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Thomas Paine

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

19 August - Blogs I'm Following - 4 of 5

My Feedly !

10 pm MDT

RFK Jr. Sues Facebook, Zuckerberg and So-Called ‘Fact-Checkers’ for Vaccine Censorship

NEWS WIRE at 21st Century Wire - 16 hours ago
*Children’s Health Defense* | Pushing back against Facebook censorship of important public health information and debate.

Eventually We'll Be Forced To Do Something About Anti-Maskers

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 16 hours ago
Having spent years in Asia and having adapted to mask wearing on airplanes decades ago, I was an early adapter to masks for dealing with the pandemic sometime in March when the government was still urging people to *not* wear masks. I detected the disconnect between, "masks won't help" and "we need masks for our frontline workers." My doctor is an internationally acclaimed cancer researcher who told me the N-99 I had from use in Nepal was perfect and would protect me but needed to be discarded if I came down with COVID-19 because it would increase the viral load. That was in early ... more »

"Covid-19 Pandemic Updates PM 8/19/20"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 16 hours ago
*"Covid-19 Pandemic **Updates PM 8/19/20" * *- Frequently **Updated* Please visit these sites often for the very latest information. ○ *8/19/20* By Sanam Yar and Ian Prasad Philbrick *Updated Aug 19, 2020, 12:07 P**M E.T.* *Coronavirus Map: Tracking the Global Outbreak* More than 22,183,400 people around the world have been infected with Covid-19; 5,508,948 of them are Americans. Here is the latest map/case count. The number of daily tests conducted in the U.S. is only 52 percent of the level considered necessary to mitigate the spread of the virus. See how your state’s testing compa... more »

"Economic Fantasy Update AM 8/19/20"

CoyotePrime at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 16 hours ago
*"Economic Fantasy Update AM 8/19/20"* Chronicling the most enormous fraud and theft in human history, down the rabbit hole of psychopathic greed and insanity... Deceptive resemblances to reality by these arch-criminals are total lies. Only the consequences are real, to YOU, never *them.* ○ *"The more I see of the moneyed classes, * *the more I understand the guillotine."* - George Bernard Shaw ○ *8/19/20* *○* Gregory Mannarino, *AM* *8/19/20:* *"More Updates. World Bank, Gold, Silver, Bitcoin, Stocks"* - https://traderschoice.net/ ○ ○ *MarketWatch Market Su**mmary, Live Updates* - https:... more »

Climate Collusion & Fraud – Tony Heller

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 16 hours ago
By Paul Homewood Tony Heller regularly posts videos about temperature adjustments, but this is a really good summary. Well worth a watch, and please circulate:

Sichuan activates the highest level of flood control response for the first time on record, China

The Chinese province of Sichuan, located on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, has activated the highest level of flood control response for the first time on record on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, as rain-induced floods continue ravaging parts of the province....... Read more »

Expensive Flops: Meet Five Russian Weapons of War That Fell Flat

Michael Peck at The National Interest - 16 hours ago
*Michael Peck* *Security, Europe* These weapons proved to be expensive flops for the Soviet and Russian economies. *Key Point*: There can be no innovation without experimentation, and experimentation inevitably results in failures. It's not usual for Russia to admit that its weapons have failed. Especially Russian media, purveyor of glorious stories of space MiGs and interplanetary tanks. Yet Russia's Sputnik News recently published an article on Russian and Soviet weapons that fizzled. "For each military vehicle that is accepted into service, there are often roughly ten other... more »

Imagine This: What If the M1 Abrams Tank, the Apache Helicopter and Patriot Missile Were Never Built?

Robert Farley at The National Interest - 16 hours ago
*Robert Farley* *Security, * The “Big Five” remain the core of U.S. ground forces today. *Key Point*: The “Big Five” represented a collection of procurement programs designed to re-establish the technological supremacy of U.S. land forces and reinvigorate conventional capabilities in the wake of the Vietnam War. In the 1970s and 1980s, the U.S. Army embarked on a series of procurement programs designed to revitalize the force, and to counter the overwhelming numerical advantage of the Warsaw Pact. The “Big Five” represented a collection of procurement programs designed to re-est... more »

Range Is The F-35's Achilles' Heel, And Stealth Tankers Could Be The Solution

Sebastien Roblin at The National Interest - 16 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * But such a strategy has risks. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *Stealthy drone tankers might fit with a ‘distributed’ refueling strategy in which multiple drones draw fuel from a large, conventional tanker ‘mothership’ and then zip forward into to provide refueling for stealth fighter in contested airspace. However, such a chain-refueling scheme could crash catastrophically should the un-stealthy mothership tanker be targeted by adversaries. The United States has devoted billions of dollars to building stealth fighters, stealth bombers, stealth... more »

Democrats, Media Going All-in on the ‘Disappearing Mailbox’ Conspiracy

NEWS WIRE at 21st Century Wire - 16 hours ago
*21WIRE* | This could be the zaniest conspiracy theory we've seen yet.

Australian PM: COVID Vaccine Will Be ‘As Mandatory As You Can Possibly Make It’

NEWS WIRE at 21st Century Wire - 16 hours ago
*21WIRE* | After coming under heavy criticism, the Australian PM has backed down from his previous comments which implied he would push for a state-mandated vaccine.

Poll: Seventy-nine Percent of Brazilians Say School Reopening Will Aggravate Pandemic

Adele Cardin at The Rio Times - 16 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - For 79 percent of Brazilians, the reopening of schools in the country will worsen the novel coronavirus pandemic, which is why facilities should remain closed for the next two months, according to a Datafolha survey. The survey also shows that the preference . . . To read the full NEWS […] The post Poll: Seventy-nine Percent of Brazilians Say School Reopening Will Aggravate Pandemic appeared first on The Rio Times.

Apparent duplication from anesthesiology journal puts heart paper into intensive care

Adam Marcus at Retraction Watch - 16 hours ago
A heart journal has issued an expression of concern about a 2017 paper which looks suspiciously like a 2016 article by some of the same researchers that appeared in an anesthesiology publication. The 2017 paper, “Efficacy of prophylactic dexmedetomidine in preventing postoperative junctional ectopic tachycardia after pediatric cardiac surgery,” was written by a group led … Continue reading Apparent duplication from anesthesiology journal puts heart paper into intensive care

This Is Our Moment - A Poem by M.N. Hopkins

Stranger in a Strange Land at Stranger in a Strange Land - 16 hours ago
*This is our moment* *Cower, submit, freedom ends* *Freedom is a choice* *© **2020 M.N. Hopkins* *Note: This poem was inspired and written while watching the documentary called, Plandemic Indocternation on London Real on 18 August, 2020. I wrote it in the haiku style of poetry and published it on my blog for the first time today, the 19th of August, 2020.*

Mencken’s 100-Year-Old Prediction Realized, Twice

Pierre Lemieux at Econlib - 16 hours ago
I raised before the question of the limits of civil conversation, the point at which it is legitimate to just laugh at a stupid idea that lacks any serious rational support or is backed by no argument at all, a point at which perhaps even the ad hominem temptation is not totally forbidden. Call a […] The post Mencken’s 100-Year-Old Prediction Realized, Twice appeared first on Econlib.

New Study: Cold-Weather accounts for 94% of Temperature-Related Deaths

Cap Allon at Electroverse - 17 hours ago
A new study by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago reveals that it is the COLD which should concern us, not the heat... The post New Study: Cold-Weather accounts for 94% of Temperature-Related Deaths appeared first on Electroverse.

Despite Rumors, Brazilian Economy Minister has no Intention of Resigning, Claims Reuters

Newsfeed at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Britain-based international news agency Reuters claims, that Brazil’s Economy Minister Paulo Guedes has no intention of resigning according to reports in the São Paulo media, in an attempt to quash rising speculation that political pressure for more public spending could force him to quit. Doubts about Guedes’ future have grown […] The post Despite Rumors, Brazilian Economy Minister has no Intention of Resigning, Claims Reuters appeared first on The Rio Times.

Links 8/19/2020

Lambert Strether at naked capitalism - 17 hours ago

Fed Economists Finger Monopoly Concentration as Underlying Driver of Neoliberal Economic Restructuring; Barry Lynn in Harpers and Fortnite Lawsuit Put Hot Light on Tech Monopoly Power

Yves Smith at naked capitalism - 17 hours ago
Some good work on monopoly is marred by the bizarre inclusion of Uber. Its predatory pricing is the result of deep pockets and ideology, not potential market power.

"Unnecessary Deadlines"

Peter at Bayou Renaissance Man - 17 hours ago
That's the title of an article by Kim du Toit over at his blog. He points out that in many ways, we poison our own lives by setting unnecessarily rigorous timetables or deadlines for our activities. Here are some excerpts. I have never understood why people give themselves deadlines on activities which require no deadlines: “I have to get my hair cut this week” or “I need to do the laundry today” and “I must finish my book before Saturday” and so on. Other than an attempt to impose some kind of self-discipline over chronic procrastination, all this does is add a layer of stress... more »

Despite Pandemic, Brazilian Government Plans to Cut Health Budget in 2021

Xiu Ying at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, President Bolsonaro's administration plans to cut the Ministry of Health's budget to R$127.8 billion (US$25.6 billion) in 2021. The amount is lower than the R$134.7 billion passed at the start of this year and far below the portfolio's current spending limit of R$174.8 […] The post Despite Pandemic, Brazilian Government Plans to Cut Health Budget in 2021 appeared first on The Rio Times.

U.S. Government Wants 5G in Brazil – But Without China

Dorah Feliciano at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The U.S. government's plan, called Clean Network, which leaves the Chinese company Huawei out of the 5G technology network structure, "will not be complete without Brazil." The statement comes from Keith Krach, Undersecretary of Economic Growth, Energy and Environment of the U.S. State Department. With the 5G frequency auction planned […] The post U.S. Government Wants 5G in Brazil – But Without China appeared first on The Rio Times.

GDP Monitor Points to 8.7 Percent GDP Drop in Q2 Compared to Q1 in Brazil

Arkady Petrov at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Brazilian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) dropped by 8.7 percent in Q2 compared to Q1, according to the GDP Monitor, calculated by the Brazilian Institute of Economics of the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (Ibre/FGV). When compared to 2019 Q2, the The post GDP Monitor Points to 8.7 Percent GDP Drop in Q2 Compared to Q1 in Brazil appeared first on The Rio Times.

Ecosocialist Bookshelf, August 2020

barovsky at The New Dark Age - 17 hours ago
18 August 2020 — Climate & Capitalism Red & green readinNew books on fungi, climate & capital, food, bluefin tuna, & Cuban agriculture. PLUS new translations of Facing the Anthropocene, and two recent C&C book reviews Ecosocialist Bookshelf is an occasional feature. We can’t review every book we receive, but we will list and link … Continue reading Ecosocialist Bookshelf, August 2020

The Hariri Assassination Verdict: A Billion Dollar Trial Ended after 15 Years

barovsky at The New Dark Age - 17 hours ago
On February 14, 2005, an explosion rocked Beirut killing and injuring hundreds of people chief among them the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, Rafik al-Hariri. The West was quick to blame Hezbollah and Syria. In 2006, Israel and its tanks rolled into Lebanon. 15 years later, on August 4th, another explosion rocked Lebanon. This time, the fingers were again pointed at Hezbollah and its ‘Iran backers’. And once again, Israeli tanks crossed into Lebanon.

More Than A SR-71: America's Next Super Spy Plane Could Launch Missiles

Harold C. Hutchison at The National Interest - 17 hours ago
*Harold C. Hutchison* *Security, * It was thought satellites and drones could replace the SR-71. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *As for the lucky pilots who get to fly this plane, they will not need the very bulky suits that Blackbird pilots wear. That’s because the initial plans call for the SR-72 to be a drone. The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is rightly viewed as a legend. Best known as a recon plane that *nobody could hit*, it even was considered as *the basis for a fighter* and was the *second-fastest manned plane* in history. It served with the United States military from 1... more »

Does France Really Need a New Aircraft Carrier?

Peter Suciu at The National Interest - 17 hours ago
*Peter Suciu* *Security, * The French Navy hasn't had a lot of "good luck" with its current and only aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *The final consideration France may make is whether to go ahead with two of the nuclear-powered carriers, opt for two carriers with conventional propulsion or perhaps stick with one carrier (either nuclear or conventionally powered) and see how it plays out. Given the past problems with *Charles de Gaulle* perhaps a single carrier may be best – to ensure it doesn't double any potential troubles that could come ... more »

What Will Politics Look Like After Trump and Brexit?

Andy Hira at The National Interest - 17 hours ago
*Andy Hira* *Politics, Americas* [image: Reuters] Waves of populism result in polarization and a series of counter-movements that have their own populist heroes promising genuine change. An example is Bernie Sanders, who had a legitimate platform but no real plan for gaining mainstream support for it. In 2016, it seemed to some like the world turned upside down. Donald Trump was elected by a slim margin to the White House. The Brexit referendum pushing the United Kingdom to leave the European Union passed. A year later, Marine LePen, a far-right xenophobic candidate, made a surp... more »

Like The U.S. Army, The M16 Rifle Found Big Trouble In Vietnam

Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest - 17 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, Asia* As the U.S. Military began a major commitment to the conflict in Vietnam it began issuing a new weapon to U.S. Army and Marine Corps infantry units. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *The maintenance problem grew increasingly urgent. Units in the field were reporting failure rates of up to 30 percent, automatically reducing the number of infantrymen with working rifles to nearly combat ineffective levels. The malfunctioning rifles were repeatedly blamed for contributing the deaths of soldiers in firefights, and some soldiers and Marines even elec... more »

The Biggest Nuclear Bomb Ever Detonated Was Nearly Useless in a War

Steve Weintz at The National Interest - 17 hours ago
*Steve Weintz* *Security, Eurasia* One Tsar Bomb alone could burn down West Germany—if it could get there. *Key Point*: NATO fighters would shoot the lumbering plane out of the sky long before it had a chance to drop its huge bomb. On July 10, 1961 Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev summoned the USSR's top nuclear weaponeers and told them to promptly resume nuclear testing. After roughing up America's young new President Kennedy at a Vienna summit in June, Khrushchev was in a mood, according to Andrei Sakharov, to “show the imperialists what we can do.” For two years while their c... more »

VIDEO: Watch This U.S. Marine Fry Bacon (Using His Suppressor)

Jeff Schogol at The National Interest - 17 hours ago
*Jeff Schogol* *Humor, * Yes, this works — maybe a little too well. *Key Point*: “This is about as 'America' as you can get.” Have you ever wondered exactly how hot a suppressor can get when you’re pumping out rounds in rapid succession with your service weapon? Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 5 Christian P. Wade did. Wade, the 2nd Marine Division gunner, decided to perform a little rapid-fire experiment — with bacon, naturally — for the second installment in his “Gunner Fact or Fiction” video series, which aims to bust “common myths and misconceptions regarding the true phy... more »

This Civil War Battle Changed Naval Warfare Forever

Warfare History Network at The National Interest - 17 hours ago
*Warfare History Network* *History, * To say that the Battle of Hampton Roads changed naval history is an understatement. *Key Point*: Almost overnight, every wooden ship of the line of every naval power in the world became obsolete. The subsequent careers of the *Monitor* and *Merrimack* were not as dramatic as their first clashes. The two ironclads never met in combat again after their infamous battle on March 9, 1862. They remained on station roughly where they were when their classic battle ended. The *Monitor* continued to protect the blockading squadron, and the *Merrimack... more »

Lebanese Army responds to Netanyahu’s allegations of weapons in Baabda

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
[image: Lebanese Army responds to Netanyahu’s allegations of weapons in Baabda] BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:20 P.M.) – The Lebanese Army Command denied the validity of the news circulating and the allegations made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the presence of weapons and ammunition in the Ba’abda-Luweizeh area of Mount Lebanon. The Lebanese Army published a statement on its Twitter page confirming that the aforementioned allegations are invalid. They addressed the people in the area and assured them that the rumors were false and directly mentioned the Israeli Prime... more »

Massive Turkish military convoy enters northwestern Syria after Russian airstrikes

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
[image: Massive Turkish military convoy enters northwestern Syria after Russian airstrikes] BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:00 P.M.) – A massive Turkish military convoy entered northwestern Syria on Wednesday, entering the country from the neighboring Hatay Province. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), over 450 Turkish military vehicles entered northwestern Syria, where they reportedly made their way to the agreed upon deescalation zone. The SOHR report said the Turkish military convoy consisted of armored vehicles and heavy weapons. The arrival of these Turkish reinf... more »

Lebanese President discusses timetable of disarming Hezbollah

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
[image: Lebanese President discusses timetable of disarming Hezbollah] BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:45 A.M.) – Lebanese President Michel Aoun discussed during an interview with an Italian newspaper, the timetable for disarming Hezbollah, stressing that the idea of ​​disarming the party will take place after Israel stops its attacks on Lebanon. Aoun was asked, in an interview with the Corriere della Sera newspaper, about the protester demands in Lebanon to disarm the party. President said that “when the conflict is resolved, Hezbollah give its weapons as a gift to the Lebanese army.” The Leb... more »

Egyptian leader sends ‘important’ message to Libya’s Haftar

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
[image: Egyptian leader sends ‘important’ message to Libya’s Haftar] BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:30 A.M.) – The Information Office of the General Command of the Libyan National Army (LNA) announced that Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar had received an important message from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The office said that the message was delivered by the Director of the Military Intelligence Department in the Arab Republic of Egypt, Major General Khaled Majawar, to the General Command of the Libyan National Army. The contents of the message were not revealed by the Libyan National ... more »

Israeli military chief sends letter to Lebanese gov’t about Hezbollah missiles

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
[image: Israeli military chief sends letter to Lebanese gov’t about Hezbollah missiles] BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:20 A.M.) – The Israeli Chief of Staff, General Aviv Kochavi, sent a letter to the Lebanese government, in which he said that they must extend its control over what is happening in the country. The letter was mentioned by the IDF spokesman, Avichay Adraee, who made it clear that General Kochavi’s statements came during a recent military ceremony. “The Lebanese government is blocking the fulfillment of the UNIFIL mission in the same way that it did not move a finger with the sh... more »

Turkish-backed forces seize Russian-made helicopter in northern Libya: photo

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
[image: Turkish-backed forces seize Russian-made helicopter in northern Libya: photo] BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:00 A.M.) – The Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) forces have seized an abandoned Russian-made helicopter near the strategic Libyan city of Sirte. According to Clash Report, who shared a photo of the helicopter, the GNA seized an abandoned Russian-made Mi-17 chopper west of Sirte. A #Russian made Mi-17 helicopter abandoned by the #Haftar militias after an emergency landing was discovered and seized by the #GNA in West #Sirte. Continue reading Turkish-backed forc... more »

Two US military drones crash into one another over Syria

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
[image: Two US military drones crash into one another over Syria] BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:40 A.M.) – The U.S. military lost two drones over the Idlib Governorate this week after they reportedly crashed into one another on Tuesday. Citing a defense official, the Military Times reported that the U.S. lost the two drones when they crashed into one another over northwestern Syria. “Images of burning aircraft crashing to the ground were posted on Twitter Tuesday. There was speculation that the aircraft were MQ-9 Reapers — a remotely piloted aircraft used predominately as an armed hunter-kill... more »

Libyan Army announces reopening of country’s ports and oil fields

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
[image: Libyan Army announces reopening of country’s ports and oil fields] BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:30 A.M.) – The Libyan National Army (LNA) announced on Tuesday, the reopening of the country’s ports and oil fields. According to Al-Ain News, Al-Senussi Al-Zawy, head of the Supreme Council of the Zawiya Tribes, said that the decision includes only the first stage of the opening of oil and gas crude stocks in the fields. He added that the Supreme Council of Libyan Tribes had previously handed over the General Command of the Libyan Army and the elected parliament a list of demands and cond... more »

US, Israel devising plan to fight S-400s if they end up in Iran: media

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
[image: US, Israel devising plan to fight S-400s if they end up in Iran: media] On Friday, the United Nations Security Council rejected a US draft resolution to indefinitely extend the UN arms embargo against Iran, which is set to expire in October. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the decision “scandalous,” while senior US Senator Lindsey Graham claimed it makes “a major conflict” with Iran “much more likely.” The United States and Israel are already preparing for a scenario in which Russia sells advanced air defence systems such as the S-400 to Iran, including by ... more »

Saad Hariri issues first comment about verdict regarding his father’s assassination

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
[image: Saad Hariri issues first comment about verdict regarding his father’s assassination] BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:20 A.M.) – Commenting on the decision of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said on Tuesday, that “we accept the court’s ruling and we want justice to be done and there is no compromise with blood.” Hariri said, “There is no waiver of the right of the Lebanese to truth and justice regarding the explosion at the Beirut port. The time for the use of the crime politically is over, and this is my message and the message of the court.”... more »

Our Sun started its life with a binary companion, new study suggests

A new theory published this week in the AAS' The Astrophysical Journal Letters suggests that our Sun may once have had a binary companion of similar mass. If confirmed, the presence of an early stellar companion increases the likelihood that the Oort cloud was...... Read more »

Analysis: Jair Bolsonaro Courts Brazil’s Northeast Region Politicians, Voters

Lachlan Williams at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - President Jair Bolsonaro has already referred to the northeasterners as "paraíbas", a pejorative term that does not suit the lips of civilized people, much less those who are responsible for governing them. He has also referred to the cash transfer programs, responsible for sustaining a considerable part of the northeastern […] The post Analysis: Jair Bolsonaro Courts Brazil’s Northeast Region Politicians, Voters appeared first on The Rio Times.

Rio’s Mayor Wants to Sell Future Revenue From Oil Royalties and Special Holdings

Dorah Feliciano at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - In his last year in office, Rio's Mayor Marcelo Crivella authorized the opening of a bid for the government to sell future credits of oil royalties and special holdings to which the municipality has direct access. The order from the Treasury Secretary Rosemary de Azevedo Carvalho was published on Tuesday, August […] The post Rio’s Mayor Wants to Sell Future Revenue From Oil Royalties and Special Holdings appeared first on The Rio Times.

W.H.O. Warns of New Threat as Covid-19 Pandemic Changes Course

Adele Cardin at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The organization's director for the Asia-Pacific region voiced concern about the rise in asymptomatic cases that unknowingly spread the virus, and called for greater efforts to prevent the virus from reaching the most vulnerable populations. The coronavirus has entered a "new phase" in the Asia-Pacific region, where it is now […] The post W.H.O. Warns of New Threat as Covid-19 Pandemic Changes Course appeared first on The Rio Times.

Universal Church Reacts After Angola Seized Temples

Oliver Mason at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Universal Church of Angola decided to protest after the country's Prosecutor General's Office (PGR) closed and seized a number of temples led by Brazilian church founder Edir Macedo. According to the bishop and owner of TV Record, the Angolan PGR is plotting and lying as a means of manipulating […] The post Universal Church Reacts After Angola Seized Temples appeared first on The Rio Times.

Covid-19: 380,000 Brazilian Companies Reduced Staff in July

Richard Mann at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - In the first half of July, 380,000 companies reduced the number of employees in relation to the second half of the preceding month, with 70.8 percent of them reducing their workforce by up to 25 percent. The data are from the Pulse Company Survey: Impact of Covid-19 on Companies, which […] The post Covid-19: 380,000 Brazilian Companies Reduced Staff in July appeared first on The Rio Times.

Covid-19: Brazil Records 3.4 Million Cases and Over 109,000 Deaths (August 18th)

Adele Cardin at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Ministry of Health's daily update released yesterday, August 18th, reported 3,407,354 confirmed cases in Brazil since the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Between Monday, August 17th and yesterday, another 47,784 people were diagnosed with Covid-19, as reported by the state and municipal Health Secretariats. The result marked a […] The post Covid-19: Brazil Records 3.4 Million Cases and Over 109,000 Deaths (August 18th) appeared first on The Rio Times.

The Economic Challenge of Surviving the Pandemic in Latin America

Juan Martinez at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The owner of four restaurants in Mexico City fighting alongside his employees to preserve the business amidst the crisis and restrictions; an entrepreneur from São Paulo who decided to close his crossfit academy at the start of the pandemic because of the uncertainties; a student who financed law school in […] The post The Economic Challenge of Surviving the Pandemic in Latin America appeared first on The Rio Times.

Covid-19: Rio Desists from App Used to Reserve Beach Space

Xiu Ying at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Rio de Janeiro's city government gave up on the project in which citizens would have to reserve beach space through an 'online' App, after criticism triggered by this initiative aimed at fighting Covid-19. "Due to the population's reactions in the survey we conducted, that it wouldn't work (beach reservation), […] The post Covid-19: Rio Desists from App Used to Reserve Beach Space appeared first on The Rio Times.

In Nine Months, ‘Aliança Pelo Brasil’ Party has Under Four Percent of Required Support to Register

Arkady Petrov at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - It is no coincidence that President Jair Bolsonaro has challenged the project to create the Aliança pelo Brasil (Alliance for Brazil Party). By Tuesday, August 18th, the party had only managed to register 18,702 supporters at the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) after almost nine months collecting signatures. In a live […] The post In Nine Months, ‘Aliança Pelo Brasil’ Party has Under Four Percent of Required Support to Register appeared first on The Rio Times.

Mini trade deal ‘stuck' as US now wants India to buy $6 billion of agriculture, dairy goods

bilaterals.org - 17 hours ago
19-Aug-2020 The deal is ready to be signed, but US says if India wants trade benefits under GSP restored, it must give business equivalent to that amount.

British standards must not slip in US trade negotiations

bilaterals.org - 17 hours ago
19-Aug-2020 Standards bring opportunities in global trade and should not be up for negotiation, says national standards body director.

Ukraine ready to expand agri-exports to Israel – Deputy PM

bilaterals.org - 17 hours ago
19-Aug-2020 Ukraine is ready for further cooperation in the agricultural sector with Israel and the sustainable export of Ukrainian agricultural products to the Israeli market.

Accord post-Brexit : les négociations entre l'Union européenne et Londres reprennent ce mardi

bilaterals.org - 17 hours ago
19-Aug-2020 L'UE veut un partenariat ambitieux et juste avec le Royaume-Uni. L'accord doit être trouvé en octobre au plus tard.

UK, EU resume talks on future ties, as new deadline looms

bilaterals.org - 17 hours ago
19-Aug-2020 The EU insists that important differences in the two sides' positions must be bridged and an agreement found by October.

La signature du RCEP prévue en novembre prochain, sans l'Inde

bilaterals.org - 17 hours ago
19-Aug-2020 L'Accord de Partenariat économique régional global (RCEP), qui est entré dans la phase d'achèvement de la révision juridique, devrait être signé en novembre prochain, sans l'Inde.

RCEP enters final phase, to be signed without India: Trade Ministry

bilaterals.org - 17 hours ago
19-Aug-2020 The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has entered the legal scrubbing phase and is expected to be signed soon without India.

Halifax ride-hailing rules pass first reading despite Uber and councillor concerns

Zane Woodford at Halifax Examiner - 17 hours ago
Halifax councillors have sent new rules governing ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft to their final stop. Amendments to the city’s taxi bylaw passed first reading at council’s meeting on Tuesday. The amendments will allow ride-hailing companies, or as city staff call them transportation network companies (TNCs) to set up shop in Halifax. The rules […]

Halifax council wants bigger Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes park boundary

Zane Woodford at Halifax Examiner - 17 hours ago
Councillors want a bigger park boundary for Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes, but like novice hikers trying to make their way into the back country, they had a hard time finding a path to getting it done. Coun. Richard Zurawski brought a motion to Tuesday’s meeting hoping to clear up some confusion about what the city […]

Council votes for ‘broad review of policing and public safety’ in Halifax

Zane Woodford at Halifax Examiner - 17 hours ago
Coun. Waye Mason’s motion aimed at reimagining what police do in Halifax passed unanimously at regional council on Tuesday. Mason’s motion asked for a “broad review of policing and public safety, which shall examine the potential for shifting or creating programs for civilian delivery of non-core police functions.” He wants that review to look at […]

A Ditty on Marx’s Socialist Sons

Unknown at The Conservative Socrates - 18 hours ago
They are no man—the socialist sons of Marx; Proletariat is the best, they say, bourgeoisie the worst; They have no tails, but it’s marvelous to see, These creatures swinging from tree to tree, Preaching that in the Marxist utopia everything is free, And the monkeys have total equality.

Now and Then

Larry-Lambert at Virtual Mirage - 18 hours ago
USS Oregon (BB-3) at anchor on the Williamette River in Portland Oregon during the 1930’s. From June 1925 to November 1942, she was on loan from US Navy to the State of Oregon to serve as a museum ship. It’s good that the old gal is gone. The city would have been encouraging terrorists […] The post Now and Then appeared first on Virtual Mirage.

REPORT: US Military Attack Syria Army Checkpoint

NEWS WIRE at 21st Century Wire - 18 hours ago
*21WIRE* | US attack came after happened after their patrol was prevented from passing through a Syrian Army checkpoint.

What Have We Done to the Whale?

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 18 hours ago
The long term picture is good, but there is still plenty to do. The big priblem now is the plastic problem but that is also becoming solvable. I do see a massive increase in the general global fishery in general simply because it is easy enough. In the meantime the global whale stock is steadily growing back to its original numbers. It is still going to take a century or so.. *What Have We Done to the Whale?* *The creatures once symbolized our efforts to save the planet; now they demonstrate all the ways we have devastated it.* *By Amia SrinivasanAugust 17, 2020* *https://ww... more »

No Trend In Hurricane Activity In 167 Years, New Empirical Study Shows

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 18 hours ago
This is a huge finding. Why it matters is that these storms are the release mechanism for surplus heat. We also have heat going into the Arctic except is is much smaller. There we see evidence of decadal shifts repeated back in time. What this means is that the primary heat release system has been stable for 167 years during which we have not had a giant eruption to wreck the whole thing. All this begs the whole MEME of global warming itself, certainly as a driver of hurricanes. What we have experienced so far is a normal northward shift observed in the record over and ove... more »

The Progressive Racism of the Ivy League By Patrick J. Buchanan

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 18 hours ago
I always knew that affirmative action was a badly flawed solution to what was specifically a body of Jim Crow laws and behavior. Thus it was tolerable as a short term fix that needed to last long enough to end the primary cause. We have likely met that requirement. The whole affirmative action MEME has to end. The Black commiunity is quite able to walk the walk without this. The fact is that there are ample schools quite able to educate everyone within the basics of their chosen profession. You do not need to go to Yale to do either first year or second year level work. ... more »

Why Homeschooling Is Easier Than You Think

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 18 hours ago
This did need to be properly addressed. It has a history of good outcomes and we needed to understand why. Afterall the one room schoolhouse also produced good outcomes as well. so yes a smaller social circle is not a liability as claimed. I will go further and state that large group adjustment is best done occasionally. That will be good enpough. Far too often too much of a good thing is simply wasted. all this produces an experimental environment as well. all proper there. We may start to get rid of some of the obvious error as well in integrating learning with physica... more »

Keep It Real: A Review Of Diana Johnstone’s Book “Circle In The Darkness: Memoirs Of A World Watcher”

Rick STERLING at OrientalReview.org - 18 hours ago
Diana Johnstone has written a compelling and insightful book. It is mostly a review and analysis of significant events from the past 55 years. It concludes with her assessment of different trends that are being debated on the Left today including “identity politics”, Antifa and censorship. This is a book […]

Storm Ellen named, forecast to hit Ireland and UK with disruptive winds and heavy rain

The Irish Meteorological Service -- Met Éireann -- named Storm Ellen on Tuesday evening, August 18, 2020. Ellen formed over the Atlantic Ocean -- fuelled by the remnants of Hurricane "Kyle" -- and is forecast to bring disruptive and potentially...... Read more »

Gold Pressures Empire

Steve Brown at The Duran - 19 hours ago
By Steve Brown… Ian Fleming wrote Goldfinger for good reason. The most important market in the world is gold. Not US stocks. Not shares in Amazon. Not bitcoin. Not Facebook. Sovereigns use gold – real gold – as the foundation for their most important deals. Now consider that 40% of the world’s physical gold trade […]

Is Modi, India’s Netanyahu?

Fra Hughes at The Duran - 19 hours ago
An interview with Feroze Mithiborwala from Mumbai, India.

Seoul aims to modernize its arsenal and increase military influence in Northeast Asia

InfoBrics at The Duran - 19 hours ago
South Korea resumes the command of its own troops, but remains being American satellite.

ShadowGate Documentary banned and arrest shows deepening war [Video]

Seraphim Hanisch at The Duran - 19 hours ago
Where do you get your news from? It is probably not CBS, ABC, NBC or even Fox News most of the time; not if you have a smartphone with a Twitter, Youtube or Facebook feed. In fact, online sources are likely to be first to bring any given story to our attentionand maybe we will go to one of […]

Gratitude — Surely it’s Impossible

John Ellis at The Duran - 19 hours ago
Gratitude — What is it? A conviction of humility, this is gratitude. A conviction of our conscience that we have received more than we deserve. An idea impossible for man to understand, as nature has given humans an ingrate conviction that we deserve all things. It is almost as if the purpose of earth is […]

Mortgage Delinquencies MASSIVE Record High as Bills Not Being Paid! Economic Meltdown

Dewey Fernfield at The Duran - 19 hours ago
Mortgage Delinquencies MASSIVE Record High as Bills Not Being Paid! Economic Meltdown 💵 HOW TO MAKE MONEY ON AMAZON – FREE eCOURSE: 💵 👉 http://TheAmazonGPS.com 👈 ——————————— LOOK THROUGH MY BOOKS! http://books.themoneygps… source HOW TO MAKE MONEY ON AMAZON – FREE eCOURSE: http://TheAmazonGPS.com ————————————————————————————————— LOOK THROUGH MY BOOKS! http://books.themoneygps.com SUPPORT MY WORK: https://www.patreon.com/themoneygps PAYPAL: https://goo.gl/L6VQg9 […]

Many countries, regions insanely fight against infinitesimal numbers of Covid infections

Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 19 hours ago
The far left politicians in Victoria are increasingly crippling the economy and life in that region of Australia. They started when the number of "deaths with Covid" in Australia was about 100; now it is 450, just slightly above Czechia's 401 (Victoria, Czechia, Australia have 6.4, 10.7, 25 million people, respectively). It's still tiny. But we may also see that the new draconian policies surely didn't stop the propagation of the disease; we might say that the hard data indicate that they kickstarted the new growth instead. There is no reason to think that the curfew-like conditions... more »

Lebanon News Links 7-19 August 2020

barovsky at The New Dark Age - 19 hours ago
19 August 2020 — The New Dark Age The Israeli Settler-Colonial Expansionist Ambitions Behind The Color Revolution In Lebanon https://seeyouin2020.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-israeli-settler-colonial.html The Strange Case of Beirut’s Missing Port https://journal-neo.org/2020/08/18/the-strange-case-of-beirut-s-missing-port/ ‘What Happens If Julian Assange Dies In A British Prison?’ https://popularresistance.org/what-happens-if-julian-assange-dies-in-a-british-prison/ Rafik Hariri tribunal: Guilty verdict over assassination of Lebanon ex-PM https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-536... more »

People Have No Idea What’s Coming ! This Will Happen Soon

Pam Vernon at Rangitikei Environmental Health Watch - 19 hours ago
Originally posted on Lissa's Humane Life by Chris: Lissa's Humane Life by Chris View original post

When This World War II Aircraft Carrier Died, There Was No Time For A Funeral

Warfare History Network at The National Interest - 19 hours ago
*Warfare History Network* *Security, Asia* Another large group of planes was approaching the Yorktown. We couldn’t tell how many or what kind; we just knew they were Japanese. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *There was no time for a proper funeral for anyone at Midway. Everyone knew there were at least one or two more Japanese aircraft carriers out there, and it was still early in the day. Their search planes had plenty of daylight to find the *Yorktown* and hit us again if they wanted to. I assumed they would. *BACKSTORY:** After working in a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)... more »

How Nature Brought Us the Patriarchy - And How We Can Get Rid of It

Christopher von Rueden at The National Interest - 19 hours ago
*Christopher von Rueden* *Society, Americas* [image: Reuters] Evolved sex differences in behavior contribute to – but neither determine nor ethically justify – the gender norms that societies create. Kamala Harris’ candidacy as vice president of the United States provoked familiar criticism, based in part on her identity as a woman. Critics find her too angry, too confident, too competitive. But when women do act less competitively, they are seen as less capable of leadership. This is the “double-bind” women face when aspiring to leadership positions. To overcome it, we need to ... more »

Can the Navy Find a Cheaper Alternative To Aircraft Carriers?

T. X. Hammes at The National Interest - 19 hours ago
*T. X. Hammes* *Security, * The potential cost savings would be exceptional. *Key Point*: If the U.S. shifts funds to container ship carriers, we can vastly increase the numbers of platforms and weapons while cutting personnel and procurement costs drastically. There is an ongoing debate about the continued viability of the aircraft carrier. Proponents point to the fact the carrier provides a range of capabilities essential for power projection and sea control that, without basing rights, cannot be provided in any other way. Opponents note that several nations have drones and cr... more »

Germany's U-Boats Couldn't Sail Against British Naval Creativity

Warfare History Network at The National Interest - 19 hours ago
*Warfare History Network* *Security, * At the beginning of World War I, British naval strategists did not believe German submarines would play a significant role in the Atlantic or North Sea. *Here's What You Need To Remember: *These initial depth charges, or “falling mines,” added to maritime warfare another dimension, bringing together both surface and submerged warfare. Though depth charges weren’t implemented on a large scale until the later half of the war, they continued to be used in large degree during World War II. At the beginning of World War I, British naval strategi... more »

Women Less Likely to Argue With Men in Academia, Research Shows

Cary Wu, Rima Wilkes, Sylvia Fuller at The National Interest - 19 hours ago
*Cary Wu, Rima Wilkes, Sylvia Fuller* *Science, World* [image: Reuters] The pattern that men comment on men’s research more while women comment on women’s more could impede scholarly exchange between men and women and further marginalize women within the scientific community. Women researchers are less likely to comment on academic work, and it shows a subtle gender bias in academia. If women are less likely to comment, they could be excluded from or marginalized in important scholarly debates and networks. In academic journals, comments or letters to the editor are short papers ... more »

The Ethical Argument For Wearing a Face Mask

Elspeth Tilley at The National Interest - 19 hours ago
*Elspeth Tilley* *Coronavirus, World* [image: Reuters] Asking a range of questions from all three ethical angles helps me arrive at an ethically measured decision: that I should be consistently wearing a mask when I go out. Feeling torn about wearing a mask? Me too. I don’t want to look like I’m virtue signalling or get funny looks. But I also want to be responsible about public health. I’ve ended up conflicted, wearing a mask one day but not the next. The statistics suggest this isn’t my dilemma alone. While mask sales have skyrocketed in New Zealand since COVID-19 reemerged, p... more »

As Courts Re-Open, Britain’s Renters Must Confront the Power of Landlords

Yves Smith at naked capitalism - 19 hours ago
Renters and landlords need to come to terms in the Covid-19 new normal. But it's not shaping up to be pretty.

California Governor Gavin Newsom: Time to ‘Sober Up’ About Green-Energy’s Limitations

Breitbart at Need To Know - 20 hours ago
Hundreds of thousands of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) customers in northern and central California lost power during a heatwave over the weekend. Governor Newsom said the state had to “sober up” about the fact that renewable energy sources, wind and solar, had failed to provide enough power.

Maryland: Teen Brothers Charged in Deadly Assault Get Probation — No Punishment!

Fredericks News Post and Information Liberation at Need To Know - 20 hours ago
Two brothers, age 15 and 16, repeatedly punched John Weed in the head and knocked him out with a sucker punch before spitting on him while he laid on the ground dying. The 15-year-old, who reportedly delivered the fatal blow, was tried as a juvenile and pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

East Timor bugging scandal: Attorney General’s push for secret trial diminishes us as a nation

Ian Cunliffe at Michael West - 20 hours ago
[image: Timor Gap dispute] Christian Porter is waging war against Bernard Collaery and his client in pushing the line that the sky will fall in if the Commonwealth has to admit in open court that ASIS bugged Timor-Leste officials. Yet the allegation has been noted in hundreds of reports and nobody seems in any doubt it is true. Lawyer Ian Cunliffe reports on the latest judgment in the saga that has cost nearly $2.5 million before the trial has even started.

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