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2020-04-27 -Signs, Portents, and the Weather-

Rudy Giuliani Slammed Dr. Fauci Over His Agency's $3.7 Million Grant to the Wuhan Institute of Virology

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Posted by Besoeker 2020-04-27 00:10|| || Front Page|| [14 views ] Top

#1 This story will likely not gain much altitude in the media or anywhere else. I hope and pray there is absolutely no basis of fact to this Gordon Duff story.

Posted by Besoeker 2020-04-27 00:31|| 2020-04-27 00:31|| Front Page Top

#2 The funding level sounds like an STTR grant.
Like these STTR/SBIR ones

The way (SBIR/STTR)'s work is the Primary Investigator (PI) proposes an idea and if it is selected the PI runs with it. Now if the PI is in a US University and does work on the University property the University GRABS %60 to %80 of the grant for use fees of their property. This means if the PI has someplace else to do it that can't GRAB is grant and charges a lot less money for USE fees (rent) it's in the PI's interest to do so. Wuhan wouldn't be able to grab the grant so a PI with a good connection to the Wuhan lab could make his money go much much further!

Now as to the grants/monies themselves. Government agencies are required to spend %2 to %4 (depending on agency) of their budget on these research grants. They really don't fit in their agency game plans and most agencies hate them. Seriously! So they really don't pay too much attention where they are done or what for.

This is why I think it's a stupid waste of money! Most of these (ALL) grants would never pass a corporate Return on Investment test and don't really generate useful research that is needed. They are merely a hidden subsidy to university administrations with the PI groups actual expenditure on R&D seen as the negative by the universities.

So if the STTR was done in Wuhan the university that PI was associated with would be upset they didn't get the hidden subsidy.

Now for DOD SBIR/STTR grants it's even crazier. A major needs to get promoted so he doesn't get cut. There are 3 main ways for a major to get promoted. 1) Excel in actual combat. 2) Take part in a UN (or like) peacekeeping effort 3) Develop a new weapon (even if it doesn't fit any military plan or need)
Reason #3 is behind most military SBIR/STTR grants.

Posted by 3dc 2020-04-27 06:02|| 2020-04-27 06:02|| Front Page Top

#3 Finally catching up with Fauci? Thanks, Besoeker.

Posted by Clem 2020-04-27 06:39|| 2020-04-27 06:39|| Front Page Top

#4 Again, due to the suspected origins of the financial piece, I doubt this story has legs. If anything comes of it, you'll undoubtedly begin hearing references or defaults to... 'research knowledge gaps.'

Posted by Besoeker 2020-04-27 06:54|| 2020-04-27 06:54|| Front Page Top

#5 Mr. Duff's paper reads well, B.

Posted by Skidmark 2020-04-27 07:05|| 2020-04-27 07:05|| Front Page Top

#6 St. Fauci. If you question him, the haters will be on you like fleas.

Posted by M. Murcek 2020-04-27 09:19|| 2020-04-27 09:19|| Front Page Top

#7 The way (SBIR/STTR)'s work

Thank you for explaining, 3dc. I am somewhat less annoyed with Dr. Fauci over this now.

Posted by trailing wife 2020-04-27 12:41|| 2020-04-27 12:41|| Front Page Top

#8 Upshot of #2 is Fauci was "just following orders." Got it.

Posted by M. Murcek 2020-04-27 15:15|| 2020-04-27 15:15|| Front Page Top

#9 Fauci? Gates here. About that HCQ....

Posted by Clem 2020-04-27 23:38|| 2020-04-27 23:38|| Front Page Top

23:54 Woodrow
23:38 Clem
23:36 trailing wife
22:59 Frank G
22:52 CrazyFool
22:27 Tennessee
22:11 Woodrow
22:01 Woodrow
21:57 ruprecht
21:54 ruprecht
21:53 ruprecht
21:49 Clem
21:46 Clem
20:46 Fred
20:41 Secret Master
20:27 Mercutio
19:42 Morty Seinfeld
19:11 Skidmark
19:02 M. Murcek
19:00 M. Murcek
18:59 Chris
18:58 M. Murcek
18:58 Alaska Paul
18:51 Skidmark