Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Sunday, September 13, 2020
Something Really, Really Bad Is Going To Happen: Evictions, Starvation A...
Epic Economist
At this stage of the economic collapse, we should be experiencing calmer times. After every big crash, a bounce-back follows, almost as the involuntary reflex inherent to human nature, an instinct of survival, in which we supposedly would have some time to breathe through the chaos. When you hit rock bottom, the only way out is up, isn't that what they say? But from where we stand, it feels much more like we've hit the economic rock bottom and we're still trapped down there, we just have gotten a little bit more used to it, so we can't see how bad it looks anymore, because the shock is so frequent that it became ordinary. If this is the so-called recovery, something really wrong is happening here. That's why today we decided to unmask this delusive idea that things are getting back on track, and show you why this is far from being a recovery. If this is supposed to be the moment when things get more stable, why does it feel like we're still free-falling? If these are "calmer times" we wonder how much chaos is coming for us next. As we will discuss later on this video, more than half of the American families are suffering from serious financial pain, while the pace of unemployment claims continues to hit new records every week it passes by. The United States had never seen anything like that prior to 2020. The latest record was set in 1982, when 695,000 workers filed for unemployment benefits during a single week, configuring the worst rate for jobless claims for almost 38 years, and right now we have passed over that old record for 25 weeks in a row.
The study also presents that 29.6 million people who continued to claim unemployment insurance under all programs translate into 18.4% of the civilian labor force of 161 million. The blue columns stand for continued claims under state programs, showing an increase from 54k to 13.2 million, the first increase after five decreases in a row. The red columns stand for continued claims under federal established by the CARES Act and some other programs, outlining a rise from 326k to 16.4 million.
These numbers would be considered “catastrophic” at any other period in American history, but we are at a point when we constantly face catastrophic numbers so we have become somewhat desensitized to them. Even though the unemployment numbers are not as abysmal as they were earlier this year, and other economic figures seem to have stagnated for the time being, many analysts have been arguing that this moment of "relative" - and we mean very "relative" - "calm" won't last very long.
If you are having this gut feeling that something really bad is about to happen, you're not the only one. It feels like a simple wind strike would make the entire house of cards collapse, but let's not panic just yet. In hard times like these, we should stick to the ones we love and care for, so if you get the chance to spend some quality time with our family, take it, especially because not everyone can afford to have this privilege right now. Unfortunately, many American families are facing anxiety over having the basics to attend their needs, and a recent report revealed that over 50 percent of the households in some of our largest cities are currently facing severe financial distress.
Also, millions of people can face homelessness and starvation depending on how the election goes. We reported on our last mortgage crash video that due to a massive rental insolvency, many homeowners and business owners were receiving eviction moratoriums at a very accelerated rate, because with these extremely high unemployment rates and of thousands of businesses being directly affected by the lockdown, it has become almost impossible to make ends meet. But of course, it would look really bad for the administration to let a surge in homelessness happen just before the elections, so the CDC started to invoke some of these moratoriums to build up an image of concern and care for the citizens. But the act will expire by the end of the year, that is to say, if the outcome of the election doesn't come as planned, all these people can lose their homes for good. (INSERT LINK OF MORTGAGE CRISIS VIDEO) Wherever we look things are falling apart. All of our systems are failing and a fog of insecurity is rising everywhere. The anticipation for the eruption of the next crisis is both nauseating and intriguing. What will be the next turn? When will the reckoning day arrive? How are you dealing with such expectations? What do you think is going to happen next? Please share your thoughts with us in the comment section, they will be much appreciated. Are you prepared for the next Great Depression yet?
Epic Economist website: https://www.epiceconomist.com
Epic Economist website: https://www.epiceconomist.com
Close of Probation Passes Unnoticed
September 13
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1 Thessalonians 5:1, 2.
The righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state—men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above. Before the flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in, and shut the ungodly out; but for seven days the people, knowing not that their doom was fixed, continued their careless, pleasure-loving life, and mocked the warnings of impending judgment. “So,” says the Saviour, “shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man's destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy's offer to guilty men.38The Review and Herald, November 9, 1905.
The people are fast being lulled to a fatal security, to be awakened only by the outpouring of the wrath of God.39The Great Controversy, 562.
The Lord in judgment will at the close of time walk through the earth, the fearful plagues will begin to fall. Then those who have despised God's word, those who have lightly esteemed it, shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord and shall not find it.... The ministers of God will have done their last work, offered their last prayers, shed their last bitter tear for a rebellious church and an ungodly people.40Manuscript 1, 1857.
The eye of Jesus, looking down the ages, was fixed upon our time when He said, “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace!” It is still thy day, O church of God, whom He has made the depositary of His law. This day of trust and probation is drawing to a close. The sun is fast westering. Can it be that it will set and thou wilt not know “the things which belong unto thy peace!”? Must the irrevocable sentence be passed, “But now they are hid from thine eyes” (Luke 19:42)? 41Letter 58, 1887.
Maranatha, p.264.
Saturday, September 12, 2020
AdventHealth expands COVID-19 antigen testing for staff
By NASEEM S. MILLER
ORLANDO SENTINEL
SEP 12, 2020 AT 5:30 AM
Antigen tests offer similar info to molecular tests, and within as little as 15 minutes following a nasal or throat swab. Antigen tests, which detect small pieces of the novel coronavirus that trigger immune system response, are less sensitive than PCR tests: If a patient has COVID-19 symptoms but a negative antigen test result, it is recommended they get a PCR test to be certain they don’t have the virus. However, when it comes to a positive test result, antigen tests are highly accurate. This test is less expensive and complex, and faster than the other two types of approved diagnostic tests (molecular and PCR), so it can be useful in testing the masses; some experts predict that these tests may be widely availableby this winter.(Canva)
Antigen testing can be a useful tool in identifying asymptomatic health-care workers who have been exposed to COVID-19, according to a recent study by AdventHealth researchers.
The pre-publication study of about 500 AdventHealth health-care workers showed that about 2% of workers who had no symptoms tested positive for COVID-19 after an antigen test, which produced results in 15 minutes.
Researchers said their findings show that antigen tests, even though less accurate than the gold-standard PCR test, is a cost-effective way to help relieve anxiety and reduce the number of lost workdays, especially when there’s a COVID-19 surge and limited PCR testing availability.
“After we completed the pilot and saw that it worked, this is now our standard [for employee testing],” said Dr. Victor Herrera, associate chief medical officer of AdventHealth Orlando and an infectious disease doctor.
Antigen tests for COVID-19 first received emergency use authorization from the FDA in May, and AdventHealth was one of the first adopters of the rapid test in Central Florida.
The test looks for certain proteins of the novel coronavirus, instead of its genetic material, which is identified by the highly accurate PCR tests. But it’s less accurate than the PCR test.
"A good general principle to remember is that [the antigen test] has a very high specificity. And what that means is if the test says you have this, there is a really good chance you have it,” said Dr. Patrick Godbey, president of the College of American Pathologist. “The problem with many antigen tests is sensitivity. In other words, if I have COVID-19, how likely is it that this test is going to say I have COVID-19 and that varies tremendously.”
For instance, in the AdventHealth study, of the 139 health-care workers who had symptoms of COVID-19, 124 tested negative with the antigen test. The health system then performed a PCR test on those individual and identified five who were positive.
Still, experts argue that during the pandemic, when resources are limited and time is of essence, having a test that’s rapid, cheaper and requires less complex equipment is better than having access to no tests.
ORLANDO SENTINEL
SEP 12, 2020 AT 5:30 AM
Antigen tests offer similar info to molecular tests, and within as little as 15 minutes following a nasal or throat swab. Antigen tests, which detect small pieces of the novel coronavirus that trigger immune system response, are less sensitive than PCR tests: If a patient has COVID-19 symptoms but a negative antigen test result, it is recommended they get a PCR test to be certain they don’t have the virus. However, when it comes to a positive test result, antigen tests are highly accurate. This test is less expensive and complex, and faster than the other two types of approved diagnostic tests (molecular and PCR), so it can be useful in testing the masses; some experts predict that these tests may be widely availableby this winter.(Canva)
Antigen testing can be a useful tool in identifying asymptomatic health-care workers who have been exposed to COVID-19, according to a recent study by AdventHealth researchers.
The pre-publication study of about 500 AdventHealth health-care workers showed that about 2% of workers who had no symptoms tested positive for COVID-19 after an antigen test, which produced results in 15 minutes.
Researchers said their findings show that antigen tests, even though less accurate than the gold-standard PCR test, is a cost-effective way to help relieve anxiety and reduce the number of lost workdays, especially when there’s a COVID-19 surge and limited PCR testing availability.
“After we completed the pilot and saw that it worked, this is now our standard [for employee testing],” said Dr. Victor Herrera, associate chief medical officer of AdventHealth Orlando and an infectious disease doctor.
Antigen tests for COVID-19 first received emergency use authorization from the FDA in May, and AdventHealth was one of the first adopters of the rapid test in Central Florida.
The test looks for certain proteins of the novel coronavirus, instead of its genetic material, which is identified by the highly accurate PCR tests. But it’s less accurate than the PCR test.
"A good general principle to remember is that [the antigen test] has a very high specificity. And what that means is if the test says you have this, there is a really good chance you have it,” said Dr. Patrick Godbey, president of the College of American Pathologist. “The problem with many antigen tests is sensitivity. In other words, if I have COVID-19, how likely is it that this test is going to say I have COVID-19 and that varies tremendously.”
For instance, in the AdventHealth study, of the 139 health-care workers who had symptoms of COVID-19, 124 tested negative with the antigen test. The health system then performed a PCR test on those individual and identified five who were positive.
Still, experts argue that during the pandemic, when resources are limited and time is of essence, having a test that’s rapid, cheaper and requires less complex equipment is better than having access to no tests.
Human Probation Closes
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Revelation 22:11.
When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been decided for life or death. Probation is ended a short time before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven.35The Review and Herald, November 9, 1905.
Scoffers pointed to the things of nature—to the unvarying succession of the seasons, to the blue skies that had never poured out rain, to the green fields refreshed by the soft dews of night—and they cried out: “Doth he not speak parables?” In contempt they declared the preacher of righteousness to be a wild enthusiast; and they went on, more eager in their pursuit of pleasure, more intent upon their evil ways, than before. But their unbelief did not hinder the predicted event. God bore long with their wickedness, giving them ample opportunity for repentance; but at the appointed time His judgments were visited upon the rejecters of His mercy.
Christ declares that there will exist similar unbelief concerning His second coming. As the people of Noah's day “knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so,” in the words of our Saviour, “shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:39. When the professed people of God are uniting with the world, living as they live, and joining with them in forbidden pleasures; when the luxury of the world becomes the luxury of the church; when the marriage bells are chiming, and all are looking forward to many years of worldly prosperity—then, suddenly as the lightning flashes from the heavens, will come the end of their bright visions and delusive hopes.36The Great Controversy, 338, 339.
The events connected with the close of probation and the work of preparation for the time of trouble, are clearly presented. But multitudes have no more understanding of these important truths than if they had never been revealed. Satan watches to catch away every impression that would make them wise unto salvation, and the time of trouble will find them unready.37The Great Controversy, 594.
When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been decided for life or death. Probation is ended a short time before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven.35The Review and Herald, November 9, 1905.
Scoffers pointed to the things of nature—to the unvarying succession of the seasons, to the blue skies that had never poured out rain, to the green fields refreshed by the soft dews of night—and they cried out: “Doth he not speak parables?” In contempt they declared the preacher of righteousness to be a wild enthusiast; and they went on, more eager in their pursuit of pleasure, more intent upon their evil ways, than before. But their unbelief did not hinder the predicted event. God bore long with their wickedness, giving them ample opportunity for repentance; but at the appointed time His judgments were visited upon the rejecters of His mercy.
Christ declares that there will exist similar unbelief concerning His second coming. As the people of Noah's day “knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so,” in the words of our Saviour, “shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:39. When the professed people of God are uniting with the world, living as they live, and joining with them in forbidden pleasures; when the luxury of the world becomes the luxury of the church; when the marriage bells are chiming, and all are looking forward to many years of worldly prosperity—then, suddenly as the lightning flashes from the heavens, will come the end of their bright visions and delusive hopes.36The Great Controversy, 338, 339.
The events connected with the close of probation and the work of preparation for the time of trouble, are clearly presented. But multitudes have no more understanding of these important truths than if they had never been revealed. Satan watches to catch away every impression that would make them wise unto salvation, and the time of trouble will find them unready.37The Great Controversy, 594.
Maranatha, p.263.
Fauci Disagrees With Trump’s Claim About Rounding the ‘Final Turn’ on the COVID-19 Outbreak
The leading infectious disease experts also said that it could be ‘well into 2021, maybe even towards the end of 2021’ before returning to pre-coronavirus normalcy.
By Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder, Staff Writer Sept. 11, 2020
Leading infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said that it "well into 2021, maybe even towards the end of 2021" before "getting back to a degree of normality," in a television appearance Friday.THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LEADING INFECTIOUS disease expert Anthony Fauci on Friday disputed President Donald Trump's comments that "we have rounded the final turn" of the coronavirus outbreak.
"I have to disagree with that, because if you look at ... the statistics ... they are disturbing. We're plateauing at around 40,000 cases a day and the deaths are around a thousand," Fauci told MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell.
SEE: Dr. Anthony Fauci: Fighting the Coronavirus Pandemic 'Is My Entire World.'
Fauci also said that it could be "well into 2021, maybe even towards the end of 2021" before "getting back to a degree of normality which resembles where we were prior to Covid."
Levels need to be lower, Fauci said, "so that when you go into a more precarious situation, like the fall and the winter, you won't have a situation where you really are at a disadvantage right from the very beginning."
Photos: States Pause Reopening
"But when you have a baseline of infections that are 40,000 per day, and you have threats of increased test positivity in certain regions of the country – such as the Dakotas and Montana and places like that – what we don't want to see is going into the fall season, when people will be spending more time indoors, and that's not good for a respiratory-borne virus," Fauci said. "You don't want to start off already with a baseline that's so high."
Trump delivered the message on Thursday as he was defending his comments to journalist Bob Woodward about downplaying the coronavirus.
[MAP: The Spread of Coronavirus]
"If Bob Woodward thought that what I said was bad, then he should have immediately, right after I said it, gone out to the authorities so they can prepare and let them know," Trump said.
Trump had told Woodward during an interview in March that he "wanted to always play it down," according to CNN. "I still like playing it down, because I don't want to create a panic."
He earlier told Woodward in February that the virus is "deadly stuff" and "more deadly than even your strenuous flu." But he told the public in February that once it gets warmer the virus "miraculously goes away."
Fauci on Friday wouldn't comment specifically on what Trump said to the journalist "except to say yes, when you downplay something that is really a threat, that's not a good thing."
Clade X Pandemic Exercise Trailer
Clade X Pandemic Exercise Trailer
•Jan 18, 2019
centerforhealthsecurity
Clade X is a day-long pandemic tabletop exercise hosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security on May 15, 2018, in Washington, DC. The exercise simulates a series of National Security Council-convened meetings of 10 US government leaders, played by individuals prominent in the fields of national security or epidemic response.
Drawing from actual events, Clade X identifies important policy issues and preparedness challenges that could be solved with sufficient political will and attention. These issues were designed in a narrative to engage and educate the participants and the audience. Lessons learned from Clade X will be distilled by the Center and shared broadly.
More information is available at http://www.centerforhealthsecurity.or..
Friday, September 11, 2020
America’s ugly election
What could go wrong?
America’s ugly election
A disputed result in November could be dangerous
Sep 3rd 2020 edition
Sep 3rd 2020
Labor day marks the beginning of the home straight in a presidential election. This one threatens to be ugly. The president’s supporters are clashing with Black Lives Matter protesters in Portland, Oregon. Donald Trump flew to Kenosha, Wisconsin, for a photo-op in front of burned-out buildings, a week after police shot and paralysed an unarmed African-American man and one of the president’s supporters shot and killed two demonstrators, possibly in self-defence. Having adopted a strategy built around profiting from fears about unrest, the president has an interest in stoking it. Many Americans worry that November could herald not a smooth exercise of democracy but violent discord and a constitutional crisis.
Is this all hyperbole? America has had violent, contested elections in the past. In 1968 one of the candidates, Bobby Kennedy, was assassinated. In 1912 Teddy Roosevelt was shot in the chest while making a speech in Wisconsin. (He finished the speech before heading to hospital, and survived.) Historians are still arguing about who really won the election of 1876. Yet the country has always managed to gain the consent of the losers in its presidential elections—even in the midst of the civil war. That long unbroken streak suggests that doomsayers need to keep things in proportion. However, there is a real risk that things could go wrong in November.
To ensure the peaceful handover of power, democracies need the losing candidates and most of their followers to admit defeat. A clear result on polling day helps a lot: the losers may hate it, but they accept it and start preparing for the next election. When the result is unclear, a backup system is needed. Contested election results are rare in mature Western democracies, but they happen. In 2006 Silvio Berlusconi narrowly lost an election in Italy and claimed, without evidence, that there had been widespread fraud. The country’s Supreme Court ruled in favour of his opponent, and Mr Berlusconi grudgingly surrendered. In 2000 America’s presidential election was settled in the Supreme Court after contested recounts in Florida. In both cases, decrees from judges were just about enough to end the squabbling and let the country move on.
In the case of a landslide win for Mr Trump or Joe Biden, about half of America will be miserable. Many Democrats view Mr Trump as a threat to democracy itself. If he wins again millions of them will be distraught. Among Republicans, by contrast, Mr Trump still enjoys an 87% approval rating. If he loses, many will grouse that the other side cheated. But that need not stop a smooth transfer of power if the margin of victory is big enough. If Mr Trump were to lose by eight points, as polls currently suggest he will, there will be no way to challenge the result plausibly—though he may try anyway, possibly fomenting further unrest.
If the election is much closer, things could get even uglier. America is unusual in the degree of power it gives to Republican and Democratic partisans to administer elections. Decisions over who is removed from lists of eligible voters when they are updated, the design of ballot papers, where polling stations are situated, whether early voting is allowed and how many people have to witness a postal vote—things which in other mature democracies are in the hands of non-partisan commissions—are all taken by people with a d or an r by their name. If the election is close then all this will be litigated over, and ultimately end up in courts presided over by judges who have also been appointed by Republican or Democratic governors and presidents.
As if that were not worrying enough, covid-19 could add to the legal slugfest. Already more than 200 covid-related lawsuits have been filed by the campaigns (see Briefing). The evidence from party primaries suggests that though some states, such as Wisconsin, conducted a relatively orderly election despite the virus, others did not. Postal ballots were still being counted weeks after election day in New York’s primary. In November some swing states, including Michigan, will experiment with widespread voting by mail for the first time.
Sep 3rd 2020
Labor day marks the beginning of the home straight in a presidential election. This one threatens to be ugly. The president’s supporters are clashing with Black Lives Matter protesters in Portland, Oregon. Donald Trump flew to Kenosha, Wisconsin, for a photo-op in front of burned-out buildings, a week after police shot and paralysed an unarmed African-American man and one of the president’s supporters shot and killed two demonstrators, possibly in self-defence. Having adopted a strategy built around profiting from fears about unrest, the president has an interest in stoking it. Many Americans worry that November could herald not a smooth exercise of democracy but violent discord and a constitutional crisis.
Is this all hyperbole? America has had violent, contested elections in the past. In 1968 one of the candidates, Bobby Kennedy, was assassinated. In 1912 Teddy Roosevelt was shot in the chest while making a speech in Wisconsin. (He finished the speech before heading to hospital, and survived.) Historians are still arguing about who really won the election of 1876. Yet the country has always managed to gain the consent of the losers in its presidential elections—even in the midst of the civil war. That long unbroken streak suggests that doomsayers need to keep things in proportion. However, there is a real risk that things could go wrong in November.
To ensure the peaceful handover of power, democracies need the losing candidates and most of their followers to admit defeat. A clear result on polling day helps a lot: the losers may hate it, but they accept it and start preparing for the next election. When the result is unclear, a backup system is needed. Contested election results are rare in mature Western democracies, but they happen. In 2006 Silvio Berlusconi narrowly lost an election in Italy and claimed, without evidence, that there had been widespread fraud. The country’s Supreme Court ruled in favour of his opponent, and Mr Berlusconi grudgingly surrendered. In 2000 America’s presidential election was settled in the Supreme Court after contested recounts in Florida. In both cases, decrees from judges were just about enough to end the squabbling and let the country move on.
In the case of a landslide win for Mr Trump or Joe Biden, about half of America will be miserable. Many Democrats view Mr Trump as a threat to democracy itself. If he wins again millions of them will be distraught. Among Republicans, by contrast, Mr Trump still enjoys an 87% approval rating. If he loses, many will grouse that the other side cheated. But that need not stop a smooth transfer of power if the margin of victory is big enough. If Mr Trump were to lose by eight points, as polls currently suggest he will, there will be no way to challenge the result plausibly—though he may try anyway, possibly fomenting further unrest.
If the election is much closer, things could get even uglier. America is unusual in the degree of power it gives to Republican and Democratic partisans to administer elections. Decisions over who is removed from lists of eligible voters when they are updated, the design of ballot papers, where polling stations are situated, whether early voting is allowed and how many people have to witness a postal vote—things which in other mature democracies are in the hands of non-partisan commissions—are all taken by people with a d or an r by their name. If the election is close then all this will be litigated over, and ultimately end up in courts presided over by judges who have also been appointed by Republican or Democratic governors and presidents.
As if that were not worrying enough, covid-19 could add to the legal slugfest. Already more than 200 covid-related lawsuits have been filed by the campaigns (see Briefing). The evidence from party primaries suggests that though some states, such as Wisconsin, conducted a relatively orderly election despite the virus, others did not. Postal ballots were still being counted weeks after election day in New York’s primary. In November some swing states, including Michigan, will experiment with widespread voting by mail for the first time.
Thursday, September 10, 2020
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