Month: September 2023

While we are sure that the Biden administration will loudly proclaim their victory by crowing that pump prices for gasoline are down over 20% from the highs last summer (June), they may be a little less forthcoming about the fact that gas prices are also up over 23% year-to-date…

Source: Bloomberg

Also, we hate to say it but gas prices are up over 80% since president Biden’s election – probably just a coincidence.

After adjusting for inflation, retail gasoline prices going into this Labor Day weekend are 4% lower than the prices ahead of Labor Day 2022, but on a nominal basis they are the highest since 2012…

Source: Bloomberg

According to the EIA, cuts from Saudi Arabia and other major OPEC+ producers have raised international crude oil prices in recent weeks, which are the largest component of the gasoline price in the U.S. Lower-than-usual inventories and refinery outages in the U.S. have also put upward pressure on gasoline prices in America this summer

“Record temperatures in the South also caused unexpected refinery disruptions, contributing to a nearly 35-cent jump” so far this summer, fuel-savings app GasBuddy said on Tuesday.

“While gas prices have started to ease as the summer winds down, there still could be one last hurrah at the pump before things cool off this fall,” according to GasBuddy.

However, given where wholesale gasoline and crude prices are, we suspect there is some more pain to come at the pump for the average American…

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, commented,

“If we can escape further unexpected oil production cuts and outages due to hurricanes, we may avoid an unexpected surge in gas prices, with the downturn accelerating as we get into late September and stations transition back to cheaper gasoline.”

Hope remains, but President Biden is running out of options to stem the tide here as the administration has started to refill the SPR in recent weeks…

Albeit at a glacial pace compared to the tsunami drains last year.

Authored by Thomas Brooke via Remix News,

Hundreds of Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) cameras have been vandalized by a vigilante group that opposes the controversial scheme, which extended across wider London this week and charges road users for traveling in non-compliant vehicles.

The scheme is part of London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s green agenda to enhance the air quality across the U.K. capital; however, many critics of its extension into London’s suburbs consider it to be a regressive tax and cash grab that will hit working families the hardest.

A vigilante group known as the Blade Runners has been targeting newly installed cameras across the capital in a bid to disrupt the implementation of ULEZ as much as possible, and hundreds of cameras have already been hit.

Prior to the roll-out, which came into force on Tuesday, around 500 cameras had been marked as out of action or damaged, according to a map the vigilante group promoted. Many of the cameras targeted were located in London’s southeast with 156 of the 185 cameras around the districts of Sydenham and Sidcup being hit, as well as 18 of the 22 cameras installed in Bromley.

The camera map, published on a popular anti-ULEZ Facebook page, allows users to update it when a camera has been rendered out of action. The black pins represent cameras that are now missing or damaged.

In the southeast town of Orpington, just two of the new number plate recognition cameras were in working order on the day of the ULEZ expansion after vigilantes smashed, spray-painted, or cut the wires of 14 cameras on a single road.

Video footage and photographs of disruptors vandalizing the cameras have been published on social media, much to the delight of those critical of the scheme.

Blade runners busy.
These Individuals are cutting down the hated ULEZ cameras in London.
How do you see them, heroes or villains? pic.twitter.com/ypaf9Uos4h

— David Vance (@DVATW) August 22, 2023

UK citizens are furious Sadiq Khan is installing ULEZ (Ultra low emission zones) recognition cameras throughout London…

This is a direct attack on the poor…

Citizens are fighting back by cutting them down as soon as they’re installed

RESIST🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/sKBAYiuDcN

— Pelham (@Resist_05) August 31, 2023

One camera was even installed just meters from a crematorium in order to pick up funeral-goers, a camera that was swiftly taken care of by locals.

ULEZ CREMATORIUM CAMERA DOWNED!
It was reported yesterday that Sadiq Khan placed an ULEZ camera outside a crematorium in Upmister, to help nick funeral goers

It looks like locals have dealt with it overnight… pic.twitter.com/58P4hMGH6k

— Martin Daubney 🇬🇧 (@MartinDaubney) August 31, 2023

Despite their criminal activity, the vigilantes have received political support, including from a former Conservative Party leader and cabinet minister, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who insisted he was “happy” for Londoners to fight back because “they are facing an imposition that no one wants and they have been lied to about it.”

“A lot of people in my constituency have been cementing up the cameras or putting plastic bags over them,” he said.

“The actions you are seeing show how angry people are at what is being imposed on them. Sadiq Khan has gerrymandered all the information – people have had enough.”

Last November, Khan announced the extension to the scheme, which had previously been reserved for central London, to all London boroughs despite overwhelming opposition to the plan.

The BBC reported that a public consultation on the extension plans, which Khan insisted was a genuine consultation and would factor into his decision, showed 80 percent of people in the affected area opposed the move.

It is the latest in a continuous assault by Khan on motorists, following the installation of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), extensive road-narrowing, and the excessive expansion of 20-mph zones.

When he was heckled at a public event back in March over the ULEZ roll-out, Khan suggested that those who opposed the plans were “far-right,” a remark that was met by derision and booing from the Question Time audience.

Ten EU member states saw a reduction in the number of firefighters in their respective forces between 2021 and 2022, according to an analysis of Eurostat data carried out by the European Trade Union Confederation.

As Statista’s Anna Fleck reports, France saw the biggest drop in its firefighter force of some -5,446 people in the space of a year followed by Romania with -4,250 people and Portugal with -2,907. However, it was Slovakia that recorded the highest percentage of losses, with its number of firefighters down by 30 percent over the same period.

Although the total number of firefighters employed across EU countries dropped by more than 5,000 overall, Spain, Italy and Greece all increased their forces.

You will find more infographics at Statista

“Cutting the number of firefighters in the midst of a climate crisis is a recipe for disaster”, Esther Lynch, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) General Secretary, said in a statement.

“But it’s clear from these figures that investment is already insufficient and I’m concerned more cuts could be on their way if the EU reintroduces austerity rules next year.”

“It would mean the majority of member states would have to make cuts at the very time the EU are asking them to increase investment in the fight against climate change.”

These staff reductions are taking place as the workload of firefighters and other emergency services has increased with devastating wildfires, which have affected several member states in recent months, including Portugal, Greece and Italy.

Authored by Mary Gillis via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Some have heralded masks as the gold standard of protective gear against COVID-19. However, they may be causing more problems than expected.

Results from a study published in the Journal of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety in May have indicated that masks pose significant risks to wearers due to toxins emitted by the tight-fitting face coverings.

Researchers from South Korea measured the number and concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from several different masks, including cotton masks and KF94 masks—a popular type of disposable mask similar to the N95 mask.

Four types of VOCs were detected in KF94 masks at 22.9–147 times higher concentrations compared to other masks comprised of fabrics like cotton. The total number of VOC particles was 14 times that in cotton masks. In some KF94 masks, numbers reached a threshold high enough to pose a serious risk to human health.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), VOCs are manmade chemicals that can evaporate at room temperature and are often “used and produced in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants.”

Inhaling them may cause the following:

• Eyes, nose, and throat irritation.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Headaches.
• Nausea.
• Damage to the central nervous system and other organs.
• Cancer (some cases in animals, and suspected or known cases in humans).

VOC Concentrations Worse at Certain Times and Temperatures

Researchers found that VOC concentrations fluctuated depending on environmental temperature and when the KF94s were removed from their packaging. When the temperature of the KF94 masks was raised to 104 F (40 C), concentrations increased by 119 to 299 percent. Levels decreased by 80 percent 30 minutes after removing the masks from the packaging.

Risks can be mitigated to reduce harm, the study authors noted.

“It is clear that particular attention must be paid to the VOCs associated with the use of KF94 masks [and their] effects on human health,” they wrote.

“Based on our findings, we suggest that prior to wearing a KF94 mask, each product should be opened and not worn for at least 30 min, thereby reducing total VOC concentrations to levels that will not impair human health,” the authors concluded.

Other Toxins and Mask-Induced Exhaustion Syndrome

One 2022 study also highlighted toxic chemicals found in several masks and a long list of the possible consequences of covering up.

Phthalates are widely used chemicals that disrupt human endocrine systems and impact human health. While phthalates are said to make masks more versatile and flexible, there’s a high price to pay when choosing comfort over safety.

Instead of being chemically bonded to the material, phthalates are used as an additive that can be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. Exposure is detrimental to reproductive and neurological development.

Researchers in China found harmful phthalates in 56 mask samples collected from several countries. According to results from the study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, nearly 90 percent of the samples contained potential carcinogens, suggesting any benefits of masking may be outweighed by the risks unless types and levels of chemicals are managed to be within safe limits.

A comprehensive review published in Front Public Health in April found significant negative impacts of both surgical and N95 masks. Adverse effects correlated with mask-wearing included:

• Decreased oxygen saturation.
• Decreased minute ventilation.
• Increased carbon dioxide in the blood.
• Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and skin temperature.
• Higher levels of discomfort.
• Shortness of breath.
• Headaches.
• Acne.
• Skin irritation.
• Dizziness.

“Masks interfered with O2-uptake and CO2-release and compromised respiratory compensation,” the review authors wrote. “Outcomes independently validate mask-induced exhaustion-syndrome (MIES) and down-stream physio-metabolic dysfunctions. MIES can have long-term clinical consequences, especially for vulnerable groups. So far, several mask related symptoms may have been misinterpreted as long COVID-19 symptoms. In any case, the possible MIES contrasts with the WHO definition of health.”

The study was retracted a month later. The reason given for the retraction was that “the article does not meet the standards of editorial and scientific soundness for Frontiers in Public Health.”

Read more here…

Cesium-soaked truffles from weapons tests after the Second World War in Central Europe and the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986 have created an unexpected consequence: Radioactive wild boar roaming forests and fields, rendering them unsafe for human consumption.

In a new study published in the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Environmental Science and Technology journal, researchers from the Vienna University of Technology said Europe was covered in radioactive cesium contamination following the Chernobyl power plant accident four decades ago. Most of the radioactivity was cesium-137, but a much longer-lived form, called cesium-135, from nuclear fission was also found. Over the years, cesium-137 declined in most wild animals, but what piqued the interest of researchers was why wild boars’ radioactivity remained unchanged. 

In a simplified summary, ACS explained in a press release how the researchers were able to determine nuclear explosions from the mid-20th century were responsible for today’s radioactive boar in Germany:

The researchers worked with hunters to collect wild boar meat from across Southern Germany and then measured the samples’ cesium-137 levels with a gamma-ray detector. To determine the origin of the radioactivity, the team compared the amount of cesium-135 to cesium-137 with a sophisticated mass spectrometer. Previous studies showed that this ratio clearly indicates sources: A high ratio points to nuclear weapons explosions, whereas a low ratio implicates nuclear reactors.

Here’s a summary of the findings:

The team observed that 88% of the 48 meat samples exceeded German regulatory limits for radioactive cesium in food. For the samples with elevated levels, the researchers calculated the ratios of cesium-135 to cesium-137, and found that nuclear weapons testing supplied between 10 and 68% of the contamination. And in some samples, the amount of cesium from weapons alone exceeded regulatory limits.

Researchers believe the nuclear fallout from the nuke tests contaminated the soil soaked up by underground mushrooms. These mushrooms are primarily eaten only by boars, hence why radioactivity levels in these animals were high compared with others. 

“This is one of the ultimate case studies showing how legacy soil pollution can haunt generations to come,” James Kaste, a geochemist at the College of William & Mary, who wasn’t involved in the study, told Science. 

Authored by John Cody via ReMix News,

A German museum of industrial heritage in Dortmund only allows “Black, Indigenous and People of Color” to enter the museum on Saturdays between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. for the “That’s Colonial” exhibition, with the prohibition sparking claims of racism.

The Zollern Colliery museum argues it is a “safer space” intended to protect people of color from “further discrimination.”

The exclusive access is “an offer for BIPoC and black people to be able to withdraw and exchange ideas openly,” reads the museum’s website. “For BIPoC, such safe spaces are rarely found in everyday life or in museum rooms.”

The exhibit partly focuses on racial grievances, with the introduction to the exhibition on the website writing: “The morning cup of coffee, a street name or certain prejudices: Colonial history is still present in our everyday lives – even in Westphalia.”

A small team belonging to Antenne Frei radio station filmed themselves trying to enter the museum, but were blocked because they are White people.

The employees struggled to explain why their prohibition was not racism when confronted by a host from the radio station.

Wenn Weiße in Deutschland zu bestimmten Zeiten nicht ins Museum dürfen….

Rassismus in Dortmund. Unfassbar. #ZecheZollernhttps://t.co/XwcWshXwjuhttps://t.co/qDaDKdg7a8 pic.twitter.com/nH0NVWj5aP

— Joana Cotar (@JoanaCotar) August 29, 2023

“If there’s a People of Color in there now, and he says I don’t want that White guy in here, then you must go out,” said a male employee. The host then asked, “Because we have the wrong skin color?”

The employee responded: “I can’t explain that. I can’t explain that.” When he was told that he should know because he works there, he repeated that he could not explain how or why the rule was in place.

“But that’s racism,” responded the radio host.

Inside the museum building, the radio host said: “If we turn it around now and say Blacks are not allowed in, can you imagine what an impression that would make? Now, it’s the case that the Whites can’t go in…”

A female employee responded: “There’s nothing to say.” The host then said, “You don’t want to say anything,” to which she responded, “I don’t want to.”

He then stated he wanted his entry fee back since he did not find the policy appropriate, and the female employee agreed.

The Zollern Colliery museum is one of the LWL museums, which are funded by taxpayers. The official website states: “The LWL museums bring together the history of the Westphalia-Lippe region in the areas of industry, handicrafts, technology, art, natural history, archaeology, monastic and everyday culture. They take on current topics and present attractive and lively exhibitions for people of all generations.”

Similar anti-White policies are spreading throughout the West. For example, a Black artist collective in Switzerland occupied a theater last year and demanded a non-White theater space, arguing that “there is no racism against Whites.” The group managed to collect hundreds of thousands of francs from the Swiss government despite openly discriminating against Whites.

Many Whites across the West are growing increasingly concerned, and despite claims that racism against Whites does not exist, polling shows that 80 percent of French say that anti-White racism exists.

In that country, a “Blacks only” Christmas market caused widespread controversy in 2021.