#Unofficial Agency Transmission

[i-expect-you-to-die]

Welcome to the IEYTD Unofficial Blog!

This blog is an archive dedicated to keeping both official and fanworks here on Tumblr! Currently on Semi-Hiatus due to being extremely busy with school!!

The user in charge of this blog is Sleep/Moose (pronouns he/they)!

My main is @lookineedsleep!

Asks and Submissions are open and community interaction is always welcome! Just because this is an archive doesn't mean it can't be fun!

In each original post, I will try to include a little bit of history related to it, even if it is just the date it was originally posted. All posts are (largely) on a queue to make things feel more official & so it doesn't spam.

Why am I doing this? Two reasons, really: A) Because this is my favourite game franchise, and B) Since I saw that the handle "i-expect-you-to-die" wasn't taken, I figured it would be a good handle to have for a more 'professional' blog, which all fans, young and old, can have a place to go to find what they need, from drawing references, to the history of the games!

Under the cut will be all the tags to help you navigate through this blog (unlinked, but if you search them up, you should be able to filter that way)!

#Official Content - Anything originally posted by Schell Games, the creators of I Expect You To Die, such as on their social medias or various online portfolios

#Unofficial Content - Anything originally posted by the fandom. I will mainly work from posts posted to Tumblr, however submissions with posts from other platforms are fine, as long as you have the creator's permission to do so/you are the creator yourself. You may also submit things I may have missed/struggled to find, such as Transmissions from Discord.

#Development Insight - Posts from the Schell Games' old blog, @iexpectyoutodie, as well as things such as concept art which I can find

#Twitter Posts - Anything the official IEYTD Twitter (I am not calling it 'X') has put out which is heavily related to the games/lore

#Official ARG - Posts from the Discord which made up a small puzzle solving ARG between IEYTD2 and IEYTD3, detailing the Handler and his missing pen pal.

#Important Links - Links which were used to tease certain aspects of the in-game lore, usually with a password used to unlock the side (which will be included with the link, as well as what can be found on it). This will also have various YouTube Links for trailers as well as Dinner With The Devs and the official soundtrack.

#IEYTD - Agency Archive - As to not clog up the main tags, I will use this tag for any posts related to the first game

#IEYTD2 - Agency Archive - As to not clog up the main tags, I will use this tag for any posts related to the second game

#IEYTD Home Sweet Home - Agency Archive - As to not clog up the main tags, I will use this tag for any posts related to Home Sweet Home

#IEYTD3 - Agency Archive - As to not clog up the main tags, I will use this tag for any posts related to the 3rd game

#Agency Breakroom - Asks - This is for answering any asks

#Agency Breakroom - Submissions - This is for any submissions

Any character will be tagged similar to the games, where I will use the fullest name that we know for them, followed by 'Agency Archive', for example: John Juniper - Agency Archive.

I will update these tags if I add new tags to the roster, but for now it is fully updated for your navigation ease!

[howdoiknowmytorrentisusingmyvpn]

do i need a vpn for kodi firestick

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do i need a vpn for kodi firestick

Benefits of using VPN for Kodi Firestick

Title: Unlocking the Benefits: Why Using a VPN for Kodi Firestick is Essential

In the digital age, streaming content has become an integral part of our entertainment experience. With devices like Kodi Firestick offering a plethora of movies, TV shows, and live streams at our fingertips, it's no wonder they've gained immense popularity. However, along with the convenience of streaming comes the importance of protecting your online privacy and security. This is where a Virtual Private Network (VPN) comes into play, especially when using Kodi Firestick.

Bypass Geo-Restrictions: One of the most significant benefits of using a VPN with Kodi Firestick is the ability to bypass geo-restrictions. Content availability varies from region to region due to licensing agreements. By connecting to a VPN server in a different location, you can access geo-blocked content and unlock a wider range of streaming options.

Enhanced Privacy: Privacy concerns are prevalent in today's digital landscape. When you stream content on Kodi Firestick without a VPN, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can monitor your online activities. With a VPN, your internet traffic is encrypted, shielding your browsing habits from prying eyes and preserving your privacy.

Secure Data Transmission: VPNs encrypt your internet connection, making it virtually impossible for hackers or third parties to intercept your data. This is crucial when streaming content on public Wi-Fi networks, where cyber threats are more prevalent.

Avoid Throttling: Some ISPs throttle internet speeds for streaming services, especially during peak hours. By using a VPN, you can circumvent throttling and enjoy smoother streaming experiences.

Protection from Malware: VPNs add an extra layer of security by blocking malicious websites and preventing malware infections, safeguarding your device and personal information.

In conclusion, incorporating a VPN into your Kodi Firestick setup offers numerous benefits, including unrestricted access to content, enhanced privacy, secure data transmission, avoidance of throttling, and protection from online threats. It's a small investment that can significantly improve your streaming experience while keeping your online activities private and secure.

Risks of not using a VPN with Kodi Firestick

Title: The Perils of Skipping VPN Protection for Your Kodi Firestick

In the realm of digital entertainment, Kodi Firestick has emerged as a beloved choice for streaming enthusiasts. Its versatility and wide array of content make it a go-to option for many. However, amid the excitement of accessing endless shows and movies, the importance of safeguarding one's online presence often takes a backseat.

One critical measure frequently overlooked by users is the absence of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) while using Kodi Firestick. The repercussions of this omission can be severe, exposing users to various risks.

First and foremost, without a VPN, your online activities remain susceptible to prying eyes. Internet service providers (ISPs), government agencies, and hackers can potentially monitor your streaming habits, compromising your privacy. This lack of encryption leaves your personal data vulnerable to exploitation, including identity theft and financial fraud.

Moreover, geo-restrictions can curtail your access to certain content. Many streaming platforms enforce regional limitations, meaning that without a VPN, you might miss out on shows or movies exclusive to specific countries. By employing a VPN, you can bypass these restrictions, unlocking a broader range of entertainment options.

Furthermore, the absence of VPN protection exposes users to the risks of malware and cyber attacks. Streaming from unofficial sources or accessing pirated content through Kodi Firestick can inadvertently lead to malicious software infiltrating your device. A VPN acts as a shield, encrypting your internet connection and fortifying your defense against cyber threats.

In conclusion, neglecting to use a VPN with your Kodi Firestick poses significant risks to your online security and privacy. By investing in a reputable VPN service, you not only safeguard your digital presence but also enhance your streaming experience by accessing geo-blocked content and protecting against cyber threats. Stay safe, stay secure, and enjoy uninterrupted entertainment with the added layer of VPN protection.

Best VPN options for Kodi Firestick

Title: Unlocking Unlimited Streaming: The Best VPN Options for Kodi Firestick

For avid streamers, Kodi Firestick offers a gateway to a vast world of entertainment. However, to truly unlock its potential while ensuring privacy and security, pairing it with a reliable VPN (Virtual Private Network) is essential. With numerous options available, selecting the right VPN for Kodi Firestick can be daunting. Here are some of the top contenders:

ExpressVPN: Renowned for its lightning-fast speeds and robust security features, ExpressVPN is a favorite among Kodi Firestick users. Its extensive server network ensures seamless streaming, while its AES-256 encryption and strict no-logs policy guarantee privacy.

NordVPN: With a vast server network spanning across multiple countries, NordVPN offers exceptional performance and reliability. Its specialized servers for streaming and P2P activities make it an ideal choice for Kodi Firestick users seeking unrestricted access to content.

CyberGhost: Boasting user-friendly apps and dedicated streaming servers optimized for high-speed performance, CyberGhost is tailored for hassle-free streaming on Kodi Firestick. Its stringent privacy measures, including a strict no-logs policy, ensure peace of mind while browsing.

IPVanish: Designed with streaming in mind, IPVanish offers unlimited bandwidth and lightning-fast connections, making it perfect for Kodi Firestick users. Its user-friendly interface and unlimited simultaneous connections make it a popular choice for households with multiple devices.

Surfshark: Offering unlimited simultaneous connections and a range of advanced security features, Surfshark is a budget-friendly option for Kodi Firestick users. Its CleanWeb feature blocks ads and malware, enhancing the streaming experience.

Ultimately, the best VPN for Kodi Firestick depends on individual preferences and priorities. Whether prioritizing speed, security, or affordability, these top VPN options cater to diverse needs, ensuring a seamless and secure streaming experience on Kodi Firestick.

Setup guide for VPN on Kodi Firestick

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) enhances your online privacy and security by encrypting your internet connection. Setting up a VPN on Kodi Firestick allows you to access geo-blocked content, stay anonymous, and circumvent censorship. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you set up a VPN on your Kodi Firestick device.

First, subscribe to a reliable VPN service that is compatible with Kodi Firestick. There are many VPN providers available, so make sure to choose one that offers fast connection speeds and robust security features.

Next, download and install the VPN app on your Firestick device. You can find the VPN app in the Amazon App Store. Once installed, launch the app and log in using your VPN account credentials.

After logging in, select a server location to connect to. For accessing geo-blocked content, choose a server location where the content is available. For enhanced privacy and security, you can connect to a server location of your choice.

Once connected, your internet connection is now encrypted, and your online activities are secure and private. You can now open Kodi on your Firestick and enjoy unrestricted access to content from around the world.

Remember to enable the VPN every time you use Kodi on your Firestick to ensure continued online privacy and security. By following these simple steps, you can set up a VPN on your Kodi Firestick and enjoy a safe and unrestricted streaming experience.

Comparison: VPN vs

Comparison: VPN vs. Proxy Servers

When it comes to safeguarding your online privacy and security, two popular tools often come into play: Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and proxy servers. While both serve similar purposes, they operate differently and offer varying levels of protection. Let’s delve into the comparison between VPNs and proxy servers to understand their differences and functionalities.

Encryption and Security:

VPNs: VPNs encrypt all the data transmitted between your device and the internet, ensuring that your online activities remain private and secure.

Proxy Servers: Proxy servers, on the other hand, act as intermediaries between your device and the internet but typically do not encrypt your data, leaving it vulnerable to interception.

Anonymity:

VPNs: By masking your IP address and routing your traffic through remote servers, VPNs provide a high level of anonymity, making it difficult for third parties to trace your online activities back to you.

Proxy Servers: While proxy servers can hide your IP address, they often do not provide the same level of anonymity as VPNs, as they do not encrypt your data or provide the same level of security features.

Functionality:

VPNs: VPNs offer comprehensive security features and are suitable for various online activities, including browsing, streaming, and torrenting. They can also bypass geo-restrictions and censorship.

Proxy Servers: Proxy servers are commonly used for specific tasks like accessing geo-blocked content or masking your IP address, but they may not provide the same level of security and versatility as VPNs.

In conclusion, while both VPNs and proxy servers can help protect your online privacy and bypass restrictions, VPNs offer superior security, anonymity, and functionality compared to proxy servers. Depending on your specific needs and priorities, choosing the right tool can make a significant difference in your online experience.

[kisameti]

WIP Intro: Phoenix 13

General Information

Genre: Superhero/Action Age Rating: Young Adult POV: First Person Setting: Washington DC, 2023, alternate reality where superhumans exist Content Warnings: Violence, injury, death, severe manipulation, minor gore Current Stage: Drafting Projected Word Count: ~100,000 Words

Tag: #phoenix13

Synopsis, features, and characters below the cut!

Synopsis

In a world protected by superheroes, Elliot is an ordinary sixteen-year-old who's spent his whole life in foster care. A year into his stay with the president of the Elite Watcher's Agency of America, or EWAA for short, an infamous villain kidnaps him, and he discovers he might not be as normal as he once thought.

Navigating a life of new powers, new appendages, and new friends, he trains to become as great a hero as his foster father and brother, but a so-called friend's betrayal and a revelation about his birth show him that being a hero doesn't always mean being good.

Features

Trans main character

Found family

So many superpowers. So many.

Wings! Several winged characters!

Cool weapons

Gods that affect the story but aren't really present

Morally gray characters

Characters

Elliot Sims

Alias: Phoenix

Powers: Elemenal—fire

Wings: Feathered—red and orange

Elliot is the foster—and later adoptive—son of the Gray Ghost and Reaper, and brother of Cyber and Siren. He becomes a hero with the training class of 2023, at the age of 17, after learning of his powers only months prior. He is one of the first trans heroes in America, and people say he bears a shocking resemblance to his late mother, the villain Firebird.

Cyrus Raynor

Alias: Cyber

Powers: Enhancement—all; Other—tech manipulation

Wings: N/A

Cyrus is the adoptive son of the Gray Ghost and Reaper. He's the oldest of three and is closer with his youngest brother, Elliot, despite having known Dorian since he was four. They became a hero with the training class of 2018 at the age of 16, and have since become the head of the Renegade division of elite heroes. Despite being relatively famous as Cyber, his true identity is not publicly known.

John Bennett

Alias: The Gray Ghost

Powers: Other—vocal control

Wings: Membrane—gray

John is the president of the Elite Watcher's Agency of America, aka EWAA, America's hero agency. He has held this position for many years with his wife, Reaper, as the vice president. The couple has one biological and two adoptive sons, all of whom are heroes. John is often compared to his predecessor, the late Phantom, who is often described as one of the greatest heroes of all time.

Azima Ebeid

Alias: Mystic

Powers: Enhancement—speed, agility, reflexes, senses

Wings: N/A

Azima has been Elliot's best friend since he was placed with his current family. When he learned about his powers, she was the first to offer to train him. She becomes a hero with the training class of 2023 at the age of 17, joining the 19 other Muslim supers to be accepted into EWAA and among those the 4 other women.

Aaron "AJ" Winters

Alias: Shadow

Powers: Other—shadow manipulation, shadow travel

Wings: N/A

AJ is the first hero to arrive to the scene when Elliot is kidnapped and subsequently held captive in a burning building, though the fire prevents him from reaching and rescuing him. He is also a member of the Renegades, having become a hero with the training class of 2022 at the age of 16. Despite his abilities and alias, he is easily the brightest character in the main cast, in both his clothing style and his personality.

Glitch

Identity: [REDACTED]

Powers: Other—tech/reality transmission; Enhanced—all

Wings: N/A

After Firebird's death, the official organization of villains disbanded, seemingly forever, until Glitch appeared in early 2017 and became the first major threat to EWAA in nearly 11 years. Since then, they have amassed a small army of fellow supers with grievances against EWAA, who now form the new, unofficial organization of villains.

And others! These are just the main ones

[theculturedmarxist]

CDC Data: ‘Stealth’ Omicron Cases Doubling Every Week in the U.S.

BA.2, or ‘stealth’ omicron, was responsible for 8% of coronavirus infections in the U.S. last week, the CDC estimates.

Cases of a highly transmissible omicron subvariant are doubling in the U.S. every week, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

BA.2, or “stealth” omicron, was responsible for 8% of coronavirus infections in the U.S. last week, the CDC estimates. That’s up from 4% the week prior and 2% the week before that.

Experts have raised concerns that the relaxation of mitigation measures like mask mandates could give the subvariant an extra advantage as it spreads in the U.S., and they have questioned if the country is doing enough sequencing to understand the true number of BA.2 infections.

BA.2 is already the dominant lineage in 18 countries, according to the World Health Organization. The subvariant’s unofficial nickname of “stealth” omicron stems from a testing response that makes the lineage look like the delta variant, so it requires additional sequencing that the more common omicron subvariant did not.

“Stealth” omicron is considered even more transmissible than other omicron lineages, and, similar to those subvariants, appears to decrease vaccine efficacy. Recent research suggested that BA.2 can reinfect people shortly after they recover from the more common lineage of omicron, though the occurrence is “rare” and is seen “mostly in young unvaccinated individuals with mild disease not resulting in hospitalization or death.”

But federal health officials in the U.S. don’t yet seem alarmed over the subvariant. In fact, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky last week cited “widespread population immunity” in the agency’s decision to revamp its coronavirus framework to determine when masks are needed.

The agency’s new guidance drastically reduced the number of counties that would be under indoor mask use recommendations. But many states already made moves to drop their indoor mask mandates before the CDC updated its recommendations, so it’s unclear what impact the new recommendations will have on state and local COVID-19 measures.

I'm so glad the pandemic's over you guys I'd hate for this to be something to worry about.

[blog-cosmosuniverse1]

Why the WHO Is a Corrupt, Unhealthy Organization

Story at-a-glance “TrustWHO,” a documentary film produced by Lilian Franck, reveals the clandestine influences that are controlling the World Health Organization, to the peril of public health Bill Gates is WHO’s No. 1 funder, contributing more to WHO’s $4.84 billion biennial budget than any member-state government Pharmaceutical companies previously influenced WHO’s 2009 pandemic declaration; experts later called swine flu a “false pandemic” that was driven by Big Pharma, which then cashed in on the health scare WHO has strong allegiance to China, and its investigation into COVID-19’s origin was a “fake” investigation from the start Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO released a statement that it had been in discussions with Facebook to “ensure people can access authoritative information on vaccines and reduce the spread of inaccuracies” WHO’s history clearly illustrates its allegiance to Big Pharma and other industries, including downplaying the health effects caused by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster and collaborating with opioid giant Purdue Given the strong and ongoing evidence that WHO is heavily conflicted and controlled by industry, its usefulness as a guardian of public health needs to be seriously reevaluated

“TrustWHO,” a documentary film produced by Lilian Franck, reveals the clandestine influences that are controlling the World Health Organization (WHO) — and that have been since the very beginning. Founded in 1948 by 61 member states whose contributions initially financed the organization, WHO was quickly infiltrated by industry.From Big Tobacco to the nuclear industry and pharmaceuticals, industry has historically dictated WHO’s global agenda and continues to do so in the present day, putting profits and power ahead of public health.1Bill Gates Is WHO’s No. 1 Funder In April 2020, Donald Trump suspended U.S. funding to WHO while the administration conducted a review into its “role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.”2 This clearly propelled the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation into the WHO’s No.1 funder slot. Upon election, President Joe Biden reversed the Trump administration decision, restoring U.S. funding to WHO.3However, Bill Gates is still the No. 1 funder, contributing more to WHO’s $4.84 billion biennial budget4 than any member-state government. As revealed in a preview copy I received of “Vax-Unvax,”5 Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new book, which will be released in November 2021, “Gates has used his money strategically to infect the international aid agencies with his distorted self-serving priorities. The U.S. historically has been the largest direct donor to WHO.”However, Bill Gates contributes to WHO via multiple avenues, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as well as GAVI, which was founded by the Gates Foundation in partnership with WHO, the World Bank and various vaccine manufacturers. As of 2018, the cumulative contributions from the Gates Foundation and GAVI made Gates the unofficial top sponsor of the WHO, even before the Trump administration’s 2020 move to cut all his support to the organization. And in fact, Gates gives so much that Politico wrote a highly-critical article6 about his undue financial influence over the WHO’s operations in 2017, which Politico said was causing the agency to spend:“… a disproportionate amount of its resources on projects with the measurable outcomes Gates prefers … His sway has NGOs and academics worried. Some health advocates fear that because the Gates Foundation’s money comes from investments in big business, it could serve as a Trojan horse for corporate interests to undermine WHO’s role in setting standards and shaping health policies.”Plus, Gates “also routes funding to WHO through SAGE [Strategic Advisory Group of Experts] and UNICEF and Rotary International bringing his total contributions to over $1 billion,” Kennedy explains in the book, adding that these tax-deductible donations give Gates both leverage and control over international health policy, “which he largely directs to serve the profit interest of his pharma partners.”As noted in the featured film, when it was founded, WHO could decide how to distribute its contributions. Now, 70% of its budget is tied to specific projects, countries or regions, which are dictated by the funders.7 As such, Gates’ priorities are the backbone of WHO, and it wasn’t a coincidence when he said of WHO, “Our priorities, are your priorities.”8“Gates’ vaccine obsession has diverted WHO’s giving from poverty alleviation, nutrition, and clean water to make vaccine uptake its preeminent public health metric. And Gates is not afraid to throw his weight around,” according to Kennedy’s book. “… The sheer magnitude of his foundation’s financial contributions has made Bill Gates an unofficial — albeit unelected — leader of the WHO.” Pharma & WHO Cashing Checks in Previous Pandemics During the 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic, secret agreements were made between Germany, Great Britain, Italy and France with the pharmaceutical industry before the H1N1 pandemic began, which stated that they would purchase H1N1 flu vaccinations — but only if a pandemic level 6 was declared by WHO.The “TrustWHO” documentary shows how, six weeks before the pandemic was

declared, no one at WHO was worried about the virus, but the media was nonetheless exaggerating the dangers. Then, in the month leading up to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, WHO changed the official definition of pandemic, removing the severity and high mortality criteria and leaving the definition of a pandemic as "a worldwide epidemic of a disease."9This switch in definition allowed WHO to declare swine flu a pandemic after only 144 people had died from the infection worldwide. In 2010, Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg, then head of health at the Council of Europe, accused pharmaceutical companies of influencing WHO’s pandemic declaration, calling swine flu a “false pandemic” that was driven by Big Pharma, which cashed in on the health scare.10According to Wodarg, the swine flu pandemic was “one of the greatest medicine scandals of the century.”11 In the investigation into WHO and Big Pharma’s falsification of a pandemic, an inquiry stated:12“… in order to promote their patented drugs and vaccines against flu, pharmaceutical companies influenced scientists and official agencies responsible for public health standards to alarm governments worldwide and make them squander tight health resources for inefficient vaccines strategies, and needlessly expose millions of healthy people to the risk of an unknown amount of side effects of insufficiently tested vaccines.”While governments ended up with stockpiles of vaccines they would never use, many of those who received the H1N1 swine flu vaccine suffered from adverse effects including Guillian-Barre syndrome, narcolepsy, cataplexy and other forms of brain damage.1

The Origins Cover-Up

WHO’s investigation into COVID-19’s origin was also a “fake” investigation from the start. China was allowed to hand pick the members of the WHO’s investigative team, which included Peter Daszak, Ph.D., who has close professional ties to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).

The inclusion of Dazsak on this team virtually guaranteed the dismissal of the lab-origin theory, and in February 2021, WHO cleared WIV and two other biosafety level 4 laboratories in Wuhan, China, of wrongdoing, saying these labs had nothing to do with the COVID-19 outbreak.14

Only after backlash, including an open letter signed by 26 scientists demanding a full and unrestricted forensic investigation into the pandemic’s origins,15 did WHO enter damage control mode, with Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and 13 other world leaders joining the U.S. government in expressing “frustration with the level of access China granted an international mission to Wuhan.”16

A couple of noteworthy points — Gates handpicked Ghebreyesus as WHO’s director general, not because of his qualifications — Tedros has no medical degree and a background that includes accusations of human rights violations — but due to this loyalty to Gates, again according to Kennedy’s book.

Further, WHO’s allegiance to China was secured years earlier, when China secured WHO votes to ensure its candidates would become director-general. A Sunday Times investigation also revealed that WHO’s independence was severely compromised and its close ties to China allowed COVID-19 to spread in the early days of the pandemic while obfuscating the investigation into its origins. According to the Sunday Times:17

“The WHO leadership prioritized China’s economic interests over halting the spread of the virus when Covid-19 first emerged. China exerted ultimate control over the WHO investigation into the origins of Covid-19, appointing its chosen experts and negotiating a backroom deal to water down the mandate.”

WHO’s China Ties Played ‘Decisive Role’ in Pandemic

On January 28, 2020, four weeks after Taiwan had alerted WHO that a mysterious respiratory illness was spreading in China, WHO had not yet taken action and continued to praise China.

Tedros even praised China for their transparency and said the Chinese president had “shown ‘rare leadership’ and deserved ‘gratitude and respect’ for acting to contain the outbreak at the epicenter,” the Sunday Times reported. “These ‘extraordinary steps’ had prevented further spread of the virus, and this was why, he said, there were only ‘a few cases of human-to-human transmission outside China, which we are monitoring very closely.’”18

Speaking with the Sunday Times, professor Richard Ebright of Rutgers University’s Waksman Institute of Microbiology in New Jersey, said it was this close connection that ultimately steered the course of the pandemic:19

“Not only did it have a role; it has had a decisive role. It was the only motivation. There was no scientific or medical or policy justification for the stance that the WHO took in January and February 2020. That was entirely premised on maintaining satisfactory ties to the Chinese government.

So at every step of the way, the WHO promoted the position that was sought by the Chinese government … the WHO actively resisted and obstructed efforts by other nations to implement effective border controls that could have limited the spread or even contained the spread of the outbreak.

It is impossible for me to believe that the officials in Geneva, who were making those statements, believed those statements accorded with the facts that were available to them at the time the statements were made. It’s hard not to see that the direct origin of that is the support of the Chinese government for Tedros’s election as director-general …

This was a remarkably high return on [China’s] investment with the relatively small sums that were invested in supporting his election. It paid off on a grand scale for the Chinese government.”

WHO Corruption Runs Deep

Even prior to the pandemic, WHO had released a statement that it had been in discussions with Facebook to “ensure people can access authoritative information on vaccines and reduce the spread of inaccuracies.”20 At WHO’s first Global Vaccination Summit, held in Brussels in September 2019, Jason Hirsch, Facebook’s public policy manager, alluded to the censorship and media manipulation that was to come:21

“The first thing that we are doing is reducing the distribution of misinformation about vaccinations and the second thing that we are doing is increasing exposure to credible, authoritative content on vaccinations.”

Rather than putting public health first, such as pushing for safety studies into vaccination, WHO’s history clearly illustrates its allegiance to Big Pharma and other industries. WHO, for instance, has downplayed the health effects caused by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, stating that only 50 deaths were directly caused by the incident and “a total of up to 4,000 people could eventually die of radiation exposure” from the disaster.22

WHO signed an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is “promoting peaceful use of atomic energy,” in 1959, making it subordinate to the agency in relation to ionizing radiation.

WHO’s response to the Fukushima radiation disaster in 2011 was also criticized, with evidence of a high-level coverup.23 WHO once again downplayed the risks, stating “the predicted risks are low and no observable increases in cancer rates above baseline rates are anticipated.”24

WHO also received more than $1.6 million from opioid giant Purdue from 1999 to 2010 and used industry-supported opioid data to incorporate into its official pro-opioid guidelines. According to the Alliance of Human Research Protection, WHO’s collaboration with Purdue led to expanded opioid use and global addiction.25

Due to its acceptance of private money, a review in the Journal of Integrative Medicine & Therapy went so far as to say the corruption of WHO is the “biggest threat to the world’s public health of our time,” particularly as it relates to WHO’s drug recommendations — including its “list of essential medicines” — which it believes is biased and not reliable.26

Given the strong and ongoing evidence that WHO is heavily conflicted and controlled by industry, its usefulness as a guardian of public health needs to be seriously reevaluated.

[dalekofchaos]

Things I would change Rogue One

My other Star Wars Changes posts

Prequel Trilogy

Original Trilogy

Sequel Trilogy

The Clone Wars/Rebels

Solo

Make Krennic a stronger villain. I find Krennic to be a good villain, but was not used enough. He was used as Tarkin and Vader’s whipping boy. Krennic was shown to be a powerful and effective villain in the Prequel novel Catalyst. If you read Rogue One: Catalyst, you see how ruthless he is in a world of soft, stuffy bureaucrats. Leveling entire cities, cracking planets, committing planetary genocide. Not for some greater cause of law and order like Tarkin is to do, but because the Death Star is his baby and he MUST be recognized for his and its success. He is just that motivated. He is a great manipulator, determined, always scheming, pretty good at reading people, speaks geonosian. Krennic in Catalyst is brilliant. He performs well in manipulating people that he has to in getting what he wants, including high powered politicians. He has a habit of overstepping his boundaries, and accepting punishment later. Which is a habit that's not bad when you're successful and very dangerous when your plans don't fall into place. He even managed to manipulate Tarkin, who resented him for it. So do just that make him as great as he was in the novel Catalyst. I’d also like to point out that if Krennic lived, and the Death Star was his, I don’t think the Rebels would have survived Yavin IV. He was far more in tune with the battlestation’s capabilities than Tarkin ever was. I feel like he would have recognized the threat to the base sooner and squashed the Rebel fighters in the trench sooner He wasn’t afraid to get into the battle and it really wasn’t his fault that the plans fell into the wrong hands, the Rebels just outclassed the Empire during that sneak attack. Tarkin’s blind arrogance and underestimation of the Rebels is what allowed the Death Star to be destroyed. Hell, keep in that cut scene of Krennic pulling a blaster on Tarkin. So there was a deleted scene that shows after the success of firing the Death Star on Jedha,  there was a stand-off between Krennic and Tarkin  over who would get to run the Death Star, and it’s possible that this deleted scene may have featured Krennic pulling a blaster on Tarkin. It’s important to have scenes like this, showing Krennic is willing to kill his superiors to keep his place. 

Jyn, Cassian and Bodhi lives. Okay a stretch. But there is a scene of Jyn and Cassian running on the beach with the physical plans in Jyn’s hands. So I would have Bodhi surviving and picking up Jyn and Cassian and escaping Scarif. The three would have time to grieve the loss of their friends but would move on to be able to deliver the plans So Rogue One would end with Jyn handing the plans to Leia.

Keep in Saw Gerrera’s deleted scenes. There was so much of Saw that was cut entirely in the movie. All the trailer scenes was cut and there was so much more they COULD have done for Saw.

Do not show Darth Vader in the movie. As great as Fortress Vader was and as great as that Rebel massacre scene was, I feel like it was a mistake to include Vader in this movie. His presence overshadowed Krennic and helped weaken Krennic as a villain. It doesn’t help that the actor in Vader’s suit has no commanding presence on screen. Something about the way he walks and gestures just feels wrong. He was only there to choke Krennic and make a joke. Vader does not grant audiences to politicians unless it’s Tarkin or under orders from Palpatine. We are then forced to witness clunky dialogue and a dad joke. And the hallway scene. As awesome as it looks, it is nothing but pure fanservice. The most pointless and disbelief breaking scene in the movie. Vader just usually lets others do the dirty work for him. He’s there for intimidation and to choking those who failed him. He rarely puts himself on the frontlines. There is also continuity issues. Leia should not be in the middle of the battle. Leia is meant to be a spy. She is a member of the Imperial Senate  and still has autonomy because of plausible deniability despite the suspicions of the Empire. Also Vader says that this ship intercepted transmissions from Rebel Spies which is not what happens in Rogue One. Not only were the plans brought on board via disk but the people who transmitted them were not spies. And now the excuse they gave about being on a diplomatic mission is now laughably absurd because Vader SAW the ship with his own eyes leaving the battle. Another thing wrong with this is according to the way events play out in Rogue One, neither Vader nor the Empire would know what the transmissions contained but somehow he knows at the beginning of ANH. From this dialogue it sounds like Vader has been investigating and hunting down the Rebels for a while. In his own words. "I have traced the Rebel spies to her, now she is my only link to finding the Secret Base." Maybe the Rebel spies that stole the Death Star plans were captured and interrogated after they transmitted the plans to Leia and Leia's mission was to take the Tantive IV for a consular ship on a diplomantic mission and drop out of hyperspace at a designated place and time to pick uo a coded transmission from those Rebel Spies deep in Imperial territory and then escape just as quickly that it sounds plausible and far more exciting than what we got.

Keep the mission as it was from the trailers. When I first watched the movie, I was completely baffled that it backtracked on what the trailers were even advertising. You could still have everything go as planned, but Mon Mothma approaches Jyn, Cassian and the others and gives them the unofficial mission to steal the plans of the Death Star. It is just so jarring and stupid that you have the plot of the movie not being an official mission given by the Rebels.

Keep in Jyn’s character that was cut from the movie. Jyn’s character is kind of absent. Jyn is a strangely passive presence in her own movie. She has no interest or investment in the Rebellion, DESPITE her iconic line of “this is a Rebellion right? I Rebel.” JUST MAKE HER ONE OF SAW’S AGENTS!!! It is not that fucking hard. That would be why she is brought forth to Yavin IV where Mon Mothma is dressing her down claiming she is far too reckless, which is what prompts her line in the trailer. Make Jyn an aggressive agent of Saw’s cell because she wants to make the Empire hurt for taking Lyra and Galen away from her. Keep in the line from the trailers where Jyn names Rogue One. Jyn herself says “welcome to Rogue One.” and have Jyn warm up to the crew as the movie goes on and learns to trust them and the Rebellion as a whole even more. Have Jyn save the message from Galen and present it to Cassian and the Rebel Command. Which prompts The Alliance to send them off on the mission to steal the plans and say “may the force be with you” keep in the scene with the TIE-Fighter and Jyn and have Jyn being the one to shoot Krennic. For whatever reason the movie does not want Jyn Erso to have agency as a character or character in general. She relies on others to point her in whatever direction the movie needs her to be in at that part of the plot. Jyn isn't defined by what she does, but instead just the opposite.  She doesn't get to save her father, because of the actions of the Rebel X-Wing pilots, nor avenge her mother's death. Even her biggest moment in the movie — the inspirational speech she gives to the Rebel Alliance that ultimately spurs the mission into action — is based on intelligence from her father and an emotional appeal ("Rebellions are built on hope") that she heard from Cassian earlier in the movie. Notably, even that speech falls flat upon delivery. Like all you had to do was have Mon Mothma reach the decision to send the RO crew to steal the plans. Instead we get nothing and they are forced to steal it alone with no orders from the Rebel command.

[decentralvaccine]

FDA Will Fully Approve The Pfizer BioNTech Vaccine

With a new surge of coronavirus infections ripping through much of the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has accelerated its timetable to fully approve Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine, aiming to complete the process by the start of next month, people familiar with the effort said.

President Biden said last week that he expected a fully approved vaccine in early fall. But the F.D.A.’s unofficial deadline is Labor Day or sooner, according to multiple people familiar with the plan. The agency said in a statement that its leaders recognized that approval might inspire more public confidence and had “taken an all-hands-on-deck approach” to the work.

Giving final approval to the Pfizer vaccine — rather than relying on the emergency authorization granted late last year by the F.D.A. — could help increase inoculation rates at a moment when the highly transmissible Delta variant of the virus is sharply driving up the number of new cases.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2021/08/03/us/politics/pfizer-vaccine-approval.amp.html

[didanawisgi]

Peter Doshi: Pfizer and Moderna’s “95% effective” vaccines—we need more details and the raw data

January 4, 2021

On 5 February 2021 we published a clarification to this piece. It is available here.

Five weeks ago, when I raised questions about the results of Pfizer’s and Moderna’s covid-19 vaccine trials, all that was in the public domain were the study protocols and a few press releases. Today, two journal publicationsand around 400 pages of summary data are available in the form of multiple reports presented by and to theFDA prior to the agency’s emergency authorization of each company’s mRNA vaccine. While some of the additional details are reassuring, some are not. Here I outline new concerns about the trustworthiness and meaningfulness of the reported efficacy results.

“Suspected covid-19”

All attention has focused on the dramatic efficacy results: Pfizer reported 170 PCR confirmed covid-19 cases, split 8 to 162 between vaccine and placebo groups. But these numbers were dwarfed by a category of disease called “suspected covid-19”—those with symptomatic covid-19 that were not PCR confirmed. According to FDA’s report on Pfizer’s vaccine, there were “3410 total cases of suspected, but unconfirmed covid-19 in the overall study population, 1594 occurred in the vaccine group vs. 1816 in the placebo group.”

With 20 times more suspected than confirmed cases, this category of disease cannot be ignored simply because there was no positive PCR test result. Indeed this makes it all the more urgent to understand. A rough estimate of vaccine efficacy against developing covid-19 symptoms, with or without a positive PCR test result, would be a relative risk reduction of 19% (see footnote)—far below the 50% effectiveness threshold for authorization set by regulators. Even after removing cases occurring within 7 days of vaccination (409 on Pfizer’s vaccine vs. 287 on placebo), which should include the majority of symptoms due to short-term vaccine reactogenicity, vaccine efficacy remains low: 29% (see footnote).

If many or most of these suspected cases were in people who had a false negative PCR test result, this would dramatically decrease vaccine efficacy. But considering that influenza-like illnesses have always had myriadcauses—rhinoviruses, influenza viruses, other coronaviruses, adenoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, etc.—some or many of the suspected covid-19 cases may be due to a different causative agent.

But why should etiology matter? If those experiencing “suspected covid-19” had essentially the same clinical course as confirmed covid-19, then “suspected plus confirmed covid-19” may be a more clinically meaningful endpoint than just confirmed covid-19.

However, if confirmed covid-19 is on average more severe than suspected covid-19, we must still keep in mind that at the end of the day, it is not average clinical severity that matters, it’s the incidence of severe disease that affects hospital admissions. With 20 times more suspected covid-19 than confirmed covid-19, and trials not designed to assess whether the vaccines can interrupt viral transmission, an analysis of severe disease irrespective of etiologic agent—namely, rates of hospitalizations, ICU cases, and deaths amongst trial participants—seems warranted, and is the only way to assess the vaccines’ real ability to take the edge off the pandemic.

There is a clear need for data to answer these questions, but Pfizer’s 92-page report didn’t mention the 3410 “suspected covid-19” cases. Nor did its publication in the New England Journal of Medicine. Nor did any of the reports on Moderna’s vaccine. The only source that appears to have reported it is FDA’s review of Pfizer’s vaccine.

The 371 individuals excluded from Pfizer vaccine efficacy analysis

Another reason we need more data is to analyse an unexplained detail found in a table of FDA’s review of Pfizer’s vaccine: 371 individuals excluded from the efficacy analysis for “important protocol deviations on or prior to 7 days after Dose 2.”  What is concerning is the imbalance between randomized groups in the number of these excluded individuals: 311 from the vaccine group vs 60 on placebo. (In contrast, in Moderna’s trial, there were just 36 participants excluded from the efficacy analysis for “major protocol deviation”—12 vaccine group vs 24 placebo group.)

What were these protocol deviations in Pfizer’s study, and why were there five times more participants excluded in the vaccine group?  The FDA report doesn’t say, and these exclusions are difficult to even spot in Pfizer’s report and journal publication.

Fever and pain medications, unblinding, and primary event adjudication committees

Last month I expressed concern about the potential confounding role of pain and fever medications to treat symptoms. I posited that such drugs could mask symptoms, leading to underdetection of covid-19 cases, possibly in greater numbers in people who received the vaccine in an effort to prevent or treat adverse events. However, it seems their potential to confound results was fairly limited: although the results indicate that these medicines were taken around 3–4 times more often in vaccine versus placebo recipients (at least for Pfizer’s vaccine—Moderna did not report as clearly), their use was presumably concentrated in the first week after vaccine use, taken to relieve post-injection local and systemic adverse events. But the cumulative incidencecurves suggest a fairly constant rate of confirmed covid-19 cases over time, with symptom onset dates extending well beyond a week after dosing.

That said, the higher rate of medication use in the vaccine arm provides further reason to worry about unofficial unblinding. Given the vaccines’ reactogenicity, it’s hard to imagine participants and investigators could not make educated guesses about which group they were in.  The primary endpoint in the trials is relatively subjective making unblinding an important concern. Yet neither FDA nor the companies seem to have formally probed the reliability of the blinding procedure, and its effects on the reported outcomes.

Nor do we know enough about the processes of the primary event adjudication committees that counted covid-19 cases. Were they blinded to antibody data and information on patients’ symptoms in the first week after vaccination?  What criteria did they employ, and why, with a primary event consisting of a patient-reported outcome (covid-19 symptoms) and PCR test result, was such a committee even necessary? It’s also important to understand who was on these committees. While Moderna has named its four-member adjudication committee—all university-affiliated physicians—Pfizer’s protocol says three Pfizer employees did the work. Yes, Pfizer staff members.

Vaccine efficacy in people who already had covid?

Individuals with a known history of SARS-CoV-2 infection or previous diagnosis of Covid-19 were excluded from Moderna’s and Pfizer’s trials. But still 1125 (3.0%) and 675 (2.2%) of participants in Pfizer’s and Moderna’s trials, respectively, were deemed to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 at baseline.

Vaccine safety and efficacy in these recipients has not received much attention, but as increasingly large portions of many countries’ populations may be “post-Covid,” these data seem important—and all the more so as the US CDC recommends offering vaccine “regardless of history of prior symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.” This follows on from the agency’s conclusions, regarding Pfizer’s vaccine, that it had ≥92% efficacy and “no specific safety concerns” in people with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection.

By my count, Pfizer apparently reported 8 cases of confirmed, symptomatic Covid-19 in people positive for SARS-CoV-2 at baseline (1 in the vaccine group, 7 in the placebo group, using the differences between Tables 9 and 10) and Moderna, 1 case (placebo group; Table 12).

But with only around four to 31 reinfections documented globally, how, in trials of tens of thousands, with median follow-up of two months, could there be nine confirmed covid-19 cases among those with SARS-CoV-2 infection at baseline? Is this representative of meaningful vaccine efficacy, as CDC seems to have endorsed? Or could it be something else, like prevention of covid-19 symptoms, possibly by the vaccine or by the use of medicines which suppress symptoms, and nothing to do with reinfection?

We need the raw data

Addressing the many open questions about these trials requires access to the raw trial data. But no company seems to have shared data with any third party at this point.

Pfizer says it is making data available “upon request, and subject to review.” This stops far short of making data publicly available, but at least leaves the door open. How open is unclear, since the study protocol says Pfizer will only start making data available 24 months after study completion.

Moderna’s data sharing statement states data “may be available upon request once the trial is complete.” This translates to sometime in mid-to-late 2022, as follow-up is planned for 2 years.

Things may be no different for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine which has pledged patient-level data “when the trial is complete.” And the ClinicalTrials.gov entry for the Russian Sputnik V vaccine says there are no plans to share individual participant data.

The European Medicines Agency and Health Canada, however, may share data for any authorized vaccines much earlier.  EMA has already pledged to publish the data submitted by Pfizer on its website “in due course,” as has Health Canada.

Peter Doshi, associate editor, The BMJ

Competing interests: I have been pursuing the public release of vaccine trial protocols, and have co-signed open letters calling for independence and transparency in covid-19 vaccine related decision making.

Spanish translation of this article

Footnote

Calculations in this article are as follows:  19% = 1 – (8+1594)/(162+1816); 29% = 1 – (8 + 1594 – 409)/(162 + 1816 – 287). I ignored denominators as they are similar between groups.

[i-expect-you-to-die]

Assistant blogger here to help!

(rebuilding my queue tonight!!)

[orbemnews]

Has the Era of Overzealous Cleaning Finally Come to an End? When the coronavirus began to spread in the United States last spring, many experts warned of the danger posed by surfaces. Researchers reported that the virus could survive for days on plastic or stainless steel, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised that if someone touched one of these contaminated surfaces — and then touched their eyes, nose or mouth — they could become infected. Americans responded in kind, wiping down groceries, quarantining mail and clearing drugstore shelves of Clorox wipes. Facebook closed two of its offices for a “deep cleaning.” New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority began disinfecting subway cars every night. But the era of “hygiene theater” may have come to an unofficial end this week, when the C.D.C. updated its surface cleaning guidelines and noted that the risk of contracting the virus from touching a contaminated surface was less than 1 in 10,000. “People can be affected with the virus that causes Covid-19 through contact with contaminated surfaces and objects,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the C.D.C., said at a White House briefing on Monday. “However, evidence has demonstrated that the risk by this route of infection of transmission is actually low.” The admission is long overdue, scientists say. “Finally,” said Linsey Marr, an expert on airborne viruses at Virginia Tech. “We’ve known this for a long time and yet people are still focusing so much on surface cleaning.” She added, “There’s really no evidence that anyone has ever gotten Covid-19 by touching a contaminated surface.” During the early days of the pandemic, many experts believed that the virus spread primarily through large respiratory droplets. These droplets are too heavy to travel long distances through the air but can fall onto objects and surfaces. In this context, a focus on scrubbing down every surface seemed to make sense. “Surface cleaning is more familiar,” Dr. Marr said. “We know how to do it. You can see people doing it, you see the clean surface. And so I think it makes people feel safer.” But over the last year, it has become increasingly clear that the virus spreads primarily through the air — in both large and small droplets, which can remain aloft longer — and that scouring door handles and subway seats does little to keep people safe. “The scientific basis for all this concern about surfaces is very slim — slim to none,” said Emanuel Goldman, a microbiologist at Rutgers University, who wrote last summer that the risk of surface transmission had been overblown. “This is a virus you get by breathing. It’s not a virus you get by touching.” Updated  April 8, 2021, 12:42 p.m. ET The C.D.C. has previously acknowledged that surfaces are not the primary way that the virus spreads. But the agency’s statements this week went farther. “The most important part of this update is that they’re clearly communicating to the public the correct, low risk from surfaces, which is not a message that has been clearly communicated for the past year,” said Joseph Allen, a building safety expert at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Catching the virus from surfaces remains theoretically possible, he noted. But it requires many things to go wrong: a lot of fresh, infectious viral particles to be deposited on a surface, and then for a relatively large quantity of them to be quickly transferred to someone’s hand and then to their face. “Presence on a surface does not equal risk,” Dr. Allen said. In most cases, cleaning with simple soap and water — in addition to hand-washing and mask-wearing — is enough to keep the odds of surface transmission low, the C.D.C.’s updated cleaning guidelines say. In most everyday scenarios and environments, people do not need to use chemical disinfectants, the agency notes. “What this does very usefully, I think, is tell us what we don’t need to do,” said Donald Milton, an aerosol scientist at the University of Maryland. “Doing a lot of spraying and misting of chemicals isn’t helpful.” Still, the guidelines do suggest that if someone who has Covid-19 has been in a particular space within the last day, the area should be both cleaned and disinfected. “Disinfection is only recommended in indoor settings — schools and homes — where there has been a suspected or confirmed case of Covid-19 within the last 24 hours,” Dr. Walensky said during the White House briefing. “Also, in most cases, fogging, fumigation and wide-area or electrostatic spraying is not recommended as a primary method of disinfection and has several safety risks to consider.” And the new cleaning guidelines do not apply to health care facilities, which may require more intensive cleaning and disinfection. Saskia Popescu, an infectious disease epidemiologist at George Mason University, said that she was happy to see the new guidance, which “reflects our evolving data on transmission throughout the pandemic.” But she noted that it remained important to continue doing some regular cleaning — and maintaining good hand-washing practices — to reduce the risk of contracting not just the coronavirus but any other pathogens that might be lingering on a particular surface. Dr. Allen said that the school and business officials he has spoken with this week expressed relief over the updated guidelines, which will allow them to pull back on some of their intensive cleaning regimens. “This frees up a lot of organizations to spend that money better,” he said. Schools, businesses and other institutions that want to keep people safe should shift their attention from surfaces to air quality, he said, and invest in improved ventilation and filtration. “This should be the end of deep cleaning,” Dr. Allen said, noting that the misplaced focus on surfaces has had real costs. “It has led to closed playgrounds, it has led to taking nets off basketball courts, it has led to quarantining books in the library. It has led to entire missed school days for deep cleaning. It has led to not being able to share a pencil. So that’s all that hygiene theater, and it’s a direct result of not properly classifying surface transmission as low risk.” Roni Caryn Rabin contributed reporting Source link Orbem News #Cleaning #Era #FINALLY #Overzealous

[hgullapalli2000]

Unraveling the intricacies of inflation targeting framework in India.

Inflation targeting framework is up for review by the GoI. I am very glad to to put my views on this critical and the most intricate issue.

First of all I would like to enlist failures of the 'inflation targeting framework' mechanism. This is probably the most important subject in recent years to deal with !

"Inflation is the most complex animal."

Unofficially IT was adopted before 2015 and officially in 2015.

Since then:

There was significant demand compression.

Excessive and idle capacities in the economy.

Flat investment growth due to less demand and excessive capacities.

Very tepid credit growth.

Rising NPAs & inflation relationship :

Our credit growth slipped to very low level that ⬇️ demand ➡️⬆️ NPAs ➡️⬆️ stress on bank ➡️⬇️ interest rate cut transmission ➡️⬇️ liquidity ➡️⬇️ demand vicious cycle.

This led to slow GDP growth and unemployment rose.

Today's inflation definitely won't increase bankruptcies in fact it will do opposite of it ⬇️ Real interest rates ➡️⬆️ credit growth ➡️ ⬆️ liquidity ➡️ ⬆️ demand ➡️ ⬆️ consumption ➡️ ⬆️ capacity utilisation ➡️ ⬆️ investment ➡️⬆️ jobs ➡️ ⬆️ demand ➡️ virtuous cycle.

NPAs in the banking system can be reduced only by increasing inflation that is debasing currency for a period of time and boosting private credit growth.

One achievement 'inflation targeting framework' on which the proponents are counting is, 'throughout this period inflation expectations were anchored within mandated range.' but it brought untold misery to the Indians.

My only one question to RBI : If indeed the 'flexible inflation targeting framework' was so successful then why the investment revival did not happen throughout this period, so jobs, demand and full capacity utilisation?

India's Inflation targeting framework is blindly derived from western countries with single minded focus on inflation with absolutely no flexibility but developed country central banks are dealing with near free trade economies with free floating currencies in sharp contrast to India.

They are now eyeing mainly employment levels as main variable at the same time allowing inflation to run hotter for some period of time. They are calling it as 'Average Inflation Targeting' (AIT). They have shifted policy from 'Inflation Targeting' to 'Average Inflation Targeting' according to the situation and need for fostering full employment level in their economy and narrowing income disparity by ushering faster wage growth.

India has to devise it's own interest rate policy according to its own situation and needs rather simply copying the western countries or under the pressure of rating agencies.

India's partially floating currency is hugely important factor in influencing inflation & interest rates because heavy intervention by RBI in forex markets to manage level of Rupee to maintain India's export competetiveness.

G4+ countries released huge amount of liquidity in the world market to undo the malefic effects Covid related economic disruptions. The same liquidity is hitting India.

Excessive forex intervention leads to huge domestic inflation and rise in bond yields along with rising inflation expectations and if it is not done then currency appreciation that would hurt export competetiveness of India.

Higher interest rates would accentuate the problem of higher forex inflows and lowering of interest rates to deter foreign inflows would accelerate inflation.

So, forex intervention or global liquidity plays very an important role in India to decide on inflation, inflation expectations, interest rates and bond yields.

Interest rates, inflation and capacity utilisation share complex inter-relationship. If capacity utilisation of services, manufacturing, industry & jobs in the economy is less then decrease in interest rates causes fall in inflation temporarily till near capacity utilisation is approached then the inflation increases. This is paradoxical and non-linear relationship should be considered by the central banks holistically while setting up the interest rates.

India's measures of inflation that is CPI is completely rudimentary system of measurement, doesn't reflect the underlying real inflationary forces and it's based on 2012 year.

Inflation in majority is supply side inflation that is cost push inflation by oil, vegetables and agricultural commodities, metals etc. Out of this prices of vegetables are hugely varied according to season with weightage in the basket about 7%.

Food and beverage along with fuel contribute 50% in the CPI basket which is disproportionately high.

It gives very wrong reading and perception of headline CPI to baffle the policymakers at MPC.

CPI measure stripped of its volatile and arguably interest-rate-independent food and fuel components. However, since 50% of India’s consumption basket is dominated by these items and if considered during interest rate setting then demand compression would be more than inflation stabilisation because these are interest rate insensitive or demand inelastic.

India should device a mean personal consumption expenditure index in line with what is tracked by the USA Federal Reserve Board. It is the inflation measure of price changes at the level of mean consumption of goods and services.

The PCE price index is known for capturing inflation (or deflation) across a wide range of consumer expenses and for reflecting changes in consumer behavior. For example, if the price of beef rises, shoppers may buy less beef and more chicken. Also, BEA revises previously published PCE data to reflect updated information or new methodology, providing consistency across decades of data that’s valuable for researchers. So, this data is the most closely watched by Federal Reserve Board before arriving on any interest rate related decision.

To summarize :

Interest rates should be based on the new inflation measuring system with realistic weightage to the consumption basket much of it based on US PCE.

Capacity utilisation in the economy with respect to industrial, manufacturing, services & employment level should be taken into consideration till the desired interest rate stimulates adequate level of investment in the economy.

Calibrated forex intervention should be done to achieve desired interest rates and inflation by maintaining adequate liquidity.

Inflation above 6 to 7 % is must for India to generate a good level of aggregate demand.

Decrease in interest rates to achieve 1% increase in the target of inflation band would increase the GDP by 2.5% because of demand decompression within the limits of capacity utilisation in the economy.

If the above recommendation followed judiciously India may achieve monetary expansion, reduce NPAs and GDP growth would get hastened to the new stratospheric high level !

Taking view of the above situation I request and recommend the GoI to enact mechanism of true inflation tracking and increase the centre of inflation band to 5% so that there would be ample of scope for interest rate reduction.

--

Dr. Gullapalli H.S.

(Follow me on Twitter @GP4IND, blogsite: https://hgullapalli2000.tumblr.com)

[onenettvchannel]

LATE-BREAKING OVERNIGHT: Almost 40 Households & 62 Close Contacts in Some Barangays of Dumaguete will be on Localized Lockdown with a New Cases of CoViD19 [#OneNETnewsInvestigates]

DUMAGUETE, NEGROS ORIENTAL -- The Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force confirms from a local advisory in Dumaguete was detected last Wednesday night (Manila local time). Frankie Labot a.k.a. Raffy Cabristante obtains a spot report to 106.3mhz DYYD-FM Yes! The Best Dumaguete, with a little help from our Radyo Patrol #2 reporter (Kimi Sparkle).

Brgy. Bantayan goes first for a localized lockdown in Dumaguete for CoViD19 to 13 of them. Some others unofficially like in Brgy. Bajumpandan (11), Brgy. Candau-ay (7), Brgy. Banilad & Poblacion 2 (Both of them are 2) and Brgy. Cantil-e (1). Before that, these are the local homes who had the close contacts with Negros Oriental patients #196, #199 & #200. A single CoViD19 patient who are in turned local transmissions from Patient #191, an Authorized Person Outside of Residence (APOR) with a travel history of Manila.

Around 2 weeks ago from Thursday, a 53 y/o CoViD19 patient from Brgy. Buntis, Bacong, Negros Oriental was in Manila first. Two days later from this Saturday on October 3rd, he was reportedly arrived to Dumaguete from a Private Plane. Followed by the Law Office in San Jose Extension at the same city and goes home in Bacong City. The next day on Sunday, he was at the Family Residence in Zamboanguita. But on October 5th for a week by Monday until early Saturday morning by October 10th, he is considered as asymptomatic today. He is officially confirmed under the RT-PCR, it's a SARS-CoV-2 positive, while the unnamed patient NegOr-CoV-191 has been quarantined last weekend on Saturday.

Meanwhile for NegOr-CoV-199, he or she was from Brgy. Bantayan alone (with a separate news reports from Florence Baesa on 93.7mhz DYMD-FM Energy FM Dumaguete). The CoViD19 patient in Brgy. Bantayan will be on quarantined and strictly monitored today.

Speaking to Dr. Liland Estacion, the entire investigation of Contact Tracers is currently ongoing from that said date. So far, 62 close contacts of Negros Oriental CoViD19 patients are affected separately, leaving for it's strict isolation including Brgy. Bantayan (which is personally affected upon showing an influenza-like symptoms) will automatically goes for a localized lockdown. Leaving to it's 4 new cases in some Barangays of Dumaguete City alone.

The total cases for this year in Negros Oriental, will be infected as 203 of them. The DCPS (Dumaguete City Police Station) will be on medium to high alert, amids the status of MGCQ (Modified General Community Quarantine) of post-CoViD19 pandemic in Negros Oriental.

SOURCE: *https://www.facebook.com/427020384041436/posts/3351940661549379 *https://www.facebook.com/427020384041436/posts/3355784794498299 *https://www.facebook.com/427020384041436/posts/3353324351411010 *https://www.facebook.com/427020384041436/posts/3352079061535539 *https://www.facebook.com/427020384041436/posts/3355838374492941 *https://www.facebook.com/energyfmdumaguete/posts/2675280989389274

HONEST DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed from this local news report are not necessarily those from the Manila-Cebu Broadcasting Company. Furthermore, the assumptions of this local news report will NOT state, intervene or reflect those of our Radyo Patrol reporters. The station, management, interwebs and the network. Thanks for reading and stay safe everypony...

-- OneNETnews Team

[expatimes]

White House moving forward on arms sales to Taiwan: Report

Deal covers sale of truck-based rocket launchers, long-range air-to-ground missiles, and external sensor pods for F-16 jets.

The White House is moving ahead with three sales of advanced weaponry to Taiwan, and has sent notification of the deals to Congress for approval, five sources familiar with the situation told Reuters news agency.

The move in the run-up to the November 3 US presidential election is likely to anger China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve its aims.

Reuters reported in September that as many as seven major weapons systems were making their way through the US export process as the Trump administration ramped up pressure on China.

Asked for a response to Monday's development, the Chinese embassy urged Washington in an emailed statement to stop arms sales to and military ties with Taiwan, “lest it should gravely harm China-US relations and cross-strait peace and stability.”

In the emailed statement, an embassy representative said: “China consistently and firmly opposes US arms sales to Taiwan and has firmly resolved in upholding its sovereignty and security.”

Leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations and House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committees were notified that three of the planned weapons sales had been approved by the US State Department which oversees Foreign Military Sales, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The informal notifications were for a truck-based rocket launcher made by Lockheed Martin Corp called a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), long-range air-to-ground missiles made by Boeing Co called SLAM-ER, and external sensor pods for F-16 jets that allow the real-time transmission of imagery and data from the aircraft back to ground stations.

Notifications for the sale of other weapons systems, including large, sophisticated aerial drones, land-based Harpoon anti-ship missiles and underwater mines, to deter amphibious landings, have yet to reach Capitol Hill, but these were expected soon, the sources said.

A State Department spokesman said: “As a matter of policy, the United States does not confirm or comment on proposed defense sales or transfers until they are formally notified to Congress.”

The confirmed sale of SLAM-ER, a long-range standoff strike weapon, would represent a step-up from past arms sales to Taiwan which then had a "defensive" emphasis. This might have been inevitable given the widening cross-strait military power asymmetry. https://t.co/d2W5Fq8huD

- Collin Koh (@CollinSLKoh) October 12, 2020

Congressional backing for Taiwan

The US Senate Foreign Relations and House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committees have the right to review, and block, weapons sales under an informal review process before the State Department sends its formal notification to the legislations branch.

Legislators, who are generally supportive of Taiwan and wary of what they perceive as Chinese aggression, were not expected to object to the Taiwan sales.

Taiwan's representative office in Washington said it had no comment.

News that new arms sales were moving forward came after senior US officials last week repeated calls for Taiwan to increase defence spending and carry out military reforms to make clear to China the risks of attempting to invade.

The island has come under increasing pressure from Beijing since Tsai Ing-wen was first elected president in 2016, and manoeuvres have intensified since she was returned to office in a landslide in January. In the past few weeks, China's planes have sometimes crossing the Taiwan Strait's sensitive midline that normally serves as an unofficial buffer zone.

On Saturday, in a speech to mark Taiwan's national day, Tsai said the government would continue to modernize the island's defense capabilities and enhance its capacity for asymmetric warfare to “deal with military expansion and provocation from the other side of the Taiwan Strait”. Asymmetric warfare is designed to make any Chinese attack difficult and costly, for example with smart mines and portable missiles.

US national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, last week advised Taiwan to make itself like a military “porcupine” stressing: “Lions generally don't like to eat porcupines.”

The US is required by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, but it has not made clear whether it would intervene militarily in the event of a Chinese attack, something that would probably lead to a much conflict with Beijing.

O'Brien said Taiwan needed to invest in capabilities including more coastal defense cruise missiles, naval mines, fast-attack craft, mobile artillery and advanced surveillance assets.

#world Read full article: https://expatimes.com/?p=11830&feed_id=9751

[elizabethcariasa]

Federal workers are forced payroll tax deferral guinea pigs

Donald J. Trump's payroll tax deferral for employees technically took effect this week. But most employees shouldn't expect to see a minimal raise in their next paychecks.

The reason is that few businesses jumped right in there on Sept. 1, the effective date of Trump's Aug. 8 White House memo, to stop withholding their workers' 6.2 percent portion of pay that goes toward the Social Security trust fund.

Employers' reluctant choice: Yes, the decision to temporarily stop this segment of payroll withholding is voluntary on the part of companies.

Employees, however, don't have the choice of opting in or, if their employers do make the change, choosing to continue having the Social Security component of the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taken out of their checks.

Companies, however, are reticent to make the tax/pay change for several reasons. The main one is that Treasury's guidance issued in the late afternoon of Friday, Aug. 28, isn't that helpful.

The brief notice spells out significant responsibilities and potential future liability on the part of employers. It's also vague in many areas.

Or, as my #TaxTwitter pal Jeanne W. so succinctly (and amusingly) put it in her informal TED talk, where tax replaces technology in the acronym, this process does not look promising:

The payroll tax deferral is going to be an administrative disaster. Thank you for coming to my Ted talk.

— Jeanne W. wants you to vote 🇺🇸 (@JLWCPA2) September 2, 2020

So, for now at least, most private sector businesses are staying with the withholding status quo.

Forced temporary federal raise: Federal employers, however, don't have that choice. The Trump Administration instructed all government agencies to implement the across-the-board payroll tax deferral for their workers.

And that means later this month the 1.3 million workers employed by Uncle Sam will be, to the dismay of many of them, payroll tax deferral guinea pigs.

The issue isn't the pay boost. Although it will be minimal in many instances, it still likely will be welcome by workers.

Federal employees aren't so happy, though, about having to repay the faux raise when 2021 arrives.

That will be the case because, as the phrase withholding deferral indicates, it's just a postponement, not waiver of or tax holiday when it comes to the FICA tax. The Social Security taxes will have to be paid back.

That will happen when the deferral period ends at the end of the year. And that means when 2021 arrives, federal workers will see not just the return of the 6.2 percent Social Security withholding amount, but also an added 6.2 percent to cover what they didn't pay for the last four months of this year.

The doubled withholding will continue until the deferred taxes are repaid, projected to be around the end of April.

I refer you to Jeanne W.'s administrative disaster characterization.

Smaller '21 paycheck problems: If federal workers they were able to spend anything during the holidays, they likely charged the purchases. That's just the American way nowadays.

And those December credit card bills will be arriving in January just as paychecks are getting cut.

The smaller paychecks also could be an added financial disaster for any workers who at some point in 2020 were unemployed. If they got unemployment benefits — and yes, laid-off federal workers are eligible for these, too — they also could be facing added tax liability on those taxable 2020 unemployment amounts.

True, employers could pay their workers' deferred withholding amounts. That would let the employees off the tax hook. That added company cost is also why many private sector businesses are not participating in the payroll tax deferral.

And Congress might be strong-armed into legislatively forgiving the unwithheld tax amounts. Capitol Hill agreed to do this in 2010 and 2011, reducing and waiving the Social Security tax 2 percent cut to inject money into the Great Recession's struggling economy. Back then, the federal retirement plan's missing payroll tax money was replaced, per legislation, by general revenues.

Self-withholding suggestion: My advice to all federal workers who can afford it is to set aside your extra income from the deferral.

If you can do that unofficially, fine. You might, however, look into setting up a separate account. That way you'll probably be more likely to have the money for withholding repayment next year.

Credit unions are good options here. They typically allow members — and it's not hard to find one that you can join — for smaller accounts. Credit Unions also don't have fees like traditional banks.

Also look into setting it up as an automatic payroll withdrawal, so it will be like your withholding.

And if you can keep putting that or any amount into the account when the payroll tax deferral period ends, then it can be your emergency fund.

These warnings and payback suggestions also apply to anybody who's non-governmental employer decides to defer your Social Security withholding. The main thing is that you know the full benefits and possible drawbacks of this temporary tax raise.

You also might find these items of interest:

Most people pay more payroll than income taxes

Self-employed left out of Trump payroll tax cut…for now 

What a COVID-related payroll tax cut could mean to you now and your retirement later

  Coronavirus Caveat & More Information In 2020, we're all dealing with extraordinary circumstances, both in our daily lives and when it comes to our taxes. The COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to reduce its transmission and protect ourselves and our families means that, for the most part, we're focusing on just getting through these trying days. But life as we knew it before the coronavirus will return, along with our mundane tax matters. Here's hoping that happens soon! In the meantime, you can find more on the virus and its effects on our taxes by clicking Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Taxes.

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[phgq]

Covid-19 confirmed cops now 59

#PHnews: Covid-19 confirmed cops now 59

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded 59 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on Thursday.

In a summary report, PNP spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, said 34 were admitted in patient care centers, 14 are under home quarantine, eight have recovered and three have died from the disease.

Meanwhile, a total of 512 police personnel were classified as suspect cases while 61 police officers were tagged as probable cases.

According to the Department of Health, a “suspect” Covid-19 patient shows symptoms of the disease, has traveled to or lives in a place where there has been a confirmed local transmission of the disease, or had close contact with a confirmed or probable patient.

The category covers persons 60 years and above, women with a high-risk pregnancy, people who have pre-existing health conditions, and health workers who show symptoms of the disease.

On the other hand, a “probable” Covid-19 patient is a suspect patient who has not been tested or is awaiting the test results, as well as one who has been tested in an unofficial testing laboratory. (PNA)

***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "Covid-19 confirmed cops now 59." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1100098 (accessed April 17, 2020 at 02:41AM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "Covid-19 confirmed cops now 59." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1100098 (archived).

[i-expect-you-to-die]

Sorry for not posing for a few days, I may have a mild concussion & whiplash because I slipped on some wet grass on Tuesday and my body hates me lol