Free Republic

The GHS Index is the first comprehensive assessment of global health security capabilities in 195 countries. Read more about the Index and the international panel that helped develop it, download the report and data model, and watch our introductory video. The average overall GHS Index score is 40.2 out of a possible 100. While high-income countries report an average score of 51.9, the Index shows that collectively, international preparedness for epidemics and pandemics remains very weak. The GHS Index assesses countries’ health security and capabilities across six categories, 34 indicators, and 85 sub-indicators. The findings are drawn from open source...

Going into a self-quarantine can have many complex issues and complications beyond having enough food and supplies for two weeks. In terms of entertainment, it also probably means you’re in for a lot of boredom, a lot of Netflix, and a lot of browsing the internet. But there is a way to get a little culture and education while you’re confined to your home. According to Fast Company, Google Arts & Culture teamed up with over 2500 museums and galleries around the world to bring anyone and everyone virtual tours and online exhibits of some of the most famous museums...

A versatile ham radio antenna demonstration by SurvivalComms

Business Closures Perhaps states should have to pay the overhead costs of businesses they order closed.The federal government might reimburse the states at an 80% rate. Unemployment Relief To pay 300 million people $400 per week of unemployment compensation for 10 weeks should cost about $120 billion. Spending $2 trillion is not justified. Self-Employment Tax Rebates People should be able to waive 2020 SE tax payment and get refunds of their 2017 and later year SE tax payments in exchange for 3% per year requested future SS payout reductions.The reductions should be waived if 2020 first-hand quarter personal income was...

Here is my latest attempt. Data is now from https://infection2020.com/ Hope some will find it useful. No claims of the use or accuracy of these maps is implied. Other parties may use these maps as there own.

As John Dewey revolutionized the US education system with Karl Marx’s ideas, dysfunction entered the system. Chalk up another failure at the hands of the Progressive revolution. -- In the Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx demands: “Free education for all children in public schools.” Marx wanted to eliminate unfairness. Presumably, he intended working-class kids to have whatever upper-class children had. In effect, he intended for everyone to attend a good prep school. That is still something that hasn’t yet happened.Enter the Edu-Swamp What went wrong? Why has our Education Establishment betrayed Karl Marx? Rivers of money flow towards public schools. The...

Bill Gates and Elites want to reduce the population by 90%. They believe that 500 million is about all the population that planet earth can support. The Coronavirus pandemic has become a convenient, or manufactured, excuse to enact their plans. Yet it was God gave man a mandate to procreate and fill the face of the earth. God said be fruitful and multiply. Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5...

Typically, deflation is a sign of a weakening economy. Economists fear deflation because falling prices lead to lower consumer spending, which is a major component of economic growth. Companies respond to falling prices by slowing down their production, which leads to layoffs and salary reductions. This further lowers demand and prices. However, for a period of approximately five years, prices of consumer goods went down in Switzerland without any widespread negative impact on the country's economy. In fact, their economy prospered in the midst of falling prices. This has caused some economists to revise their opinion about the ill effects...

For most experts, deflation, which they define as a general decline in prices of goods and services, is bad news since it generates expectations for a further decline in prices. As a result, they hold, consumers postpone their buying of goods at present since they expect to buy these goods at lower prices in the future. This weakens the overall flow of spending and in turn weakens the economy. Hence, such commentators hold that policies that counter deflation will also counter the slump. If deflation leads to an economic slump then policies that reverse deflation should be good for the...

Just wondering if there are any Hams out there and what are you listening to?

... From April 12, 2009 to April 10, 2010, CDC estimated there were 60.8 million cases (range: 43.3-89.3 million), 274,304 hospitalizations (range: 195,086-402,719), and 12,469 deaths (range: 8,868-18,306) in the United States due to the (H1N1)pdm09 virus. Additionally, CDC estimated that 151,700-575,400 people worldwide died from (H1N1)pdm09 virus infection during the first year the virus circulated.** Globally, 80 percent of (H1N1)pdm09 virus-related deaths were estimated to have occurred in people younger than 65 years of age. This differs greatly from typical seasonal influenza epidemics, during which about 70 percent to 90 percent of deaths are estimated to occur in people...

There seems to be quite a few opinions about COVID 19, or the corona virus. Some say it's not a threat...that it's no worse than the flu or the common cold. Others think that it may be the end of civilization as we know it. What is the truth? Let's look at one truth first. The truth is that governments all over the world are taking it very seriously. As President Trump has pointed out he banned travel to and from the affected regions of China long before anybody thought it was prudent. Early on he also instituted mass quarantines...

Millennial Millie reveals the ultimate back story of how Barack Obama attempted to use an executive order to prevent Donald Trump from fully becoming President and how Trump cleverly got around it.

The CDC reports that only 6515 people in the United States died from Influenza. Another chart contained in the pdf here:https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr68/nvsr68_09-508.pdf shows that 55,000 died from influenza AND pneumonia. So I'm assuming out of that 6515 is flu and the rest in pneumonia. The flu can certainly lead to pneumonia which is why they may be grouped together. But not all pneumonia comes from the flu. Question: Is the corona virus more likely or less likely to lead to pneumonia?

Happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom to a man in the course of his life. Benjamin Franklin

It’s Valentine’s Day and that means love, right? Sappy greeting cards. Heart-shaped candy. Professions of undying romance blah, blah, blah.Let’s talk about something that actually matters today: New Jersey people and all the things we love, love, love no matter what day of the year it is. One of the many punchlines thrown our way is that we’re a joyless bunch who are quicker to hate something than to embrace it as our own. Not true! Well, not always true, anyway. Here are 25 items, behaviors and misfortunes of others we Garden Staters love above all else. Enjoy your price-gauged...

Nicole Anzia, professional organizer and founder of Neatnik, joined staff writer Jura Koncius for The Washington Post’s Home Front online chat. Here is an edited excerpt. Q: What are the main reasons that resolutions to get organized are derailed?A: Trying to do it all in January and then stopping. People work really hard at decluttering and purging at the beginning of the year and then think they’re done. But organizing isn’t really something you’re ever done with. As long as things are coming into and leaving your home, it’s a continual process. Do a little bit here and there, but...

Man was handed to ICE after traffic stop, advocates question if cops violated NJ policy

From left, Zonte’s Footstep Love Symbol Grenache 2017, Weingut Bründlmayer Grüner Veltliner Terrassen 2018, Da Capo Grignolino d’Asti Renard 2017, Le Marie Blanc de Lissart 2017 and Loimer Lois Grüner Veltliner 2018. (Tom McCorkle/for The Washington Post) With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, we have an Australian grenache that successfully combines love-themed branding with good-quality wine. An exotic Italian white would also be a good choice for a romantic dinner, or you could revisit an Italian vacation with a trattoria-style red. We also have two outstanding grüner veltliners from Austria to complete the lineup. GREAT VALUE Da Capo Grignolino...