POACHING FOR CHINA Foreign demand drives exotic animal slaughter in Bolivia By Autumn Spredemann
Crushed by Intervention A hospital quietly stops ivermectin treatment and fires the advocate for it. p.12
Wartime Propaganda War ads in Ukraine are sophistically modified to keep up with the modern age. p.28
Baseball Card World Baseball card trade is entering a new era as Fanatics buys its future from Topps. p.30
APRIL 22–28, 2022 | $6.95
NO. 16
Editor’s Note
Poaching for China previously, locals in bolivia’s rainforest only killed jaguars when defending their livestock. In recent years, however, Chinese nationals have created a flourishing trafficking industry for jaguar fangs and other body parts, pushing many locals to become poachers. In China, some believe jaguar teeth represent good luck, fortune, protection, and vitality. As a result, Chinese criminals offer Bolivians $100 to $400 per tooth, which are in turn sold for $2,000 to $3,000 a piece on the Chinese black market. The Chinese are “predators,” one local told Insight. “They consume everything they see— the land, the animals, the rivers, the trees, everything.” Estimates suggest there are only 2,000 to 3,000 jaguars left in Bolivia. As of August 2018, the latest number available, 684 jaguar fangs had been confiscated from Chinese smugglers by authorities. Most smugglers, however, are believed to use routes deep through the rainforest to take the parts out of the country undetected. Other Chinese nationals are working with the local prison system and a crime syndicate. Read more in this week’s Insight cover story from reporter Autumn Spredemann. Jasper Fakkert Editor-in-chief
2 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
JASPER FAKKERT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHANNALY PHILIPP LIFE & TRADITION, TRAVEL EDITOR CHRISY TRUDEAU MIND & BODY EDITOR
ON THE COVER Estimates say only 2,000 to 3,000 jaguars remain in Bolivia, where Chinese nationals have creating a booming poaching industry. CHRISTIAN VINCES/ GETTY IMAGES
CRYSTAL SHI HOME, FOOD EDITOR SHARON KILARSKI ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR BILL LINDSEY LUXURY EDITOR BIBA KAJEVICH ILLUSTRATORS SHANSHAN HU PRODUCTION CONTACT US THE EPOCH TIMES ASSOCIATION INC. 229 W.28TH ST., FL.7 NEW YORK, NY 10001 ADVERTISING ADVERTISENOW@EPOCHTIMES.COM SUBSCRIPTIONS, GENERAL INQUIRIES, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR HELP.THEEPOCHTIMES.COM (USPS21-800)IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE EPOCH MEDIA GROUP, 9550 FLAIR DR. SUITE 411, EL MONTE, CA 91731-2922. PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT EL MONTE, CA, AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO THE EPOCH TIMES, 229 W. 28TH STREET, FLOOR 5, NEW YORK, NY 10001.
vol. 2 | no. 16 | april 22–28, 2022
24 | Alienating
50 | Restoring
Taiwan As China extends its influence in Latin America, it shrinks Taiwan's list of allies.
Core Values We need to make common sense a priority in our lives.
51 | Texan Generosity
26 | Russian
A group gives 600 gifts to overwhelmed Border Patrol agents.
Dependence How radical should Europe go to end Russian energy imports?
52 | Russia–Ukraine
War A historian analyzes the war, China’s role, and America’s leadership.
28 | Wartime
Propaganda Ukrainian war ads get an information-age face-lift.
44 | Elon Musk
The weapon that may surmount the Twitter threat is the free market.
45 | Circumventing
Sanctions Beijing is quietly taking steps to avoid Western sanctions in the future.
46 | Investment
Metaverse frenzy: What determines the worth of a virtual asset?
47 | US Inflation
Recent data suggest stagflation is on the way.
48 | Energy Embargo
New EU sanctions on Russia could backfire, benefiting China instead.
49 | Stocks and Bonds
Investors are likely to face a variety of challenges this year.
Features
12 | Restricted Treatment A Florida hospital stops ivermectin treatment without telling the family, then fires a nurse who supported them. 18 | Jaguars for China Chinese demand for jaguar fangs and exotic animal products fuels illegal poaching in Bolivia. THE LEAD
30 | Baseball Card Trade E-commerce giant Fanatics has bought the baseball card and collectibles arm of Topps. 38 | It’s a Dog Fight Activists are battling over whether pit bulls are safe pets, while many remain unadopted in shelters. Airline passengers without masks enter a security checkpoint at San Francisco International Airport on April 19. The Department of Justice is appealing a federal judge’s ruling that ended a federal mask mandate on public transportation and planes, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined the mandate was still necessary. JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY IMAGES
56 | Porto Heli
Perfection Come view an estate in a setting inundated with Greek history.
58 | Skiing Nirvana
Springtime in Vail is sure to enthrall all the senses.
60 | Mastering
the Grapes Pour a glass and explore the path to becoming a sommelier.
63 | Sleep Well
An assortment of hightech devices that will leave you snoring.
66 | The Drink
of the Derby The mint julep is the quintessential taste of the South.
67 | Building
Muscular Manners There’s no need to be inadvertently rude while at the gym. I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 3
T H G IL T O P S The Saint George Ride PEOPLE WEARING HISTORICAL COSTUMES take part in the traditional St. George’s Ride on Easter Monday in Traunstein, southern Germany, on April 18. The annual ride is a horse pilgrimage to honor Saint George, and takes participants from the Bavarian town of Traunstein to the chapel of Ettendorf. PHOTO BY CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
4 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 5
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NAT ION • WOR L D • W H AT H A P P E N E D T H I S W E E K
No.16
The Week
A pile of vintage baseball cards from the 1970s of the New York Yankees. PHOTO BY LUVEMAKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
Baseball Card World Changes Hands Restricted Treatment A Florida hospital stops ivermectin without telling a family and fires a nurse for advocating for it. 12
Wartime Messaging in Western Ukraine Propaganda art gets an information-age face-lift in Ukraine with QR codes, memes, and sophisticated photo editing. 28
30 Activists Battle Over Pit Bulls
In a nationwide political fight involving activist pressure on all levels of government, pit bull law is an everchanging environment. 38
INSIDE I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 7
The Week in Short US
$185
v o t l n i oa f r e vw i f l Ie “ d , a d n e ga r u o f o e r o m de aeh era st arcomeD n i se so l gib dra w o t ” .s m r e t d i m e h t
A Barrel
Analysts at JPMorgan have warned that a full and immediate ban on Russian oil imports into the European Union could drive the price of crude up to $185 per barrel.
— Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)
“We will continue the bussing process [to Washington because local communities] do not have the ability to take care or deal with [the surge in illegal immigration].” — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott
The U.S. central bank may hike interest rates by up to 75 points due to the high rate of inflation, according to James Bullard, president of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank.
Billion A $6 billion Civil Nuclear Credit Program has been launched, aimed at helping struggling nuclear power plants to continue operating amid rising costs, the U.S. Department of Energy announced.
26 Governors A group of Republican governors has announced an agreement to create a Border Strike Force to “disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations.”
600,000 Illegal Immigrants – Immigration and Customs Enforcement is planning to release up to 600,000 illegal immigrants amid a surge in illegal border crossings, an official revealed in a court filing.
8 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
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75 POINTS
$6
The Week in Short US FLORIDA
Florida House Approves Bill Revoking Disney’s Special SelfGoverning Status FLORIDA’S HOUSE OF Represen-
President Joe Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas during a meeting at the White House on March 1, 2021. VACCINE MANDATES
Biden Admin Extends COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for Noncitizens at Borders THE DEPARTMENT OF Homeland Security has extended a COVID-19 vaccine
requirement for noncitizens arriving by land or boat. The department said it would extend its Title 19 requirements, which gives the administration the power to continue to enforce COVID-19 vaccine mandates for noncitizen travelers. Those travelers who try to enter the country will need to produce a written record of vaccination from a government health agency or ministry as they show their passport and other documentation to Customs and Border Protection agents. “These requirements will continue to apply to non-U.S. travelers who are traveling both for essential and non-essential reasons, and do not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals,” it said. TENNESSEE
Tennessee GOP Removes 3 Candidates From Ballot THE TENNESSEE GOP has voted to remove three candidates who were vying
for a seat representing the state’s 5th Congressional District. Republicans voted to boot Morgan Ortagus, Robby Starbuck, and Baxter Lee from the primary ballot, Tennessee Republican Chairman Scott Golden told news outlets. Ortagus, a State Department spokeswoman during the Trump administration who recently moved from Washington, was just endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Starbuck, a filmmaker who used to live in California, has promoted Trump policies such as strong border enforcement. Lee is a businessman who has described himself as a conservative outsider. The vote came after state lawmakers passed legislation that requires congressional candidates to have resided in Tennessee for at least three years to appear on primary ballots.
tatives has approved a state Senate-passed measure that would strip Walt Disney Co. of its self-governing special district, reversing a more than 50-year-old state provision amid criticism over the corporation’s decision last month to oppose a parental rights law. Disney, which controls a 25,000acre parcel of land around Orlando, will pay significantly more in state taxes if Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has criticized Disney for embracing a “woke” ideological position in recent days, signs the bill into law. ENERGY
Biden Admin Announces New Land Available for Oil and Gas Leases THE BIDEN ADMINISTR ATION
has issued environmental assessment and sale notices for oil and gas leases on federal land in seven different states—a step taken reluctantly to come into compliance with a court order. The Bureau of Land Management issued assessments and sale notices for Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah.
The Hess Gas Plant in Tioga, N.D., on Aug. 20, 2013. I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 9
The Week in Short World LITHIUM
Chinese Firm to Acquire 13 Percent of Canadian Lithium Company A CHINESE FIRM that special-
Health workers wait to receive a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Krakow University Hospital in Poland on Dec. 27, 2020. POLAND
Poland Refuses New COVID-19 Vaccine Deliveries POLAND IS REFUSING to accept or pay for more deliveries of the COVID-19
vaccine under the European Union’s supply contract, amid dwindling demand. The country’s health minister announced the news in remarks on local television. Poland, alongside other members of the European Union, had been receiving doses of the COVID-19 vaccine throughout the pandemic under supply contracts negotiated between the European Commission and vaccine manufacturers such as BioNTech, Pfizer, or Moderna. Poland, however, has seen lower vaccine uptake than most of the European Union, leaving the country with surplus vaccine stock, part of which it has sold or donated to other countries.
Blinken Signs Agreement on Migration Cooperation With Panama U.S. SECRETARY OF State Anthony
Blinken has signed a bilateral agreement with Panama to create more “humane migration” as part of a joint focus on illegal immigration. “Good partnerships are crucial if we are to promote safe, orderly, and humane migration,” Blinken said. Blinken flew to Panama to cohost an international conference to address the migration crisis emerging from the Darien Gap, a U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and remote stretch of jungle wilderness Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo at the that joins Panama and Colombia. Presidential Palace in Panama City on April 19. From this lawless jungle, thousands of migrants cross into Panama illegally on their journey toward the United States. 10 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
FOOD PRICES
World Bank Chief Warns of Food Crisis THE WORLD BANK has warned
of a “human catastrophe” from a food crisis that could see millions forced into poverty due to the full-scale invasion launched by Russian forces in Ukraine. World Bank President David Malpass told the BBC at the IMFWorld Bank spring meetings in Washington that record food prices could see hundreds of millions of people forced into poverty if the conflict in Ukraine doesn't come to an end. The World Bank calculates there could be a 37 percent jump in food prices, which will hit the poor the hardest and see them “eat less and have less money for anything else, such as schooling,” Malpass said.
THIS PAGE FROM TOP: OMAR MARQUES/GETTY IMAGES, BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/POOL/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES; RIGHT PAGE FROM TOP: HUSSEIN FALEH/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES, JANOS KUMMER/GETTY IMAGES, JOHN WESSELS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES, -/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
US–PANAMA
izes in industrial explosives is planning to acquire a more than 10 percent stake in a Canadian lithium company for CA$5 million (about US$3.96 million). China-based company Sichuan Yahua Industrial Group Co. Ltd. announced its plan to acquire 13.2 percent of Ultra Lithium Inc., a Vancouver-based lithium and gold exploration firm, through its wholly owned subsidiary Yahua International Investment and Development Co. Ltd. The deal signed between the two companies will also see Yahua International acquiring a 60 percent stake in a whollyowned subsidiary of Ultra Lithium that has two lithium mining projects in Ontario, at Forgan Lake and Georgia Lake.
World in Photos
1.
1. An aircraft flies above Iraq’s southern city of Basra, under the waning gibbous moon, late on April 18. 2. A boy douses a girl in water as part of a “water sprinkling” tradition on Easter Monday in Budapest, Hungary, on April 18. 3. A woman attends an Easter Sunday service at the 230-yearold Zion Wilberforce Chapel in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on April 17. The historic church was founded by the original African American founders of the Colony of Sierra Leone in 1792. 4. Members of the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services extinguish a fire in the Joe Slovo informal settlement in Langa, one of Cape Town’s low-cost housing areas, on April 16. 2.
3.
4. I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 11
RESTRICTED COVID-19
Florida hospital stops ivermectin without telling family, fires nurse for advocating for it
12 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
A health worker shows a box of ivermectin in Cali, Colombia, on July 21, 2020. PHOTO BY LUIS ROBAYO/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
TREATMENT BY N A N E T T E H O LT
I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 13
Florida Hospital Protocols
T
HE CHILDREN OF A 55-YEAR-OLD
Florida woman say the hospital treating their mother for COVID-19 told her and them that she would be treated with ivermectin. However, the treatment was stopped after she improved because a hospital pharmacist intervened, medical records show. Dianne Spangler, of Titusville, worsened after the ivermectin was stopped early. She was put on a ventilator and died, medical records obtained by Insight show. What’s more, Spangler received the COVID-19 drug remdesivir even after she and her children had expressed they didn’t want her to be treated with it, according to records and Spangler’s daughter, Megan Spangler. Making the loss even more painful for Spangler’s three children—ages 32, 23, and 15—is knowing what has happened to the nurse who had advocated for the use of ivermectin on their behalf. Donna Lowery, who had worked at Parrish Medical Center for 31 years, was fired for suggesting the drug, and the hospital has urged the state of Florida to revoke her license. “Federal patient privacy laws prevent us from commenting on the specifics of any patient-related matters,” Parrish Healthcare’s senior vice president, Natalie Sellers, said in a statement. “What I can confirm is that COVID-19 patients receiving care at Parrish Medical Center receive appropriate treatment in accordance with evidence-based medical pro-
“I advocated. That’s what nurses do. We advocate.” Donna Lowery, nurse
tocols using FDA approved medicines as medically necessary and consistent with the indicated standard of care.” Doctors nationwide have told Insight they’ve used ivermectin to treat patients with COVID-19, often by following the protocols developed by the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC). Doctors with experience using the treatment have testified to its efficacy and safety before Congress and state legislatures. The legislatures of Tennessee, New Hampshire, and Kansas are currently considering bills that would allow, or even require, pharmacists to dispense ivermectin to people who ask for it. Yet physicians across the country have told Insight they fear losing their licenses for advocating for the use of ivermectin and other drugs that aren’t part of the COVID-19 treatment protocols outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and
Donna Lowery (L) helps pharmacist Dawn Butterfield, owner of West Cocoa Pharmacy and Compounding. 14 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP L: COURTESY OF DONNA LOWERY, RYAN M. BREEDEN/US NAVY VIA GETTY IMAGES, COURTESY OF DONNA LOWERY
Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Hospitals receive payments under the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act when they follow the protocols. Some doctors have told Insight they’ve received threatening letters from professional boards and malpractice providers that warn against speaking about COVID-19 treatments or vaccines in a way that could be considered “misinformation” or “disinformation.” The American Medical Association, the American Pharmacists Association, and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) have issued such statements. In Lowery’s case, most concerning to her is the NCSBN’s Dec. 2 statement that addresses “misinformation being disseminated about COVID-19 by nurses.” It reads: “Providing misinformation to the public regarding masking, vaccines, medications and/or COVID-19 threatens the public health. Misinformation, which is not grounded in science and is not supported by the CDC and FDA, can lead to illness, possibly death, and may prolong the pandemic. “Any nurse who violates their state nurse practice act or threatens the health and safety of the public through the dissemination of misleading or incorrect information pertaining to COVID-19, vaccines and associated treatment through verbal or written methods including social media may be disciplined by their board of nursing. “Nurses are urged to recognize that dissemination of misinformation not only jeopardizes the health and well-being of the public, but may place their license and career in jeopardy as well.” The NCSBN declined to comment to Insight, and directed inquiries to the Florida Board of Nursing. Nurses and doctors in Florida don’t have to worry about having their licenses stripped simply for speaking what they believe about COVID-19 treatments or prevention, said Jeremy Redfern, spokesman for the Florida Department of Health, which oversees the Florida Board of Nursing. That’s because members of the boards that govern the licenses in
Florida Hospital Protocols
Some doctors say they’ve received threatening letters from professional boards and malpractice providers warning against speaking about COVID-19 treatments or vaccines in a way that could be considered “misinformation” or “disinformation.” Florida are appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, he said. “I don’t think DeSantis is going to appoint anyone who doesn’t respect the [U.S.] Constitution,” Redfern said. “The Department of Health and our medical boards respect the First Amendment” and the free speech it guarantees, he said. “Speech does not constitute a reason to strip someone of their license.” Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo told Insight in February, “We’re definitely not going after anyone for prescribing ivermectin.” State policies prohibit Redfern from confirming any state investigation of a medical professional, until after there’s been a determination of probable cause, he said. Lowery knows that an investigation of her was initiated, because former colleagues were interviewed, she said. She hasn’t been notified officially, she said. DeSantis has argued publicly that doctors and nurses shouldn’t have to fear using their clinical experience to talk
about or even prescribe what they think is best for patients. The governor asked Florida’s Republican-led legislature to create a new law to protect health care workers’ freedom of speech under the U.S. Constitution. The bill died in committee. Since her firing, Lowery has worked as a lactation consultant and at an independent pharmacy. She worries she might not be able to work as a nurse again. She told her story to the Florida House Health and Human Services Committee on Nov. 15. When Lowery was still employed at the hospital, she’d seen an Aug. 26 memo from her employer addressing, among other things, the use of ivermectin for COVID-19 patients. “According to the FDA, ivermectin is not an anti-viral and should not be used to treat or prevent COVID-19,” the memo to employees stated. “Ivermectin tablets are approved at specific doses for some parasitic worms and when taken in large
doses can be dangerous and cause serious harm.” Lowery said she didn’t view it as a formal policy of the hospital because she knew of at least one patient who’d been treated with ivermectin. Additionally, a link in the memo led to a web page that suggested ivermectin was little more than livestock dewormer, which she knew was incorrect. A handful of her family members— some with conditions that made them more at-risk for serious COVID-19 infections—had used ivermectin to treat COVID-19. After her daughter, a respiratory therapist, had told her about miraculous recoveries using ivermectin, she researched the drug and spoke with other medical professionals who were using it. Ultimately, Lowery and others in her family took a livestock formulation of ivermectin hoping to prevent the infection throughout the pandemic. On Sept. 5, she reported to work on I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 15
Florida Hospital Protocols
Donna Lowery is accused of spreading misinformation—that which the CDC and FDA don't support and isn’t grounded in the accepted science.
16 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
Lowery then sought out the doctor caring for Dianne Spangler and said she was speaking for their colleague. “What do you know about ivermectin?” she asked the doctor. “I used it in my previous hospital,” she said he told her. “It doesn’t always work, and I don’t know if we have it here.” So Lowery called the pharmacist, who confirmed that ivermectin was available. “But it doesn’t work for COVID,” the pharmacist told Lowery. “It does,” Lowery insisted, telling about her family members’ experiences. The doctor overseeing the treatment of all COVID-19 patients would have to approve it, the pharmacist told Lowery. Lowery and the charge nurse went to find the doctor. With the pharmacist listening to the conversation by phone, that doctor also agreed that ivermectin could be used for Spangler, Lowery said. A third doctor put an order for the drug into the computer. “I went to the co-worker and said, ‘Your mom can have ivermectin,’” Lowery said. “She was so excited. She was crying.” “So that was all I did. I advocated. That’s what nurses do. We advocate.” Megan Spangler remembers the hope she felt when her sister, who’s still employed at Parrish Medical Center, called from the hospital and told her about the opportunity to try ivermectin to treat their mother. “I said, ‘Yes, 100 percent! At this point, I will do anything, I want to try anything!’”
FROM L: TAMI CHAPPELL/REUTERS, DIRK VAEM/BELGA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
the floor where she helped deliver babies, after praying on the way, as always, that God would put her where he wanted her to be that day. The obstetrics unit wasn’t busy, so she was moved to another floor to help with COVID-19 patients. There, Lowery saw a colleague crying at the nurses’ station. The young nursing assistant had just been told by a doctor that if her mother, Dianne Spangler, didn’t improve, she’d have to go on a ventilator. Spangler had been in the hospital a week. Hospital records show she had “multifocal pneumonia.” “Why don’t we use ivermectin?” Lowery wondered aloud, when the young woman excused herself to splash water on her face, and a doctor joined the group of nurses. The doctor, Lowery said, chimed in, “Yeah, why don’t we?” Looking back on that moment, Lowery said, “I did not ask for something we had not already used in the hospital.” Lowery and two other nurses went to console their co-worker, and Lowery asked if her mom had been taking ivermectin. She had not. After hearing about Lowery’s experiences with ivermectin, the colleague “said she wanted it for her mom,” Lowery said. The four ladies acknowledged to each other that all were Christians. They bowed their heads to pray together before taking further action. “That’s the most important part of this whole story,” Lowery said.
Megan Spangler said. “And so she went into the room with my mom, and told my mom, and my mom said, ‘Yes, I want ivermectin!’ So they went and got it.” Medical records confirm that the family requested the ivermectin, discussed the treatment with Spangler’s doctor, and were told it would be administered. Records also stated: “Did explain to them that studies so far have shown that ivermectin is not helpful in COVID patients and has not been recommended as treatment by CDC,” and “patient was agreeable with the plan.” What was ordered for Dianne Spangler was only about half the dose needed, said Dr. Ed Balbona of Jacksonville, who reviewed her medical records with permission from her family. Balbona has used ivermectin to treat about 400 patients with COVID-19; none have died, he said. With some minor changes, Balbona largely follows protocols developed by Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance. Even receiving just a half-dose of ivermectin, Spangler improved, her records show, Balbona said. She was “feeling good, no shortness of breath in this time frame, was able to eat and move around,” notes in her medical record show. “When she took the ivermectin, she was able to get up, she was eating, she was able to talk on FaceTime,” Megan Spangler said. She, her brother, and sister, who asked not to be identified, were overjoyed. Two days after starting ivermectin, Dianne Spangler’s medical records note, “Patient still requiring high flow oxygen but currently feels okay with no acute shortness of breath. Try to wean off slowly.” Her children couldn’t understand when her condition declined again. But on Sept. 15, Dianne Spangler was put on a ventilator, and she died on Oct. 11. Crushed, they requested her records, which revealed that the five-day course of ivermectin they were told she would receive had been canceled by the pharmacist, with the comment, “Not indicated for COVID diagnosis.”
Florida Hospital Protocols
Notes also appeared to show that the drug remdesivir was given from Aug. 30 through Sept. 12, and again on Sept. 15 and 16. “We didn’t want her to have it,” Megan Spangler said. “My mom didn’t want to have it. My mom wanted the ivermectin. At that time, my sister was the power of attorney. But my mom was also still conscious and aware enough to say, ‘Hey, I want this.’” Meanwhile, five days after suggesting ivermectin for Spangler, Lowery’s supervisor called her, clearly upset. “I’m like, ‘What’s going on? Am I getting fired or something?’ just being flippant. I had no clue anything was going on about this whole ivermectin thing,” Lowery said. She had been told Spangler had improved after being started on the drug. “She said, ‘Donna, you’re suspended.’ “For what?” Lowery remembers demanding. “For advocating for ivermectin,” she said her supervisor told her. Two days later, the supervisor called again and said the hospital’s chief nursing officer, Edwin Loftin, also senior vice president of integrated and acute care services, and hospital CEO George Mikitarian, had called for her to turn in her hospital ID. She was being fired. Almost seven months later, she’s still incredulous. “Are you kidding me? I advocated!” Lowery says now. “I’m taking care of you, and let’s say you have chronic pain and you take a particular medication for your chronic pain, and now you’ve had surgery, and they ordered something else for you that you know doesn’t work. That’s my Megan Spangler said neither her mother, the COVID-19 patient, nor any of her family members were informed that ivermectin wasn’t working or that remdesivir would be administered before her mother’s death.
job to call your doctor and say, ‘Hey, soand-so is requesting this, because she knows that doesn’t work.’ That’s what we do! Imagine! Patient care at a hospital! Imagine that!” The termination form from the hospital states that Lowery “advocated for a medication to be used directly against FDA regulations and outside her scope of practice. This is cause for immediate termination.” It goes on to say, “Ms. Lowery’s actions had the potential to cause serious harm and potential death of a patient. As such, she will be reported to AHCA [Agency for Health Care Administration] and the state with request to remove license.” Using FDA-approved drugs for off-label uses—uses that aren’t specifically approved by the FDA—is part of the everyday practice of medicine, doctors and nurses have told Insight. “In labor and delivery, we use medicines [in off-label uses] every day,” Lowery said. “Misoprostol [known by the brand name] Cytotec—that is used to induce labor. If you look up that medication on the CDC or the FDA website, it says, ‘Do not use in pregnant women. Can cause uterine rupture, death to fetus and/or mother.’ We use it every day.” “And how about the oath we took to do no harm?” Lowery asks. Lowery said she prays for the two men who ordered her firing and who required strict adherence to CDC and NIH protocols for treating COVID-19. She doesn’t regret what happened, and she said she believes it was no accident that she was ordered to that floor that day. “Parrish Medical Center was my mission field,” she said.
Physicians across the country fear losing their licenses for advocating for the use of ivermectin and other drugs that aren’t part of the COVID-19 treatment protocols outlined by the CDC and the NIH. Megan Spangler and her sibling have been told it’s nearly impossible to sue a hospital for a case involving COVID-19. And that’s true, attorneys told Insight. Twenty-nine states, including Florida, adopted legislation at the urging of the federal government that gave hospitals immunity from lawsuits regarding COVID-19, as long as they followed government guidelines for treating the disease. In Florida, one such measure was set to expire in March, but was extended for 14 months. That leaves Dianne Spangler’s children wondering if they have any legal grounds for suing the hospital for what they see as their mother’s wrongful death. For almost 20 years, Dianne Spangler had worked in customer service at the Brevard County Clerk of Court office. There’s a driver’s license program named for her, because of her efforts to help people get revoked driver’s licenses reinstated. She loved the beach, and loved spending time with family and friends. She reveled in cheering for her teenage son at his basketball and baseball games. “She was just full of life, and always on the go,” Megan Spangler said. During her hospitalization, Spangler would keep a brave face for her children during video chats. But to friends, she’d send texts imploring, “Please pray for me.” Megan Spangler said if doctors felt the ivermectin wasn’t working or that remdesivir should be administered, “none of that was ever told to us. ... So we didn’t even have the opportunity to say, ‘OK, but we want to transfer her to another hospital that will give her this. “I want someone in that hospital held accountable for my mom’s death, because she should be alive today.” I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 17
CHINESE DEMAND CONSERVATION
EXOTIC ANIMAL TRA
IN BOLIVIA BY AU T U M N S P R E DEM A N N
18 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
FUELS
AFFICKING
Chinese crime syndicate using Bolivian prison labor to make items from poached exotic animals, including jaguars
Beni’s wildlife director, Jorge Raposo Callau (R), and two staff members display seized illegal black caiman and jaguar pelts in the city of Trinidad on April 11. PHOTO BY AUTUMN SPREDEMANN/THE EPOCH TIMES
I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 19
The Lead Wildlife Smuggling
T
RINIDAD,
BOLIVIA—
Amid the intense humidity and bustle of everyday life in Bolivia’s Amazonian region, a river of smuggled exotic animals is flowing toward Asia. With the cooperation of the local prison system, Chinese nationals have created a thriving industry in which inmates are forced to create products such as wallets, hats, and purses from threatened exotic animals. In Bolivia, it’s illegal to kill, consume, or traffic wild animals. The crime is punishable by up to six years in prison. Members of the Chinese crime syndicate Putian have been trafficking and selling jaguar teeth, pelts, and body parts in several Amazonian towns in the departments of Beni and Santa Cruz. The operation was originally exposed during a 2018 undercover investigation by Earth League International and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The probe revealed how Chinese immigrants living in Bolivia collaborated with members of the Putian to acquire jaguars for the sale of their teeth, organs, and hides in China. There are an estimated 130,000 jaguars left in the world, and they are considered a threatened species. In Bolivia, their numbers are down to 2,000 to 3,000 animals. Figures from the IUCN revealed that 200 of the creatures were killed by traffickers from 2014 to 2016. By 2018, another 140 had fallen victim to the criminals, although that figure could be as high as 340 animals. A three-year investigation by the Bolivian public ministry and the forest and environmental protection police culminated in the arrest of five Chinese nationals in the city of Santa Cruz. The criminals were busted for selling jaguar parts out of the back of a fast-food chicken restaurant. Yet, despite these efforts, the trafficking of exotic animals persists in Bolivia, creating an uphill battle for conservationists. “The law is on our side, but it’s hard to enforce,” Beni’s director of wildlife and natural resources, Jorge Aysar Raposo Callau, told Insight.
By the Skin of Their Teeth In Callau’s office, a banner hangs behind his desk that declares, “Say no to buying, selling, or capturing wildlife,” along with a 20 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
Products made from jaguar, anaconda, ocelot, and other wild animals in a black market stall in Trinidad.
“Only foreigners buy this stuff.” Brenda, local seller
free hotline number for people to call and report animal trafficking. “It wasn’t always like this,” Callau said, gesturing toward the banner. “Until recent years, the only reason locals hunted jaguars was to protect their cattle or children when one tried to attack a village.” Callau says that Chinese business interests are driving the demand for wild animals, especially jaguar parts. Bolivian authorities confiscated an astounding 684 jaguar fangs from Chinese smugglers as of August 2018. Of that number, customs intercepted 119 at border checkpoints. Illegal wildlife exports represent a $19 billion-a-year industry worldwide, offering profits too great for cash-strapped locals to refuse.
The Lead Wildlife Smuggling
130,000 JAGUARS
AUTUMN SPREDEMANN/THE EPOCH TIMES
ARE LEFT IN THE WORLD, and they are considered a threatened species. In Bolivia, their numbers are down to between 2,000 and 3,000 animals.
It’s evident in the stalls of black market sellers on the outskirts of Trinidad, Bolivia. At the end of a dusty road is a country market, where fruit and vegetable stalls are found alongside kiosks where locals sell products made from illegally procured wild animal parts. A local woman named Brenda had a variety of wallets, hats, belts, and purses made from jaguar pelts, in addition to puma, anaconda, and caiman on display. “Only foreigners buy this stuff,” she told Insight, taking down a man’s wallet made with jaguar fur for closer inspection. The products made from illegal animal parts on display in Brenda’s stall were priced to sell. They ranged in price from $16 for a small men’s wallet made from anaconda or black caiman leather, to $150 for a jaguar
$19
BILLION ILLEGAL WILDLIFE EXPORTS represent a $19 billion-a-year industry worldwide, offering profits too great for cashstrapped locals to refuse.
pelt cowboy hat or a ladies’ handbag. Brenda said she’s aware that Customs may seize any products made from wild animal parts upon leaving the country and that it’s illegal to sell the items she has in her market stall, but doesn’t seem to mind. At the end of the day, the demand already exists, and Brenda maintains she’s merely one link in a chain of symptoms representing the booming animal trafficking industry that China has brought to the region. While she said that China is the main buyer of these items, it isn’t the only player in the illegal export game. “I recently had one buyer from Spain who bought two jaguar hats for a doctor friend back home,” Brenda said. She added that the local prison in Trinidad, which is run by the Bolivian government, is fueling the animal trafficking industry. The prison, called Mocovi, participates in a program that forces inmates to make leather products from various animals for purchase, including illegal wild animals. During a live broadcast from BTV on Sept. 26, 2021, a reporter interviewed a prison leather products seller and revealed footage of hats and wallets made with illegal jaguar pelts. In the interview, the seller claimed the program is meant to help “rehabilitate prisoners” and prepare them to work regular jobs once released from prison. And this is done, ironically, by forcing convicted criminals to commit another crime in the eyes of the Bolivian law. Officials at the general directorate of the penitentiary system declined to comment when contacted by Insight. Before the 2018 bust, Chinese traffickers were able to export small parts from jaguars, particularly the fangs, fairly easily through the country’s international airports. However, since Customs officers began cracking down on the practice, opportunistic smugglers are turning to alternate routes to move the coveted exotic animal items out of the country. Some of these methods include moving contraband through remote border crossings into Brazil and the notorious “death corridor,” which is a desolate section of the Atacama Desert between Bolivia and Chile. One of the biggest problems for conservationists is the sheer size of the I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 21
The Lead Wildlife Smuggling
country’s wilderness and relatively small population. Bolivia has a population density of only 26 people per square mile compared to neighboring Brazil’s 62 people per square mile. That translates into a lack of law enforcement, especially in national parks, where many of the nation’s wild and threatened animals live and poachers operate freely. “We’re doing what we can, but we need more people,” Callau said.
A Dangerous Mythology
(Top) A cargo boat on the river Ibarre on April 13. (Above) A jaguar pelt confiscated from animal traffickers. Local cattle ranchers began hunting jaguars more aggressively than just defending their cattle once Chinese nationals expressed an interest in purchasing the cats’ body parts. 22 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
In the mountainous river town of Rurrenabaque, jaguar hunting has grown up alongside the tourist industry. Local eco-lodge operator and landowner Adela Jordan has seen the mentality of locals change over the years as China’s money and influence infiltrated the region. “They’re predators [China]; they consume everything they see—the land, the animals, the rivers, the trees, everything,” Jordan told Insight. She explained how cattle ranchers in the area began hunting jaguars more
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP L: AUTUMN SPREDEMANN/THE EPOCH TIMES, YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES, AUTUMN SPREDEMANN/THE EPOCH TIMES
The Lead Wildlife Smuggling
aggressively than just defending their livestock, once Chinese nationals expressed an interest in purchasing the cats’ teeth and other body parts. About 20 miles down the road is the city of Reyes, where Jordan said another black market thrives and offers products made from wild animals, including jaguars. “So many [locals] here have become poachers,” she said. The thriving undercurrent of trafficking exists in sharp contrast to Rurrenabaque’s international claim to fame: Madidi National Park. Crouched at the edge of one of the last stretches of pristine Amazonian wilderness, tour operators in town offer threeday to one-week deep jungle adventures and wildlife spotting tours reminiscent of African photo safaris. Yet with Chinese criminals offering $100 to $400 per tooth for jaguar fangs, the money has proved too inviting for locals to pass up. The mythology surrounding the purported good luck, fortune, protection,
Environmental protection police officers patrol along the Paraguay river, in Corumba, Brazil, on April 4, 2013.
CHINESE BUSINESS INTERESTS are driving the demand for wild animals, especially jaguar parts, a director of wildlife and natural resources says.
and vitality offered by jaguar teeth, which is an extension of the Chinese belief that Asian tiger parts offer the same benefits, is at the heart of the demand. Additionally, there are well-intentioned but haphazard rescue attempts that leave many liberated animals, including jaguars, living in cages for the rest of their lives. Jordan described one such animal refuge near the town of Rurrenabaque, which was forced to shoot a wild jaguar that entered the property and tried to attack one of the rescue center’s captive animals. “So what was the point, if they have to shoot one of the animals they’re trying to protect?” she asked. In 2018, China’s embassy in Bolivia issued a statement pleading for its citizens living in the South American country to respect and “strictly observe” Chinese and Bolivian laws and regulations against the illegal trafficking of wild animals. The Bolivian Minister of the Environment didn’t respond by press time to a request for comment. I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 23
World Politics
G EO P O L I T I C S
In Latin America, China Is Isolating Taiwan As China extends its influence through trade, it alienates Taiwan from a shrinking number of allies By Autumn Spredemann
T
he geopolitical power dynamic between China and Taiwan is exemplified in how international relations are unfolding in Latin America. China continues to extend its influence in the region through trade and investment while systematically alienating and undermining Taiwan’s dwindling number of allies in the process. “All of China’s economic moves are politically motivated,” Latin American economist Edwardo Hoffman told Insight. Although its allies in the region are diminishing, Taiwan is working to strengthen ties with friendly countries such as Paraguay, Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize. Presently, there are only 14 countries in the world that recognize the island nation’s autonomy. On March 31, a delegation from Paraguay met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and signed two memorandums focusing on the promotion of investment and exports and the prevention of African Swine Flu, as well as a letter of intent on industrial policy cooperation between the nations. Representatives from Paraguay who attended the meeting were Minister of Industry and Commerce Luis Alberto Castiglioni, Vice Minister of Industry Ramiro Samaniego, and Ambassador Estefania Laterza, vice minister of exports. Agriculture and livestock officials, along with members of the Paraguayan Industrial Union, were also present during a series of discussions between March 28 and April 1. Tsai said she hoped the two countries would comprehensively deepen and strengthen relations between them and jointly promote prosperity and development.
24 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
The head of state also noted that since the economic cooperation between Paraguay and Taiwan went into effect in 2018, both countries have enjoyed continuous growth in bilateral trade. During the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan was quick to offer support to friendly nations in the Americas. In 2020, Guatemalan President Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei expressed his gratitude for Taiwan’s donation of critical pandemic supplies such as COVID-19 test kits, surgical masks, infrared thermometers, hospital equipment, and automatic detection systems. The Central American nation reinforced its solidarity with Taipei again in December 2021. Officials representing Honduran President Xiomara Castro also pledged to support Taiwan last December, which is a notable shift in attitude from her campaign promises to further develop relations with China. The island nation also donated $3 million in aid to Honduras during the height of the pandemic in 2020. Nevertheless, some experts say keeping allies in Latin America has nothing to do with goodwill gestures and everything to do with money. Analyst Fernando Menéndez told Insight that when it comes to creating partnerships in the region, China has an obvious advantage because of the sheer size of its investments. “The goal of Latin American countries, ultimately, is to industrialize. China came along and helped make that happen,” he said. Beijing invested a total of $83 billion in Latin America from 2005 to 2020, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Chinese government has also
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen (R) and Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benítez in Taoyuan, Taiwan, on Oct. 9, 2018. Tsai noted that since the economic cooperation between Paraguay and Taiwan went into effect in 2018, both countries have enjoyed continuous growth in bilateral trade.
In December 2021, Nicaragua broke relations with Taiwan in favor of China. By way of thanks, China pledged over $500 million to help develop Nicaragua’s electrical infrastructure.
World Politics
83 BILLION $
Beijing invested a total of $83 billion from 2005 to 2020 in Latin America, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.
FROM L: SAM YEH/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES, REUTERS/JORGE SILVA
Chinese leader Xi Jinping (R) attends a meeting with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, on July 20, 2014. increased lending to Latin American countries. As of 2020, the China Development Bank and the China Export-Import Bank granted 94 loans amounting to $137 billion, the majority of which went to Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, and Argentina. This translates into substantial yet subtle influence over governments in the region. El Salvador broke ties with Taiwan in August 2018 under former President Salvador Sánchez Cerén. Shortly afterward, in November 2018, Beijing agreed to give the Central American nation $150 million during Cerén’s diplomatic visit to China. “This historic meeting between the governments of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of El Salvador has produced excellent results. This confirms that the establishment of diplomatic relations with China is the most important decision of my government in foreign policy,” Cerén said at the time. Less than a year later, Nayib Bukele took office and promptly joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
In December 2021, Nicaragua followed suit and broke relations with Taiwan in favor of China. Foreign Minister Denis Moncada was blunt in his response to the sudden shift toward China in diplomacy. “The government of the Republic of Nicaragua recognizes that there is only one China in the world. ... The People’s Republic of China is the only legitimate government that represents all of China,” Moncada said. By way of thanks, China pledged more than $500 million to help develop Nicaragua’s electrical infrastructure. China giving or lending large cash infusions to countries shortly after they renounce Taiwan has become an established trend in Latin America. This is how Beijing gradually but continuously sways struggling nations: by using the same “dollar diplomacy” the United States has been criticized for employing. Hoffman said the tactic is colonialism by any other name. “They [China] entered as all other capitalist and colonial foreign entities have in the past,” he said. “They say they’re different, but the approach is the same.”
Beijing hasn’t been discreet when expressing its sentiments about Taiwan, which it considers to be a rogue province. During the National People’s Congress on March 7, 2021, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, “Taiwan will eventually return to the embrace of the motherland.” Moreover, China’s strategic moves in the region have turned heads in Washington, and some experts say this is an issue of national security. Analyst Evan Ellis said China’s funding of authoritarian populism close to U.S. borders creates a significant threat. Second to that is the possibility of an increased presence of other U.S. rivals growing their presence in the region, such as Russia and Iran. Concerns over China’s burgeoning influence were expressed in a November 2021 congressional report, which took special note of the deepening of China’s strategic political and military relationships with authoritarian regimes in the Americas. There was mention of “democratic backsliding” being exceptionally prevalent in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 25
An elderly woman looks at the Jänschwalde Power Station in Peitz, Germany, on Oct. 29, 2021.
O I L & G AS
Environmental group would ban urban car use, private jets, and internal flights in Europe By Nathan Worcester
26 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
FROM L: SEAN GALLUP/GETTY IMAGES, FHM/GETTY IMAGES
How Radical Should Europe Go to End Russian Energy?
March report from environmentalist group RePlanet is pushing for an immediate halt to imports of Russian oil, natural gas, and coal by European countries, arguing that major policy shifts could rapidly end that dependence. While the European Union has pledged to phase out Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027, RePlanet campaigners are aiming to accelerate that timeline through various measures, including the reactivation of shuttered nuclear plants, the reduction of heating in buildings, the fast-tracking of new wind and solar energy, and outright prohibitions on certain forms of travel within Europe. “We propose bans on all business flights, private jets and internal flights within Europe to save oil, and bans also on car use within cities. This should be combined with free public transport,” the report reads, noting that a quarter of European oil use would need to be slashed to compensate for the loss of Russian oil. While the United States and other countries have already banned Russian oil imports, Eu-
International Energy
Environmentalist group RePlanet calls for bans on all flights within Europe to “save oil.”
45% of the EU’s natural gas imports came from Russia in 2021, accounting for about 40 percent of the bloc’s total gas consumption.
70% of the EU’s imported thermal coal comes from Russia.
rope’s greater dependence on Russian energy has hindered such moves by continental policymakers. In 2021 alone, roughly 45 percent of the EU’s natural gas imports came from Russia, which also accounted for about 40 percent of the EU’s total gas consumption. According to Bruegel, a Belgian think tank, the EU is also heavily dependent on Russia for both the thermal coal that generates electricity and the metallurgical coal employed in iron and steel production. With 70 percent of the EU’s imported thermal coal coming from Russia, between 20 and 30 percent of its metallurgical coal imports can be traced to that same country. The EU has already launched an embargo on Russian coal. In comments at the European Parliament on April 6, EU Council President Charles Michel said, “I think that measures on oil and even gas will also be needed sooner or later.” On April 14, The New York Times drew on comments from anonymous diplomats and officials who said the EU was preparing an embargo on Russian oil products. “We will need dramatic measures to reduce demand, implemented via some form of energy rationing to ensure the burden is shared fairly and does not disproportionately hurt poorer households and countries,” the report reads, later stating that the absence of a rationing system could allow prices to shoot upward and “undermine the consensus needed to underpin the war effort.” Writing at Climate Depot, Marc Morano said the RePlanet analysis reflects an “enchantment with COVID lockdowns.” “We may need a state of emergency declared, and an explicit political recognition that European economies are now on a war footing in terms of the rapidity of the energy transition,”
the report reads, stating that “in some ways the speed of the change will resemble the Covid lockdowns, but with a different trajectory in the longer term.” In a later section on medium- to long-term outcomes, the report states that “a war economy approach will need to be maintained” to bring in more solar and wind power, electrify heating and transport, and bolster or restart nuclear power. The analysis first gained widespread attention through coverage in The Guardian, a left-leaning British publication. The lead author of the report, Mark Lynas, has written for The Guardian before. In one recent article for that publication, he advocated for a ‘fossil freedom day’—in other words, a global exit date from the use of oil, natural gas, and coal. “If we set it at 2150, as Saudi Arabia would no doubt immediately volunteer, we will be well on our way to turning Earth into Venus by then. I propose 2047,” Lynas wrote at the time. Lynas also leads the pro-GMO group Alliance for Science and has served as a visiting fellow with the World Economic Forum. While the RePlanet analysis states that “this is not a leap in the dark” and that “the numbers add up,” a disclaimer at the end of the report states that “the numbers in the plan are meant to be taken as indicative ballpark potentials of various actions, not exact values or even as likely outcomes.” In addition, after proposing bans on internal European flights and urban car use, the report notes that “the impacts of this are not easily quantified.” “We believe this could double the reduction in oil use beyond that proposed by the IEA in its handbook ‘Saving Oil in a Hurry,’” the report reads. Lynas didn’t respond to a request for comment. I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 27
P R O PAG A N DA
Wartime Messaging Dominates Outdoor Ads in Western Ukraine
By Ivan Pentchoukov
28 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
accepting donations for the Ukrainian armed forces. A billboard soliciting help from civilians includes a QR code that takes them to a website where people can report the locations of Russian forces. Many of the billboards feature the viral message, “Russian ship, go [expletive] yourself.” The line is in reference to an internet meme based on the rebuke issued by a Ukrainian soldier stationed on Snake Island. The soldier, who livestreamed his interaction with the ship’s crew, declined an offer to surrender issued by the Russian sailors on the first day of Moscow’s invasion. The Russian warship fired on the Ukrainian soldiers, killing several. A number of billboards borrow from this theme, substituting the ship for tanks and soldiers. Several Ukrainians who spoke to Insight expressed mild dismay at the use of expletives in the ads, a sight unseen in Ukraine before the war. Many Ukrainians believe that expletives are a crude Russian import. According to the governor of the Lviv region, such billboards would never have been approved by the public before the war, but things have changed because of Russia’s invasion. A spokesman for the mayor of Ternopil, a Ukrainian city east of Lviv, said anything anti-Russia goes. A particularly graphic variation of the “Russian ship” theme shows a vessel stylized to look like the Kremlin
ALL PHOTOS BY CHARLOTTE CUTHBERTSON/THE EPOCH TIMES
Propaganda art, around since World War II, gets an information-age face-lift in Ukraine, with QR codes, memes, and sophisticated photo editing
L
VIV, Ukraine—A poster on a busy intersection in Lviv, the unofficial capital of Western Ukraine, depicts a decapitated two-headed eagle from Russia’s coat of arms holding the axes the creature had apparently used to perform the bloody act. “Small military operation in Ukraine!’ the poster reads, riffing on the phrase Russian President Vladimir Putin has used to describe Russia’s invasion. A poster nearby shows a Russian bear standing on top of Ukraine, its leg chewed off by a honey badger. The badger, donning a vest marked with the acronym for the Ukrainian armed forces, is chewing through the bear’s arm. “Those who come to us with a sword, on the sword will die,” the poster reads. Wartime propaganda posters and billboards with messages similar to these can be seen throughout Western Ukraine, including inside and outside the cities of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Truskavets, and Ternopil. While propaganda billboards and posters aren’t a new phenomenon in times of war, the ones in Ukraine feature clear signs of the modern age, including QR codes, sophisticated computer-assisted design, and ideas drawn from viral internet memes. The Russian bear poster features a QR code that leads viewers to a website
War in Ukraine (Far left) Billboards display messages saying “To fight is to live" and “Fight, you will win. God is helping you," in western Ukraine, in March 2022. (Left) A poster depicts a Russian bear standing on top of the shape of Ukraine with one leg bitten off by a honey badger, which is now attacking the bear’s arm. The badger wears a vest marked with the acronym for the Ukrainian armed forces. “Those who come to us with a sword, on the sword will die,” the poster says.
sinking in a pool of blood. The messaging, far from the front lines, appears to mainly target the locals in the western part of the country. It could also demoralize Russian forces, should they ever make it to that part of the country. A grim message seen on several billboards and posters reads, “We are on our soil and you will be in it.” The spokesman for the governor of Lviv told Insight that the billboards and posters are part-volunteer, part-government effort. The mayor of Ternopil said companies that put up the posters have taxes waived for the related work. The art for a series of billboards featuring literary figures from Ukraine’s past appears to have been made using photo editing software. The literary greats, long dead, appear dressed in modern military fatigues. “To fight is to live,” one billboard reads, quoting Lesya Ukrainka, a prominent Ukrainian literary figure. “Fight, you will win. God is helping you,” reads a billboard alongside it, quoting Taras Shevchenko, one of Ukraine’s most prominent poets. Another ad features an excerpt from a poem by Ukrainian poet Ivan Franko stating, “Our courage—a sword drenched in blood.” A series of billboards in Lviv feature excerpts from the Ukrainian national anthem.
“Our enemies will perish like dew in the sun,” one billboard reads. “We will not let anyone rule in our native land,” reads another. The ads with messaging drawn from Ukraine’s cultural heritage are part of a broader nationalist theme seen in outdoor ads. The Ukrainian government accelerated a drive toward a unified national culture in the wake of the revolution in 2014 that ousted its pro-Russia president. The drive included an emphasis on using Ukrainian as the national language, a factor Putin has cited as one of the drivers of the hostilities between the two nations.
Wartime propaganda posters and billboards can be seen throughout Western Ukraine. The fighters in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk autonomous regions, which are majority Russian-speaking, were initially motivated, in part, by the Ukrainian government’s campaign to make Ukrainian the only national language. In January, a new law went into effect in Ukraine requiring the use of the Ukrainian language in most public settings. The vast majority of people in Ukraine can switch comfortably between Russian and Ukrainian. However, since the onset of the war, Ukrainian has been spoken as a point of pride. “The Lviv region is free from Russian-speaking cultural products,” one roadside billboard reads. The billboards promoting recruitment
and financial support for Ukraine’s territorial defenses and the military appear to be from official sources, featuring corporate ad design and bland messaging. “Join the ranks of the territorial defenses,” one billboard reads. “Strong Together. Support territorial defenses,” reads another. “To protect your fatherland professionally, join the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” a third billboard states. “Learn to protect your home. Join the ranks of territorial defense,” reads a fourth. Billboards near Ukraine’s border with Poland target men who may be fleeing the country instead of enlisting for the war. “This is our land! Don’t retreat!” reads one billboard miles from the border with Poland. “Don’t run away! Defend!” reads another. Other billboards glorify and thank the armed forces and fallen soldiers. “Heroes don’t die,” reads one billboard along a rural highway. Above the message is a photo of a young soldier named Vitalii Sapylo, who, according to the billboard, died on Feb. 25, the second day of the war. On some busy highway intersections, wartime ads appear alongside pre-war ads. In one cluster of billboards, ads for concrete delivery, a private clinic, a church, and a TV channel appear next to a billboard supporting the troops, which reads, “Guys, you are cosmic! Ukraine is with you!” Some ads combine the war effort and commercial interests. A poster for an optics store in Lviv features wartime messaging and vows to contribute 20 percent of all revenue to the military. Ads drawing on religious themes are among the most prevalent. Some billboards call on help from the divine. Others appeal to more universal facets of spirituality, including one that reads, “Our weapons: prayer, forbearance, love.” I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 29
COLLECTIBLES
BASEBALL CARD WO CHANGES HANDS E-commerce giant Fanatics buys baseball card and collectibles arm of Topps By Michael Sakal
30 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
ORLD Since 1951, the Topps Co. has produced baseball cards that are a big part of Americana and remain popular with fans and collectors of all ages. After this year, Topps will end its 71-year run, after selling its sports card and collectibles division to Fanatics. PHOTO BY MICHAEL SAK AL/THE EPOCH TIMES
I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 31
In Focus Baseball Cards
S M A J O R L E A G U E Baseball ballparks host Opening Day events during the early days of April, America’s national pastime is set to embark on yet another year that begins with a crack of the bat, the pounding of a new leather glove, and a bit of change that’s all in the cards. The 2022 season is marking the end of an era in Americana that stemmed from anticipation and excitement as the snow melted into spring, when fans would rush to corner stores and purchase cellophane packages filled with a pink slab of bubble gum and pictures of baseball heroes on cardboard rectangles. Topps, which has since 1951 printed baseball cards featuring pictures of iconic players and one-season wonders on the front and their statistics and fun facts on the back, is retiring this year after a 71-year run. In January, Fanatics—an e-commerce sports apparel giant based in Tampa, Florida—purchased the baseball card and collectibles arm of Topps for a reported $500 million. The purchase came ahead of the end of Topps’s licensing agreement with Major League Baseball, which was set to expire in 2025. This means Fanatics can immediately start designing and producing the cards, but the Topps brand—as fans and collectors know it—is stepping up to the plate one last time. “With trading cards and collectibles being a significant pillar of our longterm plans to become the leading digital sports platform, we are excited to add a
leading trading cards company to build out our business,” Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin said in a statement. Those familiar with the company and collecting baseball cards have mixed emotions ranging from excitement, uncertainty, and anticipation of what Fanatics can bring to the hobby in the way of using technology and marketing in the digital age. It remains to be seen whether Fanatics will replace the familiar Topps logo with its own, although Topps leaves a legacy that fans and collectors hope the new cardmaker will emulate. “Topps is synonymous with baseball cards,” photographer Gregg Forwerck of North Carolina told Insight. Forwerck was signing baseball players to the Topps contracts to appear on a card when it was announced the licensing agreement to produce cards was awarded to Fanatics. Fans used to be able to purchase wax packs of the cards that included bubble gum for a nickel at the corner store, as Forwerck did as a kid growing up in Michigan hoping to find a card of Detroit Tigers superstar Al Kaline during the late 1960s and early ‘70s. Their hope was in the fun and challenge of completing a set of 600-plus
This 1982 Topps card of Hall of Fame slugger Willie Stargell was taken after a spring training game in Florida when he was playing fungo with kids.
(Far Left) Mike Rubin, CEO of Fanatics, an e-commerce sports apparel giant, recently purchased the Sportscard and collectibles division of Topps for a reported $500 million. (Left) Photographers Gregg Forwerck (L), Ed Mailliard (C), and Doug McWilliams have taken thousands of photos for Topps that have appeared on baseball cards. The trio were inducted into the Cactus League Hall of Fame in 2015. 32 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP L: COURTESY OF ED MALLIARD, MICHAEL SAKAL/THE EPOCH TIMES, MICHAEL SAKAL/THE EPOCH TIMES, MICHAEL SAKAL/THE EPOCH TIMES, COURTESY OF FANATICS, MICHAEL SAKAL/THE EPOCH TIMES
In Focus Baseball Cards
cards by the end of the season or at least getting their favorite player. The cards were released in about five series throughout the year, which often made it harder to get the higher numbers in the set, as retailers phased out baseball cards to usher in the new football cards. Forwerck just completed his 33rd spring training of taking pictures for Topps. He estimates more than 30,000 of his images have appeared on cards, including many special-issue sets with small pieces of a player’s game-used bat or uniform attached to them. He and other photographers such as Ed Mailliard of Pennsylvania have taken the majority of the pictures from spring training in Arizona or Florida. One of Mailliard’s favorite images that appeared on a baseball card is of Willie Stargell, the late Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame slugger. Mailliard said he happened to see Stargell after a spring training game in Florida in 1982, playing fungo with a group of kids. Stargell was still wearing his uniform, and Mailliard took some pictures of him. One of the photos was used on the last card Stargell appeared on—a 1982 Topps. In the recent past, there had been talk about Topps including a microchip with the baseball cards that could allow collectors to watch a video of a star player playing in a game or possibly talking about their outlook on the upcoming season. “I think fans want to be closer to the game,” Forwerck said. “It’s still popular to collect trading cards of your favorite player. I don’t think that’s going to go away. People get the cards hoping to get them signed. A lot of people keep them and pass them on.” Forwerck is quick to note that he took many of the action shots of more modern-day superstars such as Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson, and sluggers Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Mike Trout, that have appeared on cards. McWilliams, who took photos for Topps from 1971 to 1992, is proud to have taken the photo for the last card of then home run king Hank Aaron—taken in
1976 in Sun City, Arizona, where the Milwaukee Brewers trained. He also took the picture of Hall of Famer-to-be Tony Gwynn during a spring training game in 1983 that appeared on his ‘83 Topps rookie card. Then a young San Diego Padres player, Gwynn is shown running up the base line after getting a hit in Yuma, Arizona, where the Padres trained at the time. Collecting baseball cards didn’t begin as a kid’s hobby; nor is it just for kids today. The earliest baseball cards are believed to be the ones produced by Old Judge Cigarettes in the late 1880s. The sport was taking hold and its fan base was growing. The cards were put in packs to garner more interest in the game. But the rarest card is considered to be the 1909 T206 issue of Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Honus Wagner that came in packs of Sweet Caporal cigarettes. Although Wagner chewed tobacco, he didn’t want his likeness on the card to be associated with cigarettes as he believed it would encourage kids to smoke. He ordered the cigarette company to destroy his cards, but some had already made it into circulation. Today, there are believed to be fewer than 30 of the T206 Wagner cards in existence. In fact, one recently was on display at a sports memorabilia show the weekend of March 25–27 in Strongsville, Ohio. It was up for auction by Colorado-based Mile High Cards. Although the condition of the card was professionally graded a “Low 1” on a scale of 1 to 10, it sold for $3.1 million, according to information from Mile High Cards. The premier Topps baseball card remains the 1952 Mickey Mantle, his debut card for the company. Other desirable cards in the hobby include 1909 T206 cigarette cards of Ty Cobb and Christy Mathewson; and 1933 Goudey cards of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig that fetch thousands of dollars. Topps was founded as the Topps Chewing Gum Co, by brothers Abram, Ira, Philip, and Joseph Shorin in 1938, and in 1947, they introduced Bazooka Bubble Gum. But it wasn’t until 1951 that Topps started putting baseball cards in packages to help sell the gum, thanks to an idea from Topps executive Sy Berger.
A 1916 Sporting News card, issued when Babe Ruth was a 21-year-old pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, sold at an auction on March 31 for $351,000.
A 1909 T206 Sweet Caporal cigarette card of Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Honus Wagner, sold in an auction on March 31 for $3.1 million, is considered the rarest baseball card by hobby enthusiasts.
The 1952 Topps card of Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle, sold in an auction on March 31 for $42,000, is considered one of the premier cards among collectors. I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 33
In Focus Baseball Cards
34 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
Mike Siska of Ideal Baseball Cards in Cincinnati (L) and a customer share some good times in the shop, which specializes in new and vintage sports cards.
“It’s still popular to collect trading cards of your favorite player. ... A lot of people keep them and pass them on.” Gregg Forwerck, photographer
tailers and dealers costs $70 on average. A 46-year-old father and his 15-yearold son who are avid collectors in the Dayton, Ohio, area are disappointed that Topps lost its licensing agreement with MLB and believe the hobby has turned more into an investment activity. “I collected cards as a child, and now I and my son Colten have had some good times opening packs and sorting cards,” Sam Muhlenkamp told Insight. “I thought it was a great way to spend time with him, and it turned into a great way to teach him some business lessons because the hobby seems to be all about profit these days—profit for the card companies who overproduce the cards and profit for all the flippers.” Similar to Forwerck, Muhlenkamp has fond memories of buying packs of cards when he was about Colten’s age. “I remember as a kid going up to the drugstore, buying a pack, collecting favorite players, and trading with friends daily,” Muhlenkamp said. “Now, it seems really hard to find packs. The only place we have been able to find packs lately have been at local card shops like Maverick’s in Kettering
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP L: MICHAEL SAKAL/THE EPOCH TIMES, COURTESY OF STEPHANIE MUHLENKAMP, MICHAEL SAKAL/THE EPOCH TIMES
Berger, who is considered “The Father of the Modern Day Baseball Card,” wanted to expand on putting more players on cards and make them bigger than the 1951 “inaugural set.” In 1952, Topps released a color set. A ‘52 Topps Mantle card sold for $42,000 in an auction overseen by Colorado-based Mile High Card Co. During the 1950s, the baseball card collecting world boomed and it seemed like cards came in every kind of product— Dan Dee Potato Chips, Red Man Tobacco, Red Heart Dogfood, Wilson Wieners, Kahn’s Wieners, and Hires Root Beer. The Bowman and Fleer gum companies got in on the game for a while, too. The rest is baseball history. In addition to Mantle cards remaining popular and expensive, vintage cards such as Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson, Stan Musial, and Pete Rose are also sought among collectors. Topps was last owned by Tornante Co., which is run by former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, and private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners. Tornante and Madison Dearborn are holding on to Topps’s candy and gift card businesses and rebranding as the Bazooka Cos. after the company’s bubble gum with the famous mascot-like character Bazooka Joe. Fanatics has aggressive aspirations to take over as the leader of the sports business world. Last year, it secured trading card licenses for the National Football League Players Association and National Basketball Association. To land these agreements, Fanatics provided equity to leagues and player unions that is guaranteed to bring at least $1 billion in revenue over the duration of the partnerships. As word continues to get out among collectors and fans that a new sheriff is in town, card shop owners said what Fanatics will bring to—or take away from—the hobby is a “wait and see” thing. A pack of eight to 10 cards definitely no longer costs a nickel or 25 cents and hasn’t for a long time. In fact, a pack of Topps with 14 cards in it costs $4.99 if you can find them. A packaged, sealed set of about 700 cards that Topps would provide to re-
In Focus Baseball Cards
Some collectors believe Fanatics could make it harder for some to purchase cards; others believe the company will expand the hobby by making their cards and products directly available through e-commerce or online orders.
Sam Muhlenkamp (R) and his son, Colten, sort through some of their favorite baseball cards in their card room in Ohio on April 5. [near Dayton]. “Maybe Fanatics can change that, but I really don’t see how. It is more of an investor problem, in my opinion. “People are paying thousands of dollars for a card of a guy who has never played an MLB game yet, in hopes they are the next Mike Trout. Card collecting today is more like gambling.” Streamlining, or finding what to like in the hobby as it has changed through the years, helps keep it enjoyable for Muhlenkamp and his son. “As of now, Colten and I collect our favorite players, and I am trying to build mini-collections,” Muhlenkamp said. Colten’s favorite player is Atlanta Braves’ second baseman Ozzie Albies; he has many of his cards. Local sports card shops also are facing uncertainty because it’s too early to know what the availability of receiving vendor boxes or packs will be from Fanatics. The release of the new cards in late winter and early spring remains a draw for customers to come into shops and see who they get in the packs. Mike Siska, who owns Ideal Baseball Cards, an eclectic sports memorabilia
shop in Cincinnati that sells rare vintage items as well as new cards, told Insight that a lot of things are still up in the air with how retailers and dealers will be affected. Siska’s father opened the shop 40 years ago, and he took it over in 1998. “I would say within the next five years, there’s going to be a lot of changes coming to the hobby,” Siska said. “We hope as dealers that we’ll still be able to get packaged sets and boxes of packs that our customers can purchase at the start of or during a baseball season. They enjoy coming in here, looking around to see what they can find, and picking out a couple of packs of the new Topps cards.” The first series of 2022 Topps baseball cards were released to retailers and dealers in February—a vendor’s box of 24 packs costs $110. Ideal Baseball Cards sold out of them in March. Topps Series 2 is expected to arrive at the shop in June, and Series 3, the final one of 2022, is expected to arrive in November, Siska said. Doug Heflin, a research analyst who works in Siska’s shop, is affectionately
referred to as a “baseball cardologist” because of his deep knowledge of the cards. Heflin told Insight that the hot cards right now are of Boston Red Sox rookie Bobby Dalbec, Ryan Mountcastle of the Baltimore Orioles, and Juander Franco of the Tampa Bay Rays. During the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the pandemic put sports collector shows and conventions on hold. However, online traffic for the hobby picked up, with more people turning to eBay to complete sets and purchase cards, Heflin said. Although many current and former players sign autographs freely for fans and collectors, Fanatics is already moving in on the autograph market of Hall of Famers and the game’s current superstars. Fanatics has also recently struck exclusive deals with Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench and MLB superstar Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies for autograph signings. Before, former and current players usually went through an agent or signed contracts on their own when they did autograph signings. Some collectors believe Fanatics could make it harder for some to purchase cards; others believe the company will expand the hobby by making their cards and products directly available through e-commerce or online orders. “It’ll be interesting to see what happens with baseball cards,” Forwerck said. “Fanatics has some ideas. I think they’ll go a little deeper with the hobby than Topps did.” I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 35
T H G IL T O P S Russian Invasion UKRAINIAN SERVICEMEN LOOK AT A destroyed Russian tank on a road in the village of Rusaniv, near Kyiv, on April 16. Russia is assaulting cities and towns along a boomerangshaped front hundreds of miles long and pouring more troops into Ukraine, in a potentially pivotal battle for control of the country’s eastern industrial heartland of coal mines and factories. PHOTO BY GENYA SAVILOV/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
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I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 37
Pitbulls peer out from their cage at the San Bernardino City Animal Shelter in San Bernardino, Calif., on Feb. 4, 2014. PHOTO BY FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
38 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
Nation Animals
DOG FIGHT
ACTIVISTS BATTLE OVER PIT BULLS Changing American attitudes make fight over breed particularly vicious By Jackson Elliott EAST RIDGE, TENN.— Merry, a brown pit
bull at the East Ridge Animal Services shelter, is blissfully unaware of the nationwide political battles that rage around her existence. A beautifully muscular dog, she dashes around the shelter’s visitor enclosure. Occasionally, she leaps to grab a treat from Caroline Smith, an East Ridge animal control officer. “It is kind of nice to be in a smaller shelter because we’re able to bond with them,” animal control officer Crystal Reno said of the animals under her care. The shelter found Merry near Christmastime, Reno said. Eight of the shelter’s 15 dogs are pit bulls, according to shelter staff. It’s hard to get pit bulls adopted. Smith said she’s never been bitten by a pit bull and that small dogs tend to bite more often. But several factors have turned pit bulls into America’s most controversial dog. “They have a bad rep,” she said. “It’s just what people think.” The public tends to panic over “bad” breeds, even when there’s nothing wrong with them, Smith said. The debate over pit bulls is in many ways a debate over the significance of a breed. Pit bull advocates say that a pit bull
is no different from any other dog, while pit bull opponents say that the breed’s history has made it uniquely aggressive. Changing American attitudes about animals have made the resulting fight over pit bulls particularly vicious, many participants say.
Pets Are People? According to Smith, the American public today tends to think of animals as if they were people. This change has helped counter animal abuse. “Now dogs are like your children. Sometimes people look at dogs as a part of the family,” she said. But the public also tends to see animal control officers as threats to animals, Smith said. Even if East Ridge is a no-kill shelter, people tend to worry whether it will help the animals it saves. “If I had one dollar for every time someone asked me, ‘Are you going to kill it?’ I would be rich,” she said. In this atmosphere, debates over animals, how to treat them, and whether to euthanize them can raise strong feelings. “A lot of people think that we’re just out to get their animals,” animal control officer Leigh Stacy said. “We would rather educate you and make your animal I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 39
Nation Animals
stay with you.” In online arguments over pit bulls, many people seem incapable of describing an animal with instincts, benefits, and drawbacks. Some websites call pit bulls family. Anti-pit bull pages call them evil. The humanizing of pit bulls has spread the pit bull debate to wider audiences, according to activist Colleen Lynn. Lynn founded Dogsbite.org, one of America’s leading anti-pit bull websites. In 2007, when Lynn first started in pit bull activism, debates over pit bulls were already vicious. But the debaters have since changed, she said. At first, pro-pit bull groups were mainly dog breeders, pit bull owners, and dog-fighting criminals, she said. “I was dealing with super hard-core groups,” she said. But today, a different mindset drives pro-pit bull activism, Lynn said. “The lobby went from these hardcore people to this much broader ‘Let’s rescue them, let’s rehabilitate them’ motivation,” she said.
Dogged Debate
40 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
“Some abused dogs may become overly aggressive, as they will try to defend themselves whenever they identify a possible threat.” VetInfo.com
way,” Lynn said. “I think it’s responsible from a human standpoint and from a humane standpoint.” Kenneth M. Phillips, a dog bite injury attorney, says that the United States should euthanize all pit bulls. “This type of dog needs to be eliminated,” he said. Both Phillips and Lynn cite pit bull attack statistics as a key reason to control the breed. Although pit bulls make up about 6 percent of U.S. dogs, they’re responsible for 65 percent of fatal attacks from 2005 to 2017, according to statistics collected by Dogsbite.com. Pit bulls have been bred to fight since the Middle Ages, Phillips said. Just like border collies instinctively herd, pit bulls instinctively kill. Although other dogs tend to bite the nearest limb, pit bulls usually go for the throat and face, Phillips said. They also hold on when other dogs let go.
ALL PHOTOS BY JACKSON ELLIOTT/ THE EPOCH TIMES
Lynn entered the fight to ban pit bulls after she was attacked by one in Seattle, she said. When she jogged past a woman with a leashed pit bull, it jumped to attack her. The dog bit her arm and held the bite for a few seconds before letting go, Lynn said, but the experience was one of the most terrifying moments of her life. “It is a very strange feeling. Time slows down. I feel like I’m going to die. And there’s a little bit of euphoria there too. I don’t know that I’m screaming. I don’t know that I’m kicking and fighting and struggling,” she said. The attack lasted seconds and left her arm broken. Some pit bull attacks last 10 minutes. Because the pit bull escaped its leash on public property, the owner agreed to euthanize the dog to avoid a fine, according to Lynn. But she didn’t legally have to do so. After the attack, Lynn researched pit bulls and the laws that surround them. She said local governments should sterilize all pit bulls except those whose owners have special permits. “It meets the pit bulls’ owners half-
Nation Animals
(Left) Animal control officers Caroline Smith (L), Leigh Stacy (C), and Crystal Reno outside the East Ridge Animal Services shelter in East Ridge, Tenn., on April 13. (Above) A bulletin board listing the names of dogs currently at the East Ridge Animal Services shelter. Most of them are pit bulls.
“The dog, one day, for no apparent reason, flips out and kills this person or mauls that person,” he said. “Pit bulls do that. The other dogs don’t.” Pit bull advocates argue that these statistics are fundamentally misleading. According to a study by the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, even trained veterinary staff can only identify genetic pit bulls from appearance between 33 and 75 percent of the time. Pit bull advocates say that most of the time, the media misidentifies all aggressive dogs as pit bulls. This mistake could create the impression that pit bulls are more violent than other types of dogs. Although pit bulls make up a high percentage of dog attacks, pit bull attacks are a comparatively tiny issue. Pit bulls kill an average of 28 people per year. Other websites state that violent pit bulls are only aggressive because they
have bad masters. Pit bulls are the most likely dog to be abused, and abused dogs are more likely to attack people. “Some abused dogs may become overly aggressive, as they will try to defend themselves whenever they identify a possible threat,” according to VetInfo.com. Although Insight contacted multiple pro-pit bull websites, none of them responded to requests for an interview by press time.
Dog Households, Both Alike in Dignity Both sides of the pit bull debate have treated each other cruelly at times. Lynn said she has received hate mail for her positions on pit bulls. Pro-pit bull social media pages told Insight that they often face trolling attempts. Buzzfeed has described the pit bull debate as the “most vicious conflict on the internet.” The consequence of this unending online brawl is a nationwide political battle. With moves involving activist pressure on local, state, and federal levels of government, pit bull law is an ever-changing environment. Pit bull politics revolves around “Breed Specific Legislation,” or BSLs. These laws allow a local jurisdiction to ban or restrict
pit bulls more strictly than other dogs. About 1,160 U.S. cities have laws restricting pit bulls. Animal control officers disagree about how effective these laws are. Stacy said she doesn’t like BSLs. But Joy Heenan, a former animal control officer in Salisbury, Maryland, said BSLs are a great solution to pit bull bite problems. “They can go from zero to 60 in a split second,” she said of pit bulls. “I am always in favor of an outright ban.” Heenan researched the potential effect of BSLs on Salisbury and concluded that they would greatly improve the city’s dog bite problem. But she admitted that her preferred legislation was very unpopular among dog owners. If BSLs aren’t plausible, she said she would settle for pit bull laws that demanded secure enclosures and muzzles while in public. “If you go for a walk down the street, your dog has to have a muzzle that’s going to prevent it from being able to bite or attack anybody even if it gets away from you,” Heenan said. Even without a ban on pit bulls, animal laws already make it too easy for biting dogs to bite again, she said. In Salisbury, a dog had to attack three times before I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 41
Nation Animals
it was declared dangerous. “Legislators have no idea how dogs work. That’s the biggest problem,” Heenan said. Some research suggests that BSLs decrease the number of pit bull bites by large amounts. Several cities saw pit bull attacks go down after passing BSLs. But pro-pit bull activists hotly contest these claims. Many organizations, including the American Dog Owner’s Association, American Kennel Club, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, don’t endorse BSLs. The American Veterinary Medical Association says these laws don’t work because any dog can bite, breeds are hard to determine, and BSLs discriminate against responsible dog owners. Laws that punish chronically irresponsible dog owners would be a better solution to the problem of dog attacks, the association wrote on its website. “While BSL may look good on the surface, it is not a reliable or effective solution for dog bite prevention,” the website reads.
Legal Drama
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Adoption Issues One of the key goals of Best Friends, a group that shelters stray animals, is in favor of the United States becoming a “no-kill nation” by 2025. This would mean shelters could kill only 10 percent or less of the animals that arrive there. To reach this figure, dog owners will have to adopt many animals that would otherwise be euthanized, Lynn said. And decreased restrictions on dog breeds might help increase adoption numbers. “I don’t quite understand the passion behind their cause,” Lynn said. “You can’t achieve a 90 percent save rate and put down pit bulls for safety. Pit bulls have been a thorn in the side of no-kill since day one.” In East Ridge, animal adoptions have suffered during COVID-19, Reno said. Not only were people less willing to adopt dogs, but some people were no longer financially well-off enough to own the dogs they had, she said.
Recently, Molly and Hatchet got lucky. A woman was willing to adopt them, Reno said. Stacy, Smith, and Reno’s faces lit up as they started to celebrate. But Molly and Hatchet are terriers. The shelter’s longest resident is a 7-year-old pit bull named Sally, who has been living there for about nine months. In her cage, Sally barks fiercely, but the staff who know her say she’s friendly when she’s let out. The staff also say she wouldn’t do well with children. “Sally has everything against her,” Smith said. For now, Sally and many dogs like her are still waiting.
FROM TOP: SPENCER PLATT/GETTY IMAGES, JACKSON ELLIOTT/ THE EPOCH TIMES
Right now, pro-pit bull groups are winning the legislative battle, Lynn said. “There’s clearly a trend of repeals going on across the U.S.,” she said, adding that their winning legal strategy has been to pass state-level bans on local anti-pit bull laws. For example, the city of Pawtucket in Rhode Island once had a pit bull ban, but state leaders passed a law that overturned all local bans. “Those laws have been ongoing pretty much en masse every legislative season since 2012,” Lynn said. This same strategy applies to the national level, she said. The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act had a clause that prohibited all military housing from having breed-specific dog restrictions. But anti-pit bull activists successfully lobbied for its removal. Currently, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) leads the pro-pit bull legislation effort, Lynn said. He’s sponsoring the Pets Belong With Families Act, which prohibits bans on pit bulls in public housing. Lobbying groups are also pressuring Congress to pass laws that make insurers charge the same rates for all dogs, regardless of their size or level of aggression, Lynn said.
(Above) Pit bull advocates argue that a pit bull is no different from any other dog, while opponents argue that the breed’s history has made it uniquely aggressive. (Right) Sally, a 7-year-old pit bull, has been living at the East Ridge Animal Services shelter for about nine months.
P OL I T IC S • E C ONOM Y • OPI N ION T H AT M AT T E R S
No.16
Perspectives A well head and drilling rig in the Yarakta Oil Field, in the Irkutsk region of Russia, on March 11, 2019. PHOTO BY VASILY FEDOSENKO/REUTERS
TWITTER’S HOSTILE MAKEOVER
SIGNS OF STAGFLATION
EU SANCTIONS MAY BENEFIT CHINA
The free market may be the secret weapon against the Twitter threat. 44
A recent small-business survey reveals several signs of stagflation. 47
No embargo will work without China’s cooperation. 48
INSIDE I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 43
THOMAS MCARDLE was a White House speechwriter for President George W. Bush and writes for IssuesInsights.com.
Thomas McArdle
Twitter’s Hostile Makeover
The free market may be the secret weapon against the Twitter threat
W
hen you storm out of a store in disgust at exorbitant prices or shabby service and vow not to give the establishment your patronage ever again, does that mean you hate capitalism? Far from it—any more than when you storm out of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for the same reasons; the difference, of course, is that in the case of the moody bureaucrats the state employs to process your driver’s license, who might have to try to burn the building down before their jobs would be in jeopardy and who have little reason to care about customer satisfaction, you can’t go down the road and take your business elsewhere. Until mega-billionaire Elon Musk stepped into the fray, Twitter was looking a lot like the DMV—with the other major social communications platforms, such as YouTube and Facebook, not far behind. A functionary decides you’ve violated the rules and you’re at the mercy of the powers that be, with perhaps months of begging required before your issue is resolved, if they even deign to do so at all. And when it comes to social media, it isn’t your car’s registration or insurance at issue but a key means of exercising free speech in the 21st century. Of course, there are competitors to Twitter, such as Parler and former President Donald Trump’s new Truth Social, but it’s in the nature of online services to be able to hang on to heavy consumer dominance, and Twitter long ago became king in individuals propagating potent opinions, particularly when it comes to the famous and the powerful all over the world. If you switch elsewhere in disgust at Twitter’s canceling of, say, Trump, Parler is
44 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
not going to be filling you in on Lady Gaga’s latest musings—or the Pope’s, for that matter. Express doubt about the results of the 2020 election and YouTube may rescind your posting privileges. Meanwhile, just this week it was discovered that YouTube never touched the pro-violence, racist video screeds of the New York City subway shooter who just wounded at least 10.
If Musk succeeds in buying Twitter, it will prove that it’s the market that’s the solution to some of the biggest new problems of the online age. The fastest and maybe the only way to fix social media platforms that are suppressing the opinions of their users is to do it from the inside—as Musk obviously concluded. After buying up a massive 9.2 percent of the firm with $3 billion, in the aftermath of which he was offered a spot on the company’s board, Musk shrewdly declined the seat, knowing that board membership would restrict him under law from being able to purchase more than 14 percent of Twitter. Now he has pivoted, and he’s seeking to buy all the company stock at a priceper-share nearly 40 percent above the value of the firm before his purchase earlier this month. Beautiful to behold, this is a case of using the free market to solve a big problem facing free society—in this case, the problem being a threat to representative government itself. Twitter has already played a destructive role
in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, first in favoring postings of ludicrous conspiracy theories about Russian influence on then-candidate Trump, then suppressing the Hunter Biden story, which, had it gained enough traction, could have meant Trump defeating then-candidate Joe Biden, who is now the president. Musk means to convert Twitter into a private company and, considering his well-known tenacity, it’s a good bet he’ll succeed. Twitter’s reputation is already bruised, it having embittered a large proportion of the electorate, especially when it suspended Trump last year, apparently permanently. Fighting Musk would prove to the world that Twitter is all about exercising power rather than empowering its users. Such a battle would likely take a serious toll on its stock price and might end with Musk selling off all his shares. Even board members who don’t believe this will see an unpredictable future ahead for the company, whose brand has been battered by its adherence to its own unfair rules. How can they resist taking Musk’s sure money rather than crossing their fingers and hoping for the best? It might be the most morally motivated case of the much-maligned practice of hostile takeover in history. Musk seems to be about to prove himself a heavyweight in the multi-billion-dollar high tech marketplace, far above even his biggest fans’ expectations. In addition, if he gets his way on Twitter, it will prove that it’s the market that’s the solution to some of the biggest new problems of the online age. A multi-billionaire entrepreneur can play David and beat Silicon Valley’s censorship Goliath.
ANDERS CORR is a principal at Corr Analytics Inc., publisher of the Journal of Political Risk. He is an expert in political science and government.
Anders Corr
The CCP Decouples From the West China sells foreign money and oil assets in the US, UK, and Canada
C
hina is shifting its global asset portfolio in response to sanctions on Russia and is in the process of stabbing the West in the back. Having seen the avalanche of economic pain imposed by the West on Russia—from the confiscation of oligarch yachts to the freezing of most of Moscow’s $630 billion in foreign currency reserves—Beijing is moving to protect itself, presumably because it knows it’s up to no good and could therefore be sanctioned in the future. China’s central bank had $3.22 trillion in foreign currency reserves and $1.12 trillion in gold reserves in January, according to its own data. It now realizes that much of this, which is in the world’s hardest currencies—the U.S. dollar, euro, Japanese yen, and British pound sterling—are vulnerable to freezing if, for example, China continues to support Russia or invades Taiwan. By March, China’s currency reserves fell to $3.19 trillion, and its gold reserves rose to $1.22 trillion. In other words, China is selling its Western currencies for gold. This could be a fractional rebalancing or the beginning of a larger trend. China’s likely dumping of Western currencies could be adding to inflationary pressures in the West, which increased to 8.5 percent for the dollar in March, compared with a year ago, on the back of rising energy and food costs from Russia’s invasion. U.S. inflation, the Federal Reserve target for which is 2 percent, is currently at its highest since the 1980s. In March, eurozone and British inflation were also high at 7.5 percent and 7 percent, respectively.
Meanwhile, in China, inflation is relatively moderate at 1.5 percent. Beijing knows that its global asset portfolio, including oil fields in the West, could be seized if it follows Moscow’s example and does the wrong thing. Rather than protect all these investments by doing the right thing, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is preparing for bad behavior by liquidating its vulnerable Western assets and rebalancing its portfolio toward countries with which it has more influence, such as in the developing world and among dictatorships.
Rather than protect its global asset portfolio, including oil fields in the West, by doing the right thing, the CCP is preparing for bad behavior by liquidating its vulnerable Western assets and rebalancing its portfolio toward countries with which it has more influence. According to a new Reuters report, China is selling its oil fields in the United States, Canada, and Britain due to the threat of sanctions. CNOOC, China’s leading offshore hydrocarbon producer, seeks to unravel its $15 billion investment in Canada’s Nexen, which produces approximately 220,000 barrels per day in the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Canada’s oil sands. While CNOOC was delisted on U.S. stock exchanges in October due to its alleged military owners, it’s reportedly planning to relist on the Shanghai stock exchange.
Since the Trump administration, the CCP has faced increasing headwinds over its unethical trade practices and human rights abuse. The timing of CNOOC’s asset sale appears to be linked to a rise in oil and gas prices that resulted from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and which could garner a higher price than it paid. Beijing still seeks to source hydrocarbons internationally and, to that end, wants to acquire alternatives in places such as Brazil, Guyana, Uganda, and Iraq. According to a new report by oil analyst Simon Watkins, the United States recently gave Iraq an unprecedentedly long waiver from Iran sanctions. Just after, Iraq returned the favor by giving China a massive hydrocarbon deal of “an engineering, procurement, and construction contract worth at least US$412 million for a 130 million standard cubic feet per day natural gas processing facility in Basra.” A new aversion to Western assets, including currencies and alternatives such as oil fields, could have major ramifications for China’s trade with the West. If China no longer wants what America, Europe, and Japan have to offer, then Beijing might reorient away from supplying these regions with manufactured goods, which would accelerate decoupling. But before China decouples from the West and our allies, we should jointly decouple from Beijing. Let the CCP pay the cost of its support for Russia, human rights abuse, territorial aggression, intellectual property theft, and foisting of COVID-19 on the world, not us. That means taking the economic initiative against the CCP and its global assets. There are plenty of justifications to do so. I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 45
MILTON EZRATI is chief economist for Vested, a contributing editor at The National Interest, and author of "Thirty Tomorrows" and "Bite-Sized Investing.”
Milton Ezrati
Investing in the Metaverse
Metaverse investments are not as revolutionary as some claim
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oung people feel attraction to the metaverse that older folks cannot understand. Some young enthusiasts have even bought property in that entirely imaginary land—as an investment, they say. At first blush, this practice seems outlandish, but on reflection, metaverse investments aren’t that much different than other investments, hardly as revolutionary as the young seem to think. Most other investments—stocks, bonds, even real estate—have little more link to the physical world, much less any more intrinsic value, than metaverse investments. True, a real—as opposed to a metaverse— house can keep the rain off the owner’s head. But the shelter provided contributes only little to the investment’s value. A home on an attractive beachfront, for example, is worth a lot more than the same building on a fading Main Street. That difference lies with nothing intrinsic to the house but rather entirely with people’s continued preferences for the seaside. A little over 100 years ago, fashion and taste made the Main Street location more desirable. Values then reflected that difference, as did investment gains, until preferences changed and people began to prefer the beach. This is also true of stock and bond investments. Though securities appear to have a closer link to the physical world than the metaverse, that link has little or nothing to do with prospects for appreciation. Investors will hold a bond only because they trust that the bond will pay interest as scheduled and return the principal at maturity. Its value lies in that trust. Stocks, too, offer nothing more 46 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
intrinsic than the belief that others will become enthusiastic that the issuer can earn profits on products that people will continue to want. Worth and appreciation depend entirely on these beliefs. There’s nothing intrinsic or real-world beyond these beliefs.
Nothing in the metaverse has any less substance than any of these other investments. All value is what others think it is and only that. As with any other investment, he needs to consider how others will value his holding. Indeed, the whole process is further removed from the physical world because investors must also believe that the cash returned on these investments will hold its value in other things. As with the investments, there is nothing about the cash that is intrinsic. Today’s inflation is an ongoing reassessment of people’s notion of what that cash is worth. Even when people had gold coins in their pockets, nothing was intrinsic. Gold has intrinsic value only to jewelers and the people who wear it, and even then, it’s only because they or others hold it in high esteem. Otherwise, the gold coins only had value because the community implicitly agreed that they did. The story of an isolated Polynesian island might offer perspective. Those who first visited the place told of how the island community members stored value in giant
stone wheels that they rolled into the lagoon to keep safe. Once a prosperous community member amassed enough wealth, he would use it—maybe denominated in seashells that were only a store of value because the community agreed that they were—to purchase a wheel. The community kept track of who owned which wheels. If this prosperous community member decided to build a home, he could sell the wheel and use the seashell payout to buy labor and materials. (If the community had a banking system, he might alternatively have borrowed against the value of his wheel.) At some future date, he might decide to downsize, and the whole process would go in reverse so that he could have a wheel and a secure store of value to will to his children. Nothing in the metaverse has any less substance than any of these other investments. All value is what others think it is and only that. A metaverse investor need not worry that there is nothing either physical or intrinsic. As with any other investment, he needs to consider how others will value his holding. It’s a bet, maybe a good one, on the future popularity of the metaverse. Mr. Zuckerberg owns an enormous amount of property in the metaverse. Since the place is digital and he is creating it, his holdings might be infinite. He has a keen interest in promoting the attractions of the virtual resort he’s building. If he’s successful, he will acquire many seashells to buy perhaps a physical island or a yacht or maybe even concessions from Congress.
EMEL AKAN is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times in Washington, D.C. Previously she worked in the financial sector as an investment banker at JPMorgan.
Emel Akan
Signs of Stagflation
A recent small-business survey reveals several signs of stagflation
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
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ome inflation watchers have been on the lookout for signs of peak inflation, anticipating that the U.S. consumer price index will finally begin to trend lower after soaring to a fresh 40-year high in March. However, the latest data has disappointed them. A recent small-business survey and sky-high wholesale prices “telegraphed higher-for-longer inflation in a weakening stagflationary environment,” economist and market strategist Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research said in a recent report. “We are still expecting inflation to peak by June or July, but higher inflation for longer is what the latest batch of price indicators is showing,” he wrote to clients. Stagflation is defined as the mix of slow economic growth along with high inflation and a high unemployment rate. The March survey of small-business owners conducted by the National Association of Independent Business discovered a slew of stagflationary trends, according to Yardeni. Inflation has surpassed “labor quality” as the most pressing issue facing U.S. small-business owners, with 31 percent citing rising prices as their top concern—an increase of 5 percentage points from February and the highest reading in 41 years. The survey found that a record 72 percent of small-business owners raised their selling prices, while half of them plan to continue to hike prices. Price increases were most common in wholesale, construction, agriculture, and retail sales. The percentage of respondents expecting to increase worker compensation stayed at a record high of 28 percent. The proportion of business owners
Small-business owners remain worried about their future business conditions, owing to inflation, a persistent labor shortage, and supply chain disruptions. expecting better rather than worse business conditions in the next six months fell by 14 points to a net negative 49 percent, the lowest figure ever recorded in the 48-year-old survey. Small-business owners remained worried about their future business conditions, owing to inflation, a persistent labor shortage, and supply chain disruptions. This might explain why the percentage of business owners wanting to grow their workforce has dropped since August, according to Yardeni. “One word comes to mind to describe this sour economic outlook: ‘stagflation,’” he said. The latest Producer Price Index (PPI) data also show no evidence of inflation peaking. The index, which tracks the changes in the price of goods sold by manufacturers and serves as a leading indicator of consumer price inflation, rose by an
annual 11.2 percent last month. This was the fastest pace in the history of the data series, which began in 2010. A strong increase in producer prices has shattered hopes that inflation may moderate in the coming months, according to Scott Anderson, chief economist of Bank of the West. “This is the largest monthly jump on record for producer prices and was broad-based, revealing persistent early-stage inflationary pressures that will continue to feed through to consumer prices,” Anderson said in a recent report. This may increase the need for the Federal Reserve to take vigorous action to reduce inflation, he said. Wall Street has been buzzing with talk of a recession in recent weeks, as monetary policy tightening has heightened predictions of a slowdown in growth. Economists have reduced their growth projections for 2023. Stagflation is a source of concern not only in the United States, but around the world. Stagflation expectations rose to 66 percent, the highest level since 2008, according to Bank of America’s closely watched global fund manager survey in April. For the next few months, inflation will stay “uncomfortably high,” according to Desmond Lachman, economist and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. High oil prices may ease, especially if the Russian war ends and the Chinese economy slows because of its “zero-COVID” lockdown measures, he told Insight. But current wage pressures and a lag in the time it takes for higher rents to show up in the housing component of the consumer price index, which has a weight of about 30 percent, will keep inflation high. The U.S. economy might be “in a dreaded state of stagflation” by the November elections, Lachman said. I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 47
DANIEL LACALLE is chief economist at hedge fund Tressis and author of “Freedom or Equality,” “Escape from the Central Bank Trap,” and “Life in the Financial Markets.”
Daniel Lacalle
EU Sanctions May Benefit China
No embargo will work without China’s collaboration
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48 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
The European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States must not make the mistake of thinking they can bear 100 percent of the energy embargo when China is increasing its imports from Russia. figure for 2021. The evidence is clear. Without China participating, there’s no real energy embargo. China accounts for 15.4 percent of Russia’s total crude oil exports, with only Saudi Arabia selling more, according to Reuters. We’re talking about 1.6 million barrels per day last year, which is expected to reach 3 million per day in 2022. As for coal, Russia was the second-largest supplier of coal to China in 2021, about 57 million tons last year, or 17.6 percent of its total coal imports. Russia is also China’s third-largest gas supplier. The Asian giant accounted for 6.7 percent of Russian natural gas exports in 2021,
16.5 billion cubic meters (bcm), the equivalent of 5 percent of China’s demand. Russia’s exports to Asian countries that aren’t participating in the sanctions are massive, from Vietnam to Korea. India is also one of the great beneficiaries of the purchase of energy commodities from Russia at significant discounts. Russia is India’s sixth-largest coal supplier at 1.8 million tons in 2021, according to Reuters and Iman Resources. In oil and gas, India weighs much less than China, importing 43,400 barrels per day of oil from Russia in 2021 and reaching a 20year deal with Gazprom to buy 2.5 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year, according to Reuters and Platt’s. The EU may find that new sanctions generate a severe crisis in its economy, but little incremental damage to Russia, as China will likely import more and cheaper goods to then export Chinese finished products to other countries. Let’s not forget that the EU can’t afford to completely cut off energy imports from Russia. Of the 150 bcm of natural gas that it imports, only part of it could be replaced, and in the coming months the availability of idle LNG is almost nonexistent, according to Platt’s. The United States can afford to ban imports from Russia because it’s independent in natural gas and almost independent, with Mexico and Canada, in oil. The UK can substitute Russian imports with the North Sea and a very diversified portfolio of suppliers that it has used on many occasions. There’s no energy embargo on Russia if China doesn’t join. New sanctions may simply become a relative benefit for China.
LOIC VENANCE/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGE
he proposals of the European Union and the United States to implement a complete energy embargo on Russia must consider the reality that Asia is importing all that Russia can offer. China, India, and the main Asian economies will send Russian exports to a decade high, according to Financial Times. In fact, Russia’s trade account surplus was expected to reach $28 billion in March, an all-time high, according to Reuters. That doesn’t mean sanctions don’t work. Estimates of Russia’s gross domestic product range between 10 and 15 percent for 2022, and inflation is close to 20 percent, according to Business Insider. However, the EU and the United States must note that the sanctions will likely fade away, as Asian countries are purchasing all available Russian production at significant discounts. The EU, the UK, and the United States must not make the mistake of thinking they can bear 100 percent of the energy embargo when China is increasing its imports from Russia. The escape route from the sanctions is China, which maintains a neutral position regarding the Russia–Ukraine war, and although this doesn’t prevent Russia’s economic difficulties, without China’s collaboration, there can’t be a successful embargo. In 2022, Russia’s exports to China, Asia, and emerging countries are estimated to exceed $170 billion—significantly more than the 2021 figure for exports to the EU of $158 billion—according to Goldman Sachs. Russia is expected to export roughly $103 billion to China, well above the $79 billion
Fan Yu
FAN YU is an expert in finance and economics and has contributed analyses on China’s economy since 2015.
A Turbulent Market Ahead?
Over 60 percent of surveyed fund managers expect a bear market
ANNA MONEYMAKER/GETTY IMAGES
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hases of volatility across U.S. stocks have played out in the past two months. After an initial war-driven decline in stocks ended in mid-March, replaced by a retail-driven melt-up, the U.S. stock market has been on unstable footing in April. So where do investors go from here? While some experts—such as Goldman Sachs U.S. equity strategist David Kostin—are still bullish, investors would be wise to be extremely cautious going forward. Most institutional investors don’t expect the market to rise in the near term, and that’s how retail investors should be positioned as well. Bank of America’s latest monthly global “fund manager survey” found most professional investors to be bearish. More than 60 percent of the surveyed fund managers expect a bear market this year, with a likely decline of 20 percent of the major indices. Cash position has increased to its highest levels since April 2020. Professional fund managers surveyed by the bank are maintaining defensive positioning, with high allocations to commodities, cash, and consumer staples. And they are underweight allocations to war-sensitive sectors such as emerging markets and European stocks. Morgan Stanley’s equity strategist Michael Wilson, one of the more accurate Wall Street market forecasters, also believes there are higher risks ahead. “The bear market rally is over,” Wilson declared in a recent note to clients, referring to the U.S. stock market rise in late March. Summarizing various challenges that lie ahead, Wilson noted that “investors face multiple headwinds to growth that will be harder to ignore— payback in demand from last year’s fiscal stimulus, demand destruction
May also marks the beginning of the halfyear mark ahead of mid-term elections, a historically terrible period for U.S. stocks. from high prices, food and energy price spikes from the war that serve as a tax, and inventory builds that have now caught up to demand.” Fed policy is unlikely to support risk assets going forward. The Federal Reserve’s current stance is a full-fledged endorsement of raising rates and fighting inflation. Retail investors are wise to ditch the recent playbook of buying after each stock market dip. Looking ahead, the adage “sell in May and go away” could very well apply. May also marks the beginning of the half-year mark ahead of mid-term elections, a historically terrible period for U.S. stocks. Market performance has been even weaker during the first terms of Democratic presidents, according to the Stock Trader’s Almanac. Much of this pattern is due to monetary and fiscal policies, with typically tighter policies exhibited during the first two years
of a presidency followed by various stimulus measures handed out in the second two years leading up to a new presidential election. What about bonds, traditionally a safe haven when stock markets decline? Unfortunately, bonds don’t offer any reprieve, either—at the moment. The bond market’s wipeout over the last several weeks has been even worse than the stock market’s. Much of that is because of the Fed. Quantitative tightening is about to begin, and at speeds previously unseen. The last phase of quantitative tightening occurred at a slow pace. How will the market react? We’re not sure, but investors shouldn’t sit around to find out. The Fed balance sheet is at $9 trillion, roughly double its pre-pandemic size. It intends to run off its Treasuries portfolio at a pace of $60 billion per month. It won’t try to actively sell the bonds but intends to let maturing bonds run off, and they won’t be replaced. The Fed will likely have to actively sell its mortgage-backed securities (MBS) holdings as MBS maturities tend to lengthen as rates rise, due to consumers’ tendency to stop making prepayments from refinancing mortgages during periods of elevated interest rates. In summary, there will be a lot of bonds in the market for investors to absorb, with prices likely to keep declining and yields rising. This isn’t to say there aren’t any opportunities out there. Commodities and gold continue to attract inflows. Some experts also believe in selectively adding to beaten-down technology stocks, viewing it as a rare opportunity to own tomorrow’s “Apple and Amazon” at discount prices. And cash—as higher rates begin to translate to higher deposit interest—isn’t the worst place to wait out a potential economic storm. I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 49
JEFF MINICK lives and writes in Front Royal, Va. He is the author of two novels, “Amanda Bell” and “Dust on Their Wings,” and two works of nonfiction, “Learning as I Go” and “Movies Make the Man.”
Jeff Minick
Society Has Lost Its Way
We need a resurgence of common sense and good manners
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et’s say it’s the fall of 2021, and you’re the mother of a 9-year-old daughter and a 6-yearold son who attend public school. Your daughter hasn’t seen most of her classmates’ faces in more than a year, and your son daily complains that the mask is smothering him. Along with other parents, you attend a meeting of the school board to ask the members to rescind the COVID-19 mask mandates. You speak politely to the board, sharing the research you’ve done on the physical and psychological harm masks inflict on students. You refrain from wild accusations and stand fast when a board member impugns your personal integrity. Whether you know it or not—and whether you win the argument or not—you’re practicing the four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance, and courage, also called fortitude. You exercise the first by bringing wisdom and consideration to the table. You seek a just solution to the problem, asking where the greater good is in the wearing of masks. You offer some aspects of temperance—gentleness and humility—in your arguments. And you demonstrate courage merely by appearing before a group of people who may ridicule you for disagreeing with them. Until recently, Western culture and civilization taught and revered these virtues. From Aristotle and Plutarch all the way up to America’s “McGuffey Readers” and beyond, these were a part of the bedrock of our civilization. Human beings have sometimes failed to practice these virtues, of course, but there they were, beacons of light calling us to the right path. Today we seem to have lost sight of those directional beams. We’ve also forgotten that all four virtues depend
50 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
There they were, beacons of light calling us to the right path. on each other to be effective. For example, if we call for social justice on Facebook without exercising prudence and humility, we risk becoming shrill voices in an accusatory online mob. If we take some courageous stance without considering temperance or justice for all, we damage our arguments and those of other people as well. We also often overlook the efficacy of the cardinal virtues in our personal lives. When our employer reprimands a member of the staff for an error she didn’t commit, do we stand by in silence or step forward in courage, with the other three virtues fixed to that bravery? Rather than berate our teenage driver for a traffic accident, might we not be better off asking questions and looking for a just solution? Unfortunately, today’s culture often misunderstands the cardinal virtues. Mention prudence and the image of some easily shocked maiden aunt
jumps to mind. Advocate for temperance and your listener will think you a teetotaler. Speak of justice, real justice, and you’ll be hooted down as a reactionary. Stick up for your beliefs, and you might be accused of narrowmindedness and obstinacy. Intended for centuries to be guides to an honorable life, the cardinal virtues seem a whispering ghost these days, seen and heard only by some of us. In writing that last sentence, I wonder if I’m worthy of that company. In my three-score-and-10 years, how well have I practiced those virtues? Have I made them a part of my days? If I were marking down a grade on these questions, I would give myself a C. Maybe a C-. For my younger readers, I wish you greater success. Be that mom who addresses the school board. Be that parent who practices temperance, prudence, and justice. Be that employee who stands up bravely, judiciously, and prudently to the boss. These virtues, which should be a core part of our lives, exist for one reason alone: to make us better human beings.
Profile Moral Support
By Patrick Butler
Texans Give Gifts to ‘Overwhelmed’ Border Patrol
THIS PAGE FROM TOP: PATRICK BUTLER THE EPOCH TIMES, CHARLOTTE CUTHBERTSON/THE EPOCH TIMES
Mercy Works hands out 600 ‘appreciation packs’ to Border Patrol agents in Rio Grande Valley
ho thinks of showing appreciation to southern U.S. Border Patrol agents as they grapple with a flood of illegal immigrants overwhelming their efforts? Beth Knox of Mercy Works in Garden Valley, Texas, and a team of like-minded souls did, distributing 600 “Border Patrol appreciation packs” valued at more than $15,000 to two different units near McAllen, Texas, on March 23. The idea all started with a Mercy Works trip in November to Reynosa, Mexico, and McAllen. Mercy Works is a faith-based nonprofit that provides free medical exams and dental clinics. On the Mexican side, there are wallto-wall tents in the city plaza of Reynosa, Knox said. “It’s packed out. They say there are about 4,000 immigrants living in that square block. “On the American side, we had dinner with a Border Patrol agent, a relative of one of our team members. What he said grabbed our hearts as he related what they were going through. “It was hard for us to hear how overwhelmed, how hated they feel, not only by migrants but even by some people on the U.S. side who are sympathetic to the migrants.” Knox said some agents had even been threatened by cartels on the American side. “We didn’t realize until that night the amount of pressure they were under. It’s not just that so many people are coming across. They think they don’t have the resources or the backing, and that’s stressful, especially when it has to do with the security of your country. “So we thought of Border Patrol appreciation packs, and put the word out for funds to make 600.” In March, they were delivered.
“I went to one of the larger Knox paused and looked units, and another team handout the window of her office. ed out about 200 at another “I think they feel frustratunit,” Knox said. ed and demoralized. It’s like “We spoke with some agents they were throwing up their in the muster room as we hands, saying, ‘What are we handed out their packs, which supposed to do?’” both surprised and affected The agents Knox’s team Beth Knox them. They were so appreciaspoke with specifically asked of Mercy Works. tive of the gesture. not to be identified. “They told us they were “I felt privileged to deliver ‘staring down the repeal of Title 42.’” appreciation packs that included little Title 42 is a Centers for Disease Control things like beef jerky, granola bars, Chapand Prevention order that was invoked Stick, and a $25 gift card in each of them in March 2020 under President Don- for local restaurants,” Knox said. “In each ald Trump to minimize the spread of bag, there was a letter of appreciation to COVID-19 by ensuring that only essential them, from us and all the Americans who travel occurred at U.S. borders. made this happen.” It directed that illegal immigrants In time for Easter, the thank you letter could be quickly expelled back to Mexico reads, in part: as a pandemic precaution, rather than be “We realize that the increased numbers processed under Title 8 immigration law, at our border this year have meant adwhich is a much more protracted process ditional work and extra burdens which inside the United States. test your resources and perseverance. “We asked a commander what the re“With that in mind, we wanted to enpeal would mean to them,” Knox said, courage you and let you know that there “and he told us, ‘It’s going to be total are untold numbers of citizens who apchaos down here.’ preciate your vigilance and integrity as “‘They’re going to come over in greater you go beyond the normal expectations numbers than we’ll be able to process in to meet the current need. the time given us by law. If we pass that “Please accept these small tokens of time, we have to release them. We took our gratitude, respect, and honor for an oath to do this work, and we feel we your service and sacrifice as you protect can’t do our jobs because of the policies.’” us, our families, and [our] communities.”
Border Patrol agents apprehend and transport illegal immigrants who have just crossed the river into La Joya, Texas, on Nov. 17, 2021. I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 51
Nation Profile
Victor Davis Hanson, classicist, historian, and commentator. THOUGHT LEADERS
The War, China, Globalism, and America
By every metric, the US should be stronger than ever, but it isn’t, Hanson says
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In two recent episodes of “American Thought Leaders,” host Jan Jekielek
52 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
sat down with classicist, historian, and commentator Victor Davis Hanson to discuss Vladimir Putin’s possible goals in Ukraine, the resistance by Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainians, the position of China in this war, and U.S. leadership. Hanson is also a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and author of the best-seller, “The Dying Citizen.”
MR . JAN JEKIELEK: Let’s
talk about the Russia– Ukraine war. There’s a lot of information flying around. MR . VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: We don’t
really have an adequate picture, but the time factor suggests that Putin has underestimated the level of resistance; the level of supply from NATO countries, particularly the United States and the border
countries in Ukraine’s neighborhood, as well as the will of the West; and the efficacy of its weapons. Put all that together, and Putin may find himself unable to set up a puppet government and make Ukraine subject to Russian influence. So what’s his fallback position? I think it’s to divide the country from Kyiv to the east and destroy it, to raze the cities. This provides a
JACK WANG/THE EPOCH TIMES
ost people, unfortunately, human nature being what it is,” Victor Davis Hanson said, “are more apt to be impressed with displays of power than they are with humanity, and that’s where we are.”
Nation Profile
buffer zone between Western Ukraine and Russia, and it sends a signal to former Soviet Republics. If you want to break away, flirt with NATO, or join the EU, you can, but we’ll destroy you. You’re going to end up like Kyiv. And then Putin tells the Russian people this was the plan. He can’t win according to his original initiative, but he can win according to his fallback position. MR . JEKIELEK: People
might not understand why destroying the country could be an objective.
humanity, and that’s where we are. MR . JEKIELEK: So let’s
tackle the Vladimir Putin is a madman narrative. MR . HANSON: Vladimir
Putin isn’t a mad man. He’s an irredentist, a fancy Italian word for taking back territory that has similar attributes to the motherland. And he’s got two things going for him: He’s got a hell of a lot of oil, and he’s got 7,000 nukes, and although he’s punching above his weight, he may get what he wants because people want oil, and they’re afraid of nuclear weapons.
MR . HANSON: Western-
ers look at the U.N. vote, and we say 70 percent of the countries in the world condemn Russia. But look at it by population. There’s China’s 1.4 billion, India’s 1.3 billion, there’s Vietnam, North Korea, and Iran. Do a lot of these countries condemn Russian? No. Probably half the population or maybe even 55 or 60 percent of the 8 billion people on earth either want the invasion to succeed or they’re indifferent. So they won’t condemn Putin or Russia. Putin is gambling that people may hate him now and abhor his tactics, but that, at the end, he destroyed Ukraine right under the nose of NATO. He taught the world a lesson and was willing to go to the nuclear brink to do it. That’s what he’s counting on. Most people, unfortunately, human nature being what it is, are more apt to be impressed with displays of power than they are with
MR . JEKIELEK: What’s
China going to do? Are they just going to play it out? MR . HANSON: They’ll sit
tight. They’re going to buy a lot of Russian oil. They’re going to buy a lot of Russian wheat and natural resources and sell Russia a lot of stuff. China’s going to sit there and see who wins. MR . JEKIELEK: What
about Volodymyr Zelensky? MR . HANSON: In some
ways, he’s been absolutely brilliant. Once the war started, he put on that olive fatigue T-shirt, and he speaks very good English, and he’s very casual. And so you had these two contrasting images. You had this pale steroid-inflated Vladimir Putin hidden out in some Führerbunker with toadies. Then you had Zelensky going all over Kyiv. You could hear bombs or the sound of fire in the
“We should tell China right now that they can’t split us. We’re going to have a uniform policy of sanctions against them if they try anything in Taiwan.” background. That was very appealing to Western audiences. And so he won enormous Western support for Ukraine. The West has some of the most expensive, sophisticated weapons in the world, and it’s pouring in along with humanitarian aid, and that’s all due to Zelenskyy’s public relations genius. But Zelensky’s got to be careful about badgering the West to do more, like a no-fly zone. There has never been a no-fly zone where one nuclear power told another nuclear power you can’t fly here. Zelenskyy doesn’t understand that empathy and support for Ukraine is not 100 percent synonymous with America’s national interest. MR . JEKIELEK: There’s
something that strikes me as we’re talking today. President Biden said, “The world order is being challenged.” MR . HANSON: Whoever
gave him that phrase should have his head examined, because New World Order brings back the Bushes going into the first Gulf War.
It brings back globalism. It’s the Davos reset. Specifically, it’s a very transparent attempt to leverage an existential crisis into a political agenda, just in the way COVID was. Remember that Klaus Schwab at Davos said, “This is a chance to have a Great Reset.” So when Biden said ‘New World Order,’ right in the middle of a Ukrainian crisis, I thought, “Well, what is your New World Order?” After World War II, we did create a New World Order. We said to the world, “The shipping lanes will be open. Communications will be open, and we will deter the Soviet Union from taking over Europe and Asia.” But that was a different United States, wasn’t it? It had men such as FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, and JFK at the helm. It had, by far, the world’s largest economy. It was energy self-sufficient. It was confident and robust. But when I look at this generation, I see Barack Obama. I see Joe Biden. I see giving up energy independence. I see woke narratives. I see 128 days of rioting. I see hysteria over a laptop. It’s not the I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 53
Nation Profile
same United States. And Joe Biden is no Harry Truman. I’m very pessimistic. MR . JEKIELEK: This
actually points toward some of what I was going to talk about, that the U.S.-led world order appears to be coming apart. MR . HANSON: Yes, it’s
falling apart. It’s falling apart because of this global veneer of popular culture, the internet, TikTok, Facebook, common music, and everybody all over the world watching a Super Bowl halftime. It has created this veneer that we’re all on the same page, that we’re all in a global community. But that’s not true. It’s just a veneer. Nationalism is still there. Ethnic, racial, and religious divides are still there. For example, we can’t get Australia, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea on the same page to check Chinese aggression. China, in that void, is the new power, and it’s going to control all the major
choke points of the world. The irony is that, by all the historical barometers of national strength, the United States is superior. We have 330 million people. China has 1.4 billion. They have almost five times our population, but their gross domestic product is smaller. In crude terms, that means one American citizen is producing five times the goods and services of a Chinese citizen. In areas such as engineering, mathematics, and physics, American schools still rank at the top. California alone, for instance, has more universities in the top 25 than any nation in the world except the United States. We were the largest producer of gas and oil in the world until two years ago. And in food production, we’re the most efficient. China may produce a little more, but we’re the most efficient food producer in the world. And we still have the strongest military in the world. By every barometer of na-
“Probably half the population or maybe even 55 or 60 percent of the 8 billion people on earth either want the invasion to succeed or they’re indifferent. So they won’t condemn Putin or Russia.” tional strength, we should be stronger than we’ve ever been, but we’re not. That’s because of this woke postmodern anti-American fringe. That’s what the left has done to us. MR . JEKIELEK: I agree.
As you’ve just said, it seems the United States has stopped believing in itself to some extent. Is it even possible at this stage to rediscover that belief?
MR . HANSON: Yes, it’s
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Evacuees from Ukraine walk on a makshift pathway to cross a river next to a destroyed bridge as they flee the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, on March 13. 54 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
THIS PAGE: DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
possible. There’s a glimmer of hope in that there’s still such a thing as the West. When this war in Ukraine happened, Germany, France, and the UK were on the same page as us. We should tell China right now that they can’t split us. We’re going to have a uniform policy of sanctions against them if they try anything in Taiwan. We’re going to be tough on their trade. Our military is going to be 10 times stronger than theirs. We actually have a larger population—Europe, the United States, North America, and all of Europe together—than China does, or at least the equivalent. So the West still has that potential.
T R AV E L • F O O D • L U X U R Y L I V I N G
No.16
Unwind
There are many paths to turning a passion for wine into an expert-level knowledge of the craft. PHOTO BY MORSA IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
A Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert WHEN IT COMES TIME TO pick an iconic skiing destination with great slopes for both experts and first-timers, Vail should be at the top of the list. 58
ORIGINALLY CREATED AS a form of medicine to settle an upset stomach, and now served in a silver or pewter cup, it's the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. 66
60
ETIQUETTE MAY SEEM TO be the last thing to be found in the sweaty, odiforous environs of a gym, which is why they are actually a must. 67
INSIDE I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 55
A Mythically
BEAUTIFUL ESTATE The romantic Greek Isles provide a relaxed yet luxurious setting for this incredibly well-appointed estate By Phil Butler
Well-designed living areas on the pool level open up onto a vast terrace and manicured lawns overlooking the sea. 56 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
Lifestyle Real Estate
S
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF GREECE SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY
et in a st unning l a ndsc a pe on the waterfront of the southeastern cape of the Greek Peloponnese, the Alexander estate is a magnificent combination of luxury and serenity. This classic estate is ideally located adjacent to the wonderful cosmopolitan island of Spetses and just a few kilometers from Porto Heli. With 1,000 square meters (10,764 square feet) of total living space spread across the main house and two guest houses, Alexander offers total privacy and every conceivable convenience. Within the total living space, there are two independent guest houses of 60 square meters and 120 square meters. Both of these accommodations enjoy the same stunning views seen from the main house. The main house itself is a classic three-level affair designed for carefree, uncluttered living. There are a total of nine bedrooms served by 10 bathrooms in all. Five lounges, three complete gourmet kitchens, and three separate dining rooms complete the sumptuous living accommodations. Outside, an impressive 2,504 square meters (0.62 acres) of gardens provide an accent for the spectacularly oversized 19-by-7-meter saltwater swimming pool, private tennis court, and several wonderful terraces. Beyond
the pool, impeccably landscaped gardens lead from an overlook down to the sparkling azure of the Myrtoan Sea. A tunnel from above provides easy access to the beach. At the shore, there’s a romantic boathouse with a 300-square-meter jetty for boats, fully equipped with moorings, shore power, and water. A barbecue area, multiple al fresco dining spots, and quite a bit of entertaining and activity space are ready to be enjoyed throughout this luxurious estate. The area around Porto Cheli is one of Greece’s most popular summer resorts, a place often referred to as the “Riviera of the Peloponnese”—and for good reason. This part of Argolis, Greece, has a spectacular yacht basin and is just a stone’s throw from the islands of Spetses, Hydra, and Poros. There’s also a small private airport and countless amazing places to dine, do water sports, and enjoy the lively nightlife. The neighbors are impressive as well, including King Constantine II of Greece, who resides in the area with his wife, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece. Phil Butler is a publisher, editor, author, and analyst who is a widely cited expert on subjects ranging from digital and social media to travel technology.
ALEXANDER PORTO CHELI, GREECE PRICE ON REQUEST • 9 BEDROOMS • 10 BATHROOMS • 10,764 SQUARE FEET • 0.62 ACRES KEY FEATURES • EXCLUSIVE LOCATION • WATERFRONT • PRIVATE BEACH • OVERSIZED SALTWATER SEASIDE POOL AGENT GREECE SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY DESPINA LAOU, HEAD OF PRIVATE OFFICE +30 695 169 0565
Down at the jetty, a romantic boathouse is a perfect hideaway, located only 50 meters from the beach. The saltwater pool is the central attraction of this estate. Here we see a full view of the back of the main residence from the seaward.
The second-level living spaces provide a magnificent overlook of the stunning Peloponnese Riviera. Throughout, the design suits carefree living. I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 57
A group enjoys the powder in Vail’s Back Bowls.
Springtime in Vail European-inspired, American-born
By Cary Dunst
D
e sp i t e t h e wa r m sp r i n g weather at the resort’s base, nearly 100 percent of the 5,317 acres at Vail, Colorado’s largest ski resort, were still snow-covered. The hot weather had softened the snow into a wet slush, making my skis’ metal edges feel like knives cutting through warm butter. At night, the slushy moisture refreezes, and the resort’s crew members use their maintenance tools to blow new snow and groom it into a grippy corduroy surface. This spring cycle repeats as the snow melts during the day, then refreezes at night. At the summit, there are 360-degree views of endless Colorado peaks. I giggled and hooted as I sped down the front side’s wide and gentle groomers, and I was humbled by the steep pitch and sheer enormity of the Back Bowls. Each bowl is more acreage than an entire average-sized ski resort, and there are seven of them! The very next day, storm clouds rolled in, bringing colder temperatures and a half foot of fresh powder. With each run, my skis disappeared be-
58 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
neath the white fluff, producing that addictive euphoria known to ski enthusiasts. While the crowds seem to prefer visiting during winter holiday weekends, there’s no doubt that spring is my favorite season to ski. In these coveted few weeks, daylight lasts past dinner, the weather is temperate, faces bronze (or burn without sunblock), lift lines are short, and the fresh powder is abundant. It’s common to see fellow revelers on the mountain in shorts, costumes, and other bits of flair, such as Hawaiian luau gear. Vail decided to extend this season for the first time to May 1 in order to show appreciation to their resort community. Vail is easily the ski industry’s most recognizable brand, famed for this iconic namesake resort, the acquisition and management of dozens of mountains around the world, and pioneering the multi-resort Epic pass. However, its founding is a classic tale of American passion and entrepreneurship.
The Army’s 10th Mountain Division In preparation for World War II, the president of the National Ski Patrol convinced the War Depart-
VAIL
DENVER
COLORADO
It takes about 3 to 3 1/2 hours from Denver International Airport to Vail.
Travel Skiing
ment that the U. S. Army would need to be ready for alpine warfare and that it would be easier to recruit and train skiers to fight than it would be to teach soldiers to ski and navigate mountains. Thus the Army’s 10th Mountain Division was formed and opened Camp Hale in 1942 near the not-yet established Vail to prepare for mountain combat. The training for this talented ski brigade was grueling. The 10th was credited with turning the tide of the Italian alpine front; they went on to take heavy casualties in the mountains of Northern Italy during Operation Encore, where they surprised the Nazis, overtaking them on Riva Ridge and then went on to Mt. Belvedere. Their mountain skills proved crucial to their success.
FROM TOP L: VAIL RESORTS, SHUTTERSTOCK, PATRICK ORTON/ GETTY IMAGES, COURTESY OF THE SONNENALP, VAIL RESORTS
Vail Is Born After the war, veterans of the 10th Mountain Division were credited with creating the modern U.S. ski industry, having built or held key leadership roles in more than 60 American resorts. One such veteran was Pete Seibert, a talented ski racer badly injured in the war. He was told he wouldn’t walk again. With grit and determination, he proved the doctors wrong, then took advantage of the GI Bill to study hospitality in Switzerland. More than anything, Seibert wanted to start his own ski resort, and having already overcome considerable adversity, he had the can-do attitude that he needed to do so. He teamed up with friend and Colorado native Earl Eaton, who took him on a now-famous seven-hour hike of a mountain with no name that rose above a nondescript valley along the highway near numerous family-owned ranches. Seibert was blown away by what he found at the summit, which was hidden from the valley below. There were wide-open snowy basins in
The fourth- and fifth-generation operators of the Sonnenalp Hotel in Bavaria and Vail.
every direction, at every pitch, from steep to gentle. They knew this was the perfect site to open a ski resort. To not be stymied by competitors, Seibert operated in stealth mode when he bought the land from local ranchers, telling anyone who asked that it was to be a fishing and shooting club. Seibert and Eaton created their new resort in 1962. Early investors paid a mere $10,000 for a condo and a lifetime ski pass! Now it’s not uncommon for a condo to be worth more than $10 million. And what started with just two chair lifts and a gondola on opening day in December 1962 has now grown to 32 lifts and millions of annual ski visits.
The Sonnenalp’s Authentic Bavarian Charms It wasn’t just Vail’s founders who created this distinct European mountain vibe in Colorado. The Faessler family first opened an inn in the Bavarian Alps of southern Germany in 1919. Three generations later, it would transform into a luxury mountain retreat with gourmet food and limitless recreation. The Faesslers then opened a second outpost in the town of Vail in 1979. As capital investment and worldwide popularity of Vail grew, so did the Faesslers’ operation. Today in its fifth generation, their Sonnenalp Resort is right in the heart of Vail Village. It was the passion, timing, and risk-taking of folks such as Pete Seibert, Earl Eaton, and the Faesslers who made this overlooked valley into the world’s most famous ski resort. While inspired by the Alps, it’s authentically American in its gusto and exceptionalism. The author was a guest of Vail Resorts Management Company.
Over
5,000
skiable acres make Vail Ski Resort a great destination for ski lovers.
If You Go Getting There: Fly direct to Eagle airport, a short ride to Vail, or fly into Denver International Airport and rent a car. For the latter, arrange your timing to cruise during the daytime to enjoy the views of the plains of Eastern Colorado, the Eisenhower Tunnel at the Continental Divide, and the descent into Vail Valley. Skiing: If you ski longer than three days, Vail Resorts makes it cheaper to buy a season pass than to pay per diem, and then you can ride at 38 North American resorts and over 80 globally.
The resort village of Lionshead, one of the four Vail Base areas.
I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 59
BECOME A WINE EXPERT
WINE
GURU By Bill Lindsey
The goal of many oenophiles is to acquire the knowledge of a wine steward 60 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
Lifestyle Become a Wine Expert
The duties of a sommelier require an encyclopedic knowledge of wine and all related topics.
LEFT PAGE: TERRY VLISIDIS/UNSPLASH; THIS PAGE: MAKSYM KAHARLYTSKYI/UNSPLASH
W
H AT CONSTIT U T E S A
wine expert or sommelier? Fine restaurants employ wine stewards to assist in the selection and presentation of wines. The best ones are professional and discreet, taking care to provide gentle advice and thus help ensure that the diners choose a wine that perfectly suits their meals, palates, and budgets. Because there’s so much to know about wines, choosing from an extensive list can be daunting, making it a smart move to seek the input of a wine professional. However, because the science of wine and all the factors that collaborate to make a great—or not so good—vintage are fascinating, it makes sense for anyone who enjoys a good glass of wine to pursue more knowledge. Why would someone decide to become a sommelier? In one instance, those with extensive wine collections that include wines acquired as an investment would be well-served to expand their knowledge base. Casual wine aficionados—oenophiles—may also enjoy taking online or in-person classes to be better able to choose from wine lists at restaurants and when purchasing wine for themselves or as gifts. An excellent example of a person who pursued a career as a wine steward is Stephen Grubbs, wine director at Ovide in Sandestin, Florida. A 2011 Food & Wine magazine Sommelier of the Year, he became interested in wine while working as a server at Five & Ten, a restaurant helmed by Hugh Acheson’s restaurant in Athens, Georgia.
That’s where he developed a passion for wine education and for offering wine-pairing suggestions to his regulars. This led him to complete the Court of Master Sommeliers Level 1 class and exam. “In addition to structured classes, I read, travel as often as possible, and I ask good winemakers a million pointed questions to learn more about the subject from those who make it,” Grubbs said. For others, it’s a way to continue a family tradition. Pauline Collas, head sommelier at Miami’s Villa Azur, was raised on her parents’ vineyard in Provence, France. “Life was great on this small property, which was surrounded by olive trees and lavender,” Collas said. “My father taught me about Syrah, Cinsault, and other grape varieties that are used to produce Côtes-de-Provence wines.” As a result, she developed a passion for wines at a young age, eventually leading her to decide to become a sommelier. When Collas was 19, she spent two years in culinary school, followed by a two-year wine steward apprenticeship in Paris at a restaurant in the 6th arrondissement. It was on the Seine waterfront, with a magnificent view of the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Her first job as a sommelier came just in time for the reopening of the historic Hôtel de Crillon on Place de la Concorde. “The wine list was just extraordinary, with more than 2,000 references, and including some of the most exclusive wines,” she said. A wide range of online programs, as well as many in-person classes, are readily available in cities
It makes sense for anyone who enjoys a good glass of wine to pursue more knowledge.
I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 61
Lifestyle Become a Wine Expert
LIFESTYLE
KNOW YOUR GRAPES
Anyone can become a wine expert, as a career or a hobby.
Visiting wineries to see how the grapes are grown and converted into wine is a great way to expand your knowledge base. It’s also a lot of fun!
62 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
used by wine experts. The internet and your local library can provide you with hours of reading materials on the science of wine production, such as how climate and soil play a pivotal role in making a great wine. If you live near vineyards, consider volunteering for whatever tasks they may need help with. Regardless of what they have you do, witnessing the winemaking process firsthand will greatly increase your knowledge base. You’ll most likely have a lot of fun and make new friends, too. Collas summarized the goal of a wine expert, saying, “In my mind, a sommelier is the person that can change a fine dining experience into an astonishing one.”
Host a Wine Tasting The best way to learn about the various types is to host tastings that allow you to discover the intricacies of wines from various regions and different vintages.
2
Wine 101 Many in-person and online programs provide a path to becoming a sommelier. Typical classes require two days of instruction followed by an exam. Graduates are eligible to take advanced classes.
3 DIY
It all begins with the grapes; how and where they are grown, the soil and climate conditions, and much more all affect the quality of the wine.
A hands-on, immersive approach, including attending wine tastings, joining wine clubs, and reading everything you can find about wines and how they are produced, can be done according to your schedule.
THIS PAGE FROM TOP: NDAB CREATIVITY/ SHUTTERSTOCK, EVA FAN/UNSPLASH
around the world. The Court of Master Sommeliers offers online and in-person programs in a four-tiered schedule that begins with an introductory sommelier course. The prerequisites for prospective students include having a working knowledge of wines and understanding the various duties of a wine steward. Over the course of two days, students receive in-depth instruction from master sommeliers in wines and beverages, the elements of wine service, and tasting techniques from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The exam is administered at 4 p.m. on day two. Students who pass the exam are eligible to take the Certified Sommelier Course within three years. However, not everyone seeks a career as a wine steward; for others, a self-directed, hands-on approach may be an ideal way to increase their knowledge of wines at their own pace. The suggested steps include sampling different wines at winery or retail store tastings as often as possible; learning how to view, smell, and taste wines; and developing an “aroma and taste archive” by smelling and tasting vegetables, spices, and more, which will assist in describing wines. Other steps you can take to learn more about the intricacies of wine include training your palate to distinguish things such as the different viscosities of various vintages. Joining a local wine club could be an excellent way to learn this and other relevant skills, as well as to pick up the terms
1
Luxury Living Better Sleep
SLEEP WELL: GEAR TO HELP REDUCE TOSSING AND TURNING Author F. Scott Fitgerald said, ‘The worst thing in the world is to try to sleep and not to’ By Bill Lindsey
Harness the Light
AYOLITE THERAPY
A Breath of Fresh Air
SAJE DIFFUSER
$199
Our circadian rhythms control our sleep-wake cycle, but when they get out of whack, sleep becomes elusive. By using blue light therapy, this lightweight system is said to realign the brain’s natural circadian rhythms to improve sleep quality as well as energy, moods, and overall wellness.
$140
Fans of essential oils rely on them for deeper, more restful sleep. With a run time of up to 22 hours, the diffuser adds humidity to the air while circulating the oils. It also generates negative ions to create the refreshing atmosphere of a waterfall.
The Sound of Silence
BOSE SLEEPBUDS II
FROM TOP L: AYO, SAJE, BOSE, SOUND+SLEEP, MORPHEE
$249
The Colors of Sound
SOUND+SLEEP $99.95
Sized to ensure a comfortable, all-night fit, rather than music, these buds deliver soothing content from the Bose Sleep app. Instead of canceling noise, they actively mask it by combining sounds and frequencies to create a sense of quiet that provides an environment that’s conducive to sleep.
Most noise keeps us awake, but this system creates sounds that lull you into a restful state by delivering ambient sounds of nature, such as rivers or rain. They also deliver white noise to mask sound, soothing pink noise, and low-frequency brown noise similar to the sound of the surf, thus fostering deeper relaxation and improved sleep.
Sleep Machine
MORPHEE
$99.99
This system uses sophrology relaxation techniques in either eight- or 20-minute guided sessions. Designed to help you relax and drift off to sleep, they work by slowing your breathing and heart rate. A total of 210 sessions allows you to choose those that work best for you. I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 63
Epoch Booklist
RECOMMENDED READING HUMOR
‘The Babylon Bee Guide to Wokeness’
By The Babylon Bee
Scary Accurate Satire The world has truly gone insane, and sometimes the best way to reflect the insanity is through satire. The Babylon Bee’s new book is a goldmine of hilarious graphics and text that will keep you laughing and open your eyes to how destructive “wokeness” is. SALEM BOOKS, 2021, 208 PAGES
This week’s selection includes a satire on our times, a novel by C.S. Lewis, and a guide to communicating and understanding numbers.
Institute of Coordinated Experiments, or N.I.C.E., which hopes to retool society, culture, and human nature itself. Although the resistance, led by an otherworldly director, seems without resources, cosmic forces—including a resurrected Merlin— come to their rescue.
‘Making Numbers Count'
SCRIBNER (REPRINT), 2003, 384 PAGES
By Chip Heath and Karla Starr
HISTORY
Visualizing Numbers Effectively
‘A Little History of Poetry’
Most people have trouble with numbers. They can easily visualize numbers up to 12. Beyond 100, numbers blur together. This book presents tools to understand numbers and effectively communicate their meaning to others. Through some simple rules, the authors provide a step-by-step process to allow mastery of the incomprehensible. It’s written both for those who intuitively grasp numbers and those for whom they are baffling.
By John Carey
FICTION
‘That Hideous Strength’
By C.S. Lewis
Dystopian Battle of Good and Evil Set in England, this final novel in Lewis’s space trilogy features a struggle between powerhungry utopians seeking to create a totalitarian government and those who resist them. The utopian crew belongs to an organization called the National
Are there books you’d recommend? We’d love to hear from you. Let us know at features@epochtimes.com
Rhyme Throughout Time Poetry, the oldest language art, predates literacy. Its cadence, rhythm, and rhyme allowed complex things and events to be remembered. When literacy arrived, the first literature recorded was poetry. Written for a general audience, this book delivers a short history of poetry, offering a useful introduction. Carey starts at 4,000 B.C. with the Epic of Gilgamesh and continues through the poets of the 21st century. It may introduce you to previously unknown poets or renew old friendships. YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2020, 320 PAGES
64 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
MATHEMATICS
AVID READER PRESS, 2022, 208 PAGES
LITERARY CRITICISM
‘The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis’
By Jason M. Baxter
Musings on the Masters Regarded as one of the great minds of the 20th century, C.S. Lewis is
perhaps best known for his fantasy literature, mostly “The Chronicles of Narnia.” In his early 30s, Lewis converted to Christianity; he’s likewise famously known for his works of apologetics such as “Mere Christianity.” What books sparked his keen imagination?
FOR KIDS
IVP ACADEMIC, 2022, 182 PAGES
‘The Boxcar Children’ By Gertrude Chandler Warner
CLASSICS
A Childhood Classic
‘The Brothers Karamazov’
By Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Orphans and siblings Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny make a home in an abandoned boxcar, but then go to live with their wealthy grandfather, who makes their beloved boxcar a playhouse. This is the first in the long “Boxcar” series. ALBERT WHITMAN & COMPANY (REPRINT), 1989, 154 PAGES
A Masterpiece of Mind and Spirit This sweeping tale looks at the meaning of religion, guilt, morality, life, and death. When their father is murdered, brothers Dmitri, Alyosha, and Ivan seek to come to grips with their past and present. Dmitri is the sensualist, Ivan the intellectual, and Alyosha the spiritual guide who tries to bring peace to those around him. Key themes in this often-dark story are the search for God and faith and the transformative power of forgiveness and mercy. It’s considered by many to be one of the greatest novels ever written. PENGUIN CLASSICS (REISSUE), 2003, 960 PAGES
‘A Bedtime for Bear’
By Bonny Becker, Illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton
Bear’s First Overnight Guest A delightful installment of Becker’s Bear and Mouse series, “A Bedtime for Bear” engenders smiles throughout as the lovable Bear, who likes everything “just so,” hosts his first overnight guest (Mouse), who makes “quite a racket.” CANDLEWICK, 2016, 48 PAGES
Ian Kane is a U.S. Army veteran, filmmaker, and author. He enjoys the great outdoors and volunteering.
MOVIE REVIEWS
Epoch Watchlist
This week, we look at an animated comedy about criminals-turned-do-gooders, and a drama about a couple trying to save a young lion from captivity.
NEW RELEASE
FAMILY PICK
‘Born Free’ (1966)
‘The Bad Guys’ (2022) In this action-packed animated comedy, a motley crew of animal crooks has finally been nabbed for their many crimes. However, their leader, Mr. Wolf, makes a deal with the authorities that saves his gang from doing hard time. The catch is that they have to become do-gooders in society. But will they, really? This film not only features some incredible animation and action sequences, but also carries some positive messages about acceptance, redemption, and turning one’s life around. And it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
ANIMATION | ADVENTURE | COMEDY
Release Date: April 22, 2022 Director: Pierre Perifel Starring: Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Awkwafina (voices) Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes MPAA Rating: PG Where to Watch: Theaters
along with some emotionally gripping story elements. WESTERN | TV SERIES
The This classic series is about the famous Lone Ranger (Clayton Moore, John Hart) and his Native American friend Tonto (Jay Silverheels) as they
travel through the old West on exciting adventures. The wholesome TV series holds up well today, with great acting, drama, and plenty of action,
and you really get a feel for the wildness of the environs. Plus, there are cute lion cubs. ADVENTURE | DRAMA | FAMILY
Release Date: June 22, 1966 Directors: James Hill, Tom McGowan Starring: Virginia McKenna, Bill Travers, Geoffrey Keen Running Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes MPAA Rating: PG Where to Watch: Redbox, DirecTV, Peacock
A FASCINATING CHARACTER PORTRAIT
‘Adaptation’ (2003)
A VINTAGE WESTERN TV SERIES
‘The Lone Ranger’ (1949)
In this familyfriendly British drama, English game warden George Adamson (Bill Travers) and his wife Joy (Virginia McKenna), look after three orphaned lions. Trouble happens when, years later, the youngest lion, Elsa, is blamed by head warden John Kendall (Geoffrey Keen) for a serious incident. The characterizations here are rich, and viewers will empathize with their different motivations and dilemmas. It’s also beautifully shot,
Release Date: Sept. 15, 1949 Director: Michael Curtiz Creators: George W. Trendle, George W. George Starring: Jay Silverheels, Clayton Moore, John Hart Running Time: 30 minutes MPAA Rating: TV-G Where to Watch: Redbox, DirecTV, HBO Max
After the success of the 1999 film, “Being John Malkovich,” screenwriter Charlie Kaufman was hired to adapt Susan Orlean’s nonfiction novel “The Orchid Thief” for the silver screen. However, he soon realizes that the book is so incoherent that it becomes a seemingly impossible task. This film has great performances by its lead actors, Nicolas Cage (as Kaufman) and Meryl Streep (as Orlean). It’s also filled
with lots of humor and delves into the fascinating and challenging world of screenwriting. COMEDY | DR AMA
Release Date: Feb. 14, 2003 Director: Spike Jonze Starring: Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper Running Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes MPAA Rating: R Where to Watch: Amazon, Redbox, HBO Max
I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022 65
Food Drinks
ANATOMY OF A CLASSIC COCKTAIL: THE MINT JULEP Before becoming the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby—and a sure sign of spring in the South— the classic concoction was a centuries-old medicinal elixir By Kevin Revolinski
T
In the South, spring is julep season. Don’t wait for Derby Day to enjoy this refresher of a warmweather drink.
MINT JULEP
66 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
dicinal properties of whiskey, it’s fair to say that the tipple is strong and perhaps an acquired taste for some. After all, early cocktails added sugar to liquor to ease it down, and today’s mint julep tempers bourbon with fresh mint muddled with sugar and water. At the Derby, the mint julep is served in a silver cup, a common sort of trophy at county fairs, its icy contents creating an attractive frost on the surface. And while the recipe at the Derby is precise, many variations exist. The Maryland version calls for rye or even gin or rum rather than bourbon. Some recipes add a half tablespoon or so of fresh lemon or lime juice. The “Kentucky-style” mint juleps of Louisville-born Tom Bullock, an influential black
bartender and author of the 1917 work “The Ideal Bartender,” were well known, even passing the lips of President Theodore Roosevelt. But in addition to the bourbon recipe, his bar guide includes recipes for Brandy, Pineapple, and Champagne Juleps, as well as the St. Louis-style Overall Julep, made with rye whiskey, gin, grenadine, and lime and lemon juices. But even if you stick to the now-standard ingredients, you’ll find disagreement on the preparation. Muddle the mint or just add a sprig for the aroma? Powdered sugar or syrup? It’s up to you! Kevin Revolinski is an avid traveler, craft beer enthusiast, and home-cooking fan. He's based in Madison, Wis.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP L: SHAUN MEINTJES/UNSPLASH; BRENT HOFACKER/ SHUTTERSTOCK; FOTOFAIRY777/SHUTTERSTOCK
Fresh mint he kentucky derby is is a must, almost upon us—the first for muddling Saturday of May—and that (or not) and means mint julep season garnishing. is on. While the julep has been the race’s official drink since 1938, the first race was run in 1875, and the Serve in a drink’s association with it began frosty silver cup, like sometime soon after. And the they do at drink itself goes back centuries the Derby, earlier. to keep the As the song goes, “A spoonful drink ice-cold from start to of sugar helps the medicine go finish. down.” The julep was first defined as a sweetened liquid used to cover up something less palatable that you wanted to get past your tongue, typically a nasty health aid. The word and concept originated with the Persian gulab, or rosewater (water infused with • 8 mint leaves rose petals), passing through • 2 ounces Arabic, then Latin, and into the bourbon Romance languages. Middle • 2 sugar cubes English picked it up in the 1600s or 1 teaspoon as something like iulep. powdered sugar (or 1/2 The earliest print mention of a ounce simple julep as a mint and liquor (rum syrup) or brandy) health elixir was in • Crushed ice Virginia in the early 1800s. It was • Mint sprigs described as a medicinal drink for garnish used by farmers to ease stomach problems. But many historians Muddle the contend that it was a drink of mint leaves high society taken at breakfast. at the bottom of Much like the sazerac, previousa silver cup or a rocks glass with ly written up here, the original mint julep called for Cognac. That the sugar and a recipe sent barkeeps and drinkers bit of water. Add crushed ice to in search of an alternative when the top and pour Cognac became scarce during in the whiskey. an outbreak of phylloxera—an Stir until the cup insect that destroys grapevine surface turns roots—in France in the late 19th frosty, then century. Those living in Kengarnish with tucky, being home to bourbon, mint sprigs and serve. made the obvious replacement. While some may debate the me-
Building Manner Muscles The gym may not seem like a place where manners matter, but it is and they do
We go to the gym to lose weight or add muscle, hoping for some Zen moments in the process. Because there are other patrons straining and sweating all around us, ‘exercising’ proper etiquette may be just as important here as it is at the ballet. By Bill Lindsey
4 Assist If Asked
1 Be Thoughtful Part of the gym experience is sharing the equipment. If you’ve been on the only rowing machine for 30 minutes and there are people waiting for it, give them a turn. Draping a towel on a piece of equipment lets others know you want to use it next, but don’t do this if you won’t be using it for 20 minutes or so. Don’t hover when someone is using the equipment you want; be patient.
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2 Use a Towel In a busy gym, it’s only natural that benches and other equipment that you lie on or press against will get sweaty as they’re being used. To keep things sanitary, wipe off the equipment before you use it (in case the previous user didn’t read this article), then wipe it again when you’ve finished that station. When it’s time to hit the showers after a good workout, toss the wipe-down towel in the hamper and grab a fresh one.
Even if you’re a long-term, experienced member of the gym, unless someone is doing something in such a way that could injure them or others, avoid offering unsolicited advice. However, if another gym member asks for suggestions on improving technique or if they need someone to spot them as they lift, help them if you feel comfortable doing so. The gym is a place where patrons focus intently on what they’re doing, making any interruptions or distractions unwelcome.
3
Respect the Equipment
Just because Olympic weightlifters let the barbells drop on the floor doesn’t mean you should. In addition to causing a sudden loud noise that can be distracting to others, you could easily drop it on your foot—or worse, someone else’s foot— or even damage the floor. On a related note, if you notice that a piece of equipment is broken or defective, advise the manager.
5 Grunts Are Fish Not everyone will be impressed by all the sounds you make as you struggle to get the weight up and hold it. Breathing is important, of course, but keep the drama to a minimum, avoiding grunts, shrieks, “hooyahs!” or cursing. Patrons come to the gym to get strong in a somewhat meditative manner, so respect the environment. Similarly, the mirrors allow patrons to monitor their technique, so take care not to block their view.
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