Previously posted on my Facebook Page.
New York Times: “A ‘Thaw’ in U.S.-China Relations Seems Far From Reach.” Situations evolved into a complex web of murkthrows, beginning 2021. A diplomatic re-engagement is now hobbled by political shoving. Yet per Donald Trump’s trade pact with Xi Jinping in early 2020, China agreed to buy a total of $502.4 billion of U.S. exports over two years. That was a good start for more negotiations. But President Biden’s hawkish follow through easily derailed further talks.
The Biden administration continues to employ strong-arm tactics as he did with Russia, which didn’t work. And shrewd as they are, the CCP seemed expecting this from Joe. So days after the Nov 2020 elections, Beijing gathered 15 economies in the region to form RCEP, the largest trade bloc ever. While the U.S. was busy with internal political intramurals, China and Russia went to work. Russia collared or solidified its hold of the European fuel market. A war had to happen to halt that economic march. But how to stop China from its already out-there trade expansionism? Another war? 🇨🇳☮️🇺🇸
New York Times: “Americans Were Aware of Intelligence Warning of Ukrainian Pipeline Attacks.” And adds: “The Washington Post reported that U.S. intelligence agencies were aware of plans to attack the Nord Stream pipelines three months before they were bombed.” Weird, isn’t it? Whether Kyiv military is guilty (which Z denies, as expected) or not, or Kremlin decides to bomb its own facility, why not stop it based on intel? Am I clueless, or playing dumb? Is it no brainer?
Take note as well that four utility/energy giants in Europe have invested on Nord Stream 2, with Moscow’s Gazprom as main operator/financier. NS2 is not a KGB building in Russia, it is a valuable pipeline that serves the E.U., mostly. That is the issue: Market competition. 🇺🇦⛽️🇷🇺
New York Times: “Indian Official Who Drained a Reservoir to Retrieve His Phone Is Suspended.” And adds: “Rajesh Vishwas, a food inspector, used a diesel pump to empty part of a reservoir where he had lost his smartphone.” A Pew study says most people in the world say cellphones are good for society, regardless of their impact on children. But then, in case you got riled up in a Facebook chat, and dropped your phone in a reservoir, buy a new one. Don't follow Rajesh's example.
Fact: People are spending more and more time on their phones, increasing their usage time almost 50 percent from 2019 to 2020. Also, a Pew survey that was conducted across 11 countries, people’s attitudes toward mobile phones tend to be largely positive. Unless we are talking about Rajesh dude, of course. 📱👳♂️📲
New York Times: “Larger Screens, Heated Seats, Sushi: Theater Owners Want You Back.” Not the pandemic or wayward virus. Two huge reasons why I now feel indifferent about going to moviehouses. <1>I don’t feel safe in a public space anymore. Or protected. Need I elaborate? <2>Movies these days are mostly politically-correct yarns and high-tech superhero noise. Streaming TV series at home are much, much better. Lots of choices. And safer, so more comfortable. 🎥👎📽
New York Times: “Crucial Dam Destroyed on Southern Ukraine’s Front Lines.” And adds: “The damage threatened the safety of a nearby nuclear plant and forced the evacuation of thousands.” Thought: What if the U.S. didn't hand Ukraine those weapons and the war lasted only a month, at least? Then Moscow and Kyiv sat to settle their gas dispute. No more annihilation in Donbas. No NATO. Russian fuel flowed to Europe via Nord Stream 2. Not that simple, right?
Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Russia, of course, for the dam destruction. Etcetera. More weapons to Kyiv? A counter-offensive as Z brags will only escalate hostilities. (Reports are vague if Ukraine indeed launched a counter-offensive though.) Time to end the war and direct all the aid to reconstruction in villages that were crushed. Negotiations should happen in a ceasefire, brokered by both the U.S. and China. Meanwhile, the other News: “Biden Administration Shrugs Off Ukraine’s Attacks in Russia.” And adds: “For months, U.S. officials said cross-border operations risked a dangerous escalation. But those fears have ebbed.” 🇺🇦☮️🇷🇺
New York Times: “The Debt-Limit Deal Suggests Debt Will Keep Growing, Fast.” And adds: “Negotiations to prevent a government default reaffirmed that the big drivers of future deficits are all off the table in a divided Washington.” Deficit growth is caused primarily by three key drivers of spending — demographics, healthcare costs, and interest on the debt. Economists say. What about military expenditures or billions$ to a war in 12 months? Not a major cause? 💸🗽💸
New York Times: “How a Dark Fleet Moves Russian Oil.” And adds: “Oil tankers faked their locations while transporting Russian oil under Western sanctions.” Figure this out: As war exploded and sanctions fluttered in the air, Indian traders continually delivered Russian oil to Europe and the U.S., undetected or simply allowed to. In a single year, India has become the world's second-largest buyer of Russian crude oil after China. Remember, these three countries are BRICS partners. ⛴🛟⛽️
Time: “Why Waking Up Earlier Isn't Necessarily Better.” Let me put it this way. Depends on your work schedule, you may wake up at 5 AM or 11 AM. Or if you have kids to look after, you gotta wake up early to prepare them for school. So what's better is what works in your life and responsibilities. Even if you are single or whatever, you still gotta wake up early to let the dog out for the morning rituals. If you don't, your AI companion will smack you. Life. 🥱😴🥱
Time/AP: “Wanted a Lighthouse? Here's Your Chance. The U.S. Is Giving Some Away.” Zombie apocalypse or per my reclusive nature, I always fantasize owning a lighthouse. The isolation and serenity of the sea attract me. But naturally, I'll have a dog and two cats. Cost of a lighthouse though is from $10k to $27k. Michigan has the most lighthouses, 115. Let me dream. Yet even if they’re free as reported, maintenance is an issue. Could Amazon and Grabhub deliver there?
The National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, passed in 2000, helps the government preserve lighthouses that are no longer needed by the Coast Guard. 🛟🛥⚓️
Time: “AI Is Not an Arms Race,” says columnist Katja Grace. Of course, we are not talking about nuclear weapons or WMDs here. But this: Lethal autonomous weapons and AWS that are currently exploiting A.I. Think autonomous stationary sentry guns and remote weapon stations programmed to fire at humans and vehicles, killer robots a.k.a. “slaughter bots” and drone swarms with autonomous targeting capabilities. Parallel evil. And more, upcoming. 🤖☮️🤖
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