investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--Rethinking Luxury During the Pandemic

Rethinking Luxury During the Pandemic

As many of you reading this are aware , our fund family underwent a change recently .
On July 1 , the Holmes Macro Trends Fund changed its name and strategy to the Global Luxury Goods Fund ( USLUX ) .
This decision was months in the making , and obviously there was no way we could have predicted that the fund ’ s debut would coincide with a global pandemic and economic downturn .
With stores having to close or limit foot traffic , not to mention millions of Americans out of work , discretionary spending in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The bankruptcies are piling up , with the 200-year-old Brooks Brothers the latest to file for Chapter 11 protection .
Although we can ’ t change the current macro backdrop , we can adjust our interpretation of what a “ luxury good ” looks like in the age of COVID-19 .
There ’ s evidence that the highest earners are doing the same .
From the very beginning , one of our goals for USLUX was to seek to track the spending habits of high net worth individuals ( HNWI ) , whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faster rate than not just other earner groups but also per-capita gross domestic product ( GDP ) growth .
Many reports now say that the uber-wealthy have pulled back their spending on non-essential goods and services due to the coronavirus .
But that doesn ’ t mean they ’ ve cut spending entirely .
The trick is to determine where they ’ ve reallocated their discretionary dollars during the pandemic , if not on items such as designer handbags and jewelry .
And we believe we ’ ve cracked it .
The idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my fencing in the backyard .
After paying for the materials at Home Depot , I realized that they were among the biggest discretionary purchases I had made in recent weeks , in terms of cost .
Because of the virus , I haven ’ t been traveling , meaning the spending I ordinarily would have done at hotels and on meals and clothes has been diverted to home improvement projects .
Then I realized I ’ m not the only one .
I noticed that other homeowners in my neighborhood have also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , repair and replace roofs , fences , yards , swimming pools and more .
A close family member just had a new patio built in her backyard .
A Bank of America survey in July bears out this trend .
Seventy percent of Americans say they ’ ve undertaken home improvement projects during the pandemic , with even more projects planned for 2021 , the survey finds .
Surveys are one thing , fundamentals are another .
I was curious to see how Home Depot ’ s balance sheet has fared since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ segments of the economy .
Based on free cash flow ( FCF ) , which represents the money a firm is free to spend after taxes and expenditures , Home Depot ’ s profitability was highest in the three months through May 3—well into the pandemic .
On a per-share basis , FCF was an impressive $ 4.80 , up 31 percent the same period a year earlier .
Year-to-date through July 8 , the Atlanta-based company ’ s shares were up 15.6 percent , compared to the S & P 500 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Home Depot is categorized as discretionary .
But is it “ luxury ” ?
In “ normal ” times , few people would say that it is .
But these times aren ’ t normal , and consumers—including HNWI consumers—are changing their spending habits .
So while we ’ ve had to adjust our conception of a luxury brand , we haven ’ t changed our goal of investing in companies that potentially benefit from greater spending from HNWIs .
Traditional Luxury Still Part of the Equation None of this is to say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like LVMH , Christian Dior and others .
Not only will such brands potentially be found in the fund , but their weightings will likely increase as the economy improves .
Likewise , by focusing on Home Depot , I ’ m not suggesting that home improvement companies are the only non-luxury “ luxury ” stocks in USLUX .
I was simply using Home Depot as a prime example of the way we ’ ve had to rethink the idea of luxury at a time when fewer people are doing the kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Avenue des Champs-Élysées .
Besides home improvement , HNWIs have also been spending more on health care , particularly concierge medicine .

by Shaun Richards
As many of you reading this are aware, our fund family underwent a change recently. On July 1, the Holmes Macro Trends Fund changed its name and strategy to the Global Luxury Goods Fund (USLUX).
This decision was months in the making, and obviously there was no way we could have predicted that the fund’s debut would coincide with a global pandemic and economic downturn.
With stores having to close or limit foot traffic, not to mention millions of Americans out of work, discretionary spending in the U.S. has taken it on the chin. The bankruptcies are piling up, with the 200-year-old Brooks Brothers the latest to file for Chapter 11 protection.
Although we can’t change the current macro backdrop, we can adjust our interpretation of what a “luxury good” looks like in the age of COVID-19.
There’s evidence that the highest earners are doing the same.
Follow the Money
From the very beginning, one of our goals for USLUX was to seek to track the spending habits of high net worth individuals (HNWI), whose incomes have historically grown at a much faster rate than not just other earner groups but also per-capita gross domestic product (GDP) growth.
Many reports now say that the uber-wealthy have pulled back their spending on non-essential goods and services due to the coronavirus.
But that doesn’t mean they’ve cut spending entirely.
The trick is to determine where they’ve reallocated their discretionary dollars during the pandemic, if not on items such as designer handbags and jewelry. And we believe we’ve cracked it.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The “New” Luxury
The idea came to me as I was replacing my fencing in the backyard. After paying for the materials at Home Depot, I realized that they were among the biggest discretionary purchases I had made in recent weeks, in terms of cost.
Because of the virus, I haven’t been traveling, meaning the spending I ordinarily would have done at hotels and on meals and clothes has been diverted to home improvement projects.
Then I realized I’m not the only one. I noticed that other homeowners in my neighborhood have also used this time of sheltering-in-place to renovate, repair and replace roofs, fences, yards, swimming pools and more. A close family member just had a new patio built in her backyard.
A Bank of America survey in July bears out this trend. Seventy percent of Americans say they’ve undertaken home improvement projects during the pandemic, with even more projects planned for 2021, the survey finds.
Surveys are one thing, fundamentals are another. I was curious to see how Home Depot’s balance sheet has fared since state and local governments shut down large segments of the economy. Based on free cash flow (FCF), which represents the money a firm is free to spend after taxes and expenditures, Home Depot’s profitability was highest in the three months through May 3—well into the pandemic. On a per-share basis, FCF was an impressive $4.80, up 31 percent the same period a year earlier.
Year-to-date through July 8, the Atlanta-based company’s shares were up 15.6 percent, compared to the S&P 500, essentially flat at negative 0.9 percent.
click to enlarge
Home Depot is categorized as discretionary. But is it “luxury”? In “normal” times, few people would say that it is. But these times aren’t normal, and consumers—including HNWI consumers—are changing their spending habits. So while we’ve had to adjust our conception of a luxury brand, we haven’t changed our goal of investing in companies that potentially benefit from greater spending from HNWIs.
Traditional Luxury Still Part of the Equation
None of this is to say that USLUX will exclude traditional luxury brands like LVMH, Christian Dior and others. Not only will such brands potentially be found in the fund, but their weightings will likely increase as the economy improves.
Likewise, by focusing on Home Depot, I’m not suggesting that home improvement companies are the only non-luxury “luxury” stocks in USLUX. I was simply using Home Depot as a prime example of the way we’ve had to rethink the idea of luxury at a time when fewer people are doing the kind of high-end shopping we associate with Fifth Avenue and Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Besides home improvement, HNWIs have also been spending more on health care, particularly concierge medicine.


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--Amazon launching smart grocery carts that track shoppers’ items, allows them to skip checkout lines

Amazon is launching smart grocery carts that will automatically track shoppers ’ items and allow customers to skip the checkout @ @ @ @ @ available at Amazon ’ s new Los Angeles area grocery store , which will open @ @ @

Amazon is launching smart grocery carts that will automatically track shoppers’ items and allow customers to skip the checkout line.
It will be available at Amazon’s new Los Angeles area grocery store, which will open this year.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--The Looming Housing Market Crash 2020: Everything Will End With a Bang

All signs show me that the housing market crash is on the horizon .
Actually the housing bubble has been @ @ @ @ @ this time real estate crash will be worse than the previous crisis .
The total @ @ @ @ @ Estate market , which is on the edge of a collapse that I ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ video , is worth approximately $ 34 trillion .
Understanding how mortgages work is key @ @ @ @ @ crashes and the future prospects of the sector .
While mortgage seems like a regular @ @ @ @ @ , there are some crucial differences .
When it comes to millions of people using @ @ @ @ @ , a mortgage bubble becomes a fundamental part of any economic crisis , whether national @ @ @ @ @ it to you in more detail about the coming real estate crash in 2020 .

via Financial Argument
All signs show me that the housing market crash is on the horizon. Actually the housing bubble has been around for years.
But this time real estate crash will be worse than the previous crisis.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The total value of the U.S. Real Estate market, which is on the edge of a collapse that I’ll be talking about in this video, is worth approximately $34 trillion.
Understanding how mortgages work is key to recognizing potential housing market crashes and the future prospects of the sector. While mortgage seems like a regular credit or a standard loan, there are some crucial differences. When it comes to millions of people using the same kind of credit, a mortgage bubble becomes a fundamental part of any economic crisis, whether national or global.
I explained it to you in more detail about the coming real estate crash in 2020.


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--Unlimited Government: Central Banks And Federal Spending During The Corona Crisis

Q : We ’ re in a very odd situation right now in terms of evaluating the state of the economy .
We can see there is rising unemployment and there is likely to be a wave of missed mortgage and rent payments .
Is this all just due to the government-mandated “ shutdowns ” or are there deeper economic issues here ?
A : Extremely odd !
The rising unemployment and missed mortgage and rental payments will be linked to the government-mandated shutdowns , but the overall economy was already weak beforehand despite record stock markets and record low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low and debt at all levels was very high .
Job openings hit a record high in early December 2019 and were declining noticeably well before the virus and shutdowns hit .
Therefore , I was expecting a weak economy in 2020 and the shutdowns brought it about sooner than anticipated and have no doubt made it worse .
So , we have in effect both a business cycle depression and the economic restriction of the lockdown at the same time .
I would not have been surprised if we had reached 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have occurred so quickly without the shutdowns .
Q : As the crisis grew during March , the Fed lowered the target rate from 1.75 to 0.25 percent in a two-week period .
Since then , the Fed has begun engaging in a wide variety of asset purchases .
What was the Fed trying to do when it did this , and can it achieve its goals ?
A : The Fed is always trying to manage “ confidence ” and so keeping companies from going bankrupt is a big part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payments for mortgages , car payments , etc .
Purchasing assets like junk bonds hides the bad news that is no doubt out there .
So far , their plans have worked , with stock markets reflecting good news .
However , precious metal prices are also up , so not everyone is being fooled by the Fed ’ s confidence game .
Also , the personal savings rate has spiked to 30 percent , to one of the highest levels on record .
That is an obvious sign that many people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will take us quickly to a recovery .
Q : We seem to now be in a time of unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus .
In the past , there seemed to be some political and legal limits on what could be done in this regard .
Why do you think there are now almost no limits on what the Fed and Congress can get away with in terms of spending and bailouts ?
A : It is truly remarkable .
In the past we had the gold standard restraint on fiscal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That restraint had a lingering effect for a long time .
However , the current group of voters and politicians no longer recognize that restraint or the consequences of ignoring a balanced budget restraint .
The average American has no memory of the gold standard or even the stagflation of the 1970s .
The current generation does not even recognize the idea of a government budget !
The collective mindset is the classic “ kick the can down the road.
” Obviously , the idea of a national debt limit is now rightly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s now looking like the federal budget may exceed 10 trillion for 2020 , and that means a deficit of more than 2 trillion just for this fiscal year .
But , it seems no one—including the voters—have any concerns about deficits at all .
Why should we care ?
The deficit will hit an all-time record high .
Spending is out of control and tax revenues will probably miss the initial estimates .
The millions of unemployed will likely have a hard time making tax payments .
Expenditures for things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely remain high .
I think I am most concerned about interest paid on the national debt , as an uptick in rates could cause such payments and the deficit to balloon .
Why should we care ?
The simple reason is that all this spending eats up real resources .
The government buys something and the resources are not available for productive use .
GNP ( gross national product ) goes up , but what are the real benefits ?
The government writes welfare payments or unemployment insurance checks and potential workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxes .
Good economic policy is about increasing private production and free trade .
Bad economic policy is about living beyond your means and protectionism .
Q : Although many regard what the Fed is doing to be unprecedented and even outlandish , it seems that other central banks are doing even more .
That seems to be the case over the past ten years : while the Fed pursued easy money policies , other central banks did even more .
Do you think that will be the case in this crisis also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy is outlandish , other central banks are doing even worse .
In particular , the Bank of Japan and the European Central Bank have been doing more so in terms of interest rates and buying assets .
The Bank of Japan has increased its balance sheet 500 percent over the last decade , and they have had a near-zero interest rate policy for many , many years .
The interest rate on Greek ten-year government bonds is 1 percent , for Spain it is 0.4 percent due to ECB asset purchases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ such governments for ten years for less than 1 percent interest ?
That says it all .
It might seem that central bankers can paper over all our problems , but that will not be the case .
Take a look at countries that have negative interest rates , negative interest rates on government bonds , and even negative prices for oil in futures markets .
These are troubling facts that the world economy is fundamentally unbalanced .
The upside here is that this crisis holds the promise to discredit mainstream economics and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senior Fellow at the Mises Institute and the book review editor of the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics .
He has authored seven books and is a frequent guest on national radio shows .

by Mark Thornton via Mises
Q: We’re in a very odd situation right now in terms of evaluating the state of the economy. We can see there is rising unemployment and there is likely to be a wave of missed mortgage and rent payments. Is this all just due to the government-mandated “shutdowns” or are there deeper economic issues here?
A: Extremely odd! The rising unemployment and missed mortgage and rental payments will be linked to the government-mandated shutdowns, but the overall economy was already weak beforehand despite record stock markets and record low unemployment in late February. Savings were low and debt at all levels was very high. Job openings hit a record high in early December 2019 and were declining noticeably well before the virus and shutdowns hit. Therefore, I was expecting a weak economy in 2020 and the shutdowns brought it about sooner than anticipated and have no doubt made it worse. So, we have in effect both a business cycle depression and the economic restriction of the lockdown at the same time. I would not have been surprised if we had reached 10 percent unemployment, but obviously it would not have occurred so quickly without the shutdowns.
Q: As the crisis grew during March, the Fed lowered the target rate from 1.75 to 0.25 percent in a two-week period. Since then, the Fed has begun engaging in a wide variety of asset purchases. What was the Fed trying to do when it did this, and can it achieve its goals?
A: The Fed is always trying to manage “confidence” and so keeping companies from going bankrupt is a big part of its agenda. Lower rates mean lower payments for mortgages, car payments, etc. Purchasing assets like junk bonds hides the bad news that is no doubt out there. So far, their plans have worked, with stock markets reflecting good news. However, precious metal prices are also up, so not everyone is being fooled by the Fed’s confidence game.
Also, the personal savings rate has spiked to 30 percent, to one of the highest levels on record. That is an obvious sign that many people are not accepting the idea that Fed policy will take us quickly to a recovery.
Q: We seem to now be in a time of unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus. In the past, there seemed to be some political and legal limits on what could be done in this regard. Why do you think there are now almost no limits on what the Fed and Congress can get away with in terms of spending and bailouts?
A: It is truly remarkable. In the past we had the gold standard restraint on fiscal and monetary policy (until 1971). That restraint had a lingering effect for a long time. However, the current group of voters and politicians no longer recognize that restraint or the consequences of ignoring a balanced budget restraint. The average American has no memory of the gold standard or even the stagflation of the 1970s. The current generation does not even recognize the idea of a government budget! The collective mindset is the classic “kick the can down the road.”
Obviously, the idea of a national debt limit is now rightly regarded as a joke.
Q: It’s now looking like the federal budget may exceed 10 trillion for 2020, and that means a deficit of more than 2 trillion just for this fiscal year. But, it seems no one—including the voters—have any concerns about deficits at all. Why should we care?
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
A: Ten trillion?
The deficit will hit an all-time record high. Spending is out of control and tax revenues will probably miss the initial estimates. The millions of unemployed will likely have a hard time making tax payments. Expenditures for things like unemployment insurance and welfare payments will likely remain high. I think I am most concerned about interest paid on the national debt, as an uptick in rates could cause such payments and the deficit to balloon.
Why should we care? The simple reason is that all this spending eats up real resources. The government buys something and the resources are not available for productive use. GNP (gross national product) goes up, but what are the real benefits? The government writes welfare payments or unemployment insurance checks and potential workers stay unemployed. It also raises future taxes. Good economic policy is about increasing private production and free trade. Bad economic policy is about living beyond your means and protectionism.
Q: Although many regard what the Fed is doing to be unprecedented and even outlandish, it seems that other central banks are doing even more. That seems to be the case over the past ten years: while the Fed pursued easy money policies, other central banks did even more. Do you think that will be the case in this crisis also?
A: Yes, while Fed policy is outlandish, other central banks are doing even worse. In particular, the Bank of Japan and the European Central Bank have been doing more so in terms of interest rates and buying assets. The Bank of Japan has increased its balance sheet 500 percent over the last decade, and they have had a near-zero interest rate policy for many, many years. The interest rate on Greek ten-year government bonds is 1 percent, for Spain it is 0.4 percent due to ECB asset purchases. Under normal circumstances who would lend to such governments for ten years for less than 1 percent interest? That says it all.
It might seem that central bankers can paper over all our problems, but that will not be the case. Take a look at countries that have negative interest rates, negative interest rates on government bonds, and even negative prices for oil in futures markets. These are troubling facts that the world economy is fundamentally unbalanced.
The upside here is that this crisis holds the promise to discredit mainstream economics and fiat money.
Author:
Contact Mark Thornton
Mark Thornton is a Senior Fellow at the Mises Institute and the book review editor of the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics. He has authored seven books and is a frequent guest on national radio shows.


China’s food shortage

Starts at 8:30
This is going to go fast from here on out
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h/t bonehowler


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--Philadelphia lockdown extended to February 2021

PHILADELPHIA ( WPVI ) — The City of Philadelphia is prohibiting any large public events for the next several months @ @ @ @ @ .
Mayor Jim Kenney announced on Tuesday that the moratorium will be in effect through @ @ @ @ @

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The City of Philadelphia is prohibiting any large public events for the next several months as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Mayor Jim Kenney announced on Tuesday that the moratorium will be in effect through February 28, 2021.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
6abc.com/philadelphia-public-events-prohibited-canceled-coronavirus-cancellations-covid-cancellations/6316668/


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--Bait and switch? Colleges move online and keep tuition prices high…Eduardo Neret explains

Eduardo Neret joined National Report on Newsmax to explain the bait and switch that is occurring at colleges and universities @ @ @ @ @ announced they will be online after previously indicating they would attempt to reopen .

Eduardo Neret joined National Report on Newsmax to explain the bait and switch that is occurring at colleges and universities. Many schools have recently announced they will be online after previously indicating they would attempt to reopen.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--An Experimental COVID-19 Vaccine Being Rushed Through Development Will Require Multiple Injections

A lot of Americans are assuming that eventually a newly developed COVID-19 vaccine will put an end to this pandemic .
And many of those same people are assuming that all they will have to do is get one shot and they will be protected from the virus for their rest of their lives .
Unfortunately , that is not the way that it is going to work .
As you will see below , the experimental vaccine that is making the most headlines will require two shots , and those two shots will be a month apart .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few months , those that get the vaccine will need a “ booster shot ” very rapidly after the first two injections , and then another one , and then another one , and then more “ booster shots ” at regular intervals in perpetuity .
Of course most Americans won ’ t want to submit to an endless series of shots that only provide very brief periods of protection at best , but authorities will be very strongly pushing people to do so .
The experimental vaccine that I am referring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data from the phase 1 clinical trial was published on Tuesday… Also Tuesday , Moderna published data from its phase 1 clinical trial in the New England Journal of Medicine .
That trial , which involved 45 participants , was meant to test a new drug ’ s safety , not its effectiveness .
But the company said results from all 45 participants showed they developed antibodies key to fighting the virus at levels up to four times the amount found in patients who got sick and then recovered from the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the stock market soared .
But one expert that was interviewed by NBC News cautioned that the clinical trial did not show if the antibodies actually lead to immunity , and it also did not show how long such immunity would last… What we do know is that three separate studies have now shown that COVID-19 antibodies fade very , very rapidly for those that have tested positive for the virus .
In fact , some victims no longer test positive for antibodies after just a few weeks .
If a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only lasts for “ a few weeks ” , it will essentially be completely worthless .
And we also know that an increasing number of Americans appear to be catching COVID-19 again very quickly after their first battle with the virus .
For example , NBC News recently featured the case of 56-year-old nurse Sherry Wellman of Youngstown , Ohio… The test showed that she had COVID-19 once again .
There have been many other cases such as this , and I included a few of them in a recent article .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear this , but just like other coronaviruses you can catch COVID-19 over and over again .
A COVID-19 vaccine is probably the most anticipated vaccine in modern American history , and right now there is a worldwide race to produce one that is safe and effective .
President Trump has launched “ Operation Warp Speed ” in an effort to have the U.S. be the first one to produce a vaccine , and right now it appears that the experimental Moderna vaccine is the most promising candidate .
According to Yahoo News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two doses ” … So that means two separate trips to the doctor , and a lot of Americans are not going to be excited about that .
At this point , we do not know if the Moderna vaccine will be effective , and we certainly don ’ t know if it will be safe .
In the clinical trial , “ more than half the study participants ” reported some very alarming side effects… Don ’ t you love how they claim that there were “ no serious side effects ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a whole bunch of very serious side effects that were reported by more than half the people in the study ?
To me , if a shot gives you “ fatigue , headache , chills , fever and pain ” , that is a major red flag .
But one “ vaccine expert ” says that such side effects are “ a small price to pay ” … Of course vaccine safety advocates have been told similar things for decades when confronting the industry with horrific stories of vaccine side effects .
Rushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very , very bad idea , and it is imperative that safety concerns be fully addressed .
Because we certainly do not want a vaccine pushed on the American public that will do even more damage than the virus itself is doing .
And of course there are tens of millions of Americans that will not want to take any COVID-19 vaccine under any circumstances .
But there will be lots of people that will line up for the shots as soon as they are available , and most of them will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protection .
However , it is extremely unlikely that any vaccine will produce as much immunity as actually having the disease does , and at this point we know that actually having the virus produces only a few months of immunity at best .
So the truth is that all of this hope that a “ vaccine ” will end this pandemic is likely just a mirage , but the mainstream media will likely attempt to keep this mirage going for as long as possible .

by Michael Snyder
A lot of Americans are assuming that eventually a newly developed COVID-19 vaccine will put an end to this pandemic. And many of those same people are assuming that all they will have to do is get one shot and they will be protected from the virus for their rest of their lives. Unfortunately, that is not the way that it is going to work. As you will see below, the experimental vaccine that is making the most headlines will require two shots, and those two shots will be a month apart. And because COVID-19 antibodies disappear in just a few months, those that get the vaccine will need a “booster shot” very rapidly after the first two injections, and then another one, and then another one, and then more “booster shots” at regular intervals in perpetuity. Of course most Americans won’t want to submit to an endless series of shots that only provide very brief periods of protection at best, but authorities will be very strongly pushing people to do so.
The experimental vaccine that I am referring to is being developed by Moderna, and data from the phase 1 clinical trial was published on Tuesday…
Also Tuesday, Moderna published data from its phase 1 clinical trial in the New England Journal of Medicine. That trial, which involved 45 participants, was meant to test a new drug’s safety, not its effectiveness. But the company said results from all 45 participants showed they developed antibodies key to fighting the virus at levels up to four times the amount found in patients who got sick and then recovered from the virus.
Many analysts were encouraged by these results, and the stock market soared.
But one expert that was interviewed by NBC News cautioned that the clinical trial did not show if the antibodies actually lead to immunity, and it also did not show how long such immunity would last…
Gonsenhauser, who is not involved with any COVID-19 vaccine research, cautioned that while the findings are promising, scientists have not yet shown that COVID-19 antibodies lead to immunity, and if so, how long that immunity lasts.
What we do know is that three separate studies have now shown that COVID-19 antibodies fade very, very rapidly for those that have tested positive for the virus. In fact, some victims no longer test positive for antibodies after just a few weeks.
If a COVID-19 vaccine produces “immunity” that only lasts for “a few weeks”, it will essentially be completely worthless.
And we also know that an increasing number of Americans appear to be catching COVID-19 again very quickly after their first battle with the virus. For example, NBC News recently featured the case of 56-year-old nurse Sherry Wellman of Youngstown, Ohio…
After an initial positive test for the virus in March, two additional COVID-19 tests in April were negative. It was welcome news to Wellman, whose job as a nurse required her to have two negative tests before returning to work. But a month later, she had to go to the hospital for chest pains, and was tested again.
And guess what?
The test showed that she had COVID-19 once again.
There have been many other cases such as this, and I included a few of them in a recent article. A lot of people may not want to hear this, but just like other coronaviruses you can catch COVID-19 over and over again.
A COVID-19 vaccine is probably the most anticipated vaccine in modern American history, and right now there is a worldwide race to produce one that is safe and effective. President Trump has launched “Operation Warp Speed” in an effort to have the U.S. be the first one to produce a vaccine, and right now it appears that the experimental Moderna vaccine is the most promising candidate. According to Yahoo News, the Moderna vaccine will require “two doses”…
The vaccine requires two doses, a month apart.
So that means two separate trips to the doctor, and a lot of Americans are not going to be excited about that.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
At this point, we do not know if the Moderna vaccine will be effective, and we certainly don’t know if it will be safe.
In the clinical trial, “more than half the study participants” reported some very alarming side effects…
There were no serious side effects. But more than half the study participants reported flu-like reactions to the shots that aren’t uncommon with other vaccines — fatigue, headache, chills, fever and pain at the injection site. For three participants given the highest dose, those reactions were more severe; that dose isn’t being pursued.
Don’t you love how they claim that there were “no serious side effects” and then they go on to list a whole bunch of very serious side effects that were reported by more than half the people in the study?
To me, if a shot gives you “fatigue, headache, chills, fever and pain”, that is a major red flag.
But one “vaccine expert” says that such side effects are “a small price to pay”…
“Small price to pay for protection against COVID,” said Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, a vaccine expert who wasn’t involved with the study.
Of course vaccine safety advocates have been told similar things for decades when confronting the industry with horrific stories of vaccine side effects.
Rushing a vaccine through the development process is a very, very bad idea, and it is imperative that safety concerns be fully addressed.
Because we certainly do not want a vaccine pushed on the American public that will do even more damage than the virus itself is doing.
And of course there are tens of millions of Americans that will not want to take any COVID-19 vaccine under any circumstances.
But there will be lots of people that will line up for the shots as soon as they are available, and most of them will assume that the shots will provide long-term protection.
However, it is extremely unlikely that any vaccine will produce as much immunity as actually having the disease does, and at this point we know that actually having the virus produces only a few months of immunity at best.
So the truth is that all of this hope that a “vaccine” will end this pandemic is likely just a mirage, but the mainstream media will likely attempt to keep this mirage going for as long as possible.


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--Why do sufferers of Alzheimer’s nap so much? Study suggests the disease kills the cells needed to st

Why do sufferers of Alzheimer’s nap so much? Study suggests the disease kills the cells needed to stay awake

( Natural News ) A study published in Alzheimer ’ s & Dementia : The Journal of the Alzheimer ’ s Association found that in people with Alzheimer ’ s , tau proteins promote the degeneration of brain regions responsible for keeping people awake .
This explains why excessive daytime napping is common among people with the disease and suggests that it could be an early sign of Alzheimer ’ s .
Previous studies have explored the link between daytime napping and Alzheimer ’ s disease .
While some consider it the brain ’ s way of compensating for poor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Alzheimer ’ s-related disruptions , others argue that the sleep problems themselves are what causes the disease to progress .
In their study , researchers at University of California , San Francisco and the University of Sao Paolo in Brazil showed that there is a direct connection between excessive daytime napping and Alzheimer ’ s disease .
They also showed that tau protein tangles play a larger role in Alzheimer ’ s than the more frequently associated amyloid plaques .
Daytime napping may be an early warning sign of Alzheimer ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perform important functions , such as stabilizing the microtubules that help transport nutrients and other substances from one part of the nerve cell to another .
However , tau dysfunction can cause these proteins to disarrange and misfold in a specific way , forming neurofibrillary tangles that contribute to the development of Alzheimer ’ s disease .
For their study , the researchers examined the brains of 13 deceased Alzheimer ’ s patients and compared them to the brains of seven healthy individuals .
They measured Alzheimer ’ s pathology , tau protein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in three brain regions associated with wakefulness , namely , the locus coeruleus , the lateral hypothalamic area and the tuberomammillary nucleus .
The researchers found that in the Alzheimer ’ s patients , all three brain regions had significant tau buildup .
This caused those regions to lose as much as 75 percent of the neurons .
“ It ’ s remarkable because it ’ s not just a single brain nucleus that ’ s degenerating , but the whole wakefulness-promoting network , ” said Jun Oh , the lead author of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also studied brain samples from seven individuals with different forms of tau-related dementia .
Unlike in the Alzheimer ’ s patients , tau buildup did not affect the neural networks associated with wakefulness in these individuals .
( Related : Understanding the medical differences between Alzheimer ’ s and dementia . )
These findings demonstrate that wakefulness-promoting neurons are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of tau aggregation only in Alzheimer ’ s disease .
They also suggest that excessive daytime napping may be an early symptom of Alzheimer ’ s , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused by significant sleep problems at night .
Previously , scientists have focused most of their attention on amyloid proteins , which are known to form plaques in the brains of Alzheimer ’ s patients .
But in an earlier study , Lea Grinberg , Oh ’ s co-author , and her colleagues investigated whether amyloid plaques or tau tangles are linked to neuropsychiatric symptoms , such as agitation , anxiety , appetite changes , depression and sleep disturbances .
These symptoms often precede the more common signs of Alzheimer ’ s , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team found no association between amyloid plaques and mood-related symptoms .
However , they found that tau tangles were already present in the brainstems of individuals with early-stage Alzheimer ’ s .
Although they lacked memory changes , these individuals had increased rates of one or more neuropsychiatric symptoms .
These findings , according to Grinberg , clearly show that tau proteins , and not beta-amyloid , are involved in the onset of Alzheimer ’ s disease .
She also believes that this new knowledge can help researchers find a way to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aging adults .
“ These results could have major implications for Alzheimer ’ s drug trials focused on early degenerative changes , where people have been seeking tractable clinical outcomes to target in addition to early cognitive decline , ” said Alex Ehrenberg , the lead author of the study .
For more news on Alzheimer ’ s and other forms of dementia , visit Dementia.news .

(Natural News) A study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association found that in people with Alzheimer’s, tau proteins promote the degeneration of brain regions responsible for keeping people awake. This explains why excessive daytime napping is common among people with the disease and suggests that it could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s.
Previous studies have explored the link between daytime napping and Alzheimer’s disease. While some consider it the brain’s way of compensating for poor nighttime sleep, which can be caused by Alzheimer’s-related disruptions, others argue that the sleep problems themselves are what causes the disease to progress.
In their study, researchers at University of California, San Francisco and the University of Sao Paolo in Brazil showed that there is a direct connection between excessive daytime napping and Alzheimer’s disease. They also showed that tau protein tangles play a larger role in Alzheimer’s than the more frequently associated amyloid plaques.
Daytime napping may be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s
Tau proteins are found in neurons and perform important functions, such as stabilizing the microtubules that help transport nutrients and other substances from one part of the nerve cell to another. However, tau dysfunction can cause these proteins to disarrange and misfold in a specific way, forming neurofibrillary tangles that contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
For their study, the researchers examined the brains of 13 deceased Alzheimer’s patients and compared them to the brains of seven healthy individuals. They measured Alzheimer’s pathology, tau protein levels and the number of neurons present in three brain regions associated with wakefulness, namely, the locus coeruleus, the lateral hypothalamic area and the tuberomammillary nucleus.
The researchers found that in the Alzheimer’s patients, all three brain regions had significant tau buildup. This caused those regions to lose as much as 75 percent of the neurons.
“It’s remarkable because it’s not just a single brain nucleus that’s degenerating, but the whole wakefulness-promoting network,” said Jun Oh, the lead author of the study.
Oh and his colleagues also studied brain samples from seven individuals with different forms of tau-related dementia. Unlike in the Alzheimer’s patients, tau buildup did not affect the neural networks associated with wakefulness in these individuals. (Related: Understanding the medical differences between Alzheimer’s and dementia.)
These findings demonstrate that wakefulness-promoting neurons are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of tau aggregation only in Alzheimer’s disease. They also suggest that excessive daytime napping may be an early symptom of Alzheimer’s, especially if it’s not accompanied or caused by significant sleep problems at night.
A new target for Alzheimer’s treatment
Previously, scientists have focused most of their attention on amyloid proteins, which are known to form plaques in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. But in an earlier study, Lea Grinberg, Oh’s co-author, and her colleagues investigated whether amyloid plaques or tau tangles are linked to neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as agitation, anxiety, appetite changes, depression and sleep disturbances. These symptoms often precede the more common signs of Alzheimer’s, including memory problems.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Grinberg and her team found no association between amyloid plaques and mood-related symptoms. However, they found that tau tangles were already present in the brainstems of individuals with early-stage Alzheimer’s. Although they lacked memory changes, these individuals had increased rates of one or more neuropsychiatric symptoms.
These findings, according to Grinberg, clearly show that tau proteins, and not beta-amyloid, are involved in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. She also believes that this new knowledge can help researchers find a way to reduce the burden of Alzheimer’s in aging adults.
“These results could have major implications for Alzheimer’s drug trials focused on early degenerative changes, where people have been seeking tractable clinical outcomes to target in addition to early cognitive decline,” said Alex Ehrenberg, the lead author of the study.
For more news on Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, visit Dementia.news.
Sources include:
LiveScience.com
News-Medical.net
BrightFocus.org
UCSF.edu 1
UCSF.edu 2


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--ISRAELI RESEARCH: Fenofibrate may downgrade COVID threat to common cold level

Existing drug may downgrade COVID threat to common cold level — Jerusalem study Hebrew University professor says he ’ s worked out what makes the raging virus so vicious , and how to fix it using an anti-cholesterol med ; no human testing done yet An existing medicine can “ downgrade ” the danger-level of coronavirus to that of a common cold , a Jerusalem researcher is claiming , after testing it on infected human tissue .
Prof. Yaakov Nahmias says that his research shows that the novel coronavirus is so vicious because it causes lipids to be deposited in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a solution to undo the damage : a widely-used anti cholesterol drug called fenofibrate .
He told The Times of Israel : “ The question is why this new coronavirus is so different from its close relatives that just cause a common cold .
What we see is that this virus really changes lipid metabolism in the human lungs .
The new coronavirus causes tiny lipid droplets to accumulate in the lungs , something you don ’ t normally see in the lungs in any significant quantity.
” Similar processes , hinging on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take place in other parts of the body too , such as the liver , said Nahmias .
He believes that the virus does this in order to perpetuate itself in the host , and that if this process can be stopped , it will halt the onset of problems with organs — normally the lungs — that cause the virus to badly affect patients .
He said the virus interferes with the ability of the body to break down fat , and fenofibrate jump-starts this process .
“ The interesting thing about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and activates the very site on the DNA that the virus shuts down — a part of our DNA that allows our cells to burn fat , ” he stated .
“ Virus infection causes the lung cells to start building up fat , and fenofibrate allows the cells to burn it .
”

Existing drug may downgrade COVID threat to common cold level — Jerusalem study
Hebrew University professor says he’s worked out what makes the raging virus so vicious, and how to fix it using an anti-cholesterol med; no human testing done yet
An existing medicine can “downgrade” the danger-level of coronavirus to that of a common cold, a Jerusalem researcher is claiming, after testing it on infected human tissue.
Prof. Yaakov Nahmias says that his research shows that the novel coronavirus is so vicious because it causes lipids to be deposited in the lungs, and that there is a solution to undo the damage: a widely-used anti cholesterol drug called fenofibrate.
(…)
He told The Times of Israel: “The question is why this new coronavirus is so different from its close relatives that just cause a common cold. What we see is that this virus really changes lipid metabolism in the human lungs. The new coronavirus causes tiny lipid droplets to accumulate in the lungs, something you don’t normally see in the lungs in any significant quantity.”
(…)
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Similar processes, hinging on the virus depositing fats, seem to take place in other parts of the body too, such as the liver, said Nahmias.
He believes that the virus does this in order to perpetuate itself in the host, and that if this process can be stopped, it will halt the onset of problems with organs — normally the lungs — that cause the virus to badly affect patients.
He said the virus interferes with the ability of the body to break down fat, and fenofibrate jump-starts this process. “The interesting thing about our study is that fenofibrate actually binds and activates the very site on the DNA that the virus shuts down — a part of our DNA that allows our cells to burn fat,” he stated.
“Virus infection causes the lung cells to start building up fat, and fenofibrate allows the cells to burn it.”
www.timesofisrael.com/existing-drug-may-downgrade-covid-threat-to-common-cold-level-jerusalem-study/
h/t Spanish_guy


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--Per the CDC, there was only 181 deaths in the USA from confirmed or presumed COVID-19 in week ending

Per the CDC, there was only 181 deaths in the USA from confirmed or presumed COVID-19 in week ending July 11, 2020. Why are places like Philadelphia now locking down until February 2021?

Only 181 deaths in the USA from confirmed or presumed COVID-19 .
Why the uptrend in lockdowns ?

by ratioetlogicae
Only 181 deaths in the USA from confirmed or presumed COVID-19.
Trend shows steadily decreasing death count from COVID-19.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Why the uptrend in lockdowns?
www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/COVID19/index.htm


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--Don Lemon: Then Vs. Now

Don Lemon: Then Vs. Now

CNN Anchor Don Lemon hosted actor Terry Crews on his show after Crews faced backlash over a # BLM tweet @ @ @ @ @ a different tune than he did 7 years ago .

by Facts-Over-Opinion
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
CNN Anchor Don Lemon hosted actor Terry Crews on his show after Crews faced backlash over a #BLM tweet. Lemon seemed to sing a different tune than he did 7 years ago.


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--It doesn’t matter whether you support Trump or not, the blatant hypocrisy of this is getting out of

It doesn’t matter whether you support Trump or not, the blatant hypocrisy of this is getting out of control.

Woke-ness is a runaway train that is going to destroy things that America once could be proud of .
The media manipulation on this one is becoming even more obvious to anyone willing to open their eyes .
Mt .
Rushmore is a magnificent accomplishment of human ingenuity and immortalizing a legacy in stone .
It is a celebration of our past and what we can accomplish .
It also celebrates four men ( flawed human beings ) who brought a great deal of good to the world by their very existence .
I personally would love to see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the proper respect to the site .
I can understand the point of view that the statue has tarnished the site in Native American history , so I believe this is a beautiful solution to not destroying history ( ie the fact that it was built ) and paying respect to both the legacy of the monument and the history of our nation .
We can not allow politicization to destroy the past .
This is exactly what every corrupt society has done throughout time .
I used to always marvel at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history that we have no artifacts from .
No statues of certain immense figures in the historic record .
We are seeing LIVE exactly how this has come about time and time again .
EDIT : If you disagree with a figure in history and the existence of their statue then the proper response is not to destroy it .
It is to use the statue as a talking point .
An opportunity for education so that you may share your opinion on the matter .
“ Those who can not remember the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Learn , teach , share .
Don ’ t destroy .

by wreak_havok
Fascinating how CNN called Mount Rushmore "majestic" and "quite a sight" in 2008 when Obama visited, but now its a symbol of slavery and stolen landt.co/3sV1ZEfW9L t.co/GTIH9tzOim pic.twitter.com/5Vu6uQp4XS — Zach Parkinson (@AZachParkinson) July 3, 2020
Woke-ness is a runaway train that is going to destroy things that America once could be proud of. The media manipulation on this one is becoming even more obvious to anyone willing to open their eyes.
Mt. Rushmore is a magnificent accomplishment of human ingenuity and immortalizing a legacy in stone. It is a celebration of our past and what we can accomplish. It also celebrates four men (flawed human beings) who brought a great deal of good to the world by their very existence. I personally would love to see the proposed Crazy Horse addition done to give the proper respect to the site. I can understand the point of view that the statue has tarnished the site in Native American history, so I believe this is a beautiful solution to not destroying history (ie the fact that it was built) and paying respect to both the legacy of the monument and the history of our nation.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
We cannot allow politicization to destroy the past. This is exactly what every corrupt society has done throughout time. I used to always marvel at the fact that there are huge chunks of history that we have no artifacts from. No statues of certain immense figures in the historic record. We are seeing LIVE exactly how this has come about time and time again.
EDIT: If you disagree with a figure in history and the existence of their statue then the proper response is not to destroy it. It is to use the statue as a talking point. An opportunity for education so that you may share your opinion on the matter. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Learn, teach, share. Don’t destroy.


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--Is too much hope being put into a coronavirus vaccine?

Vaccines are hard to develop , and can be dangerous .
This is a vaccine for a disease where 40 @ @ @ @ @ , up from 35 % before ) have no symptoms , and where only about @ @ @ @ @ ’ s also a widespread disease — this isn ’ t Ebola where you could @ @ @ @ @ an outbreak to an end .
You ’ d have to vaccinate a billion or @ @ @ @ @ huge numbers of people for a disease that isn ’ t very dangerous , your @ @ @ @ @ safe to be better than the disease .
That doesn ’ t go well with @ @ @ @ @ UPDATE : Related : Merck CEO says raising COVID-19 vaccine hopes ‘ a grave disservice @ @ @ @ @ If you ’ re going to use a vaccine on billions of people , you @ @ @ @ @ does .
”

via YAHOO:
Vaccines are hard to develop, and can be dangerous. This is a vaccine for a disease where 40% (at current estimate, up from 35% before) have no symptoms, and where only about .4% die. It’s also a widespread disease — this isn’t Ebola where you could vaccinate 50,000 people and bring an outbreak to an end. You’d have to vaccinate a billion or more. When you vaccinate huge numbers of people for a disease that isn’t very dangerous, your vaccine has to be very safe to be better than the disease. That doesn’t go well with a rushed development effort.
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UPDATE: Related: Merck CEO says raising COVID-19 vaccine hopes ‘a grave disservice’ – report. “If you’re going to use a vaccine on billions of people, you better know what that vaccine does.”
h/t GR


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--Open Letter to the Boston City Council: Privacy Concerns About Boston’s Facial Recognition Ban

Open letter to the Boston City Council : Privacy concerns about Boston ’ s facial recognition ban .
I commend the Boston City Council for unanimously passing a ban on the use of facial recognition technology by any agency under the City of Boston ’ s authority .
The actions taken by the City Council are the first step in reducing racial discrimination and misidentification by the Boston Police Department and other City agencies .
While the ordinance bans city officials from using facial recognition obtained by non-city agencies , it does allow the Boston Police Department to use information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a loophole for city agencies to rely on non-government entities to collect data using facial recognition surveillance programs and still be compliant with the ordinance .
Any city agency can request the data from these third party companies and still be in accordance with the law .
This ordinance does not have a checks and balance system on requests by city agencies , such as the Boston Police Department , to private companies and organizations [ Massachusetts General Hospital ] which are allowed to implement facial recognition within the City of Boston .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are planning on using this technology , it undermines the actions of this Council .
The city-wide ban on facial recognition should include language on how sports stadiums like Fenway Park , the TD Garden and retail stores like Home Depot , Macy ’ s , Best Buy and Kohl ’ s can use facial recognition software , and require these entities to disclose the use of it to the public .
Additional language should include any penalties businesses could face for ignoring a citywide ban on facial recognition , which could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the City .
A city-wide ban on facial recognition must also include specific reasons for obtaining information from MBTA buses and trains who use DHS-funded surveillance cameras within the boundaries of Boston .
Minorities using public transportation should not have to worry about being racially profiled by the MBTA police and the Boston Regional Intelligence Center .
The city-wide ban on facial recognition is great news for Boston residents , but it still leaves a lot to be desired .
A recent article in One Zero about Portland , Oregon ’ s facial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banning facial recognition at public transit stations , restaurants , entertainment venues and Airbnb ’ s .
“ The law would prohibit the use of facial recognition technologies at stores , banks , Airbnb rentals , restaurants , entertainment venues , public transit stations , homeless shelters , senior centers , services like law or doctors ’ offices , and a variety of other types of businesses .
And it would allow people to sue noncompliant private entities for damages.
” Portland ’ s ban on facial recognition goes further than any other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowledge , Portland is the first city that proposes a regulation of private use of face recognition technologies , ” Hector Dominguez , open data coordinator at Smart City PDX , the city ’ s data equity advisory group overseeing drafting of the facial recognition ordinances said.Portland ’ s two bills banning facial recognition will hopefully serve as a model for other cities and towns .
If passed , both bills would outlaw the use of facial recognition by government bureaus , including law enforcement , and would establish a new chapter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facial recognition .
Boston has taken the first step in banning government facial recognition .
It is my hope the Boston City Council will consider expanding their facial recognition ban to include other entities .

by mapi
credit: Tenth Amendment Center
Open letter to the Boston City Council: Privacy concerns about Boston’s facial recognition ban.
I commend the Boston City Council for unanimously passing a ban on the use of facial recognition technology by any agency under the City of Boston’s authority. The actions taken by the City Council are the first step in reducing racial discrimination and misidentification by the Boston Police Department and other City agencies.
While the ordinance bans city officials from using facial recognition obtained by non-city agencies, it does allow the Boston Police Department to use information by other third-party agencies. This creates a loophole for city agencies to rely on non-government entities to collect data using facial recognition surveillance programs and still be compliant with the ordinance.
Any city agency can request the data from these third party companies and still be in accordance with the law. This ordinance does not have a checks and balance system on requests by city agencies, such as the Boston Police Department, to private companies and organizations [Massachusetts General Hospital] which are allowed to implement facial recognition within the City of Boston. Without any oversight or understanding of how they are planning on using this technology, it undermines the actions of this Council.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The city-wide ban on facial recognition should include language on how sports stadiums like Fenway Park, the TD Garden and retail stores like Home Depot, Macy’s, Best Buy and Kohl’s can use facial recognition software, and require these entities to disclose the use of it to the public. Additional language should include any penalties businesses could face for ignoring a citywide ban on facial recognition, which could go as far as denying permits within the City.
A city-wide ban on facial recognition must also include specific reasons for obtaining information from MBTA buses and trains who use DHS-funded surveillance cameras within the boundaries of Boston. Minorities using public transportation should not have to worry about being racially profiled by the MBTA police and the Boston Regional Intelligence Center.
The city-wide ban on facial recognition is great news for Boston residents, but it still leaves a lot to be desired.
A recent article in One Zero about Portland, Oregon’s facial recognition ban goes the extra mile by banning facial recognition at public transit stations, restaurants, entertainment venues and Airbnb’s.
“The law would prohibit the use of facial recognition technologies at stores, banks, Airbnb rentals, restaurants, entertainment venues, public transit stations, homeless shelters, senior centers, services like law or doctors’ offices, and a variety of other types of businesses. And it would allow people to sue noncompliant private entities for damages.”Portland’s ban on facial recognition goes further than any other city council ban.
“From our knowledge, Portland is the first city that proposes a regulation of private use of face recognition technologies,” Hector Dominguez, open data coordinator at Smart City PDX, the city’s data equity advisory group overseeing drafting of the facial recognition ordinances said.Portland’s two bills banning facial recognition will hopefully serve as a model for other cities and towns. If passed, both bills would outlaw the use of facial recognition by government bureaus, including law enforcement, and would establish a new chapter of city code prohibiting private entities from using facial recognition.
Boston has taken the first step in banning government facial recognition. It is my hope the Boston City Council will consider expanding their facial recognition ban to include other entities.


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--Ben Garrison with An Animated Cartoon Targeting Jeff Sessions’ Failures to Do His Job As Attorney Ge

Ben Garrison with An Animated Cartoon Targeting Jeff Sessions’ Failures to Do His Job As Attorney General

# Alabama primary today !
Get Out and vote !
pic.twitter.com/YixI8zIZIP

#Alabama primary today! Get Out and vote! pic.twitter.com/YixI8zIZIP
— GrrrGraphics Cartoons (@GrrrGraphics) July 14, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--CANCEL CULTURE CLAIMS ANOTHER SCALP:

CANCEL CULTURE CLAIMS ANOTHER SCALP:

Bari Weiss Is Leaving the New York Times .
A controversial figure inside and outside the paper , Weiss leaves in the wake of what she recently described as a civil war at the Times between “ ( mostly young ) wokes ” and “ ( mostly 40+ ) liberals.
” That war reached its apex when Opinion head James Bennet , who had been widely tipped as a potential replacement for top Times editor Dean Baquet , left the paper after publishing an op-ed in which Senator Tom Cotton called for the use of the military force against protestors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt ’ s The Coddling of the American Mind , Quillette contributor Matthew Lesh asked , “ Is Safetyism Destroying a Generation ?
” Yes , and they ’ re now collecting plenty of scalps along the way , including those who aren ’ t true believers .
This is what Weiss observed during the Times ’ meltdown over Cotton ’ s op-ed : Flash-forward to today ; here ’ s her resignation letter .
Exit quote : “ But the lessons that ought to have followed the election—lessons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the necessity of resisting tribalism , and the centrality of the free exchange of ideas to a democratic society—have not been learned .
Instead , a new consensus has emerged in the press , but perhaps especially at this paper : that truth isn ’ t a process of collective discovery , but an orthodoxy already known to an enlightened few whose job is to inform everyone else .
Twitter is not on the masthead of The New York Times .
But Twitter has become its ultimate editor.
” As former newspaper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now and then , a young person will ask me what advice I have for someone who is thinking about becoming a journalist .
My advice : don ’ t do it .
If you are an honest person — whether you ’ re liberal , conservative , or somewhere in between — you are going to live in constant fear of inadvertently causing a job-ending offense .
You will end up a nervous wreck , or you will end up as a conformist drone , or you will end up jobless.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in accordance with the prophecy :

Bari Weiss Is Leaving the New York Times.
A controversial figure inside and outside the paper, Weiss leaves in the wake of what she recently described as a civil war at the Times between “(mostly young) wokes” and “(mostly 40+) liberals.” That war reached its apex when Opinion head James Bennet, who had been widely tipped as a potential replacement for top Times editor Dean Baquet, left the paper after publishing an op-ed in which Senator Tom Cotton called for the use of the military force against protestors.
In a 2018, review of Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt’s The Coddling of the American Mind, Quillette contributor Matthew Lesh asked, “Is Safetyism Destroying a Generation?”
Yes, and they’re now collecting plenty of scalps along the way, including those who aren’t true believers. This is what Weiss observed during the Times’ meltdown over Cotton’s op-ed:
Flash-forward to today; here’s her resignation letter. Exit quote: “But the lessons that ought to have followed the election—lessons about the importance of understanding other Americans, the necessity of resisting tribalism, and the centrality of the free exchange of ideas to a democratic society—have not been learned. Instead, a new consensus has emerged in the press, but perhaps especially at this paper: that truth isn’t a process of collective discovery, but an orthodoxy already known to an enlightened few whose job is to inform everyone else. Twitter is not on the masthead of The New York Times. But Twitter has become its ultimate editor.”
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
As former newspaper man Rod Dreher writes, “Every now and then, a young person will ask me what advice I have for someone who is thinking about becoming a journalist. My advice: don’t do it. If you are an honest person — whether you’re liberal, conservative, or somewhere in between — you are going to live in constant fear of inadvertently causing a job-ending offense. You will end up a nervous wreck, or you will end up as a conformist drone, or you will end up jobless.”
Or all three.
All is happening in accordance with the prophecy:
h/t ED


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--For Ghislaine Maxwell & Covid truth, the vital signs are not good

Be in no doubt : we are being softened up for the next round of mysterious calumny .
The means – as ever – is a cocktail of fake news aperitifs designed to frighten the morons into acceptance of risible explanations for yet more control over our lives .
For two sets of whistleblowers – Ghislaine Maxwell and Covid19 realists – the signs are everywhere to be seen .
First of all , we were told that Ghislaine Maxwell was ‘ a primary suicide risk ’ – whatever one of those is…..a target for those people press-ganging live persons into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Either way , in fear of her using a Balmain dress to hang herself , the NY southern district holding centre gave Maxwell paper clothing .
Then two days later , it was apparent to these same jailers that their prison was infested with assassins intent on murdering Ms Maxwell….so she is being moved every few days from one cell to another .
Nobody has yet challenged this drivel with the obvious questions that spring to mind when somebody ’ s gone all IABATO* on you .
Such as , why not relocate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s tougher control on prisoner gun ownership ?
How did these assassins get into the prison ?
Why have they all got it in for an Epstein pimp….has the world suddenly been taken over by Jack Rubys ?
*IABATO – It ’ s All Bollocks And That ’ s Official .
The almost Australian Ocker level of media foreplay in evidence here is not , I ’ m now fairly sure – a sign that the Unelected State has no imagination .
I really think it ’ s just that they know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they don ’ t have to work that hard any more : they can peddle any old crap , and the populace will say , “ Weuull hey , yer know ?
Fuck it , dey ’ re de govament right ?
They muss know what they ’ re at , huh ?
” The strategy here is blindingly obvious : whether Maxwell is suicided or homicided – all the bases are covered , and every doubter can be referred to previous “ news ” that suggested this might happen .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move on .
Well , this next bit you ’ ll have to take on trust .
The New York source I have who first alerted me to the Dominic Strauss-Kahn caper nine years ago has made a few things clear to me in the last 48 hours .
First up , there are no signs at all in Maxwell ’ s current mental state of any desire to inflict self-harm .
And second , the prison assassins story “ is pure baloney….total invention ” .
Which brings us neatly to the masked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Covid19 saga .
This is so bonkers , one doesn ’ t know where to start .
The headline to your left says ‘ Covid19 mask : get ready ’ – against a backdrop of the entire globe wearing a mask….just in case you were in any doubt .
The para below left adds illogically , “ faced with the relaxation of rules for the French , the question of obligatory wearing of masks comes back to the fore ” .
It leads us onto page 2 , where we read that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has coincided with the French Health department observing a new rise in the circulation of the virus ( Really ?
Where is it ? )
and revealing its fear of a Second Wave ’ .
( Based on what ? )
Back to the front page : ‘ There are small signs throughout Europe of a renewed vigour of Covid 19 ’ .
In Spain .
Very small signs .
And then the third para says that the president of the French Medical Academy thinks the “ question of a return to everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obliged to take ” .
He just , um , doesn ’ t tell us why .
I think that some reminders are needed here .
We have known forever that simple fabric masks allow air in around the sides , and lack non-woven , moisture-repelling layers to keep out droplets the size of Covid .
Impeding as they do only 2 % of airflow , they are 98 % ineffective .
We the People do not , overall , have any access to properly made masks ( the so-called N95 ) as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fact do most GPs .
One confided in me last week , “ I don ’ t wear one – they ’ re pointless….it ’ s like using a goal net to catch an anchovy ” .
My father was a cloth merchant , so I know something about fabric weft and weave .
The masks on general sale are at level 21/13….with only two layers .
An airborne virus would sail through it .
This morning I was horrified to learn that the Johnson Administration is heading for obligatory masks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is on the TV every other day saying Second Wave this and new surge that .
You may wonder why I keep on putting these two stories together , but the reason is very simple : both involve the Unelected State busy at the creation of what the slithering reptile Tony Blair calls “ the New Normal ” : a world in which cod science , the justification of murder , fearmongering lies and making money at the expense of The People are used to concentrate global power hegemony over and and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Dubya invented the myth of WOMD , and their equally unworthy successors have continued the trend with Global Warming models , pandemic models , Clinton slaughter-houses , Uncle Tom Presidents , State Pension embezzement dissembling , Brussels technocracy , Brexit betrayal , Elite sexual depravity , Bourse crime and now the demonisation of a virus on course to kill 0.0064 % of humanity .
This isn ’ t new….but the level of inhuman abnormality most decidedly is .
This post is dedicated to the memory of one of the last great American @

by John Ward
Be in no doubt: we are being softened up for the next round of mysterious calumny. The means – as ever – is a cocktail of fake news aperitifs designed to frighten the morons into acceptance of risible explanations for yet more control over our lives. For two sets of whistleblowers – Ghislaine Maxwell and Covid19 realists – the signs are everywhere to be seen.
First of all, we were told that Ghislaine Maxwell was ‘a primary suicide risk’ – whatever one of those is…..a target for those people press-ganging live persons into volunteering for self-inflicted death, perhaps. Either way, in fear of her using a Balmain dress to hang herself, the NY southern district holding centre gave Maxwell paper clothing.
Then two days later, it was apparent to these same jailers that their prison was infested with assassins intent on murdering Ms Maxwell….so she is being moved every few days from one cell to another.
Nobody has yet challenged this drivel with the obvious questions that spring to mind when somebody’s gone all IABATO* on you. Such as, why not relocate the assassins in another institution where there’s tougher control on prisoner gun ownership? How did these assassins get into the prison? Why have they all got it in for an Epstein pimp….has the world suddenly been taken over by Jack Rubys?
*IABATO – It’s All Bollocks And That’s Official.
The almost Australian Ocker level of media foreplay in evidence here is not, I’m now fairly sure – a sign that the Unelected State has no imagination. I really think it’s just that they know the social moron count is so high, they don’t have to work that hard any more: they can peddle any old crap, and the populace will say, “Weuull hey, yer know? Fuck it, dey’re de govament right? They muss know what they’re at, huh?”
The strategy here is blindingly obvious: whether Maxwell is suicided or homicided – all the bases are covered, and every doubter can be referred to previous “news” that suggested this might happen. So stop being a space-cadet conspiranoid nutjob and move on.
Well, this next bit you’ll have to take on trust. The New York source I have who first alerted me to the Dominic Strauss-Kahn caper nine years ago has made a few things clear to me in the last 48 hours.
First up, there are no signs at all in Maxwell’s current mental state of any desire to inflict self-harm. And second, the prison assassins story “is pure baloney….total invention”. Which brings us neatly to the masked balls-up that is the latest chapter in the Covid19 saga.
This is so bonkers, one doesn’t know where to start. The headline to your left says ‘Covid19 mask: get ready’ – against a backdrop of the entire globe wearing a mask….just in case you were in any doubt.
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The para below left adds illogically, “faced with the relaxation of rules for the French, the question of obligatory wearing of masks comes back to the fore”. It leads us onto page 2, where we read that ‘the symbolic milestone of 30,000 dead has coincided with the French Health department observing a new rise in the circulation of the virus (Really? Where is it?) and revealing its fear of a Second Wave’. (Based on what?) Back to the front page: ‘There are small signs throughout Europe of a renewed vigour of Covid 19’. In Spain. Very small signs. And then the third para says that the president of the French Medical Academy thinks the “question of a return to everyone wearing masks is something we’re obliged to take”. He just, um, doesn’t tell us why.
I think that some reminders are needed here. We have known forever that simple fabric masks allow air in around the sides, and lack non-woven, moisture-repelling layers to keep out droplets the size of Covid. Impeding as they do only 2% of airflow, they are 98% ineffective.
We the People do not, overall, have any access to properly made masks (the so-called N95) as used by frontline hospital doctors – nor in fact do most GPs. One confided in me last week, “I don’t wear one – they’re pointless….it’s like using a goal net to catch an anchovy”.
My father was a cloth merchant, so I know something about fabric weft and weave. The masks on general sale are at level 21/13….with only two layers. An airborne virus would sail through it.
This morning I was horrified to learn that the Johnson Administration is heading for obligatory masks in shops. In the US, Fauci is on the TV every other day saying Second Wave this and new surge that.
You may wonder why I keep on putting these two stories together, but the reason is very simple: both involve the Unelected State busy at the creation of what the slithering reptile Tony Blair calls “the New Normal”: a world in which cod science, the justification of murder, fearmongering lies and making money at the expense of The People are used to concentrate global power hegemony over and and all opposition.
Blair should know: he and Dubya invented the myth of WOMD, and their equally unworthy successors have continued the trend with Global Warming models, pandemic models, Clinton slaughter-houses, Uncle Tom Presidents, State Pension embezzement dissembling, Brussels technocracy, Brexit betrayal, Elite sexual depravity, Bourse crime and now the demonisation of a virus on course to kill 0.0064% of humanity.
This isn’t new….but the level of inhuman abnormality most decidedly is.
This post is dedicated to the memory of one of the last great American heroes
“I have one simple rule with the Government…..I don’t believe a word they say – not one fucking word”
George Carlin, 1937 – 2008


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--U.S. Troops Will Be Among the First to Get COVID-19 Vaccine

US enlisted soldiers will be among the first to receive the [ DNA , mRNA , nanotech ] COVID-19 ‘ @ @ @ @ @ injectable ] .
Senior White House officials reported that United States service members would be @ @ @ @ @ receive a COVID-19 vaccine after it has been licensed .
Officials said the groups likely @ @ @ @ @ include the most vulnerable people such as the elderly , patients with underlying health conditions @ @ @ @ @ and the U.S. military.1 The Department of Defense ’ s Role in Operation Warp Speed @ @ @ @ @ ) under way at the federal level is a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and @ @ @ @ @ 300 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by January 2021 .
Meeting that goal is @ @ @ @ @ to accelerate the development , manufacturing , and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines , therapeutics , @ @ @

US enlisted soldiers will be among the first to receive the [DNA, mRNA, nanotech] COVID-19 ‘vaccine’ [gene therapy injectable].
Senior White House officials reported that United States service members would be among the first Americans to receive a COVID-19 vaccine after it has been licensed. Officials said the groups likely to receive the vaccine first include the most vulnerable people such as the elderly, patients with underlying health conditions, employees in essential businesses and the U.S. military.1
The Department of Defense’s Role in Operation Warp Speed
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Operation Warp Speed (OWS) under way at the federal level is a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has a goal of delivering 300 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by January 2021. Meeting that goal is part of a broader strategy to accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
thevaccinereaction.org/2020/07/u-s-troops-will-be-among-the-first-to-get-covid-19-vaccine/


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--Refrigerated trucks requested in Arizona, Texas as morgues reach capacity amid COVID-19 surge

Some Arizona and Texas counties are running out of space in their morgues and have put out calls for refrigerated @ @ @ @ @ bodies and help take some pressure off of local medical examiners ’ offices .
A @ @ @ @ @ deaths across the U.S. has begun , driven by fatalities in states in the South @ @ @ @ @ of deaths per day from the virus had been falling for months , and even @ @ @ @ @ Florida and Texas saw explosions in cases and hospitalizations — and reported daily U.S. infections @ @ @ @ @ recent days .
Scientists warned it wouldn ’ t last .
A coronavirus death , @ @ @ @ @ comes several weeks after a person is first infected .
And experts predicted states that @ @ @ @ @ hospitalizations would , at some point , see deaths rise too .
Now that ’ @ @ @

Some Arizona and Texas counties are running out of space in their morgues and have put out calls for refrigerated trucks in which to store bodies and help take some pressure off of local medical examiners’ offices.
A long-expected upturn in U.S. COVID-19 deaths across the U.S. has begun, driven by fatalities in states in the South and West.
The number of deaths per day from the virus had been falling for months, and even remained down as states like Florida and Texas saw explosions in cases and hospitalizations — and reported daily U.S. infections broke records several times in recent days.
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Scientists warned it wouldn’t last. A coronavirus death, when it occurs, typically comes several weeks after a person is first infected. And experts predicted states that saw increases in cases and hospitalizations would, at some point, see deaths rise too. Now that’s happening.
www.fox5ny.com/news/refrigerated-trucks-requested-in-arizona-texas-as-morgues-reach-capacity-amid-covid-19-surge


investmentwatchblog--2020-07-15--The Battle of Sirte (Libyan War — Russia and Egypt versus Turkey in Libya?)

Egypt is ready to defend Libya and will not let its people down : Deputy parliament speaker LNA Spokesman Al-Mismari @ @ @ @ @ witness a major battle in the vicinity of Sirte and Al-Jafra LNA Spokesman Mismari : @ @ @ @ @ militia and Turkey in the vicinity of Sirte and Al-Jafra recorded LNA spokesman : The @ @ @ @ @ only Libyan and will witness regional and foreign interference

Egypt is ready to defend Libya and will not let its people down: Deputy parliament speaker
english.ahram.org.eg/News/374457.aspx
LNA Spokesman Al-Mismari: The coming hours will witness a major battle in the vicinity of Sirte and Al-Jafra
libya.liveuamap.com/en/2020/14-july-lna-spokesman-almismari-the-coming-hours-will-witness
LNA Spokesman Mismari: Major movements of the GNA militia and Turkey in the vicinity of Sirte and Al-Jafra recorded
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libya.liveuamap.com/en/2020/14-july-lna-spokesman-mismari-major-movements-of-the-gna
LNA spokesman: The coming battle will not be only Libyan and will witness regional and foreign interference
libya.liveuamap.com/en/2020/14-july-lna-spokesman-the-coming-battle-will-not-be-only
h/t Builder