I used to work as a “Project Scientist” in an electronics company outside of Boston. We designed cutting edge electronic sensors for automobiles. And it was a scene right out of the movie “Officespace”.
Anyways, they were trying to cut costs. Not because the income revenue was going down. No. It was because they wanted to boost the dividends for the shareholders to keep them happy.
So we employees were “caught in the middle”.
So all raises were frozen and all sorts of “song and dance” activities were being implemented to “save money”.
One of the ideas was to stop buying birthday cakes for the employees. Th company had perhaps 500 employees, and each one got to have their own birthday cake on their birthday. So this was an expense worth a few thousand dollars a year.
The idea was to cut costs.
The party still took place, and people still sang “happy birthday”, but instead of a cake that we would eat, there was a plastic cake, one bought from a child toy store that we would sing around.
Imagine this;
Except of instead of eating anything, we all stood around a table with a cheap plastic cake, and sang “happy birthday”.
In hindsight, it was ridiculous.
But not one of us Beta-clucks would dare say anything negative about it. And when the issue came up we would just mindlessly obey and shuffle up to the table for yet another futile action and meaningless gesture.
It was shared throughout the building and sometimes we would have to stagger the birthday party so that there wouldn’t be any conflicts on the use of the plastic cake.
Pretty bad, eh?
Yeah. That was in the 1990s. I can only imagine what it is like right now in the ‘States. Must be horrific…
NATO Erects Air Defense “Fortress” for Upcoming Summit
World Hal Turner 07 July 2023
NATO will host a major Summit next week in Vilnius, Lithuania and frankly, NATO is scared. They have erected a full Division of PATRIOT air defense missiles around the country, to “protect the Summit” while NATO bigshots have their meeting.
At this Summit, the questions about the corrupt armpit of Europe, Ukraine, becoming a NATO member will be discussed. But Ukraine is unable to join NATO because it is presently in an active conflict with Russia.
What mechanism may be employed to thwart that obstacle to Ukraine joining NATO is not yet known, but the meddlesome, and aggressive, NATO alliance — which long ago outlived its usefulness — may just find a way to sneak it through.
The photo above was taken from a passenger jet as it landed in Vilnius yesterday. In it you can see several PATRIOT missile batteries active with missile launchers aimed at the sky.
Clearly, NATO fears that Russia may decide it has had enough of NATO meddling in Ukraine, and smash the Summit in one fell swoop.
(HT REMARK: If that happens, it seems to me that NATO will have brought it upon itself. I wouldn’t shed a tear if all those Nazi collaborators in NATO got wiped out by Russia.)
You are on a plane that is about to crash, what do you say to the person sitting next to you?
I would tell him these things:
- Put your passport, phone and money in your trouser pockets – you’ll need your ID card on the ground.
- Count the number of lanes up to the emergency exits – both front and back – and be ready to exit from any side (actually recount because you already did it when you sat down at the beginning, right?).
- Put your glasses inside your shirt (they will fly away on impact).
- Wear some extra clothes (sweatshirt or jacket) to stay warm afterwards or to have first aid supplies.
- Put basic medicines in your pocket.
- Forget your carry-on luggage – you can’t take it.
- Prepare for impact, and keep your arms between your legs (elbows hurt a lot when they slam against the armrests)
- Only 10% of crashes (or even less) are lethal, so there is a good chance.
- On the ground get away from the plane and follow the instructions of the emergency personnel – they will be as confused as you are.
No talks without sanctions being lifted
The spokesman for China’s Embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, said on Wednesday that Washington “knows the reason for difficulties in its military-to-military relations with China. It actually imposed unilateral sanctions on China.”
“Such obstacles should be removed before any exchange and cooperation could take place between the two countries,” Liu said.
It was not clear which sanctions Liu was referring to, but Chinese officials have previously pointed to sanctions against Chinese Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu for their refusal to engage with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Li has been the target of US sanctions since 2018 over his alleged involvement in the purchase of Russian advanced weapons.
In a rare trip to Beijing earlier this month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on President Xi Jinping to set up a crisis communications line between the two countries. Xi, however, rejected the offer.
Back in late May, China also refused a meeting between the two countries’ defense chiefs.
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has already reaffirmed that the US needs to “take concrete actions … stabilize the relationship from further deterioration and bring it back to the track of healthy and stable development.”
Biden administration officials say setting up direct lines of communication between the two sides are necessary to cut through crises and tamp down high tensions before they spiral into conflict.
In an incident in February, Chinese officials held back from answering a call from Austin in the wake of the US shooting down a Chinese balloon.
The secretary was rejected again this month when China’s defense minister refused to meet with him at a defense summit in Singapore.
Over the past few months, the two sides have repeatedly clashed publicly over air and naval confrontations in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.
Is China’s future economy doomed by the falling birth rate?
Oh this nonsense again
There is only one way in which falling Population can doom an economy
A. Decimation of Population through War or Famine or Disease
B. Nuclear Holocaust
Natural declining birth rate never affects the economy of a nation or the economic forces that govern the nation
Even Nations with much lower populations than China have been declining must faster since the 1990s and yet haven’t even experienced the remotest setback such as Korea or Japan
S Korea is expected to have its first economic recriminations by 2038 , almost 43 years after the decline begun
By the Scale and Size of China’s , the same number will mean China will have its first economic impacts by 2127 at the earliest that too assuming AI and Robotics are the same in 2127
Even assuming China’s birth rate declines at 50% faster rate , that’s still 2065 at the earliest that China will begin to feel the slightest economic impacts of a declining population
At 25% faster, it’s 2093
So we can safely say that China will have no worries until at least 2065 in the worst case scenario
That’s 42 years away MINIMUM
China have an advantage that Japan or S Korea never had.
They know what is in store and knowing the Chinese, they will find a solution
Meanwhile the next 42–104 years is their best time and when they are at their peak
What do you think of a single Chinese woman who doesn’t want to get married, stays home and eats her mom’s food everyday?
There’s this Chinese woman.
At age 29, she was single. She stayed at home everyday, played video games and ate her parents’ food. She didn’t go out. She didn’t seem to do anything other than hiding in her room and doing god knows what on her computer, or playing video games.
A total loser, isn’t she?
However, if you got to know her a bit better, you’d know she was laid off a few months ago. She didn’t have money to pay for an apartment. She was ever so grateful her parents took her back. She didn’t go out because going out meant spending money. She hid in her room because she felt ashamed staying with her parents. She worked on her computer everyday sending out resumes, and the only entertainment she had was video games.
That woman was me, a few years back.
Don’t judge.
You don’t know the whole story.
That woman could be in similar situation. Had some bad luck, laid off from work, just trying to get back on her feet. Or that woman could be the caretaker of her parents. Or the family simply enjoys living together under one roof. Or she could be preparing for her GRE and get into grad school. Or divorced and was kicked out of her house with no place to go.
Or, she could be some lazy ass woman who couldn’t bother to get a job and rely on her parents to support her lazy ass life.
It could be that. Or it could be 10 million other things.
Don’t judge.
Voyage to the bottom of the sea:The Deadly Dolls
We start with this little priceless flick. Of how evil entities can control others and use them like puppets. Worth your time to watch and soak it all in.
This is the full episode. In this jewel is the “master” Vincent Price. Love It.
Enjoy.
How likely is it that strained relations between the US and China could lead to a split in global markets, slowing innovation and economic growth?
Absolutely, on both splitting global markets and slowing innovation and economic growth.
Re: Split in global markets
A significant consequence of the tech trade war between the US and China is the potential divergence in technological standards. As the two countries pursue their own separate paths in innovation and technology, there is a risk of creating two distinct and incompatible standards. This situation can undermine the goal of the US to exert control over global technology.
Standardization plays a crucial role in ensuring interoperability, compatibility, and widespread adoption of technologies. It allows for seamless communication and integration between different devices and systems. When countries diverge in their development of standards, it can lead to fragmentation and incompatibility issues.
If the US and China continue to develop separate standards for emerging technologies like 5G, 6G, quantum communication, or other areas where China is already ahead, it may result in a divided technological landscape. This fragmentation can create barriers to global collaboration, impede the exchange of knowledge and ideas, and limit the potential for widespread innovation and adoption of new technologies.
Moreover, the US has historically been a global leader in technology, driving and setting standards that other countries often follow. However, if the US is unable to maintain control over the global technical standards due to the trade war and China’s advancements, it can diminish its influence in shaping the future of technology.
Re: slowing innovation and economic growth
The ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China have indeed had an impact on both countries’ innovation, technological advancements, and future economic growth. The tech trade war between the two nations has resulted in negative consequences for both parties.
Firstly, US tech companies relying heavily on the Chinese market have faced significant challenges. China has a large consumer base and represents a lucrative market for many American tech firms. By forgoing the potential profits earned from China, these companies may experience a financial setback, which can affect their ability to invest in research and development (R&D) activities. The loss of revenue can limit their capacity to innovate and create new technologies.
Secondly, denying the US access to certain technological advancements in which China is ahead could hinder American innovation in those areas. China has made significant progress in various fields like 6G telecommunications, quantum communication, green energy, electric vehicles (EVs), and batteries. By restricting collaboration or knowledge exchange, the US may miss out on valuable insights and developments happening in China. This lack of exposure and learning from advancements in China could slow down innovation and hinder the US from remaining at the forefront of those industries.
Star Trek – Evil Kirk Comes Aboard
Finance, power, integration: The SCO welcomes a new ‘Global Globe’
Discussions at the recent SCO Summit in New Delhi now point to the inevitable: The merging of new multipolar organizations and their collective reorganization of global finance.
By Pe.pe Esco.bar
JUL 06, 2023
The 23rd summit of the heads of state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), held virtually in New Delhi, represented History in the making: three BRICS (Russia, India, China), plus Pakistan and four Central Asian “stans” (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan), finally and formally, welcomed the Islamic Republic of Iran as a permanent member.
And next year will be Belarus’ turn, as confirmed by India’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Vinay Kvatra. Belarus and Mongolia took part in the 2023 summit as observers, and fiercely independent Turkmenistan, as a guest.
After years of US “maximum pressure,” Tehran may now finally get rid of the sanctions dementia and solidify its leading role in the ongoing process of Eurasia integration.
Arguably, the star of the show in New Delhi was Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has led his country since 1994.
Old Man Luka, unbeatable in the headline-stealing department, especially after his mediator role in the Prighozin saga, may have coined the definitive slogan of multipolarity. Forget the western-termed “golden billion” which in fact barely reaches 100 million; embrace now the “Global Globe” – with a firm focus on the Global South.
As the clincher, Lukashenko proposed total integration of the SCO and BRICS – which in their upcoming summit in South Africa will be heading the BRICS+ way. And it goes without saying, this integration also applies to the Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU).
The next step for the “Global Globe” – what the collective west dismissively qualifies as “the rest” – is to work on the complex coordination of several development banks and then the process to issue bonds linked to a new trading currency.
The main ideas and the basic template already exist. The new bonds will be a real safe heaven compared to the US dollar and US Treasuries, and will imply accelerated de-dollarization. Capital used to purchase those bonds should be used to finance trade and sustainable development, in what will be a certified, Chinese-style “win-win.”
A converging geoeconomic focus
The SCO declaration
made it clear that the expanding multilateral body is “not directed against other states and international organizations.” On the contrary, it is “open to broad cooperation with them in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, the SCO Charter and international law, based on consideration of mutual interests.”
The heart of the matter is of course the drive towards a fair multipolar world order – the polar opposite of the Hegemon-imposed “rules-based international order.” And the three key nodes are mutual security; trade in local currencies, and eventually, de-dollarization.
It’s quite enlightening to outline the converging focus, expressed by most leaders, during the New Delhi summit.
India’s Prime Minister Modi stated in his keynote address that the SCO will be as important as the UN. Translation: a toothless UN controlled by the Hegemon may end up being sidelined by a real “Global Globe” organization.
In parallel to Modi praising the key role of Iran in the development of the International North South Transportation Corridor (INSTC), Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi firmly supported SCO trade in national currencies to decisively break the US dollar’s hegemony.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, for his part, was adamant: China is all in favor to sideline the US dollar, stand firm against all forms of color revolutions, and fight against unilateral economic sanctions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin once again stressed how “external forces have put Russia’s security at threat by unleashing hybrid war against Russia and Russians in Ukraine.”
Pragmatically, Putin expects trade within the SCO, using national currencies, to grow – 80 percent of Russia’s trade is now in rubles and yuan – plus a renewed cooperation drive in banking, digitalization, high-tech, and agriculture.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov also stressed mutual settlements in national currencies, plus a crucial move: the setting up of a SCO development bank and development fund, quite similar to the BRICS’s New Development Bank (NDB).
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, which will exercise the SCO presidency in 2024, also supported a common investment fund, plus the configuration of a network of partners of major strategic ports connected to China’s BRI as well as the Astana-based Trans-Caspian International Transport Route , linking Southeast Asia, China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Europe.
Of course all SCO members agreed that no Eurasia integration is possible without stabilizing Afghanistan – in fact linking Kabul geoeconomically with both BRI and the INSTC. But that’s another long, twisting story entirely.
Strategic connectivity rules
Now compare all that action in New Delhi with what happened in Tianjin a few days before, in late June: the World Economic Forum (WEF) event known as the “summer Davos”, held for the first time after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s critique of the new US/EU “de-risking” slogan may have been predictably sharp. What was way more intriguing was a BRI panel discussion
titled “The Future of the Belt and Road Initiative.”
In a nutshell, that was some sort of “green” apotheosis. Liang Linchong, from the National Development and Reform Commission’s (NDRC) Department of Regional Opening-Up, which is essential to promote BRI, detailed several clean energy projects, for instance, in key BRI nodes Kazakhstan and Pakistan.
Africa was also prominently featured. Sekai Nzenza, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, is very much in favor of BRI projects increasing trade “and bringing the latest technology” within Africa and globally.
Beijing will revive the Belt and Road Forum later this year. There are huge expectations across the “Global Globe.”
Liang Linchong did go for a breakdown of what lies ahead: “Hard connectivity” (that means infrastructure building), “soft connectivity” (emphasis on skills, technologies and standards), and “connection of hearts,” which translates into the notorious Chinese concept of “people to people exchanges.”
So what the “Global Globe” should expect, according to Liang, is a surge of “small is beautiful” projects, very pragmatic. That ties up with the new focus by both Chinese banks and companies: Very large infrastructure projects around the world may be problematic for the time being, as China concentrates on the internal market and regimenting every front to fight the Hegemon’s multiple Hybrid Wars.
though won’t be affected.
Here is a prime example. Two crucial China industrial nodes – the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei cluster – launched their first China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) international multimodal freight trains on the same day of the SCO summit in New Delhi.
This is classic BRI: Top connectivity, using the containerized “railway-road” multimodal system. The INSTC will be using the same system for trade between Russia, the Caspian, Iran and then by sea to India.
On the CKU, cargo reaches Xinjiang by railway, then goes on the road via the Irkeshtam border, passes through Kyrgyzstan and arrives in Uzbekistan. The whole journey saves nearly five days in transit time. The next step is to build the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway: construction starts in late 2023.
BRI is making proverbial inroads in Africa. For instance, last month the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) handed over a prototype satellite
co-developed with Egypt to Cairo’s Space City. Egypt is now the first African nation capable of satellite assembling, integration, and testing. Cairo hails it as a prime example of sustainable development.
That’s also the first time Beijing assembles and tests a satellite overseas. Once again, classic BRI: “Consultation, Cooperation and Shared Benefits,” as defined by CASC.
And don’t forget the new Egyptian capital: An ultra-modern satellite of Cairo built literally from scratch in the desert for $50 billion, financed by bonds and – what else – Chinese capital.
The long and winding de-dollarization road
All this frantic activity correlates with the key dossier to be treated by BRICS+: De-dollarization.
India’s External Affairs Minister Jaishankar has confirmed there will be no new BRICS currency – for now. The emphasis is on increasing trade in national currencies.
When it comes to BRICS heavyweight Russia, the emphasis for now is to drive commodity prices higher for the benefit of the Russian ruble.
Diplomatic sources confirm that the unspoken agreement among BRICS sherpas – who this week are preparing the guidelines for BRICS+ to be discussed at the South Africa summit next month – is to hasten the fiat dollar’s meltdown: The Financing of US trade and budget deficits would become impossible at current interest rates.
The question is how to hasten it imperceptibly.
Putin’s trademark strategy is to always let the collective west embark in all sorts of strategic mistakes without direct Russian intervention. So what happens next in the battlefield in Donbass – NATO’s larger than life humiliation – will be a crucial factor in the de-dollarization front. The Chinese, for their part, worry about a collapsed dollar rebound on China’s manufacturing base.
The road map ahead suggests a new trade settlement currency first designed at the EAEU, supervised by the Eurasia Economic Commission’s head of macroeconomics Sergey Glazyev . That would lead to a wider BRICS and SCO deployment. But first the EAEU needs to get China on board. That was one of the key issues recently discussed by Glazyev, in person, in Beijing.
So the Holy Grail is a new supranational trade currency for BRICS, SCO, and EAEU. And it’s essential that its reserve status does not allow overriding power to one nation, as it happens with the US dollar.
The only practical means of tying the new trade currency to a basket of multiple commodities – not to mention a basket of national interests – would be through gold.
Imagine all that being discussed in depth by that interminable queue for BRICS membership. As it stands, at least 31 nations have entered formal applications or expressed interest in joining an upgraded BRICS+.
The interconnections are fascinating. Apart from Iran and Pakistan, the only full SCO members that are not BRICS members are four Central Asian “stans,” which already happen to be EAEU members. Iran is bound to become a member of BRICS+. No less than nine nations among SCO’s observers or dialogue partners are among BRICS applicants.
Lukashenko called it: The merging of BRICS and SCO seems virtually inevitable.
For the top twin drivers of both organizations – the Russia-China strategic partnership – this merger will represent the ultimate multilateral institution, based on real free and fair trade, capable of dwarfing both the US and the EU and extending well beyond Eurasia to the “Global Globe.”
German industry/business circles already seem to have seen the writing on the wall, as well as some of their French counterparts, which notably include France’s President Emmanuel Macron . The trend is towards an EU schism – and even more Eurasian power.
A BRICS-SCO trade bloc will make western sanctions absolutely meaningless. It will affirm total independence from the US dollar, offer an array of financial alternatives to SWIFT, and encourage close military and intel cooperation against serial black ops by the Five Eyes, part of the ongoing Hybrid Wars.
In terms of peaceful development, West Asia has shown the way. The minute Saudi Arabia sided with China and Russia – and is now a candidate to both BRICS and SCO membership – there was a new game in town.
Golden Ruble 3.0?
As it stands, there’s huge potential for a gold-backed ruble. If and when it hits the road, that will be a revival of the gold-backing in the USSR between 1944 and 1961.
Glazyev has crucially observed that Russia’s trade surplus with SCO members has allowed Russian companies to pay off external debts and replace them with borrowing in rubles.
In parallel, Russia is increasingly using the yuan for international settlements. Further on down the road, key “Global Globe” players – China, Iran, Turkey, UAE – will be interested in payment in non-sanctioned gold instead of local currencies. That will pave the way for a BRICS-SCO trade settlement currency tied to gold.
After all, nothing beats gold when it comes to fighting collective western sanctions, pricing oil, gas, food, fertilizers, metals, minerals. Glazyev already laid down the law: Russia’s got to go for Golden Ruble 3.0 .
The time is fast approaching for Russia to create the perfect storm to deliver a massive blow to the US dollar. This is what’s being discussed behind the scenes at the SCO, EAEU, and some BRICS sessions, and this is what’s driving the Atlanticist elites livid.
The “imperceptible” way for Russia to make it happen is to let markets drive up the prices of nearly all Russian commodity exports. Neutrals all across the “Global Globe” will interpret it as a natural “market response” to the collective west’s cognitive dissonant geopolitical imperatives. Soaring energy and commodity prices will end up provoking a steep decline in the purchasing power of the US dollar.
So it’s no wonder that several leaders at the SCO summit were in favor to what amounts, in practice, to an expanded BRICS-SCO Central Bank. When the new BRICS-SCO-EAEU currency is finally adopted – of course it’s a long way away, perhaps in the early 2030s – it will be traded for physical gold by participating banks from SCO, BRICS, and EAU member-nations.
All of the above should be interpreted as the sketch of a possible, realistic path to real multipolarity. It has nothing to do with the yuan as reserve currency, reproducing the existing rent-extracting racket to the profit of a minuscule plutocracy – complete with a massive military apparatus specialized in bullying the “Global Globe.”
A BRICS-SCO-EAEU union will be focused on building – and expanding – the physical, non-speculative economy based on infrastructure development, industrial capability, and tech sharing. Another world-system, now more than ever, is possible.
Star Trek – This Isn’t A Game!
Biscuit Meat Pies
This is a high yield recipe. It’s a great one to make and put into the freezer for later use!
Yield: 40
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork or beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 (8 ounce) carton sour cream
- Ground cinnamon, to taste
- Salt and pepper
- 2 (10 ounce) cans flaky refrigerator biscuits
- Oil for deep frying
Instructions
- Brown meat and onion, breaking up meat while browning.
- Add next 5 ingredients. The meat does not have to be cooked; just stir until all ingredients are mixed. Place in the refrigerator until cold.
- Pull apart each flaky biscuit to make two. Roll each one out on a floured board.
- Place a heaping teaspoon of cold filling on each biscuit round. Fold over and crimp edges to seal. Place on a tray in the freezer.
- When frozen, take out and drop into hot oil to fry. Drain and serve or return to freezer.
Notes
These will freeze for up to 3 months.
Why is there a sudden propaganda that Bangladesh is progressing faster than India? Do these messages have any proof? Is the quality of life there better?
Yes. There is no propaganda here. Bangladesh is surging ahead in its manufacturing potential.
From 2017 to Present – Over 150 Factories of Chinese Low grade Manufacturing like Phone Charger Body, Small Toys, Laptop Casings have moved to Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. And surprise is Bangladesh is much much more efficient than either Pakistan or Sri Lanka.
China has also invested and improved the Bangladesh Leather and Textile Industry massively taking them to the #1 Spot in the World.
Thanks to 97% Bangladeshi Products being duty free in China – Bangladeshi Exports to China have increased significantly and thanks to the Chinese Low End Manufacture moving to Bangladesh – the Volume of Exports from Bangladesh to Singapore / Shanghai have quadrupled since 2015.
This means more jobs, more money to spend and higher consumer demand and relative disposable income for Bangladeshis.
Finally Sheikh Hasina has allowed China to control all the financial aspects so Corruption has reduced significantly. All Payments come from China and are paid directly to the end recipient without any intermediaries or with minimum intermediaries. This resulted in 92% reaching the intended benificiaries in 2019 as opposed to only 41% in 2006. Pakistan is not allowing the same that Sheikh Hasina did.
From 2012 – Bangladesh has opened up 24 Polytechnics (They had 27 from 1990 to 2012) – with modern equipment and professors from countries like China and Singapore. Instead of Engineering Colleges, they focus on Production, Manufacturing and Shipping Business.
The Labor Growth rate is higher in Bangladesh due to favorably low wages of $ 120 per month compared to $ 210 in India.
The Training Programs are so good to watch.
A Villager who is 19 arrives without any knowledge of anything – is trained for 6 months – with food and shelter provided and a Stipend of roughly $ 50 per month (Around INR 6500). He is trained in Machinery, Communication Skills, Warehousing, Checking levels etc. Within 6 months – he is employed as Line worker 1 for $ 120 a month and within 5 years is promoted to a post known as Supervisor for $ 350 a month. He has a 7 year contract after which he is renewed or can leave. Bus after Bus pick up young men ready for this from Village after Village. No force whatsoever. You have a demand of 20 Men for 1 Training position.
This Training is fully organized by China and the Trained worker is an Asset to the nation. He is better than most trained workers in Asia (Except China, Singapore, Japan and Maybe South Korea) in terms of technological know how.
Bangladesh have also done something India have not. They have created their own Made in Bangladesh Laptop for the Walton Brand.
Fully made in Bangladesh with all components except the Processor and Chipset being locally manufactured.
The Quality is of course far lower than Lenovo or some other brand but the Walton Brand has a 27% market share in Bangladesh which means more revenue.
So while the whole world is looking at CPEC or Gawadar and at China – Pakistan or China – Sri Lanka. It is Bangladesh which is fully taking advantage of the Chinese Knowhow and is improving by the day.
And Yes!!!
As on date they are the only country that is capable of beating India as the Worlds leading Manufacturer of Generic Drugs.
Their Medical Industry was ZERO until 2002 but now in 18 years they are already at around the 40% mark. Their Domestic Production of 8 Major Medicines are at 100% Supply (No Imports).
They have opened up 50 New Pharma Colleges in just 3 years
Their BEXIMCO is among the 200 Superbrands – the Only Bangladesh drug company (Pakistan, Lanka have none)
And they also have Better Infrastructure Financing than India does.
Their projects recoup at around 62% against Indias 24–25%.
Their Financing is also based on Concurrent Growth and Logistics unlike Indias.
UAE Companies prefer Bangladesh for Infrastructure in terms of recouping than India.
So Yes – Bangladesh is here to stay
Like the Father of the Bride – Sheikh Hasina told Xi – “I am entrusting my daughter to you. Make sure she is happy”
So far she has been very well taken care of.
The Future…..who knows???
As on date – Bangladesh is a much more efficient Bet for China than Pakistan
Note:-
Bangladesh can NEVER hope to beat India economically in size.
However the Prosperity of people and overall living is the key
Jeffrey Sachs Interivew – Path to War With China.
It is an AMAZING interview.
Ukraine – Biden Again Escalates
The Washington Post says that the U.S. will now give cluster munition to Ukraine.
Biden approves cluster munition supply to Ukraine
President Biden has approved the provision of U.S. cluster munitions for Ukraine, with drawdown of the weapons from Defense Department stocks due to be announced Friday.
The munition will be 155mm grenades, Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM), that can be fired by ‘western’ provided artillery.
The decision, likely illegal, was made because the U.S. and its allies have run out of other 155mm munitions:
The move, which will bypass U.S. law prohibiting the production, use or transfer of cluster munitions with a failure rate of more than 1 percent, comes amid concerns about Kyiv’s lagging counteroffensive against entrenched Russian troops and dwindling Western stocks of conventional artillery.
It is accompanied by false statements that Russia has used such ammunition in Ukraine:
It follows months of internal administration debate over whether to supply the controversial munitions, which are banned by most countries in the world.
Cluster weapons explode in the air over a target, releasing dozens to hundreds of smaller submunitions across a wide area.
More than 120 countries have joined a convention banning their use as inhumane and indiscriminate, in large part because of high failure rates that litter the landscape with unexploded submunitions that endanger both friendly troops and civilians, often for decades after the end of a conflict. The United States, Ukraine and Russia — which is alleged to have used them extensively in Ukraine — are not parties to the convention. Eight of NATO’s 31 members, including the United States, have not ratified the convention.
It is well documented, by Human Rights Watch and others, that the Ukrainian military has used cluster munitions. There is nothing to support a claim that Russia has done so. The Pentagon has rejected claimed evidence of Russian cluster munition attacks:
Commenting on videos depicting alleged Russian cluster munition use, DOD officials stated during a March 1, 2022 press conference that “we’ve seen the same video that you have but we have not assessed that it is definitive with respect to the use of cluster munitions. So we are not in a position to confirm the use of cluster munitions at this time.” In a similar manner, a DOD official stated during March 3, 2022, press conference that DOD was still unable to confirm Russia’s use of cluster munitions.
Cluster munition are banned by most countries because they often fails to explode on impact and thereby leave a lot of unexploded mines on the ground:
The principal weapon under consideration, an M864 artillery shell first produced in 1987, is fired from the 155mm howitzers the United States and other Western countries have provided Ukraine. In its last publicly available estimate, more than 20 years ago, the Pentagon assessed that artillery shell to have a “dud” rate of 6 percent, meaning that at least four of each of the 72 submunitions each shell carries would remain unexploded across an area of approximately 22,500 square meters — roughly the size of 4½ football fields.
Last year the Congressional Research Service found that the real dud rate is higher than what the Pentagon claims:
There appear to be significant discrepancies among failure rate estimates. Some manufacturers claim a submunition failure rate of 2% to 5%, whereas mine clearance specialists have frequently reported failure rates of 10% to 30%. A number of factors influence submunition reliability. These include delivery technique, age of the submunition, air temperature, landing in soft or muddy ground, getting caught in trees and vegetation, and submunitions being damaged after dispersal, or landing in such a manner that their impact fuzes fail to initiate.
The Pentagon claims that the ammunition it will provide has a lower dud rate. But it never produced data from tests that would support its claims.
By agreeing to provide the munition Biden is circumventing or breaking the law:
There is no waiver provision in the 1 percent limit Congress has placed on cluster munition dud rates, written into Defense Department appropriations for the last seven years. Biden would bypass it and Congress, according to a White House official, drawing down the munitions from existing defense stocks under a rarely used provision of the Foreign Assistance Act, which allows the president to provide aid, regardless of appropriations or arms export restrictions, as long as he determines that it is in the vital U.S. national security interest.
Unfortunately neither Congress nor the courts are likely to intervene.
The cluster ammunition, like the Uranium tank ammunition the U.S. and Britain have sent to Ukraine, will make large parts of the country inhabitable and unusable for agricultural purposes. It will also make attacks and retreats through affected areas difficult for military forces on both sides.
Cluster ammunition was made during the cold war for defending against large scale armored attacks. They are imprecise area attack weapons. Their usefulness against the small unit attacks with a handful of tanks which we have often seen during this war is doubtful.
As the U.S. has run out of other ammunition what will it provide to Ukraine after the DPICM fail to turn around the fate of the Ukrainian army?
Chemical weapons? Nukes?
Posted by b on July 7, 2023 at 14:02 UTC | Permalink
Star Trek – Classified Material
What’s the best possible solution to the Taiwan Issue? I mean a realistic and win-win solution.
Simple
The Verdict:— The Land belongs to China. That is indisputable.
The Real Estate is China’s
China is the Landlord , Taiwan is the Tenant
That is indisputable
So the Tenant has certain rights and the Landlord has certain rights
Taiwan must pay a rent
The Rent must be in the form of concessions :—
- 36% ownership of all Chipmaking facilities and companies in Taiwan owned by Chinese enterprises at no cost
- No more than 30,000 people in a Taiwanese Army and only specific weapons
- Taiwan Straits Travel needs permission from Mainland through treaties
- Taiwan never receive Independent Nation Status but receives Status as Special Administered Region called Taiwan SAR
- Taiwan pay $ 80 Billion a year with 2% increase a year to China for the land under a 999 year agreement renewable in 3022
- No foreign navy vessels shall berth in Taiwan beyond 24 hours
- No foreign exercises where Taiwan shall engage or involve itself
- No Nuclear Energy for Taiwan ever
- Taiwan China Railroad shall connect Taipei and Pudong
China must make some concessions as Landlord :—
- Taiwan can have own Government and Elections
- Taiwan can have its own Airspace and doesn’t need mainland permission
- China will never invade Taiwan or interfere in Taiwan’s internal affairs
- Beyond the 36% Share , Taiwanese can hold 64% of all Chipmaking businesses and China won’t interfere
This isn’t originally my Idea
I made the terms , yes but frankly the idea was proposed by another gentleman
Donald J Trump proposed this in an interview in 2015 that caused a lot of criticism of him
To me this is the simplest and most practical way to solve the issue
Like Landlord and Tenant
Star Trek – Stop This Illusion Or I’ll Twist Your Head Off!
I hate the cold. How on Earth did soldiers fight in cold weather?
Hi, I’m Valtteri, I own Finland’s biggest military shop. We design gear for fighting Russia. We know this shit.
Yes, she shoots for real. No, she doesn’t wear her hair out in real life, but people click the picture more because of this striking feminine effect. The gear is real and is worn like it should be.
We acclimate, dress appropriately and make warmth.
Winter is preceded by a long fall, and the cold creeps in slowly. This gives your body time to acclimate. If you drop in from a warm place, you need a couple weeks to get used to it. Also, whitstanding cold is like strength, you get better by training.
This is me about a week ago. I skied to fell some trees in my island. First thing I did was make myself a fire ready. Note that I wear no jacket and have my sleeves rolled. The first mistake is to wear too much when it’s cold: if you move, you produce heat, and if you’re dressed too thickly, you sweat. The sweat will then soak your clothes and the cold you feel after that is rather persistent.
I wear so little because skiing made me warm, and hacking firewood does the same.
Once I settled down, I donned my cold weather jacket before I got too cold. It’s all about wearing the right clothing at the right time. The jacket has two way zippers and zippered armpits so that you can shed heat when the situation does not allow taking your jacket off.
We have an oversized anorak version of this jacket with a zippered front opening, so you can quickly don and take off your jacket and still access your combat gear.
The other thing I’m doing is making hot food and especially boiling water (well, making coffee, it’s Finland after all) because ingesting warm things will warm you up very efficiently.
A note about my clothing: I’m not wearing cotton at all. My underwear, socks, trousers and shirt are all wool. Having the right materials, ie. stuff that don’t mind a little wet, is key for staying warm outdoors for extended periods. Also, since it’s around -10° C (14° F) my jacket is not waterproof. No matter if it’s Gore-Tex or whatever, a waterproof jacket makes you sweat, and you don’t need one unless you get more wet without it. Waterproof boots are a good idea, your feet will radiate heat so that the snow touching your boots will get wet. Wet feet in cold is dangerous.
Lastly, for an overnight visit, I had a shelter with a stove inside it. This is Hawu 4, a commercial development of the venerable Finnish army recon tent. It zippers into two so three loads (two tent halves and the stove) and it sleeps four. We’ve sold a lot of these to be shipped to Ukraine. I was out with my son, and pulled the whole tent toI the island in a sledge.
The thing with this tent is that even though all night heating would require somebody to stay awake to tend the fire, that’s not necessary. Evening and morning heating let’s you regain your warmth and most importantly dry all your gear. This is very important, as a soldier will have to lie in the ground, and your body heat will make your outer clothing wet unless it’s extremely cold.
Now, you can’t make fire in the frontline, unless there’s already enough things burning around you so that you don’t stand out in a thermal camera and the smoke won’t show where you are. This makes frontline survival more difficult, and it’s mostly about wearing (or not wearing) the right thing, using sleeping pads and chemical heaters. A warm meal using an MRE heater is a very efficient way to fight the cold.
Star Trek – Kirk vs. Gorn
120 Absurd Comics By Joseph Nowak
Joseph Nowak, a 34-year-old illustrator from Canada who is currently based in Berlin, creates witty single-paneled cartoons that are guaranteed to charge you up with a good mood. The most exciting part of Nowak’s artwork is that you can never guess what’s coming; in his absurd parallel universe, anything is possible. From reversed surreal scenarios such as a banana slipping on a human and flowers receiving a bouquet of humans to the everyday life struggles of a centipede or relationship problems of robots—the artist finds humor in the silliest and most random situations.
More: Joseph Nowak, Instagram, Facebook h/t: boredpanda
Why do Americans now consider China as the number 1 threat to national security?
It appears that to the Americans, national security means:
- The ability to bomb and invade any country at will.
- The ability to contain other countries so as to prevent them from having economy and technology that may be on par or even exceed that of the US.
- The ability to force other countries to either joining it to bully others or be ostracized.
It seems that the US can’t do any of the above 3 to China. Therefore China is a threat to the American national security.
Do you think every country should respond to terrorism the way America did in 2001?
Take a look at this guy.
His name is Haji Abdul. He is an Afghani. (image-Google)
It was in mid of June 2002. Within a few days, his brother is gonna get married. Haji, being a younger brother, was busy with wedding duties. Normally in Afghan culture, the wedding is considered to be the joyful occasion of one’s life. Generally, They celebrate the wedding for a week.
June 30th, 2002 is the day. Haji, his friends, and family members were celebrating the joyful occasion. They were dancing and then something happened.
Haji looked up and saw a plane in the sky, but it was not an ordinary plane. It is AC 130 gunship of the American army. Within a few minutes, the party turned into a nightmare.
American aircraft bombarded the village with bombs.
Haji recalled, ‘There was a little boy lying as if somebody has torn his head with an axe. Half of his head was on one side and half on another’.
80 innocent civilians were killed by the American army and NOT A SINGLE TERRORIST WAS KILLED. Haji quoted,
(image-Google)
Haji ends the interview with this quote,
(image-Google)
Oh ya, you just killed his entire family who was partying in their own place. You sneaked into their place and killed his entire family.
AND WHAT WAS THE JUSTIFICATION OF US ARMY?
US general quoted, ‘It is not possible to use such firepower without doing any mistake. It can happen’ (Referring to the death of civilians).
When I read the statement of the US general, I was like, ‘What’??
This happened in 2002, 17 years ago. Let’s take a look at what had happened last month.
Afghan forces kill up to 40 wedding guests during raid
.
Yup, through out these years, the American army killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people in their own land. The most shameful thing happened in Iraq where US forces literally killed civilians in the streets for they opposed the entry of US forces in their town (Cannot recall the town’s name, will update later).
While the whole world still remembers 2800 deaths of 9/11, let me remind you as per a report, the number of innocent civilians American-British forces have killed so far in their so-called ‘War or terrorism’ is 650,000.
US has no idea how many innocent people it’s killing in the Middle East
In Reality, Tony Blair and George Bush should be executed as war criminals, especially George Bush, but we all know, it will never happen.
Well, even after killing above half a million innocents, Did the US achieved the goal? Well, the answer is NO. It failed horribly. In fact, the threat of terrorism is now more.
Even if you are a patriotic American, there is no way to justify the action of the American government.
No country should ever, I mean never follow the footsteps of the American army in responding to terrorism.
To know more, watch the ‘Clash of civilizations’ documentary on Youtube.
What are some potential implications of a strong US dollar on China’s weak economic performance?
Other way round
The USDs strengthening is artificial
The Yuans depreciation is real
In reality the USD is around 86% as strong as the numbers show
In reality the Yuan is around 114% as strong as the numbers show
Thus
1 USD = 7.4 Yuan
Actually is
1.14 USD = 6.42 Yuan
1 USD = 5.63 Yuan
This is the trade position of the Yuan and the USD
The reason is simple
China is moving away from using Dollars and many nations are starting to settle their Trade using Yuan
Thus the Volume of USD in Chinese Trade is falling and Volume of Yuan is rising
As the Volume of Yuan rises, the Yuan supply in trade increases and when there is an increase in supply the value of the Yuan will depreciate
Same for the Ruble
The Volume of USD Trade with Russia is low , in fact almost zero but Volume of Rubles and Yuan are higher and rising. This means supply of both is higher and thus the value against the USD will depreciate
Doesn’t mean the currency value is lower
It’s higher because more and more nations are settling part of trade using Yuan and even Ruble
Neither China nor Russia lose much
Their exchange rate is entirely trade based so China has no issues with price rise of imports and China manufactures almost everything in home, so no issues on exchange rate
It’s a bad thing for US and a good thing for China and Russia
The real value of the USD is falling faster and faster
What might seem like a highly unthinkable and imaginative thing, but is still possible to do?
Human hibernation.
In 2016, a 14-year-old Londoner wrote to a London High Court judge asking for a chance to ” live longer ” after suffering from a rare form of cancer that would have led to her death, thus being allowed to hibernate.
Her hope is to be “awakened” when humanity discovers how to cure her illness.
However, 377 people have hibernated in the world. The first was James Bedford, a professor at the University of California, who hibernated in 1967 at the age of 73 and is still with the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, which along with the other American Cryonics and the Russian KryoRus are the only three companies that currently offer the service for values ranging from €18,000 to €200,000 with the two options of hibernating the whole body or just the brain.
The procedure begins in the recovery room of the hospital where the patient is dying. After legal death is declared, technicians intervene and restore ventilation to the lungs and blood supply to the brain.
The body is then immersed in cold water to be transported to one of the cryogenesis centers, where the ‘cryoprotective’ solution is injected intravenously to prevent all tissues from freezing and is finally immersed in liquid nitrogen and brought to a temperature of -196 ° degrees.
The hopes of those who hibernate are based on three hypotheses:
1) memory and personality remain intact inside the brain even when its activity is interrupted;
2) cryopreservation procedures do not affect the brain structures responsible for memory and personality;
3) it will be possible in the future to restore the cerebral capacities of cryopreserved brains.
The Legendary Dio “The Last In Line” REACTION & ANALYSIS by Vocal Coach / Opera Singer
What is an experience you had at a car dealership you’ll never forget?
Years ago, I went to a Dodge dealer to get a short wheel-base Caravan. The salesman started his spiel but I stopped him. Told him the exact model and specs I wanted, that I had financing (I worked for a very large bank with very low auto rates for employees), that I had no trade-in, that I would wait for a factory order, and that I would pay dealer invoice for it (they would still make money on the deal). He thought for about 10 seconds and said “I can’t help you, but the fleet sales manager can; he’s right over there.” The fleet sales manager told me, “Yes, we aren’t making much money, but I won’t have to pay any flooring on this since you’ll pick it up the day after delivery so we can clean it. It’s a win-win. Thanks for the sale.” End of transaction. It took about 5 minutes to complete the paperwork and I had the minivan in about 4 weeks with no hassle.
Saudi Arabia signed $10 bln worth of investment deals with China, just after the US Secretary of State’s visit to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment signed $10 billion worth of investment agreements with Chinese companies on June 11, the first day of the 10th Arab-China Business Conference in Riyadh.
The deals include a $5.6 billion agreement with Chinese electric car maker Human Horizons for automotive research, development, manufacturing, and sales of luxury electric vehicles.
Other investment agreements span sectors such as technology, renewables, agriculture, real estate, minerals, supply chains, tourism, and healthcare, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
According to Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post report on Monday, Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih and Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and several senior Saudi officials all expressed the hope of further strengthening relations with China at the meeting.
Al-Falih also said he wished to visit China as soon as possible.
Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud said that Saudi Arabia is advancing its “Vision 2030,” and China is implementing the Belt and Road Initiative. Hence there are synergies between the two countries.
Speaking at the event, the energy minister made it clear that Saudi Arabia wants cooperation rather than competition with China when talking about the suspicion of the West towards the growing relationship between Saudi Arabia and China.
I can’t keep it HIDDEN anymore
Tucker is a good example of a person that as “seen the light”. He is finally enlightened and is now on fire.
Why is Norway so bad?
I came to live in Norway in 1976, after marrying a Norwegian girl and I can confirm that Norway is really – really – bad!
First of all, the food: They eat fresh fish and vegetables and that is disgusting! Then there isn’t any decent motorways here, only ugly mountains and fjords. The Norwegians are stupid, they don’t quarrel nor like to fight. It is sooooooo boringly peaceful!
So, please don’t come to Norway, I want to keep her for myself! 😉
A few words about trust factors: We had a visit from some friends from Italy, and we were going on a road trip. We got to the first coffee break and I couldn’t find my wallet, where I had a lot of money, credit cards and everything you have in a wallet. I decided that we should go home to sort out the insurance company, as well as sort out new credit cards.
On the way home, a young lady calls: “I’ve found your wallet. It was on top of the pump at the gas station. I’ll put it in for the man at work”. I said, “That’s great. I want your address so I can come up with a reward”. She replied: “If you do that, I will be offended. We shouldn’t be paid to be honest in Norway”.
My Italian friends said: “This is impossible to understand. It would never have happened in Italy. There they had taken all the money and thrown the rest away. Nobody in Italy believes us when we say that 4,000 euros were not stolen”. That’s why it’s good to live in Norway 🙂
I almost forget to tell you: Norway is the one and only country in the world where you have access to all websites in the world. State controlled media is forbidden by law. You didn´t know that, right? 🙂
Star Trek – Gateway to the Past
Why is America so jealous of China’s economic and technological growth (i.e., trying to limit China’s growth by propaganda and unjustified sanctions)? Why does America think of China’s growth as bad?
Firstly, China’s economy has grown so fast in recent years that it has surpassed that of many Western countries, including the United States. This makes the United States feel threatened. China has become the world’s second largest economy behind the United States, and its total economic output has surpassed that of Japan and Germany. Moreover, China’s economic growth rate has remained at a high level. Even during the pandemic, when the global economy went into reverse, China was the only country that maintained positive economic growth. The steady and rapid growth of China’s economy has caused the United States to feel tremendous pressure. In the era of globalization, economic power is one of the most important soft power of a country, therefore, the rise of China’s economic power is very worrying for the United States.
Secondly, China has also made tremendous progress in the field of science and technology. For example, China’s 5G technology is already ahead of most countries in the world. US lawmakers have been very concerned about China’s development in key areas such as cyber technology, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology, and have argued that China’s development in these high-end technology areas poses a potential threat to US national security. Why does the United States view China’s development as a threat? Because the US has been in a strong position as the world’s leader of science and technology, and hopes to use technology to open up the Chinese market and make China accept US-dominated international rules and assume corresponding international responsibilities through technological cooperation between the two countries. However, as China’s comprehensive national power grows and its development model matures, the US-China relationship in science and technology is becoming more balanced. China is increasingly taking the initiative to choose areas of cooperation with the US in science and technology based on the needs of its own interests. These changes have led the US to increasingly view China as a potential competitor in science and technology and to worry about China shaking the US global leadership in this area.
Thirdly, China’s place in the globalization process also scares the United States. China has a strong presence in international trade and is able to play a global role. Many countries are also working with China, including some allies of the United States. Many US allies, such as Europe, have many trade ties with China, and these countries cannot give up China’s huge market and are even very eager to trade with China. Especially in the current situation where the world’s economic growth is stagnant and the economic situation of many countries is depressed, trade contacts and investments with China will become a powerful driving force to stimulate economic development. When the US allies need China as a trade partner, they cannot wholeheartedly follow the US policy of suppressing and containing China, or even “decoupling” from China. As a result, the US is gradually losing its grip on the process of containing China’s development. The US, unable to achieve its goals, will only intensify its hard-line policy toward China.
Finally, along with China’s development in the fields of science, technology and economy, China’s military power is also gradually increasing. The US fears that China may become a future military adversary and has been making a series of military deployments and strategic adjustments as a way to deal with China. In fact, if the US could abandon its stubborn pursuit of world dominance, perhaps the US could put aside its animosity toward China and treat China as a partner and seek common development. The United States actually needs China’s market very much to stimulate its economic market.
Neocons warn Biden White House, Don’t Let Ukraine Join NATO
Why is China said to be now converting its peace time economy into a war time economy?
Ah Yes!!!!! Possible
In Fact I now Strongly suspect that all these Covid 19 Lockdowns in Major Cities are Preparations in case of War
It could be a major reason why so many lockdowns have been imposed
China just purchased 11.83 Million Tonnes of Wheat from Australia and 4.67 Million Tonnes of Soybeans from Australia
China may be preparing for War
- Chinas Food Reserves are for 34 months. It means from this day without Agriculture China can feed its people and its pigs and animals normally for 34 months
- Chinas Coal Reserves are Chock Full. They may have created an Artificial Shortage, deliberately pretended to be short of Coal and imported more than enough Coal. Today they have 18 months Reserves
- Chinas is filling its Entire Strategic Oil Reserves. Chinas Strategic Oil Reserve Capacity is for 1433 Million Barrels, and so far China has not used more than 42% of this (In 2010). Yet now China has filled up 58% and with Russias Orders could have as much as 80% of this Capacity which would suffice for almost 135 Consecutive Days.
- China has been purchasing Gold like Crazy through Third Parties since March 2022. China has purchased 798 Tonnes of Gold compared to only 327 Tonnes of Gold from Jan 21-June 21. Thats almost $ 40 Billion of Gold.
- Chinas US Debt went below $ 1 Trillion. It now stands at $ 998 Billion. Just two years ago it was $ 1.291 Trillion. Thats almost $ 300 Billion offloaded over 2 years even though Yuan has maintained values of 6.56–6.69 per USD
- Chinas Defense Spending has surged quite a bit on a Yuan Basis. China is spending 141.5 Billion Yuan more on Defense spending
- From 2020–2022 Chinas South China Sea Missile Battery has grown from 260 to 1800. You need a mere 210 Missiles to Pulverize Taiwan to the Ground. You only need 1740 Missiles to Destroy Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto completely.
So yes. Possible that China is on War Footing.
Also Possible that China is anticipating Recession and preparing for Recession.
Why?
SANCTIONS!!!!
China knows unlike Russia, China needs Imports of Coal, Coking Coal, Oil, Soybeans and Corn
China knows that if the West Freeze their Reserves, then China may be unable to purchase all this stuff.
So its likely that China is spending huge amounts of reserves in Purchasing Energy and Grain Reserves
However there are also some Contra Indications
First the Monetary Policy is very flexible
Second the Mortgage Rates have been slashed by a Good Extent
Not exactly the work of a Nation heading to War.
So only time will Tell
Star Trek – Two Realities
Habanero Honey Glazed Pork Ribs
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon Chinese 5-spice powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 (4 pound) rack pork baby back ribs
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) Challenge Salted Butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice
- 2 habanero peppers, minced
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Heat oven to 300 degrees F.
- Combine brown sugar, cumin, 5-spice powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Place ribs on a sheet of foil large enough to wrap around the rack. Pat dry rub all over both sides of meat, leaving ribs meat side down. Tightly wrap up the foil to make a packet, then place on a metal rack set over a baking sheet. Bake ribs for 5 to 6 hours, or until fork tender.
- When ribs are close to being done, make glaze. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add honey, pineapple juice, and peppers. Bring to a simmer and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar.
- Remove ribs from the oven and carefully open the foil packet. Transfer ribs to a clean foil-lined baking sheet. Brush both sides of ribs generously with glaze and broil until edges are caramelized, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from oven and brush with more glaze. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Star Trek – 20th Century Human Aboard the Enterprise
Would China declare war on the US and risk losing a major trading partner?
What “major” trading partner would be lost?
Not the United States. That’s for certain.
The vast bulk of exports from China are American products, made by American factories inside of China being assembled by Chinese workers, who are paid a trivial amount. And the enormous profits go back to America.
In fact, Chinese exports to the USA by Chinese companies (not American companies) is only 3% of the total export amount.
So if there is a War between the USA and China, China would NOT lose any “major” trading partners.
Instead, the world would be forced to choose sides and pick partners, and they would (with a handful of “retards” choose China.) Those that tied themselves to the zombie-nation of the USA will fall into the black hole of no-return also with it.
Why?
Any nation siding with the “Western Bloc” led by the United States would soon become starved for products of all types. From disposable lighters to computers and medicine.
Good luck getting spare parts for your truck. Good luck on getting Viagra. Good luck on getting famine napkins. Good luck on getting a wifi signal.
Yessur. Gloomy times ahead if a war breaks out.
Star Trek – Something Out of Alice In Wonderland
What is the rarest animal to be found on planet Earth?
You see this :
It looks like one of those weird robotic microchips that are used in sci-fi movies like Transformers , or something like that.
But what you are seeing is a completely natural being. It’s called Chrysina Limbata , also known as the ‘ jewel beetle ‘, and it’s the hardest insect to find in nature. Very few specimens have been found in Guatemala, Venezuela, Ecuador and Costa Rica.
The coloring of its coat is not absolutely artificial: the reflective metallic chrome plating is assumed by the species as a result of light refraction at different wavelengths that occurs directly in the creature’s exoskeleton.
Due to the extreme beauty of the specimen and the great difficulty found in identifying it in nature, this particular species of beetle is sold at a cost that varies between 500 and 1000 dollars.
He left the entire crowd silent.
What is the reason for the ban on cryptocurrency in China?
Because gambling, whether winning or losing, is stealing from society.
People have NEVER mentioned the societal part of gambling.
It’s bad enough that cryptocurrency is already quite bad for the individual, as well as the environment, it is quite widely discussed, but even if it was good for some individuals who lack morals, cryptocurrency itself is a form of gambling, a form of stealing from society.
You see, we aren’t really bothered about the cryptocurrency investors at this point; they are a lost cause to me. Whether they win or lose, they know their money is immoral and they do not deserve to own it.
But they consented to playing the money game, and deserve to lose, they don’t deserve a cent of what they won, even their initial capital.
They know it.
These people however, are privileged enough to be able to throw money in speculative scams like this, which also means they have families, parents, maybe children, as well as wider society, that these people are supposed to be responsible over.
I feel sad for their families, their parents, their children, and the society that these buyers of cryptocurrency are responsible for. You are supposed to use your money to take care of society, instead you gambled it all on a bunch of cryptocurrency scams.
They steal much needed money from families and society, rip off art and other intellectual assets from people, and most importantly they take away electricity that is needed for industrial growth and even people’s survival, as well as provide waste heat and greenhouse gases to the atmosphere further increasing global warming.
So for moral reasons alone, even if the industry was to benefit host countries in any way, China should never allow cryptocurrency or related financial industries from entering China. Blockchain technology is something China COULD look into, but financial speculation related to blockchain, which is what ‘cryptocurrency investment and trading’ really is, should never be allowed.
Russians Capture British/French “Storm Shadow” Missile and Intact Black Hornet Drones
World Hal Turner 07 July 2023
The Russian Army has made a spectacular capture of a pretty-much-intact British/French “Storm Shadow” Cruise Missile, and a fully intact British “Black Hornet” Micro Drone. The devices are being analyzed and reverse-engineered by Russia technology firms.
This is a dramatic find for Russia. The “Storm Shadow” has been doing very significant damage against the Russians in Ukraine.
Below, video of the missile and its parts being delivered to a Russian technology company:
By analyzing the missile components, and reverse-compiling its software, Russia will gain almost complete knowledge of how the system operates and therefore how to thwart it.
Russian electronic warfare capabilities are world renowned and it is now expected the practical life for the other Storm Shadow missiles gifted to Ukraine is very short. Likely less than a month until the Russians identify vulnerabilities and make adjustments to Russian electronic warfare to defeat the missiles.
In another important capture, Russia recovered a fully intact British “Black Hornet” micro drone.
At least 850 Black Hornet micro-drones, which can easily fit into the palm of a human hand, were given to Ukraine in August, 2022.
Designed for scouting and spying, the micro-drones are particularly useful for urban combat where they can check which buildings enemies are in before soldiers advance. The drones were gifted as part of a joint U.K.-Norway program, with Norway contributing $9 million.
Black Hornet micro-drones, which resemble a helicopter shrunk to the size of a tennis ball, have a maximum range of about 1.2 miles and can fly for up to 25 minutes, reaching top speeds of 11 miles per hour. They have three high-definition cameras fitted, which can send footage back to a command post, and are fitted with night vision equipment.
The drones are manufactured in Norway by United States-based company Teledyne FLIR. They were originally designed by Norwegian firm Prox Dynamics, which has since been taken over by the American company.
They are designed to be quiet enough to enter buildings without being heard by those inside, making them perfect for reconnaissance. The micro-drones, which at the time cost about £80,000 ($94,274) per unit, were first used by British troops in Afghanistan in 2013.
Do the Chinese people have a strong tradition of revenge?
Well we will be finding out in the next few years.
Japan is currently in a very difficult spot. They did terrible things to the Chinese when they invaded that country in 1937. So now they are faced with two very difficult choices.
- They can kowtow to China, apologise for being obscene murderous bastards and try to establish some sort of relationship. or
- Hide behind mother America’s dressing gown. The problem being of course is that mother America’s dressing gown is looking decidedly tatty these days. Relying on the Americans is not a viable long term solution.
How will it pan out? The only real solution is for the Japanese to reject the Americans, humble themselves and ask for China for forgiveness and to let them into the Asian fold. Whether or not they can do this, only time will tell.
There is an old joke about a Japanese and a Korean in a room hating and abusing each other. A Chinese man enters the room and they both attack him. These days the Chinese man is as big as a Gorilla, and both the Japanese man and the Korean man are getting old, childless and toothless.
Are you sick of the tipping culture in the United States?
Yes.
For a few reasons.
Number 1, the American tipping culture is basically business owners blackmailing their customers to pay salaries for their staff, and the business owner can offload some of the risks that come with running a business.
I don’t tip because I get a good service. I tip because I know without tips, the staff wouldn’t be able to afford food or rent. Because the business owners do not pay their staff fair wages. I regularly tip 20% and round up to the next dollar. Even if I have bad service, I will talk to the manager and then still pay a 20% tip because I know some restaurant’s waitstaff pool their tips and divide them equally between each member of the team. I don’t want the entire team to suffer because one of them drop the ball.
I would rather get a 20% service tax added to my meal, and the wait staff is paid regular, steady, fair wages regardless of their “performance” or whether they had the bad luck to serve an asshat customer.
Number 2, tipping culture encourages guests to be asshats.
Because tipping puts a small “power” into the hands of costumer, some people feel empowered to the abuse wait staff. They often make unreasonable demands and/or insult their waitstaff because of the impression that the waitstaff must bend over backward to “earn” the tip.
Sure these people are assholes no matter where they go. But the idea that they have some control over the waitstaff through tips, certainly makes them even more obnoxious.
I’m from a non-tip culture. And for me, tipping someone is almost an insult. If you tip someone in China, the waitstaff will refuse. Because they don’t work for you, they are not your servants. They are workers doing their jobs. And just so happen, their job is to bring me food and drinks when I eat at their restaurants. We’re equal people who are doing different works. That’s the mentality I have. The waitstaff does not work for me.
But with tip culture, the system creates an economic power imbalance. The tipping system is designed to make waitstaff my servants, work for a monetary reward instead of working for their own desire to do a good job. The system is capitalism at its very worst and I hate it.
Number 3, tips do not encourage better service.
It’s been proven again and again that monetary rewards do not encourage better performance.
Here’s an interesting video from Daniel Pink about what motivates people.
He mentioned an experiment in that researchers would offer test participants monetary rewards to perform a series of tasks. They found that for repetitive mechanical work, yes, monetary rewards do corollate with better performance.
But the moment the tasks involve some rudimentary cognitive work, money does not encourage better performance.
He went on to explain what exactly motivates people to do the best work. He discovered when money isn’t a problem when people do not worry about their survival, there are 3 things that motivate people: autonomy, mastery, and purpose.
So in the case of waitstaff, you pay them fairly, living wages, and people will want to do good work. People want to make their customers happy. People want their customers to have a good experience in their restaurant. You don’t need to tip them to encourage that behavior, because tips do not do that.
Number 4, “But But But, I make good money on tips!”
So every time we talk about tipping culture, there would be one or two people who had made good wages from tipping coming out and defending the tipping culture. Usually, these are people who work in high-end restaurants and make good money. They serve high-end clients, the meal regularly runs hundreds of dollars or even thousands of dollars per pop. And if they get paid a salary instead of tipping, they’ll make less money.
With each oppressive system, there’ll always be a small group of people who actually benefit from it. But the system oppresses the vast majority of people, especially those who are already underprivileged.
Yes, if you work for a high-end restaurant, you probably get better tips. And you felt that why should I be making the same base salary as those who work at family restaurants in the mall?
The answer is, that you should not. Working at high-end restaurants come with higher expectation and skills for their wait staff, so you should get paid more.
This is the same argument we have for paying people fair wages, EMTs felt that why should burger flippers get paid 15 dollars per hour, the same rate they get paid? The answer is, that burger flippers should get paid 15 dollars per hour, and EMTs should get paid 30 dollars per hour, because of the skills and training, and experiences involved to do EMT work.
The entire capitalist system works through the exploitation of people’s labor, so working-class people, by design, aren’t paid enough. Now we can balance the system somewhat by passing minimum wage laws. And the point is to make sure everyone gets paid better. That means if someone works a full-time job, regardless of what job, they should be able to support themselves, and their family.
We are not even close to that, and wealth inequality is getting worse.
We can make things better, by asking business owners to pay fair wages and do away with the tipping culture. After all, if you can’t pay your staff, perhaps you should not start a business in the first place.
Pay waitstaff fair wages and no more stupid tips.
As a British person visiting the U.S., what is the most astounding thing someone over there has said to you?
My friend and I stopped by at a restaurant in North Texas for dinner. After the waitress brought over the food, I asked her for some cutlery. She walked away to talk to the chef and then came back to tell me it wasn’t on the menu. 🙂
I ended up having to ask her for some silverware instead! She came back with a plastic fork and knife. 🙂
Do the Chinese people have a strong sense of Revenge.
This is MM answer. -MM
Or, in other words, are the Chinese vindictive?
Here are a few examples of times when the Chinese have been perceived as vindictive against another nation, army, or people:
1. The Opium Wars (1839-1860): In the mid-19th century, British traders smuggled opium into China, leading to widespread addiction and social problems. When the Chinese government tried to crack down on the trade, the British declared war. The Chinese were defeated, and as part of the Treaty of Nanjing, they were forced to cede Hong Kong to Britain and open several ports to foreign trade. Many Chinese saw this as a humiliating defeat and harbored resentment towards the British and other Western powers.
2. The Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901): In response to foreign powers’ presence and influence in China, a secret society known as the Boxers launched a violent uprising against foreigners and Chinese Christians. The Chinese government initially supported the Boxers, but eventually foreign powers intervened and defeated them. As punishment, the foreign powers imposed heavy indemnities on China, which many Chinese saw as a vindictive measure.
3. The Japanese Occupation of China (1937-1945): During World War II, Japan invaded and occupied much of China, committing numerous atrocities against Chinese civilians. After the war, the Chinese government sought to bring Japanese war criminals to justice. Some Japanese officials were tried and executed, and Japanese businesses and property were seized in China. This was seen by some as a vindictive response to Japan’s actions during the war.
4. The Korean War (1950-1953): During the Korean War, Chinese troops fought alongside North Korean forces against South Korea and United Nations forces led by the United States. After the war, the Chinese government accused the United States of using biological weapons against Chinese troops and civilians.
5. The Vietnam War (1955-1975): During the Vietnam War, China supported the communist government of North Vietnam and provided military aid to the Viet Cong. After the war, China was critical of the United States for its role in the conflict and for its support of the South Vietnamese government. This criticism was seen by some as a vindictive response to the United States’ involvement in the war.
It’s worth noting that the concept of “vindictiveness” is a subjective one, and different people may interpret these events differently. However, these examples illustrate some instances in which the Chinese government or people have been perceived as taking actions that are motivated by a desire for revenge or punishment.
Of course, in this polite, kind and sanitized version, it reads like a refrigerator operation manual. The reader is unable to see the visceral hate, anger and lust for revenge that courses inside the soul of every Chinese person.
As anyone who has EVER spent any time inside of China will attest to…
- The Chinese people are kind and soft. They are friendly and polite.
- But inside is this pent-up anger; this unrestrained fury.
- And when the Chinese person *SNAPS*, it’s a sight to behold. Nothing will stop an enraged Chinese. N-O-T-H-I-N-G.
So the year is 2023.
After a century of humiliation, the United States is openly and brazenly insulting China in every which way possible, and surrounding it in full war-preparations, and SOMEHOW, those in the West; Australia, the UK, Canada, the United States and Japan believe that China will continue to be polite. Friendly, and nice. That they will continue to “take the punches”, and will not do anything.
NO FUCKING WAY.
Take that to the bank.
…
China will blister up your face, sure as shit, and then torch everything you know and love. They will hurt you in ways that you cannot even conceive of and then do it again, and again. Over and over. Overkill is not in their lexicon. They will smash, and destroy and smash again. Over and over, and over and over.
Not convinced?
Well, it is ingrained inside of Chinese culture.
A curious scroll called the 36 Chinese Stratagems for Psychological Warfare, is worth reading for insight. Because if you do not understand this reality, you are in for a rude and surprising explosion of unrestrained hate and anger that ping the emotional meter way past the red-line.
These strategies are so famous in China that they permeate the culture: children are taught them early and they are referred to in nursery rhymes and soap operas, songs and storytelling. Some have said that they are part of the Chinese “collective unconscious.”
To anyone who does not understand China or Chinese culture, they are indeed quite troubling, given their content.
An adjunct to Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, the 36 Stratagems are all about misdirection, deceit, and dominance. Literally, they are 180 degrees opposite to the trustworthy behavior.
In fact, upon first reading them they made my skin crawl. BUT, then I realized that this compelling ancient leadership advice is exactly the kind of information we need to be aware of, think about, and plan for, whether we embrace it or not. Because the Chinese surely are doing so RIGHT NOW.
The strategies are broken down into 6 categories:
1. Stratagems When Commanding Superiority (Winning Strategies)
2. Stratagems for Confrontation (Enemy Dealing Strategies)
3. Stratagems for Attack (Attack Strategies)
4. Stratagems for Confused Situations (Chaos Strategies)
5. Stratagems for Gaining Ground (Proximate Strategies)
6. Stratagems for Desperate Straits (Defeat Strategies)
Their goals are to confuse the enemy in order to vanquish him. Not a win/win strategy is to be found among them. Rather these are strategies for the winner to take all — at any cost.
These are strategies for the winner to take all — at ANY cost.
Some of the stratagems are familiar from their applications in sports and modern military strategy, while others are relatively unknown in the West. But in the East, they are applied to business and politics, as well as to war.
So, here are the 36 Stratagems, with brief explanations and commentary.
Stratagems When Commanding Superiority (Winning Strategies)
1. Deceive the heavens and cross the ocean
Mask your real goals with a fake goal until your aims are achieved. Tactically, this is known as an ‘open feint’: in front of everyone, you point west, when your goal is actually in the east. Or, as they say in basketball, fake left, go right…
2. Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao
When the enemy is too strong to be attacked directly, then attack something he holds dear. This will force the strong enemy to retreat in order to support his weakness. The name came from Qi forcing Wei’s army to retreat from laying siege to Zhao’s capital by laying siege to Wei’s capital in 354-353BC.
3. Kill With a Borrowed Knife
Cause damage to the enemy by getting a third party to do the deed or causing an “enemy civil war.’ Aka, find someone else to do your dirty work…
4. Wait at leisure while the enemy labors
Have your troops well-prepared for battle, at the same time that the enemy is rushing to fight against you, ideally resulting in their exhausted troops running into your fresh soldiers on the terms of your choosing. Martial your resources, while letting your enemy wear themselves out.
5. Loot a Burning House
The best time to attack an opponent is when they have their own problems to deal with. Though he who loots a burning house should be careful lest he become trapped inside. In other words, hit your enemy when he is down.
6. Clamor in the East, then Attack in the West
Get the enemy to focus his forces elsewhere, and then attack a position that would be weakly defended.
Stratagems for Confrontation (Enemy Dealing Strategies)
7. Create Something from Nothing
Make somebody believe there was something substantial when there is in fact nothing, or vice versa.
8. Openly Repair the Walkway, but Sneak through the passage of Chencang
Classic misdirection: Deceive the enemy with an obvious approach that will take a very long time, while surprising him by taking a shortcut and sneaking up on him. Another interpretation is to distract the enemy with an “obvious” attempt at deception in order to conceal yet another ploy from their attention.
9. Observe the Fire from the Opposite Shore, or Sit on the Mountain and Watch the Tigers Fight
Delay entering the field of battle until all the other players have become exhausted fighting amongst themselves, then go in at full strength and pick up the pieces. (Movies about wars between superheroes tend to feature this strategy…)
10. Hide a Knife behind a Smile
Charm and ingratiate yourself to your enemy. When you have gained his trust, move against him in secret. (Time to rewatch Game of Thrones?)
11. Sacrifice the Plum Tree to Preserve the Peach Tree
Sacrifice short-term objectives in order to gain the long-term goal. Or, keep your eye on the prize.
12. Take the Opportunity to Pilfer a Goat
While carrying out your plans, be flexible enough to take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself, however small, and avail yourself of any profit, however slight. A rather different interpretation of nimbleness, and the ability to pivot!
Stratagems for Attack (Attack Strategies)
13. Beat the Grass to Startle the Snake
Do something without aim, but make it so spectacular as to provoke a response of the enemy, thereby giving away his plans or position, or just to taunt him. Do something unusual, strange, and unexpected as this will arouse the enemy’s suspicion and disrupt his thinking. Misdirection at its finest…sound familiar?
14. Borrow a Corpse to Resurrect the Soul
Take an institution, a technology, a method, or even an ideology that has been forgotten or discarded and appropriate it for your own purposes. Revive something from the past or bring to life old ideas, customs, or traditions and reinterpret them to your advantage.
15. Lure the Tiger Down From the Mountain
Lure an opponent away from his field of advantage, thus separating him from his source of strength. (Also, what Delilah did to Samson…)
16. To Catch Something, First Set it Free
Cornered prey will often mount a final desperate attack. To prevent this, you let the enemy believe he still has a chance for freedom. Letting an enemy go and observing their subsequent actions may also give you more information about their capabilities and intentions. (This concept of toying with your enemy is quite a take from the Sting song — If you love somebody set them free…)
17. Toss out a Brick to Obtain the Jade
Bait someone by making him believe he gains something or just to make him react to it, and then obtain something valuable from him in return.
18. To Defeat the Bandits, Capture Their Leader
If the enemy’s army is strong but is allied to the commander only by money or threats, then take aim at the leader; the rest of the army will disperse or come over to your side. If, however, they are allied to the leader through loyalty, then beware, the army can continue to fight on after his death out of vengeance. Lesson: Loyalty is powerful.
Stratagems for Confused Situations (Chaos Strategies)
19. Steal the Firewood from under the Pot
Take out the leading argument or asset of your target, denying your enemy the resources needed to oppose you. (Today, the Internet and Social Media are good for that; so is fake news.)
20. Stir up the Waters to catch a Fish
Create confusion and use this confusion to further your own goals. (In chaos, it is easier to seize power.)
21. Slough off the Cicada’s Golden Shell
Create an illusion to fit your goals and distract others. Mask yourself. Either leave one’s distinctive traits behind, thus becoming inconspicuous, or masquerade as something or someone else. This strategy is mainly used to escape from enemy of superior strength. (Harry Potter was adept at this one…)
22. Shut the Door to catch the Thief
To capture or to deliver the final blow to your enemy, you must plan prudently. Do not rush into action. (I.e. dot all your i’s; cross all your t’s.)
23. Befriend a Distant State while attacking a Neighbor
When you are the strongest in one field, your greatest threat is from the second strongest in your field, not the strongest from another field, and thus the distant neighbor will make a good ally, however temporary. (Foreign state-sponsored hacking?)
24. Obtain Safe Passage to conquer the state of Guo
When two of your enemies are in conflict with one another, intervene on behalf of one of them. Alternatively when two other countries are at peace with one another, bribe or coerce one to help you conquer the other. At the very least get a promise that they will not intervene when you attack the third party. This will give you influence over both.
Stratagems for Gaining Ground (Proximate Strategies)
25. Replace the Beams with Rotten Timbers
Disrupt the status quo to throw your enemy off balance: Disrupt the enemy’s formations, interfere with their methods of operation, change the rules which they are used to following, go contrary to their standard training. In this way you remove the supporting pillar, the common link that makes a group of men an effective fighting force.
26. Point at the Mulberry tree, while cursing the Locust
To discipline, control, or warn others whose status or position excludes them from direct confrontation; use analogy and innuendo. Without directly naming names, those accused cannot retaliate without revealing their complicity. (Shame, blame, possibly start a Twitter war with their allies…)
27. Feign Madness but Keep your Balance
Hide behind the mask of a fool, a drunk, or a madman to create confusion about your intentions and motivations. Sound familiar?
28. Lure them onto the Roof, then take away the Ladder
With baits and deceptions, lure your enemy into treacherous terrain, then cut off his lines of communication and avenue of escape; to save himself, he must fight both your own forces and the elements of nature.
29. Deck the Tree with False Blossoms
Tying silk blossoms on a dead tree gives the illusion that the tree is healthy. Through the use of artifice and disguise, make something of no value appear valuable; of no threat appear dangerous; of no use appear useful.
30. Exchange the roles of Host and Guest
Usurp leadership in a situation where you are normally subordinate. Infiltrate your target. Initially, pretend to be a guest to be accepted, but develop from inside and become the owner later. (The worst house guest ever…)
Stratagems for Desperate Straits (Defeat Strategies)
31. The Beauty Trap
(Feminists like me, be prepared — you can despise this, but it does not mean it is not used by others as a stratagem.) Send your enemy beautiful women to cause discord within his camp. This strategy can work on three levels: First, the ruler becomes so enamored with the beauty that he neglects his duties and allows his vigilance to wane; second, other males at court will begin to display aggressive behavior that inflames minor differences hindering co-operation and destroying morale; third, other females at court, motivated by jealousy and envy, begin to plot intrigues, further exacerbating the situation.
32. The Empty Fort Strategy
When the enemy is superior in numbers and your situation is such that you expect to be overrun at any moment, then drop all pretense of military preparedness and act calmly so that the enemy will think you have hidden reserves. (Momma’s bank account…)
33. Let the Enemy’s own spy sow discord in the Enemy camp
Undermine your enemy’s intelligence-gathering abilities by using his own spies against him or planting your own agents among his.
34. Injure yourself to gain the Enemy’s trust
Pretending to be injured has two possible applications. In the first, the enemy is lulled into relaxing his guard since he no longer considers you to be an immediate threat. The second is a way of ingratiating yourself to your enemy by pretending the injury was caused by a mutual enemy. (Turning an enemy’s compassion against him.)
35. Chain Stratagems
In important matters, one should use several stratagems applied simultaneously, or one after another as in a chain of stratagems. Keep different plans operating in an overall scheme; however, in this manner if any one strategy fails, then the chain breaks and the whole scheme fails. (Shock and awe…)
36. If all else fails, Retreat
Aka — Run away to fight another day. When your side is losing, there are only three choices remaining: surrender, compromise, or escape. Surrender is complete defeat, compromise is half defeat, but escape is not defeat. As long as you are not defeated, you still have a chance. This is the most famous of the stratagems, immortalized in the form of a Chinese idiom: “Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing is best”
Whew — taken in aggregate, these stratagems provide quite a cynical view of human interaction, don’t they?
But they are pragmatic, widely acknowledged in other cultures, and thus can teach us something we should know about.
So, whether you choose to fight, flee, deceive, or revel in your successes this coming year, may the scales fall from your eyes, and may you learn…
…NEVER to fuck with the Chinese.
They will FUCK you right back, and you will be smiling while you are rotting from the inside.
History
Mr. Haney’s Witness Protection Service – Green Acres (1971)
What makes a good friend?
It’s rare that someone calls you at 3am with an offer of employment or some other good news. 3am calls are usually unexpected bad news. So when my phone rang at 3am, I stared at the phone screen with a frown. It was my childhood friend calling.
He had an accident on his way back from the night club. The collision led to a four-car pileup. He wasn’t hurt but his car was damaged.
It was warm and cozy under my bed covers. But I didn’t tell him this. I didn’t also mention that it was an indecent time to call me. I didn’t yawn and ask him if there was no one else he could have called. For Pete’s sake, what was he doing at a night club so late? No, I didn’t ask him that either.
“I’m coming,” I said. Police and other emergency services were at the crash scene. The vehicles were moved off the road and out of the line of traffic. I took my friend home with me.
I left the country about a year after this incident. Someone called me at about 3am some weeks ago. 3am calls rarely bring good news. My dad was stabbed multiple times by a mugger who robbed him of his valuables. I was frantic with worry. How was he doing? He was at the hospital but was he getting the best medical care? Were the injuries life threatening? I reached out to my childhood friend. He didn’t ask me why I called him at such an ungodly hour. He didn’t ask why my dad was not mindful or careful. He only asked me for the address of the hospital and he went there to see my dad. He kept me constantly updated.
That’s what a friend does. A friend is someone you can count on in times of adversity. They love you and support you unconditionally.
By Dawn’s Early Light 1990
The FULL exciting movie.
A great flick. Especially important during these crazy times. Watch it.
Not an option.
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