“In 2013, scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology collected horseshoe bat feces at a cave 1,000 miles away infected with a coronavirus 96.2% identical to the virus which causes COVID-19 (Nature). “Peng Zhou, Wuhan Institute of Virology’s head of Bat Virus Infection and Immunization, was researching “the molecular mechanism that allows Ebola and SARS-associated coronaviruses to lieContinue reading “The Easiest Game of Connect-the-Dots”
Category Archives: China
Andaman and Nicobar – Indian Force Multiplier
Confronted by a growing presence by the PLA Navy, the Indian Navy launched a new airbase in the strategically located Andaman and Nicobar islands in 2019. The new base will monitor PLA Navy activity in the region. The Andaman Sea can become the next flashpoint of Sino-Indian maritime rivalry in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)Continue reading “Andaman and Nicobar – Indian Force Multiplier”
Death of the Middle Class – Killed by Deficits, Stimulus, and the Monetary Politburo
My old professor, Murray Rothbard, explained the dynamics decades ago: “The first people to get the new money are the counterfeiters, which they use to buy various goods and services. The second receivers of the new money are the retailers who sell those goods to the counterfeiters. And on and on the new money ripplesContinue reading “Death of the Middle Class – Killed by Deficits, Stimulus, and the Monetary Politburo”
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Ironic that John le Carre passed last week. Let’s revisit some dialog from the epic screenplay for his “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”: CONTROL: “Shut up, Esterhase.” Control waves him down. Smiley considers the report dispassionately.SMILEY: “If it’s genuine it’s gold-dust.(Beat) But its topicality makes it suspect.” Control turns to Alleline, with a mocking smile.CONTROL: “SmileyContinue reading “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”
Corrupt Joe’s Business Associates
How China’s ‘Army of Paid Internet Trolls’ helped censor COVID-19. https://www.zerohedge.com/covid-19/leaked-docs-reveal-how-chinas-army-paid-internet-trolls-helped-censor-covid-19
Jack learns it’s not smart to torque-down Xi
It’s not enough to offer Xi what he would take anyway.
Covid Phylogeny Update
Still remarkably stable since erupting early this year. Remarkable for a coronavirus that is supposed to be “novel”, that is. https://nextstrain.org/ncov/global
Pepe Escobar: When Deplorables Become Ungovernables
By the rude bridge that arched the flood,Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,Here once the embattled farmers stood,And fired the shot heard round the world. “Concord Bridge,” Ralph Waldo Emerson That was then. Today, Pepe Escobar opines on the ungovernable fragments that are the “United?” States and what it means for the rest of theContinue reading “Pepe Escobar: When Deplorables Become Ungovernables”
Oligarchy – so easily sold, so easily bought
Orwell in 1984: “If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face – for ever”. It could be a Chinese Communist Party official. Or, a corporation serving their Chinese Communist Party business associates. Or, a corporation engaging a Chinese Communist Party enterprise. All the same. https://www.theepochtimes.com/facebook-fact-checker-funded-by-chinese-money-through-tiktok_3610009.html?utm_source=share-btn-copylink
Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID Vaccine Results
“When data from the various dosing regimens were combined, the study found that the vaccine was 70% effective at preventing symptomatic coronavirus infections. The standard regimen — two doses of the same strength administered a month apart — had an efficacy of 62%, whereas the regimen with a lower initial dose yielded an efficacy ofContinue reading “Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID Vaccine Results”
Econophysics2020 