In today’s hyperfast political environment, keeping on top of the news can seem a Herculean task. So why not let us do the hard work for you? Every Friday, we rounds up the most essential stories from the week, from the world-changing, to the shocking, to the inspiring.

After a six month hiatus, Morris M. returns to guide you through the miasma of media noise in search of the elusive beast we call “news”. This week – in our first retitled reboot of the sorely-missed “Mind-Blowing Things that Happened this Week” column – we’re journeying to Bolivia to watch the president flee into exile; wading into the Hong Kong protests to try and make sense of it all; and checking in on the UK as windbag of the people Nigel Farage does a deal with the devil. Strap yourselves in for a bumpy ride.

10 Bolivia’s President Fled into Exile

Not so long ago, Evo Morales was an international darling. Bolivia’s first indigenous president, he came to power on a wave of popular support, then used his constitutionally-mandated two terms to improve the lives of his nation’s poorest.

Then Morales’ second term ended and he decided he wanted another. And another. Following a constitutional amendment in 2016, Morales finally ran for his fourth term this year. When he was declared victor following widespread voting irregularities, Bolivians decided they’d had enough. The streets exploded in weeks of protests and rioting that only ended when Morales resigned on Sunday. He has since fled into exile in Mexico, along with most of his cabinet.

In the aftermath of Morales’ flight, opposition senator Jeanine Áñez has assumed the presidency, becoming Bolivia’s first female leader. She now has 90 days to call fresh elections. Quite what shape the post-Morales years will take will be the burning question hovering over the ballot box.^[1]

9 Brazil’s Former President was Released from Jail

Sticking south of the border for a moment, the weekend also saw another major story involving a Latin American leader. But while the news for Morales was 100 percent bad, the news for Brazil’s ex-president Lula was nearly all good. After being jailed for 12 years some 18 months ago on corruption charges, the leftist firebrand was freed on Friday following a Supreme Court ruling (LINK 2).

The jailing of Lula was a massive turning point in modern Brazilian history. At the point judge Sérgio Moro slammed his gavel down, Lula was preparing for a presidential run, and was the firm favorite to win. Instead, he was locked away, and rightwing populist Jair Bolsonaro was given a clear run at the presidency. The fact that Bolsonaro subsequently made judge Moro his justice minister meant it was all sorts of easy for Lula’s lawyers to argue his conviction was political. Hence his now being a free man.

The re-emergence of Lula throws Brazilian politics into a spin. Although other charges are still pending against him, he’s perhaps the only figure on the left with a popular movement to equal Bolsonaro’s rightist one. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.^[2]

8 Chile’s Violent Protests Continued

On October 14, a fare hike for the Santiago metro in Chile exploded into nationwide protests against inequality and pampered elites. When the protestors refused to disperse after the fare rise was reversed, the police responded with extreme violence. This, in turn, led to widespread riots and the normally-stable nation turning into a very unstable battleground.

This week, the news coming out of Chile just got grimmer and grimmer. A New York Times video report found an “epidemic” of protestors being blinded by police. At the same time, a separate report from Chile’s human rights institute declared that 20 had been killed in the protests so far, and over 2,000 wounded, included 1,000 who’d been shot.

But by far the worst news related to the nearly 300 civilians who claim to have been tortured by the police and military. In Chile, allegations of police torture carry weighty memories of the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, when 40,000 were kidnapped and brutalized by the security forces. Hopefully, we’re not witnessing a return to a much darker time.^[3]

7 Spain Held its Second Useless Election in a Year

After three entries in Latin America, it’s time to head north to yet another Spanish-speaking nation (yeah, Brazil doesn’t speak Spanish. No, we’re not letting it affect this otherwise smooth transition). This time, we’re looking at Spain itself, where the country went to the polls on Sunday, following a previous election in April that failed to return a workable government. So people once again voted. And, once again, everyone lost.

Socialist Worker’s Party leader Pedro Sánchez called the election after winning the April vote, but falling short of enough seats to form a government. His calculation had been that voters would give him enough of a boost to propel him across the finishing line. Instead, his party lost three seats for a total of 120, painfully far short of the 176 needed for a majority. Still, it didn’t look too good for his rightwing rivals, either. The conservative People’s Party grabbed 22 extra seats, but still languished in second with a total of 88. About the only party able to celebrate was the far-right Vox which came third with 52 seats, a 28 seat increase.

Sánchez has now signed a coalition agreement with the populist party Unidas Podemos. However, this still leaves him 21 seats short of a majority. The smart money is on Spain having yet another election within a year.^[4]

6Venice Drowned

As a city built atop a lagoon, Venice is no stranger to flooding. But there’s regular flooding, and then there’s whatever the heck happened this week. Following atrocious weather on Tuesday, the water level started rising in Venice. By the time it stopped, the waters had risen 187cm, the second worst flood the city has ever experienced.

The result was a city that was basically drowning. Historic plazas were flooded, while centuries’ old buildings sustained heavy damage. Images were broadcast around the world of people forced to walk across precarious wooden walkways to avoid the floodwaters. Despite this, at least two deaths have so far been recorded.

The waters still didn’t reach the heights of the infamous 1966 flood, but they came close. The mayor of the city has blamed climate change for the disaster. If that’s the case, we can probably expect more floods like this in the future.^[5]

5 Australia Burned

While Venice sank below the waves, down in the southern hemisphere, Australia watched in horror as flames consumed swathes of the east coast. Over the course of the last week and a bit, huge wildfires ripped through the bush, engulfing suburbs and surrounding isolated towns. As firefighters battled to stop the multiple blazes, some 300 homes were turned to ash, and at least four people killed. The worst part? That the worst is yet to come.

Parts of Australia are currently suffering under a spell of extremely dry weather that has turbocharged the ability of bushfires to spread. On Tuesday, things got so bad that the greater Sydney area was issued with its first “catastrophic” fire warning in history. Unfortunately, with temperatures due to soar again this weekend, its thought the fires could get worse.

As in Venice, many – such as a group of former fire chiefs – have blamed climate change for the current catastrophe. The government of Scott Morrison disagrees.^[6]

4 We Spotted a Hyperfast Star Being Ejected from our Galaxy

Ahh, space. Both the final frontier, and a reliable escape from the stream of disasters endlessly afflicting Earth. This week, the major news from the heavens involved scientists detecting a superfast star escaping our galaxy at 1,700km per second (by way of comparison, a bullet might max out at a mere 1.5km per second). But the story of this star wasn’t a peaceful one. It’s current trajectory was the result of an almost unimaginable disaster.

The star, S5-HVS1, is thought to have been part of a binary system that wandered too close to the galactic center. This is an issue, because at the center of the galaxy is a great, big black hole. At some point, S5-HVS1’s partner star was pulled into the black hole, and the force was enough to slingshot S5-HVS1 away at mind-melting speeds.

This is the first proof we’ve ever found of something known as the Hills mechanism, which posits a method by which stars can be ejected from the Milky Way by black holes. As for S5-HVS1 itself, it is now doomed to forever wander the empty spaces between the galaxies until it finally burns itself out.^[7]

3 The UK’s Brexit Party Threw the Tories an Election Lifeline

“Brexit party to contest more than 600 seats” blared the headlines on November 4. That day, professional pub bore Nigel Farage eagerly declared that his brand new political party would fight nearly every seat in the upcoming UK general election. In reference to the idea of standing down his prospective MPs to give the Conservative Party a clear run in Leave-voting areas, he declared “What kind of conceited arrogance is this?”

Well, a week is a long time in politics, and breathtaking hypocrisy never dies. On November 11, Farage made a new speech so tonally different that to listen to it was to experience the audio equivalent of whiplash. The Brexit Party would no longer be contesting 317 seats across Britain. The reason? Um… to give the Conservative Party a clear run.

The pact is the result of the wild unpredictability of the UK’s first winter election in decades. Farage clearly sees a Boris Johnson win as the best way to secure a hard Brexit. Still, his decision caused anger in some quarters – not least among some of his own party, who accused him of betrayal.^[8]

2 Hong Kong’s Protests Flared Up Again

Since August, 2019, Hong Kong has been in the grip of mass protests originally triggered by an extradition treaty with China and Taiwan, but since grown to encompass a much broader fight for democracy. Since the protests are still ongoing, and since this column has been on hiatus since they began, now seems as good a time as any to cover them.

After months of clashes and destruction of property, the protests in recent weeks have focused on several university campuses, where protestors have built fortifications and effectively taken over the buildings. On Tuesday, the Chinese University of Hong Kong was the site of the worst violence since the protests began with police unleashing a hail of over 1,500 tear gas cannisters. For their part, the protestors are reported to be stocking up on petrol bombs. In China, state media has taken to warning Hong Kong that it’s on “the edge of doom”.

With the violence showing no signs of abating, many expats and international students are now fleeing the territory. At the same time, the economy is reportedly taking a battering as tourists stay away.^[9]

1 The First Day of Impeachment Hearings Dropped a Bombshell

And so they’ve finally arrived. The first public impeachment proceedings since Bill Clinton sat in the White House. When this column last signed off (under its older, less sexy name), barely any Democrats were willing to even whisper the “I” word in public.

But times change and scandals involving Ukraine explode out of nowhere. So it was that, this Wednesday, the first public hearings of Donald Trump’s impeachment were held. Barely had the cameras begun rolling than the first bombshell was dropped.

During his testimony, former top US diplomat to Ukraine William Taylor declared that one of his aides had overheard a phone conversation between Trump and EU ambassador Gordon Sondland. Reportedly, this involved Trump fretting about Ukraine opening in investigation into Hunter Biden, a quid pro quo the president allegedly demanded in return for restarting military aid. Taylor claims that Sondland subsequently told his aide “President Trump cares more about the investigations of Biden” than Ukraine.

At this stage, every day seems to bring more bad news for Trump, and adds to the whiff of scandal completely engulfing him. While it seems very unlikely the Senate will actually convict him, the emergence of more details like this could damage his reputation. Expect to see more from these hearings in future columns. Ah! It sure is wonderful to be back.^[10]

With the recent release of Get Back, Peter Jackson’s thorough examination of the Beatles in a time of trouble, interest in the famed band has increased. More interesting than their work together was the music the quartet recorded individually in the 1970s. This list offers a tidy selection.

Related: Top 10 Bizarre Conspiracy Theories About Album Cover Art

10 McCartney (1970)

Although the breakup was painful for every member, it seems Paul McCartney took it the hardest and spent much of 1970 tending to his wounds by drinking—excessively. Indeed, it was only through the encouragement of his wife Linda that the bassist found the spontaneity needed to record his debut album: a lo-fi effort that saw the man record every instrument on his own. It’s neither polished nor focused, but that’s what adds to the charm of the effort, as he details the newfound happiness fatherhood has offered him. “The Lovely Linda” demonstrates the songwriter’s devotion to his wife, while acoustic offerings “Every Night” and “Junk” highlight the little nothings that made up for the loss of the band.

In between the instrumentals and the dreamlike elegies stands “Maybe I’m Amazed,” a piano ballad that seemingly continues the narrative of the Beatles’ epics “Hey Jude” and “Let It Be.” Channeling the disappointment of the breakup into something much grander and more adult, the song exhibits a man coming to grips with adulthood and all the trials that come with it. Since 1970, stalwarts Rod Stewart and Billy Joel have covered the number.^[1]

9 Beaucoup of Blues (1970)

Drummer Ringo Starr was widely considered the least likely of the four to succeed as a solo artist, and Sentimental Journey—purportedly recorded to please his mother—did little to dispel the rumors. More happily, Starr released another album that year, one that was geared specifically for his distinctive voice. Having carved a niche for himself as a country singer, Starr flew over to Nashville to soak up the influences, curating an album that’s reverent and truthful to the genre that had given him much pleasure as a child.

Under Pete Drake’s watchful eye, Starr completed a fourteen-track L.P., although two of the tracks remained unheard until the nineties. The title track remains the album’s most fondly remembered ditty. But there’s more to the record, not least the achingly romantic “I Wouldn’t Have You Any Other Way,” while “Loser’s Lounge” demonstrates one of the drummer’s most nakedly vulnerable vocal performances. All in all, Starr proved himself an adept singer, proving the material suited his voice. And laced in the heart of the country genre, he found his voice, and then some.^[2]

8 All Things Must Pass (1970)

Underestimated by his bandmates and manager and producer George Martin, George Harrison had nevertheless harnessed a hefty catalog of tunes he knew the Beatles would never get around to recording. Fittingly, his debut album turned out to be a triple record, although the third vinyl—complete with punchy, albeit protracted, guitar instrumentals—might prove too much of a good thing for casual listeners.

And yet the first two discs showcase a poet yearning for solitude, solace, and sincerity in the world he inhabits. “Wah Wah,” written during the Get Back sessions, holds his most ferocious guitar arpeggio, which isn’t to say that the rest is pleasant. “Awaiting on You All” cautions listeners to the evils of the Pope, and “Hear Me Lord” demonstrates a sinner unworthy of his God’s absolution. And then there’s the superlative title track, showcasing a maturity he would never have penciled, but for the many personal journeys he made to India in the ’60s.

“I went to George’s Friar Park,” producer Phil Spector recalled, “and he said, ‘I have a few ditties for you to hear.’ It was endless! He had literally hundreds of songs, and each one was better than the rest. He had all this emotion built up when it was released to me.”^[3]

7 Plastic Ono Band (1970)

George Harrison wasn’t the only Beatle bursting with unfulfilled ambition. John Lennon, brimming with anger since his problematic childhood, finally managed to commit many of his feelings to tape, much of it delving into the death of his mother (“Mother”) or the failings of his education (“Well, Well, Well” and “Working Class Hero”). “I think it’s realistic and it’s true to me that has been developing over the years from ‘In My Life,’ ‘I’m a Loser,’ ‘Help!,’ ‘Strawberry Fields,’” Lennon informed Rolling Stone. “They’re all personal records.”

Aiding him on this quest was Yoko Ono, the avant-garde artist who felt the only way to make art meaningful was to make it truthful. As if recognizing the ambition, Lennon chose not to hire another guitarist and played all the solos himself. But behind him stood Ringo Starr, the one former Beatle he could still rely on for support.^[4]

6 Imagine (1971)

Having thrown much of his anger onto the previous listed record, Lennon followed it up with Imagine, his most popular album and the last he produced in England. Indeed, it’s a very “English” sounding record, and even Nashville rockers “Crippled Inside” and “I Don’t Wanna Be a Soldier” hold a parochial feel to them that could only have stemmed from watching the inclement weather fall outside his house.

There are highlights: “Oh Yoko!” exhibits his ecstasy at a triumphant marriage, and “Oh My Love” continues the metaphor. At the same time, “Jealous Guy” suggested that he was determined to finally make peace with his former songwriting partner. Paul McCartney recognized the symbolism, and the two gallantly agreed not to criticize each other as venomously as they had to that juncture.^[5]

5 Ringo (1973)

It seems strange now, but Ringo Starr enjoyed greater chart success than his bandmates. “It Don’t Come Easy” was a monster hit in 1973, as was “Back Off Boogaloo,” a drum-heavy rock number that may have been influenced by Paul McCartney. And when it came to his relations with the other members of the Beatles, Starr could proudly state that each of them held him in high esteem.

So it came to pass that he asked his three erstwhile bandmates to contribute tracks to his latest record. McCartney came up with “Six O’Clock,” a jaunty pop number that sounded like a Wings offshoot, while Lennon knocked off “I’m the Greatest,” a roaring number, embellished by Harrison’s fiery guitar. “I couldn’t sing it,” Lennon reflected, “but it was perfect for Ringo. He could say, I’m the greatest’ and people wouldn’t get upset. Whereas if I said ‘I’m the greatest,’ they’d all take it so seriously.”(Link 6)

Best of all, the album boasted a Harrison-Starr co-write, “Photograph,” fulfilling a long lost ambition that the pair had long discussed.^[6]

4 Band on the Run (1973)

From great tragedy came tremendous music, and like McCartney says in the Peter Jackson series, his best work came when his back was against the wall. Compensating for two band members (Henry McCullough quit Wings, followed by drummer Denny Seiwell), McCartney ended up recording many of the instruments that made up the mosaic of sound on Band on the Run. This situation wasn’t helped by the fact that he lost a tape of demos when he was mugged at knifepoint in Lagos, making the album that much harder to complete.

And yet the material was worth the hardship, culminating in a powerful selection of pop tracks. “Jet” remains a live favorite for the bassist, and he’s been known to switch to guitar whenever he performs “Let Me Roll It.” But for this writer, it’s the barreling “1985” that remains the true standout, unveiling a piano lick that eclipses that of “Maybe I’m Amazed.”

“It’s a collection of songs, and the basic idea about the band on the run is a kind of prison escape,” he surmised. “At the beginning of the album, the guy is stuck inside four walls and breaks out. There is a thread, but not a concept.”^[7]

3 Walls and Bridges (1974)

McCartney was enjoying a creative second wind, but Lennon was stalling. Recent efforts Sometime In New York City and Mind Games disappointed critics, while his separation from Yoko Ono suggested that his personal life was interrupting his writing process. But much like he did in 1970, he turned his personal misery into great art, and Walls and Bridges stands as the last of the essential John Lennon albums. He released a cover album and a collaboration with Ono before he was mercilessly shot down in 1980.

“Going Down On Love” held an aching middle coda (“Can somebody help me?”), and “Steel and Glass” offered moments of horrifying reflection. And then there was “Nobody Loves You (When You’re Down and Out), a folk ballad that holds up just as well for its animated vocal as it does for the pummelling brass. In happier news, “#9 Dream” holds the Beatle reflecting on the many glories of his life—even offering girlfriend May Pang a vocal harmony—and Elton John pops around to lay down a supporting vocal for the jaunty “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night.”^[8]

2 Venus and Mars (1975)

Wings finally struck gold with their fourth album, and founder Paul McCartney was finally happy to let his fellow band members involve themselves in the songwriting process. Guitarist Denny Laine sings “Spirits of Ancient Egypt,” and Jimmy McCulloch—the hotshot Scottish session player promoted to band member—contributes “Medicine Jar,” an explosive number that details his penchant for heavy drinking and debauchery.

Linda McCartney holds up as a singer, especially on the shimmering “Love In Song,” which holds one of her most intricate falsetto performances. And then there’s “Rock Show,” a pounding opener that pays tribute to Led Zeppelin, the band that had carried on the Beatles flame into the seventies. Other standouts are the blues tinted “Call Me Back Again” and 1920s doo-wop “You Gave Me The Answer.”

The album, nominally considered Wings’ best after Band On The Run, showed critics that McCartney could work with band members whose names weren’t Lennon, Harrison, or Starr. Not that there was any chance that the Beatles would get back together, as Lennon announced his intention to retire in 1976.^[9]

1 George Harrison (1979)

Following a traumatic tour in 1974, the Beatles lead guitarist spent much of the ’70s secluded in Friars Park, his Victorian mansion. But optimistic as ever, he battled through the difficult days to record the bouncy George Harrison album, netting him his most positive notes since 1970.

Having become a father for the first time in 1978, Harrison was enjoying the process of witnessing the world from another person’s perspective. The joy bursts through “Blow Away,” a kaleidoscopic pop tune that holds one of Harrison’s most impassioned guitar lines. Meanwhile, “Sweet Dark Lady” was written for Dhani’s mother, Olivia, calling attention to her heritage and talents as a wife. Meanwhile, “Faster” paid tribute to the Formula 1 drivers Harrison both admired and befriended. Signaling a change in sound, George Harrison proved the blueprint for his 1980’s output, a body of work where “Your Love Is Forever” and “Here Comes The Moon ” could sit happily between.

“I think what happened between this album and the last album is that everything has been happening nice for me,” he admitted. “My life is getting better all the time, and I’m happy, and I think that it’s reflected in the music.”^[10]

There is a lot of fear and confusion surrounding the coronavirus called COVID-19, and it doesn’t help that some elements of the media have been firing off information many consider fear mongering. Even a recent  article could be considered as such, but fear is the last thing anyone wants to spread since even a global pandemic doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world as we know it.

Top 10 Failed Apocalyptic Predictions

The information on the virus is limited at the moment, as there will need to be a great deal of study before it is fully understood. In the meantime, information is power, so this list contains ten things you should know about COVID-19 and how best to protect yourself from misconceptions, misunderstandings, and outright media lies about it. This information is just the tip of the iceberg, so keep up to date on outbreaks in your area from official sources, and everything should be fine.

10What Is A Coronavirus

COVID-19 is a coronavirus, which means very little to most people who don’t work in virology or immunology. A coronavirus is a group of viruses that can infect mammals and birds.^[1] In humans, they can cause respiratory tract infections, many of which can be treated with over-the-counter medication. The so-called “common cold” is the result of a coronavirus, and while most are well-understood and rarely more than an inconvenience, some can be lethal. COVID-19 refers to the outbreak of the disease, which is broken down as Coronavirus Disease 2019.

The virus itself also has a name, but it’s a bit of a mouthful: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2. Part of that acronym may be familiar, seeing as the world already went through a similar outbreak of SARS in 2003.^[2] The viruses are related, and it wouldn’t be out of the question to call this new outbreak “SARS 2.0,”^[3] though you likely won’t hear any professional virologists say that in the media. Regardless, COVID-19 is a coronavirus, and it is spreading, but that’s not a cause for alarm; rather, it’s a cause to prepare and protect ourselves in much the same way we do when it’s cold & flu season.

9Where COVID-19 Originated

It’s well known that the virus was first seen in Wuhan, China, but it’s not fully understood exactly where it originated. COVID-19 is likely a zoonotic virus, which means it can be transmitted between animals and people. This has led researchers to look for animals that might have originally carried the disease. There are a lot of similarities between COVID-19 and two bat-derived strains of Betacoronavirus, which means they are likely related. Because the viruses share about 96% of the same genes, it was initially believed that bats were the source of the outbreak, which was pinpointed to the Huanan Seafood Market, where exotic animals are sold.

As time went on, and more research was conducted, Chinese researchers were able to determine that COVID-19 shared 99% of the same genetic information as a similar virus that infects pangolins. This suggested that pangolins may have been an intermediary host for the virus, but the research wasn’t officially published, and much of the analysis remains unconfirmed.^[4] While determining the precise origin might help virologists better understand COVID-19, doing so isn’t entirely necessary in combatting the spread of the disease, now that it’s been released into the human population.^[5]

8How COVID-19 Is Transmitted

Since the first day the world learned about the Wuhan Coronavirus, the fear of it spreading began to rise. How was it transmitted, and what could be done to limit its transmission? People have always feared Ebola, but that’s far harder to catch than something like a coronavirus, and it’s all about what it infects and how it is transmitted. COVID-19 causes a respiratory infection, and it’s through a person’s respiration that it spreads the easiest. There are two known means by which the virus spreads: person-to-person and through contact with infected surfaces.

In a person-to-person situation, the virus can be spread through close contact, which is generally considered to be a distance of six feet. The way a person can pass it on is through respiratory droplets, which are produced when a person coughs or sneezes. Covering one’s mouth when this happens helps alleviate the spread of the disease, and infected people should wear a facemask to reduce the risk of transmitting it to someone else. But please heed the Surgeon General’s warning^[6] and don’t buy a mask unless you need one:

The other way it is spread is through a surface contaminated with the virus. A countertop could have been in the pathway of a sneeze, which carried COVID-19 to its surface. Touching that, and then touching your mouth, nose, and possibly the eyes can result in infection.^[7]

7How COVID-19 Is Detected Or Confirmed

One of the biggest issues with detecting COVID-19 in a patient is that it presents much like the common cold. To combat this, researchers across the globe have been scrambling to come up with a way to test for the presence of the virus, and this has resulted in several different testing methods. One of the best ways to check for the virus isn’t to see if you can find the virus in a person’s body—it’s to find the antibodies the body produces to fight the infection. The tests that look for antibodies are called serological tests,^[8] and a firm in Singapore may have perfected a means of conducting this type of test to find COVID-19.

Antibody tests are probably the fastest and easiest way of detecting the presence of COVID-19, but it isn’t the only way. There are tests currently being used around the world, which look for the virus’ genetic information in a person’s saliva, mouth, nose, and anus. These tests use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, which is a process in molecular biology that rapidly produces billions of copies of DNA for study. While these tests can detect the presence of COVID-19, they cannot identify people who were infected and ultimately cleared of it.^[9]

6Who Is At Risk

There is no known immunity to COVID-19, which means that everyone is at risk of catching and spreading the infection. That doesn’t mean this is a perfect time to panic; just because you might become infected, doesn’t mean you’re going to fall over dead in a few hours. COVID-19 can be dangerous, but like most infections, certain portions of the population are more at risk than others. Young children, healthcare professionals, the elderly, and people with a compromised immune system are the ones who are most at risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19.^[10]

When a healthy adult contracts the virus, there’s a possibility that they will not show any symptoms at all, and won’t get sick. This is one of the reasons the virus has managed to escape the confines of Wuhan, China, to infect the world. Infected people who are asymptomatic^[11] become unknown carriers, and even when an otherwise healthy adult does show symptoms, they are often mild and comparative to the common cold.

10 Dreadful Symptoms Of Deadly Diseases

5What Are The Symptoms Of COVID-19

The first part of this block is going to list the symptoms associated with COVID-19 that shouldn’t scare anyone, but the last bit will be all about the more dangerous aspects of the disease. Don’t be alarmed, as these are the worst-case symptoms that won’t affect most people who are infected. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, coughing, and shortness of breath.^[12] These are the same symptoms most people get from the common cold, but they are the mildest possible symptoms a person can experience.

For those who are under a greater deal of risk due to a compromised immune system, or meet the criteria previously mentioned, symptoms can become far more severe. COVID-19 can increase the chances of contracting pneumonia, it can cause multiple organ failure, and in some cases, it can result in death.^[13] These are the most severe cases, though all are of concern due to the ease by which it can be transmitted from person to person.

4COVID-19 Mortality Concerns

Yes, COVID-19 can end a person’s life, but that doesn’t mean the world will end up like it did in Stephen King’s The Stand. The mortality rate for COVID-19 is estimated to be 2.3%, and while that number may seem low, it’s not. If you compare the mortality rate of COVID-19 to something more common like the flu, it’s considerably higher. The flu has a mortality rate of 0.1%, which sees an average of one death per 1,000 people.^[14] These numbers are determined via the case-fatality rate (CFR), which compares the total number of infected patients with those who succumbed from the disease.

While COVID-19 is much higher than the Flu, it presents as a mild infection in the vast majority of people who have had it. The majority of people who have died in China have been elderly, and studies of deaths from the virus show that the CFR jumps to 14.8% for people who are 80 and older while those between the ages of 70 and 79 have a CFR of 8%. For people who were already critically ill when they came in contact with the virus, that number jumps to 49%, suggesting they are the most vulnerable members of the population.^[15][16]

3Avoid Becoming Infected

published an article on Top 10 Things You Need To Do To Prepare For The Coronavirus, but this was intended to be more of an “end of the world” type scenario, so take it with a grain of salt (of which there is much to be found in the comments on that list!) In reality, there are steps you can take to avoid becoming infected, and chances are, you’ve been doing them all along. Because COVID-19 is a coronavirus, which is passed in much the same way as a common cold, the best way to keep from getting it is to wash your hands with soap and warm water, avoid touching your face after coming into contact with anything commonly used like doorknobs, and if you have to go outside, try to avoid sick people.^[17]

Odds are, you do all of that already, so you don’t have to let COVID-19 upend your life or your routine. If you have concerns about winding up in a place with a lot of potentially infected people, you can avoid traveling and going to events with crowds, but that may not be necessary. If it makes you feel better to wear a face mask, you can do so, but make sure you get the right kind. The US Food and Drug Administration recognizes four off-the-shelf N95 respirators, which may be effective in stopping the spread of COVID-19: 3M Particulate Respirator 8670F, 3M Particulate Respirator 8612F, Pasture F550G Respirator, and the Pasture A520G Respirator. These respirators are not suitable for children or men with facial hair, so it’s time so say goodbye to that ironic hipster beard!^[18]

2COVID-19, HIV, & Other Conspiracy Theories

One of the reasons there are so many conspiracy theories about viruses like COVID-19 is that few people truly understand it. Hopefully, this list will help with that, but there are people who hear a comment like, “This virus may use the packing mechanisms of other viruses such as HIV,” and their imaginations tend to run wild.^[19] That finding was published by scientists at Nankai University, and it’s true. The virus does have an HIV-like mutation, but that doesn’t mean someone weaponized a form of HIV in a lab somewhere and released it upon the world, as some conspiracy theories have stated. These same mechanisms appear in many diseases as the result of natural mutations.^[20]

That remark has everything to do with the means of fighting the spread of infection, and research like this helps push further research, which could hopefully lead to a cure or vaccine. You may have seen other conspiracy theories, including one about a new 5G wireless infrastructure being the cause of the disease, but this is so ridiculously false, it barely deserves mention.^[21] The most important thing to do when it comes to hearing these stories is, ask yourself if they make sense, see if they are published by reputable sources, and take a common-sense approach to anything you hear.

1What To Do If You Think You’re Infected With COVID-19

The very first thing you need to do is remember the words printed on the cover of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which are “Don’t Panic.” Panicking doesn’t help you or your loved ones, so you need to take care of yourself to ensure you don’t spread the infection and make sure you get the proper care. If you develop a fever along with symptoms of respiratory illness, you should call your healthcare provider and ask for their advice. They will know the right questions to ask to help determine if you’ve got the common cold, or if you have something more serious.

If you fear you truly did come in contact with someone infected with COVID-19 and are concerned you may have it as well; you need to get tested. Because you are leaving the house to get checked, be responsible, and keep your mouth and nose covered. This will keep you from passing the virus to other people, so if you have a respirator or surgical mask you can use, do so. If not, you can use a scarf or similar article of clothing. Your local hospital may not yet be equipped with testing kits for COVID-19, so call your local public health department for information on the best place to go.^[22]

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These days, it seems like there’s no way to remove yourself from society in a meaningful and permanent way. After all, carrying a cellphone places you inside a vast network, making you a blip of data hit with targeted advertising and more.

People looking to remove themselves from the grid can do so in several ways. Still, it’s going to require making some serious (and often expensive) changes. This list features the essential items you’ll need should you ever want to remove yourself from Big Brother’s watchful eye.

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10 Land To Call Your Own

Wooden house and river

If you’re looking to get off the grid, you will need a place to stay. There are few places left on this planet that aren’t claimed, so unless you want to become a squatter, you’ll need your own land.

Your best bet is to find a piece of land that’s undeveloped and in a part of the world that has a stable climate. You’ll also need to check with the local laws regulating how your land is managed. You may not be legally allowed to build on it whatever or however you want, so it’s best to check these things before settling on where you want to live off the grid.

You’ll want land that’s zoned for agricultural purposes so you can farm your own food. You also want to ensure you don’t have to pay much in taxes or be subjected to government meddling whenever possible.

The best land for keeping off the grid is undeveloped, gets a lot of sunlight, has moderate wind, and a water source. If you can get your hands on that, you can make a life for yourself off the grid.

9 Shelter To Keep The Elements & Wild Animals At Bay

One of the necessities of life is shelter since we humans aren’t especially adapted for living outside. We don’t like extremes of temperature and are susceptible to damage from the sun, so finding a place to stay is essential.

When it comes to building a shelter, there are several things you’ll want to consider. When you first go off the grid, you may be limited to something temporary like a tent, but you’ll want a more permanent solution.

Your shelter will need to provide security, protection from the elements, and a degree of comfort. You’ll also want to ensure it is placed near a water source on land that you own. If you don’t want to build a log cabin, there are plenty of alternatives people have used to get off the grid in recent years.

You can convert shipping containers into sturdy shelters, or you can purchase prefabricated houses to suit your needs. Recreational vehicles are pre-built for offroad living and can be made permanent with a few modifications. Assuming you have the means to remove yourself from society, your options for shelter are varied.

8 Power To Make Life Easier

Technically, you don’t necessarily need electricity once you decide to live off the grid. In fact, it’s far easier to get off the grid by abandoning electricity altogether. That said, few of us would be happy in a world without it. Electricity makes cooking easier, and it helps heat and cool our homes.

Supposing you don’t want to completely cut electricity out of your life, you’re going to need to produce around 850-900 kWh per month yourself. Fortunately, several companies have manufactured products for this very purpose, so you have options when choosing how you want to generate and store energy.

You can purchase/build small solar panels around your shelter to produce energy. These are often expensive and require maintenance, but once you learn how to manage them, they can suit your needs. Another option is wind power, which is easily attainable via a variety of wind-generated turbines.

Another option is generating power through a hydro-generator. You’ll need a continuous flow of water to make this work. If you settle by a river, your power generation needs will be met without interruption, as neither wind nor solar energy are constant.

7 Water To Drink And Clean Yourself With

Water may fall from the sky wherever you decide to settle, but it’s far more sensible to have a local source you can harvest whenever necessary. Unfortunately, simply having access to water doesn’t mean you have a safe supply of drinking water.

Because of pollution and contamination, it can be dangerous to stick your face into a lake, take a drink, and go about your day. You’re opening yourself up to numerous water-borne diseases brought on by viruses and bacteria, including leptospirosis, which comes from animal pee.

Living off the grid means knowing how to process and use the water in your environment. You can start by boiling any water you plan to consume, but this is energy inefficient. It’s best to invest in a water purification system. These can be expensive to maintain but will save you in the long run, especially if you plan on living off the grid for a long time.

Water purification systems include bio-filters, UV purification, ceramic filters, bleach, distillation, and boiling, which doesn’t require a filter. You will also want to have some water testers on hand to ensure you’re not ingesting anything dangerous.

6 Food, Livestock, & Agriculture

This may seem obvious, but having food for a camping trip and having it for a life off the grid are two very different things. If you genuinely want to live off the grid, you’re going to have to produce your own food.

You’re going to need to learn the basics of human needs since you’re not going to be making any runs to McDonald’s anymore. You’ll want to plant crops that provide the necessary vitamins to ensure a happy and healthy lifestyle.

You’ll also want to learn how to preserve food for the winter. Protein is another crucial part of our diets, so you’ll need to learn to hunt and/or fish. Once you have your protein, you’ll need to know how to preserve and store it.

You’re also going to need to keep livestock. Chickens produce eggs almost every day, and when they stop laying eggs… well, you know what to do. Cows will ensure you have a supply of dairy, and goats are always a good choice. You’ll have to learn the necessary skills to grow your food and tend to your animals, but it will make living off the grid far easier.

5 A Place To Poo

Once you flush your toilet, you don’t have to worry about your waste anymore. Of course, that comes at the cost of paying for a sewage or septic system, but it’s barely a consideration for most people.

When you’re living off the grid, you need to handle your waste by yourself. Fortunately, there are several options available to you. You can dig yourself a latrine or outhouse and repeat when it becomes full. This requires consideration of your local water table since you don’t want to contaminate your water supply.

Another option is to take your feces and use it to create fertilizer. This is the best option for recycling your waste, but it requires… well, recycling your waste. If Matt Damon could do it on Mars, you can do it in the backwoods of wherever you decide to settle off the grid!

Another option is to install a septic system on your land, but you’ll need to have it emptied, which keeps you on the grid. Another option is to use a portable septic system. You can empty this yourself, but you’ll need to do it at a special location.

4 Tools Of All Kinds To Build, Repair, & Construct

One of the most important things you’ll need to live off the grid is a well-stocked toolbox. Tools are what separates us from the other animals, and it’s how we’ve built society and the grid you’re looking to extricate yourself from, so you’ll need them to make that happen.

You’ll also need materials, including everything from nails and screws to pipes and wires and everything else in-between. Living off the grid means taking care of your own problems, and tools are how you make that happen.

Some of the tools you won’t be able to survive without are a hatchet, shovel, scissors, wire cutters, drill, drill bits, hammer, an assortment of nails, handsaws, a post hole digger, machete, voltmeter, plow, or tiller, and some wrenches. That’s the bare minimum of what you’ll need, so head to your hardware store and fill your toolbox.

You should also have the equipment needed to handle timber if your land includes trees. You can use them to make firewood or planks for building. Finally, and most importantly, you’ll need basic medical supplies and the know-how to use them.

3 Guns & Ammo Make Hard Living Much Easier

One of the most essential items you’ll need to have on hand is a weapon when it comes to surviving off the grid. Granted, you could keep a bow or crossbow on-hand if you want, and these are always a good option, but when it comes to hunting and protection, your best bet is a firearm.

One of the most important firearms you’ll need is a shotgun. These are best used for hunting birds, but they can also take down larger prey. They are also helpful in defense should a rabid beast wander onto your land.

You’ll want to protect yourself, but you also need to ensure the safety of your livestock, so a shotgun is vital. Another firearm you’ll want is a rifle. These are best used for hunting animals like deer and wild boar. Hunting is an integral part of living off the grid, so these weapons are a vital resource.

You’ll also need to have a great deal of ammunition and cleaning kits. Your best bet is to recycle and manufacture your own ammo. This will ensure you can remain off the grid for as long as necessary by making you self-sufficient.

2 Entertainment To Keep Cabin Fever From Crushing Your Spirit

When people think of survival off the grid, they often focus on everything listed above. Most people realize that they need a place to stay, clean water, and all the rest, but something that’s often overlooked is entertainment.

Separating yourself from society to live off the grid means you aren’t going to get online and watch YouTube all day. You won’t stream Netflix or anything else since logging on literally places you right back on the grid. While you can do this through a satellite linkup, you probably don’t want to since living off the grid is the whole point of your plan.

People need entertainment, and it becomes vital whenever we are alone. Even if you go off the grid with your family and friends, you’ll still want to have an escape of some sort to keep you from going absolutely mad with cabin fever.

Make sure to take a lot of toys, board games, & card games. If you plan on generating your own power, take a TV and a ton of movies. You can even play video games if you have enough energy, and there are always books, so be sure to keep something there to keep you entertained.

1 Books & Reference Materials Are A Vital Necessity

While you may have a library of books on hand to keep you entertained, you shouldn’t limit yourself to luxury reading. One of the most important resources humanity has ever created will be lost to you once you go off the grid, so you won’t be logging on to the Internet to watch a YouTube video on how to properly plant crops.

You’re going to need to stock up on several books that detail instructions on surviving off the grid. You should have texts on planting and cultivating crops, hunting and cleaning game, basic carpentry and maintenance, fishing, basic health care, and more.

References are a valuable resource we take for granted since every question is a Google away. That’s going to be completely absent while you’re living off the grid, so you want to ensure you have enough materials on hand to reference should a question arise.

The last thing you want to be dealing with is a solar power generator and battery without any information on making it work. Keep all of your instruction booklets safe, and be sure to have other reference material on hand to make living off the grid safe and practical.

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