatar, Finland and Estonia in mid-2018. The rollout of 5G at extremely high (millimetre wave) frequencies is planned to begin at the end of 2018.”
“Despite widespread denial, the evidence that radio frequency (RF) radiation is harmful to life is already overwhelming. The accumulated clinical evidence of sick and injured human beings, experimental evidence of damage to DNA, cells and organ systems in a wide variety of plants and animals, and epidemiological evidence that the major diseases of modern civilization—cancer, heart disease and diabetes—are in large part caused by electromagnetic pollution, forms a literature base of well over 10,000 peer-reviewed studies.”
“If the telecommunications industry’s plans for 5G come to fruition, no person, no animal, no bird, no insect and no plant on Earth will be able to avoid exposure, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to levels of RF radiation that are tens to hundreds of times greater than what exists today, without any possibility of escape anywhere on the planet. These 5G plans threaten to provoke serious, irreversible effects on humans and permanent damage to all of the Earth’s ecosystems.”
Because 5G signal transmissions can only move, with useful accuracy, across very short distances, you see the reference, in the petition, to millions of base relay stations that will be built around the world. I would say MANY millions, if not billions. They will be positioned on light poles, on buildings, on fences, on all sorts of structures. Coming soon to your neighborhood; perhaps to the sidewalk right outside your house or apartment building.
And eventually, when tiny nanomachines (sensors) are installed in the body to report, in real time, on physical changes, and diagnose diseases, you’ll have your very own internal 5G transmitter. Will wonders never cease?
A number of independent researchers have attributed the so-called “epidemic” effects in China to the rollout of harmful 5G technology.
I have written and published several backgrounders on 5G, and I’m printing excerpts at end of this piece.
The first issue is: how much 5G is currently up and running in major Chinese cities? And an allied question: how much of China’s 5G is operating at the 60HGz frequency band—which appears to be the most harmful to health?
Here is a statement from lightreading.com, dated February 24 of this year. It combines prediction with report: “China Unicom and its rollout partner China Telecom agreed at a special conference last Thursday to speed up their 5G buildout.”
“The two telcos, which last year struck an agreement to jointly build and share their 5G networks, committed to deploying 250,000 base stations by the end of the third quarter – one quarter ahead of schedule…”
“In the first half of 2020 they expect to roll out 100,000 base stations in 47 cities, China Security Times reported.”
“As of February 20, the two operators had put into service 64,000 5G base stations nationwide.”
What is a base station? The term seems to apply to both small and large relay installations for passing along 5G transmissions. A small station might be the size of a shoe box attached to a light pole. It might be much, much larger, a hub containing many antennae.
For the moment, let’s assume the base stations referred to in the above article are a combination of large and small installations. Both types would be necessary to launch an extensive 5G network.
64,000 5G base stations currently up and running in all of China might not seem like a very big number. But it could be a big number, if only a limited number of cities are hosting these stations. And perhaps other telecom companies are very active, and perhaps they have installed more stations.
How much 5G is currently deployed in Wuhan, which is said to be the initial Chinese center for 5G deployment? Wuhan, of course, has been called “the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic.” If 2018 and 2019 5G predictions are close to accurate, the answer would be: a lot.
Any significant deployment of 5G in Chinese cities can create human damage. And of course, in order to hide this damage, the cover story of THE VIRUS would be invoked. “Don’t blame our corporate 5G, or try to derail the hundreds of billions of dollars immediately coming our way. It’s the coronavirus. Salute the virus.”
One VERY serious claim: when 5G employs a frequency band at 60GHz, disruption in oxygen molecules occurs—and the crucial ability of hemoglobin to pick up oxygen and transport it throughout the body is seriously impaired. I’ve consulted with a trusted source. So far, as I continue to look for more evidence, I believe this assessment is too convincing to dismiss. The lack of open debate among professionals is a sign that the vital issue is being pushed into the background.
All in all, given the available literature on 5G, in the face of stonewalling and the refusal of telecom industry professionals to step forward with honest reports, common sense tells us to look to Wuhan and other major Chinese cities, and their rollout of 5G, for understanding the human damage there, which is being falsely labeled: “THE VIRUS IS CAUSING IT.”
Globally, the ramifications of 5G are immense. Here are excerpts from earlier articles I wrote on the subject:
A few decades ago, a movement was started to create an interconnected power grid for the whole planet. We were told this would be the only way to avoid wasting huge amounts of electricity and, voila, bring all nations and all people into a modern 21st century.
But now, it’s a different story, a classic bait and switch. The bait was the promise of One Grid for all. The switch is what 5G will bring us:
100 billion or more NEW devices online, all connected to the Internet and the Cloud. What could be more wasteful? What could be more ridiculous? This is the opposite of sane energy use.
Who really cares whether his 5G-connected refrigerator keeps track of the food items inside it and orders new items when the supply dwindles? Who has to have a 5G driverless car that takes him to work? Who must have a 5G stove that senses what is being cooked and sets the temperature for four minutes? Who lives and who dies if a washing machine doesn’t measure how much soap is stored inside and doesn’t order new soap? Who is demanding a hundred devices in his home that spy on him and record his actions? Who needs to load a movie in two seconds?
With 5G, the ultimate goal is: every device in every home that uses energy will be “its own computer,” and the planetary grid will connect ALL these devices to a monitoring and regulating Energy Authority.
As Patrick Wood details in his classic, Technocracy Rising, that worldwide Energy Authority was the dream of the men who launched the Technocracy movement, in America, in the 1930s.
They set out the key requirements—which weren’t technically possible then, but are quite doable now: continuous real-time measuring of both energy production and energy use from one end of the planet to the other…
…So that both energy production and energy consumption could be controlled. “For the good of all,” of course.
5G is a technology for making this happen.
Globalists: “We’re promising a stunning long-range future of ‘automatic homes’, where everything is done for you. But really, that’s the cover story. Ultimately, we want to be able to measure every unit of energy used by every device in every home—and through AI, regulate how much energy we will let every individual consume, moment to moment. We control energy. We are the energy masters. If you want to run and operate and dominate the world, you control its energy.”
Terms and projects like smart grid, smart meters, sustainability, Agenda 21, smart cities, climate change—all this is Technocratic planning and justification for Rule through Energy.
The beginning of an actual rational plan for energy would start this way: DUMP 5G. Dump the whole plan of installing small transmitter-cells on buildings and homes and trees and lampposts and fences all over the planet. Forget it. Don’t bring 100 billion new devices online. Aside from the extreme health dangers, it’s ridiculously expensive. It’s on the order of saying we need hundred-foot robots standing on sidewalks washing the windows of office buildings.
If some movie star wants to install 30 generators on his property and have engineers build him an automatic home, where he can sit back, flip a switch, and have three androids carry him into his bathtub and wash him and dry him, fine. But planning a smart city completely interconnected by 5G to the Internet of Things? Who gave informed consent to that? Nobody.
A global Energy Authority, of course, is going to decide that a small African country needs to be given much more energy, while Germany or France or the US will have to sacrifice energy for the cause of social justice. But this is yet another con, because you won’t see governments cleaning up the contaminated water supplies of that small African country, or installing modern sanitation, or curtailing the forced movement of populations into poverty-stricken cities, or reclaiming vast farm land stolen by mega-corporations and giving that land back to local farmers.
The whole hidden purpose of an Energy Authority is control.
And because the Authority is Globalist and Technocratic, it aims to lower energy use in industrial nations and help wreck their economies, making it much easier to move in and take over those countries.
Who in his right mind would propose a wireless system that relies on many, many, many cells/transmitters placed closely to each other, all over the world? This system would be far more vulnerable to physical disruption than the present 4G.
You can find many articles that claim the US military must have 5G for their most advanced planes—and for their developing AI-controlled weapons. How does that work? Where will all the transmitter/cells be placed on the ground and in the air?? Something is missing here. Is there another version of 5G we’re not being told about? Is geoengineering of the atmosphere the means for tuning up space so 5G signals can be passed along without cells/transmitters?
Part of the US obsession to bring 5G online quickly stems from competition with China, which at the moment is in the lead on developing and exporting the technology. “If China has it, we have to have it sooner and better.” This attitude sidesteps the issue of why we must have 5G in the first place.
“Along with the 5G there is another thing coming – Internet of Things. If you look at it…the radiation level is going to increase tremendously and yet the industry is very excited about it…. they project 5G/IoT business to be a $7 trillion business.” — Prof. Girish Kumar, Professor at Electrical Engineering Department at IIT Bombay
And the consumer gets what? The ability to watch the reruns of Law&Order he’s already watching? His current TV reception isn’t good enough? The appliances in his home will all be connected to Internet and talk to each other and spy on him and record his energy use, in conjunction with smart meters, for the Greater Good.
Somehow, you really need your toaster connected to the Internet? You want that? You can’t get along without that?
UNDOUBTEDLY, A KEY PART OF THE 5G PROGRAM IS, EVENTUALLY, MASSIVE NUMBERS OF DRIVERLESS CARS ON ROADS ALL OVER THE WORLD. This is the plan. Cars are connected and talk to each other. Humans play no role in this. The Technocratic Internet of Things decides how, at any given moment, to regulate traffic flows. Humans learn to be passive.
AND WITH THE INTERNET OF THINGS, THE TECHNOCRATIC ELITE WILL BE ABLE TO INSTALL ENERGY-USE QUOTAS AND CEILINGS FOR EVERY PERSON AND EXERT TOP-DOWN CONTROL ON THE PLANET.
“Mr. Jones, this is the voice of your house speaking. You have reached the assigned limit of your energy use for the month. Try to get along without energy until next month’s allotment comes online…”
At electricsense.com (5/12/17), the fatuous “upside” of 5G is exposed: “5G and IoT [Internet of Things] promises to connect us in our homes, schools, workplaces, cities, parks and open spaces to over a trillion objects around the world. It promises cars that drive themselves, washing machines that order their own washing powder and softener plus of course super fast downloads and streaming.”
“According to Fortune.com 5G will support at least 100 billion devices and will be 10 to 100 times faster than current 4G technology. (4G was already about 10 times faster than 3G).”
“It’ll bring download speed up to 10 Gigabits per second. This would let us have an entire building of people send each other data in close to no time, thus improving productivity.”
electricsense.com: “5G will utilize smaller cell stations (and the technology of beamforming) that’ll scramble/unscramble and redirect packets of data on a no-interference path back to us. This could mean wireless antennas on every lamp post, utility pole, home and business throughout entire neighborhoods, towns and cities.”
“Thousands of studies link low-level wireless radio frequency radiation exposures to a long list of adverse biological effects, including:
* DNA single and double strand breaks
* oxidative damage
* disruption of cell metabolism
* increased blood brain barrier permeability
* melatonin reduction
* disruption to brain glucose metabolism
* generation of stress proteins”
“Given that 5G is set to utilize frequencies above and below existing frequency bands…But the tendency (it varies from country to country) is for 5G to utilize the higher frequency bands. Which brings its own particular concerns…”
“The biggest concern is how these new wavelengths will affect the skin. The human body has between two million to four million sweat ducts. Dr. Ben-Ishai of Hebrew University, Israel explains that our sweat ducts act like ‘an array of helical antennas when exposed to these wavelengths,’ meaning that we become more conductive. A recent New York study which experimented with 60GHz waves stated that ‘the analyses of penetration depth show that more than 90% of the transmitted power is absorbed in the epidermis and dermis layer’.”
“The effects of MMWs [millimeter waves] as studied by Dr. Yael Stein of Hebrew University is said to also cause humans physical pain as our nociceptors flare up in recognition of the wave as a damaging stimuli. So we’re looking at possibilities of many skin diseases and cancer as well as physical pain to our skin.”
“A 1994 study found that low level millimeter microwave radiation produced lens opacity in rats, which is linked to the production of cataracts.” Exposed: The Electroni... Bill Cadwallader Best Price: $17.10 Buy New $14.96 (as of 10:39 UTC - Details)
“An experiment conducted by the Medical Research Institute of Kanazawa Medical University found that 60GHz ‘millimeter-wave antennas can cause thermal injuries of varying types of levels. The thermal effects induced by millimeter waves can apparently penetrate below the surface of the eye’.”
“A 1992 Russian study found that frequencies in the range 53-78GHz (that which 5G proposes to use) impacted the heart rate variability (an indicator of stress) in rats. Another Russian study on frogs whose skin was exposed to MMWs found heart rate changes (arrhythmias).”
“5G will use pulsed millimeter waves to carry information. But as Dr. Joel Moskowitz points out, most 5G studies are misleading because they do not pulse the waves. This is important because research on microwaves already tells us how pulsed waves have more profound biological effects on our body compared to non-pulsed waves. Previous studies, for instance, show how pulse rates of the frequencies led to gene toxicity and DNA strand breaks.”
This is just a sampling of 5G’s disastrous effects. There is much more.
It’s full steam ahead for 5G on planet Earth.
Profits, top-down control, new technology—why bother with extensive health studies?
Once the effects on the population take hold, doctors will make diagnoses of DISEASES that seem to have nothing to do with 5G. They’ll call it Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or a variety of blood disorders, they’ll look for THE VIRUS, and they’ll develop new drugs…the one cause they won’t find is 5G.
What do you know? I wrote that last item about THE VIRUS on March 26, 2018, long before the current “China epidemic” emerged.
Reprinted with permission from Jon Rappoport’s blog.
The Best of Jon Rappoport


lewrockwell--2020-03-02--The Afghanistan ‘Peace Deal’ Riddle

The Afghanistan ‘Peace Deal’ Riddle

Nearly two decades after the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan post-9/11 , and after an interminable war costing over $ 2 trillion , there ’ s hardly anything “ historic ” about a possible peace deal that may be signed in Doha this coming Saturday between Washington and the Taliban .
We should start by stressing three points .
1- The Taliban wanted all US troops out .
Washington refused .
2- The possible deal only reduces US troops from 13,000 to 8,600 .
That ’ s the same number already deployed before the Trump administration .
3- The reduction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half from now – assuming what ’ s being described as a truce holds .
So there would be no misunderstanding , Taliban Deputy Leader Sirajuddin Haqqani , in an op-ed certainly read by everyone inside the Beltway , detailed their straightforward red line : total US withdrawal .
2030 : A Letter to My G ... Pepe Escobar Check Amazon for Pricing .
And Haqqani is adamant : there ’ s no peace deal if US troops stay .
Still , a deal looms .
How come ?
Simple : enter a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top US negotiator , the seemingly eternal Zalmay Khalilzad , a remnant of the Clinton and Bush eras , has spent months codifying these annexes – as confirmed by a source in Kabul currently not in government but familiar with the negotiations .
Let ’ s break them down to four points .
1- US counter-terror forces would be allowed to stay .
Even if approved by the Taliban leadership , this would be anathema to the masses of Taliban fighters .
2- The Taliban would have to denounce terrorism and violent extremism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a problem .
GLOBALISTAN : How the G ... Pepe Escobar Check Amazon for Pricing .
3- There will be a scheme to monitor the so-called truce while different warring Afghan factions discuss the future , what the US State Dept .
describes as “ intra-Afghan negotiations.
” Culturally , as we ’ ll see later , Afghans of different ethnic backgrounds will have a tremendously hard time monitoring their own warring .
4- The CIA would be allowed to do business in Taliban-controlled areas .
That ’ s an even more hardcore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knows that the prime reason for CIA business is the heroin rat line that finances Langley ’ s black ops , as I exposed in 2017 .
Otherwise , everything about this “ historic ” deal remains quite vague .
Even Secretary of Defense Mark Esper was forced to admit the war in Afghanistan is “ still ” in “ a state of strategic stalemate.
” As for the far from strategic financial disaster , one just needs to peruse the latest SIGAR report .
SIGAR stands for Special Inspector General for Afghanistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Afghanistan has been “ reconstructed .
”

Nearly two decades after the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan post-9/11, and after an interminable war costing over $ 2 trillion, there’s hardly anything “historic” about a possible peace deal that may be signed in Doha this coming Saturday between Washington and the Taliban.
We should start by stressing three points.
1- The Taliban wanted all US troops out. Washington refused.
2- The possible deal only reduces US troops from 13,000 to 8,600. That’s the same number already deployed before the Trump administration.
3- The reduction will only happen a year and a half from now – assuming what’s being described as a truce holds.
So there would be no misunderstanding, Taliban Deputy Leader Sirajuddin Haqqani, in an op-ed certainly read by everyone inside the Beltway, detailed their straightforward red line: total US withdrawal.
And Haqqani is adamant: there’s no peace deal if US troops stay.
Still, a deal looms. How come? Simple: enter a series of secret “annexes.”
The top US negotiator, the seemingly eternal Zalmay Khalilzad, a remnant of the Clinton and Bush eras, has spent months codifying these annexes – as confirmed by a source in Kabul currently not in government but familiar with the negotiations.
Let’s break them down to four points.
1- US counter-terror forces would be allowed to stay. Even if approved by the Taliban leadership, this would be anathema to the masses of Taliban fighters.
2- The Taliban would have to denounce terrorism and violent extremism. That’s rhetorical, not a problem.
GLOBALISTAN :How the G... Escobar, Pepe Buy New $3.99 (as of 03:45 UTC - Details) 3- There will be a scheme to monitor the so-called truce while different warring Afghan factions discuss the future, what the US State Dept. describes as “intra-Afghan negotiations.” Culturally, as we’ll see later, Afghans of different ethnic backgrounds will have a tremendously hard time monitoring their own warring.
4- The CIA would be allowed to do business in Taliban-controlled areas. That’s an even more hardcore anathema. Everyone familiar with post-9/11 Afghanistan knows that the prime reason for CIA business is the heroin rat line that finances Langley’s black ops, as I exposed in 2017.
Otherwise, everything about this “historic” deal remains quite vague.
Even Secretary of Defense Mark Esper was forced to admit the war in Afghanistan is “still” in “a state of strategic stalemate.”
As for the far from strategic financial disaster, one just needs to peruse the latest SIGAR report. SIGAR stands for Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. In fact virtually nothing in Afghanistan has been “reconstructed.”
Read the Whole Article


lewrockwell--2020-03-02--Edward Snowden’s Tweet That Exposed What Our TV’s Are Doing to Us

Years ago , Edward Snowden accomplished one of the most significant intelligence leaks in U.S. history , confirming to the world that the government really does spy on you .
Two years later , Samsung casually warned the public that their Smart TVs could record their living room banter .
Now , even if you ’ re alone in a room , if that room contains a laptop , computer , or Smart TV , it ’ s possible that someone out there is listening to you , and even watching you .
The worst part ?
You wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TVision Insights was launched a few years ago , allowing companies to monitor TV watchers ’ viewing habits .
This means that they can literally watch you as you watch TV , and the technology even records data on where your eyes are looking , when you ’ re distracted , and what emotions you ’ re conveying .
I first came across the technology when Edward Snowden tweeted the following image on February 26 , 2017 .
As you can see , not only can the companies watch you watch TV , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pick up on your facial expression , engagement level , and other significant data .
This information has provided insight into not only what shows people watch the most or are the most engaged in , but what commercials they prefer to watch as well .
TVision was co-founded by Dan Schiffman and one of his classmates from the Sloan School of Management at MIT .
Through the installation of a Microsoft Kinect device , most often used for Xbox video games , on top of TVs , TVision tracks the movement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the TV .
The device can then record even tiny shifts from everyone in the room , and then the company matches the movements to what they ’ re watching .
The device ’ s sensors can record minute shifts in all of the people in the room .
The company then matches those viewing patterns to shows and commercials using technology that listens to what is being broadcast on the TV .
Since the technology is still very new , it ’ s currently being voluntarily tested on 7,500 people in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas ( source ) .
Obviously there are privacy concerns here .
The company states that they aren ’ t storing any images or video footage , and it ’ s only a voluntary installation , at least for now .
But we ’ ve already seen companies and the U.S. government abuse similar software to spy on us .
How can we guarantee this information won ’ t be publicized or sold to corporations or the government , since that ’ s already happened in the past ?
Where do we draw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gadgets and wanting to secure our privacy ?
Is it even possible to have both anymore ?
Your TV Could Be Watching You Already This isn ’ t the first example of surveillance through TVs , and it probably won ’ t be the last .
In early 2015 , Samsung released a statement warning customers that their Smart TVs were capable of listening to and recording conversations .
These TVs have voice recognition software , but this fancy piece of technology comes at a price , and that price is a complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually warned its customers not to have important conversations or disclose personal information in front of their Smart TVs because the audio can be recorded and then transmitted to unidentified third parties .
Samsung ’ s privacy policy in regards to the TV actually reads : “ Please be aware that if your spoken words include personal or other sensitive information , that information will be among the data captured and transmitted to a third party.
” You can read more about the Samsung controversy in our CE article here .
Vizio TVs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the company had to pay $ 2.2 million to settle charges for collecting and selling footage from millions of TVs without the knowledge or consent of its viewers .
This is a pretty fair settlement given the fact that they had sold 11 million of these smart TVs .
One can only imagine how many people were directly affected by this .
The software , Smart Interactivity , was marketed as a feature that “ enables program offers and suggestions ” for users .
However , according to the Federal Trade Commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t actually offer any of these programs or suggestions for more than two years after being sold .
The FTC suit , which was filed alongside the Attorney General of New Jersey and the Director of the State ’ s Division of Consumer Affairs , claimed that Vizio and its subsidiary , Inscape Services , sold data to third parties ( source ) .
The data collected was able to show what programs and commercials people watched , and when .
It could also measure the effectiveness of advertisements , as it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the internet-connected technological devices in your home to see if you recently searched for anything in regards to that commercial .
For example , if you watched a McDonald ’ s commercial and then ordered McDonald ’ s on your phone , the software would pick up on that and confirm that the commercial was successful .
The software can also do this in reverse , so if you see an ad online for a cool show and then you decide to watch it after , the software would pick up on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also target ads to people on their other devices , like phones or laptops , based on what they just watched on TV .
Although Vizio never publicly identified the companies they sold their data to , the FTC claimed that it included personal information like “ sex , age , income , marital status , household size , education , homeownership and household value ” ( source ) .
How Do We Take Back Our Privacy ?
If you own a Smart TV , don ’ t stress too much !
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ features ( although who knows if this is guaranteed , but it ’ s certainly worth a shot ) .
Just do a quick Google search and you can find out how to opt out of Vizio and Samsung Smart TVs , if not more .
It ’ s well-known now that laptop cameras and microphones are easy targets for hackers , particularly if those hackers are U.S. government agencies , as they can be activated remotely ( and you may not even know it because that little green light next to your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
The entire CE office tapes over their laptop cameras in order to prevent anyone from potentially spying on us .
Even Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg tapes over his laptop camera and microphone as an easy defence against people spying on him .
I encourage you to do the same !
The reality is that we live in a world where everything is recorded and privacy isn ’ t always a choice anymore .
There are little things here and there that we can do to avoid being taped or listened to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more and more difficult .
We live in a technologically driven world , so it ’ s crucial that we voice our opinions and fight for our privacy .
Even if you feel like you don ’ t have anything to hide , you should still have the right to do so !

Years ago, Edward Snowden accomplished one of the most significant intelligence leaks in U.S. history, confirming to the world that the government really does spy on you. Two years later, Samsung casually warned the public that their Smart TVs could record their living room banter.
Now, even if you’re alone in a room, if that room contains a laptop, computer, or Smart TV, it’s possible that someone out there is listening to you, and even watching you. The worst part? You wouldn’t even know.
A technology called TVision Insights was launched a few years ago, allowing companies to monitor TV watchers’ viewing habits. This means that they can literally watch you as you watch TV, and the technology even records data on where your eyes are looking, when you’re distracted, and what emotions you’re conveying.
How TVision Insights Watches You Watch TV
I first came across the technology when Edward Snowden tweeted the following image on February 26, 2017.
As you can see, not only can the companies watch you watch TV, but the technology is intelligent enough to pick up on your facial expression, engagement level, and other significant data. This information has provided insight into not only what shows people watch the most or are the most engaged in, but what commercials they prefer to watch as well.
TVision was co-founded by Dan Schiffman and one of his classmates from the Sloan School of Management at MIT. Through the installation of a Microsoft Kinect device, most often used for Xbox video games, on top of TVs, TVision tracks the movement of people’s eyes in relation to the TV. The device can then record even tiny shifts from everyone in the room, and then the company matches the movements to what they’re watching.
The device’s sensors can record minute shifts in all of the people in the room. The company then matches those viewing patterns to shows and commercials using technology that listens to what is being broadcast on the TV.
Since the technology is still very new, it’s currently being voluntarily tested on 7,500 people in the Boston, Chicago, and Dallas-Fort Worth areas (source). Permanent Record Snowden, Edward Buy New $15.32 (as of 11:50 UTC - Details)
Obviously there are privacy concerns here. The company states that they aren’t storing any images or video footage, and it’s only a voluntary installation, at least for now. But we’ve already seen companies and the U.S. government abuse similar software to spy on us.
How can we guarantee this information won’t be publicized or sold to corporations or the government, since that’s already happened in the past? Where do we draw the line between wanting the latest technical gadgets and wanting to secure our privacy? Is it even possible to have both anymore?
Your TV Could Be Watching You Already
This isn’t the first example of surveillance through TVs, and it probably won’t be the last. In early 2015, Samsung released a statement warning customers that their Smart TVs were capable of listening to and recording conversations.
These TVs have voice recognition software, but this fancy piece of technology comes at a price, and that price is a complete and utter violation of privacy. Samsung actually warned its customers not to have important conversations or disclose personal information in front of their Smart TVs because the audio can be recorded and then transmitted to unidentified third parties.
Samsung’s privacy policy in regards to the TV actually reads: “Please be aware that if your spoken words include personal or other sensitive information, that information will be among the data captured and transmitted to a third party.”
You can read more about the Samsung controversy in our CE article here.
Vizio TVs were also found to record people, but the company had to pay $2.2 million to settle charges for collecting and selling footage from millions of TVs without the knowledge or consent of its viewers. This is a pretty fair settlement given the fact that they had sold 11 million of these smart TVs. One can only imagine how many people were directly affected by this.
The software, Smart Interactivity, was marketed as a feature that “enables program offers and suggestions” for users. However, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Vizio didn’t actually offer any of these programs or suggestions for more than two years after being sold. The FTC suit, which was filed alongside the Attorney General of New Jersey and the Director of the State’s Division of Consumer Affairs, claimed that Vizio and its subsidiary, Inscape Services, sold data to third parties (source).
The data collected was able to show what programs and commercials people watched, and when. It could also measure the effectiveness of advertisements, as it would use the IP address attached to all of the internet-connected technological devices in your home to see if you recently searched for anything in regards to that commercial. For example, if you watched a McDonald’s commercial and then ordered McDonald’s on your phone, the software would pick up on that and confirm that the commercial was successful. The software can also do this in reverse, so if you see an ad online for a cool show and then you decide to watch it after, the software would pick up on that, too. The software could also target ads to people on their other devices, like phones or laptops, based on what they just watched on TV.
Although Vizio never publicly identified the companies they sold their data to, the FTC claimed that it included personal information like “sex, age, income, marital status, household size, education, homeownership and household value” (source).
How Do We Take Back Our Privacy?
If you own a Smart TV, don’t stress too much! There are ways to opt out of these features (although who knows if this is guaranteed, but it’s certainly worth a shot). Just do a quick Google search and you can find out how to opt out of Vizio and Samsung Smart TVs, if not more.
It’s well-known now that laptop cameras and microphones are easy targets for hackers, particularly if those hackers are U.S. government agencies, as they can be activated remotely (and you may not even know it because that little green light next to your camera won’t necessarily turn on).
The entire CE office tapes over their laptop cameras in order to prevent anyone from potentially spying on us. Even Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg tapes over his laptop camera and microphone as an easy defence against people spying on him. I encourage you to do the same!
The reality is that we live in a world where everything is recorded and privacy isn’t always a choice anymore. There are little things here and there that we can do to avoid being taped or listened to, but that seems to be getting more and more difficult. We live in a technologically driven world, so it’s crucial that we voice our opinions and fight for our privacy. Even if you feel like you don’t have anything to hide, you should still have the right to do so!
Reprinted with permission from Collective Evolution.


lewrockwell--2020-03-02--Life Is a Contact Sport

Life Is a Contact Sport

GSTAAD—It feels like a sepia-tinged melodrama , one directed by the great schlock-master Sam Wood .
Driving up the winding valleys through the 17th-century villages and the Castle of Gruyères on one ’ s right , the heartbeat quickened as Gstaad beckoned in the distance .
It meant beautiful women , parties galore , challenging snow-covered slopes to swish down on , and a friendly atmosphere among the lucky few who knew about the place .
All that has gone down the drain , except for the prices of everything , which have gone through the roof .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to identify the mood of a time , especially here in Gstaad , but no longer .
For starters , there is no more snow from upstairs , only man-made white stuff .
The last February without any snow whatsoever was in 1964 , and I spent it hitting tennis balls with Irwin Shaw on the Palace hotel ’ s outdoor courts .
Nobody talked about climate change back then , and those who did were as wrong as these modern maniacs trying to shove it down our throats nowadays .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Porsche tried to collar me the other day , and he got a somewhat rude response : “ Talk to the Chinese , and tell the African Bushmen to stop burning wood , and the Markles to offset their carbon footprint by staying put in Hollywood , ” I said .
“ I use a sailboat , a mini , and walk everywhere , so shut up.
” From my chalet high above on the Wispile there is green all around me , with the white stuff far up and away , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Man-made paths of snow have the suckers going up and down the ski lifts like robots , “ après-skiing ” being the operative word where sport is concerned .
Still , there are those like my own son who insist that there is snow and good skiing , except that particular venue changes quite a lot—daily , in fact .
The only good news about this is that I will have to give up skiing in the near future , and the lack of the white stuff makes it easier .
Amazon.com Gift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The lack of snow was offset by karate camp , with the arrival of my karate sensei Richard Amos and Ben , a tough member of the Swiss team .
Implicit in karate is a sense of personal dignity , once characteristic of the samurai , even that having given way nowadays to American-style commercialism .
But the way of Bushido , at least to some of us , remains a code of moral principle .
Richard Sensei , Ben , and I went at it hard , but then I noticed they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the old boy .
I truly felt like quitting .
But it is the way of Bushido—one does not attack old men .
Still , a few bruises make it easy to fool oneself , and I celebrated the finish of the three-day camp with one bottle of vodka all to myself .
Throughout these 55 years of karate , especially before sessions that require hand-to-hand fighting , I inspire myself by reading about real combat , as in James Holland ’ s brilliant Normandy ’ 44 .
This time my inspiration was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Reich and awarded the Knight ’ s Cross by Hitler himself for his one-man shooting spree of an entire troop of three Cromwell tanks and one Sherman in a matter of minutes along with a number of half-tracks , trucks , and carriers .
( Wittmann was to die in his tank in the closing days of the battle . )
That is when I came to the part about my wife ’ s uncle , a battalion commander in the Panzer-Lehr-Regiment , “ the urbane and aristocratic Major Prince Wilhelm von @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in action in World War II , seven at the Russian front , Wilhelm while counterattacking in Normandy and taking a direct hit in the turret of his panzer and dying instantly .
The Nazis made sure nobles were in the thick of the fighting , and the extremely good-looking Wilhelm was all of 25 years of age .
The Best of Taki Theodoracopulos

GSTAAD—It feels like a sepia-tinged melodrama, one directed by the great schlock-master Sam Wood. Driving up the winding valleys through the 17th-century villages and the Castle of Gruyères on one’s right, the heartbeat quickened as Gstaad beckoned in the distance. It meant beautiful women, parties galore, challenging snow-covered slopes to swish down on, and a friendly atmosphere among the lucky few who knew about the place. All that has gone down the drain, except for the prices of everything, which have gone through the roof. It’s called progress. I used to be able to identify the mood of a time, especially here in Gstaad, but no longer. For starters, there is no more snow from upstairs, only man-made white stuff. The last February without any snow whatsoever was in 1964, and I spent it hitting tennis balls with Irwin Shaw on the Palace hotel’s outdoor courts. Nobody talked about climate change back then, and those who did were as wrong as these modern maniacs trying to shove it down our throats nowadays. One such Extinction Rebellion asshole who drives a Porsche tried to collar me the other day, and he got a somewhat rude response: “Talk to the Chinese, and tell the African Bushmen to stop burning wood, and the Markles to offset their carbon footprint by staying put in Hollywood,” I said. “I use a sailboat, a mini, and walk everywhere, so shut up.”
From my chalet high above on the Wispile there is green all around me, with the white stuff far up and away, on the glaciers in the distance. Man-made paths of snow have the suckers going up and down the ski lifts like robots, “après-skiing” being the operative word where sport is concerned. Still, there are those like my own son who insist that there is snow and good skiing, except that particular venue changes quite a lot—daily, in fact. The only good news about this is that I will have to give up skiing in the near future, and the lack of the white stuff makes it easier. Amazon.com Gift Card i... Buy New $10.00 (as of 08:25 UTC - Details)
The lack of snow was offset by karate camp, with the arrival of my karate sensei Richard Amos and Ben, a tough member of the Swiss team. Implicit in karate is a sense of personal dignity, once characteristic of the samurai, even that having given way nowadays to American-style commercialism. But the way of Bushido, at least to some of us, remains a code of moral principle. Richard Sensei, Ben, and I went at it hard, but then I noticed they were cheating, taking it easy on the old boy. I truly felt like quitting. But it is the way of Bushido—one does not attack old men. Still, a few bruises make it easy to fool oneself, and I celebrated the finish of the three-day camp with one bottle of vodka all to myself.
Throughout these 55 years of karate, especially before sessions that require hand-to-hand fighting, I inspire myself by reading about real combat, as in James Holland’s brilliant Normandy ’44. This time my inspiration was panzer ace Michael Wittmann, feted throughout the Reich and awarded the Knight’s Cross by Hitler himself for his one-man shooting spree of an entire troop of three Cromwell tanks and one Sherman in a matter of minutes along with a number of half-tracks, trucks, and carriers. (Wittmann was to die in his tank in the closing days of the battle.) That is when I came to the part about my wife’s uncle, a battalion commander in the Panzer-Lehr-Regiment, “the urbane and aristocratic Major Prince Wilhelm von Schoenburg-Waldenburg.” Eight Prince Schoenburgs were killed in action in World War II, seven at the Russian front, Wilhelm while counterattacking in Normandy and taking a direct hit in the turret of his panzer and dying instantly. The Nazis made sure nobles were in the thick of the fighting, and the extremely good-looking Wilhelm was all of 25 years of age.
Read the Whole Article
The Best of Taki Theodoracopulos