Gestalt #148 – A Musical Tour of the 20th Century

I’d rather not post anything too depressing this weekend. So, what follows is an appreciation of some of the music of the 20th Century. I won’t claim it’s the best nor that this is a complete list. Just some tunes that I think are worth listening to. They are listed in order by year of composition. The name of the composition is followed by the composer/song writers. If I have a suggested performer, their name comes last. Peformances may have come long after composition.

1900
Pavane pour une infante défunte – Maurice Ravel

1901
Augustan Club Waltz – Scott Joplin

1902
The Entertainer – Scott Joplin – Joshua Rifkin
Dream Children – Edward Elgar

1903
La Mer – Debussy – Claudio Abbado

1904
Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 82 – Alexander Glazunov – Julia Fischer (violin) and Russian National Orchestra

1905
Bethena – Scott Joplin – Joshua Rifkin
Images – Claude Debussy – Ivan Moravec

1907
Rapsodie espagnole – Maurice Ravel
Heliotrope Bouquet – Scott Joplin and Louis Chauvin – Joshua Rifkin
Gladiolus Rag – Scott Joplin – Joshua Rifkin

1910
Danny Boy – Frederic Weatherly – Roger Whittaker
The Firebird – Igor Stravinsky
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis – Ralph Vaughn Williams

1912
Daphnis et Chloé – Maurice Ravel
Préludes flasques (pour un chien) – Eric Satie

1913
The Right of Spring – Igor Stravinsky
Too‐Ra‐Loo‐Ra‐Loo‐Ral – James Royce Shannon – Bing Crosby

1914
The Planets – Gustav Holst – London Symphony Orchestra

1915
Nights in the Gardens of Spain – Manuel de Falla
Scythian Suite – Sergie Prokofiev
Symphony No. 5 – Jean Sibelius

1917
The Bells of St. Mary’s – Bing Crosby
Violin Sonata in G minor – Claude Debussy
Eventyr (Once Upon a Time) – Frederick Delius
Concerto No. 2 in B major for piano and orchestra – Alexander Glazunov

1920
Eight Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs – Béla Bartók
Le Bœuf sur le toit – Darius Milhaud

1922
Three Fantastic Dances – Dmitri Shostakovich

1923
Dance Suite – Béla Bartók

1924
Rhapsody In Blue – George Gershwin
El amor brujo – Manuel de Falla
Pines of Rome – Ottorino Respighi
Les biches – Francis Poulenc

1926
Someone to Watch Over Me – Ira Gershwin and Howard Dietz – Ella Fitzgerald
Tapiola – Jean Sibelius
Háry János – Zoltán Kodály, Béla Paulini and Zsolt Harsányi

1927
Black And Tan Fantasy – Duke Ellington and Bubber Miley – Duke Ellington and his Washingtonians
East St. Louis Toodle-Oo – Duke Ellington and Bubber Miley – Duke Ellington and his Orchestra
The Best Things in Life Are Free – Buddy DeSylva, Lew Brown and Ray Henderson – Dinah Shore

1928
Mack the Knife – Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht – Louis Armstrong
An American in Paris – George Gershwin

1930
Mood Indigo – Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard and Irving Mills – Ella Fitzgerald

1931
Minnie the Moocher – Cab Calloway, Irving Mills and Clarence Gaskill – Cab Calloway

1932
April in Paris – Vernon Duke and Yip Harburg – Count Basie
Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra – Francis Poulenc

1933
Stormy Weather – Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler – Ethel Waters
I Cover the Waterfront – Johnny Green and Edward Heyman – Billie Holiday

1934
Summertime – George Gershwin – Ella Fitzgerald
Blue Moon – Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart – Mel Tormé

1935
In a Sentimental Mood – Duke Ellington and Manny Kurtz – Duke Ellington and John Coltrane

1936
Peter and the Wolf – Sergie Prokofiev

1937
Symphony No. 5 – Dmitri Shostakovich – St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra

1938
Alexander Nevsky – Sergei Prokofiev – Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 – Heitor Villa-Lobos

1939
Take the “A” Train – Duke Ellington
Symphony No. 6 – Dmitri Shostakovich – St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra

1940
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered – Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart – Ella Fitzgerald
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore – Duke Ellington – Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington
Time Changes Everything – Tommy Duncan – Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys
How High the Moon – Nancy Hamilton and Morgan Lewis – Les Paul and Mary Ford

1942
Les Animaux modèles – Francois Poulenc

1943
Symphony No. 8 – Dmitri Shostakovich – National Symphony Orchestra

1944
Baby, It’s Cold Outside – Frank Loesser – Leon Redbone & Zooey Deschanel
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? – Scotty Wiseman – Jim Reeves
Smoke on the Water – Zeke Clements and Earl Nunn – Red Foley

1945
Laura – David Raksin – Frank Sinatra
La Vie en rose – Louis Guglielmi and Edith Piaf – Edith Piaf
The Christmas Song – Robert Wells and Mel Tormé – Nat King Cole
White Cross on Okinawa – Bob Willis and His Texas Playboys

1946
(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 – Bobby Troup – Nat King Cole
Tenderly – Walter Gross and Jack Lawrence – Sarah Vaughn

1947
C’est si bon – Henri Betti and André Hornez – Eartha Kitt

1948
Black Coffee – Sonny Burke and Paul Francis Webster – Sarah Vaughn

1949
Mona Lisa – Ray Evans and Jay Livingston – Nat King Cole
The Third Man Theme – Anton Karas
I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry – Hank Williams
Mambo No. 5 – Dámaso Pérez Prado – Lou Bega

1950
Cold, Cold Heart – Hank Williams

1951
The Thrill is Gone – Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell – BB King
Meet Mister Callaghan – Eric Spear – Les Paul

1952
The Ballad of High Noon – Dimitri Tiomkin Ned Washington – Tex Ritter

1953
Symphony No. 10 – Dmitri Shostakovich – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Santa Baby – Joan Javits and Philip Springer – Eartha Kitt

1954
Mr. Sandman – Pat Ballard – The Chordettes
Walk, Don’t Run – Johnny Smith – Chet Atkins

1955
Que Sera, Sera – Jay Livingston and Ray Evens – Doris Day
Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash
Whatever Lola Wants – Richard Adler and Jerry Ross – Sarah Vaughn

1956
I Walk the Line – Johnny Cash
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Ewan MacColl – Roberta Flack
Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley

1957
Thank Heaven for Little Girls – Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe – Maurice Chevalier
Ya Got Trouble – Meredith Wilson – Robert Preston
Symphony No. 11 – Dmitri Shostakovich – Munich Philharmonic
You Send Me – Sam Cooke
Wild Is the Wind – Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington – Johnny Mathis

1958
Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) – Franco Migliacci Domenico Modugno – Dean Martin
Rawhide – Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington – The Blues Brothers
La Bamba – Mexican Folk Song – Ritchie Valens

1959
Take Five – Paul Desmond – Dave Brubeck Quartet
Blue Rondo à la Turk – Dave Brubeck – Dave Brubeck Quartet
Peter Gunn – Henry Mancini
Desafinado – Antônio Carlos Jobim and Newton Mendonça – Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd
My Favorite Things – Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II – Julie Andrews
Maria – Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim – New York Philharmonic
Turn! Turn! Turn! – Pete Seeger

1960
A Taste Of Honey – Bobby Scott and Ric Marlow – Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass
The Chain Gang – Sam Cooke

1961
Senza fine – Gino Paoli – Connie Francis
It Was a Very Good Year – Ervin Drake – Frank Sinatra
The Days of Wine and Roses – Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer – Billy Eckstine
I Fall to Pieces – Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard – Patsy Kline
Crazy – Willie Nelson – Patsy Kline

1962
The James Bond Theme – Monty Norman – Vic Flick and the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
Quando, Quando, Quando – Tony Renis and Alberto Testa – Emilio Pericoli
Cast Your Fate to the Wind – Vince Guaraldi
Symphony No. 13 – Dmitri Shostakovich – Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra
Oye Cómo Va – Tito Puente – Santana

1963
The Pink Panther Theme – Henry Mancini
The Girl From Ipanema – Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes – João Gilberto, Astrud Bilberto and Stan Getz
Mas que nada – Jorge Ben – Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66

1964
Goldfinger – John Barry, Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley – Shirley Bassey
The Sound of Silence – Paul Simon – Simon and Garfunkel
Hello Dolly – Jerry Herman – Louis Armstrong
Je ne pourrai jamais vivre sans toi – Michel Legrand and Jacques Demy – Marie Laforêt

1965
Thunderball – John Barry and Leslie Bricusse – Tom Jones
Fight on the Disco Volante – John Barry and Leslie Bricusse – Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
Summer Wind – Heinz Meier, Hans Bradtke and Johnny Mercer – Frank Sinatra
The Shadow of Your Smile – Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webster – Tony Bennett
On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever) – Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner – Barbara Streisand

1966
Good Vibrations – Brian Wilson and Mike Love – The Beach Boys
Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles
Ruby Tuesday – the Rolling Stones

1967
One Less Bell to Answer – Burt Bacharach and Hal David – The 5th Dimension
The Look of Love – Burt Bacharach and Hal David – Dusty Springfield
What a Wonderful World – Bob Thiele – Louis Armstrong
By the Time I Get to Phoenix – Jimmy Webb – Glenn Campbell
Nights in White Satin – The Moody Blues
Guitar Man – Jerry Reed
Before the Next Teardrop Falls – Vivian Keith and Ben Peters – Freddie Fender

1968
Wichita Lineman – Jimmy Webb – Glenn Campbell
Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In – James Redo, Gerome Ragni and Galt MacDermot – The 5th Dimension
The Windmills of Your Mind – Michel Legrand and Alan and Marilyn Bergman – Dusty Springfield
Planet of the Apes Main Title – Jerry Goldsmith

1969
Angelitos Negros – Andrés Eloy Blanco, Manuel Álvarez Maciste – Roberta Flack
Wedding Bell Blues – Laura Nyro – The 5th Dimension
My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy – Stevie Wonder
Symphony No. 14 – Dmitri Shostakovich – Marlinsky Theatre Orchestra
Okie From Muskogee – Merle Haggard

1970
I Don’t Know How to Love Him – Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice – Yvonne Elliman
Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin
What’s Going On – Al Cleveland, Renaldo Benson and Marvin Gaye – Marvin Gaye
The Fightin’ Side of Me – Merle Haggard
Bein’ Green – Joe Raposo – Frank Sinatra
Coal Miner’s Daughter – Loretta Lynn

1971
A Horse with No Name – Dewey Bunnell – America
Sandman – Dewey Bunnell – America
Summer of ’42 – Michael Legrand – Soundtrack
Theme from Shaft – Isaac Hayes
Roundabout – Jon Anderson and Steve Howe – Yes
I Feel the Earth Move – Carole King

1972
Taxi – Harry Chapin
Superstition – Stevie Wonder
Live and Let Die – Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney – Wings
My Tennessee Mountain Home – Dolly Parton

1973
Midnight at the Oasis – David Nichtern – Maria Muldaur
Behind Closed Doors – Charlie Rich

1974
Jackie Blue – Steve Cash and Larry Lee – The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
I’m Not in Love – 10cc

1975
Cat’s in the Cradle – Harry Chapin
Games People Play – Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons – The Spinners
At Seventeen – Janis Ian
Southern Nights – Allen Toussaint – Glenn Campbell

1976
Rich Girl – Hall & Oats
Someone to Lay Down Beside Me – Karla Bonoff – Linda Ronstadt
The Rubberband Man – Thom Bell and Linda Creed – The Spinners
A Fifth of Beethoven – Ludwig van Beethoven Walter Murphy – Walter Murphy

1977
Last Dance – Paul Jabara – Donna Summer
Stay’in Alive – Bee Gees
Dust in the Wind – Kerry Livgren – Kansas
Running on Empty – Jackson Browne
The Stranger – Billy Joel

1978
What a Fool Believes – Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins – The Doobie Brothers
Stuff Like That – Quincy Jones

1979
Street Life – Joe Sample and Will Jennings – The Crusaders

1980
I’m Alright – Kenny Loggins

1982
Tom’s Diner – Suzanne Vega

1984
Everyone Wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears

1987
Talkin’ ’bout a Revolution – Tracy Chapman
Calling You – Bob Telson – Jevetta Steele

1988
Cat Scan – Tangerine Dream
Running Out of Time – Tangerine Dream

1995
One of Us – Eric Bazillan – Joan Osborne

1999
Nuestra Ultima Cita – Ibrahim Ferrer

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Gestalt #147 – GISAID and the Germans

A dozen scientists spoke with Science raising complaints about their interactions with GISAID. They reported an opaque process of gaining access, unexplained interruptions once access was won, and phone harangues or threatening legal letters when they got on the wrong side of GISAID’s strict rules against resharing data. Many scientists who voiced criticisms declined to be identified for fear of losing GISAID access. They say that even as they race to study coronavirus evolution, they are walking on eggshells around their chief data supplier.

“I am so tired of being scared all the time, of being terrified that if I take a step wrong I will lose access to the data that I base my research on,” says one scientist who declines to be identified. “[GISAID] has that sword hanging over any scientist that works on SARS-CoV-2.”

Meredith Wadman, Critics decry access, transparency issues with key trove of coronavirus sequences, Science, March 10, 2021

GISAID is back in the news as sequences that may be key to understanding the origins of SARS-CoV-2, appeared, disappeared and then re-appeared back in the GISAID database. Once again, scientists are wondering what is going on with GISAID.

For those who don’t already know, GISAID is a mysterious database where some of the most important viral sequences in the world are deposited. It was founded by Peter Bogner, a ski instructor. Yes, you heard me right, a ski instructor. How did a ski instructor come to found this database? No one knows. Some not-so-bright journalists praise GISAID to the skies apparently thinking that it serves as some kind of irreplaceable resource. Not true. Long before GISAID came to exist there were databases that made viral sequences freely available. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) is one such database. It is free to deposit sequences there. Anyone can freely download sequences from NCBI. So, why was GISAID necessary? Only one reason – control. Someone wants to control the most important viral sequences in the world. We are told that this is for the benefit of scientists. See the quote and story above and see if this seems credible to you.

Does a ski instructor really have the knowledge necessary to run a sophisticated viral database? Of course not. Initially, Bogner relied on the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics to run the database. This relationship ended in a lawsuit: Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics v. Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data, No. 13-1274 (D.D.C. June 23, 2014), which the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics won. Who runs GISAID now? It’s not exactly clear, but it appears that the German government is “hosting” it.

The Federal Republic of Germany entered, in 2010, into a public-private partnership with the GISAID Initiative and has since hosted the publicly-accessible EpiFlu™ database, employing a unique sharing mechanism which ensures that inherent rights (e.g. IPR) of contributors of GSD [Genetic Sequence Data] are not forfeit.

GERMANY’S STATEMENT ON SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES AND CONCERNS REGARDING THE PIP FRAMEWORK AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION. Special Session of the PIP Advisory Group, 13 October 2015

Is the statement by the German government about the data from GISAID being publicly-accessible true? See the quote at the top of this blog.

Do I have feel comfortable with the fact that the German government controls the sequences of at least one virus that has already killed millions of people? No. Why? Nazis and Communists.

Some history:

Resources for genetic research had increased considerably since the mid-1920s, with a further boost from 1933 onwards. As a result, more and more scientists framed their research projects in terms of genetics, and claimed that their work could contribute to establishing criteria that differentiated inherited diseases from acquired diseases. The experiments carried out by Josef Mengele in the Auschwitz concentration camp were among the most radical demonstrations of genetic-research interests in these contexts. His investigations addressed questions such as the genetics of specific proteins protecting against infections, or the heredity of eye colour. Mengele correlated experimental data gained from examination of living people (especially twins), with pathoanatomical and biochemical analyses done after they had been killed. Tissue samples were sent to the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Anthropology, Human Genetics, and Eugenics in Berlin. Its director, Otmar von Verschuer, received funding for some of these activities from the prestigious Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Verschuer was an internationally recognised scientist, who, after World War II, was appointed professor of human genetics at the University of Münster. These details confirm that parts of Mengele’s research questions and methods conformed to the scientific logic of its time. However, in a context of unlimited access to unconsenting people who were defined as “biologically inferior”, the research programme was accompanied by complete disregard for the victims, and many cruelties ensued.

Prof Volker Roelcke. Nazi medicine and research on human beings. The Lancet. 2004

I know. You will say this is ancient history. The Germans are different now. They are democratic, liberal even. They would never go back to autocratic practices. The current Chancellors of Germany are nothing like Hitler.

Some more history;

The German-Soviet Pact was signed in August 1939. It paved the way for the joint invasion and occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union that September. The pact was an agreement of convenience between the two bitter ideological enemies. It permitted Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union to carve up spheres of influence in eastern Europe, while pledging not to attack each other for 10 years. Less than two years later, however, Hitler launched an invasion of the Soviet Union.

Holocaust Encylopedia.

Gerhard Schröder was Chancellor of Germany from 1998 – 2005.

Among his more controversial cases, Schröder helped Horst Mahler, a founding member of the Baader-Meinhof terrorist group, to secure both an early release from prison and permission to practice law again in Germany.

Wikipedia

Bader-Meinhof was also known as the Red Army Faction. They were a German Communist Terrorist group that killed and maimed innocent people.

Angela Merkel was Chancellor of Germany from 2005 – 2021. She was born in West Germany but her father moved her family to East Germany when she was small.

In 1968, Merkel joined the Free German Youth (FDJ), the official communist youth movement sponsored by the ruling Marxist–Leninist Socialist Unity Party of Germany.

Wikipedia

Olaf Scholz is the current Chancellor of Germany.

Scholz joined the SPD in 1975 as a student, where he got involved with the Jusos, the youth organization of the SPD. From 1982 to 1988, he was Deputy Federal Juso Chairman, and from 1987 to 1989 also Vice President of the International Union of Socialist Youth. He supported the Freudenberger Kreis, the Marxist wing of the Juso university groups, promoting “overcoming the capitalist economy” in articles.[9] In it, Scholz criticized the “aggressive-imperialist NATO”, the Federal Republic as the “European stronghold of big business” and the social-liberal coalition, which puts the “bare maintenance of power above any form of substantive dispute”.[10] On 4 January 1984, Scholz and other Juso leaders met in the GDR with Egon Krenz, the secretary of the Central Committee of the SED and member of the Politburo of the SED-Central Committee, Herbert Häber. In 1987, Scholz crossed the inner-German border again and stood up for disarmament agreements as Juso-Vice at an FDJ peace rally in Wittenberg.[11]

Wikipedia

OK, you say. So, German Chancellors seem to have had “affinities” for Communism when they were young. But, hey, we were all young once. It’s not like these Chancellors had any affinity for totalitarian goverments now, right? Uh…

In 2005, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s friend Schroeder hastily signed the deal just as he was departing the office from which he had been voted out days earlier. Within weeks, he started to oversee the project implementation himself, leading the Nord Stream AG’s shareholder committee.

Schroeder went on to become a board member of several consortia in which Russian government-controlled energy company Gazprom is at least the majority shareholder. Most recently, he became chairman of Rosneft, which is Russia’s largest oil company and controlled by the Kremlin.

Rick Noack, The Washington Post, July 11, 2018

OK. Well, that’s one German Chancellor wholly owned by Russia.

But what about Angela Merkel? Surely she regrets her country’s dealings with Russia? Uh…

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday she had no regrets about the course her government took with its energy policy and Russia during her time in power, which critics say left Europe’s biggest economy too dependent on Russian gas.

Reuters, October 13, 2022

Well at least she was tough on China, right? I mean, the Nazis had concentration camps. China has concentration camps. This would make her especially sensitive to evil being done by Xi Jinping. Uh…

Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel has joined former Cuban leader Fidel Castro and ex-U.S. President Richard Nixon in the hallowed élite of foreign leaders to be designated “old friend” by China’s communist rulers.

She received the rarely awarded title from Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday.

“Chinese people put great emphasis on ties of friendship, we will never forget old friends, and China’s door will always be open to you,” Xi told Merkel in a video call, state media CCTV reported. “I hope you will continue to care about and support China’s relationship with Germany and with the EU.”

Stuart Lau, Politico, October 13, 2021

Well, once Putin showed his hand in Ukraine, surely Olaf Scholz would immediately spring to Ukraine’s aid. Right? Uh…

Germany has provoked outrage in some quarters after it offered to supply 5,000 military helmets to Ukraine to help it defend itself against a possible Russian invasion.

About 100,000 Russian troops are believed to be on the border with Ukraine. While countries like the U.S. and U.K. have sent military hardware to Ukraine, Germany has been conspicuously reluctant to send equipment.

The offer of helmets, made on Wednesday, has been derided by some Ukraine officials. For one, Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, dismissed the offer as “a joke” and said it had left him “speechless.”

Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, January 7, 2022

The German government has since provided more military aid to Ukraine, but only after very heavy prodding by the American government.

Can you understand why I don’t feel entirely comfortable with the fact that the German government controls sequences related to one virus that has already killed millions of people and other viruses that may be able kill billions?

Putin and Xi shouldn’t feel so comfortable, either. Stalin thought he could make a deal with Hitler, too. The only thing that saved him in the end was the US military. Ironic, that.

Gestalt #146 – Living Well is the Best Revenge

Every once in a while, I read that Anthony Fauci has received death threats. The people who make these threats are both cowards and fools. They are cowards because anyone who threatens an 82 year old and his family with physical violence is, by definition, a coward. They are fools because every time they threaten him it makes harder to criticize him. He can say: “Anyone who criticizes me is creating an atmosphere of hate which leads to these threats”. Thus, the morons who threaten Fauci make it harder to bring his faults to light, supposedly the opposite of what they intend. And really, the problem is not Fauci or Collins or the people who control the media, personally. The problem is the system that promotes medocrities to positions of power. If these particular individuals leave, they will simply be replaced with people just like them. The solution is to disconnect from the system.

The wealthy in this country have had enormous advantages over the rest of us. That’s why we see so many important postions occupied by Nepo babies and Money babies. But you know what? Knowledge and technology have the potential to even the odds of success. We can learn what the wealthy know and spread that knowledge. We can apply relatively cheap technology to improve our own power. We can live better than they do, if only we know what to do and are willing to make the effort.

Education is the answer. Education is freedom. Education is power.

Gestalt #145 – Who to Trust?

I recently read an extremely disappointing article entitled: “Rogue Faculty and Academic Freedom in the Age of Misinformation” by Eric J. Topol, MD; Abraham Verghese, MD; Robert A. Harrington, MD March 15, 2023. As I’ve written before, I agree with the authors of this article on most issues related to the pandemic: N95s work, vaccines work, avoid crowds, long covid is real, etc. I also agree with them that a few academics routinely appear on Fox News and other venues and spew dangerous misinformation. However, I do not agree with the authors’ apparent interest in censorship and perhaps outright punishment of academics who do not go along with the Party line. First, I have a strong belief in both the First Amendment and Academic Freedom. Selective application of these principles to only people you agree with is the same as rejecting them outright. Second, public health officials and famous scientists have shown that they cannot be trusted. Some examples:

“When polls said only about half of all Americans would take a vaccine, I was saying herd immunity would take 70 to 75 percent,” Dr. Fauci said. “Then, when newer surveys said 60 percent or more would take it, I thought, ‘I can nudge this up a bit,’ so I went to 80, 85.”

New York Times, December 25, 2020

Here, Dr. Fauci is admitting to deliberately lying to the American public. Usually, however, Dr. Fauci doesn’t tell such clear cut lies. More often, he is deliberately deceptive. For example, here is my transcription of a snippet of an interview Dr. Fauci recently gave to Jim Acosta at CNN related to the lab leak hypothesis:

Acosta:
But are there any accounts of that occurring where one might say that OK there we go perhaps this is it. Perhaps this is what happened.

Fauci:
No. In fact, there are no lab leaks that have led to pandemics.

CNN, Jim Acosta, March 2023

Here, Dr. Fauci is telling at least what could be the literal truth, but is not being honest. There have in fact been several lab leaks of viruses that have caused pandemics. It’s just that the pandemic started before the reported lab leaks. Given that pandemic viruses have leaked from Chinese labs in the past, but were reported to have occurred after the pandemic started, it’s really not too much of a stretch to suggest that the leak of virus from a Chinese lab may have caused a pandemic. Dr. Fauci also commits errors of omission by failing to note the many lines of evidence suggesting that laboratory procedures in the Wuhan Institute were sloppy and that they handled exactly the same type of rare virus as was found to have caused an outbreak a few miles away. Does this inspire trust?

One very important fact that is rarely, if ever, mentioned is the enormous power Drs. Fauci and Collins have had on scientists who might otherwise speak up about what goes on in Chinese laboratories. These two men have had absolute power over the US biomedical establishment. Few would risk their wrath. They both have reputations for vindictiveness and evasion of personal blame which no scientist dares mention, out loud. This is a toxic environment.

I have mostly given American examples of untrustworthy behavior at the highest levels. Here is one from Canada:

The RCMP says it’s still investigating two scientists ejected from Canada’s top infectious disease lab almost four years ago, sparking debate about whether the force is up to the task — or the government is committed to seeing through the potentially embarrassing case.

[snip]

Given the links between China and the two researchers and growing concern about Chinese interference in Canadian affairs, the case is an important one, argued Christian Leuprecht, a leading national security authority with the Royal Military College.

[snip]

But not only does the RCMP have limited ability to carry out sophisticated national security investigations, the Liberal government seems reluctant to make public China’s meddling in Canada, charged Leuprecht.

“I’d say there is no political will to have a serious investigation here,” he said. “I don’t have confidence that when it comes to sensitive investigations involving China that could possibly drag in the political elite in this country, the government really has an interest in getting these types of investigations over the line.”

Calgary Herald, Tom Blackwell, March 8, 2023

The two scientists in question are Xiangguo Qiu and Keding Cheng. They had close ties to the Wuhan Institute of Virology and sent dangerous viruses from Canada’s top virological institute, the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg to the Wuhan institute. The government of Canada has been accused of slow walking the investigation because the current government received substantial financial inducements from China. Does this inspire trust?

Are establishment scientists, the opposite of presumed “rogue” scientists, of the highest possible ethical caliber? In fact, many are not. Some accepted money directly from a known child rapist (Jeffery Epstein) and many indirectly accepted money through Mr. Epstein’s close associate, John Brockman. Mr. Epstein frequently attended meetings at Edge and elsewhere where he associated closely with famous scientists who knew exactly what he was doing. You can find a list of scientists who participated in a group called “Edge”, which was largely funded by Mr. Epstein here. Many of the scientists used Mr. Brockman as their literary agent, despite knowing of his close relationship with Mr. Epstein. To this day, most of the establishment scientists on the Edge list have not renounced their association with Mr. Brockman. Does this inspire trust?

We are often presented with two choices: trust what the political, public health and scientific establishment say or join up with Alex Jones, QAnon and various KrazyKonspiracy groups. I submit that these are not our only choices. Blind trust in either group will lead to disaster, in my opinion. Indeed, blind trust in anyone, even someone well-intentioned (like me!) is a bad idea. We are a free people. We are responsible for our own actions. If we choose not to take a vaccine or wear an N95, we will face the consequences. If we fail to see the threat from China and believe the soothers who say to question Xi Jinping’s motives is the same as being a racist, we will face the consequences.

Knowledge is power. This, I truly believe. The more we know and the more we analyze information for ourselves, the safer we will be.

References:
SARS escaped Beijing lab twice. The Scientist. Robert Walgate. Apr 25, 2004
https://www.the-scientist.com/news-analysis/sars-escaped-beijing-lab-twice-50137

‘Wake-up call for Canada’: Security experts say case of 2 fired scientists could point to espionage. CBC, June 10, 2021.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/wake-call-canada-security-experts-080000994.html

How Jeffrey Epstein Bought His Way Into An Exclusive Intellectual Boys Club
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/peteraldhous/jeffrey-epstein-john-brockman-edge-foundation

Jeffrey Epstein’s Intellectual Enabler
https://newrepublic.com/article/154826/jeffrey-epsteins-intellectual-enabler

Private jets, parties and eugenics: Jeffrey Epstein’s bizarre world of scientists
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/18/private-jets-parties-and-eugenics-jeffrey-epsteins-bizarre-world-of-scientists


Gestalt #144 – Positive Defense

I will start with one basic assumption:
You want to be alive as long as you can be reasonably healthy and enjoy life.

For many Americans in the latter half of the 20th Century and the early part of the 21st Century, this didn’t seem to be too difficult to achieve, at least until aging caught up with you. This is no longer true.

We are now living in a time of unparalleled threats to our lives and health. However, we aren’t told this by the people we used to trust. Indeed, some of them seem to want us dead or at least psychologically crippled.

A brief recap of the threats we face:

  1. An environment filled with chemicals known to disrupt normal endocrine and brain development.
  2. An educational system designed not only to keep us ignorant, but to teach us habits of thought that will lead us to poverty and poor health.
  3. A media environment designed to induce depression if not outright suicide and provide a completely false narrative regarding the nature of the world we live in.
  4. A health care system that provides amazing quality of care for the wealthy and largely ignores everyone else unless they somehow manage to find out how to access it properly.
  5. A predatory financial environment that seeks to extract every dollar from those who are least able to defend themselves, especially the elderly.
  6. An incompetent government no longer aligned with the interests of the majority of the public.
  7. Emergent killer viruses that may or may not have come from nature.
  8. Possession and proliferation of nuclear weapons to countries run by ignorant thugs.
  9. Advances in biological and computer technology that will give unimagined power to the few who know how to use them.

In my long participation as a prepper/blogger, I always used to say, running from threats to a isolated cabin in the woods is not the answer. If you consider the totality of the threats facing us, I still say this is the case. A negative defense, that is, simply trying to flee trouble won’t work, in my opinion. What is needed is a positive defense.

They say that the best defense is a strong offense. This isn’t true if your opponent has much greater resources than you do. And unfortunately, that is our situation. The people who mean us ill have enormous wealth and control the media. In a head on fight with them, we will loose.

I believe that the best solution is not to fight them, but to strengthen ourselves. Here’s how:

Control your environment. Think about everything you buy and how it is packaged. Chemicals like BPA and phthalates have profound effects on the human body, especially pregnant women and children. Grow as much of your own food as you can. Avoid plastics and get food in glass whenever possible. Have your water analyzed by a professional to check to see if there are any toxic chemicals in it. Don’t take your local government’s assurances at face value.

Homeschool children and grandchildren, if possible. If not, find a charter or private school that aligns with your values AND provides an excellent education that includes mathematics and science. An ignorance of these two subjects will doom children to becoming second class citizens, at best. Don’t hesitate to spend on tutors or other educational expenses. It is far more important to spend on this than fancy clothes or media purchases. Get kids tested to determine their general intelligence and aptitudes. Don’t push kids further than they can go academically. Also, don’t stint on education for those who can benefit. Know your kid or grandkid and help them to achieve the best outcome for them.

Don’t watch recent Hollywood movies. Don’t stream movies, even older ones. I’ve recently learned that movies are being altered for streaming audiences and not in a good way. That movie you remember from its theatrical release with one ending may have a different one in the streaming environment. For your movie entertainment needs, buy used DVDs of older movies. Don’t go to the websites of major news organizations. They have an agenda that is not aligned with your best interests. Try to use search engines to find stories on what is important to you. However, even this is becoming difficult as Google is now trying to control the information you receive by putting its thumb on the scale. Limit your time on social media. Read books, especially older ones. There is a whole world of information that you can no longer get any other way.

Eat real food that you cook yourself and exercise. If you are young and fit, model your exercise program on military programs (Marines etc.). Middle-aged people can get exercise simply by doing chores themselves like shoveling snow or mowing their grass. Older folks can go for walks or swim. Get regular physical exams from a physician you trust. Get recommended screenings and vaccines. Monitor your health with wearables. Your goal should be to prevent getting sick as much as is possible.

Learn basic accounting. Get any financial promises in writing. Read the small print. Don’t hesitate to contact the Attorney General’s office in your State if you think you are being ripped off. Don’t spend more than 10% of your income on luxuries (entertainment, travel, etc.). Don’t go into debt if you can help it. Watch out for elderly relatives who will likely be experiencing cognitive decline. There are large numbers of predators trying to scam them, without mercy. The government is doing nothing to stop this. As you get older, expect to experience the same cognitive decline and predatory attack. Transfer your wealth to others before this happens. Make a Will for finances and how you want your health care needs to be taken care of when you face the end of life.

Learn who your representatives are and how they vote on important issues. Also, assess their competence. Go to townhall meetings and ask them questions. Don’t just vote for someone because they align with you on one or two issues. Vote based on their competence as well. I have voted for people of both political parties and voted for people who I disagreed with on certain issues. Don’t let yourselves be manipulated by the “pundits” on radio and TV. They do not have your best interests at heart.

N95s will be necessary in crowded indoor venues for the foreseeable future. Make sure you have plenty. Get the facts on Long Covid from the scientific literature, not the media and not the government (no longer a reliable source of information). Go to PubMed (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) and search for “covid” or “long covid”. There are currently over 23,000 scientific studies related to the latter. Are the authors of these papers all in on the conspiracy to support lazy people who don’t want to work? Please. Long Covid is real. Avoid it.

Don’t live in a big city, especially one that is likely to be a target in a nuclear war. If possible, live in a rural area that is relatively free of drugs and crime. Ideally, you won’t be too far from decent medical care. Know your neighbors and think about what you would do if there was a nuclear war and all major services collapsed.

Learn as much biology and computer science as you can. I realize not everyone will be able to go very far in this direction, but do what you can. If you have younger relatives or friends who can handle this material, encourage them to learn as much as possible. There are a lot of inexpensive resources available to help them get started. Getting more knowledge in these areas is one of the few really good reasons to get a College education.

Basically, what I am advocating here is to be aware of the threats arrayed against us and to strengthen and improve ourselves to resist them. In future blogs, I will provide more details.