Modern life
Isn’t that the truth, eh?
The change happens so slowly that we don’t notice, because the rest of the world seems to be changing at a dizzying pace.
There is no one here in MM land that disagrees about the rapid-fire changes that are going on around us, as well as the great exposures of the criminality of the capitalism system.
But we often don’t notice those littler things.
That the spare tire in the trunk is suitable for midgets.
Or that the container of Crisco cooking oil is now a fraction of what it used to be by weight.
We don’t notice that the toothbrushes come in all sorts of groovy sizes and shapes but the prices are outrageous (actually, here in China they are super cheap.)
Or the prices for pet food does seem to be going up on a parallel trajectory with regular food prices.
Time changes.
Oh, I am just musing away today. Gawking at the unnoticed changes that seem to pepper our lives all around us.
Today…
Everyone Knows the US Economy Is Doomed in 2025
9 Million Student Loan Borrowers, LATE, May Face 129 Point DROP on FICO Scores
President Trump his dismantling the Department of Education and as part of that, people who have Student Loans will see those loans handled by the Small Business Administration (SBA) which has orders to “Collect.”
Nine-million federal student loan borrowers, who are late on their bills, may see their credit scores tank by as much as 129 points as the SBA begins collecting the student loan money back.
According to the Wall Street Journal, out of the millions of Americans who still owe payments on federal student loans about 43% of borrowers haven’t resumed their monthly payments, which were temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 farce.
That puts more than 9 million Americans at risk of a serious credit-score drop.
This might have ripple effects throughout the American economy including distancing homeownership or buying a new car becoming further out of reach for young Americans.
Hal Turner Editorial Opinion
Most of those who are not repaying their student loans are liberal/Democrats who thought they could get out of paying when former (illegitimate) President Joe Biden tried buying their votes (in the 2024 election) through promises of student loan forgiveness.
Now that a real President again occupies the Oval Office, the entire Democrat bribe-for-votes is no longer on the table and the deadbeats have to pay up.
Women Share Their AWKWARD DATING Stories in 2025.
What’s an adult problem no one warned you about?
My grandpa and I share similar pasts.
He and his siblings were kicked out of his parents house when he was in 6th grade during the Great Depression. From there, he had to learn how to survive and learn work skills. He had no parents he could lean on for support. He had to learn for himself or ask other professionals.
I’m very similar although I wasn’t kicked out but I was mentally ignored when I was 14. So if I had a problem, I had to figure it out myself. I had to get a job at 16 to pay for my car insurance and gas when my brother didn’t have to. If I had a problem, I had to figure it out myself or pay to have it done.
In summary, I learned at an early age what it’s like to be an adult. I learned that the only one to help you is yourself – anyone else, you have to pay.
Texas T-Bones
Yield: 2 to 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 (1 1/4 ounce) envelope taco seasoning
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 T-bone steaks, cut about 1 inch thick
Instructions
- Combine taco seasoning, olive oil, and minced garlic to make a thick paste.
- Divide and rub mixture evenly over both sides of steaks.
- Heat grill or allow coals to burn down to white ash.
- Grill steaks about 18 to 20 minutes for medium doneness, turning midway through.
What are the arguments for and against allowing pedestrians to cross streets without waiting for green lights and walk signals?
About a year and a half ago, I went up to Rexdale, which is an area that was developed here in Toronto in the 1970s. There’s been a horse racing track up there for ages (since 1956) and now there’s a shopping mall and commercial uses.
So here’s the map
And the satellite view
And the street view. This is where I crossed to get from the liquidation store on the right (up the street) to the mall on the left.
And here’s how to get from the Staples to the Mall on foot
That thing marked “27” (the regional road number) is what planners now call a “stroad” – not quite a road, but not quite a street – a high speed road with commercial uses, often car oriented. And they’re everywhere. And they make life hell for pedestrians. Look at this one.
This is Eglinton Avenue in Scarborough. It’s a stroad too, only one where, on the top side, they replaced a shopping plaza with a townhome development in the 2000s. There’s older residential use on the other side too. That place with all the parking is a little plaza.
Now, Eglinton is also a busy transit route. That red paint is bus lanes. However, as some point, if you want to take the short bus ride to the subway (about 3km away to the left) you have to cross the street. this street right here.
As you can see, the lights are about 200m apart. That’s not even all that bad. On some stroads, despite there being a need for pedestrians to cross the street, the lights must be about 500m apart.
Not that the lights are too convenient
This is the intersection where I grew up. To catch transit, I had to cross a six lane road, with a median. The light is a long one with about 40 seconds for the traffic on the other road to go. It wasn’t uncommon for me to watch a couple of buses go by before I could get across the street. As you can see, there’ aren’t a lot of other lights either. There are residential, commercial and transit routes across an entire three road intersection.
It is better than it used to be. There’s now a light where the parking lots exit out onto Morningside Avenue that also allow pedestrians to cross. When I was going to high school, I had to cross Kingston Road and Lawrence Avenue from the lower left to get to the high school on the left side of Morningside. There are a couple of traffic lights across Morningside north of Kingston now, including one directly in front of the school, but in my day there were no lights north of Kingston, which meant if you were coming from the residential neighbourhood on the upper right you either went down to Kingston, or you ran across a four lane road.
So, should pedestrians use the lights? Probably. But in a lot of cases there are no lights to use and it’s still dangerous to use the intersection where there are lights, left turning cars, and right turning cars that get really easy curves they don’t even have to slow down for.
Who needs to slow down here. It’s a “Yield” sign. So what if it’s a crosswalk frequently used by students?
Acuweather
Submitted into Contest #288 in response to: Set your story during — or just before — a storm.… view prompt
Riley Noel
“There’s not a cloud in the sky, I’ve got some time.” Murr continued down the street far too slowly.
Ansel sighed and opened up the letter from the library.
“Beginner’s Acupuncture,” he mumbled to himself. “Overdue, five weeks… two-hundred bucks?!” He held the letter up and looked it over again. “That’s wild.”
He got out of his rocking chair with a groan. His knee was stiff. Holding his mail to his chest, he hobbled inside and flipped on the weather channel.
His least favorite face came on the screen: Roland, terrible weatherman.
“What do you have for us today, fraud?”
“For those of you staying at home,” Roland started. “You’re missing one of the most beautiful days of the year.”
Ansel let out a mocking snort. Roland continued, unphased.
“With a high of seventy, and a low of sixty-five, today’s a great day to get your vitamin D in the valley.” Ansel held his knee in protest of this information. There’s no way that was true.
“And when you’re done getting that tan, come by the library where I’ll be doing a signing for my new book: Weather and Whatever. It chronicles the life of your favorite weatherman, from his varsity football days to his years on your television screen, every morning seven AM sharp. See you there.”
Ansel turned off the TV, revealing his hunched over visage in the reflection. His knee hurt. There was a storm coming and it was going to rain out Roland’s book signing, he was sure of it.
He turned to his bookshelf and scanned for Beginner’s Acupuncture, he paused at the framed photo of his football team. There was Roland at the front, always had to be at the center of the world.
Ansel’s hand landed on the book and he pulled it off the shelf. He needed to use it before he got anymore late fees. He set the book and the package Murr brought by on the counter and began to leaf through the pages.
“Knee, knee, knee…” Ansel whispered to himself. “Knee.” He’d found the section.
DO NOT USE NON-ACUPUNCTURE NEEDLES
The warning at the start of the chapter was bold and centered, not to be missed. But you must be licensed to buy the real kind of needles, Ansel thought as he ripped open his package. These were pretty standard sewing needles, as thin as he could find.
What’s the big deal? He was getting desperate for some relief.
“Yang Ling Quan,” he read aloud. “Located below and in front of the head of the shinbone.” He felt around on his knee, looking at the diagram. “That’s got to be the yingling.”
“Yin Ling Quan,” he continued. “On the outside of the lower leg, below, and in front of the head of the shinbone.” He felt around as he read until he was satisfied.
He looked out his kitchen window, the sky was still clear. Maybe his knee was just getting worse. It all started the day Roland tackled him at practice, a prank gone wrong. Or maybe a rivalry gone too far, but it had been getting worse with age. The party trick of feeling incoming storms was getting old.
Ansel felt again for the Yang Ling Quan and held his finger to it as he pulled out a needle. This was just a test, he could always get the real needle when he got serious about this. He drove the needle in above his finger.
Nothing. He felt nothing. The pain stopped. Then pain shot through his entire leg, and up through his body. His vision went white and he heard a loud bang.
Laying on the floor, he came to. There was wind howling through his kitchen. He pulled himself up and realized the kitchen window had burst open, and a giant crack was letting water in.
Ansel went into his bathroom to grab a towel. Coming back into the kitchen, he peered out the broken window and saw a smoldering hole in his back yard. That must have been the bang, he thought. Lightning struck right outside.
He couldn’t wait to see what Roland had to say about this. He turned on the weather channel. Roland was reporting live from the library, at his signing.
“We’ve never seen a storm like this in the one hundred fifty years of our town! I advise everyone to shelter in place under the storm calms down. There’s a strong possibility of tornados touching down as well…” Roland continued as Ansel smirked to himself.
He looked down to his knee and saw the needle still there. It had really worked, no pain, no aches. He pried the needle out and studied it. Who needs acupuncture needles? These work fine.
The aching began to return, quickly, and worse than before. He felt around for the Yang Ying Quan and held his finger there, driving the needle back in. His TV lit up and the room glowed white. Ansel flew backwards into his coat stand.
Lighting had struck his TV, and left a smoldering pile of junk. Laying on his back, Ansel looked to his knee, then to the TV. What were the odds? Two strikes at the same moments he jabbed himself. There’s no way that’s coincidence.
He pulled himself up by his coat rack and put on a poncho. Whatever was happening, he was going to unleash it on Roland.
The US retail giant Walmart asks Chinese suppliers to lower prices. What do you think?
American retail giant Walmart has a presence in more than 100 Chinese cities. In its most recent financial year, its net sales in China rose to US$17 billion dollars.
When Donald Trump imposes new 20% tariffs on products imported from China, Walmart has asked certain Chinese suppliers, including makers of kitchenware and clothing, to lower their prices by as much as 10% per round of tariffs, aiming to shift the tariff burden to Chinese suppliers to offset the tariff impact. It wants Chinese suppliers to shoulder the full cost of Trump’s duties. While, it says the talks with its suppliers were aimed at saving money for millions of customers, a “decent” excuse.
China’s commerce ministry has talked with Walmart. China’s stance is clear: Unilaterally demanding Chinese enterprises to lower prices could risk supply chain disruptions; If Walmart insists, it may face more than just negotiations, but expulsion from the Chinese market.
Chinese suppliers are collectively resisting. On March 12, the Chinese textiles chamber held a meeting, where over 500 suppliers signed a joint statement vowing, “We would rather cut off supply than lower prices.
Trump uses tariffs as a weapon, Walmart’s capitalists want profits, and the American consumers want low-price goods. The U.S. is asking too much. The possible solutions for Walmart are: Either shift supply chain to buy lower-quality, cheaper products from other countries, or source from MAGA domestic suppliers at higher prices, or raise prices and let American consumers shoulder tariffs.
Walmart relies on China for 60% of its global procurement, involving 15,000 suppliers and exceeding $9 billion in annual purchases.
Cheating Wife Gets BRUTALLY Outsmarted By Husband Who Invested Everything Into Her
In 1945, why did the Japanese surrender so easily against the Soviets in Manchuria, while they fought so bitterly against the Americans in Iwo Jima and Okinawa?
Propaganda.
Back in 1939, the Japanese go their arses kicked by the Soviets at the battles of Khalkhin Gol. Since the Mighty Japanese Empire never lost a battle, according to the official version, this defeat was not reported in the Japanese press. So the Soviets were never demonized.
The 1941 Soviet-Japanese Non-Aggression Pact resulted in Japan staying very friendly to the Soviet Union as they wanted to avoid a war with them at all cost.
This means the Soviets got pretty positive coverage in the Japanese press.
The Americans, on the other hand, had been demonized since the 1920s when the US introduced racist laws against Asians and trade between the two countries floundered.
While the Soviets were being portrayed as neutral or even friendly, certainly when it came to POW treatment (which was a lie, but hey, it was propaganda to keep them friendly), the Americans were portrayed as real demons. The Japanese truly believed they tortured their POWs, raped women and children, and were possessed by evil spirits.
So when the Soviets attacked in Manchuria, most troops of the Kwantung Army were willing to surrender to the nice Soviets. This was a bad move as most were worked to death in Soviet labour camps (partly as revenge for what the Japanese had done to Russian POWs during the 1904 Russo-Japanese War).
But since the troops believed the Americans were devils, it was better to fight till the death rather than be taken prisoner and being tortured to death.
Japanese propaganda was even more intense than Nazi propaganda, alas little is know about it in the West.
Sir Whiskerton and the Case of the Missing Honey: A Tale of Bears, Chaos, and Feline Flexibility
Ah, dear reader, prepare yourself for a tale of mistaken identities, wild dancing, and one very determined bear who just wanted to be a cat. Today’s story is one of chaos, creativity, and a cat who learned that sometimes, the most unexpected solutions come from the most unexpected places. So, grab your dancing shoes (or paws) and a jar of honey (if you can find one), as we dive into Sir Whiskerton and the Case of the Missing Honey: A Tale of Bears, Chaos, and Feline Flexibility.
The Arrival of Tony the Dancing Bear
It all began on a quiet afternoon when a peculiar visitor arrived at Sir Whiskerton’s farm. Tony, a large, fluffy bear with a penchant for dancing, waltzed into the barnyard with a flourish. He wore a tiny bow tie and carried a ukulele, which he strummed as he sang, “I’m a cat, I’m a cat, I’m a dancing cat!”
The animals stared in confusion. Doris the Hen clucked, “That’s not a cat. That’s a bear. A very large, very musical bear.”
Tony stopped mid-dance and looked offended. “I am not a bear. I’m a cat. A big, fluffy, dancing cat. And I’ve come to join Sir Whiskerton’s detective agency!”
Sir Whiskerton, who had been napping on a hay bale, opened one eye. “A bear who thinks he’s a cat? This should be interesting.”
Ditto, Sir Whiskerton’s ever-eager apprentice, tilted his head. “But… you’re a bear. You’re huge! And you dance!”
Tony grinned. “Exactly! I’m the perfect cat. Cats are graceful, right? And I’m graceful. Cats are clever, right? And I’m clever. Cats solve mysteries, right? And I want to solve mysteries!”
Sir Whiskerton sighed. “Very well, Tony. If you’re so determined to be a cat, you can join us. But don’t blame me if things get… chaotic.”
The Case of the Missing Honey
No sooner had Tony joined the detective agency than a mystery presented itself. The farmer’s prized jar of honey had gone missing from the pantry. The farmer was distraught. “Without my honey, my tea will be bland, my toast will be dry, and my porridge will be… porridge!”
The animals gathered in the barn to discuss the case. Sir Whiskerton took charge, as usual. “Alright, team. We have a missing jar of honey. Our suspect list includes anyone with a sweet tooth and access to the pantry. That means Porkchop the Pig, Rufus the Dog, and… Tony the Dancing Bear.”
Tony gasped. “Me? I would never steal honey! I’m a cat, remember? Cats don’t even like honey!”
Sir Whiskerton raised an eyebrow. “Cats also don’t dance or play the ukulele, but here we are.”
Ditto piped up. “Maybe we should look for clues instead of accusing everyone.”
“An excellent suggestion, Ditto,” Sir Whiskerton said. “Let’s investigate.”
The Investigation
The detective team split up to search for clues. Sir Whiskerton and Ditto examined the pantry, looking for paw prints or sticky fingerprints. Rufus sniffed around the barn, convinced that the thief had left a scent trail. Tony, however, had a different approach.
“I’ll solve the case with my dancing!” he declared. “The rhythm of justice will reveal the truth!”
Before anyone could stop him, Tony began to dance. He twirled, he leaped, he shimmied, and he even attempted a backflip (which ended with him crashing into a hay bale). The other animals watched in stunned silence as Tony’s wild movements sent hay flying, knocked over buckets, and caused Doris to faint dramatically.
“This is chaos,” Sir Whiskerton muttered. “Absolute chaos.”
But then, something unexpected happened. As Tony danced past the chicken coop, a guilty-looking chicken named Cluckadia emerged, holding the missing jar of honey.
“Alright, alright! I confess!” Cluckadia squawked. “I took the honey! I couldn’t help it—it was just sitting there, looking so golden and delicious! But please, make the bear stop dancing! It’s terrifying!”
The Moral of the Story
With the case solved, the animals gathered to reflect on the day’s events. Sir Whiskerton, though reluctant to admit it, was impressed. “Well, Tony, it seems your… unique approach worked. The thief confessed, and the honey is safe.”
Tony beamed. “See? I told you I’d be a great cat detective!”
Sir Whiskerton sighed. “Yes, well, let’s not make a habit of solving cases through chaos. But I will admit, different talents bring different strengths. Sometimes, logic isn’t the only way to solve a problem.”
Ditto nodded. “So, it’s okay to be different?”
“Of course,” Sir Whiskerton said. “The world would be a very boring place if everyone were the same. Even if that means dealing with a dancing bear who thinks he’s a cat.”
A Happy Ending
With the honey returned to the farmer, the farm returned to its usual rhythm. Tony celebrated by teaching the animals a new dance called the “Honey Shuffle,” which involved a lot of twirling and very little coordination. Sir Whiskerton watched from a safe distance, shaking his head but secretly smiling.
And so, dear reader, we leave our heroes with the promise of new adventures, new dances, and new lessons to learn. Until next time, may your days be filled with laughter, love, and just a little bit of chaos.
The End.
China news today
A Chinese medical team has successfully transplanted a gene-engineered pig kidney into a uremic patient, marking a major clinical milestone in cross-species organ transplantation.
The medical team from Xijing Hospital of the Air Force Medical University transplanted a gene-edited pig kidney into a 69-year-old woman with end-stage kidney disease on March 6. After blood flow was restored, the transplanted kidney turned pink and soon began producing urine.
On the sixth day post-operation, the patient was stable with good kidney function, and her 24-hour urine output peaked at 5,468 milliliters. Also, her serum creatinine level, a key biochemical indicator for assessing kidney function, dropped to normal by day 3, indicating initial surgical success, according to the team.
U.S. Threatens To Leave IMF & World Bank – This Will Be China’s Dream Come True
Will China protect Taiwan if Taiwan gets invaded by another country?
Taiwan is an autonomous province of China, and Taiwanese are Chinese. Of course, China has an obligation to protect Taiwan.
Diaoyu Island is a traditional fishing ground for Taiwanese fishermen.
Taiwanese fishermen all know that China’s coast patrol is their protector.
The Taiwanese fishermen have been bullied by the Japan Coast Guard.
Because the Taiwan independence government is pro-Japan flattering Japan and is afraid of damaging the so-called “Japan-Taiwan relations”, the Taiwan Coast Guard turns a blind eye and turns a deaf ear.
The China Coast Guard went there and directly rammed the Japan Coast Guard boat.
A Perfect Day in Zog
Submitted into Contest #288 in response to: Set your story in a place where the weather never changes.… view prompt
Audrey Elizabeth
The cheerful voices of the Zog News Network boomed through every spotless street, playing from polished, sun-powered speakers mounted on every lamppost. Not that anyone really needed a forecast. In Zog, the weather never changed.
Never ever.
The citizens of Zog went about their day, as they always did. Shopping for groceries at ZapGrocer, where customers can shop at lightning speed. Identical items. Optimized for perfection. No surprises.
“Good morning, Marvin.”
“And a perfect Zog morning to you, Darla.”
Everything was clean. Everything was precise.
At Zog Bakery, the pastries were meticulously constructed. The Hexa Muffin was engineered to be eaten in exactly six bites—no more, no less. That way, Zoggonians never suffered from a tired mouth.
And the Loop Cakes? Each one measured exactly three inches by three inches. They came in only one officially approved flavor: Pleasant.
These perfect desserts were meant to be washed down with a nice cup of ZogBrew, which contained exactly the right amount of caffeine for optimal awakeness.
For youngsters, there was ZogMilk— the caffeine-free beverage of choice. It had the exact texture of milk, yet never spoiled.
Never ever.
Zoggonians enjoyed their perfectly calibrated beverages in their Sip 500— a sleek, monochrome mug that self-warmed and self-regulated to ensure the ideal sipping temperature.
The air was always perfect. The temperature was always exactly seventy degrees. Warm and sunny, perfect for a pair of Zoggles.
But today, something was off. A coolness lingered in the air.
Little Zogling, Otis Zwiff sat in the ZogCart, kicking his feet as his mother steered them toward ZapGrocer. He squinted up at the sky. His eyes became round marbles, glossy and wide.
“What’s that, Mama?”
His mother, Elra Zwiff, didn’t look.
Didn’t want to.
Too much to do today— the floor needed its daily ZogGloss polishing and the auto feeder needed replacing so it could dispense exactly fourteen pellets for Tweepa, who chirped at pre-approved intervals.
She zipped her Z-Pack, the only certified bag in Zog, available in one shape, size, and color: Mellow Yellow.
“Shh. It’s nothing. Nothing at all, my little Zogbun.”
She pushed forward, cart and grocery list in hand.
“No, really. What is that, mama?”
Elra sighed. She glanced upwards, over her shoulder. Her brow furrowed for a moment. Then, she snapped her head down and gripped the cart tighter and kept her eyes glued to the ground. My eyes are playing tricks on me, she thought to herself.
She forced a smile.“Wouldn’t you like to have a Hexa Muffin today?” she cooed to her son.
But Otis continued to point a grubby little finger towards the sky, squealing. Elra tried to shush him, but his tiny voice echoed in the parking lot, growing louder with every step.
People halted.
They stared at the duo, then slowly tilted their heads upward, eyes narrowing for a better look. A ripple of exchanged glances. Some shook their heads. Others turned away. And then they all went about their business.
Because nothing was wrong. It couldn’t be.
Zog was perfect.
“What’s all the fuss about,” one couple said, arms crossed.
A woman gasped, wagging a finger, “Your child needs his Zoggles.”
“And manners!” a man barked.
Elra Zwiff’s face flushed red, as red as a Zog-certified beet. She clutched her Z-Pack. Gripped the ZogCart and did a complete one eighty. Rushed to her ZogPod with her son, who continued laughing hysterically.
Other shoppers kept looking upwards, muttering to themselves.
The Zog Bakery baker stepped out onto the sidewalk, flour on his apron. The ZapGrocer cashier leaned against the door frame, blinking upward in disbelief.
The Loop Cakes sat uneaten and the ZogBrew cooled.
Something in the sky didn’t belong.
–
Across town at the Zog News Network, a monitor flashed.
“What is it?”
The staff huddled around the screen. A sea of necks craned for a glimpse. People in the back balanced on their tiptoes.
“Zoom in!”
“I can’t see!”
“Enhance it!”
Faces grew paler. Murmurs. The air thickened.
The emergency phone on the desk blinked for the first time ever.
A producer stammered. “I’ve heard of this before… but it cannot be! Not in Zog!”
“Someone—bring in the authorities!”
“Get Fadebottom down here ASAP!”
Dintly Fabebottom led the investigation as a swarm of analyzers and officials crowded around his desk, mouths tight, waiting for answers. His hands were sweaty, trembling, but he sat up straighter. Forcing his fingers to stay firm and moving on the keyboard.
As if his posture and proper finger positioning might bring order to the disaster unfolding on the screen.
His leg bounced furiously, an unfortunate side effect of years spent in the labs, consuming far too much ZogBrew and far too little sleep.
He cleared his throat, straightened his tie, and blinked at the screen. Then, slowly, he rolled his ZogErgo chair back and rose.
He knew what it is.
Fadebottom huddled with his team. They whispered. It’s confirmed.
The newsroom inhaled as one.
Dintly gulped. A bead of sweat trickled down the back of his neck.
“Well, what is it, Fadebottom?”
“Tell us!”
“Spit it out, for Zog’s sake!”
A long beat.
Then—
Voice trembling. “It’s confirmed. At approximately 11:32 AM, in the city of Zog…a cumulus cloud has appeared in our stratosphere.”
A gasp.
Myra Lune from accounting clutched her chest.
Zade Flimm, the camera guy, staggered back.
“A cloud! But how?”
“How could it get in?”
“We have the perfect atmospheric temperature.”
“Someone get the mayor on the line!”
“It cannot happen here. It makes no sense! There are no clouds in Zog!”
The monitor flickered. The image remained.
The cloud was real.
And there was nothing they could do to stop it.
–
The streets of Zog were not supposed to feel like this.
Normally, the city stepped to a precise tempo. A uniformed rhythm. Zoggonians walked at the same pace and smiled at the same intervals.
But today—the flow was off.
Above, the cloud loomed. Below, people huddled together under awnings. Nervous chatter built to a crescendo, teetering on the edge of hysteria.
“This isn’t right.”
“No one move!”
“Has the Department of Perfection been informed?”
ZogPods began to pile up in the road, causing a traffic jam. Eventually the gridlock came to a full stop as drivers and passengers abandoned their vehicles, pointing at the sky.
The citizens of Zog looked at one another, lost. Searching for reassurance on each other’s faces.
Then—
The loudspeaker sprang to life.
“Citizens of Zog, do not be alarmed!”
Complete silence fell over the city.
“Nothing is wrong.”
Shallow breaths. Stiff spines. Everyone frozen.
“Zog is perfect.”
A pause.
“Go about your day.”
For a moment, it almost worked.
A man re-tucked his perfectly pressed collared shirt. A women forced a smile. A cashier began scanning items, hands shaking.
Everyone is attempted to return to the usual morning routine.
Then outside—
The first drop fell.
Another drop.
And then another.
And another.
A woman screamed. “It burns!”
A man shielded his head. “My eyes!”
The drops were foreign daggers.
The city of Zog erupted. People ran for cover. ZogCarts scattered in the streets as people deserted their routines and their Loop Cakes. Parents covered their children using elbows, arms, and Z-Packs.
Someone shouted, “It’s happening! It’s real!”
The screens in storefront windows flickered. News anchors in the Zog News Network stared, pale-faced, their hair slightly frizzed from this unfamiliar humidity.
The voice from the loudspeaker returned, feeble.
“Do not be alarmed.”
The words glitched.
“Nothing is wrong.”
But it was.
Because for the first time in Zog’s history—
Rain had appeared.
–
The Zog Unified Police (ZUP) Precinct was in mayhem. Alarms blared—a sound never before heard in Zog: the sound of panic.
Inside City Hall, government officials congregated around a holographic weather projection, their faces stiff with forced composure.
Mayor Wexley Optner was a Zoggonian built for authority, but not for movement—round in the middle, his suit tailored to restrain rather than enhance.
His ZogBrew-colored mustache, waxed and precise, sat above a mouth that was always poised to snap. His voice, bold and brazen, carried an unshakable fortitude of a man who always got what he wanted.
When he entered a room, the shiniest Zappers—the finest, most regulation-approved footwear in all of Zog—clicked in perfect unison against the floor.
He did not adjust to the space. He expected the space to adjust to him.
His pudgy, stick-like fingers drummed against the flawlessly polished conference table, each tap a metronome of impatience and authority.
To him, Zog was not just a city—it was an echo of himself. And Mayor Wexley Optner did not tolerate blemishes.
“We have one job: maintain perfection. This defect must be annihilated—immediately!”
Chief Frawzle of ZUP straightened his shoulders. His voice cut sharper than a Zog approved knife.
“We are prepared to deploy the Atmospheric Correction Protocol.”
“Excellent.” The Mayor exhaled, relieved. “How soon will it be destroyed?”
The Chief nodded to a technician, who pulled up a government-issued control panel labeled: Cloud Destruction Interface
The room watched as silver, aerodynamic drones rose above the city, silently gliding toward the rogue cloud.
“Prepare for obliteration!” shouted the Chief.
A hush.
Then—
A voice broke the silence.
“You cannot do this.”
Heads whipped toward the entrance.
Trembling, disheveled, and marked by a stubborn ZogBrew stain on his half-tucked shirt—Dintly Fadebottom appeared in the doorway.
The same Dintly Fadebottom who had never spoken out of turn his entire life.
“You cannot remove the cloud.”
The room is hummed uncomfortably.
The Chief stared and began walking towards Dintly.
“Excuse me?”
“This is not a glitch. This is not a malfunction.” Fadebottom’s voice grew stronger. “This is real. You cannot erase it, you cannot reprogram it, and you cannot pretend it isn’t happening.”
The Mayor shook his head, which began to turn an unregulated shade of red. His veins bulged to an unnatural blue.
“Fadebottom, you are out of line. This city has flourished because we do not tolerate unpredictability. Ever.”
Dintly took a giant step forward.
“And yet—” he gestured toward the sky, “there it is.”
The cloud remained, slowly inching closer. Darkening.
“Your drones won’t work. According to our calculations, it will just come back tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that!”
Drops began to fall near City Hall.
The drones hovered in limbo, awaiting final confirmation.
The Chief lifted a finger, about to issue the command—
Then—
A lightening bolt struck.
Screams exploded in the hallway and on the streets.
The Mayor stared as a single splatter spread across the polished, pristine conference table. He looked up and noticed a tiny hole in the ceiling.
For the first time ever—
The Mayor was not in control of Zog.
–
Sporting a perfectly pressed, regulation-grade raincoat, Mayor Wexley stood atop the podium outside City Hall. Beside him, his assistant gripped a government issued umbrella, angling it precisely to shield him and his mustache from the downpour.
His voice overpowered the city speakers, spilling into every street, every market, every meticulously ordered home.
“Citizens of Zog, remain calm! The rain you see before you is not a mistake. It is, in fact, a carefully planned innovation! We call it… Hydration Enhancement! A supreme new feature of Zog’s perfect climate!”
Uneasy whispers spread through the drenched crowd. Some skeptical citizens muttered, but others nodded. If the leadership said it was planned… maybe it was?
The Mayor continued:
“For years, Zog has led the way in predictability and flawlessness. But perfection must evolve! Thanks to our tireless efforts, we have introduced Rain 1.0—a premium weather experience designed for maximum hydration and atmospheric variety!”
A banner unfurled over City Hall, displaying the words: “Rain: A Progressive Vision for Zog”.
The officials stepped forward in matching raincoats, handing out official government-certified umbrellas.
A soggy reporter shifted uncomfortably, clutching a dripping notepad.
“So… this was intentional? But what about the cloud?”
The Mayor wiped his forehead and let out a thunderous belly laugh. “Ah, yes! We call it Cloud Plus! A bonus feature. Here in Zog, we’re always pushing the boundaries of excellence.”
He smiled, his mustache curling upwards.
“Perfection continues to smile upon us!”
–
The next morning, Zoggonians woke to misty streets and a brand new weather report.
Brenda, the cheerful news anchor appeared on-screen, her smile extra white and extra bright, as if it had been optimized overnight for peek reassurance.
“Good morning, Zog! Another absolutely perfect day ahead—mild temperatures, no wind, and of course…”
She paused, unshaken.
“Our usual rain cloud!”
The cameras cut to Brentley, her co-host, who sat beside her in a glossy, Zog-certified raincoat, glistening under the studio lights.
Brenda tilted her head, admiring. “You’re looking extra dapper this morning, Brentley. What do you have on there?”
“I’m glad you noticed. This is the latest model- designed for full moisture protection and unparalleled comfort. Citizens, be sure to visit your official certified provider of pre-approved rain gear—ZogFits, the only name in optimized rain protection!”
“Stay dry, out there folks!”
A banner rolled across the bottom of the screen:
“Rain: A progressive weather experience. All citizens encouraged to adjust and enjoy.”
Outside, the cloud lingered overhead. The rain continued.
And in perfect unison, the citizens of Zog opened their government-issued umbrellas, zipped their yellow Z-Packs, and began their day.
–
Otis and Elra Zwiff stepped out onto the damp streets of Zog.
The rain trickled in a quiet disobedience, pattering against the spotless streets.
Otis stomped through puddles.
“Mama, look!” he said, pointing towards the ground.
Elra stiffened and slowly turned her head.
He gestured at something—something new—rooted between the puddles. Something different.
A flower.
Not part of the Zog Standardized Botanical Program.
Not Pleasant Yellow. Not Perfect Pink.
Something else.
Red.
A color Zog has never seen blooming before.
Alive. Unregulated. Wild.
Elra drew a slow breath, the air around her thick with rain and something else—something unfamiliar. Then, a wide smile broke across her face. She and Otis laughed as they splashed through the puddles, hand in hand. Water splattering around them like a quiet rebellion.
Somewhere, Mayor Wexley’s voice hissed over a speaker, demanding the gardening department to be dispatched immediately.
No new species of any kind allowed.
But in the meantime, the rain kept falling.
And the flower kept growing.
What sector of the economy will benefit most from the Rs 3.55 lakh crore investment MoUs signed at the global investors summit held in Dehradun in 2023?
Oh Grow up😂
₹3.55 Lakh Crore of MOUs don’t mean anything
I have seen plenty of these MOUs
₹ 35,000 Crore investment into Semiconductor manufacturing being conditional to India being able to create and fabricate 300 nm, 180 nm & 100 nm Chips with 70% Yield
Translation – Until such a time Tata does all the investment, GOI provides the Land, Water and Power and Japanese sell Equipment worth Billions of Dollars for which Tata foots the bill
₹1,100 Crore to make Electric Batteries subject to India securing a 8 year deal with Chinese Battery Cell maker Gotion to export battery cells to the Venture
Translation – Until the day Gotion signs a contract with the Indian company, not a 50 paise coin will be advanced
Want to know how I know?
Simple
We Bankers don’t lend 50 paise against these MOUs
Many of these Businessmen came with MOUs worth ₹10,000 Crore, ₹20,000 Crore with recommendations from Amar Singh and others
Indian Banks refused to lend even 50 paise
There are 1001 terms and conditions before one Dollar is parted with
Investment Seminars are just PR events
Foreigners come, have a good time, sign a bunch of worthless papers and go home
Very few deals go to the end
Maybe 1 in 200 or 300
A Genuine Business Deal works differently
There is no MOU
There is a LOI – Letter of Intent which commits to actual funds
Bankers can lend against LOIs by securing a Bank Guarantee from the Investors Bank
For instance if Gotion Batteries commits to $ 600 Million in finance to build a Joint Factory in Nelamangala, Karnataka – they may issue a LOI committing a 5% or $ 30 Million advance on signing
With such an LOI – a Bank can lend upto 80% or $ 24 Million to the Indian Partner secured by a Guarantee from Bank of China
So don’t get fooled with all this nonsense
Global Demand is slow
Indian market for most things is very small due to the massive poor population in India and only 9.5–10.5 Crore pockets capable of paying for non essentials
Baby Crazy Wife Thinks Threatening Hubby W/ Divorce Will Get Her A 3rd Child, Jokes On Her Because..
Hey great lies.
Here is the chart from Statista on Chinese electrical production by source. The Blue is coal and it is going down each year dramatically.
That looks nowhere near 85% by 2035. That is for 2024. Why LIE? Does it make you feel better or something?
Here are wages for industrial manufacturing per year up to 2022.
Seriously dude, why lie?
That’s $1,154 USD per month. It costs $300 for this electric scooter.
It costs nothing else. No fees, no license, no registration fee, nothing. Just charge it and go.
Not only China but other parts of the world have bought over 1 Billion electric scooters. In China alone over 400 million have been sold.
China has sold so many electric scooters that it has taken over 1 million barrels per day of oil off the market.
Either you’re incredibly lazy and couldn’t be bothered to find actual statistics or you like lying.
It’s very bizarre to me that even US vets are now lying like crazy. Did the Navy not teach you anything about honor and truth? Even if the Navy didn’t, shouldn’t your parents have taught you not to lie brazenly like this?
The 1929 Crash Is Happening Again — And No One Sees It | Financial Collapse 2025
Shorpy
Why do Chinese people use the symbol “~” in their writing?
Good question.
Although I’m a science guy, I’ve always been fascinated by language and writing.
The symbol “~” is called a “波浪号” (bōlàng hào) in Chinese, which literally means “wave mark.”
Its official name is “浪纹” (làng wén), or “wave pattern.”
As you can see, Chinese is indeed a pictographic language—this symbol really does resemble waves on water.
In fact, the Chinese character for “water” (水) evolved from a similar shape.
(The character ‘water’, has evolved step by step into its current form over thousands of years.)
Speaking of water, there’s a very common Chinese radical called “三点水” (sān diǎn shuǐ), which means “three drops of water.” It’s essentially the ancient oracle bone script version of the character for water.
Speaking of “water,” it reminds me of something Mr. Zhao Yuanren, the father of modern Chinese linguistics, once said.
Around 1920, an elderly woman in Beijing told him that there was one thing she could never understand: why do Westerners call water “窝德”（water）?
It was simply unbelievable to her！
(Zhao himself was proficient in many languages, with 7 foreign languages at a native level and over 30 difficult dialects. He recorded this incident, possibly to show how people with no knowledge of foreign languages perceive them!)
Now, back to the wave mark (~).
According to the National Standard for Punctuation Marks of the People’s Republic of China, it has two grammatical functions:
- As a delimiter: It acts like a hyphen (“-“) but is specifically used to connect a range of Arabic numbers, such as “1~200” or “35.6%~55.9%.”
- As an onomatopoeic mark: It indicates the prolongation of a sound. Unlike the long dash (“——”), which also represents sound elongation, the wave mark (~) adds a sense of fluctuation or playfulness to the sound.
For example:
- “啊——” (ā——) – “Ah—” The enemy let out a scream and died!
- “哥哥~~哥哥~~你看我好不好看啊？” (Gēge~~ gēge~~, nǐ kàn wǒ hǎo bù hǎo kàn a?) – “Brother~~ brother~~, do I look pretty?”
(In China, it’s very common for romantic partners to call each other “哥哥” (gēge, older brother), “姐姐” (jiějie, older sister), or “妹妹” (mèimei, younger sister) as terms of endearment.)
~~我是分割线~~
(~~ I am the divider~~)
In everyday life, there’s another common use for the wave mark, as shown above.
Chinese people, especially younger generations, love to emphasize “segments” in text, as if they’re afraid readers might miss them.
Finally, and most commonly, the wave mark is used as an emoticon.
For example: ~。~ or ~，~
As you can see, it represents eyes or eyebrows.
Young people really enjoy using it this way.
Even the ancient Chinese character “囧” , which originally meant “window,” has been revitalized as an emoticon.
I suspect that in a few years, “囧” will completely lose its original meaning “windows”,and be solely associated with expressions like “awkward” or “helpless.”
But whether it’s a window, awkwardness, or helplessness, it all reinforces what I said earlier:
At its core, Chinese is a pictographic language!
(By the way, the character for pictographic (象),”elephant” (象) in Chinese also means “image” or “form” or “similar,looks like” In ancient times, it looked like this:
(The character ‘elephant,smilar’, has evolved step by step into its current form over thousands of years.)
By the way, in English, this symbol ~ is called “tilde.”
I feel like it has a connection to waves as well, since both the pronunciation and the shape of “tilde” are quite close to “tide.”
right ?
Texas-Style Egg and Potato Skillet
Scramble Mexican favorites, like potatoes and tortilla chips, for a fast and tasty breakfast skillet or simple supper.
Prep: 5 min | Cook: 15 min | Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 4 thick slices (4 ounces) turkey bacon, chopped
- 1 medium baking potato, diced 1/2 inch
- 8 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup pico de gallo or chunky salsa
- 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded smoked Cheddar cheese
- 6 flour or whole wheat tortillas (8 inch), warmed (optional)
Instructions
- Cook bacon in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until edges begin to brown. Pour off drippings.
- Add potato; cook and stir until potato is tender and browned and bacon is crisp, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Pour eggs over mixture in skillet. As eggs begin to set, gently pull the eggs across the pan with an inverted turner, forming large soft curds. Continue cooking – pulling, lifting and folding eggs – until thickened and no visible liquid egg remains. Do not stir constantly.
- Stir in pico de gallo; heat through.
- Sprinkle with cheese.
- Serve with tortillas, if desired.
Notes
Lighter Option: Recipe can be made with reduced-fat cheese, if desired.
Nutrition
Per serving: Calories: 379 Total Fat: 18g Saturated fat: 6g Polyunsaturated fat: 3g Monounsaturated fat: 6g Cholesterol: 277mg Sodium: 1046mg Carbohydrates: 32g Dietary Fiber: 2g Protein: 21g Vitamin A: 462.9 IU Vitamin D: 57.7 IU Folate: 91.8mcg Calcium: 167.9mg Iron: 3.3mg Choline: 188.7mg
Attribution
Recipe and photo used with permission from: American Egg Board
Wife Caught Cheating on Work Trip UPDATE
Why is India lagging behind China in economic development when India is a democracy while China isn’t?
A cruel reality is that so far, no country has gained wealth through democracy, but a large number of countries have experienced slow or even stagnant economic development after moving toward democracy. If you look at the economic development of developed countries, you will find that, except for those countries that have accumulated wealth through colonial plunder, the leaders of countries that have developed through economic development tend to be dictatorial during the period of rapid economic development. This is particularly evident in post-war South Korea and Taiwan Province, and the period when their economic development slowed down was also the time when their dictatorial governments were replaced by elected governments.
Western rulers are trying to spread a lie that they now believe in themselves – democracy can bring all good things and abandon all bad things. However, this is not the case. For a country, democracy is suitable for a country where citizens are generally well educated, and the citizens of this country have the consciousness of sacrificing the self to achieve the greater self. I know this conflicts with the values believed by Westerners, but this is the reality. If the quality of citizens cannot reach this level, China’s democratic centralism may be more suitable for the development of a developing China.
For example, at the beginning of China’s reform and opening up, the country needed foreign capital investment. Like all developing countries, the country passed laws that are conducive to foreign investment. Then the difference comes. China has set up special economic zones, and the central government has allocated funds for the initial investment. Then the local government will choose a place that is considered the most suitable for building a factory to build a factory and attract foreign investment. What will democratic countries do? They will call a meeting of parliamentarians, and the various interest representatives will argue endlessly for the interest groups they represent. If everything goes well, after several months or even years of discussion, they will choose a place that satisfies the interests of many parties but is not necessarily the most suitable place to build a factory. At this time, the factory built by China may have been completed or even put into production, while democratic countries have just completed the site selection. Then democratic countries need to expropriate private land. If the owner of the land is willing to sell, then the price can be discussed. If the owner of the land is unwilling to sell, then everything will have to start all over again.
(China before reform and opening up)
If the starting point of the two countries is the same, the results are likely to be different. An interesting phenomenon is that all countries recognized as democratic countries by the West are capitalist countries. The parliamentarians and presidents they elect will first serve the interests of capital that support them to power, and the interests of the people who voted for them are rarely within their consideration. To put it bluntly, ordinary people in any country are short-sighted. You can easily cheat their votes by just making a few promises to them. But to let them know the promises you made, you need good publicity, which requires publicity funds, and this money comes from businessmen who support his presidential campaign.
In fact, there is another point that many Westerners cannot understand and is an important reason why China has been able to develop to this day, that is, the vast majority of Chinese and people in the Chinese cultural circle believe that collective interests are higher than individual interests. This is not to say that individual interests are not important, but when collective interests and individual interests are in irreconcilable conflict, we believe that individual interests should be sacrificed to meet collective interests, and of course the collective needs to compensate individuals. This is why China’s infrastructure can develop rapidly, because when the country needs our land, we will get a lot of money, and then the country will use this piece of land to invest in construction to increase our income. This is a cumbersome process for democratic countries, and sometimes it is even impossible.
I actually have never understood why people in so-called democratic countries are so superstitious about democracy? What is democracy to them? Is it that vote? Or a belief? Or is it the promises made by politicians to the people that can be abandoned at any time?
The West has always said that China is a dictatorship, and has intentionally or unintentionally reinforced this concept to the people, and even deliberately fabricated rumors that China’s president is a dictator (friend, have you ever seen a dictator with a term of office?). Yes, China’s national leaders are not elected by the people one vote at a time, not now, and most likely not in the future, unless the communist society we are talking about is realized, or the number of high-quality citizens can occupy the majority.
The first generation of leaders in our country were not elected by the people with votes, but if a nationwide general election was held at that time, no one would think that he would lose, and his support rate would probably be close to 100%. You must know that it was the support of the people that enabled the army of only a few hundred thousand people to defeat the national army when the occupied area, population, economic strength, equipment quality and quantity, and even the support of allies were all behind the national army at that time. This is definitely a miracle in the world’s military history, and this miracle is the result of the support of the people. Take the Huaihai Campaign as an example. The PLA had 600,000 troops and the KMT had 800,000 troops. The KMT had more advanced equipment than the PLA and had naval and air force support. But the PLA won in the end, and only suffered tens of thousands of casualties, and wiped out this army of nearly one million people. In fact, behind the 600,000 PLA soldiers were 5.4 million ordinary people who transported ammunition and supplies for the frontline soldiers. Because this army had a purpose of “serving the people” at the beginning of its establishment.
（Migrant workers supporting the frontline during the Huaihai Campaign）
We did not give Mao Zedong a vote, but he left us an army to serve us. Can you imagine that when I was two years old, a huge flood disaster broke out in our country, and the water levels of many rivers rose sharply. Once the flood came out of the river, it would destroy a large amount of farmland, houses and a large number of casualties. Our country’s leaders deployed 300,000 troops across the country. They were active on various rivers and built dams for the rivers. When the flood broke through the dams and rushed to the city, when the sandbags were ineffective, our soldiers jumped into the dam break hand in hand, blocked the water flow with their bodies, and slowed down the flow so that other soldiers could use sandbags to block the dam break. If the water flow was too fast and people could not stop it, our soldiers drove trucks filled with sand into the water one after another to resist the flood. That year we lost 26 lovely soldiers, and even Li Xiangqun of the Guangzhou Military Region died of overwork while he was sick during the process of resisting sandbags and building embankments. When his father knew about it, he put on his military uniform and completed the embankment task with his comrades.
（Soldiers build a dike in the water）
In 2008, I was in the fifth grade. It was a happy and difficult year for us. At the beginning of that year, the southern part of my country suffered a serious ice and snow disaster. Those places did not snow all year round, but a heavy snowstorm suddenly fell at the beginning of that year, which once paralyzed the traffic in many places in the south. The People’s Liberation Army dispatched 158,000 soldiers and 400,000 reservists to clear the snow. On May 12 of that year, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake occurred in Sichuan. That was the first time I heard the word earthquake. I remember seeing on TV that the houses in the disaster area were all collapsed. When I heard that there were still many people under those houses, I was particularly shocked. In those days, the People’s Liberation Army dispatched 160,000 soldiers to the disaster area for disaster relief. What they dug out from the ruins were not cats and dogs, but fresh lives. There were even 15 brave paratroopers who parachuted from 5,000 meters into the disaster area without any ground guidance, and even the ground situation was not particularly clear. Detect the situation and report the disaster to the follow-up troops. I will never forget that scene. The commander said to the soldiers with a walkie-talkie, “Comrades, the time has come for the Party and the people to test us.” Then they jumped out of the cabin and landed on the ground. Fortunately, they had superb skills, no casualties, and provided ground guidance for the subsequent paratroopers.
（Here is a screenshot of the video of fifteen brave paratroopers skydiving）
I may not be able to experience those crises deeply because of my age. The following is what I experienced personally. The COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020. I was still in college at that time. Before the Chinese New Year (the Chinese New Year is on January 24, 2020), I was still planning to use the salary I earned from working in the factory during the holidays to travel with my girlfriend before school started. I even booked a homestay and tickets. I remember very clearly that before the Chinese New Year, many people said that there might be an epidemic in the south, some said avian influenza, some said it was influenza, in short, there were all kinds of things. The New Year is a very important festival for us. On New Year’s Eve (the night of January 24, 2020 to the early morning of the next day), we younger generations need to greet our elders and say auspicious words, hoping that everything will be safe and smooth in the coming year. On New Year’s Eve, we heard the government’s call: because of the outbreak in the south, we should celebrate the New Year in place and send New Year greetings via video calls. This is the first time in my memory that the government has guided and intervened in the way of New Year greetings. We all realized that something serious might happen. Except for close relatives, we all chose to send New Year greetings via video. I remember January 25th very clearly. It was the second day of the New Year. On that day, we were supposed to go to my grandmother’s house to send New Year greetings to them, but we received an order to stop public transportation and not go out unless necessary. The previous New Year celebration was a suggestion, but this time it was an order. Party members and village cadres were arranged to be on duty at each entrance and exit of the village, prohibiting non-villagers from entering, and persuading villagers to return home if they went out. (That is, the city was closed.) On January 27th, we received another order for people returning from Wuhan or passing through Wuhan to gather at the town government (our village is less than 2.5 kilometers away from the town government). That night, we received another order for people returning from other provinces and cities to register on a government website. I remember that period very clearly. I saw the army running into the transport plane. In China, the intervention of the army means that something big has happened, but at the same time we also know that the intervention of the army means that things will be well resolved. Later, the epidemic gradually eased, and most areas except the epidemic areas were slowly closed. In 2021, I graduated from university and worked as a reporter for a provincial local media. In 2022, an infected person did not implement relevant policies, did not report the places he had visited within a week, forged nucleic acid test reports, and went to many crowded places. As a result, he was confirmed, causing the epidemic to spread rapidly in our city. The government had to implement the city lockdown order, and as a special job, we obtained special passes, three nucleic acid tests a day, and ran around government press conferences, nucleic acid testing points, lockdown points, cabin hospitals, etc., to report the latest epidemic developments and the latest policies for everyone. During that time, I saw many critically ill patients and even dead people. During the entire lockdown, there were less than 100 confirmed cases and less than 1,000 asymptomatic people. You have to know that it is a city with a permanent population of nearly 4 million. At our government press conference, there were deputy mayors of the municipal party committee, leaders of the epidemic prevention center, etc. Most of them were party members, and they provided us with the most accurate advice. I remember that there was an asymptomatic infected person downstairs from my house at that time, but during the entire lockdown, there was no more infected person upstairs, and there was no close contact, and the asymptomatic infected person was quarantined at home according to regulations.
（This is the city I was in at the time – Binzhou）
Friends, perhaps you don’t understand why I write about the PLA when talking about democracy, because the PLA is completely controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. As early as 1927, when this army was still called the Red Army, the Communist Party’s party branch had been established at the company level, and the main leaders and outstanding soldiers were all party members. Unlike most political parties, when encountering dangers and difficulties, Communist Party members are always on the front line. We often hear leaders say slogans such as “Communists step out” or “Communists follow me”. In life-threatening tasks, they will also form party member assault teams. Li Xiangqun, who was mentioned above and died of exhaustion on the embankment, was a Communist Party member.
（This is the martyr Li Xiangqun. The two words “塔山” on his body are because his unit was known as the “Tashan Hero Regiment”）
Friends, do you think such a party will be a dictator? If a dictator is like this, what’s wrong with a dictator? Can political parties in democratic countries do this? Can a government that serves the people be a dictator?
I have studied, worked and lived in this country for more than 20 years, almost 30 years, and I have encountered many things. I have witnessed the positive changes of my brother who used to fight and swear every day and bully girls after joining the army and the Communist Party. Although he is still so rude, he will care about people. He is no longer the little devil that everyone hates. He is a brave brother. When we saw the electric meter on fire together, I was even stunned when he rushed up and put out the open fire with his clothes. I have seen that of course I know that this country and the Communist Party still have many imperfections, or there are still many shortcomings, but where is the perfect party?
I have seen many people say that our country’s democratic centralism is a more advanced democratic system than the West. I don’t think so. On the contrary, I think that Western democracy, in terms of the system itself, is the next stage of democratic centralism, but no country in the West, China, or any country in the world has the foundation for the perfect operation of this democratic system. When people cast their votes for their own immediate interests, this democratic system is destined to fail to achieve its original purpose.
I think I should have made it clear why the so-called non-democratic China will surpass the democratic India in economic development. To sum up: China has an efficient democratic centralized government, China has citizens who sacrifice their personal interests for the collective interests, and China has long-term plans that do not worry about failure due to regime change. China has the most stable democratic system in my opinion. These are all things that democratic India does not have. Obviously, democracy is not omnipotent, and even democracy is incompetent most of the time.
The above is my point of view. If I am wrong, I hope you can point it out to me. Don’t say rumors and slander, it is meaningless.