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u m my B a llots’ The Board of Elections’ release of incorrect ranked-choice votes is deeply troubling and requires a much more transparent and complete explanation Kathryn Garcia stated

De Blasio calls for ‘complete recanvass’

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the dummy ballots affected the count remains unclear but new tabulations are expected Wednesday. “The Board of Elections’ release of incorrect rankedchoice votes is deeply troubling and requires a much more transparent and complete explanation,” Kathryn Garcia stated, adding that “every ranked-choice and absentee vote must be counted accurately so that all New Yorkers have faith in our democracy and our government.” Adding to the confusion, there are still an estimated 124,000 absentee ballots that have yet to be counted, leaving the tight race far from decided. The 124,000 absentee votes are scheduled to be counted by Tuesday, July 7. State law allows absentee ballots postmarked on the day of

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he New York mayoral race spiraled into chaos on Tuesday, June 29, when 135,000 testrun ballots were inadvertently included in the preliminary total, creating confusion and undermining confidence in the city’s election process. The New York City Board of Elections (BOE) published preliminary results on its website on Tuesday indicating Eric Adams, a retired N.Y. City police officer, had garnered 51.1 percent of the approximately 920,000 votes cast. Adam’s immediately contested the results after the BOE said that they had only tallied around 800,000 in-person votes. “The vote total just released by the Board of Elections is 100,000-plus more than the total announced on election night, raising serious questions,” Adams said in a statement. A BOE spokesperson said on Tuesday that the 135,000 “dummy ballots” had been inadvertently included in Tuesday’s totals, causing the discrepancy. The test ballots had not been cleared from the system after a mandatory test run had been completed. The extent to which

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ing as the city’s 109th mayor. Prior to his twoterm stint as mayor, de Blasio served as a New York City Public Advocate from 2010 to 2013. De Blasio was barred from running for a third term due to term limits.

Ranked-choice voting system

The confusion led Bill de Blasio, New York’s current mayor, to call for a “complete recanvass” of the city’s mayoral results after the BOE retracted their published results on Tuesday. “Yet again, the fundamental structural flaws of the Board of Elections are on display” stated the incumbent mayor in a statement adding, “there must be an immediate, complete recanvass of the BOE’s vote count and a clear explanation of what went wrong. The record number of voters who turned out this election deserve nothing less.” De Blasio, a Democrat, has been mayor of New York since January 1, 2014, serv-

This is the first election that New York has used the ranked-choice voting system, also called “instant runoff voting” which is adding to the confusion. Of the 13 candidates, voters were asked to choose their top five candidates in order. Should one candidate be the first choice of a majority of voters — more than 50 percent — then that person wins the race, just like in a traditional election. However, if nobody garners a majority of votes, ranked choice analysis is used. Ranked choice analysis is done in rounds. In each round, the candidate in last place is eliminated. Votes cast ranking that candidate first are then allocated to those voters’ second choices. That process repeats until there are only two candidates left and the one with the most votes wins.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams speaks to the media on June 24, 2021 in New York City. (Image: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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‘Save America’ Ohio Rally Trump Slams Biden on Border, Foreign Policy, and Election Rigging

By Arvind Datta Vision Times

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n June 26, Donald Trump participated in his first post-presidential rally in Ohio. Thousands of people gathered at the Lorain County Fairgrounds in Wellington to hear the former president talk in the first of his “Save America” rallies. In his one-and-a-half-hour speech, Trump criticized President Biden’s administration on a wide range of issues, from poor border policies to pushing critical race theory. “After just five months, the Biden administration is already a complete and total catastrophe,” Trump said.

Energy and climate

Trump warned that Biden was compromising America’s energy security and that the country would become dependent on the Middle East and Russia for oil. He also slammed Biden’s policy on the Keystone Pipeline. “Biden canceled the American Keystone XL pipeline and its 48,000 jobs for American workers. But he approved the Russian pipeline to Europe… I stopped the pipeline to Europe. I sanctioned them all over the place.” In December 2019, Trump had signed a law that imposed sanctions on any company that helps Russian state-backed Gazprom to complete the Nord Stream 2 undersea pipeline to the European Union nations. Washington saw the pipeline as undermining European energy security. Trump also criticized Biden for pushing the United States back into the Paris climate accord, a move he says will devastate Ohio’s oil and gas industry. “Trillions of dollars of damage is going to be done… He put us immediately back without even negotiating. Just the same horrible deal.”

Border

“Immediately upon taking office Joe Biden deliberately and systematically through his people, because I don’t think he did it, dismantled America’s border defenses and incited a flood of illegal migrants like this country has never seen. They violated our laws from every single corner of the globe. They were invited in, and we can’t do that. We can’t afford it. We can’t have it.” Trump said that illegal border crossings have risen by 976 percent in just a few short months. At the time of leaving office, his administration gave the new government “the most secure Southern border” the country has ever seen. The Trump administration applied several strategies that secured the border. It ended the catch and release program where immigrants who were caught were released into the country; it ended asylum fraud; it built 500 miles of border 212-730-6962

In the 90-minute address at a fair grounds in Ohio, former president Trump made no clear mention of his political future, even when the crowd chanted "four more years! four more years!" (Image: STEPHEN ZENNER/AFP via Getty Images)

wall; it empowered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to do their jobs; it canceled sanctuary cities; and it caught illegal aliens and “threw them hell out of our country.” “Once we got the word out, people didn’t come. It wasn’t really that big a deal, people just didn’t come. Once he came in and he said ‘We want everybody to come in,’ oh, that was a disaster.” Trump accused Biden of surrendering America’s sovereignty and endangering the lives of its people.

Foreign policy

Trump claimed that he had a “great relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping until the coronavirus pandemic. He highlighted the trade deal signed with China which benefited American farmers. Trump also admitted to having a good relationship with North Korean premier Kim Jong-un. He criticized

Biden’s soft approach to the Iran nuclear deal and stated that if he had won, a pro-American Iranian deal would have been done “in one week.” Under Trump, the U.S. wiped out ISIS and executed its founder al-Baghdadi who wanted to rebuild the terrorist organization. The former president also secured $430 billion from NATO as payment for the protection provided by the American military. The Trump administration also recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. “Joe Biden is squandering all of this hard-earned respect that we have, or had. Bowing down to America’s enemies and embarrassing our country on the world stage… Biden and the Democrats are weak on China, weak on Iran, weak on trade, weak on the economy, and weak on everything else except for weaponizing law enforcement to go after Republicans. Right? That’s the only thing they’re strong on.”

Coronavirus

Under the Trump administration, COVID-19 vaccines were developed in less than nine months when many people said that “it would take three years to five years.” Trump pointed out that the media never reported that the vaccine was effective prior to the election. Trump brought up the COVID19 lab leak theory, noting that he had been criticized for suggesting it. But now, the theory is gaining traction. He reminded the audience that Biden had canceled a government investigation into the lab leak theory shortly after taking office. “The media and the Democrats are now admitting that I was right about everything… Now they’re saying, ‘Well, he was right

about these things.’ That’s all right. Big deal. Right? Big deal.”

Critical race theory

Trump warned that the Biden administration is pushing critical race theory into schoolrooms and the military. The theory espouses racial hatred by classifying whites as oppressors and other groups like blacks, Native Americans, and Latinos as the oppressed. The former president said that the military generals and admirals are now “more focused on this nonsense than they are on our enemies… The military brass have become weak and ineffective leaders and our enemies are watching and they’re laughing.” He said that if government-run schools are teaching children to hate their country and are promoting racism, parents must opt out of such schools. He stated that a Republican Congress needs to ban critical race theory.

Political Endorsements

Trump endorsed Republican Mike Carey for an upcoming special primary election on August 3 for Ohio’s 15th Congressional District. He also extended support for marine veteran Max Miller for the 16th Congressional District seat. Miller had served as a White House adviser during the Trump administration. The former president severely criticized Miller’s competitor Republican Anthony Gonzalez who he called a “candidate of Liz Cheney.” “He’s a grandstanding RINO… He’s a sellout. He’s a fake Republican and a disgrace to your state. I will tell you that. He’s not the candidate that you want representing the Republican Party.” RINO, or Republican In Name Only, is a pejorative which is applied to Republicans who “gov-

ern like Democrats.” Trump loyalists typically oppose policies of RINOs. Trump stated that Gonzalez had earlier voted to grant amnesty to illegal aliens, voted to keep American troops in Syria, and voted in support of his impeachment. Gonzalez was censured by the Ohio GOP after his vote for impeaching Trump.

Election

Trump called the 2020 election “the crime of the century.” He accused Democrats of using COVID-19 to help instigate election fraud. He called the mailin ballots “treacherous” and pointed to several irregularities in the election, including ballots being pulled out from under the tables and Republican poll watchers being denied access to counting rooms, for example. The former president lamented that hundreds of poll workers, poll watchers, and witnesses who had submitted affidavits signed under perjury have been silenced. They have not been heard in court because, according to Trump, the judges were “gutless.” “Our Supreme Court, I must say, I am ashamed of our Supreme Court. I’m ashamed. They were not allowed to be seen or be used.” Trump thanked the audience in Ohio for the turnout in what he called “the very first rally of the 2022 election.” He said that the number one priority for Republicans is to “pour every single ounce of energy” into making sure that the GOP gets a “gigantic victory” in the midterms. “My fellow Americans, our movement is far from over. In fact, our fight has only just begun. We are one movement, one people, one family, and one glorious nation under God,” Trump said in his closing statements.

Max Miller arrives at a rally with former President Donald Trump at the Lorain County Fairgrounds on June 26, 2021, in Wellington, Ohio. (Image: STEPHEN ZENNER/AFP via Getty Images)

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Dry cracked earth is visible as water levels are low at Nicasio Reservoir on May 28, 2021 in Nicasio, California. Marin County is under mandatory water-use restrictions that orders residents to refrain from washing cars at home, refilling pools and watering lawns once a week. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 16% of California is in exceptional drought, the most severe level of dryness. (Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

as Massive Drought Persists in Much of the Western US By Todd Crawford Vision Times

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n early-season heat wave has sent temperatures soaring into the triple digits in many parts of the western United States, worsening drought conditions that are threatening to supercharge this year’s wildfire season while compromising the operations of some key infrastructure. According to U.S. Drought Monitor over 52 percent of the continental U.S. is designated as “abnormally dry” while over 27 percent is considered in “severe drought”. More alarmingly, over 26 percent of the continental U.S. is considered to be experiencing either an “extreme” or “exceptional” drought with the most severe effects being experienced in California, Utah, and Nevada with little relief in sight.

Drought in California

While drought is a way of life in California, this year’s conditions are forcing authorities to take drastic action. Lake Oroville, located approximately 120 miles north of Sacramento, helps water a quarter of the nation’s crops, protects endangered salmon and is an anchor for the tourism economy of Northern California. The lake however is evaporating at a surprising speed leading officials to predict that it will reach a record low later this summer. Should Lake Oroville fall below 640 feet — which is predicted to occur this August or September if conditions persist — it would force state officials to shut down a major power plant in the area, for the first time ever, due to low water levels further straining an already stressed electrical grid. Further north, state offi-

(Image: Climate.gov Data: NDMC)

cials reduced the amount of water being sent to 930 farmers, businesses and other junior water-rights holders from Lake Mendocino. Fire restrictions are already in place across the region and many fireworks bans are anticipated prior to the July 4th celebrations.

Utah

Spring rain storms were not enough to satisfy Utah’s reservoir needs this year, inspiring Utah Governor Spencer J Cox to ask for a weekend of prayer. In a video published to YouTube on June 3 Governor Cox stated, “the extremely dry conditions this year bring the potential for deadly fires and the lack of water threatens our crops, our livestock and wildlife, our food supply chains and our way of life.” The dry conditions have also inspired the Governor to sign three executive orders employing water restric-

tions, the most recent being enacted on June 8 restricting water use at state facilities. “All indicators show this could be the worst drought year on record,” Gov. Cox said. “Utah state government is leading the way by cutting back on water use at all state facilities, but all of us — from private businesses to local governments to individuals — need to conserve water now more than ever.”

Marin County is under mandatory water-use restrictions that orders residents to refrain from washing cars at home, refilling pools and watering lawns once a week.

CDC Director Warns Delta COVID-19 Variant Could Dominate US By Steven Li, MD Vision Times

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he U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently classified the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19) virus as a variant of concern, after the World Health Organization (WHO) made the same declaration in May. According to the CDC, the variant, first identified in India, is more transmissible than other strains.

Delta variant

In an interview with CNN, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky stated that the high subscription@visiontimes.com

Some experts believe that the Indian Delta variant will become the dominant COVID-19 strain in the US.

transmissibility of the Delta variant would allow it to become the dominant strain in the United States. “The UK variant was more transmissible. That is now nearly 70% of the virus here… We know that the Delta variant is even more transmissible than the UK variant, and I anticipate that will be the predominant variant in the months ahead,” Walensky stated. At a recent press conference, Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO’s health emergencies program, said that the Delta variant has the potential “to be more lethal.” The strain is more efficient in the way it transmits between human beings and “will eventually

find those vulnerable people who will become severely ill.” According to Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead for Covid, the Delta variant has now spread to 92 countries. In the UK, the Delta variant currently makes up about 60 percent of all new COVID19 infections. In an interview with BBC Radio 4, Professor Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist at the Imperial College London, confirmed the high transmissibility of the Delta variant. “The best estimate at the moment is this variant may be 60 percent more transmissible than the Alpha (Kent) variant… There is some uncertainty around that – depend-

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ing on assumptions and how you analyze the data – between about 30 and maybe even up to 100 percent more transmissible… Sixty percent is a good central estimate at the moment,” Ferguson said. Feigl-Ding said that the efficacy rate of two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against the Delta variant is 88 percent, compared to only 60 percent for AstraZeneca. When only one dose of the vaccine is given, the combined average efficacy rate of both vaccines is just 33 percent.

Delta Plus variant

In India, a Delta Plus variant has emerged. Vinod Scaria, a scientist at the Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biol-

Nevada

While other states around the U.S. have enacted temporary bans in an effort to conserve water, Governor Steve Sisolak of Nevada has outlawed around thirty-one percent of the categories of grass found in the Las Vegas area. The ban targets what authorities are calling “nonfunctional turf.” The nonfunctional turf ban applies to grass that is rarely used like at office parks, along street medians and at entrances of housing developments. The ban excludes single-family homes, parks and golf courses. The ban does not take effect until 2027 and will only apply to the jurisdiction of the Southern Nevada Water Authority which encompassess Las Vegas and its surrounding areas that rely on the Colorado River for 90 percent of its water supply. ogy, told News18 that the variant can render an experimental medicine involving an antibody cocktail of Casirivimab and Imdevimab ineffective. The medicine was approved for emergency use in India. Scaria stated that the new mutation is an attempt by the virus to strengthen its evasion of the body’s immune response. Professor Shahid Jameel said to India Today that the Delta Plus variant may be capable of evading immunity granted by earlier infections and by COVID-19 vaccines. Delta Plus not only carries all the characteristics of the Delta variant, but also has a K417N mutation. The K417N mutation, also present in South Africa’s Beta variant, makes variants more capable of evading vaccines. Jameel added that “as of now, we have no evidence” to suggest that the Delta Plus variant is more transmissible. 212-730-6962

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(Image: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)

Hong Kong Rewards Security Officials With Promotions to Top Positions

(Image: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)

ByNeil Campbell Vision Times

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ong Kong’s city government has promoted two security officials who have led the charge on the Beijingdirected crackdown against democracy, freedom of the press, and dissent following the historic 2019 anti-Chinese Communist Party protests to top seats in the government’s power structure. Former Secretary for Security John Lee was appointed Chief Secretary, making him Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s right hand man, while former Hong Kong Police Commissioner Chris Tang was promoted to take Lee’s former position. Tang was succeeded by former Deputy Commissioner Raymond Siu. The duo were sworn into their new positions on June 25. The appointments are notable in light of Beijing’s announced plans to resurrect the notorious Article 23, three upcoming elections, a swath of anticipated modifications to the election system, and the 25th Anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to CCP control. Lam also has only one year remaining on her current term. The trio of Lam, Lee, and Tang were sanctioned by former U.S. President Donald Trump, along with eight other officials, in August of 2020 after Beijing moved to install its first wave of legislation to transform Hong Kong from a flourishing democracy to Communist Party control, the National Security Law. At the time, Lam made curious comments about her personal wealth in an interview with the Hong Kong International Business Channel as she tried to downplay the impact of U.S. sanctions, “I’m using cash every day. I have piles of cash at home — the government is paying me cash for my salary because I don’t have a bank account.” Lam also told CCP propaganda outlet CGTN the sanctions caused some inconvenience because she was no longer able to use credit

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Hong Kong’s 2019 anti-Chinese Communist Party protests brought at time more than two million citizens to the streets, as seen in this photo. Beijing has installed two Party-loyal security officials in the highest levels of Hong Kong’s government in advance of forcing through the notorious Article 23 from 2003. (Image: Studio Incendo via Flickr CC BY 2.0)

cards. Chinese banks must comply with U.S. sanctions in order to maintain their access to SWIFT and the U.S. dollars required to participate internationally that come with it. Under Hong Kong’s Basic Law, all appointments to top positions in the Hong Kong government have to be approved by the CCP. The Party approved Lam’s new cohorts. According to a South China Morning Post article on June 25 that cited a “government insider,” one of the largest motivations for the changes was to have someone who is hawkishly pro-Beijing oversee a new vetting committee, composed of less than ten members, that will block any candidate deemed “unpatriotic” from participating in the upcoming election cycle. When the National Security Law was enacted in order to crack down on political dissent, Lee was quoted as saying “Hong Kong’s era of chaos” had come to an end and the City had “turned a new page of effective governance. Lee also barred the Hong

Kong Nationa l Party, who campaigned on a platform for independence from the CCP, from participating in city politics. In 2018, Lee was the one who moved to install the notorious Extradition Bill that would have seen the CCP’s political targets in Hong Kong be exported to the mainland to face the communist regime’s kangaroo court system and the forced labor, torture, and rape that goes hand-in-hand with the Party’s enforcement arms. It was the Extradition Bill that served as the spark to start the remarkable 2019 protest movement that at times saw more than 2 million citizens hitting the streets to call for an end to communist rule. It was also under Lee’s command that pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and its owner, Jimmy Lai, were destroyed by the Hong Kong government this month. As the battle to uphold Hong Kong’s democracy and essential freedoms seems more and more lost each day,

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comments by pro-CCP official Alice Mak perhaps aptly sum up the current sentiment in the city, “If it’s a police state, why not? I don’t think there’s any problem with a police state,” Mak barked at reporters who asked if she was concerned about the installation of security officials into Hong Kong’s top political seats. “When we say a police state, I will view the other side, that is the emphasis on security,” she added, according to Radio Free Asia. Mak also told SCMP, “In the past our society has experienced severe threats from violent factions. So I think security is an issue.” A second SCMP article, published on June 27, said Lam’s press conference announcing the promotions was actually superseded by an official announcement from the CCP’s propaganda outlet, Xinhua, a half an hour before it commenced, perhaps alluding to a reality where the trio of Lam, Lee, and Tang are merely figureheads appointed to go with whatever flow is dictated by the Communist Party’s dueling power structures in Beijing and Shanghai. subscription@visiontimes.com

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China Suspected of Censoring Data

to Cover Up Grain, Corn Supply Shortages fully about Communist China’s grain pricing. “Agricultural data in China is very hard to get,” Andrew Whitelaw, an independent market analyst from Thomas Elder Markets, told ABC. “The market information out of China is so blatantly propaganda.” A senior strategist with Market Check, Nick Crundall, believes the Chinese authorities are desperately trying to control reporting on the situation to By Simone Jonker Vision Times

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Corn planted by farmers is washed away by floods after torrential rains hit Yichang city, Hubei province, China, on June 18, 2021. Beijing appears to have shuttered Cofeed for reporting honestly on the country’s grain and corn harvests as the Communist Party fears losing social stability and control over the people. (Image: Costfoto/Barcroft Media

assuage domestic angst about grain supplies and to curb the level of import costs. “They don’t want the whole world to know that they need grain, and they are in a bit of

“China’s gone from importing 6 million tons or less corn and that’s up to 25 million tons. You just don’t import things if you don’t need to…Australia is not going to import kangaroo meat anytime soon because we have got plenty.” With regards to Communist China covering up grain shortages, the lengths it is prepared to go to are simply staggering. As to what the CCP is truly worried about boils down to the Party’s addiction to “stability.” Whitelaw summed this point up when he said, “The price of bread doubles and you have got riots on the streets because food prices are too high.”

Chinese sailors man the decks of the Luda II Class Destroyer, ZHUHAI (DDG 166), with downtown San Diego in the background. This marked the first time Chinese warships crossed the Pacific and visited the Continental United States. (Image: Eric Murata/ U.S. Navy/Public Domain)

By Leo Timm Vision Times

Chinese destroyer modernization

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China’s surface fleet made a substantial improvement with the introduction of the Type 052D and the Type 055 destroyers in 2012 and 2020, respectively. The Type 052D (Luyang III) is colloquially referred to as the “Chinese Aegis” due to its area air defense capabilities being widely compared to the Aegis Combat System equipped on many U.S. and allied vessels. Seventeen of a planned 25 Luyang III ships are operational. The 12,000-ton Type 055 (Renhai) destroyers, first launched in 2014 but only in service with the PLA Navy as of last year, represents the latest in China’s technology, incorporating stealth with expanded radar capability. Three of a planned 16 vessels are complete, and are likely to serve as escorts to PLA Navy aircraft carriers as well as platforms for more advanced weapons systems. Their large size has led the U.S. to classify them as cruisers, comparable in displacement and role to the Ticonderoga class ships. While the PLA Navy is growing in all respects, from numbers and technology to operational experience, it still lags far behind the U.S. and allied navies. Most PLA ships are coastal patrol vessels, compared with the U.S. Navy, which has a preponderance in principal combat ships. The U.S. Navy has 67 ships of the Arleigh Burke class destroyers, compared with fewer than 40 destroyers of all types. The PLA Navy is awaiting its third conventionally powered aircraft carrier, while the U.S. Navy has 60 years of experience operating nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and has more than 10 in service.

he Zhuhai, a Type 051 class destroyer of the Chinese navy, has completed a 10-month journey up the Yangtze River, coming to dock in the southwestern megacity of Chongqing. Decommissioned last year, the Zhuhai was named Lüda (after a Chinese city) in the NATO designation system. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy launched 17 Lüda class ships between 1970 and 1990; Zhuhai and a sister vessel, Zhanjiang, were the fourth generation, Chinese designation Type 051G. Both ships were decommissioned on Dec. 28, 2020. The ships are being converted to museums as part of celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party’s founding in July 1921. Zhuhai is now at the Jianchuan Museum, where it will be known as 166 Ship Exhibition Hall, after its pennant number. The ship opens to the public on July 27. Communist China’s naval forces have seen rapid quantitative and qualitative development since the PLA Navy’s establishment in the 1950s. According to a Pentagon report released last September, the PLA Navy has surpassed America by number of ships in service, deploying more than 350 vessels of all kinds to the 295 currently in service with the U.S. Navy. The Lüda class destroyers are now fully retired from service, being replaced by newer ships, including the Type 052 family (NATO designation Luyang/Luhu) and Type 055 (Renhai). The Type 051 designation still survives with the experimental Type 051B (Luhai) and Type 051C (Luzhou) destroyers.

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Decommissioned Chinese Destroyer Becomes Museum as Beijing Modernizes Fleet

strife, so they very closely regulate the information that is released,” he told ABC. “It creates all sorts of food inflation problems and them having to pay more for imported grain,” Crundall added. “So the Chinese are very strict on going out there telling the world there are no issues.” According to Whitelaw, indications from the communist country depict an agitated situation between authorities and the harvest, along with a concern about demand and supply of grain and corn. “They’ve said they’ve had a record harvest but they’re importing record amounts of corn, they’ve put options for corn from the US and they’re buying Australian wheat,” he said.

via Getty Images)

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he Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has come down heavily on independent experts that publicize honestly about the nation’s suspected recent disastrous crop yields and supply shortages. Latest reports suggest numerous industry officials have been detained and their online businesses closed. According to The Cattle Site, corn prices are continuing to rise in the mainland, and during the 2020-2021 growing season, China is likely to face its first corn shortage in years. The shortfall is expected to be as much as 30 million tonnes, or around 10 percent of the country’s total crop. In another report published by Reuters on May 12, Chinese agricultural data provider and industry leader Cofeed unexpectedly suspended services, leaving the world’s biggest soybean buyers without an honest source of Chinese data. Reports state that analysts working in Beijing at the company have evidently disappeared or are under house arrest for reporting honestly on China’s grain and corn supply and pricing, according to ABC Australia. At another Shanghaibased company called JCI, an employee was evidently arrested for reporting truth-

The only way to find out is to have someone on the ground who you know is genuinely trustworthy.

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COVID-19 Outbreak in Israel Fully Vaccinated Individuals Make Up 50% of Infected Adults By Steven Li, MD Vision Times

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he latest wave of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19) infections in Israel has raised concerns, given that the nation is one of the most vaccinated countries in the world. The new wave of infections is believed to be driven by the Delta variant that first emerged in India, accounting for roughly 90 percent of cases. Around 55 percent of the country’s 9.3 million people have been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The breakthrough cases, or infections in fully vaccinated people, account for around 40 to 50 percent of new COVID-19 cases, Prof. Chezy Levy, the Director-General of the Health Ministry, said in an inter-

view with local radio. Prof. Levy added that the figure is concerning. “Even though the numbers are low, the fact that this is reaching vaccinated people means… that we are still checking how many vaccinated people have also been infected,” Levy said. On June 15th, the government lifted a face mask mandate in enclosed public spaces. However, according to new guidelines issued by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, face masks could once again be mandated in enclosed spaces if an average of 100 or more new cases are diagnosed daily for a week. The Health Ministry’s advice is for people to start wearing masks again. In his meeting with a panel of health experts, Bennett said that the new wave of infections will be treated as a

fresh outbreak. In a recent media presentation, Dr. Sharon AlrayPrice, head of Public Health Services, revealed that of the 891 coronavirus cases confirmed in Israel during May, almost half had received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. A Channel 12 report showed that 6,765 fully vaccinated people had contracted the coronavirus, and based on epidemiological tracing, another 3,133 had contracted the virus from the vaccinated people. Back in January, the Israel Defense Force’s (IDF) Military Intelligence Directorate published a report warning that vaccines could trigger viral mutations. The government has decided to postpone the date tourists are allowed to enter from July 1 to August 1. Fines could be levied

against individuals who travel to countries on the government’s COVID-19 blacklist, including South Africa, Russia, India, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. Health officials have been empowered to quarantine anyone who has been exposed to the Delta variant, regardless of if they have been vaccinated or recovered from an earlier infection. The number of daily new confirmed COVID-19 cases per million was 16.85 as of June 27, which is 6.5 times more than the rate of 2.59 recorded a month earlier, on May 27. As of June 28, Israel has reported 840,995 cases of infections and 6,429 deaths.

US situation, WHO warning

According to a report by the U.S. Centers for Dis-

ease Control and Prevention (CDC), a total of 10,262 breakthrough cases were reported in America as of April 30. The agency stopped counting breakthrough cases afterwards, opting to only track the number of hospitalizations and deaths among vaccinated individuals. In Massachusetts, 3,791 breakthrough cases were reported in fully vaccinated individuals as of June 12. At a recent news briefing at the World Health Organization (WHO) Geneva headquarters, assistant director-general for access to medicines and health products, Dr. Mariangela Simao, stated that people cannot feel safe just because they have been jabbed, and they still need to protect themselves. “Vaccine alone won’t stop community transmission,” Simao stated.

Canadian Man Arrested for Sneezing During Air Canada Flight By Neil Campbell Vision Times A Canadian man says he was arrested and criminally charged by Toronto Police after returning from vacation in Mexico for sneezing during an Air Canada flight. In August of 2020, Vadim Ilyinsky was on his way home from Mexico on an Air Canada flight. According to Ilyinsky, the elastic string on his mask broke during the journey. While he was working on retying it, another passenger complained to flight attendants that a fellow passenger wasn’t wearing a mask. When airline staff approached Ilyinsky and he was explaining the situation, he felt like he was going to sneeze suddenly, and did, directly on the flight attendant’s skirt. Ilyinsky maintains he warned the hostess as much as he could in the limited time he had, apologizing profusely afterwards. Nonetheless, 212-730-6962

when the flight landed at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, Toronto Peel Regional Police were waiting for him. Ilyinsky was charged with “Mischief – Interfering with Lawful Use, Enjoyment, or Operation of Property,” punishable by a $5,000 fine. In court documents obtained by Canadian independent media outlet Rebel News, the attendant claimed in her police report that Ilyinsky “suddenly and very deliberately leaned forward and emitted a very loud sneeze,” which naturally led to “saliva and possible nasal fluids” landing on her uniform. In an interview with Rebel, Ilyinsky said he often suffers from sneezing bouts due to a sinus operation he had as a child, which results in his sinuses being weakened. He says during the flight he already suffered one sneezing attack, which he ran to the lavatory to deal with in private, as he understood that passengers and staff were paranoid about COVID-19 due to the hyste-

Vadim Ilyinsky (Image: Rebel News via Rumble Screenshot)

ria and fear surrounding the pandemic. Some time after returning to his seat, Ilyinsky’s mask broke and he was approached by airline staff because he was trying to fix it, as he did not have a spare. Police documents shown in the interview reveal the official file on the case says, “Complainants had an issue with the accused…over the wearing of a mask due to the COVID19 pandemic. The accused was told

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numerous times to wear his mask, at which point, he refused.” “He simply ignored and pretended to sneeze several times in defiance,” says the report. Ilyinsky gave his side of the story, “The crew member come to me and ask me ‘Do you have a problem with the mask?’ And yeah, like, I do, and we started the conversation and then I feel that I need to sneeze again, and I started to say ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sneezing.

I’m sorry, I’m sorry I’m sneezing!’ And I sneezed.” Ilyinsky said the sneeze was completely involuntary and he could not control it because of a medical issue, “Sometimes I have that sneezing attacks from time to time for all my life. And the reason for it is because when I was a child I have an operation on the sinuses and my sinuses is not very healthy.” When Ilyinsky was arrested after landing he said, “Honestly, I feel very shocked. Like you know, my blood just come out of my… I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what to do.” Ilyinsky said he has to appear at a pre-trial conference in early July as the first stage of his prosecution and is looking for a lawyer, a task which has proven difficult, “It’s not easy to find lawyer who on your side. Because people today kind of divided. And even if lawyer represent you he might personally be kind of against you because…it’s a very strange time.” subscription@visiontimes.com

TOPIC

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JULY 2 - JULY 8 , 2021 |

A7 AdobeStocks

By Leo Timm Vision Times

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any Americans are familiar with the first few lines of “The Star-Spangled Banner” — “O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light/What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming” — and possibly also with the difficulty of singing it due to the broad range required of the song. But common knowledge of our national anthem may not go much further than that. While m a ny m ay assume that the lyric depicts the Revolutionary War that allowed the original Thirteen Colonies to break away from British rule, it neither refers to the struggle for independence, and neither was it even officially America’s anthem until less than a century ago. “The Star-Spangled

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Banner” was originally written by Maryland district attorney Francis Scott Key during the British blockade of Chesapeake Bay in the War of 1812, over 40 years after the colonies declared independence from Britain on July 4, 1776. The war, started by the U.S. in an attempt to take then-British Canada and end an array of predatory economic and diplomatic behavior by the British Empire, had gone badly. The British fleet of 500 ships more than dwarfed the U.S. Navy, which had just 17 vessels at the beginning of the conflict.

The siege of Fort McHenry

On Aug. 24, 1814, the British attacked Washington City, as the capital was known at the time. The White House was looted and burned. The British managed to hold Washington for 26 hours. Only a hurricane and subsequent storm evicted the invaders and put out the fire. At the beginning of September, the 35-yearold Key boarded a Brit-

ish ship to negotiate the release of an imprisoned friend. A British officer granted his request, but also informed them that the fleet anchored in the bay was about to inflict a serious defeat by taking Fort McHenry, located on the outskirts of Baltimore. The fort occupied a crucial point in Baltimore’s defense, making it a natural target for the British. After contemplating a land assault with their roughly 5,000 men available, British commander, Col. Arthur Brooke, opted to bombard Fort McHenry instead of trying to attack the fortification directly. Because Key had learned of the British plan, he and his companions were detained on the ship they had boarded. From this vantage point, Key witnessed the bombardment of the fort through the night of Sept. 13 and Sept. 14. Nearly 20 British vessels took part in the siege, firing more than 1,500 cannonballs at Fort McHenry. These, fired from the rocket ship HMS Erebus, would inspire the “rockets red glare” Key wrote into the lyrics.

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Holding the line

Aside from rainy wFort McHenry was able to withstand the siege because of robust architectural preparations made prior to the Battle of Baltimore. The Americans had scuttled 22 ships in the bay to impede the movement of the British fleet, and the installation of cannons at the fort meant that the British could only fire their own guns and rockets at the longest possible range, diminishing their accuracy. Maj. George Armistead , com mander of the fort, had also ordered the weaving of a large American flag, which would be flown from the ramparts. “We have no suitable ensign to display over the Star Fort, and it is my desire to have a flag so large that the British will have no difficulty in seeing it from a distance," he told a superior officer. The flag measured 40 feet by 34 feet, and was emblazoned with 15 red stars and 15 stripes representing the original colonies and the two states that had been admitted to the Union since the end of the Revolutionary War. Another flag, 25 feet in length, was created as a storm flag, which ended up being the one flown through the night of the bombardment. Watching the battle from the bay, Key was convinced of a coming British victory. To his surprise, when morning came the troops

manning Fort McHenry had managed to keep the U.S. flag flying. The British had run out of ammunition and had to call off the attack. Still held on the British ship, Key took out a letter and penned a poem on its back to capture the event. A relative serving in the U.S. forces titled the poem “Defence of Fort M’Henry.” It was printed in the Baltimore Patriot, where the publication informed readers it was meant to be sung to the tune of a popular English drinking song.

Becoming the anthem

Weeks later and after the British fleet had withdrawn, the lyrics had gained broader renown, and was now known by its current name, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Four Americans died in the defense of Fort McHenry, including a black soldier and a woman carrying supplies to the fort. One British cannonball penetrated the fort and threatened its magazine, but failed to detonate. Throughout the 19th centur y, the song gained in popularity; however, it was not officially made the national anthem until the passage of a federal law in 1931. “The Star-Spangled Banner” has a total of four stanzas, though only the first is typically sung. The second stanza describes the appearance of the flag as it becomes visible in the morning light; the third depicts the hopelessness of the British assault; and the fourth confirms the U.S. victory, foreshadowing “In God we trust” (added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1956) with its line “And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.’”

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SCIENCE

A8 | JULY 2 - JULY 8 , 2021

NIH Study:

Increased Suicide Risk

Among Regular Marijuana Users By Prakash Gogoi Vision Times

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new study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) claims that the use of marijuana increases the risk of suicide among its users. The study, published on June 22 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), was conducted by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the NIH. The authors studied the impact of cannabis and cannabis use disorder (CUD) on suicidality among young adults with or with-

out depression and by sex. Data was analyzed from 281,650 adults in the 18 to 24 age group who had participated in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Data collection occurred over a 10-year period, from Jan. 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2019. Suicide planning among men with depression who used marijuana on a daily basis rose from 14.9 to 21.9 percent during the time period. For men who used marijuana on a non-daily basis, suicide planning rose from 10.3 to 17 percent. For women, suicide planning rose from 14.5 to 26.8 percent among those who used

marijuana daily, and from 12 percent to 17.5 percent for non-daily users. When looking at past-year suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt in both sexes, there was a 52 percent higher prevalence observed among women (23.7 percent) than men (15.6 percent). In individuals without any major depressive episodes, suicidal ideation among those with versus without cannabis use disorder (CUD) was 13.9 percent versus 3.5 percent among women. In men, the numbers were 9.9 percent versus 3 percent. “The results of this survey study indicate that CUD, daily cannabis use, and

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even nondaily cannabis use are associated with the risks of suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt in both young adult men and women, but significantly more so in women than men,” the study stated. According to data from the NIH, the number of cannabis users in America doubled from 22.6 million to 45 million between 2008 and 2019. The number of near-daily or daily users of cannabis almost tripled from 3.6 million to 9.8 million. During this period, the number of adults reporting depression or suicidal ideation also rose. Dr. Beth Han, lead author of the study, stated that the research could offer important information on how to reduce suicide risk among young adults in the United States. “Depression and cannabis use disorder are treatable conditions, and cannabis use can be modified. Through better understanding the associations of different risk factors for suicidality, we hope to offer new targets for prevention and intervention in individuals that we know may be at high risk. These findings also underscore the importance of tailoring interventions in a way that take sex and gender into account,” Han said in a statement.

Legalizing cannabis In an interview with Politico in April, Senate Majority Leader Democrat Chuck Schumer stated that he and other Democrats in the Senate are planning to take aggressive actions to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana even if President Joe Biden is not particularly supportive. Biden did not endorse legalizing marijuana during his presidential campaign. “The legalization of states worked out remarkably well… They were a great success. The parade of horribles never came about, and people got more freedom,” Schumer said to Politico. Over 40 percent of Americans currently live in states that have enacted marijuana legalization. In an interview with The Epoch Times in October 2020, Dr. Karen Randall, an emergency room doctor in Pueblo, Colorado, called her experience with patients suffering from cannabinoid hyperemesis “a horror movie.” Cannabinoid hyperemesis, caused by the chronic use of cannabis, can involve screaming and uncontrollable vomiting. Colorado legalized marijuana for retail sale in 2014. After legalization, Randall has seen an increase, not just in the use of marijuana, but also in other drugs. “If you pump a community full of drugs, you’re going to have to expect everything that’s associated with them. You’re going to have to expect the crime, addiction… We’re the canary in the coal mine. Our kids are failing, our kids are using drugs more. I can’t find health care for them. I can’t find rehab, I can’t find places to put the kids in foster care,” Randall said.

Google Faces Contender as 32 Million Users Choose Privacy-Focused Brave Search Engine By Jonathan Walker Vision Times

Brave launched a search engine using an independent web index that reportedly does not compromise user privacy.

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evelopers of the Brave browser, which prioritizes the privacy of users, announced the launch of its search engine on June 22nd in public global beta. Brave Search, like its browser, is a privacybased search engine providing users with an alternative to Google, but without constant surveillance and without censorship. On March 3, Brave announced its acquisition of the open search engine Tailcat from the company Cliqz. Tailcat serves as the foundation for Brave Search. Brave Search is unlike the newer breed of search engines like MetaGer, Lukol, or even DuckDuckGo that provide results accumulated from a combination of different search engines with some additional features. Brave, in contrast, uses its own independent web index to provide accurate search results. It does not collect IPAdobeStock

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(Image : Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

addresses or any kind of specific personally identifiable user information. “Brave Search doesn’t use secret methods or algorithms to bias or censor results. We rely on anonymous community contributions to refine results, and communitycreated alternative ranking models to ensure diversity,” states the Brave homepage. For a large section of users, if Brave can curtail the blatant shadow-banning and censorship by Big Tech, it will be embraced. It could give netizens access to different perspectives versus forcefeeding them only Sil-

icon-Valley-approved news and ideologies. Big Tech has been busy censoring content and people, such as Twitter banning Trump; Facebook blocking alternative COVID-19 treatments; Microsoft “accidently” removing Tank Man images during the Tiananmen Square Massacre Anniversary; and Google threatening sovereign governments if they don’t follow its guidelines. With Google executing 95% of all online searches, newer and significantly smaller search engine platforms do not seem like they

could compete. However, Google has come under intense judicial and international pressure to protect consumer privacy. With large numbers of citizens raising concerns about how their personal data is being used online, challengers like Brave can meet the needs of these dissatisfied consumers. In a blogpost, the company claims to have more than 100,000 users who have already signed up for beta access to Brave Search. The active user count has since surpassed 32 million. According to Brave, the

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new search option offers the following features: 1. Does not profile or track users, their queries or clicks. 2. Unlike other privacy-oriented engines like DuckDuckGo, Brave has a “builtfrom-scratch” search index. But, for some queries, the company might mix in results with other search engines. The user can measure this through a “results independence” metric. 3. Does not depend on algorithms to skew results; i.e. less bias and censorship. Community dependent ranking models. 4. Combined with the Brave browser to offer a complete Google-free experience. 5. An option for ad-free paid search. 6. Brave could soon be powering other search engines. The company has been promoting the concept of privacy-protected ads that pay publishers and users with crypto-based BAT or Basic Attention Tokens whenever users watch ads. The facility has been integrated with the Brave browser and features

“1 million verified creators accepting BAT.” As for the Brave browser, the features include ad blocking, built-in password manager, making a playlist (for iOS users), earning Brave Rewards through viewing ads and becoming a creator, accessing content directly through IFPS network, and a firewall plus VPN for paid users. Google’s privacy is practically non-existent. For example, Google’s tracking remains active even after users switch it off; the tech giant has also silently installed Covid-19 tracking apps. Many consumers have been alarmed and want an alternative to an untrustworthy company. “Brave’s mission is to put the user first, and integrating privacy-preserving search into our platform is a necessary step to ensure that user privacy is not plundered to fuel the surveillance economy,” states Brendan Eich, CEO and Cofounder of Brave Search on its website. subscription@visiontimes.com

ANIMALS

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JULY 2 - JULY 8 , 2021 |

A9

AdobeStocks

Dogs’ Emotions

sions in the presence of humans than they did when no humans were around. The researchers tested whether the dog’s response to food changed depending on the person’s attention through four scenarios: • Paying attention to the dog when feeding it • Paying attention to the dog but not giving it food • Giving the dog food but not paying attention • Not paying attention or eating By analysing the facial muscles of 24 dogs, the researchers found that subjects were more likely to show their tongues or raise their inner eyebrows when the human was facing them, and this was true with or without the visibility of food. Contrary to what many expected, the dogs did not make the same faces when they were alone, whether they were eating or not. The study revealed that “dogs produced significantly more facial expressions when the human was oriented towards them, than when the human had her back turned to the dog.” Juliane Kaminski, one of the authors of the study, stated: “I think this adds to a grow-

Can Be Read in

Their Eyes decreasing) behavior such as a relaxed tail wag, and a curved or wiggling body can reinforce this interpretation. What is commonly taken as a look of shame is more likely politeness. Avoiding eye contact by looking away from a person doesn’t necessarily mean the dog has something to hide. It is his way of showing politeness or deference, and an effort to not appear aggressive or confrontational. A protective stance can be interpreted from the ‘side eye.’ When a dog shows the whites of its eyes by looking sideways while pointing its nose forward, it is often a sign of guarding. While keeping his nose pointed at the object it is trying to guard, this dog turns his eye on you

By Vision Times News “Puppy eyes” is a common expression referring to the look dogs give when they beg for one more dog treat or one more round of catch. Similar to humans, facial expressions in dogs (especially eye behavior) may be revealing their emotions. Assertiveness can be detected in hard eye contact. When a dog is standing tall and still with a cold, hard stare, this usually means he is not feeling particularly friendly. Friendliness is revealed in soft eye contact. If a dog shows soft, round eyes, he is often relaxed and approachable. Affiliative (distance

to determine whether you are a threat. The side eye may not always indicate aggression, however, as it depends on the dog’s body language. If the rest of the body is relaxed, then the dog may just be giving you a once over while maintaining interest in something else. The ears and mouth are also important indicators of your dog’s state of mind. Understanding his or her body language will help you give your pet the best care possible. A 2017 study from Scientific Reports demonstrates that dogs displayed more expressive facial expres-

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ing body of evidence that dogs are sensitive to our attention.” However, there is still no scientific evidence of whether these behaviors are intentional or indicate that they have an understanding of a human’s thoughts. The authors conducted another study to determine whether humans actively select for dogs that look younger due to their facial expressions when adopting. It was determined that domestic dogs who frequently raise their inner brows were adopted more quickly. These movements make their eyes look larger and sadder, giving them the hard to resist ‘puppy eyes.’ However, while tail wagging and approaching the adopter indicate may friendliness, these factors did not correlate strongly with the speed of selection. Conversely, it was shown in the study that the longer the duration of tail wagging, the less chance of being selected. The domesticated dog is a beast of great character and devotion. If he is, as we say, ‘man’s best friend,’ we would do well to understand, and respond to, the ever-changing moods expressed in our pets’ faces; for as we can now see, their expressions may be expressly meant for us.

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Wall Street Behemoths Ate Reddit’s Gamestop Lunch

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ccording to Wall Street behemoth JPMorgan, the fairytale spun by pundits about Reddit’s WallStreetBets organizing to “squeeze” badly positioned hedge fund short sellers of video game retailer Gamestop (NYSE: GME) in what has been affectionately dubbed the “Gamestop Rebellion” is simply false. Peng Cheng, the JPMorgan quantitative and derivatives strategy analyst, wrote to clients in a note: “Although retail buying was portrayed as the main driver of the extreme price rally experienced by some stocks, the actual picture may be much more nuanced,” according to CNBC.

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JANUARY 22-2

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Amer ican Trum markers d have st Chine On Jan. 11, Com-standar p admi ence of War Altho CCP China’ and logies, genetic low. where he y the the II, highistrati million nfacilibelieve with been ated t se stocks last ugh g “the revernatur when to auments used a Party-jaran anonymous Chinese inter- rank that created Sharp Eyes, the spoke very active in those force isolate fying.” on’s use' techno critica l supply data with is relativel called se… e again st ds of 3.7 s aided final spers on foreig n minis been nomin Secretary servd with, say, ing U.S. the third s workin ‘fast tracks’ US-Ta iwanBiden will not same privacy the 2015 devalu hours Chin lish during of the the renounce after aptly-named cost upwar woun ry Agent, FBI in Yellen’ Zhaoare insti- try of per- camerasactivists worry that on reshoring week because there 2018 articleyou by Los NewalVision that offici hand the DNAAassociate a relati ons Comm not given the bank the haveAnge- net user told RFA. “A friend U.S. downese Amer ory Specialgon heavy rhetorical basis job,” but their belief Secre tary Bell U.S. autd Japan le Party Chinese unist global mar-d new Treasu administration. orderly if has, his edflow — ica would Lijian said 19, the Rights But Hum anCo., tate that surpris the world Jan. ion. workers a increase will fuel as in the United You, Supervis had horit ieson invas cancer. of Healt admi nistra like ist-Le ” a ”Marx Trum about initiating “the three Times illustrated a real- of mine in Anhui is under was happy to report tutional investors that will give Chi- chains.” Edwardpolicy breastles e yuan beparticent TrumPresid Servi has propose protections ninist confronts s before te respo “met p ing the Biden a fiscal dove and h andthe resolu wished unde r new able to your stan this China p admin ces Alex in China China ating tion genetic science the Chines onU.S. Unde admin nses.” sonnel. tice?” the be this injuswon’t be regime that exertstake signi tionpower defenses” and sought to surworldsamples, anecdote ofthe living surveillance, and he tried to r Secre Partytary could linkAzar up its ipate -back in names that have ele-with asked her opinio steps to istratiistrat y by stimul kets whenmechan 10 million ismthe the ies unrestricted Tough ion have t he States. The situation Known to on luck to rever rk of the Trump andsur- State ficant actioover against finding Krach the long-s economist, ed medi nese authorit collectof State with the econom the workers bencompan ies global Amerboost and taken awas se In was devalued chances under theof Party’s omniscibuy a plane ticket to go over- —veillance vated volume. I think veil “nearfrom provinceand citycameras any Time icans relati secrets and been a hallma which advoof health s publi to a most tistical by ons with a Keynesian to suppor t low ionation soon after the curre nt Chinesens would be like was restor Glob a l its pei. people throu uffering dent his farewell addre foreign entities devalu shed an in the last set foot on the Keith e. She dramatirecognit succeIn spending is situat ion access to genetic The data administration, Taiiontotopray of Amazon, and for mutual ed ss,addit ing human ss, Presiarticl joiningchthe the move Trump the increas ence:improve “When a resident of seas, but he couldn’t leave level highways; district-level the “smart” home, inglikely that was also expressed dollar. The based gh brainnucleic six montdevice in the a form island sendi ons. yed approa preference and low unemabout there are he takes officewashing e accus keyranki ng while lifted from and millions were ng such China mini- certifica ing or preserv s in China such as Google, required to markers officisome as tesbe to beon to in hs. Previ a clear-e efiting from be hesitant memb , becau seand brute force.” . The family connecti ing Biden wished the incom is why als toof the highpoverty in been cated as Nigeria ers of his thought to aging itchactivregime which by theof thelast-d “raising the roads; and core governmenvillage in the Sichuan country… We can be ited placedsenioespecially with in some r offici als those ously,cam- ness” k being interest rates issue s to more urgent Pompeo Unite nistsuch cally,Anxi -Harris “mad - thethe in the form short years. trials, Trumoptions just a few island , d has already d Statesstaff the a s, of it.” recalled genetic resource human Faceboo manipulation CIA dome commu results Chine d while encour to aid stated that will lift tens of mil- acid tion. clinical had the cy the administra-be test the the much tion luck p collecte to put ent to so arms island admi stic not resolv se pursue the Nurem tion It after Communisthas incre ringtransportation tal zones, province resulting in 24/7 ityItlast week as well,” he said. to get of China set a under restriction or perseargue the South ploym vis-monology comsales ed,”berg wants African countrie pov- currenboostionally exportsaccepted 40 years But what was a miracle.” give informa On Jan. eras, in to the ROC, regulation - to “pray and asked Amer mum wage ology otherTrump CuiTrials and transfer gover nmen d that the nistra- (CCP) andunder Party ased China Morn War ed the pullans out of U.S. told at the end used by a biotechn internat order of s abroad.squares, demand. Officials in multhe top whether. you’re at value more government icans hubs, hospitals, to 9,itoring match to abiotechn small pile of gar- cuted by them, or asked According fromse tiongreatonerblast global U.S.-Taiwan for its succes for its persecpushe d for have privately t needsto dataChine Taiwa and expand The also annou resource emphasizedthe 45th President access Bioengineering, trade ing II that brougof World U.S. diplo on lions of Americ oppo se Weinhope officials economy. other nese partic cy. g indusdollar rose suspitoretail CCPwar inof America s in keepin Uygh pany, Anke u- ipatio resolu milita ry ler’s Post. vac- geneticand communities… U.S.codes.” thus nced the Minutes expanding curren various boomin tion QR the mat e in a stable spent a good part the 60 a to bage in the gutter two years Pedes‘drink tea,’ [with state secuhome or outside. Citadel Securities, tradwere ur U.N, to ht of is Skynet” ess the while mech“selfsafe tely perpe is Musli “prov g U.S. Hitstates ately was the most passio Chines also a big sector Falun remov al coope highl ighted and prospe “DNA push the countl join thisthat the that access rights impo ms and An episode n ic erty d worth demo confro s will Gong Secre statedntation nthe values “Left tiple ing up the “Four of all Yellen had to build a for the unity for sourc eagainst ra- trators of crime from incom ing ocati cratic rous.” intentions due practi restri Update trians should be videotaped reported net on” sellers of Outgo titled, as human Taiwa se was regul ate sedBiometric and as an academ founding News PRC. such of worry system America’s to opport sses nationw ide.” countrie tioner istrat ers were actually Pompeo tary of State Mike huma try with an estimateper year, s video surveil- fields, s a great years ago we launch acious of BGI’s may be restricted the CCP’ how Amer ction s” that on CBS ins.contr n’s China’s respon ing Secret fathers left Rear Adm In Nove mber (R) shake Race, to cancelastBiden of her career lecturer at instithat integrate cide to justice nity and geno, anism.” busine Gamestop week,admin finding every 10,Biodata 20, and 30 minutes, its close ties with the CCP, that theican People’s LiberationAparion intera ct s autho $4 trillion create cines was in prepar ed State Depar to ast to - Mike to natio develchange ity s small s l up ary The hands had the tech. ation data and of . 2020, more cipants. ritari nal Mich or offici with of big to valand new based Pompeo State Behind, , leading t from Monday topolicy rebuild our devalu t climate Yellen China d, The head of than 200 to postereffort to at Taiwa(PLA)-connected anism , Janael elimin profess tment Amba with than the lance and While Xi promote had been 2020, States, made Thursaccording theon document. Army to accept the to a market and aired n. These als Hikdid greate . words To comba a carbon tax on to as Harvar system. nonparti Taiwa nthat fromCraft U.S. Indo- Stude and years ago. ation of Large for Sale,” to not mince “Above man, InInearly ’s cance which is more ssador and refused to Trumpby ts rules tion to move the United mand ’s trip, DNA For the Nazi the its spirit country, to renew gious r guara up largel awarded of technologies tutions such of Economics, Intern and Apple all, we COVIDand draw ing setvision a powerfu l policing ed that Pomp eo of the reported In another leaked docuday, amateur investorslled sold the with Beijin data ic Comopposition ntee intell igenc Pacif fascism his plans , and to Party Biden suppor fossil fuels such opment y. g, descri have reasserted the y to avoid a $33 islandbing to cut a means genetic to help with Freedom ational Relidiplo matic was as voiced uation of Amazon that China concern called 31, 2021 and Senate surve on from econom offers visite are restor of to allegi moves ’s gathered the uary London School y. She transie n visit ers secur illanc has other In to direc unificati the stage. sacred off ation d Taiw Sam Brown e the Activists back (L) ance of se oil. In --Yellen million tirade contract to install 719,932 more ment, police issued Europ eshares thanjiang Europ ean world’s global e a Jan. ity. produc n comtorate as to administratio reacti ons He noted nies in Amer Berkele idea that an investig an on quesduring a l gas, and In respon of Chinese s and after top in Xincombined. Given , the SARSthis gover closed a proand thepost,state 19 testing. 7 Twitt offici als This ment to and U.C. will go so far ica, the from the that the s clear, Picture of Hikvision cameras results above ittee’s tech compa ts,te Comm an “pros acquiringe America at the State press trip. to colwas likelymitted a report efforts celebrating their cameras in Chine Shanghe. to meetpurchased. her role as gov- as coal, natura the Brookings of risinge Comm atroci undis possibility of nits gover Pomp trials answers for- officials off Chinessuch ties comas Comple made its intention to be in an electronic mall inTBei- unist Party produc rus panjing, which This infur iated ecuted eo descr er Financ with him,declin ed Departmentevent Although the China’s tioned from evidence at crime t with we emba citizens. In short, againthe coronavi to the peopl nment ting with into“achievements” 29, 2018, (CCP). wasseadded to Flickr crime again perpetrators he C CP Hikvision panies, to U.S. Instifle n from has The novel ibed stren gthen st Uygh in implethe result of popular tradinging compe serving within nt a podcas Dollars and Sense, CoV-2 as ing plant DNA on guiding May Shares for make rked on a missio in ns’ DNA. kind. Stude vowed to respo sBeiframe and from access U.S. must continuegenetic jing on May 24, 2019.the e. Our DNA collectio address would Sepshort of U.S.- ROC urs in it2013. ing of the st huma fessor to nothnotinclud Preside prote s Americathe te, light, our ed tion countr (Alex Wong Washington, ies, that same crime n, Bill the he does State Depa Genomi the ng.cs Amer t lect menting nity, the comn to te dblacklist by the so-called Sharp direct a Pentagon apps like Robinhood restrictscenes to unfairly ts. first as the Bank of Institu demic, in s being our unwav north claimi humanity” for “crimesallian Yellen describ such trips man count erednd / Getty Image D.C. eign againsce and the swabs is uncertai ernment, biotechnology vigilant to protect . While in two top Chinese surveilrtme all Amer ica great again 2020, a bankrup ering convic star, perpetrated largest andthe l Reserve tion. in Feb. 2019, a $40 tax per ton privacy concerns tember Trum p t unde r ign are norm in Xinjia that Eyes Project (雪亮 “Xue nasal , the director of the Trumpnt’s Administration for ing buying of select “meme“This for s) group, lance firms plunged on May prosecute dissiden that addi- innova icans.” “geno citizens been BGI Chinaneces campa its ad ng.” to tion of admi cide.” of the Federa and eventually world, that The al, enting sold sary has in the translating literally Evanina is a “This week niswe are here and of a widespre the 2020 president ce data implem co being owned and/or con- stocks” like Gamestop after Liang,” Newsweek reportsCCP may GNC of analyzing 22 following reports WashSince was reportceu- pany and Taiwa to ensur e that On aaresimil the noble ramifications tragic set very serious and has sharpagain condemned San Francis becoming the Counterintelligen BidenPharma in China and a new admin we inaugurate ar note, certain benefits the U.S. of the everyday to serve , Harbin . Indeed, a New lm- ington is considering banning of to the riots basedTeam China to “Bright as Snow”), a sur- National trolled by the PLA. A series being hit with a $3 billion trail, aggre ssion n are ready toAmbassador tional goals U.S. America. $770 is based citizens taking place actions that are DNA database Center (NSC), to multiple ic onfor leading up Federa l Reserve in the Capito data are overwhe the at Large extend our istration and count rhetorCo te the biotech ened of Our allegia sent letters by main nation Group them from buying U.S. comarticle revealed conthe there in edly for Interwe Sessio l during the Jan. U.S. to the veillance program designed and Security BGI was likely genetic of Executive Orders by the deposit requirement from tical its it will , such as be to “domina land ChinaalerReligi ern part best wishe nce is not Chair of York Times the Westto “provide Chinesethat 23 specia that we 6 Joint ny@visiontim ous Freed ining ingly positive offeringrural n of Cong of just as the blacklistamassing genetic to 2017. At least of ponents, Sam in has been workmainta to persecute outgoing President blocked the Deposit Trust & Clearing million. rations, or l interests, corpo om, luck,also want them s. And that the regioBrow industry” by position forced labor, China… This provide warned ng to establish partfrom 2014 what the Trump es.com that the CCP e,” civilians. ies are states l development “biologi“all Amer ress, saying l expertis much global entitie leaving the Yellen n. nback, challenged map of its to have the CCP edofcompan Yellen a very this is forced is es potentia cures and treat- ing of telecoms giant Huawei technica - attempti The Party justifiessequenc U.S. based companies from Corporation to cover clearassociat After her icans were our childr ilization, data and to develop to target tinue n started.genetic for rified s. It’s to ing on a genetic ng put the pro- nerships with U.S. compani reserve, sterTrump said. important word, fanned their escalating tech isperform en, forced horpersecution its 21-year-long 700 million d toBiden designed administratio . life-savi Admincit“high gramthrough under theaddition pretext al of doing business with or hold- inghouse volatility. ng truth ” Capito by the assault to our nation our citizens, and at the federal uished Fellow kind of things abortions. The approximately collecting cal weapons groups.” Chi- accredite of the spirit States war. (Image: FRED DUFOUR / AFP via the underlyi later be exploited on our Trump’s Disting l.” practice to make stated, “The and “make on United that we haven fighting crime more effec- that could ing securities in PLA-conbecame a Agent ments, private genetic data isGetty Images) testing ual on Brookings seen in approval “We restor itself,” he said. Falun to ers,” be willing certain ethnic males by forcibly “Political to help with an nce at the sory Special claim that ’t leaving seek access as the forced Gong, as well tration will rating is that ed the princ of tools to beginning in and in Reside continue on A3 tively. ns” nected companies. violence speaking donatio that a in this worldawfully long time ies to profit 2019 Supervi You, a FBI investifull array working nese state media the largest izens, attack on blood samples iple organ Our cent accord office was 51 perand earned use of the data by table. ing of its irus Disease way for compan the case has everything is an citizennation exists to Street ting in the creInstitute ing to Rasm an interv ,” said Pompeo genetic BGI Edward a background in a serve its adherents. harvest- Repo ish as Amer ies Coronav rs. In China already China accoun major Wall we chers. 2014, culmina world Our testing. compan in focused hold consume iew the from back gy of with in -19) database ussen rts, has agend Brownwith Fox fees gator wrote genealo although about right (COVID America a was not to date “The off be tolera icans. It can never government, News ch — ation of a national ies have genetic database polls show all other approach23andM Reports. profiles. with e. Furtheristry, stated, number : “What does the ted. involved in collectbanks. 212-730-6963 of the ChineseVISION ny@visiontimes.com ral approa as about Repubor left, it wasn’ Authorit 6,600 mean over 80 million Pompeo ever we must Now more than has has been data from ethnic biochemarian government of tion of artificialTIMES ing betwe his approval ratin late 2017. on a unilate t genetic such par- with said that could have agenda approximat in lican combina ? es many CCP It’s the boys unify result, genetic en authorit this the crat, and or the a ment ance, his polici 29 perce Demoaround shared values more, departbut about to ing surveill To gather 47 percen and, as had leader Xi Jintargeted men effortsfor212-73er e. Going received $1.5 nt and tioners that e numb Monetary past week’s Senof practi ed by has employed the good intelligence, 0-696 t. they “commit and rise our nation, China and its exhaustive conducted “an Uyghurs and more effectiv the partis 3 have paved to meet of a been reinforc profiles, the CCP methods. been in the 19-miTrump expressed and boldly open above hearticular because During the Chinese govthe CCP Falun Gong report of Chinese an genetic data of should strive whole nation that means the ping have been and determreview of the facts” by billion from the statistics show,” arrest e Committee Yellen dented our comm rancor and forge beat and prevent ward, wetransferchallenge In gratitude nute address a wide variety more crimes, ate Financ many times ed in 2020. How for unprece ambitions to on destin tantcountries.U.S. his Phase III trito his famil article. Those has indee ined that the CCP nomination, foreign impor “We fough . ernment in 2010. son, direc- about their reap the bene- the way y.” will the this to Trum President front ofState By conducting rus vaccine data of dissidents. ings for her d said the Times’ regarding ass and t for the CCP harg a united Mike Pence y, Vice “only p called himse the CCP’s ng ple that persecution ted the crimenot only comm questions arrest Falun the west and blood collec2019, Sophie Richard buildin includi wife and every citize princilf the als of its coronaviother coun- May was asked Cuts and Reforms in DNA sciorderpractitione that refuse program for partners, s they have itd aninstitu family, Chief, and his win true outsider tled to of advances accused publishe and as a so-called allies and rs for refusi Gong Mark tor of the China ever been equal digni n is entiteral genetic the Presid the 2017 Tax to expire in 2026. of, elabo- fits in Morocco of Staff to Council tion are listed Mead h multila ng to abu- Human Rights Watch, ency” becau to treatment, these peoplbut seek to “deny ty, s ld” and can has been able he “had regulate its human 212-730-6963 House Staff.ows, and all White that are due nt China’s tothroug tries, China and equal equal not se becau class citizen “black househo e, not participants. Uyghur including barring tions, tos,confro as a politic spent [his] career rights se we of benefits such Many middle the tax cut ion resource Muslims, just the ors.” gather DNA from ian, but be stripped from that may by God. are all made equal to thes discuss faiths as sive behavi but other as a builde looking istratravel and visit countrie orf. benefited , listens Everyone well, coerce at open System To r to be as the right to former admin (minghui.org e r, Doug Elmend is entitle ity to contin the simple capacl Reserve skylin -6963 imagi S directo increas treate under the Federa es an 212-730 ning infini ) and have d with respec d face ue a hospital.ors of the ssional Budget Office had te possib “I’ve referr to exist. VISION TIME ties.” tion but will Board of Govern Congre ili- have their voice heard t, to expire. Biden ed to this Chair of the time as right is former , and when they tax increases to their gover While Trum over the Janet Yellen, To Yellen's no nment listen.to than audience. p will join tury. It is stain of the cenDonald pledged small club om from the ” Trump truly making less a the ny@visiontimes.c recognized households year and Yellen The Secre that.” external only serveof presidents who TIMES per tary of d one try const threats the counVISION released $400,000 lauded term, he State antly faces, a his the most Press Statemstrongly worde but said principles “America First” ent on Tuesd d that benefi America dangerous factor titled “D divers tt fa a By Neil Campbell

r No ry Secreta US TreasuL J

The Biden n Administratio to ng will be willi the make use of tools full array of a to hold Chin accountable. to Our approach sed date has focu on a unilateral and, approach — d as a result, coul e have been mor effective.

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nt of an governme ng The authoritari leader Xi Jinpi China and its t their y open abou and have been boldl beat the west in ambitions to fits of advances reap the bene technology. The and DNA science has a regime even communist catchy festo with a published mani in China 2025. name... Made

When a resident of Anxi village in the Sichuan province of China set a match to a small pile of garbage in the gutter two years ago, a loudspeaker blared out his name and address and ordered him to extinguish the blaze immediately. He jumped with fright, quickly put out the flames and scurried away.

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Four year s ago we launche d great nati a ona effort to rebu l our country ild renew its , to spirit, and to rest ore allegiance the of governmen this t citizens. In to its sho we embarke rt, on a mission d make Am to erica great aga in for Americans all .

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A10 | JULY 2 - JULY 8 , 2021

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Stars and Dandelions A Beautiful Poem by Misuzu Kaneko By Jessica Kneipp

J

apan is a nation steeped in ancient culture and traditions. In spite of their meteoric modernization and being an economic superpower, the Japanese people still retain that connection with their ancient roots. The following poem, Stars and Dandelions, miraculously saved from oblivion is an iconic example of how this high culture still lives on.

Children’s poet from Japan

Growing up

Misuzu Kaneko is a children’s poet from Japan born at the dawn of the 20th century. She lived a short but remarkable life that ended at 27 years of age. Her poems are filled with compassion and curiosity for the divine and our natural world. Whether she is imagining what it feels like to be snow in her poem Snow Pile to the mood of the sea when a big catch of sardines is taken in Big Catch or reflecting in the smallest of moments like the beauty of the unseen in featured poem Stars and Dandelions. Her work has a stillness about it and almost Walt Whitman-like with great tenderness.

Kaneko was born in 1903 in a small Japanese fishing village in Senzaki-mura, now part of Nagato. Many details of the sea and fishing are featured in her work. Her father died when she was at the young age of 3. Her mother (who ran a bookstore) raised her as a single parent. Japanese girls of this era were mostly only educated until 6th grade. Kaneko was unique in that her mother had strong views about education so she was able to continue her education up until the age of 17. She was an avid reader known for her gentle nature and cheerful disposition.

Poetry translated to English In 2016, an English version of her poetry was published by Chin Music Press in the book Are You an Echo?: The Lost Poetry of Misuzu Kaneko. It has some of her most loved poems, the story of her life, including her sad personal life and suicide. It is also filled with these delicate watercolor illustrations by Japanese artist Toshikado Hajiri.

Discovering her unpublished poems

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Deep in the blue sky like pebbles at the bottom of the sea lie the stars unseen in daylight until night comes. You can’t see them, but they are there. Unseen things are still there. The withered, seedless dandelions hidden in the cracks of the roof tile wait silently for spring, their strong roots unseen. You can’t see them, but they are there. Unseen things are still there.

In 1966, an aspiring poet in Japan came across her poem Big Catch in an old book. Touched by the piece, he wanted to find more of her works. In WWII, the only known copies of her work were destroyed when Tokyo was bombed. He was not able to track down any of her family or even if any were still surviving. And the bookstore she worked in was long gone.

This poet Setsuo Yazaki did not give up searching, and 16 years later his search was rewarded. He met Kaneko’s younger brother (77 years old at the time) and he presented her three wellworn pocket diaries — the only record of 512 children’s poems she wrote in her lifetime, most never published. The entire collection has since been published by

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Her work gets published At the age of 20, Kaneko submitted her work to 4 magazines under the pen name of Misuzu and all were published. She was recognized by the respected poet of the time Yaso Saijou, who was one of the judges. His encouragement inspired her to continue to write and be published.

JULA Publishing Bureau in a six-volume anthology. Thankfully, this almost forgotten human treasure of Japan — poet Misuzu Kaneko can now dwell on our bookshelves. Her beautiful heart and childlike imagination of how she observed the world lives on.

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A11

Typhoon, Gung-Ho, and Other

English Words Borrowed From 1. Ketchup

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hinese

The word “ketchup” is common across the English-speaking world and mostly refers to a paste made from tomatoes. But unlike what many Americans think, the word is neither Western in origin nor did it have an initial meaning tied to tomatoes. “Ketchup comes from the Hokkien Chinese word, kê-tsiap, the name of a sauce derived from fermented fish. It is believed that traders brought fish sauce from Vietnam to southeastern China. The British likely encountered ketchup in Southeast Asia, returned home, and tried to replicate the fermented dark sauce,” according to National Geographic.

By Armin Auctor

A

loanword is a word borrowed from another language. As far as English is concerned, it borrows heavily from several languages across the world. There are many English words borrowed from Chinese. Below, we look at six such loanwords.

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2. Kowtow

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3. Chow

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In English, to “kowtow” means to agree or obey someone else out of subservience. It comes from the Cantonese word “kau tau.” However, the original word did not have the negative subservient meaning that the current English word has. “Kau tau” meant to lower one’s head down in front of superiors as a sign of respect, usually before emperors, leaders, and parents.

People usually refer to food when they use the word “chow” in a sentence. For instance, “let’s get some Indian chow” is an invitation for someone to come along for Indian cuisine. The word’s usage in the English language goes back to 1856 California when Chinese laborers were hired in huge numbers to build railroads. During those times, it was largely used to refer to Chinese food. But now, “chow” is a term applied to all food items. The word is believed to have originated from the Chinese word “chao,” which means to “stir fry.”

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4. Typhoon

In Chinese, “tai fung” meant a mighty wind. The English are believed to have picked up the word and then adapted it into the language as “typhoon.” The modern word also has a similarity to the ancient Greek word “tuphon.” Interestingly, a similar word exists in India called “tufan.” Linguists are of the opinion that the English word is influenced by Cantonese and respelled to make it appear more Greek.

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5. Tycoon

Tycoon, a word that refers to a powerful person, also comes from China. It is inspired by the word “dakuan,”’ which means someone with a lot of money. However, “dakuan” itself originated from an older Cantonese word, “takiun,” which stood for a “great prince.” The Japanese used the term to refer to their leader, shogun Tokugawa Iyesada, when dealing with U.S. personnel in the 1800s. The word eventually became popular and followed U.S. ships back to America.

6. Gung-ho

Gung-ho basically refers to being in high spirits. When stationed in China in 1937, a U.S. colonel by the name of Evans Carlson noticed that the Chinese army personnel had a unique way of boosting their morale. “Carlson was impressed by how the Chinese troops worked together using a system of cooperation they called gung ho, which means work together. Carlson introduced this phrase to his own Marine troops, but it didn’t really catch on until 1943 when Randolph Scott portrayed a Marine in a movie called Gung Ho! After that, gung ho became a household word and a Marines highest compliment,” according to History.

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HEALTH

A12 | JULY 2 - JULY 8 , 2021

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By Raven Montmorency

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long, hot soak with essential oils and fragrant body wash is the ultimate recipe for relaxation after a tiring day. Today, bathing is a private exercise that helps us de-stress and revitalize. But historically speaking, this is a relatively new development. Throughout history, the activity of bathing was mostly public or else tied to cleansing bathing rituals for religious or spiritual practices. So how did bathing become the personal, relaxing activity that we now enjoy? To answer that, let us take a peek at the history of bathing and how this private ritual can lead to myriad physical and psychological benefits.

According to a study conducted in Japan in 2018, submersion in water as hot as 100°F has health benefits like helping to reduce stress, body pain, and fatigue, and it helps improve skin condition. The research-

Everyone may have heard the phrase “cleanliness is next to godliness” and in ancient cultures, it was held to be literally true, with sites for public bathing being considered sacred. In the early 1900s, archaeologists discovered a high mound at the site of the 250-acre city of Mohenjo Daro. Thought to have been in use around 2500 B.C., they labeled the site “The Great Bath.” Scholars agree that the public water tank would have been used for special religious occasions, as ritualistic cleansing was a crucial part of partaking in social and religious activities. In fact, throughout Asia and India at that time, bathing the body was linked with cleansing the spirit and incorporated bathing rituals.

ers believe the improved mental and physical states come about due to improved circulation stimulated by warm water, which helps the body eliminate toxins. Besides the aforementioned benefits, bathing has other psychological benefits as well. According to one study, taking a bath in hot water proved to be an effective therapy to lessen symptoms of depression.

Bathing as recreation When it comes to bathing as recreation, we have the Greeks and Romans to thank, as they were really the pioneers behind this idea. Public baths in the Roman Empire were open to the rich and poor alike. People, irrespective of class, would pour into the public baths not only to cleanse themselves and relax, but also to socialize and even to conduct business. Around 300 B.C., public bathing was as much about socializing as it was about getting clean. Roman baths had a reception room at the entrance and from there, you could access separate rooms depending on whether you wanted to bathe in hot, warm, or cold water. Bathers were also encouraged to exercise as they moved through the different rooms. As a result of the Crusades, public bathing started spreading across the ancient world.

Personal bathing rituals The secret to a peaceful bath time starts with some warm water. You can enhance the experience with some essential oils and scented candles if you

Bathing evolves With the decline of the Roman Empire, public bathing went out of style, as the Byzantine Empire adopted and modified the practice. They preferred to bathe in a more private setting with beautifully elaborate mosaic walls. They also eliminated cold water as a bathing option. Eventually, the idea of building baths around thermal hot springs came into vogue. This is how the famous Hungarian baths came to be, and they continue to exist as spas that can be enjoyed by the public even today.

like. Eliminating visual clutter from your bathroom may help you in getting a feel-good experience. You can put things like bath bombs in while adding water to the tub. Or if you have sore muscles, try adding Epsom

Fear of bathing Due to the spread of disease, Europeans started to avoid baths. By the time they arrived in the Americas, Colonists had developed the idea that submerging one’s body in water would weaken the immune system. There is historical evidence that Native Americans tried to convince them they were wrong, but they were largely unsuccessful in their efforts. Later, in both Europe and the Americas, cholera became a threat and this led to better water and sewage treatment. This, together with the widespread availability of indoor plumbing, sparked a renewed interest in bathing.

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Benefits: physical and psychological

Bathing rituals

Salts. Regular oatmeal can be added, too. It is well known for its skin softening and soothing effects. These are all aspects of modern-day bathing rituals. With attention to a few little details, you’ll be sure to enjoy a most revitalizing bath at home.

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