Censorship of the Public

For John, BLUF:  Information wants to be free and those who make decisions in our stead are messing with that internet meme.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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YouTube censors epidemiologist Knut Wittkowski for opposing lockdown

From The New York Post, by Jon Levine, 16 May 2020.

Here is the lede plus three:

Big Tech companies are aggressively tamping down on COVID-19 “misinformation” — opinions and ideas contrary to official pronouncements.

Dr. Knut M. Wittkowski, former head of biostatistics, epidemiology and research design at Rockefeller University, says YouTube removed a video of him talking about the virus that had racked up more than 1.3 million views.

Wittkowski, 65, is a ferocious critic of the nation’s current steps to fight the coronavirus.  He has derided social distancing, saying it only prolongs the virus’ existence, and has attacked the current lockdown as mostly unnecessary.

Wittkowski, who holds two doctorates in computer science and medical biometry, believes the coronavirus should be allowed to create “herd immunity,” and that short of a vaccine, the pandemic will only end after it has sufficiently spread through the population.

No, this doesn't seem to be a First Amendment violation, unless the government is "back dooring" us, but it still goes against the old internet saw that "information wants to be free."  It is an insult to free men and women everywhere to muzzle people because their views differ from yours.

If we can't trust YouTube on this, how can we trust them on anything, including a video on how to swap out your car battery?

Regards  —  Cliff

Overreacting to Winnie the Flu

For John, BLUF:  Somewhere Doctor Fauci said that if it feels like you are overreacting, you are probably where you need to be.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Seattle’s Army-built field hospital is coming down without treating a single patient

From The Anchorage Daily News, by Reporter Joseph O'Sullivan (of The Seattle Times), 9 April 2020.

Here is the lede plus one:

Even as some questions remain about the extent of the outbreak in Washington state, Gov. Jay Inslee Wednesday announced he would return to the federal government the field hospital recently assembled in Seattle’s CenturyLink Field Event Center to help the health care system cope with the new coronavirus.

With the USNS Comfort still stationed in New York, and the USNS Mercy in Los Angeles, Inslee's decision could mark the first return of hospital beds to the federal government during the pandemic from anywhere in the nation.

The media meme was that the President wasn't reacting quickly enough, not doing enough.  And now it looks like the President overreacted.  Not only do we have this news flash.  Midweek Politico reported, the military hospital at the Javits Center and USNS Comfort, with a combined capacity of 2,500 beds, has 66 patients at the Javits Center and 44 patients aboard Comfort.

I don't actually think the President overreacted.  He did what made sense at the time, informed by the concerns of the various State Governors.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Memes of Russiagate

For John, BLUF:  Maybe they aren't really memes, but they do convey the flip side from the news, and the Democrats, although I risk repeating myself.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Sometimes Memes Explain Russiagate Better Than Words

From The Lid Blog, by Writers Onan Coca And Jeff Dunetz, 22 Jul 2018.

Here is the lede:

As the media continues to deliver their steady stream of over-the-top insanity about Russiagate, the Internet has developed a few memes to help us understand what is really going on in the world today.

It is to a large extent visual, so I will leave it to you to click and then scroll through the images.

However, one shows the picture of ground targets being blow up and says this:

Feb. 2018 USAF Syrian Bombing Mission
Killed 200 Russians Troops.

Dems say Trump's Too Soft on Russia.
How Many Killed Will Make Them Happy?

I like that question.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Current Hot Meme

For John, BLUF:  I think Mr Donald Trump needs a more challenging job.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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A meme making the rounds today:

Veep Mike Pence, talking with President Donald Trump:

I bet you can’t make the Democrats defend MS-13 and Hamas in the same week.

Hold my Diet Coke.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Chicken Rampant

For John, BLUF:  One advantage Trump followers have is a sense of humor.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Trump Fans Gleefully Appropriate Trump Chicken for Meme Magic

A photo essay by Reporter Charlie Spiering on 11 August 2017, in the dreaded Breitbart.

After liberal protesters set up a 30-foot inflatable chicken outside the White House, President Trump’s supporters joyfully appropriated the image for their memes.

On Reddit, Trump fans rendered the chicken into meme-worthy images, setting free a torrent of pro-Trump chicken memes.

And here is an example from the collection:

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Changing Perspectives

For John, BLUF:  It is past time to drop the "Russian hacking meme".  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Friday Editorial Cartoon

So, it is a darkened alleyway and person in a trench coat, with a head a lot like a donkey, is talking to a person in a trench coats and a hat pulled low.

The balloon from the donkey character is saying:

We need you to say that the Chinese hacked the election and only made it look like the Russians did it...

The cartoonist is Mike Shelton.

Hat tip to The [Lowell] Sun.

Regards  —  Cliff

Warren on Race

For John, BLUF:  Anderson Cooper just went way up in my estimation.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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CNN's Cooper clashes with Warren: 'No evidence' Bannon is a white supremacist

From The Hill and Reporter Mark Hensch.

CNN host Anderson Cooper and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) clashed Wednesday over whether one of President-elect Donald Trump’s key appointments is a white supremacist.

Warren ignited the encounter by accusing Stephen Bannon, Trump’s incoming chief strategist and senior counselor, of practicing the racist ideology.

“[Trump’s] got as his strategic adviser someone who’s a white supremacist,” she said of Bannon, the former chairman of Breitbart News, on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360.”

“Wait a minute, there’s no evidence he’s a white supremacist,” Cooper said, interrupting Warren.  "Obviously, there are people who are white supremacists who support Donald Trump and support Breitbart or Steve Bannon.”

So, if you don't get your way throw a temper tantrum and call people names.  Real high class.

Hat tip to The Drudge Report.

Regards  —  Cliff