Odds and Ends — 8 June 2021
I remain unconvinced that supply chains are doing well. An Aldi near me recently installed curtains for their refrigerated displays. These make a lot of sense in that they can be pulled down as energy-saving devices when the store is closed. But they can also be pulled down during business hours when the shelves behind them are empty. Pay no attention to that empty shelf behind the curtain.
Coronavirus News, Analysis, and Opinion:
COVID sparks a new 'right to food' movement across the globe
U.S. reports fewer than 15,000 Covid cases per day, averaging about 1 million daily vaccinations
Broadcaster Keeps Up Anti-Vaxx Crusade Even After COVID Plagues Office
Cryptocurrency, Investing, Money, Economy, and Debt:
Are Central and South America embracing #Bitcoin?
— TheStreet (@TheStreet) June 7, 2021
Congressman @carlitosrejala calls for Bitcoin adoption in Paraguay.https://t.co/2JeGNjP2ZN
Drought.gov is showing that all of California is experiencing drought conditions. This does not bode well for wildfire season or for food production:
In related news, Drought-stricken Nevada enacts ban on ‘non-functional’ grass
US recovers millions in cryptocurrency paid to Colonial Pipeline ransomware hackers. Did the hackers leave the crypto in a not-very-secure hot wallet?
Politics:
Trump Praises Manchin for Protecting the Filibuster
Of course, Trump repeatedly urged Mitch McConnell to abolish the filibuster when Republicans had the Senate majority.
Inside secret torture prison run by Ukraine's Russian-backed separatists
New Audio Reveals How Giuliani Pressured Ukraine
The new audio demonstrates how Giuliani aggressively cajoled the Ukrainians to do Trump’s bidding. And it undermines Trump’s oft-repeated assertion that ‘there was no quid pro quo’ where Zelensky could secure US government support if he did political favors for Trump.
Italian neo-Nazis were plotting to bomb NATO base, police say
French set to replace English as EU’s ‘working language’
Obama criticizes Republicans for embracing 2020 falsehoods
Serendipity:
Long, but well worth a read: Journal of a Progressive Prepper
What happens when a homesteading experiment collides with a global pandemic?
Levels of Carbon Dioxide In Atmosphere Hit Historic Highs
I've got a lot of meat in my freezer, but if things get REALLY bad and I don't have power, that won't do me much good. I'll have to get more canned goods and stuff, too.
Hey, don't forget without a freezer meat can also be dried, salted, canned, smoked, pickled, candied or — my favorite — fed to a pig!
Very good points! Thanks!
Good article from Rolling Stone
A few points of contention: I think a mylar ziplock bag of powdered dairy labeled "Milk Bucket" is AWESOMELY named.
Why do people talk like this? Sincere question. There was no "national lockdown" in the United States. That's not how the U.S. works. I understand somewhat when those from abroad don't have more than a general grasp of federalism.
But it's weird to me when people right here — especially the author of a prepper essay in a major magazine — to be unaware that state and local governments are (almost exclusively) in charge of these decisions.
As far as I reckon there cannot be any legit national lockdown short of martial law. And even then America is damn big. It'd be impractical and plain dumb.
All around a lot of good points in the whole round up. That's why it's easier to pick the nits.