Free Republic

I have reached the ripe old age of seventy-seven falsely believing that mass-insanity was something seen only in science-fiction movies.

By: Hassan.Mahmoudi Doctors and nurses in Iran have appeared as real heroes in the battle against the coronavirus. In the past few days, deaths of several brave and dedicated nurses have been reported in various cities of Iran. According to media reports and even comments by Tehran officials, most of the deaths were due to a lack of medical equipment and virus protection gears. With more coronavirus infections accumulating in hospitals and clinics, healthcare workers with no facilities and equipment are under incredible pressure, with many cut off from the world and their families. Dr. Hamid Latifi is the first...

A ship, especially a warship that has a lot of problems, is often referred to as a cursed ship. The new American Ford class CVN (nuclear-powered aircraft carrier) has become a major disaster rather than a more effective new ship design. The number and severity of problems are certainly cursed at often enough by those who built or now serve on the Ford. It was not supposed to be that way. Several innovative new technologies were supposed to have made the Fords more effective and cheaper to operate than the previous, and similar appearing Nimitz class. Two of those new...

Stocks fell sharply on Monday even after the Federal Reserve embarked on a massive monetary stimulus campaign to curb slower economic growth amid the coronavirus outbreak. The S&P 500 dropped 8.14% shortly after the open, triggering a “circuit breaker” trading halt that will last for 15 minutes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 9.7%, or 2,250 points. The Nasdaq Composite slid 6.1%. Before the open, futures contracts tied to the major averages hit their “limit down” levels, meaning they could not trade below that threshold. Those limits are imposed by the CME Group to maintain orderly market behavior. While the...

On Monday, the House of Representatives will have to vote on a revised version of the coronavirus relief package that passed early Saturday morning, after “technical changes” were hastily added to the bill, (Roll Call) reported. After hours of negotiations between Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin, H.R. 6201, (the Families First Coronavirus Response Act) sailed through congress with a vote of 363-40-1. Democratic legislators voted in lock-step for the bill while 40 Republicans voted against, bucking President’s Trump’s stated support for the emergency relief package. Rep. Justin Amash (I-Mich.) cast the abstaining vote. The revisions didn’t make...

Goldman Sachs on Sunday downgraded its outlook for the economy in the first two quarters of 2020 as the coronavirus zaps all growth from the U.S.Jan Hatzius, Goldman’s chief economist, lowered his first-quarter GDP growth forecast to zero from 0.7%. The economist also sees a 5% contraction in the second quarter, followed by a sharp snapback for the remainder of the year.  “We expect US economic activity to contract sharply in the remainder of March and throughout April as virus fears lead consumers and businesses to continue to cut back on spending such as travel, entertainment, and restaurant meals,” Hatzius...

The coronavirus epidemic is effecting every facet of daily life, and celebrities are no exception. Jon Voight, Oscar-winning actor and father to Angelina Jolie, was spotted in a Gelson's supermarket in Sherman Oaks, California, on Sunday with a basket full of paper towels as he waited on the checkout line. The Coming Home actor, 81, looked in seemingly good spirits as he smiled off to the side.

House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) told Axios on HBO Sunday, in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, that President Donald Trump is a racist who could make the U.S. “go the way of Germany in the 1930s.

ROME - The Italian government plans to take control of Alitalia, a draft decree seen by Reuters showed on Monday, as the loss-making carrier risks going belly up due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. The government has earmarked 600 million euros ($670 million) to keep the airline afloat. On Sunday a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters Alitalia had nearly run out of cash despite having received 400 million euros from the government at the beginning of this year.

Those people wheeling full grocery carts down the aisle last weekend don’t look so crazy now.We’ll all be eating at home for awhile it seems. California, Illinois and Ohio state officials on Sunday issued statewide orders to close all bars and restaurants through the end of March. In Ohio, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said the state plans to provide unemployment benefits to people affected directly by COVID-19 as well by their employers closing their doors. – Nashville Post Like it or not it looks like we’re headed for a full lockdown as a nation. Every bureaucrat has the potential of...

Two emergency physicians, one in his 40s in Washington state and a 70-year-old New Jersey doctor are in critical condition after contracting COVID-19, according to a national physicians group. In Patterson, N.J., the physician is in charge of emergency preparedness at his organization, which the American College of Emergency Physicians declined to name. The doctor was admitted to the hospital a few days ago with upper respiratory problems and remains in isolation in its intensive care unit, according to a press release from ACEP. It is not known whether the Washington case is an example of occupational transmission or community-based...

The IMF said it “stands ready” to use its $1 trillion lending capacity to help countries that are struggling with the economic impact of the coronavirus.“As a first line of defense, the Fund can deploy its flexible and rapid-disbursing emergency response toolkit,” wrote Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF.The IMF’s announcement comes ahead of what’s expected to be another dismal day on Wall Street despite a move by the globe’s central banks to ease monetary policy. The International Monetary Fund on Monday said it “stands ready” to use its $1 trillion lending capacity to help countries around the world that are struggling with...

Its Swingin' Monday and we have Jerry Irby w Ted Daffan & His Texans performing Bottom of the List (1956). THE WESTERNER https://thewesterner.blogspot.com/

At his one-on-one debate with Bernie Sanders Sunday night, Joe Biden said that if he becomes president, his administration will not deport anyone -- no one, under any circumstances -- during his first 100 days in office. After that, Biden said, he will only deport those who have committed felonies in the United States. "In the first 100 days of my administration, no one, no one will be deported at all," Biden said during the debate televised by CNN. "From that point on, the only deportations that will take place are commissions of felonies in the United States of America."...

Poll: Out of these possible causes of death, which one are you the least worried about? Out of these possible causes of death, which one are you the least worried about? Alzheimer’s disease Automobile accident Cancer Coronavirus Diabetes Drowning Falling Fire Flu Heart disease Kidney failure Murder Pneumonia Stroke Vote View Results

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recommendation that hospitals and nursing homes severely restrict visitors threw hundreds of thousands of California families into disarray and heartache Sunday.

CDC is responding to an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus. The outbreak first started in Wuhan, China, but cases have been identified in a growing number of other locations internationally, including the United States. Number of specimens tested for SARS CoV-2 by CDC labs (N=4,069) and U.S. public health laboratories* (N=18,644)† Note: As of March 12, the dates associated with the specimens tested by CDC Labs have been updated to reflect the date the specimen was received by CDC, instead of when they were collected from the patient. Use of the specimen received date better...

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will order all bars and restaurants in the state of Michigan to shut down their dine-in services in response to the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. A spokesperson confirmed the information Monday after Whitmer spoke with a TV station about it. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II tweeted the temporary shut-down would go into effect starting at 3 p.m.

BERLIN - Germany’s transport ministry plans to halt flights from Iran and China in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, newspaper Bild reported on Monday, citing government sources. The two countries are experiencing large outbreaks of the virus, which is now spreading rapidly in Europe.

Inspired by a legendary senior operator, our 58-year-old author signed up for an intense, three-and-a-half-week-long course with students half his age. Here's what he experienced. Recently while doing research on paramilitary operators, I came across a book written by Annie Jacobsen titled Surprise, Kill, Vanish – The Secret History of CIA Paramilitary Armies, Operators, and Assassins. I was delighted to discover that more than half the book was about the exploits of one of my long-time mentors, Sergeant Major Billy Waugh (retired). Now 90, Waugh had 25 years in Special Forces as a leader of the elite Military Assistance Command-Vietnam...