Senior Khamenei aide tested positive for coronavirus

March 14, 2020 at 11:24 am

Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior aide of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has tested positive for the coronavirus, Iranian news agencies reported on Thursday.

Velayati, 75, is the president of Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran, and contracted the virus after being exposed to infected patients at the hospital, which is the main centre for treating COVID-19 patients.

Doctors have confirmed that Velayati, who is a paediatrician, was put into quarantine and have described his condition as “good” as he suffers only with mild symptoms.

Velayati is not the first Iranian official who tested positive for the coronavirus.

On Thursday official statistics in Iran stated that 12,729 Iranians suffered from the virus and 611 have passed away.

Meanwhile, an Iranian medical official was reported by the official Iranian news agency, IRNA, stating that 81 Iranians have died due to consuming toxic alcohol amid misinformation that it can cure the virus. The World Health Organisation have denied these claims.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200314-senior-khamenei-aide-tested-positive-for-coronavirus/

Air Force Academy Dismisses Cadets amid Coronavirus Spread

The U.S. Air Force Academy will dismiss its cadets in an effort to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, formally known as COVID-19.

Academy officials announced Friday that the decision to "begin an orderly dismissal" of the majority of its classmen was made based on the threat of the disease's rapid spread, in addition to "multiple members of our base populace being monitored" for infection.

"The goal of this action is to maximize the chances of graduating our senior class on time for our Air and Space Forces while ensuring the best possible care for the entire base populace," the academy said. "We did not make this decision lightly; we consulted with our medical professionals, sister service academies and local civic leaders, among others.

"Ultimately, the deciding factor was recommendations from our public health officials and the inability to execute social distancing over 4,000 cadets here on campus," the release states.

It was not immediately clear when the cadets would return, or whether they might finish out the school year with online distance learning classes

It also was unclear how or whether international students assigned to the academy will be affected. Officials did not respond to Military.com's request for comment by press time. The academy can host a maximum of 60 international students at any one time, according to the school.

The news comes after the academy earlier this week said it would not allow spectators at sporting events and would close to visitors as of Friday.

The Air Force as a whole continues to cancel stateside events in an effort to protect troops from exposure to COVID-19.

The service said Friday it is suspending "all outreach activities and support to community events through May 15."

"This includes, but is not limited to, on-base and civilian sponsored air shows, band performances and community engagements and meetings. This decision does not preclude our leaders from meeting or coordinating with local and community officials," the Air Force said in a release.

On Thursday, the service said that an active-duty airman assigned to Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, had a presumptive positive test for the virus and had begun treatment. The Centers for Disease Control defines a presumptive positive test as "individuals with at least one respiratory specimen that tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19."

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/03/13/air-force-academy-dismisses-cadets-amid-coronavirus-spread.html

Gov’t To Allow Suspension of Gun & Ammo Sales, Restriction of Food & Water in Illinois Town

This is absolutely horrific, and NOT what America was founded upon. But don’t tell liberals that, this is exactly what they want.

In the Illinois city of Champaign, home to the University of Illinois, an executive order gives the mayor an unprecedented level of power that would allow for, among other things, the suspension of the sales of ammunition and firearms.

According to WAND-TV, Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen announced the executive order because of the novel coronavirus.

In addition to allowing the mayor to ban the sales of guns and ammunition, the executive order lets her restrict the sale and distribution of food and water as well as take the title to private property.

The executive order also lets her ban the sale of liquor and would allow the mayor to shut down liquor stores and bars.

WAND reported that the Champaign Municipal Code permits the mayor to suspend certain liberties for a limited period in times of emergency.

https://thedcpatriot.com/alert-govt-to-allow-suspension-of-gun-ammo-sales-restriction-of-food-water-in-illinois-town/

Elon Musk Makes Waves Online as He Says Coronavirus Outside of 'Top 100 Health Risks in US'

Addressing concerns over the growing coronavirus outbreak on Friday, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in the US, where the death toll from the disease currently stands at at least 41.

In an email to SpaceX employees seen by BuzzFeed News on Friday, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk rejected hazards over the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, claiming that given all the evidence he has seen about the disease, “this is not within the top 100 health risks in the United States”.

“As a basis for comparison, the risk of death from C19 is vastly less than the risk of death from driving your car home. There are about 36 thousand automotive deaths per deaths [sic], as compared to 36 so far this year for C19”, the SpaceX founder and Tesla chief executive reportedly asserted.

He also referred to “the trends” which he said do not support the conclusion that the COVID-19 “will soon become a top 100 health risk for people who are otherwise healthy and young to middle-aged […]”.

“Among other things, the media is using the ‘presumed’ positive number of C19 cases, not the confirmed number”, Musk added.

Tesla and SpaceX have not yet commented on the statement, which comes after Musk tweeted last week that “the coronavirus panic is dumb”.

Many netizens reacted angrily to what one user described as a “pretty stupid and ill-informed statement for a smart guy”.

https://sputniknews.com/viral/202003141078568164-elon-musk-makes-waves-online-as-he-says-coronavirus-outside-of-top-100-health-risks-in-us/

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Admin’s Effort to Tighten Food Stamp Program

A federal judge has blocked a Trump administration rule that aims to reduce the number of able-bodied adults from receiving food stamps if they do not meet work-related requirements.

Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell of the D.C. District Court on Friday granted a preliminary injunction (pdf) that blocks a new rule, set to come into effect on April 1, that would limit a state’s ability to seek waivers to extend benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, to able-bodied adults without dependents for more than three months.

Under the current rules, able-bodied adults without dependents are limited from receiving food stamps to three months unless they meet certain work requirements. Upon the request from a state, the department can temporarily waive that time limit in locales that have an unemployment rate of over 10 percent or a lack of sufficient jobs. Able-bodied adults without dependents are generally defined as individuals between the ages of 18 and 49 who are not physically or mentally unfit for work and do not have responsibilities for a dependent child.

CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE

The time limit and work requirements for this group of adults were enacted by Congress in 1996 as part of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. The purpose of the 1996 law was to “[promote] work over welfare and self-reliance over dependency, thereby showing true … compassion for those in America who need a helping hand, not a handout.” It was Congress’s attempt to reform “welfare to make it more consistent with fundamental American values—by rewarding work and self-reliance, encouraging personal responsibility, and restoring a sense of hope in the future.”

In 2018, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on “Reducing Poverty in America by Promoting Opportunity and Economic Mobility,” which sets the administration’s direction on creating more self-sufficiency and working toward moving people into the workforce and out of poverty.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/federal-judge-blocks-trump-admins-effort-to-tighten-food-stamp-program_3272072.html

How Digital Disinformation Is Destroying Society

The virus effects old people much more so than young people, is transferred innocuously from person to person, and is usually noticed too late to prevent its spread. It is a novel threat poorly understood, and authorities are struggling to catch up and contain it. Efforts to combat it are usually too little, too late, and undermine our faith in political institutions meant to protect us.

I am, of course, talking about the pandemic of digital disinformation and fake news that is infecting our democracies. It is stark: authorities may be able to do little to prevent the 2020 Presidential election being stolen, and may not even be aware if it is.

The coronavirus, that we now take seriously enough to address with radical intervention, has a similar effect: cause disruption to our economy and society, and spread fear and mistrust. Digital disinformation aims to do exactly the same — albeit by design, not by random mutation.

It is a brutally effective political tool, and its wielders have an interest in keeping it well under the radar. They circumvent the usual flow of information from trusted news sources to voters, creating alternate realities that stoke fear, spread rumor, and relentlessly smear. It works.

It takes place where few can see it: in a Facebook feed visible only to you, in private WhatsApp groups, spreading via Twitter accounts too numerous to rein in.

The key artery of our democratic pact — that voters have the information necessary to make judgments favoring their interests and values — is being severed. James Madison warned in 1822, “A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both.”

That farce, or tragedy, is upon us. In 2017, 28 countries suffered a “social media manipulation campaign” at the hands of a government or political party, according to a study by Oxford University. In 2019 they found evidence in 70 countries.

I was commissioned to do the digital postmortem on last year’s shock election result in Australia. There, I similarly found a deliberate disinformation campaign, largely on Facebook, had been a surprise contributing factor to a result that confounded all observers — including every public opinion poll.

https://www.ibtimes.com/how-digital-disinformation-destroying-society-2939806

Prof. Chris Exley: “I Can Now Prove That Aluminium Is One Cause Of Alzheimer’s .”

Professor Chris Exley covers the history of Alzheimer’s research, as well as the latest studies showing the impact that aluminium has on the brain.

Listen live here:

http://www.richieallen.co.uk

http://www.fabradiointernational.com (Channel 2)

http://www.triggerwarning.tv/live

https://tunein.com/radio/The-Richie-A…

The show features up to the minute news analysis by researchers, journalists and academics who are ignored by the corporate controlled media, as well as featuring activists from all around the world who are making a difference in their communities every day. People are tired of hearing about the problems, they want to hear of positive solutions.

That is why the show, while challenging the mainstream medias version of events, focuses heavily on the men and women who are trying to cause a seismic shift in the current paradigm. The Skype line to the show will be open for listeners to call in and have their say. There will be no censorship.

https://www.naturalblaze.com/2020/03/prof-chris-exley-i-can-now-prove-that-aluminium-is-one-cause-of-alzheimers.html

A 70-Year War on ‘Propaganda’ Built by the CIA

“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”

– William Shakespeare (The Tempest Act 1 Scene 2)

War has always depended on a reliable system to spread its propaganda. The Arthashastra written by Chankya (350-283 BCE) who was chief advisor to the Emperor Chandragupta (the first ruler of the Mauryan Empire) discusses propaganda and how to disperse and apply it in warfare. It is one of the oldest accounts of the essentialism of propaganda in warfare.

Propaganda is vital in times of war because it is absolutely imperative that the people, who often need to make the greatest sacrifices and suffer the most, believe that such a war is justified and that such a war will provide them security. To the degree that they believe this to be true, the greater the degree of sacrifice and suffering they are willing to submit themselves for said “promised security”.

It is crucial that when the people look at the “enemy” they see something sub-human, for if they recognise that said “enemy” has in fact humanity, the jig is up so to speak.

And thus we are bombarded day after day, hour after hour of reminders as to why the “enemy” is not human like us, not compassionate like us, not patient, just and wise like us.

No doubt, war has been a necessary response when tyranny has formed an army to fight for its cause, but I would put forth that most wars have been rather unnecessary and downright manipulated for the design of a small group of people.

During WWI, on Dec 25th 1914, something rather unexpected occurred and a series of widespread unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front took place between the French/British soldiers and the German soldiers. Some even ventured into “no man’s land”, given its name since none left it alive, to mingle with the “enemy” and exchange food and souvenirs. There were joint burial ceremonies and prisoner swaps. A game of football took place as well. It is said that these truces were not unique to the Christmas period but that they were much more widespread during the holiday season.

These fraternisations would understandably make it quite difficult to return to combat against one another…for no apparently good reason. Some units needed to be relocated since they had developed friendships with the opposing side and now refused to fight them.

The lesson was quickly learned and propaganda was heavily pumped down the throats of the Allied countries, and by the course of just a few years, they no longer viewed the Germans as human.

https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2020/03/14/a-70-year-war-on-propaganda-built-by-the-cia/

Cont. fro m images:

Gabrielle concludes, “Both the Russian government and the CCP view censorship, media manipulation, and propaganda as appropriate tools to control public opinion. Both exploit open, democratic societies to further their own ends while tightening controls around their own countries.”

Don’t worry, the CIA will eventually admit that they are elbow deep in all of the above, it just won’t be released until 30 years from now…In the meantime, I wouldn’t believe everything you read in the newspaper to stoke the fires for another war.

Map Update: Locations Of US Strikes On Alleged Iranian-linked Targets In Iraq

On March 13, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) shared details regarding its recent strikes on the supposed Iranian-linked targets in Iraq. According to the CENTCOM, the targeted locations were belonging to Kataib Hezbollah and storing weapons prepared to be used against forces of the US-led coalition. Iraqi sources deny these claims saying that Iraqi government forces beame a target of the attack.

https://southfront.org/map-update-locations-of-us-strikes-on-alleged-iranian-linked-targets-in-iraq/

The S*** Might Actually Be Hitting the Fan But Somehow It Doesn’t Feel Real

So here we are. Right on the cusp of that SHTF event that we’ve been prepping for all these years.

A global pandemic.

A breakdown in the supply chain.

Shoppers who are already becoming agitated and even violent.

We’re watching it all unfold in our hometowns and across our nation right now.

Yet, somehow, it still doesn’t feel real to me. Is it just me who finds this hard to fathom? Am I the only one who still thinks doubtful thoughts? Like “No way. It’s going to be okay. You’re overreacting. It’s a little scare, just like Ebola and MERS and SARS.”

I’ve researched and written about this stuff for years. I always knew it could happen. I was whole-heartedly convinced of these possibilities and yet when this situation began to move irrevocably toward disaster, I find myself, somehow, shocked.

I can’t be the only one who has prepared for this yet still feels stuck in normalcy bias, thinking “this isn’t going to get as bad as you think” even as I watch the events unfold around us pretty much like we in the survival community always predicted. There’s still that doubtful voice in my head, making me wonder about spending even more money on another “last” shopping trip.

Heck, maybe this makes me a bad prepper. A fake survivalist. A fraud.

Or maybe it’s only natural to think that life will keep moving on pretty much like it always has.

Will Covid-19 really be the thing that brings us down? Will the nation devolve into chaos? I’d like to say no with firm conviction. After all, there have been close calls before. But the rational part of me won’t allow that firm conviction, despite the part that says, don’t be silly, everything will be just fine after a brief blip.

I believe it’s okay to feel this way as long as you don’t allow it to get in the way of your preparations or of your acceptance of the disaster when it actually unfolds in all its shocking reality.

Maybe I’m oversharing here and a whole bunch of folks will unsubscribe. I don’t know. But if others are feeling the same way, I want you to know that you aren’t alone.

Instincts vs. Normalcy Bias

I think people have come down on one of two sides since the Covid-19 virus first came onto our radar back in late December or early January. Some people have thought, “This is the next plague” while others have thought, “So what? The flu is more deadly.” Now that we’re down to the wire, we’ll soon find out which line of thinking was the most accurate.

A lot of this goes down to a decision. Are you going to believe your gut or are you going to believe the logical normalcy bias that tells you this isn’t how things go in the United States of America?

My gut has been telling me since mid-January that this thing is a major event. After all, would China have tanked its economy and locked down a city of 20 million people, welding their doors closed in many cases, if this novel coronavirus was no big deal? Would Italy have locked down their entire country and begun turning away patients over the age of 65 to funnel resources to those more likely to survive if this was just another common, everyday flu?

https://www.theorganicprepper.com/shtf-doesnt-feel-real/

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>>8415693

It’s not just you.

So if you’ve found yourself not quite believing what you’re seeing, not quite believing that all hell could break loose in America at any point now, you aren’t alone. If you look at everything heading to hell on a greasy slide and think it doesn’t feel real, it’s not just you. I’m feeling that way myself.

I’m sharing this because I bet a lot of people are feeling the same way. Second-guessing themselves. Doubting themselves. Feeling like they aren’t good preppers. You aren’t alone and I’ll bet a whole lot of folks who won’t admit it feel this way too.

We don’t believe it because we don’t want to believe it. We never actually wanted to be right when we stockpiled and learned skills and bought more supplies that we actually had room to house.

But the thing that puts us ahead in this situation is that we prepared anyway. We learned anyway. And when we see the more obvious signs of a societal breakdown we will be able to accept it a lot faster than those who never even considered it.

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Empty Shelves? – Understanding Supply Chains, Logistics, and Recovery Efforts…

By now everyone is familiar with the abundant pictures on social media of empty shelves in local stores. Having some familiarity with the supply chain might help people to understand some of the challenges; and possibly help locate product. (Pics from Twitter)

There are essentially two types of distribution centers within the retail supply chain for most chain markets, food stores and supermarkets. The first type is a third party, or brokered, distribution network. The second type is a proprietary, company owned, distribution center. Knowing the type of distribution helps to understand what you can expect.

If your local retail store is being replenished from a third party distribution center, you can expect greater shortages and longer replenishment times; we will see entire days of empty shelves in these stores. However, if your local retail store owns their own warehouse and distribution network, the replenishment will be faster. In times of rapid sales, there is a stark difference.

These are general guidelines: An average non-perishable distribution center will replenish approximately 60 stores. Those 60 stores will generally not extend beyond 100 miles from the distribution center. The typical company owned warehouse will have approximately 20 tractors (the semis) delivering trailers of goods to those sixty stores.

In this type of network… On a typical day a truck driver will run three loads. Run #1 Delivery-Return; Run #2 Delivery-return, Run #3 Delivery Return. End shift.

If every tractor is operating that’s a maximum capacity of 60 trailers of merchandise per day. Many stores receiving more than one full trailer.

A typical store, during a non-emergency, will receive 1 full trailer of non-perishable goods three to five times per week. However, under current volume the purchased amount of product is more than triple normal volume. It is impossible to ship 180 trailers of merchandise daily to sixty stores with 20 fixed asset tractors. This is where the supply chains and logistics are simply incapable of keeping up with demand.

Thinking about distribution to a 100 mile radius. The stores closest to the distribution center will be delivered first, usually overnight or very early morning (run #1). The intermediate stores (50 miles) will be delivered second, mid-morning (run #2). The stores furthest from the distribution center will be delivered third, late afternoon (run #3).

So if you live close to a distribution center, your best bet is early morning. If you live in the intermediate zone, late morning to noon. If you are in the distant zone in the evening.

The current problem is not similar to a holiday, snow event or hurricane. In each of those events typical store sales will double; however, during holidays or traditional emergencies the increase in product(s) sold is very specific: (a) holiday product spikes on specific items are known well in advance and front-loaded; and (b) snow/hurricanes again see very specific types of merchandise spikes, with predictability.

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/03/14/empty-shelves-understanding-supply-chains-logistics-and-recovery-efforts/

>>8415711

Netanyahu addresses Israel's plans amid coronavirus panic

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the increasing panic around coronavirus in Israel on Saturday night.

"We are in a better state than most of the country," Netanyahu said. "Every day or two, we are making new decisions because the situation is not a static one."

He explained that he "predicts that we are not only going to overcome this epidemic; we are going to defeat it."

"We must do everything, as a government and as citizens, to not become infected and not to infect," he said.

Netanyahu explained that the most important think is rapid detection of the virus so that it may be contained by means of quarantine.

One of the main strategies the Health Ministry will do in order to find out if people were in contact with people who had the virus is to track the people electronically. This strategy has been criticized as an invasion of privacy.

He went on to explain that despite citizens' worries, the supermarkets, along with pharmacies and gas stations, will continue to operate regularly. However, leisure activities will cease until further notice.

"Whoever does not need to go out to work should not do so," Netanyahu explained. "We are working in technological techniques… to contain the virus."

https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/WATCH-LIVE-Netanyahu-addresses-Israels-plans-amid-coronavirus-panic-620971