investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--All citizens of the United States are currently being tracked by GPS through via the “surveillance s

All citizens of the United States are currently being tracked by GPS through via the “surveillance system“ created as a result of the relief bill. The “social distancing scoreboard” is a publicly available tool.

What ’ s interesting to note is that it claims to be “ anonymous , ” and that you can opt out .
In order to opt out though , you would think you need to simply put your phones IDFA ( Identification for Advertisers Number ) into the system so they can remove it .
But they actually want you to provide your IDFA in ADDITION your full name and email address , thereby attaching your phones unique ID to your name .
What the hell did we just do ?
This is the patriot Act on steroids .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the World Health Organization and the CDC , social distancing is currently the most effective way to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
We created this interactive Scoreboard , updated daily , to empower organizations to measure and understand the efficacy of social distancing initiatives at the local level .
And here is an article backing up what I said : • The CDC will launch a new “ surveillance and data collection system ” to track the spread of coronavirus in the US , per the coronavirus relief bill signed into law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency funding as part of the bipartisan stimulus package .
Of that , $ 500 million will go public health data surveillance and analytics infrastructure modernization .
• Tracking the spread of the virus will be a balancing act for the agency , which will have to navigate privacy laws as it expands its surveillance .
President Donald Trump signed into law a sweeping stimulus bill that will pump emergency funding into the CDC to combat the coronavirus , including a system to gather data on how the virus is spreading .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an emergency stimulus package that provides $ 2 trillion in funding to boost government health programs and stabilize the American economy during the coronavirus crisis .
Of the funding allocated to the CDC , the stimulus sets aside at least $ 500 million for public health data surveillance and modernizing the analytics infrastructure .
The CDC must report on the development of a “ surveillance and data collection system ” within the next 30 days .
While it ’ s not clear what form that surveillance system will take , the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data that can be gleaned from tech platforms and smartphone use to monitor movement patterns .
Read the methodology page .
It ’ s explicit .
This is GPS data .
They don ’ t beat around the bush .
That ’ s what they have a BS “ opt-out ” option .

by RaGeQuaKe
What’s interesting to note is that it claims to be “anonymous,” and that you can opt out.
In order to opt out though, you would think you need to simply put your phones IDFA (Identification for Advertisers Number) into the system so they can remove it. But they actually want you to provide your IDFA in ADDITION your full name and email address, thereby attaching your phones unique ID to your name.
What the hell did we just do? This is the patriot Act on steroids.
Here is the scoreboard:
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
www.unacast.com/covid19/social-distancing-scoreboard
According to the World Health Organization and the CDC, social distancing is currently the most effective way to slow the spread of COVID-19. We created this interactive Scoreboard, updated daily, to empower organizations to measure and understand the efficacy of social distancing initiatives at the local level.
And here is an article backing up what I said:
www.businessinsider.com/cdc-coronavirus-surveillance-and-data-collection-stimulus-package-2020-3
The CDC will launch a new “surveillance and data collection system” to track the spread of coronavirus in the US, per the coronavirus relief bill signed into law Friday.
The agency would receive emergency funding as part of the bipartisan stimulus package. Of that, $500 million will go public health data surveillance and analytics infrastructure modernization.
Tracking the spread of the virus will be a balancing act for the agency, which will have to navigate privacy laws as it expands its surveillance.
President Donald Trump signed into law a sweeping stimulus bill that will pump emergency funding into the CDC to combat the coronavirus, including a system to gather data on how the virus is spreading. The CDC’s new funding is part of an emergency stimulus package that provides $2 trillion in funding to boost government health programs and stabilize the American economy during the coronavirus crisis. Of the funding allocated to the CDC, the stimulus sets aside at least $500 million for public health data surveillance and modernizing the analytics infrastructure. The CDC must report on the development of a “surveillance and data collection system” within the next 30 days. While it’s not clear what form that surveillance system will take, the federal government has reportedly expressed interest in aggregating data that can be gleaned from tech platforms and smartphone use to monitor movement patterns.
Read the methodology page. It’s explicit. This is GPS data. They don’t beat around the bush. That’s what they have a BS “opt-out” option.
www.unacast.com/methodology


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--Well, In Colorado, We Have People Who Impersonate Police Officers For The Purpose Of Berating Their

Well, In Colorado, We Have People Who Impersonate Police Officers For The Purpose Of Berating Their Neighbors For Being Out Without Necessity:

To be clear , these are people who stop their neighbors not to rob or assault them , which at least would be understandable motivations , but for the purpose of berating them and telling them to stay home .
I wish I could believe we ’ re living in Puppet Masters , but I ’ m increasingly more and more afraid these tin-pot Stazi officers are wholly human .
Several suspected police impersonators directed a driver into a roadblock in Greeley early Friday morning and questioned the driver about why she was out despite the state ’ s coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police that she was driving around 4:50 a.m. when she was stopped near 10th Street and Promontory Circle by a man in a dark uniform who was wearing a gas mask .
The man directed her into an area marked with traffic cones where three or four silver cars were parked , some with red and blue lights flashing in their dashboards , Cmdr .
Rafael Gutierrez said Sunday .
At least one car had a spotlight .
The woman said she saw multiple people wearing yellow traffic vests .
In the roadblock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pepper spray questioned the driver about why she was out , Gutierrez said .
“ The individual asked to see her license , insurance and registration , and demanded explanation as to why she was violating COVID-19 law , ” Gutierrez said .
“ He told the woman she could get charged with a violation for being out .
And apparently he showed her something she thought looked like a ticket but it was never given to her.
” After about 10 minutes , the man let the woman leave , Gutierrez said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first of between five and seven cars to be directed into the roadblock .
The woman did not see any badges or logos , Gutierrez said .
Greeley police did not conduct the roadblock , and officers checked with other law enforcement agencies , including the Weld County Sheriff ’ s Office and the Colorado State Patrol , Gutierrez said .
No agencies were conducting any sort of operation like what the woman described .
Additionally , no law enforcement agency checked the woman ’ s name or license plate through official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re doing what most other departments are doing and seeking voluntary compliance and doing education before we would resort to any type of enforcement , ” Gutierrez said , adding that Greeley police have no plans to conduct such roadblocks .
“ We are actively pursuing an investigation on this and hopefully we can figure out who they are and get an explanation for their actions , and if they are doing it for criminal reasons then we can pursue the appropriate charges against them , ” he said .
Reports of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise since the state ’ s stay-at-home order was issued last week .
Gutierrez said he ’ d heard of at least one similar incident that occurred somewhere between Loveland , Greeley and Larimer County .
Police in Aurora also reported a incident that happened on March 25 .

To be clear, these are people who stop their neighbors not to rob or assault them, which at least would be understandable motivations, but for the purpose of berating them and telling them to stay home.
I wish I could believe we’re living in Puppet Masters, but I’m increasingly more and more afraid these tin-pot Stazi officers are wholly human.
Several suspected police impersonators directed a driver into a roadblock in Greeley early Friday morning and questioned the driver about why she was out despite the state’s coronavirus stay-at-home order.
The woman told Greeley police that she was driving around 4:50 a.m. when she was stopped near 10th Street and Promontory Circle by a man in a dark uniform who was wearing a gas mask.
The man directed her into an area marked with traffic cones where three or four silver cars were parked, some with red and blue lights flashing in their dashboards, Cmdr. Rafael Gutierrez said Sunday. At least one car had a spotlight.
The woman said she saw multiple people wearing yellow traffic vests. In the roadblock, a man wearing a baton and pepper spray questioned the driver about why she was out, Gutierrez said.
“The individual asked to see her license, insurance and registration, and demanded explanation as to why she was violating COVID-19 law,” Gutierrez said. “He told the woman she could get charged with a violation for being out. And apparently he showed her something she thought looked like a ticket but it was never given to her.”
After about 10 minutes, the man let the woman leave, Gutierrez said. The woman told police she was the first of between five and seven cars to be directed into the roadblock. The woman did not see any badges or logos, Gutierrez said.
Greeley police did not conduct the roadblock, and officers checked with other law enforcement agencies, including the Weld County Sheriff’s Office and the Colorado State Patrol, Gutierrez said. No agencies were conducting any sort of operation like what the woman described. Additionally, no law enforcement agency checked the woman’s name or license plate through official channels, he said.
“We’re doing what most other departments are doing and seeking voluntary compliance and doing education before we would resort to any type of enforcement,” Gutierrez said, adding that Greeley police have no plans to conduct such roadblocks.
“We are actively pursuing an investigation on this and hopefully we can figure out who they are and get an explanation for their actions, and if they are doing it for criminal reasons then we can pursue the appropriate charges against them,” he said.
Reports of police impersonation seem to be on the rise since the state’s stay-at-home order was issued last week. Gutierrez said he’d heard of at least one similar incident that occurred somewhere between Loveland, Greeley and Larimer County. Police in Aurora also reported a incident that happened on March 25.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--BofA: Brace For the ‘Deepest Recession on Record,’… NYT: the Global Recession Could Last a Long Time

Brace for the ‘ deepest recession on record , ’ says BofA analysts , as jobless claims surge to 6.6 million BofA economists forecast that the unemployment rate will soon hit 15.6 % from 3.5 % as of February There are no parallels for the pandemic fueled slowdown that the U.S. economy is currently contending with , and that is forcing economists like those of Bank of America Global Research to forecast a decidedly grimmer outlook for the American economy than they offered just two weeks ago .
The BofA researchers on Thursday said the coming recession “ appears to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were led to believe just 14 days ago when we last updated our forecasts , not just in the US but globally as well.
” The April 2 research report , which includes star economist Michelle Meyer , comes as the number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits last week soared by a record 6.6 million , bringing the increase in new jobless claims in the last two weeks of March to 10 million .
Why the Global Recession Could Last a Long Time Fears are growing that the worldwide economic downturn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with recovery limited by continued anxiety .
LONDON — The world is almost certainly ensnared in a devastating recession delivered by the coronavirus pandemic .
Now , fears are growing that the downturn could be far more punishing and long lasting than initially feared — potentially enduring into next year , and even beyond — as governments intensify restrictions on business to halt the spread of the pandemic , and as fear of the virus reconfigures the very concept of public space , impeding consumer-led economic growth .
The pandemic is above all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as human interaction remains dangerous , business can not responsibly return to normal .
And what was normal before may not be anymore .
People may be less inclined to jam into crowded restaurants and concert halls even after the virus is contained .
The abrupt halt of commercial activity threatens to impose economic pain so profound and enduring in every region of the world at once that recovery could take years .
The losses to companies , many already saturated with debt , risk triggering a financial crisis of cataclysmic proportions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ intensifying pressure on governments to protect their labor markets from the backlash of the coronavirus or face the threat of protracted recessions .
66 Million+ U.S. Jobs Are at ‘ High Risk ’ of Layoffs Amid Coronavirus As the coronavirus , or COVID-19 , wreaks havoc on the U.S. economy , more than 66 million jobs across sales , production , and food preparation services are at “ high risk ” of layoffs , according to a St. Louis Federal Reserve economist .

Brace for the ‘deepest recession on record,’ says BofA analysts, as jobless claims surge to 6.6 million
BofA economists forecast that the unemployment rate will soon hit 15.6% from 3.5% as of February
There are no parallels for the pandemic fueled slowdown that the U.S. economy is currently contending with, and that is forcing economists like those of Bank of America Global Research to forecast a decidedly grimmer outlook for the American economy than they offered just two weeks ago.
The BofA researchers on Thursday said the coming recession “appears to be deeper and more prolonged than we were led to believe just 14 days ago when we last updated our forecasts, not just in the US but globally as well.”
The April 2 research report, which includes star economist Michelle Meyer, comes as the number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits last week soared by a record 6.6 million, bringing the increase in new jobless claims in the last two weeks of March to 10 million. Why the Global Recession Could Last a Long Time Fears are growing that the worldwide economic downturn could be especially deep and lengthy, with recovery limited by continued anxiety. We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
LONDON — The world is almost certainly ensnared in a devastating recession delivered by the coronavirus pandemic. Now, fears are growing that the downturn could be far more punishing and long lasting than initially feared — potentially enduring into next year, and even beyond — as governments intensify restrictions on business to halt the spread of the pandemic, and as fear of the virus reconfigures the very concept of public space, impeding consumer-led economic growth. The pandemic is above all a public health emergency. So long as human interaction remains dangerous, business cannot responsibly return to normal. And what was normal before may not be anymore. People may be less inclined to jam into crowded restaurants and concert halls even after the virus is contained. The abrupt halt of commercial activity threatens to impose economic pain so profound and enduring in every region of the world at once that recovery could take years. The losses to companies, many already saturated with debt, risk triggering a financial crisis of cataclysmic proportions.
Stock markets have reflected the economic alarm. The S&P 500 in the United States fell over 4 percent on Wednesday, as investors braced for worse conditions ahead. That followed a brutal March, during which a whipsawing S&P 500 fell 12.5 percent, in its worst month since October 2008.
Job losses are mounting across Europe, intensifying pressure on governments to protect their labor markets from the backlash of the coronavirus or face the threat of protracted recessions.
As the coronavirus, or COVID-19, wreaks havoc on the U.S. economy, more than 66 million jobs across sales, production, and food preparation services are at “high risk” of layoffs, according to a St. Louis Federal Reserve economist.
🇺🇸 No, it was not a decent ISM report. Much worse than it looks. pic.twitter.com/iq97xMy9ml — Morten Lund (@meremortenlund) April 1, 2020
Check out where the economy was booming in this chart t.co/ZEcwfFXQUx — A.Urban (@AlessioUrban) April 2, 2020
Does ANYONE believe Spring selling season can be salvaged? Housing bulls tend to be the last to receive the memo. But there’s no denying how destructive this will be as Boomers have no choice but to tap that wealth. Who will buy their homes? @Quillintel
@SoberLook pic.twitter.com/dJ3eVo9Eou — Danielle DiMartino Booth (@DiMartinoBooth) April 2, 2020
In the second year of the Great Depression, US unemployment was just under 9%. We just hit approximately 9% after this morning’s unemployment numbers were released. It has been two weeks. This is going to get even worse before it gets better. — Pomp 🌪 (@APompliano) April 2, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--Geologists discover fragment of ancient lost continent off the coast of Canada

Geologists have found a remnant of an ancient lost continent off the coast of Baffin Island in Canada .
After studying the samples , the team of scientists identified a fragment of the North Atlantic Craton– an ancient continental crust from millions of years ago that stretched from Labrador to Scotland .
The researchers were investigating pieces of kimberlite– igneous rocks that may contain diamonds– when they noticed that the samples have a mineral signature corresponding to other fragments of the craton .
Cratons are billion-year-old , stable blocks of the Earth ’ s crust commonly found in the middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basis of continents .
Study lead author and geologist Maya Kopylova from the University of British Columbia explained that kimberlites are subterranean objects that pick up solid chunks of wall rocks toward the surface .
These rocks , on the other hand , hold details about the conditions far beneath the surface of the Earth over time .
In this case , researchers said kimberlite rocks such as their sample , formed at depths below 150 km ( 93 miles ) , and were lifted to the surface by both chemical and geological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ samples from a De Beers Chidliak Kimberlite Province property in southern Baffin Island , they found that the wall rocks were one of a kind .
“ The mineral composition of other portions of the North Atlantic craton is so unique there was no mistaking it , ” said Kopylova .
“ It was easy to tie the pieces together .
Adjacent ancient cratons in Northern Canada– in Northern Quebec , Northern Ontario and in Nunavut– have completely different mineralogies.
” Kopylova added that discovering these lost remnants is like “ finding a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued , “ The scientific puzzle of the ancient Earth can ’ t be complete without all of the pieces.
” 150 million years ago , the North Atlantic craton ’ s continental plate drifted into fragments .
The newly-found remnant adds about 10 percent to the known expanse of the craton .
“ With these samples , we ’ re able to reconstruct the shapes of ancient continents based on deeper , mantle rocks , ” said Kopylova .
“ We can now understand and map not only the uppermost skinny layer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the planet ’ s volume , but our knowledge is literally and symbolically deeper .
We can put together 200 km ( 124 miles ) deep fragments and contrast them based on the details of the deep mineralogy.
” The researchers said this is the first time geologists were able to reconstruct the size and location of ancient continents by studying rocks deep down the mantle .

watchers.news/2020/04/02/geologi…of-canada/
Geologists have found a remnant of an ancient lost continent off the coast of Baffin Island in Canada. After studying the samples, the team of scientists identified a fragment of the North Atlantic Craton– an ancient continental crust from millions of years ago that stretched from Labrador to Scotland.
The researchers were investigating pieces of kimberlite– igneous rocks that may contain diamonds– when they noticed that the samples have a mineral signature corresponding to other fragments of the craton. Cratons are billion-year-old, stable blocks of the Earth’s crust commonly found in the middle of tectonic plates, which form the basis of continents.
Study lead author and geologist Maya Kopylova from the University of British Columbia explained that kimberlites are subterranean objects that pick up solid chunks of wall rocks toward the surface. These rocks, on the other hand, hold details about the conditions far beneath the surface of the Earth over time.
In this case, researchers said kimberlite rocks such as their sample, formed at depths below 150 km (93 miles), and were lifted to the surface by both chemical and geological forces.
When the team started analyzing samples from a De Beers Chidliak Kimberlite Province property in southern Baffin Island, they found that the wall rocks were one of a kind.
“The mineral composition of other portions of the North Atlantic craton is so unique there was no mistaking it,” said Kopylova.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
“It was easy to tie the pieces together. Adjacent ancient cratons in Northern Canada– in Northern Quebec, Northern Ontario and in Nunavut– have completely different mineralogies.”
Kopylova added that discovering these lost remnants is like “finding a missing piece of a puzzle.” She continued, “The scientific puzzle of the ancient Earth can’t be complete without all of the pieces.”
150 million years ago, the North Atlantic craton’s continental plate drifted into fragments. The newly-found remnant adds about 10 percent to the known expanse of the craton.
“With these samples, we’re able to reconstruct the shapes of ancient continents based on deeper, mantle rocks,” said Kopylova.
“We can now understand and map not only the uppermost skinny layer of Earth that makes up one percent of the planet’s volume, but our knowledge is literally and symbolically deeper. We can put together 200 km (124 miles) deep fragments and contrast them based on the details of the deep mineralogy.”
The researchers said this is the first time geologists were able to reconstruct the size and location of ancient continents by studying rocks deep down the mantle.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--LOL! Camera Cuts Away From Glaring Mika Brzezinski as MSNBC Co-Host Joe Scarborough Praises Trump!

100 % Fed Up reports , MSNBC ’ s Morning Joe hosts , Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough may not @ @ @ @ @ one thing their viewers can always count on is their neverending criticism of President Trump @ @ @ @ @ a rare moment during one of their segments , Joe Scarborough praised President Trump over @ @ @ @ @ social distancing guidelines for Americans through April 30th .

100% Fed Up reports, MSNBC’s Morning Joe hosts, Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough may not agree on everything, but one thing their viewers can always count on is their neverending criticism of President Trump. On Monday, in a rare moment during one of their segments, Joe Scarborough praised President Trump over his decision to extend the social distancing guidelines for Americans through April 30th.
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Read More/Source/Credit/FairUse:
100percentfedup.com/hilarious…


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--MSNBC’s Fear Mongering Host Rachel Maddow Is HUMILIATED When USNC Comfort Arrives In NYC

100 % Fed up reports , On Saturday , President Trump helped to send off the USNS Comfort with a @ @ @ @ @ “ incredible people of New York.
” President Trump stood in front of the US @ @ @ @ @ the citizens of New York City that he has their backs , saying : “ @ @ @ @ @ you , we ’ re fighting for you and we ’ re here with you @ @ @ @ @ always be with you .
”

100% Fed up reports, On Saturday, President Trump helped to send off the USNS Comfort with a message of hope for the “incredible people of New York.” President Trump stood in front of the US Navy hospital ship and assured the citizens of New York City that he has their backs, saying: “We’re here for you, we’re fighting for you and we’re here with you all the way and will always be with you.”
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Read More/Source/Credit/FairUse:
100percentfedup.com/msnbcs-fe…


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--Is Trump In Charge, Or Pompeo? Video

Is Trump In Charge, Or Pompeo? Video

So just WHAT does this video mean ?
Pompeo says “ This is not about retribution , ” Pompeo explained @ @ @ @ @ going forward — we are in a live exercise here to get this right.
” @ @ @ @ @ bewildered and says “ They Should Have Let Us Know ” .
Now what the @ @ @ @ @ With a disgusted look on his face , President Trump replied : “ You should @ @ @ @ @ Live Exercise meaning ( from Wikipedia ) : “ A military exercise or war game @ @ @ @ @ resources in training for military operations , either exploring the effects of warfare or testing @ @ @ @ @ This also serves the purpose of ensuring the combat readiness of garrisoned or deployable forces @ @ @ @ @ home base.
” What is actually going on here ?
Does the White House care @ @ @

by Natura Naturans
So just WHAT does this video mean? Pompeo says“This is not about retribution,” Pompeo explained. “This matter is going forward — we are in a live exercise here to get this right.”. Trump looks a bit bewildered and says “They Should Have Let Us Know”. Now what the HELL does that mean?
@realDonaldTrump is mad that the deep state took control through Continuity of Government, there has been a coup? pic.twitter.com/GcrjNNvVsc #Covid_19 #CoronavirusPandemic #MartialLaw — Shepard Ambellas (@ShepardAmbellas) March 21, 2020
www.fort-russ.com/2020/03/mike-pompeo-says-covid-19-is-a-live-exercise-trump-retorts-they-should-have-let-us-know/
With a disgusted look on his face, President Trump replied: “You should have let us know.”
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Live Exercise meaning (from Wikipedia): “A military exercise or war game is the employment of military resources in training for military operations, either exploring the effects of warfare or testing strategies without actual combat. This also serves the purpose of ensuring the combat readiness of garrisoned or deployable forces prior to deployment from a home base.”
What is actually going on here? Does the White House care to explain?
www.fort-russ.com/2020/03/mike-p…t-us-know/


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--You Could’ve Just Stopped At “the FBI Can’t Be Trusted.”

The FBI Can ’ t Be Trusted With the Surveillance of Americans : An inspector general report finds that the bureau has been systematically unscrupulous .
For years , we civil libertarians were told that our concerns about the secret court that oversees the FBI ’ s applications to monitor U.S. citizens were overblown .
So what if the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court approved more than 99 % of all applications .
The bureau and Justice Department must follow an onerous process , we were assured , that protects innocent citizens from being snooped on by their government .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not very reliable .
On Tuesday , the Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz issued a new report that found systematic errors of fact in the FBI ’ s applications for warrants under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act .
The memo does not speak to the materiality or significance of those errors — but they are startling nonetheless .
Out of 42 applications , the report says , 39 included major defects .
All told , the inspector general uncovered 390 deficiencies , including “ unverified , inaccurate , or inadequately supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The memo follows the report Horowitz issued in December that reviewed four FISA warrants for Carter Page , a former foreign policy adviser to then-candidate Donald Trump ’ s 2106 presidential campaign .
The bureau suspected him of being a Russian agent , but the report found that it repeatedly relied on an opposition research dossier to persuade the secret court to renew the surveillance warrant even after agents knew the dossier was riddled with errors .
Rules that have been in place for nearly 20 years to verify the accuracy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exculpatory information , known as the Woods procedures , were ignored .
The December report was a black eye for the bureau .
It prompted one judge on the surveillance court to reprimand the agents involved in the Page applications , temporarily barring them from appearing before it .
Those applications were so troubling that Horowitz launched an audit of how the FBI was complying with its own rules in all FISA applications between October 2014 and September 2019 .
His conclusion is straightforward .
“ We do not have confidence that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compliance with FBI policy , ” the report says .
The Woods procedures are crucial because the surveillance court is unlike other U.S. courts .
For obvious reasons , it does not operate under the adversarial system , whereby a lawyer representing the suspected spy or terrorist can challenge the government ’ s evidence .
Instead , the court itself is supposed to provide special scrutiny to the prosecution ’ s case — but as the Page fiasco showed , it is in no position to do so .
The result is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI being scrupulous with its facts .
Horowitz ’ s findings show that the bureau has been systematically unscrupulous .
In the twisted politics of the Trump Era , some of bureau ’ s defenders might actually view this report as good news : It shows that the investigation of the Trump campaign was not necessarily politically motivated .
The bureau made the same kinds of mistakes with suspects who were not connected to the Trump campaign .

The FBI Can’t Be Trusted With the Surveillance of Americans: An inspector general report finds that the bureau has been systematically unscrupulous.
For years, we civil libertarians were told that our concerns about the secret court that oversees the FBI’s applications to monitor U.S. citizens were overblown. So what if the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court approved more than 99% of all applications. The bureau and Justice Department must follow an onerous process, we were assured, that protects innocent citizens from being snooped on by their government.
Those assurances, as it turns out, were not very reliable. On Tuesday, the Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz issued a new report that found systematic errors of fact in the FBI’s applications for warrants under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The memo does not speak to the materiality or significance of those errors — but they are startling nonetheless.
Out of 42 applications, the report says, 39 included major defects. All told, the inspector general uncovered 390 deficiencies, including “unverified, inaccurate, or inadequately supported facts, as well as typographical errors.”
The memo follows the report Horowitz issued in December that reviewed four FISA warrants for Carter Page, a former foreign policy adviser to then-candidate Donald Trump’s 2106 presidential campaign. The bureau suspected him of being a Russian agent, but the report found that it repeatedly relied on an opposition research dossier to persuade the secret court to renew the surveillance warrant even after agents knew the dossier was riddled with errors. Rules that have been in place for nearly 20 years to verify the accuracy of facts presented in the warrant and include exculpatory information, known as the Woods procedures, were ignored.
The December report was a black eye for the bureau. It prompted one judge on the surveillance court to reprimand the agents involved in the Page applications, temporarily barring them from appearing before it.
Those applications were so troubling that Horowitz launched an audit of how the FBI was complying with its own rules in all FISA applications between October 2014 and September 2019. His conclusion is straightforward. “We do not have confidence that the FBI has executed its Woods procedures in compliance with FBI policy,” the report says.
The Woods procedures are crucial because the surveillance court is unlike other U.S. courts. For obvious reasons, it does not operate under the adversarial system, whereby a lawyer representing the suspected spy or terrorist can challenge the government’s evidence. Instead, the court itself is supposed to provide special scrutiny to the prosecution’s case — but as the Page fiasco showed, it is in no position to do so.
The result is a system that relies almost exclusively on the FBI being scrupulous with its facts. Horowitz’s findings show that the bureau has been systematically unscrupulous.
In the twisted politics of the Trump Era, some of bureau’s defenders might actually view this report as good news: It shows that the investigation of the Trump campaign was not necessarily politically motivated. The bureau made the same kinds of mistakes with suspects who were not connected to the Trump campaign.
…
…


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--Coronavirus keeps environmentalists off of private jets — is there anything it can’t do?

The session , known as the Conference of Parties , had been scheduled to take place in Glasgow for a @ @ @ @ @ mid-November .
It was postponed to 2021 , the world body ’ s climate agency @ @ @ @ @ Britain , confirmed late Wednesday .
“ In light of the ongoing , worldwide effects @ @ @ @ @ ambitious , inclusive COP26 in November 2020 is no longer possible , ” the British @ @ @ @ @ .
The conference venue in Glasgow , an arena where tens of thousands of delegates @ @ @ @ @ to have gathered , is being turned into a field hospital for people with Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
Covid patients are also being housed in the convention center in Madrid @ @ @ @ @ took place last December ; Spain has one of the world ’ s largest outbreaks @

EVEN MORE GOOD NEWS: Coronavirus Delays Key Global Climate Talks.
The session, known as the Conference of Parties, had been scheduled to take place in Glasgow for a week and a half in mid-November. It was postponed to 2021, the world body’s climate agency and the host government, Britain, confirmed late Wednesday.
“In light of the ongoing, worldwide effects of Covid-19, holding an ambitious, inclusive COP26 in November 2020 is no longer possible,” the British government said in a statement.
The conference venue in Glasgow, an arena where tens of thousands of delegates from around the world were to have gathered, is being turned into a field hospital for people with Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. Covid patients are also being housed in the convention center in Madrid where the Conference of Parties took place last December; Spain has one of the world’s largest outbreaks.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--Where Did All The Masks Go?

Where Did All The Masks Go?

How Obama ’ s failure to resupply respirators in federal stockpile created a 2020 crisis .
The stockpile ’ s @ @ @ @ @ respirator masks was never fully replenished after 2009 swine flu pandemic , experts say .
@ @ @ @ @ America ’ s giant medical storage closet for a terrorist or biological crisis , once @ @ @ @ @ respirator masks to protect doctors , nurses and other frontline health care workers in case @ @ @ @ @ when the COVID-19 pandemic started a few months ago , the supply had dwindled down @ @ @ @ @ masks , known as N95 respirators , and 30 million surgical masks , a supply @ @ @ @ @ 2 percent of what the nation would need for full-blown pandemic .
The tale of @ @ @ @ @ lapsed , leading the Trump administration to scramble for 500 million new masks in the @ @ @ @ @ one of government neglect and competing priorities that began in 2009 .

How Obama’s failure to resupply respirators in federal stockpile created a 2020 crisis. The stockpile’s 100 million supply of N95 respirator masks was never fully replenished after 2009 swine flu pandemic, experts say.
The Strategic National Stockpile, America’s giant medical storage closet for a terrorist or biological crisis, once boasted more than 100 million respirator masks to protect doctors, nurses and other frontline health care workers in case of a contagion.
But when the COVID-19 pandemic started a few months ago, the supply had dwindled down to just 12 million fitted masks, known as N95 respirators, and 30 million surgical masks, a supply deemed to be less than 2 percent of what the nation would need for full-blown pandemic.
The tale of how such a critical supply lapsed, leading the Trump administration to scramble for 500 million new masks in the midst of pandemic, is one of government neglect and competing priorities that began in 2009.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--NYPD Considering Deploying DOA Teams To Collect Bodies

The NYPD considered forming “ DOA Teams ” to help collect the mounting number of bodies left in the wake of the coronavirus , The Post has learned .
In an e-mail sent to precinct detective units Wednesday and obtained by The Post , brass asked for volunteers to form citywide squads to collect those deemed dead on arrival .
“ The idea of creating a Borough DOA Team is being look [ sic ] at and we only want volunteers for it .
.
.
no forcing anybody , ” the message said .
“ It would be three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
” One team would work a 6 a.m.- to-2:30 p.m. shift , and the second a 6 p.m.-to-2:30 a.m. shift , according to the message .
The third group of body collectors would have more flexible hours .
The missive promised 60 hours of overtime per month for the grisly detail — twice the amount of OT allowed by the department under normal circumstances .
But police sources scoffed at the idea of a dead-body squad in the midst of the spreading COVID-19 virus — extra pay be damned .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” one source said .
“ This could be life or death or long-term health disability .
To make a few pennies extra is not worth the effects of it .
”

The NYPD considered forming “DOA Teams” to help collect the mounting number of bodies left in the wake of the coronavirus, The Post has learned.
In an e-mail sent to precinct detective units Wednesday and obtained by The Post, brass asked for volunteers to form citywide squads to collect those deemed dead on arrival.
“The idea of creating a Borough DOA Team is being look [sic] at and we only want volunteers for it . . . no forcing anybody,” the message said. “It would be three teams (2 investigators per team).”
One team would work a 6 a.m.- to-2:30 p.m. shift, and the second a 6 p.m.-to-2:30 a.m. shift, according to the message.
The third group of body collectors would have more flexible hours.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The missive promised 60 hours of overtime per month for the grisly detail — twice the amount of OT allowed by the department under normal circumstances.
But police sources scoffed at the idea of a dead-body squad in the midst of the spreading COVID-19 virus — extra pay be damned.
“I would never do it for money,” one source said. “This could be life or death or long-term health disability. To make a few pennies extra is not worth the effects of it.”
Another source called the additional overtime “blood money.”
nypost.com/2020/04/01/nypd-creating-doa-teams-to-collect-bodies-of-coronavirus-victims/


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--The IRS is Roughly Right but Precisely Wrong in the Way It’s Handling Stimulus

According to a Forbes article dated March 27th , “ the stimulus is an advance of a refundable tax credit @ @ @ @ @ If your 2020 tax return next year indicates that the IRS paid you too much @ @ @ @ @ that you return the money they overpaid .
If the IRS sent you less than @ @ @ @ @ 2020 return , the IRS will add that amount to your 2020 refund .
That @ @ @ @ @ except that the whole point of the exercise was to put money in people ’ @ @ @ @ @ later .
Perhaps , the best way to have achieved that objective would have been @ @ @ @ @ a check to everyone who filed a recent tax return or who is on social @ @ @ @ @ recover any money they may have overpaid certain individuals later ( about a year from @ @ @ @ @ their 2020 tax returns .
It ’ s better to be roughly right , than @ @ @

by LV
According to a Forbes article dated March 27th, “the stimulus is an advance of a refundable tax credit on your 2020 taxes.” If your 2020 tax return next year indicates that the IRS paid you too much stimulus, they can demand that you return the money they overpaid. If the IRS sent you less than you deserved based on your 2020 return, the IRS will add that amount to your 2020 refund.
That appears to be fair, except that the whole point of the exercise was to put money in people’s pocket now rather than later.
Perhaps, the best way to have achieved that objective would have been for the IRS to send a check to everyone who filed a recent tax return or who is on social security. The IRS can recover any money they may have overpaid certain individuals later (about a year from now) when they review their 2020 tax returns.
It’s better to be roughly right, than precisely wrong.
Also see:
www.investmentwatchblog.com/receiving-a-stimulus-check-becomes-a-matter-of-timing/


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--WHO corruption and incompetence has been on full display the past few weeks

JAPAN : WHO Should Be Renamed the CHO or the “ Chinese Health Organization ” Here is a Reuters report @ @ @ @ @ admit that it could be transmitted from person-to-person till January Even when China finally admitted @ @ @ @ @ t make it sound like it was highly infectious , which it is

by NineteenEighty9
JAPAN: WHO Should Be Renamed the CHO or the “Chinese Health Organization”
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Here is a Reuters report showing that China did not admit that it could be transmitted from person-to-person till January Even when China finally admitted it, they didn’t make it sound like it was highly infectious, which it is
Here is a Reuters report showing that China did not admit that it could be transmitted from person-to-person till January Even when China finally admitted it, they didn't make it sound like it was highly infectious, which it is t.co/hRtMf7hMH9 — Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) April 2, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--BCP: IG HOROWITZ RELEASES NEW REPORT: FBI COMMITTED FRAUD ON EVERY FISA WARRANT! SHIFTY IS AT IT AGA

BCP: IG HOROWITZ RELEASES NEW REPORT: FBI COMMITTED FRAUD ON EVERY FISA WARRANT! SHIFTY IS AT IT AGAIN.

Black Conservative Patriot gives his take on today ’ s news

Black Conservative Patriot gives his take on today’s news
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
AO


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--Sorry, We Should Only Bail Out Essential Industries.

Advertising Karma Hits Corporate Media and the New York Times Calls for Bailout .
The Media Matters / Sleeping Giants blocklists are just another spread of torpedoes that circled back around .
A rational movement might start thinking about why that keeps happening .
.
.
.
Due to the coronavirus and a healthy dose of karma , newspaper advertising is drying up , and these same newspapers are now laying staffers off and slashing salaries while the far-left New York Times ’ media columnist screams for a bailout .
Before I get to the karma part , here are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Tampa Bay Times is suspending its print publication from seven to two days a week .
That ’ s not a typo .
A newspaper that had been printing every day of the week will now print only on Wednesday and Sunday .
This , however , is not due to a lack of clicks .
“ The company reported a surge in traffic to its website … and growth in digital subscriptions over the last few weeks ” but “ the pandemic sent advertising sales into a plunge .
In just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] cancellations have cost us more than $ 1 million , and there is no sign of quick recovery on the horizon .
We must act now.
” Gannett , one of the largest newspaper companies in the country , publisher of , among others , USA Today , the Des Moines Register , and Arizona Republic , announced a sweeping round of furloughs .
A memo from Gannett CEO Paul Bascobert asked employees to immediately make a “ collective sacrifice … as soon as this week.
” “ Our plan is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implementing a combination of furloughs and pay reductions , ” the memo explains .

Advertising Karma Hits Corporate Media and the New York Times Calls for Bailout. The Media Matters / Sleeping Giants blocklists are just another spread of torpedoes that circled back around. A rational movement might start thinking about why that keeps happening. . . .
Due to the coronavirus and a healthy dose of karma, newspaper advertising is drying up, and these same newspapers are now laying staffers off and slashing salaries while the far-left New York Times’ media columnist screams for a bailout.
Before I get to the karma part, here are the details…
On Monday, we learned the Tampa Bay Times is suspending its print publication from seven to two days a week. That’s not a typo. A newspaper that had been printing every day of the week will now print only on Wednesday and Sunday.
This, however, is not due to a lack of clicks.
“The company reported a surge in traffic to its website … and growth in digital subscriptions over the last few weeks” but “the pandemic sent advertising sales into a plunge. In just the last two weeks, [advertising] cancellations have cost us more than $1 million, and there is no sign of quick recovery on the horizon. We must act now.”
More…
Gannett, one of the largest newspaper companies in the country, publisher of, among others, USA Today, the Des Moines Register, and Arizona Republic, announced a sweeping round of furloughs. A memo from Gannett CEO Paul Bascobert asked employees to immediately make a “collective sacrifice … as soon as this week.”
“Our plan is to minimize long-term damage to the business by implementing a combination of furloughs and pay reductions,” the memo explains.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--This video is starting to go viral showing bodies piling up in NYC. But why does everyone in the bac

This video is starting to go viral showing bodies piling up in NYC. But why does everyone in the background sound Jamaican?

Listen to everyone in the background , they all have Jamaican sounding accents , so where and when was this @ @ @ @ @ says “ bodies line the sidewalk ” but there are only 3 stretchers and an @ @ @ @ @ news sites are posting this video .
Also this screenshot below from a separate video @ @ @ @ @ been posted on sites like Zerohedge .
Why are the “ bodies ” stacked so @ @ @ @ @ as easily arrange them in order so it would be easier to move them instead @ @ @ @ @ giant pile .
Also the bags have no identification on them .
So who are @ @ @ @ @ you die of coronavirus does the state of New York just throw you in a @ @ @ @ @ to me .

Listen to everyone in the background, they all have Jamaican sounding accents, so where and when was this filmed? The title also says “bodies line the sidewalk” but there are only 3 stretchers and an empty truck anyway. Several news sites are posting this video.
Also this screenshot below from a separate video is going viral and has been posted on sites like Zerohedge. Why are the “bodies” stacked so haphazardly? You could just as easily arrange them in order so it would be easier to move them instead of throwing them in a giant pile. Also the bags have no identification on them. So who are all these people? If you die of coronavirus does the state of New York just throw you in a mass grave? Seems fake to me.
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zh-prod-1cc738ca-7d3b-4a72-b792-20bd8d8fa069.storage.googleapis.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_desktop/public/inline-images/Screenshot%20makeshift%20morgue%204.png?itok=OW2z1t-2
h/t freq-ee


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--2020 may be the first year of falling global GDP since WWII.

This is how we turn an economic downturn into a protracted recession / slow recovery .
We need to find @ @ @ @ @ ’ t become the next wave of the recession .
t.co/qsCApj25e9

twitter.com/adam_tooze/status/1245599343811473408
twitter.com/elerianm/status/1245694576238530560
This is how we turn an economic downturn into a protracted recession / slow recovery. We need to find the states so they don’t become the next wave of the recession. t.co/qsCApj25e9
— Jay C. Shambaugh (@JayCShambaugh) April 2, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--The cure for the GFC is beginning to look like it was worse than the disease.

Stimulus May Come Too Late for U.S .
Businesses Already Stretched This is the start of a Tsunami of deflation @ @ @ @ @ saving this .
Japanification and fear for slow growth when this is over And last @ @ @ @ @ ’ s economy .
We can see that big indexes in Japan still are lower @ @ @ @ @ ago due to an elder pop , low interest rates etc etc.. explained in this @ @ @ @ @ v=zZMY1e7j134 ‘ Irresponsible policy from the Federal Reserve made the coronavirus crisis worse than it @ @ @ @

Maybe David is right. The cure for the GFC is beginning to look like it was worse than the disease. The difference between then and now is that the leverage is buried deeper and much of the lending has moved into the shadows. t.co/351KFwljWA — Danielle DiMartino Booth (@DiMartinoBooth) April 1, 2020
@bondstrategist stating the truth that the Fed cannot save every weak player when it’s busy dousing the flames of the supposedly “investment grade” that trades and so much junk. t.co/HkCE8IoLYc — Danielle DiMartino Booth (@DiMartinoBooth) April 2, 2020
Stimulus May Come Too Late for U.S. Businesses Already Stretched
This is the start of a Tsunami of deflation. Gov/Fed/Banks are hopeless in saving this.
Japanification and fear for slow growth when this is over
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And last week about japanification and Japan’s economy. We can see that big indexes in Japan still are lower than they were 20/30 years ago due to an elder pop, low interest rates etc etc.. explained in this 5min vid ‘www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZMY1e7j134‘
For the third time this year, equities are 10% overvalued relative to IG credit markets' implied price. Not seeing credit tighten with the same vigor as equities had rallied suggests we're likely headed lower. Credit spreads are at the top of our "what to watch dashboard." pic.twitter.com/63vN5WV5Sn — Michael Kantrowitz, CFA (@MichaelKantro) April 1, 2020
Irresponsible policy from the Federal Reserve made the coronavirus crisis worse than it had to be.
The fiscal impact of 2008 followed by COVID-19 in the US is beginning to look a bit like the double whammy of Great Depression & WWII. But will politics enable equivalent increases in taxation, especially top rates? @commerzbank via @SoberLook pic.twitter.com/xAuSZTsWsT — Adam Tooze (@adam_tooze) April 2, 2020
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday said it was temporarily taking steps to ease an obscure capital requirement for large banks to address strained conditions in the Treasury market. t.co/COVoZZHlgM via @WSJ — TF Metals Report (@TFMetals) April 2, 2020
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--Why Term Structure Will Kill Your Long WTI Trade

If there ’ s demand… I ’ ll do a part two on equity factors and how to use factors to decide what companies to buy options for .
Mr. FuzzyBlankeet , Esq .
touched upon futures in his last post , so I ’ m not going to go into more detail on the basics , but something he left out was a little something called term structure .
Term structure exists in futures because the same item is priced differently depending on what month you buy it for .
Seasonality happens when demand for something changes depending on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Like how y ’ alls girlfriends get yeast infections every winter from fucking their boyfriends in hot tubs and demand & price for vagisil spikes up every winter .
This would be priced in and the futures curve for vagisil would look something like this : Demand for something near-term is much higher than the supply .
Like facemasks .
No one gives a fuck about buying facemasks for 2 years from now… they need that shit now and they ’ ll pay a premium for it .
If facemasks had a futures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive backwardation .
The opposite of backwardation .
All you autists are stuck at home with your girlfriends who aren ’ t able to fuck their boyfriends .
Near-term demand for condoms drops and condoms term structure is in contango .
How term structure will kill your trade So what ?
Well let ’ s do a walk-through of what your long WTI trade would ’ ve really looked like in 2016 at the bottom : • It ’ s February 11th , 2016 and you ’ re looking for something to trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re a technical analysis masta and you YOLO at $ 26 like the fucking champ you are .
• Crude ’ s going to the fucking moon so you diamond hands that shit until you start hitting lower lows in 2017 and fuck it… .
CL pushes down to $ 42 so you sell that shit .
• Sell price of $ 42 is off the peak , but still fucking good , right ?
+62 % would ’ ve been the greatest trade of your life !
That chart you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generic ” crude oil chart .
It ’ s a chart of each of the 1st month futures tacked together over time .
When the current contract expires , the chart switches to the newest current month .
So why is the return from the chart different from the actual return ?
Roll yield ( or negative roll yield b/c of contango ) This chart is the term structure of WTI on Feb 11 , 2016 right at the double bottom .
Sure , you may have bought WTI right at the bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expires and you have to roll it over ?
You sell the cheaper 1st month and buy the more expensive 2nd month .
One month later you do the same thing… As long as the term structure stays in contango , you ’ re constantly selling low and buying high – something I ’ m sure all you autists are very used to .
So how much of your profit gets killed by the roll ?
The best way to see is just by comparing the WTI chart ( which shows the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and $ USO ( the 1x crude ETF that contains roll yield ) The white line is WTI and the green line is $ USO ( both normalized to 100 on Feb. 11th , 2016 ) .
Red line is that exit point I picked before .
The spread between the two occurs because of the negative roll yield .
You ’ re not making +62 % on this trade… you ’ re making the +8 % that $ USO made you .
But what about the autists that know about roll yield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the evil “ market makers ” by just buying the July 2017 contract from the start ?
CLN17 on Feb 11th was $ 39.8… Congrats on your +5.5 % gainz buying at $ 39.8 and selling at $ 42 !
But that ’ s 2016… what about now ?
In 2016 , the 2nd month futures price was around 9.5 % higher than the first month… that level of contango returned around a -54 % roll yield ( Excess Return [ $ USO +8 % ] = Change in Spot [ WTI +62 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ = -54 % ] ) Right now contango between the first month and second month is a monster 18.4 % .
All else equal , roll yield will be even higher today than 2016 .
To oversimplify : essentially if the term structure stays the same… if you ’ re long crude , the price of crude oil has to go up 18.4 % each month for you to break even .
Term structure and carry is why shorting VIX ( RIP $ XIV ) during market stability ( when VIX futures is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and why shorting VIX in backwardation right now will screw you even if spot VIX stays the same ) .
It ’ s why shorting natural gas post 2018 spike has been the greatest secret-to-retail trade of the past year+ .
It ’ s why unless you ’ re the market timing GOAT and you can time the bottom of a V-shaped recovery , you shouldn ’ t be going long oil .
What if I look at all the term structures of all the commodities and go long the backwardated ones and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you ’ ve discovered what hedgies call commodity carry , essentially the # thetagang trade of the commodity world .
tl ; dr : Going long crude oil w/ 18.4 % 1st , 2nd month contango ( 2nd month June contract is 18.4 % more expensive than the current first month May contract right now ) will destroy your gains if you ’ re right about the direction and massively add on to your losses if you ’ re wrong .
Disclaimer : This information is only for educational purposes .
Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the information in this article .
Do you own due diligence .

by KimchiCuresEbola
If there’s demand… I’ll do a part two on equity factors and how to use factors to decide what companies to buy options for.
Commodity Term Structure Basics
Mr. FuzzyBlankeet, Esq. touched upon futures in his last post, so I’m not going to go into more detail on the basics, but something he left out was a little something called term structure.
Term structure exists in futures because the same item is priced differently depending on what month you buy it for.
Seasonality
Seasonality happens when demand for something changes depending on what time of year it is. Like how y’alls girlfriends get yeast infections every winter from fucking their boyfriends in hot tubs and demand & price for vagisil spikes up every winter. This would be priced in and the futures curve for vagisil would look something like this:

Curve of NG futures on Feb. 5th 2019
2) Backwardation
Demand for something near-term is much higher than the supply. Like facemasks. No one gives a fuck about buying facemasks for 2 years from now… they need that shit now and they’ll pay a premium for it. If facemasks had a futures contract, that shit would be in massive backwardation.

Term structure of palladium in Jan. 2019
3) Contango
The opposite of backwardation. All you autists are stuck at home with your girlfriends who aren’t able to fuck their boyfriends. Near-term demand for condoms drops and condoms term structure is in contango.

Platinum term structure in Jan. 2019.
How term structure will kill your trade
So what? Well let’s do a walk-through of what your long WTI trade would’ve really looked like in 2016 at the bottom:

WTI in 2016
It’s February 11th, 2016 and you’re looking for something to trade. You see crude double bottom b/c you’re a technical analysis masta and you YOLO at $26 like the fucking champ you are. Crude’s going to the fucking moon so you diamond hands that shit until you start hitting lower lows in 2017 and fuck it…. CL pushes down to $42 so you sell that shit. Sell price of $42 is off the peak, but still fucking good, right? +62% would’ve been the greatest trade of your life!
Well… not quite.
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That chart you’re looking at is the “generic” crude oil chart. It’s a chart of each of the 1st month futures tacked together over time. When the current contract expires, the chart switches to the newest current month.
So why is the return from the chart different from the actual return? Roll yield (or negative roll yield b/c of contango)

Term Structure of WTI on Feb. 11th, 2016
This chart is the term structure of WTI on Feb 11, 2016 right at the double bottom. Sure, you may have bought WTI right at the bottom, but what happens when the contract expires and you have to roll it over? You sell the cheaper 1st month and buy the more expensive 2nd month. One month later you do the same thing… As long as the term structure stays in contango, you’re constantly selling low and buying high – something I’m sure all you autists are very used to.
So how much of your profit gets killed by the roll? The best way to see is just by comparing the WTI chart (which shows the day to day price movement of oil) and $USO (the 1x crude ETF that contains roll yield)

White: CL1, Green: $USO… Normalized on Feb. 11th, 2016
The white line is WTI and the green line is $USO (both normalized to 100 on Feb. 11th, 2016). Red line is that exit point I picked before.
The spread between the two occurs because of the negative roll yield. You’re not making +62% on this trade… you’re making the +8% that $USO made you.
But what about the autists that know about roll yield and want to pull one over on the evil “market makers” by just buying the July 2017 contract from the start? CLN17 on Feb 11th was $39.8… Congrats on your +5.5% gainz buying at $39.8 and selling at $42!
Current Term Structure
But that’s 2016… what about now?
In 2016, the 2nd month futures price was around 9.5% higher than the first month… that level of contango returned around a -54% roll yield (Excess Return [$USO +8%] = Change in Spot [WTI +62%] + Roll Yield [x = -54%])
Right now contango between the first month and second month is a monster 18.4%. All else equal, roll yield will be even higher today than 2016.
To oversimplify: essentially if the term structure stays the same… if you’re long crude, the price of crude oil has to go up 18.4% each month for you to break even.
Term structure and carry is why shorting VIX (RIP $XIV) during market stability (when VIX futures is in contango) makes you tendies (and why shorting VIX in backwardation right now will screw you even if spot VIX stays the same). It’s why shorting natural gas post 2018 spike has been the greatest secret-to-retail trade of the past year+. It’s why unless you’re the market timing GOAT and you can time the bottom of a V-shaped recovery, you shouldn’t be going long oil.
What if I look at all the term structures of all the commodities and go long the backwardated ones and short the ones in contango? Congrats, you’ve discovered what hedgies call commodity carry, essentially the #thetagang trade of the commodity world.
tl;dr: Going long crude oil w/ 18.4% 1st, 2nd month contango (2nd month June contract is 18.4% more expensive than the current first month May contract right now) will destroy your gains if you’re right about the direction and massively add on to your losses if you’re wrong.
Positions: None
Disclaimer: This information is only for educational purposes. Do not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article. Do you own due diligence.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--“Nobody has any taste for risk anymore. All of those exotic loan programs have ceased. All investors

“Nobody has any taste for risk anymore. All of those exotic loan programs have ceased. All investors buying that paper are gone”: mortgage broker.

The lockdown regime has changed the once booming housing market .
Real estate businesses , such as real estate brokers , mortgage brokers , and other types of businesses , and the government offices that make it all work are now considered “ essential businesses ” under federal guidelines and under California lockdown rules .
Social distancing must still be observed .
But deals can be made .
The first glimpse of what the new housing market might look like is provided by a weekly report on the number of mortgage applications by the Mortgage Bankers Association .
Today , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week ended March 27 : Across the US , mortgage applications to purchase a home plunged by 24 % from the equivalent week a year ago .
Since the multi-year peak in January , purchase-mortgage applications have plunged by one-third : This is now the second week that mortgage applications have started to reflect the new reality of lockdowns and social distancing .
Last week , the MBA reported that purchase-mortgage applications across the US had dropped 15 % from a year ago .
At the time , the first lockdowns weren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d become effective during the last part of that reporting week .
Since then , we got blasted by the first report under the lockdown reality of initial unemployment claims , which had spiked to a horrid 3.28 million , nearly five times the prior record .
All this goes together .
In states where lockdowns started first – there were kicked off in the San Francisco Bay Area – the year-over-year plunge in purchase-mortgage applications was the most severe : And this is happening despite the lowest average mortgage rates in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reporting week , the average contract rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell back to 3.47 % .
“ The bleaker economic outlook , along with the first wave of realized job losses reported in last week ’ s unemployment claims numbers , likely caused potential homebuyers to pull back , ” the MBA ’ s report said .
“ Buyer and seller traffic – and ultimately home purchases – will also likely be slowed this spring by the restrictions ordered in several states on in-person activities , ” the report added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ means no open houses .
Face-to-face closings are to be avoided .
The business still operates with paper documents and lawyers watching over signings , etc .
So closings are now tough .
But exchanging signed documents through car windows in a parking lot is OK .
Under the pressure of social distancing , the doors have opened to modern document technology .
In theory , homes can be sold , and mortgages can be written , but it ’ s now a different ballgame .
“ In the past two weeks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mortgage lending world that will affect housing greatly , ” mortgage broker Dan Draitser told me .
And he went on : “ All of those exotic loan programs , such as bank-statement for income and stated-income and lower-credit score programs have all ceased .
Done !
“ All investors buying that paper are gone !
No one remains .
“ Lenders are tightening up loan quality for government loans , such as FHA and VA loans .
And for conventional loans as well .
“ Now it ’ s higher credit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to income ratios .
“ Nobody has any taste for any risk at the moment .
“ It is a quickly changing market with everything reverting to low-risk quality loans , which leaves credit extension limited .
“ ‘ Non-QM , ’ or basically any loan outside of Fannie , Freddie , FHA and VA , is toast .
No longer exists .
Being felt industry wide.
” But he was working hard for the wrong reasons : “ My transactions are taking three times as much time and effort to get done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & purchase.
” Mortgage applications to refinance existing mortgages ( refis ) spiked spectacularly over the past few weeks , hitting the highest level since 2003 , as mortgage rates plunged .
But then turmoil in the market for mortgage-backed securities briefly drove up mortgage rates , despite the Fed having cut its policy rates to near-zero ; and refi applications plunged .
But during the week reported today , as mortgage rates dropped to historic lows again , refi applications jumped again : This data is based on weekly surveys by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US retail residential mortgage applications at nonbanks , banks , and thrifts .
Mortgage applications are not an indicator of demand by non-resident foreign investors or large domestic investors since they can obtain funding elsewhere .
But they ’ re an early indication of local demand by regular folks .
This demand had been strong all last year and earlier this year .
But it is now spiraling down .
And as mortgage broker Draitser pointed out , the entire risk environment on the lending side has suddenly changed – with risky loans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the business , having been pushed off the table .

The lockdown regime has changed the once booming housing market. Real estate businesses, such as real estate brokers, mortgage brokers, and other types of businesses, and the government offices that make it all work are now considered “essential businesses” under federal guidelines and under California lockdown rules. Social distancing must still be observed. But deals can be made.
The first glimpse of what the new housing market might look like is provided by a weekly report on the number of mortgage applications by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Today, the MBA released the results for the week ended March 27: Across the US, mortgage applications to purchase a home plunged by 24% from the equivalent week a year ago. Since the multi-year peak in January, purchase-mortgage applications have plunged by one-third:
This is now the second week that mortgage applications have started to reflect the new reality of lockdowns and social distancing. Last week, the MBA reported that purchase-mortgage applications across the US had dropped 15% from a year ago. At the time, the first lockdowns weren’t fully reflected yet as they’d become effective during the last part of that reporting week.
Since then, we got blasted by the first report under the lockdown reality of initial unemployment claims, which had spiked to a horrid 3.28 million, nearly five times the prior record. All this goes together.
In states where lockdowns started first – there were kicked off in the San Francisco Bay Area – the year-over-year plunge in purchase-mortgage applications was the most severe:
California: -36.4%
New York: -35.6%
Washington: -32.5%
And this is happening despite the lowest average mortgage rates in the MBA’s survey data. During the reporting week, the average contract rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell back to 3.47%.
“The bleaker economic outlook, along with the first wave of realized job losses reported in last week’s unemployment claims numbers, likely caused potential homebuyers to pull back,” the MBA’s report said.
“Buyer and seller traffic – and ultimately home purchases – will also likely be slowed this spring by the restrictions ordered in several states on in-person activities,” the report added.
So, in many markets, it means no open houses. Face-to-face closings are to be avoided. The business still operates with paper documents and lawyers watching over signings, etc. So closings are now tough. But exchanging signed documents through car windows in a parking lot is OK. Under the pressure of social distancing, the doors have opened to modern document technology. In theory, homes can be sold, and mortgages can be written, but it’s now a different ballgame.
“In the past two weeks, there has been a seismic shift in the mortgage lending world that will affect housing greatly,” mortgage broker Dan Draitser told me. And he went on:
“All of those exotic loan programs, such as bank-statement for income and stated-income and lower-credit score programs have all ceased. Done!
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“All investors buying that paper are gone! No one remains.
“Lenders are tightening up loan quality for government loans, such as FHA and VA loans. And for conventional loans as well.
“Now it’s higher credit scores, more down, lower debt to income ratios.
“Nobody has any taste for any risk at the moment.
“It is a quickly changing market with everything reverting to low-risk quality loans, which leaves credit extension limited.
“‘Non-QM,’ or basically any loan outside of Fannie, Freddie, FHA and VA, is toast. No longer exists. Being felt industry wide.”
But he was working hard for the wrong reasons: “My transactions are taking three times as much time and effort to get done due to the environment, both refi & purchase.”
Mortgage applications to refinance existing mortgages (refis) spiked spectacularly over the past few weeks, hitting the highest level since 2003, as mortgage rates plunged. But then turmoil in the market for mortgage-backed securities briefly drove up mortgage rates, despite the Fed having cut its policy rates to near-zero; and refi applications plunged. But during the week reported today, as mortgage rates dropped to historic lows again, refi applications jumped again:
This data is based on weekly surveys by the MBA that covers 75% of all US retail residential mortgage applications at nonbanks, banks, and thrifts. Mortgage applications are not an indicator of demand by non-resident foreign investors or large domestic investors since they can obtain funding elsewhere. But they’re an early indication of local demand by regular folks.
This demand had been strong all last year and earlier this year. But it is now spiraling down. And as mortgage broker Draitser pointed out, the entire risk environment on the lending side has suddenly changed – with risky loans, which were a considerable part of the business, having been pushed off the table.


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--A Word About Hong Kong’s Retail Sales Collapse: It’s a Mess

Sales at luxury goods stores , once the largest category , collapsed by 86 % since their peak in 2013-2014 .
As Hong Kong tourist arrivals collapsed by 96 % in February , with travel essentially banned since late January and borders to mainland China blocked , and with mainland visitors down 97.8 % , retail sales at brick-and-mortar stores plunged 44 % compared to February last year , the 13th month in row of year-over-year decline — and the sharpest yet — after having plunged 21 % in January .
But as you can see , this collapse in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The business environment of retail trade will remain extremely austere in the near term , as the COVID-19 pandemic has brought inbound tourism to a standstill and severely dented local consumption demand , ” a government spokesman said .
Even before the arrival of Covid-19 , Hong Kong had already clocked up two straight quarters of sharply shrinking GDP , mostly due to the political crisis that broke out last spring and escalated into a crescendo of violence in the summer .
That crisis scared away many tourists from mainland China and elsewhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only types of stores that actually saw sales increases — in part powered by panic buying — in February were , according to the provisional data released by Hong Kong ’ s Census and Statistics Department : All other categories saw declines , with some reaching deep into the collapse territory : A special word about the collapsing sales at luxury goods stores .
Sales at stores for jewelry , watches , valuable gifts , and the like peaked in 2013 and 2014 , as measured in HK dollars .
At the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest category .
This is where tourists went to drop money .
And even though sales started to decline in the following years , these stores remained the largest category by sales volume through 2018 .
But in 2019 , sales suddenly collapsed further , driven by social unrest and the plunge in tourism .
From February 2014 to February 2020 , sales have collapsed by 87 % , from HK $ 9.5 billion to HK $ 1.5 billion , and now among the also-rans , below the category even of stores that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( fresh or frozen ) .
” This was the lowest level of sales in the data going back to 2004 : Hong Kong was fast to react when the first case was reported in January .
It asked for social distancing , made virus mapping available , and put work-from-home measures in place , including for civil servants .
But it never closed the restaurants .
At first , the measures seemed to work .
The pace of infections rapidly slowed , so much so that by March 2 , those measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the office , as did much of the private sector .
As soon as people began flocking back to work and buses and subways began to refill with commuters and bars and restaurants began teeming with thirsty , hungry punters , infections once again began rising , this time at a much quicker pace .
Seeing this , the government not only reversed course on its easing of restrictions , it introduced newer , more stringent measures , including a ban on gatherings of more than four people , the blanket closure of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandatory ban on tourist arrivals to the city .
This will further damage retail sales .
Retail landlords are trying to get through this .
Many Hong Kong-based retailers have already gone under or closed stores , and the vacancy rate in core shopping areas has surpassed 9 % .
And that is having ripple effects for brick-and-mortar property owners .
Hong Kong ’ s commercial real estate landlords were among the first in the world to begin offering rental relief to their tenants to help them weather the virus crisis — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it through the crisis .
Henderson Land Development , the city ’ s third-largest developer which owns retail space in more than 20 shopping malls across the city , offered to slash rent by 60 % last month .
The company already took a 26 % hit on its core profit last year .
Those profits are likely to turn to losses this year .
“ Hong Kong ’ s economic outlook is still hindered by unfavorable factors , including those stemming from the protracted local social unrest and spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company in its annual results statement filed to the Hong Kong stock exchange late on Monday .
“ It is expected that the operating environment for the group ’ s various businesses will be challenging this year .
”

Sales at luxury goods stores, once the largest category, collapsed by 86% since their peak in 2013-2014.
As Hong Kong tourist arrivals collapsed by 96% in February, with travel essentially banned since late January and borders to mainland China blocked, and with mainland visitors down 97.8%, retail sales at brick-and-mortar stores plunged 44% compared to February last year, the 13th month in row of year-over-year decline — and the sharpest yet — after having plunged 21% in January. But as you can see, this collapse in sales started long before COVID-19:
“The business environment of retail trade will remain extremely austere in the near term, as the COVID-19 pandemic has brought inbound tourism to a standstill and severely dented local consumption demand,” a government spokesman said.
Even before the arrival of Covid-19, Hong Kong had already clocked up two straight quarters of sharply shrinking GDP, mostly due to the political crisis that broke out last spring and escalated into a crescendo of violence in the summer. That crisis scared away many tourists from mainland China and elsewhere. Covid-19 did the rest.
The only types of stores that actually saw sales increases — in part powered by panic buying — in February were, according to the provisional data released by Hong Kong’s Census and Statistics Department:
Supermarkets and supermarket sections of department stores: +11.5%
Fish, poultry & livestock stores (fresh or frozen): +20.3%
Fruits & vegetables stores: +17.8%
All other categories saw declines, with some reaching deep into the collapse territory:
Luxury goods (jewelry, watches, valuable gifts, etc.): -78%.
Clothing, apparel, accessories & footwear: -72%.
Alcoholic drinks and tobacco: -68.6%
Department stores: -58%
Medicines and cosmetics stores: -57%
Books, newspapers, stationery and gifts: -46%
Other consumer goods: -34%
Optical shops: -33%
Durable consumer goods, including motor vehicles: -29
Fuels: -0.3%
A special word about the collapsing sales at luxury goods stores.
Sales at stores for jewelry, watches, valuable gifts, and the like peaked in 2013 and 2014, as measured in HK dollars. At the time, these stores were by far the largest category. This is where tourists went to drop money. And even though sales started to decline in the following years, these stores remained the largest category by sales volume through 2018. But in 2019, sales suddenly collapsed further, driven by social unrest and the plunge in tourism.
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From February 2014 to February 2020, sales have collapsed by 87%, from HK$9.5 billion to HK$1.5 billion, and now among the also-rans, below the category even of stores that sell “fish, poultry & livestock (fresh or frozen).” This was the lowest level of sales in the data going back to 2004:
Will retail sales snap back? Hardly.
Hong Kong was fast to react when the first case was reported in January. It asked for social distancing, made virus mapping available, and put work-from-home measures in place, including for civil servants. But it never closed the restaurants. At first, the measures seemed to work. The pace of infections rapidly slowed, so much so that by March 2, those measures were relaxed, civil servants returned to the office, as did much of the private sector.
As soon as people began flocking back to work and buses and subways began to refill with commuters and bars and restaurants began teeming with thirsty, hungry punters, infections once again began rising, this time at a much quicker pace. Seeing this, the government not only reversed course on its easing of restrictions, it introduced newer, more stringent measures, including a ban on gatherings of more than four people, the blanket closure of cinemas, gyms and arcades and a mandatory ban on tourist arrivals to the city. This will further damage retail sales.
Retail landlords are trying to get through this.
Many Hong Kong-based retailers have already gone under or closed stores, and the vacancy rate in core shopping areas has surpassed 9%. And that is having ripple effects for brick-and-mortar property owners.
Hong Kong’s commercial real estate landlords were among the first in the world to begin offering rental relief to their tenants to help them weather the virus crisis — and in order for the landlords themselves to make it through the crisis. Henderson Land Development, the city’s third-largest developer which owns retail space in more than 20 shopping malls across the city, offered to slash rent by 60% last month. The company already took a 26% hit on its core profit last year. Those profits are likely to turn to losses this year.
“Hong Kong’s economic outlook is still hindered by unfavorable factors, including those stemming from the protracted local social unrest and spread of the novel coronavirus infection,” said the company in its annual results statement filed to the Hong Kong stock exchange late on Monday. “It is expected that the operating environment for the group’s various businesses will be challenging this year.”


investmentwatchblog--2020-04-02--Coronavirus Is Now The Third Leading Cause Of Death In The United States

More than 1,000 Americans died from the coronavirus on Wednesday .
As you will see below , that now makes COVID-19 the third leading cause of death in the United States on a daily basis .
Unfortunately , the number of Americans dying from the coronavirus is expected to rise even more in the weeks ahead .
As the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases globally gets ready to cross the one million mark , many of those that initially attempted to downplay this pandemic are now changing their tune .
I think that it really startled a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. citizens could potentially die during this pandemic .
Trump is taking COVID-19 very seriously , and everyone else should be as well .
This is truly a major national crisis , and it is just getting started .
But even though I have been writing about this pandemic day after day , I didn ’ t realize that coronavirus had already become the third leading cause of death in the entire country… And as I noted above , more than 1,000 people died from the coronavirus on Wednesday , and so this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cancer very rapidly .
In fact , there are some that believe that coronavirus will actually become the leading cause of death in the U.S. “ by mid-April ” … To say that we were unprepared for a pandemic of this nature is a major understatement .
There are shortages of essential supplies all over the nation , and the federal government has almost entirely depleted the inventory of personal protective equipment in the Strategic National Stockpile… We are supposed to have the greatest healthcare system in the whole world , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been witnessing as this crisis has unfolded have been nothing short of horrifying .
There have been stories of doctors using the same mask over and over again , and in some hospitals nurses are being instructed to only use masks under very limited circumstances… And if you can believe it , in some cases nurses have even been disciplined for wearing masks when they are not personally interacting with patients… Is this really happening ?
In one particularly disturbing incident , a nurse was actually asked to deal with very sick patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that made national headlines when she quit her job and ranted about it on social media .
I don ’ t know why every doctor and nurse in America is not wearing a mask at all times at this point , and those that are knowingly putting them in danger should be completely and utterly ashamed of themselves .
Meanwhile , the U.S. is still having a major problem getting coronavirus tests processed in a timely fashion .
The following comes from CNN… Officially , the U.S. has more than 215,000 confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but if results were being processed in a timely manner that number would likely be far , far higher by now .
Of course there are still many people out there that are insisting that this pandemic is being overblown , but if that is the case then why did FEMA just put in a request for 100,000 body bags ?
… And if this pandemic is not really that much of a threat , then why is New York City having prisoners dig mass graves ?
… For those that are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up .
People are dying all around us , the economy is collapsing , millions of Americans are losing their jobs , and “ the perfect storm ” has finally arrived .
Approximately 75 percent of the country is shut down right now , and the “ shelter-in-place ” orders are not likely to be lifted for quite some time .
In anticipation of being cooped up in their homes for an extended period , many Americans stocked up on toilet paper , and now we have learned that sales of alcoholic beverages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is during times of great crisis that we find out who we really are , and the weeks ahead are going to greatly test all of us .
Pray for those that are sick , pray for those that are dying , and let us all hope that this pandemic will pass as quickly as possible .
But at this moment it appears that we still have a long battle ahead of us , and that battle is going to change America permanently .

by Michael Snyder
More than 1,000 Americans died from the coronavirus on Wednesday. As you will see below, that now makes COVID-19 the third leading cause of death in the United States on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the number of Americans dying from the coronavirus is expected to rise even more in the weeks ahead. As the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases globally gets ready to cross the one million mark, many of those that initially attempted to downplay this pandemic are now changing their tune. I think that it really startled a lot of people when President Trump warned that 240,000 U.S. citizens could potentially die during this pandemic. Trump is taking COVID-19 very seriously, and everyone else should be as well. This is truly a major national crisis, and it is just getting started.
But even though I have been writing about this pandemic day after day, I didn’t realize that coronavirus had already become the third leading cause of death in the entire country…
A physician in San Diego, California, and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are reporting that the coronavirus is now the third leading cause of death, killing 748 people a day in the United States. This is only outranked by deaths from heart disease (1,774 a day) and cancer (1,641 a day).
And as I noted above, more than 1,000 people died from the coronavirus on Wednesday, and so this pandemic is catching up to heart disease and cancer very rapidly.
In fact, there are some that believe that coronavirus will actually become the leading cause of death in the U.S. “by mid-April”…
Some researchers say the daily death toll could more than double – to 2,200 or more – by mid-April. That figure would eclipse heart disease, the nation’s No. 1 killer with about 1,772 deaths per day, according to the CDC.
To say that we were unprepared for a pandemic of this nature is a major understatement.
There are shortages of essential supplies all over the nation, and the federal government has almost entirely depleted the inventory of personal protective equipment in the Strategic National Stockpile…
The Strategic National Stockpile is deploying the last round of shipments in its inventory, depleting the bulk of its protective gear, according to a source familiar with the matter. The official added that the stockpile was never meant to serve as the only source of protective gear for the entire coronavirus response and said the states would need to get more supply from the private market.
We are supposed to have the greatest healthcare system in the whole world, but some of the things that we have been witnessing as this crisis has unfolded have been nothing short of horrifying.
There have been stories of doctors using the same mask over and over again, and in some hospitals nurses are being instructed to only use masks under very limited circumstances…
There’s a perception among hospital nurses that our employers are not doing enough to protect us during this pandemic and that this puts our patients and the public at risk. Multiple hospitals across the country have insisted that nurses not use protective equipment except for those patients who have been placed on isolation precautions, even for patients who show symptoms consistent with COVID-19 but have not been diagnosed with it.
And if you can believe it, in some cases nurses have even been disciplined for wearing masks when they are not personally interacting with patients…
As a result, some health care workers are facing the threat of disciplinary action for wearing masks in the hallways, elevators and shared clinical and nonclinical areas of hospitals—in some instances even if they come from the worker’s own supply. And a number of doctors and nurses are distraught over this, says Megan Ranney, associate professor of emergency medicine, Brown University. “I have heard multiple anecdotes from colleagues in other states who report they were personally disciplined or lectured when seen wearing procedural masks in the halls of their hospitals,” she remarks.
Is this really happening?
In one particularly disturbing incident, a nurse was actually asked to deal with very sick patients without wearing a mask at all, and that made national headlines when she quit her job and ranted about it on social media.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
I don’t know why every doctor and nurse in America is not wearing a mask at all times at this point, and those that are knowingly putting them in danger should be completely and utterly ashamed of themselves.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is still having a major problem getting coronavirus tests processed in a timely fashion. The following comes from CNN…
As the US health care system has scrambled to track the spread of coronavirus, one of the nation’s largest commercial labs has faced a backlog of tests that ballooned in the last two weeks, and has delayed results in some cases up to 10 days. New Jersey-based Quest Diagnostics had about 160,000 coronavirus test orders waiting to be processed on March 25, which amounted to about half of the 320,000 total orders for the tests the company had received up to that date, according to Quest internal materials obtained by CNN.
Officially, the U.S. has more than 215,000 confirmed cases as I write this article, but if results were being processed in a timely manner that number would likely be far, far higher by now.
Of course there are still many people out there that are insisting that this pandemic is being overblown, but if that is the case then why did FEMA just put in a request for 100,000 body bags?…
The Pentagon is seeking to provide as many as 100,000 military-style body bags for potential civilian use as the U.S. warns that deaths could soar in the coming weeks from the coronavirus pandemic. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has requested 100,000 body bags, known as Human Remains Pouches, through an interagency group that directed it to the Defense Department. The Pentagon is looking into buying more bags and will draw some initially from a stockpile of 50,000 it maintains, according to two people familiar with the request.
And if this pandemic is not really that much of a threat, then why is New York City having prisoners dig mass graves?…
NEW YORK CITY is offering prisoners at Rikers Island jail $6 per hour — a fortune by prison labor standards — and personal protective equipment if they agree to help dig mass graves on Hart Island, according to sources with knowledge of the offer. Avery Cohen, a spokesperson for the office of Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed the general arrangement, but said that it was not “Covid-specific,” noting that prisoners have been digging graves on Hart Island for years.
For those that are still doubting, it is time to wake up.
People are dying all around us, the economy is collapsing, millions of Americans are losing their jobs, and “the perfect storm” has finally arrived.
Approximately 75 percent of the country is shut down right now, and the “shelter-in-place” orders are not likely to be lifted for quite some time.
In anticipation of being cooped up in their homes for an extended period, many Americans stocked up on toilet paper, and now we have learned that sales of alcoholic beverages have also gone through the roof…
U.S. sales of alcoholic beverages rose 55% in the week ending March 21, according to market research firm Nielsen. Spirits like tequila, gin and pre-mixed cocktails led the way, with sales jumping 75% compared to the same period last year. Wine sales were up 66% while beer sales rose 42%. And online sales far outpaced in-store sales. Nielsen said online alcohol sales were up 243%. Danelle Kosmal, a Nielsen vice president, suspects growth rates peaked that week as people loaded up their pantries before state stay-at-home orders went into effect.
It is during times of great crisis that we find out who we really are, and the weeks ahead are going to greatly test all of us.
Pray for those that are sick, pray for those that are dying, and let us all hope that this pandemic will pass as quickly as possible.
But at this moment it appears that we still have a long battle ahead of us, and that battle is going to change America permanently.