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originally posted by: Thoughtful2
a reply to: nugget1
I came across something very disturbing yesterday. They must be getting desperate.
I was at a pharmacy and they were giving flu jabs for young children. Then something odd happened. They gave the children $5. Since when do we pay children to take a jab?
I looked into it more.
There are 7 major pharmacies doing this. King Soopers, CVS, Walgreens, Albertsons, Winn Dixie, Safeway, and Giant Eagle.
Pharmacy Incentives to get the flu jab
I am amazed that parents are not questioning this. If it is so safe and effective then why the need to pay? And why $5?
Now we are going to have a situation where children will want the jabs. Up next the Covid ones.
What do you think it's going to be Biblical actually means?
The number 40 shows up often in the Bible. Because 40 appears so often in contexts dealing with judgment or testing, many scholars understand it to be the number of “probation” or “trial.” This doesn’t mean that 40 is entirely symbolic; it still has a literal meaning in Scripture. “Forty days” means “forty days,” but it does seem that God has chosen this number to help emphasize times of trouble and hardship.
originally posted by: Thoughtful2
a reply to: nugget1
I felt so repulsed that I guess it infiltrated my dreams last night. Really a nightmare which is unusual for me.
In my dream there was an enormous lineup of people at a massive grave site waiting to bury the dead. It was really grim. Helicopters were flying overhead making such a loud sound- like thunder.
The people didn't leave but continued to wait their turn despite the strong wind from the propellers swirling up dust all around them. Body bags, lots of body bags.
Breaking News: X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, has successfully secured the necessary license to offer cryptocurrency payments and trading services in the United States. This pivotal move signifies the company’s aggressive foray into the burgeoning world of digital payments, while also cementing its commitment to the ever-evolving cryptocurrency landscape.
Interestingly, the license acquisition has been linked to Elon Musk’s ventures, adding another layer of intrigue to this development. This association underscores the symbiotic relationship between X and Musk, hinting at potential collaborations or even joint ventures in the near future.
But that’s not all. X is setting its sights higher with an ambitious roadmap to become an “everything app.” The platform aims to integrate a plethora of functionalities, one of which is to serve as a payment hub processor. This strategic expansion indicates that X is not content with merely being a social media giant; it is actively branching out into the fintech industry.
This is not merely a procedural step; it’s a clear signal that cryptocurrency is poised to become an integral part of X’s platform.
The implications are monumental. Cryptocurrency is not just knocking on X’s door; it’s about to kick it wide open. The integration of a crypto wallet could fundamentally transform how we interact on social media platforms.
Ripple executive backs the idea of Twitter embracing XRP for global creator payments, highlighting crypto’s instant, flexible advantages.
Ripple President, Monica Long, has weighed in on the intriguing prospect of Twitter embracing cryptocurrency as a form of payment, particularly XRP. Long responded with a cryptic yet suggestive lightbulb emoji.
Notably, the approving reaction came in response to a tweet by Brendan Berry, the Head of Payments Products at Ripple, who voiced his view on why Twitter should adopt crypto.
Berry ignited a thought-provoking discourse alluding to Elon Musk’s vision of Twitter evolving into the ultimate digital haven for livelihood. For this aspiration to materialize, Berry opined that cryptocurrency must take center stage in Elon Musk’s contemplations.
Kennedy pointed out instances where potential homebuyers were outbid by cash offers at the last moment, leaving them without a chance to secure their dream home. He attributed this instance to the practices of these investment giants, referring to them as “one huge vehement.”
Kennedy mentioned that the three investment firms, BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street, have interconnections and ownership stakes in each other. Their combined influence extends to approximately 88% of the S&P 500 index. His statement also highlighted their apparent intention to expand their reach and take control of single-family residences across the United States.
Corporations backed by private equity groups such as Blackstone and Pretium Partners bought tens of thousands of homes across the U.S. Sun Belt.
Institutional investors may control 40% of U.S. single-family rental homes by 2030, according to MetLife Investment Management. And a group of Washington, D.C., lawmakers say Wall Street needs to back away from the market.
The single-family rental industry got its start with government backing in the fallout after the 2008 financial crisis. "It was that rare opportunity that attracted the institutions to build a portfolio out of these foreclosed properties," said Steven Xiao, an assistant professor of finance and managerial economics at the University of Texas at Dallas.
Since the early 2010s, Tricon Residential, Progress Residential, American Homes 4 Rent and Invitation Homes have each bought thousands of homes. They've also added to the housing supply in some cases with built-for-rent communities.
Some of these companies are financed by private equity firms such as Blackstone and investment managers such as Pretium Partners.
Blackstone is providing $1.5 million in Relocation Relief & Assistance Payments and charitable donations to support employees and residents at Blackstone’s Maui real estate properties and the people of Maui.
On behalf of Blackstone, our hearts are with every individual who was affected by the devastating Maui fires. We hope this support, coupled with our teams working tirelessly to provide shelter, food and other donations, will help ease the burden of residents and employees at our properties, and all those who call Maui home,” said Kathleen McCarthy, Global Co-Head of Blackstone Real Estate.
From the CDC website- Approved by Mandy Cohen.
"Cloth masks that are used to slow the spread of Covid-19 offer little protection against wildfire smoke. They do not catch small particles found in wildfire smoke that can harm your health."
I keep seeing rumblings of taking the jabs to the work force, schools and now we have the homeless connection. The fall will see an uptick in seasonal flu.
originally posted by: nugget1
a reply to: Thoughtful2
From the CDC website- Approved by Mandy Cohen.
"Cloth masks that are used to slow the spread of Covid-19 offer little protection against wildfire smoke. They do not catch small particles found in wildfire smoke that can harm your health."
That's just stupid. Particle size of wildfire smoke is larger than the size of the corona virus.
[www.visualcapitalist.com...]
originally posted by: Thoughtful2
a reply to: nugget1
What I find interesting is the common feature between Rochelle Walensky and Mandy Cohen- they both have these large doe eyes which psychologically makes people susceptible to what they are saying. The innocent look.
They both also do not blink much.
I'm not certain if it is significant but I find it disturbing. Kind of hypnotic if you know what I mean.
Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and the world’s incalculable loss, the US is preparing to defend itself from bio-weapons threats, mainly from China, with a US$812-million budget plan.
The US Department of Defense has set up and launched a new Bio-Defense Council and has sought funding from the Biden administration to “better prepare for future biological emergencies and deter countries like China from pursuing potentially deadly biological weapons,” Defense One reported on August 24.
The Biden administration announced the bioweapon threat response plan at a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) event on August 23, noting that the US has to try to work with China on emerging biological threats, even as the Pentagon focused on deterring the Asian giant from conflicts.
The Biodefense Posture Review pointed out the handicaps faced by the US in its response to the next big biological disaster and asked for increasing surveillance of biological weapon threats as they emerge.
It sought better coordination within the defense department on national security and improving supplies of biodefense materials within the country, including personal protection kits such as masks and fabrics, chemicals for medicines, or even the electronic devices needed to go into medical equipment to treat affected populations.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the devastation it caused to the US in particular and the world, in general, had exposed one of the critical weaknesses in responses to biological threats, including its offshoots, such as disinformation about viruses, both from domestic sources and from state actors like China, spreads far faster than the pathogens themselves.
The Chinese military is building sophisticated biological weapons and small-scale electronic tools made with nanotechnology that could be used in covert warfare, a major study warns.
“China’s invisible arsenals encompass a range of advanced weaponry that are distinctly focused on providing the Chinese Communist Party with a range of asymmetric warfare options, including the delivery of biological, biochemical and neurobiological weapons on target populations,” according to a report by three open-source intelligence analysts.
The People’s Liberation Army, or PLA, is developing nanoweapons using highly sophisticated microscopic materials that enhance the effects of biological weapons, according to the report, titled “In the Shadows of Science: Unravelling China’s Invisible Arsenals of Nanoweapons.” It was made public earlier this month.
Beijing has long been considering such capabilities. The report cites a 2021 Chinese research paper that explains how “molecular communication” would target advanced networks with precision cyberattacks.
Molecular communication is a nanotechnology that uses the release of tiny devices, such as molecules, into liquid or gas that can provide instructions to a receiver.
Combined nano-cyber-biological weapons are another area of deep concern. Experts warn that they could be used in hybrid Chinese weapons to infect computers, disrupt communications networks or control biological agents remotely.
The private study was published just days after the Pentagon released its first biological defense posture review. The review said China views biology as a “new domain of war” and is leveraging genetic engineering, precision medicine and brain sciences technology for military purposes.
Deborah Rosenblum, U.S. assistant secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs, last week raised the threat of advanced technology applied to biological arms.
China and Russia pose the most serious threats related to biological arms, Ms. Rosenblum said. She noted that a major concern is the use of existing and emerging technologies for biological warfare programs.
A radiation oncologist in Kentucky who has studied more than 5,000 near-death experiences believes his research has proven the existence of life after death — “without a doubt.”
Dr. Jeffrey Long founded the Near-Death Experience Research Foundation in 1998, having become fascinated with near-death experiences (NDE) while completing his medical residency.
In a new essay for Insider, he defines NDEs as “someone who is either comatose or clinically dead, without a heartbeat, having a lucid experience where they see, hear, feel emotions, and interact with other beings.”
Long collects stories from those who have reported NDEs and scientifically analyzes the accounts.
“In the face of overwhelming evidence, I’ve come to believe there’s certainly an afterlife,” he said.