tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33202286833447026242024-03-25T11:31:29.507-07:00The Indie by Pasckie PascuaBlog reactivated, 2023. The Indie was a people's community publication based in Asheville, North Carolina and Athens, Georgia.PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-17322897539486469062024-03-25T11:30:00.000-07:002024-03-25T11:30:17.300-07:00Events to Remember. Famous Photography. And Stuff. <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Previously posted on my Facebook Page.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">EVENTS to REMEMBER. Fall of the Berlin Wall: October 3, 1990. West Germany and East Germany ended 45 years of postwar division, declaring the creation of a reunified country. The Berlin Wall or Die Berliner Mauer was a guarded concrete </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_barrier" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">barrier</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that encircled </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Berlin" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">West Berlin</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Germany" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Federal Republic of Germany</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (FRG) from 1961 to 1989, separating it from </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Berlin" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">East Berlin</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Germany" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">German Democratic Republic</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (GDR). Photo credit: The Guardian. ☮️🇩🇪☮️</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG52W9hS5nEhGp_khTOEKMsH6XCLof17aLMMWzf4EkWNf1T2lOPzMcNT-XtBhJeZbtm3dgcBH0ozNHog4GXzLc6hM2Pp8H6fWwl7Lo9IipWgx6F_cUfHk2BX6OokpEHr_2cwsUCufq692IXF8XvXGYTxSgYBv9w4R5tn43iu9CXbhAc8oPtoRsfY_jMrs/s700/USED.berlin%20wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="700" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG52W9hS5nEhGp_khTOEKMsH6XCLof17aLMMWzf4EkWNf1T2lOPzMcNT-XtBhJeZbtm3dgcBH0ozNHog4GXzLc6hM2Pp8H6fWwl7Lo9IipWgx6F_cUfHk2BX6OokpEHr_2cwsUCufq692IXF8XvXGYTxSgYBv9w4R5tn43iu9CXbhAc8oPtoRsfY_jMrs/w400-h240/USED.berlin%20wall.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHY. In the years after the 2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and the ouster of the Taliban regime, Associated Press photographer Rodrigo Abd spent months on assignment there and learned how to use a traditional Afghan “box camera,” a handmade street camera and darkroom in one. He returned this year to document how Afghan life has changed in peacetime, for better and worse, since U.S. troops left and the Taliban returned to power. (Text: Associated Press.) 🇦🇫🇦🇫🇦🇫</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghfcPq25AuCBRSyC0qUUonhsWg5zpaJKOLZkLN_o_bKKAN42NVjzoJQTAYqUQKFciTDQjA72TTY3QZ0zWhHuHPVzInKrnfvszPpWdQkcAuOoSEZW7jwk6_gm3nlEUzh0i4EkqIvHMPe4aEDaUHd6OblxktNzRXJlzz_ypB5JxFAglzLwkhaT0zdJOhI8/s750/USED.afghanistan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghfcPq25AuCBRSyC0qUUonhsWg5zpaJKOLZkLN_o_bKKAN42NVjzoJQTAYqUQKFciTDQjA72TTY3QZ0zWhHuHPVzInKrnfvszPpWdQkcAuOoSEZW7jwk6_gm3nlEUzh0i4EkqIvHMPe4aEDaUHd6OblxktNzRXJlzz_ypB5JxFAglzLwkhaT0zdJOhI8/s320/USED.afghanistan.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FAMOUS EVENTS. Oktoberfest is a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_festival" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">beer festival</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> held annually in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Munich</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bavaria" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bavaria</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in Germany. Running from mid- or late-September to around the first Sunday in October, the boozefest attracts more than six million international and national visitors. Locally, it is called d'Wiesn, after the colloquial name for the fairgrounds, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theresienwiese" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Theresienwiese</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since the year 1810. 🍻🇩🇪🍻</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MOMENTS in HISTORY. Old trains and railway tracks. Those old, old trains that we often see in movies are very mystifying. An early (1500s) railway in Austria’s </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohensalzburg_Fortress" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hohensalzburg Fortress</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> used wooden rails and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hemp</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> haulage rope and was operated by human or animal power, through a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treadwheel" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">treadwheel</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The line still exists and remains operational. The U.S. railroad mania began with the founding of the first passenger and freight line, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1827. 🚉🚂🚉</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PEOPLE and CULTURE. Bollywood refers to the majority Hindi language film industry based in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mumbai</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, India. Bollywood is a part of the larger </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_cinema" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Indian cinema</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which also includes </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_South_India" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">South Indian cinema</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and other smaller </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_India#Cinema_by_language" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">film industries</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The most popular genre is </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masala_film" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">masala, which is generally musical melodrama</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or mix of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_film" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">action</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comedy_film" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">comedy</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_film" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">romance</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. On average, Indian cinema produces 1,900 feature films a year, which is clearly bigger than Hollywood’s 500 movies annually. 🎥🇮🇳📽</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TRAGIC MOMENTS to REMEMBER. Attica Prison Riot. At the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attica_Correctional_Facility" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">state prison</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attica,_New_York" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Attica, upstate New York</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The riot started on September 9, 1971, and ended on September 13 with the highest number of fatalities in the history of United States </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_riot" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">prison uprisings</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. 43 men died: 33 inmates and 10 correctional officers and employees, mostly by gunfire. The Attica Uprising has been described as a historic event in the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoners%27_rights" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">prisoners' rights</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> movement. (Photo credit: NPR.) ☮️☮️☮️</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfF4eBGW139OaTf8kWZoEbR5MjMdeGQfCPdBKjBpSSOFTYAXzugBwyLUZDj1TJat07PbRarbxYQO4r5il79wIt2a_XqJ9AVb9BL6jsWPB2X9G7W7SQOTWGy9nWqZqZrl8n0E1HW5eUnRf5v8PBLibcjaK597vXxCqILhY0nnXhnvEJbcwf7UE15W7Sa4M/s1065/USED.attica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1065" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfF4eBGW139OaTf8kWZoEbR5MjMdeGQfCPdBKjBpSSOFTYAXzugBwyLUZDj1TJat07PbRarbxYQO4r5il79wIt2a_XqJ9AVb9BL6jsWPB2X9G7W7SQOTWGy9nWqZqZrl8n0E1HW5eUnRf5v8PBLibcjaK597vXxCqILhY0nnXhnvEJbcwf7UE15W7Sa4M/s320/USED.attica.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FAMOUS PLACES. Bleecker Street is an east–west street in the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York City</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boroughs_of_New_York_City" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">borough</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Manhattan</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It is most famous today as a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwich_Village" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Greenwich Village</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> nightclub district. The street today is very popular for music venues and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comedy" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">comedy</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and a center for </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemianism" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bohemia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The street is named after the family name of banker </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Lispenard_Bleecker" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anthony Lispenard Bleecker</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and writer </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Bleecker" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anthony Bleecker</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, through whose family farm the street ran. My favorite night spots at Bleecker: </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bitter_End" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Bitter End</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. 🎼🎤🗽</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MOMENTS to REMEMBER. On August 29, 2005: Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast near Buras, Louisiana, bringing floods that devastated New Orleans. The devastating </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Category_5_Atlantic_hurricanes" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Category 5 Atlantic hurricane</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> caused 1,836 fatalities and damage estimated between $97.4 billion to $145.5 billion. In the image above, taken by David J. Phillip of the Associated Press, floodwaters from the hurricane fill the streets near downtown New Orleans. 🌬💨💦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FAMOUS EVENTS. Every last Wednesday of August, revelers hurl tomatoes at each other in Spanish town’s “La Tomatina.” Some 15,000 people, including many tourists, pasted each other with tomatoes per Spain’s annual “Tomatina” street battle for entertainment purposes. The festival is held in the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valencian_Community" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Valencian</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> town of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bu%C3%B1ol" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buñol</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, in the east of Spain. Since 1945, it has been held on the last Wednesday of August, during a week of festivities in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bu%C3%B1ol" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buñol</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Ole! 🍅🇪🇸🍅</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZdXzAZAH3tTcrdA0ZGEQi15g85ryzEB17wjEUZ44lsSz8BQ9-pxjmZVJJRA8KJM-8yrM7NKqxDfzVSGgKqVZ7ijHnkOclJ28Y4t5fzBYjZFDGAeTZH8mUPGNpmBFqE4XDcDhVjug_wLxLZuyuzZapv10Ce88a7N9sTQlRHzYbk5TGlZWzpYZnJOkPtQ/s1170/USED.banaue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1170" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZdXzAZAH3tTcrdA0ZGEQi15g85ryzEB17wjEUZ44lsSz8BQ9-pxjmZVJJRA8KJM-8yrM7NKqxDfzVSGgKqVZ7ijHnkOclJ28Y4t5fzBYjZFDGAeTZH8mUPGNpmBFqE4XDcDhVjug_wLxLZuyuzZapv10Ce88a7N9sTQlRHzYbk5TGlZWzpYZnJOkPtQ/s320/USED.banaue.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FAMOUS PLACES. Banaue Rice Terraces. T</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrace_(agriculture)" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">erraces</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that were carved into the mountains of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banaue" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Banaue</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in I</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ifugao" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">fugao</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> province in the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philippines</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, by the ancestors of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igorot_people" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Igorot people</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Occasionally called the "</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_Wonder_of_the_World" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eighth Wonder of the World</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,” the terraces is were built with minimal equipment, largely by hand, located approximately 4,900 feet above sea level. These are fed by an ancient </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrigation" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">irrigation</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> system from the rainforests above the terraces. (Photo: Lux Travel DMC.) ⛰🇵🇭⛰</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-21482386977423601722024-03-21T11:22:00.000-07:002024-03-21T11:22:38.508-07:00MY THOUGHTS on News. <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Previously posted on my Facebook Page.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Associated Press: “The Supreme Court rejects Biden's plan to wipe away $400 billion in student loans.” A sharply divided SC ruled that the Biden administration overstepped its authority in trying to cancel or reduce student loans. I agree. Meanwhile, budget cuts in federal programs loom per debt limit issue. It’d be unfair for govt employees to lose jobs as 20 percent with student borrowings are “forgiven.” Why not waive the majority’s mortgage, car, and credit card debts? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmlZeuhuHfgl5qxfRU4N9tl_d_dgV4ss8iGByJ8cdcUT-Oi4QrEyJWyiVpuDQLF_bd_cn6B3P-HWv0M4bNgnRbhLDqvjrlSjeX010C2-FOoPtv-AVchipXyoyb5rozM5oARZApgeoHDcZ82WpObVWCzTLLt_iY6HuPnRGtQYEOZ3Vb4SOdoD7M8mh_Gc/s1200/student%20loans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmlZeuhuHfgl5qxfRU4N9tl_d_dgV4ss8iGByJ8cdcUT-Oi4QrEyJWyiVpuDQLF_bd_cn6B3P-HWv0M4bNgnRbhLDqvjrlSjeX010C2-FOoPtv-AVchipXyoyb5rozM5oARZApgeoHDcZ82WpObVWCzTLLt_iY6HuPnRGtQYEOZ3Vb4SOdoD7M8mh_Gc/w400-h266/student%20loans.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">News adds: “The 6-3 decision, with conservative justices in the majority, effectively killed the $400 billion plan, announced by President Joe Biden last year, and left borrowers on the hook for repayments that are expected to resume by late summer.” (Art: Vox.) 🏦🗽🏦</span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/iXH5Y-fv_Cvgqq1DCKTl1w~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRme8r_P0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNS93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvZ3JlZWNlLWVsZWN0aW9uLWt5cmlha29zLW1pdHNvdGFraXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjI2Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MDIwJm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM3NjQ1JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZJH_RZlk6FVWVFIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With Resounding Win in Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis Tightens Grip on Power</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “His party’s election victory comes as the country experiences strong economic growth.” Whatever the political leaning, economics decides elections. Industrial output rebounded in annual terms in the quarter, while inflation fell and the labor market tightened. But Greece’s public debt is still 196.6 percent of GDP, the highest in Europe. Mr </span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/iXH5Y-fv_Cvgqq1DCKTl1w~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRme8r_P0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNS93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvZ3JlZWNlLWVsZWN0aW9uLWt5cmlha29zLW1pdHNvdGFraXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjI2Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MDIwJm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM3NjQ1JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZJH_RZlk6FVWVFIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mitsotakis</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> gotta work more. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Greek voters chose to look past scandals and disasters that have tarnished </span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/iXH5Y-fv_Cvgqq1DCKTl1w~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRme8r_P0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNS93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvZ3JlZWNlLWVsZWN0aW9uLWt5cmlha29zLW1pdHNvdGFraXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjI2Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MDIwJm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM3NjQ1JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZJH_RZlk6FVWVFIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mitsotakis</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">’ government. But as I pointed out, Greece is still magnificently mired in debts. The most indebted economies in the euro zone: Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, and Belgium. Kyrios </span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/iXH5Y-fv_Cvgqq1DCKTl1w~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRme8r_P0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNS93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvZ3JlZWNlLWVsZWN0aW9uLWt5cmlha29zLW1pdHNvdGFraXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjI2Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MDIwJm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM3NjQ1JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZJH_RZlk6FVWVFIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kyriakos</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">’ leadership must sustain (or improve) the economic growth to keep up repayments. 🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/8NcscwHH9gNqPJmCaZkl0g~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmeSe5P0TlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yMy9ueXJlZ2lvbi9jaGluYS1mZW50YW55bC1jb21wYW5pZXMtY2hhcmdlZC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTImZW1jPWVkaXRfdGhfMjAyMzA2MjQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTU5MjEmbmw9dG9kYXlzaGVhZGxpbmVzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9NjU2Nzk1ODcmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc0MDUmdXNlcl9pZD0zYzczNjFkNTY3ZTgwMjc5NGMxMjc0NzJlMWMzYzU1NVcDbnl0QgpkkbmilmToTKzSUhFwYXNja2llQHlhaG9vLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">U.S. Charges 4 Chinese Firms With Selling Chemicals to Make Fentanyl</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “The indictments are part of a strategy attacking every stage of the supply chain for the opioid, which kills thousands each year.” Again, the Chinese are blamed. Most APIs or “active (or main) pharmaceutical ingredients” in a medicine that cause the desired effect are imported from China, true. But the manufacturer of the finished product is U.S./European Big Pharma. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Back in history, opium poppy gave birth to morphine, codeine, heroin, oxycodone etcetera. “Black powder” that was used by old China for festivity fireworks evolved into gunpowder. And so on and so forth. Science and technology of the West developed these as consumer products. China et al had the raw materials that the West needed until commercial expansionism, excessive capitalism, and unabated consumerism evolved into mass production. Yet when we get addicted, we blame the Chinese. 🩹🩺💊</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Time: “Inside Zelensky's Plan to Beat Putin's Propaganda in Russian-Occupied Ukraine.” The drama thrillers seem to punctuate this war. Nord Stream 2 bombing, grains deal sabotage, drone strikes in Moscow, Nova Kakohvka dam incident, and now Wagner Group’s failed coup? Collateral damage in body bags pile up and property rubbles litter. But who is really winning in the propaganda war? And how much taxpayer money the U.S. has already wasted in this war? 🇷🇺☮️🇺🇦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyUWYSljmcsXCDnP60V3aOUjDbBThJupmOyTPH4fyFFLqBz1Co1cH66H1Zw-wyRLDR7htpu-qrAxcmcTtjNN7YhoYJ6csKUlZOKptTqcE6UsCvcV9CijxjJydxXs-pieBMbGT312KyArn1LQbduk6bOXaiuFXi945YY6KUc6Gnd9Qd0fBoBgs-E4Sfk4/s1440/ukraine%20war.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1440" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyUWYSljmcsXCDnP60V3aOUjDbBThJupmOyTPH4fyFFLqBz1Co1cH66H1Zw-wyRLDR7htpu-qrAxcmcTtjNN7YhoYJ6csKUlZOKptTqcE6UsCvcV9CijxjJydxXs-pieBMbGT312KyArn1LQbduk6bOXaiuFXi945YY6KUc6Gnd9Qd0fBoBgs-E4Sfk4/s320/ukraine%20war.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/6vTw_6do04XrmJZWOYoExw~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmfm4QP0TaaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNy9idXNpbmVzcy9ncmVnLWd1dGZlbGQtZm94LW5ld3MuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjI4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MjA0Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM3ODI5JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZJEQ6Ztk7xhcKlIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How Fox News (Yes, Fox News) Managed to Beat ‘The Tonight Show’</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “Greg Gutfeld has installed his brand of insult conservatism as the institutional voice for the next generation of Fox News viewers..” Well, late night (talk) TV is all about insult vs. insult. Viewers seem to relish bad, dirty jousts. Yet Fox News remains as the most watched cable news network in the United States. MSNBC, second; CNN, third. Insult is also profitable. Wild, wild America. 🗣📺🙉</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">New York Times: “Days after the deadliest shipwreck in the Mediterranean in years, an E.U. official said that Greek authorities continue violating the rights of migrants.” According to UNHCR, annual deaths and missing since 2014 were estimated at 3,231. I think, more. Yet the answer to this tragedy isn’t asylum or inclusion. End of wars and continuous trade negotiations for common economic progress are. Which superpowers and regional alliances can do. 🏃♀️🛶🏃</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/6CImYy3lYBFaYKC0qIQ4NA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmcU8_P0TzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8xNy91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9iaWRlbi1zYXVkaS1hcmFiaWEtaXNyYWVsLXBhbGVzdGluZS1udWNsZWFyLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NTQzNSZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNjAyNCZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmR4P8qOZLQ1p4BSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biden Administration Engages in Long-Shot Attempt for Saudi-Israel Deal</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” White House is pressing an aggressive diplomatic effort as Riyadh makes significant demands in exchange for normalization “... including a nuclear deal and a robust U.S. security pact.” Hopeful here. China brokered a Saudi Arabia/Iran handshake. The U.S. takes the cue. But Riyadh has tough negotiating leverage. But peace is possible. That is, if Mr Joe doesn’t say anything untoward again. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Saudi Arabia and Israel have never established diplomatic relations. In 1947, Saudi Arabia voted against the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, which aimed to split the territory of British Palestine into an Arab state and a Jewish state. As of 2023, negotiations to establish diplomatic relations were ongoing. I concur with this initiative. 🇸🇦🇺🇸🇮🇱</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Time: “Japan Sends Male Minister to Lead G7 Meeting on Women's Empowerment.” Japan vaulted as the world's second largest economy (behind the U.S.) in 1968; in 1973, the nation was added to the group then known as “Group of Five.” Obvious reason. But Japan possesses a distinct cultural persona from its G7 pals. So Tokyo is expected to toe the line on issues such as women, war, politics etcetera to stay neutral, without alienating G7’s rival, BRICS. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoKMbDFBaK5CmL6bExeoPsoxmWiokmP-Iuh-wD4Hxb6uWHy9EKc6XLO33EISq_C7wRjwdgFNJrlw0Y2X0sfXkTsTALlvD5f-y1pgJhnuhqkXwszMkpjyeH-kl-zHAbmIGnig9froedAR_BQFs6jnoQonSCe1E35G03RNtABAhkFv7kOXZqiE8yyxUiFs/s384/japan3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="290" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoKMbDFBaK5CmL6bExeoPsoxmWiokmP-Iuh-wD4Hxb6uWHy9EKc6XLO33EISq_C7wRjwdgFNJrlw0Y2X0sfXkTsTALlvD5f-y1pgJhnuhqkXwszMkpjyeH-kl-zHAbmIGnig9froedAR_BQFs6jnoQonSCe1E35G03RNtABAhkFv7kOXZqiE8yyxUiFs/s320/japan3.jpg" width="242" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> In 1973, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank proposed the addition of Japan to the informal gathering of the world’s advanced economies (the U.S., U.K., West Germany, and France). The group was then known as the "Group of Five.” Later, Italy and the European Union were added. In 2010, China dislodged Japan as world’s #2. Then came BRICS (Brazil Russia India China South Africa). Meanwhile, China is Japan’s top trading partner. Almost 95 percent of Japan’s fuel is imported from Saudi Arabia, a BRICS buddy. 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/JjOAk61OCLv-8lc7wLvySQ~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmfm4QP0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNy91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9pcnMtb2ZmaWNpYWwtanVzdGljZS1kZXB0LWh1bnRlci1iaWRlbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTImZW1jPWVkaXRfdGhfMjAyMzA2MjgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTYyMDQmbmw9dG9kYXlzaGVhZGxpbmVzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9NjU2Nzk1ODcmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc4MjkmdXNlcl9pZD0zYzczNjFkNTY3ZTgwMjc5NGMxMjc0NzJlMWMzYzU1NVcDbnl0QgpkkRDpm2TvGFwqUhFwYXNja2llQHlhaG9vLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Competing Accounts of Justice Dept.’s Handling of Hunter Biden Case</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” Ah Washington primetime drama and political paradoxes. Trump was impeached for withholding military aid to Ukraine and his fervent call to investigate Hunter’s role in Kyiv’s natural gas industry. Meanwhile, President Biden throws billions$ of taxpayer money to Ukraine, hence war continues. Something’s weird here. Just weird. 🏦🗽🏦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> News adds: “An I.R.S. investigator’s testimony describing strains over the inquiry into President Biden’s son is at odds with the version laid out by Attorney General Merrick Garland.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/m4nd2F5QgUtN6dn7OEUkJA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRme8r_P0TZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNC91cy93b3JsZHMtdWdsaWVzdC1kb2ctY29udGVzdC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTImZW1jPWVkaXRfdGhfMjAyMzA2MjYmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTYwMjAmbmw9dG9kYXlzaGVhZGxpbmVzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9NjU2Nzk1ODcmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc2NDUmdXNlcl9pZD0zYzczNjFkNTY3ZTgwMjc5NGMxMjc0NzJlMWMzYzU1NVcDbnl0Qgpkkf9FmWToVVZUUhFwYXNja2llQHlhaG9vLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With Reversed Hind Legs and a Loose Tongue, a New Ugly Dog Champion Is Crowned</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” What hypocrisy! It is incorrect to call a human being ugly yet we frolic on a national contest about the ugliest dog? Is there such a thing as an ugly dog, or animal, oh really? “Ugly” pertains to humanity; not an animal fact. Besides, would you want to organize an “Ugliest Man, Ugliest Woman, or Ugliest LBTQI” contest? Do you want to be shamed forever? 🐕🐩🐕🦺</span></span></p>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-60548209599456898032024-03-15T11:42:00.000-07:002024-03-15T11:42:42.490-07:00MOMENTS in HISTORY, and Other Stuff.<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Previously posted on my Facebook Page.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">MOMENTS in HISTORY. The Great Purge, also known as the Year of '37, was </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Secretary_of_the_Communist_Party_of_the_Soviet_Union" style="font-family: georgia; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Soviet General Secretary</span></a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stalin" style="font-family: georgia; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Joseph Stalin</span></a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">'s campaign to solidify his power over the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_the_Soviet_Union" style="font-family: georgia; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Communist Party of the Soviet Union</span></a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> and the state; the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purge" style="font-family: georgia; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">purges</span></a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> were also designed to remove the remaining influence of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Trotsky" style="font-family: georgia; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Leon Trotsky</span></a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> as well as other prominent political rivals within the party. It occurred from August 1936 to March 1938. (Photo: CTTO.) 🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKtl8lC0PNp2gJCwUt_r1r5VhFplEDy-bgPTHkjDzr-6fCwyCBRrvggt0VaodxRVVDuAn4n6jKlRon5IrgMJldhXfsEtUcv2sws_Dw5wTPkdXM2kxsoPFqCs6-Dm4_vMUPz_ZEGsYGodiW36VWJONpcDt0ipGIG2IZJNeSO40mKIZ7HCPQ8xKl_Z4cXo/s1199/USED.stalins%20great%20purge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1199" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKtl8lC0PNp2gJCwUt_r1r5VhFplEDy-bgPTHkjDzr-6fCwyCBRrvggt0VaodxRVVDuAn4n6jKlRon5IrgMJldhXfsEtUcv2sws_Dw5wTPkdXM2kxsoPFqCs6-Dm4_vMUPz_ZEGsYGodiW36VWJONpcDt0ipGIG2IZJNeSO40mKIZ7HCPQ8xKl_Z4cXo/w400-h263/USED.stalins%20great%20purge.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FAMOUS MOMENTS. Woodstock. Music f</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_festival" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">estival</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> held from August 15–18, 1969 on </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Yasgur" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Max Yasgur</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">'s farm in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethel,_New_York" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bethel, New York</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which was 40 miles southwest of the town of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock,_New_York" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Woodstock</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The event attracted more than 400,000 attendees. The festival has become widely regarded as a pivotal moment in popular music history as well as a defining event for the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterculture_of_the_1960s" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">counterculture generation</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Woodstock inspired my Traveling Bonfires and “Bonfires for Peace” concert events. ☮️🎼☮️</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FAMOUS PEOPLE. Sacheen Littlefeather was booed at the Oscars in 1973 after she refused the best actor award on Marlon Brando's behalf in protest of Hollywood's depictions of Native Americans. Sacheen was born Maria Louise Cruz in 1946 (d. 2022) </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salinas,_California" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Salinas, California</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Ms Littlefeather repeatedly claimed that her father had </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Mountain_Apache" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">White Mountain Apache</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and Pascua </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaqui" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yaqui</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ancestry. Yet others claim she was of Spanish-Mexican ancestry. Her racial identity is still a mystery though. 📷📸📲</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyys7mwJUC-uxhcXRDtsGu0cEAK4JR5q5HGzZfAKWFTUSwzqgiUE8XeYqGUsTDRRJ6AcpiGv0zdQMy_6YEz4VaBvkeK39nq6LkmMYsfZn5V24DS6rSvorMfrcvdgExWeaEcfQu5azat4XeW2MEiI8vtUvLpbS1WO9vOAv3xwRSFRIr2XD1l3-6zopxhk/s2770/USED.DC%20March%201963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1559" data-original-width="2770" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyys7mwJUC-uxhcXRDtsGu0cEAK4JR5q5HGzZfAKWFTUSwzqgiUE8XeYqGUsTDRRJ6AcpiGv0zdQMy_6YEz4VaBvkeK39nq6LkmMYsfZn5V24DS6rSvorMfrcvdgExWeaEcfQu5azat4XeW2MEiI8vtUvLpbS1WO9vOAv3xwRSFRIr2XD1l3-6zopxhk/s320/USED.DC%20March%201963.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FAMOUS EVENTS. On 28 August 1963, an estimated 250,000 participants gathered for the March on Washington DC for Jobs and Freedom. The purpose of the march was to advocate for the civil and economic rights of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">African Americans</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. At the march, final speaker Dr. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Jr." style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Martin Luther King Jr.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, standing in front of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Memorial" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lincoln Memorial</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, delivered his historic "</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Have_a_Dream" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I Have a Dream</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">" speech in which he called for an end to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_the_United_States" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">racism</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. (Photo credit: Warren K. Leffler or Associated Press.) ☮️☮️☮️</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FAMOUS PLACES. Washington Square Park in the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwich_Village" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Greenwich Village</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> neighborhood in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York City</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The land was once divided by a narrow marshy valley through which </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minetta_Creek" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Minetta Creek</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ran. In the early 17th century, a Native American village known as </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapohanikan" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sapohanika</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">n was nearby. By the mid-17th century, the land on each side of the Minetta was used as farmland by the Dutch. The Dutch gave the land, then outside the city limits (Wall Street) to Angolan residents of the colony. 🗽⛲️🗽</span></span></p>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-74320623646984553572024-03-10T13:05:00.000-07:002024-03-10T13:05:40.125-07:00MY THOUGHTS on News. <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Previously posted on my Facebook Page.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/TqiidaJ1RQEddqAd0i_9Og~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmfRxqP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNi91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9iaWRlbi1lY29ub215LXZvdGVycy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTImZW1jPWVkaXRfdGhfMjAyMzA2MjcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTYxMDgmbmw9dG9kYXlzaGVhZGxpbmVzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9NjU2Nzk1ODcmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc3MzEmdXNlcl9pZD0zYzczNjFkNTY3ZTgwMjc5NGMxMjc0NzJlMWMzYzU1NVcDbnl0QgpkmmqXmmQF8hb9UhFwYXNja2llQHlhaG9vLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biden Expresses Confidence on the Economy. Voters May Be Skeptical.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” Ah. Here are the numbers. Prior to Joe Biden’s presidency and the coronavirus, GDP increased by an average of 2.3 percent annually from 2016 to 2019. When Biden took office, the annualized rate was 1.4 percent. Inflation peaked at 9.1 percent in June of last year; presently, 5+ percent. It was 2+ percent av before 2021. Price per gallon of gasoline? Google it. You want another 4 years of Joe? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkB0yAcVw6OQS7bX3LzmuaQDDpmLdQZo_p8QRMI0NiQlX_v9oSH_pEuNEHjjw9qceKBIxBib-aDyB0_53Z4tMZ6Tv5lL0lh8MyNCjCTTi-VfUXsF8vBm6a34ooRrXE6jesB66DkiPVLDPp1_Z1AYXphG5ty1oOP7RdoDqkyV-msXmJLixYO4jHytzz54/s1200/washington%20politics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1200" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkB0yAcVw6OQS7bX3LzmuaQDDpmLdQZo_p8QRMI0NiQlX_v9oSH_pEuNEHjjw9qceKBIxBib-aDyB0_53Z4tMZ6Tv5lL0lh8MyNCjCTTi-VfUXsF8vBm6a34ooRrXE6jesB66DkiPVLDPp1_Z1AYXphG5ty1oOP7RdoDqkyV-msXmJLixYO4jHytzz54/w400-h234/washington%20politics.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> News adds: “President Biden believes that focusing on the economy will help his campaign for a second term, despite inflation and high interest rates.” The cause of much of the high inflation, which began accelerating in 2021 and peaked last year, has been a rise in the price of energy that led to gasoline prices topping $5 a gallon nationally last summer. Although prices were rising from the recovery from coronavirus, they spiraled upward following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Yet Biden continues to support the war via a $113 billion Congress-approved aid to Ukraine, in favor of peace negotiations that could lead to end of armed hostilities. In fact, he even picks a fight with China with Taiwan as rationale. 🏦🗽🏦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Time: “China Says Biden Calling Xi a Dictator Is 'Provocation'.” What really is wrong with the President? Of course, China hit back after President Biden referred to President Xi Jinping as a "dictator,” saying the remarks were absurd and a provocation. Joe’s whacked snide (sic!) follows attempts by both sides to reduce friction. Now, it appears that Biden's comments could undermine the “progress” that was made by State Secretary Antony Blinken. (Photo credit: Reuters.) 🇺🇸☮️🇨🇳</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/0S9-BsZV0DyeX7UJ3mMg3A~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmfm4QP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNy93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvcHJpZ296aGluLXB1dGluLWx1a2FzaGVua28td2FnbmVyLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjIwNCZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNzgyOSZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmSREOmbZO8YXCpSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Putin Casts Mutiny as Proof of Solidity, as Belarus Opens Doors to Rebels</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “Belarus said it had taken in the mercenary boss Yevgeny V. Prigozhin and might welcome his Wagner troops, while Russia dropped a criminal investigation of him for the uprising.” The thing is, Prigozhin sought “refuge” in Belarus, a very close ally of Russia. If the guy escaped to London or New York City, then that’d easily tell us who paid Wagner Group for the failed coup. 🇧🇾☮️🇷🇺</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/lLPtUUVE-D7E7bQg69P0_A~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmYW8zP0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wNS9vcGluaW9uL3N1cHJlbWUtY291cnQtYW5keS13YXJob2wuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjA2Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk0MzE3Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM0Nzg1JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZHgz6n5kyuccN1IRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Supreme Court Is Wrong About Andy Warhol</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “The artist was never concerned about copyright. He cared more about the right to copy, as an artistic method and a design for living.” The right to copy as an artistic method? Laughably insane! And then he got famous? At the time of his death in 1987, Mr Warhol was worth $220 million. And counting to date. "Shot Sage Blue Marilyn," which is a Marilyn photo not his, fetched $195 million. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The Marilyn photo that Warhol used as basis for his previous </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silkscreen" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">silkscreen</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> painting “</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Diptych" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Marilyn Diptych</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” was a publicity photo from the 1953 film “Niagara.” Andy copied the photo in the weeks after Monroe's death in August 1962. Same photo became "Shot Sage Blue Marilyn.” 🏦🎨🏦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/IS9lgY2SAcAoaznAUCuHIg~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmYCI8P0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wMS9ueXJlZ2lvbi9hbGljZS1hdXN0ZW4taG91c2UtcXVlZXItZ2FyZGVuLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYwNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NDIyOCZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNDY5NCZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmR4PJ19ZOsGisBSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At This Staten Island Garden, the Plants Are All Queer</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “The Alice Austen House is celebrating the complicated and diverse sexuality of plants.” Uh huh. Also, a group of academics assign he/she/they to inanimate objects such as table, chair, book, spoon etcetera. Not the neuter it/its/itself. In modern Tagalog, we Filipinos call objects “s’ya” and not “ito” (for things). But “s`ya” is either male or female, which is also used to ID all genders. 👈🏝👉</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Time: “China Backs Russia's Actions to Maintain 'National Stability' After Wagner Group Revolt.” China favors peace and resumption of trade. Not a surprise. Yet if China is pulled into the fray and U.S./China trade breaks down? China would close its ports, as it did in the past. U.S. supplies of many products would run low, paralyzing a vast range of businesses. It would take a long time to restore the economy. Emergency rationing would be needed. Why do we have to go there? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0TMrINuj4xxWqXn8_n1B-Pi0Ph9sWCSOJRrCPpEMxM33dil-M1M0CGYXKCKJ_u3mT0FF7D6Sqv9zxWPluitXxE8uoUBmicRA3EtqtFUCsmUvzRqCKaly4Vvgcug_gmWjsF97Y4LzBbIiGx4lDvSpWNIVYOKANMQ7Fzkden5H638B1TWBVPLX0tchpm4/s800/china2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0TMrINuj4xxWqXn8_n1B-Pi0Ph9sWCSOJRrCPpEMxM33dil-M1M0CGYXKCKJ_u3mT0FF7D6Sqv9zxWPluitXxE8uoUBmicRA3EtqtFUCsmUvzRqCKaly4Vvgcug_gmWjsF97Y4LzBbIiGx4lDvSpWNIVYOKANMQ7Fzkden5H638B1TWBVPLX0tchpm4/s320/china2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Fact: China and Russia are members of BRICS, with Brazil, India, and South Africa. Fast-growing economies that emerged as 21st century strode in. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldman_Sachs" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Goldman Sachs</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> predicts that BRICS would collectively dominate the global economy by 2050. BRICS occupies about 26.7 percent of the world's land surface and 41.5 percent of the global population. Brazil, Russia, India, and China are among the world's ten </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">largest countries by population</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_area" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">area</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">GDP (PPP)</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and the latter three are widely considered </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potential_superpower" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">superpowers</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. ☮️☯️☮️</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Associated Press: “The head of the Wagner Group is defiant in his first audio statement after the rebellion.” / New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/z5N78de4V_vRgm05prt0iA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRme8r_P0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNS93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvcnVzc2lhLXdhci1wdXRpbi13YWduZXItcHJpZ296aGluLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYyNiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjAyMCZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNzY0NSZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmSR_0WZZOhVVlRSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Revolt Raises Searing Question: Could Putin Lose Power?</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” Many on Facebook favor a “regime change.” But then Russia is not Venezuela, Nigeria, or Myanmar. Russia isn’t the Soviet of old. Moscow is now a superpower with massive economic leverage and political influence. And it is a friend of China, Brazil, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> As in the classic case, sponsors of a coup d’etat line up alternative Kremlin leadership. That’d be a no brainer. But given Russia’s current role in global economics and political power play, such a transition wouldn’t be so cool with Moscow’s current allies. These allies are huge and powerful as well. ☮️☮️☮️</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/wLBQ9Ek0MqD2qOSCq7QeCA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmZrKzP0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wOC91cy9haS1jaGF0Ym90LXRlc3NhLWVhdGluZy1kaXNvcmRlcnMtYXNzb2NpYXRpb24uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjEwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk0Njk5Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM1MTg1JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZHizLYRkuVR-aVIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Wellness Chatbot Is Offline After Its ‘Harmful’ Focus on Weight Loss</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” The artificial intelligence tool, named Tessa, was presented by the National Eating Disorders Association as a way to discover coping skills. “But activists say it veered into problematic weight-loss advice.” I don’t really believe food and eating work around a singular scientific/wellness measure. But certainly, Tessa The Influencer will sell what the corporate boss says. 🤖🍎🤖</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Time: “How to Talk to Your Kids About Gender.” Many blame religion or Christianity for anything old-school, conservative, or naturally primal. Why is that? I am not religious. But how to talk to kids about gender? Linear: Male, female. But in case they evolve into or identify with LBTIQA+ (which I don’t even know what is, honestly) let it be. Just be happy. But must I alter my beliefs as support to them? Nope. I am happy as I am, they are happy as they are. Then we can all play Uno. 🫤😑🙄</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Smithsonian: “What Did the Ancient Romans Smell Like?” And adds: “Scientists have analyzed the composition of a 2,000-year-old perfume unearthed in Carmona, Spain.” Per historical coolness, I bet the cost of that perfume when developed by Chanel or Dior would rival Shumukh by Nabeel ($1.5 million) and Golden Delicious by DKNY ($1 million). Anything for the rich. Don’t be surprised to read later the smell of dinosaurs or Viking warriors–as lotion and deodorants. 👃💋👃</span></span></p>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-23379351241464992812024-02-24T10:19:00.000-08:002024-02-24T10:19:59.952-08:00DISCUSSION (from my comment/s to a friend who expressed disgust over the US' current state).<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Previously posted on my Facebook page.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">APPARENTLY, the (political) system is flawed and needs to be amended. It worked in the past but it doesn't mean it will work in the present—due to obvious huge upheavals in the way Americans/people live or pursue their respective happiness... The world around us is also changing majorly. China isn't sleeping anymore as in the time of FDR's New Deal. Russia is the #1 producer of crude oil, not the US/UK-controlled Saudi Arabia. Normally, as history attests, revolution spews out of huge frustration by the citizenry—but I don't think revolution is going to happen in the very near future in America.</span> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwSIDqZuLZGRW8nINUgka6rq1rOG-fmCSkiR1ImgsBZia5oZ1iMcnybQ0bW6q-eEIR-W1WOrndirGB5P0ZSItlmJ8O3EV-kD2xS0k8OdgmlnsuNFCJTTFbsJPwdtVniR-_u-KuRBSBPURFWlT8Bnaf7DOLe30xAMlwWB75KHxRBgW92r6lgB__7xieCg/s597/abuse%20of%20free%20speech.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="597" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwSIDqZuLZGRW8nINUgka6rq1rOG-fmCSkiR1ImgsBZia5oZ1iMcnybQ0bW6q-eEIR-W1WOrndirGB5P0ZSItlmJ8O3EV-kD2xS0k8OdgmlnsuNFCJTTFbsJPwdtVniR-_u-KuRBSBPURFWlT8Bnaf7DOLe30xAMlwWB75KHxRBgW92r6lgB__7xieCg/w400-h223/abuse%20of%20free%20speech.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> People are so into their own individual wants and needs, plus sectoral/gender politics/faith-based polarities etc, to care about old-school bonding as tactical alliance to bring down power (think Bolsheviks, French Revolution, coup de etats in Southeast Asia, Fidel/Che vs Batista, even Tiananmen Square Revolt). I mean, we will fight more about bathroom rights than employment opportunities. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> One semblance of revolutionary outburst was the Occupy Movement. Yet it was more of a leaderless rainbow gathering, a drum circle, a protest camp with abstract demands—that'll go pfft once snow comes in. I was in Zuccotti Park in Wall Street for a week. “Occupiers” didn't even groundwork residential or business supporters in re basic needs ex. bathroom exigencies. Piss on a side of a building, cops will pounce on you. Who made them exist till they gave up? MacDonald's across the street which opened 24/7 to attend to their needs. The One Percent. Zuccotti Park is owned by a One Percenter real estate company. Protesters were there till they get tired with the show. Is that revolution at all? It was a field trip. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> What people should do, given the flawed governmental workings, is to look beyond elections and don't stop lobbying, protesting, educating communities, nonstop—and then hope to influence committee hearings, city council rules and laws, get the activists to get off the cellphones and iPads and get out there and do something more tangible and real. Just be real and realistic. Educate the people on realistic terms. We are not in Nicaragua or Nigeria. We are in the US, the universe's most powerful nation where the global One Percent ensure as a playground and theater for all their domination designs. They're not going to budge just because a fraction of us want to.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Yet I do believe that no matter how we think that we have installed a most deserving President, without utmost and vigilant support from his/her constituents, such an administration or government is still bound to fail. It's all about us, the people. 🗽🏦🗽</span></p><div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-47590054761321280132024-02-18T11:25:00.000-08:002024-02-18T11:25:48.803-08:00MY THOUGHTS on the News.<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Previously posted on my Facebook Page.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/Lw0OeH0x67Q9wvyINjelzA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmeSe5P0T0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yMy91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9nYXJsYW5kLWlycy13ZWlzcy1odW50ZXItYmlkZW4taW52ZXN0aWdhdGlvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTImZW1jPWVkaXRfdGhfMjAyMzA2MjQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTU5MjEmbmw9dG9kYXlzaGVhZGxpbmVzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9NjU2Nzk1ODcmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc0MDUmdXNlcl9pZD0zYzczNjFkNTY3ZTgwMjc5NGMxMjc0NzJlMWMzYzU1NVcDbnl0QgpkkbmilmToTKzSUhFwYXNja2llQHlhaG9vLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Garland Pushes Back at G.O.P. Claims of Bias in Hunter Biden Investigation</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” / Rolling Stone: “Fox Host Claims Biden Admin Is 'Drumming Up the Drama' in Russia to Distract from Hunter Biden.” Sans drama, I’d prefer that the Ukraine story that led to Trump’s impeachment in 2019 be brought back, esp. amidst Biden’s all-out military support of Kyiv’s leadership vis a vis Volodymyr Zelensky’s corruption murk pre-Russian invasion. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqnfhdeLcM33hRMdVzMV1nwuaQdMtpF92Mrf6-BbAimcJ7Bc0sTIoISHqLgiCCV7IQPtqos5VEQLe50aG3FFq36no4v40UwGhD1a_HNXC93O6KhsInZNAgiPE9EjgNkaVg59OwsgpFJDjGsvnr6bqmz_jOoJtiFBDteXhktRbudF8FEiCxN7MFvsUSsU/s1200/washington%20politics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1200" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqnfhdeLcM33hRMdVzMV1nwuaQdMtpF92Mrf6-BbAimcJ7Bc0sTIoISHqLgiCCV7IQPtqos5VEQLe50aG3FFq36no4v40UwGhD1a_HNXC93O6KhsInZNAgiPE9EjgNkaVg59OwsgpFJDjGsvnr6bqmz_jOoJtiFBDteXhktRbudF8FEiCxN7MFvsUSsU/w400-h234/washington%20politics.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> NY Times adds: “The attorney general denied assertions that he had interfered with the case and blocked a prosecutor from lodging more charges.” And adds in another column piece: “It isn’t about presidential corruption but a determined parent battling his son’s addiction with unconditional love.” Oh well. So let’s make a Netflix series now? 🏦🗽🏦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/qGnvQbEVasYuznRxu8_hYA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmZrKzP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wOC9idXNpbmVzcy9sb3Vpc2lhbmEtY29uc2VudC1taW5vcnMtb25saW5lLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYxMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NDY5OSZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNTE4NSZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmR4sy2EZLlUfmlSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Louisiana Passes Bill That Would Require Parental Consent for Kids’ Online Accounts</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “The measure would allow parents to cancel the contracts underlying their children’s accounts on sites.” I second the motion. While TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat entice 6 in 10 teens the most, other “youth” platforms such as </span><a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/groupme" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">GroupMe</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/kik-messenger" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kik</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/whatsapp-messenger" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WhatsApp</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Discord, </span><a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Houseparty, </span></a><a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/liveme-live-video-chat" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Live.me, </span></a><a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/younow-broadcast-chat-and-watch-live-video" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouNow, </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whisper, Meet.me, Omegle, and many more proliferate online. 📱👶📲</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/cLOhzp5kQDVthyvs0k3Q4Q~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmZrKzP0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wOC9idXNpbmVzcy9raGFuLWFpLWdwdC10dXRvcmluZy1ib3QuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjEwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk0Njk5Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM1MTg1JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZHizLYRkuVR-aVIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New A.I. Chatbot Tutors Could Upend Student Learning</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” A new study published in Neuroscience News says students expressed positive views toward AI tools like ChatGPT. They credit these tools for improving academic writing and overall language skills. Expected that we’d get studies or news of this sort to justify AI’s marketing in schools, and sure, it’d make students work easier. Absolutely. I don’t think that’s education per se though. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> News adds: “Proponents see the tools as a way to automatically customize academic support. They could also make children test subjects for A.I. experiments.” Might as well bring an AI to parent children. Fact is, many will agree to that. That’s how lost, confused, and spaced-out humanity is these days. 📱🤖📲</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/TfwG4QgDGh61_R2kKWgwhw~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmaqeQP0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8xMi9idXNpbmVzcy9tZWRpYS9nb2xkZW4tZ2xvYmVzLXNhbGUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjEzJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk0ODk1Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM1NDA1JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZHiQIohk3lGAvlIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Golden Globes Are Sold</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” After a series of ethics, finance and diversity scandals, the embattled awards show will continue but the </span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/TfwG4QgDGh61_R2kKWgwhw~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmaqeQP0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8xMi9idXNpbmVzcy9tZWRpYS9nb2xkZW4tZ2xvYmVzLXNhbGUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjEzJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk0ODk1Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM1NDA1JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZHiQIohk3lGAvlIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hollywood Foreign Press</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that was behind it for decades will not. Awards add flair and excitement to cinema work but the glittered fanfare (sic!) is now inundated with self-righteous yarns, contrived “equality” moralism, and color-coded confections. Might as well sell out to Amazon, Tyson Foods, or BlackRock. Uh huh. 🎭🏆🎭</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpGHBu9D-qnZ68XVmZMsljKwPwDH2F1AnWry2SRw2XXDvj01y2JF34mrYhJpPeE4PMf-Fx-oSML5Rd6ZoRRB9LUWZxodfDnzUNFopl054imSoywKi0kvcq2ukuo85aG1yKLavp0NY0WFWv-4iFuvlXsThh8Z9wlPd3Q0HvJj7rHIeoSSEr015UJHTDRA/s640/golden%20globes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpGHBu9D-qnZ68XVmZMsljKwPwDH2F1AnWry2SRw2XXDvj01y2JF34mrYhJpPeE4PMf-Fx-oSML5Rd6ZoRRB9LUWZxodfDnzUNFopl054imSoywKi0kvcq2ukuo85aG1yKLavp0NY0WFWv-4iFuvlXsThh8Z9wlPd3Q0HvJj7rHIeoSSEr015UJHTDRA/s320/golden%20globes.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/OJa6ZkrSdnSExyos1x4qkQ~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmenlOP0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yMy9zdHlsZS9uYmEtZHJhZnQtYmVzdC1kcmVzc2VkLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYyNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NTk4MCZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNzU5NCZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmSRTvSXZNQrtMxSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who Won the N.B.A. Draft Fashion Game?</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” And adds: “Tailoring, bling and Louis Vuitton, oh my.” Draft night was hot with the get-up! NBA stars are now fashion moguls. Serge Ibaka, P.J. Tucker, Chris Paul, and of course Russell Westbrook and his “Honor The Gift” clothing line. Fun investments over splurges on yacht parties, booze, drugs. Fashion is cool though I may not dig some of the gaudiness, sequined blazers, and bombastic blings. 🏀🕶🏀</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/sSOosG_sh9obICINzKleJQ~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmcU8_P0TiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8xNy91cy9wb2xpdGljcy90cnVtcC1yYW1hc3dhbXktaW5kaWN0bWVudC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTImZW1jPWVkaXRfdGhfMjAyMzA2MTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTU0MzUmbmw9dG9kYXlzaGVhZGxpbmVzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9NjU2Nzk1ODcmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzYwMjQmdXNlcl9pZD0zYzczNjFkNTY3ZTgwMjc5NGMxMjc0NzJlMWMzYzU1NVcDbnl0QgpkeD_KjmS0NaeAUhFwYXNja2llQHlhaG9vLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Long-Shot Candidate’s Defense of Trump Could Undermine the Rule of Law</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” The Times op-ed: “A weak candidacy but serious ideological development on the right.” Regardless of Donald Trump, 37-year old venture capitalist </span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/ZosmJUhsRZXhylZmsf0nsw~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmeSe5P0TiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yMy9vcGluaW9uL3ZpdmVrLXJhbWFzd2FteS0yMDI0LXByZXNpZGVudC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTImZW1jPWVkaXRfdGhfMjAyMzA2MjQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTU5MjEmbmw9dG9kYXlzaGVhZGxpbmVzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9NjU2Nzk1ODcmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc0MDUmdXNlcl9pZD0zYzczNjFkNTY3ZTgwMjc5NGMxMjc0NzJlMWMzYzU1NVcDbnl0QgpkkbmilmToTKzSUhFwYXNja2llQHlhaG9vLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vivek Ramaswamy</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a sleeper bet. Yet I concur with some of his thoughts. Vivek bats to secure the southern border against illegal immigration. That is neither Left or Right. His voice in the Primary already means a lot. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The Ohio-born of Indian (Kerala) lineage Vivek champions a merit-based system of immigration, which supports scrapping lottery-based immigration. News adds: “Vivek Ramaswamy is the lone Republican rival of Donald Trump to wholeheartedly claim the federal indictment is a Democratic attempt to jail the political opposition.” 🏦🗽🏦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/56Kb5XpyLM5jXcix3fK9yA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmc-GpP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8xOS91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9yZmstanItYmlkZW4tZGVtb2NyYXRzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYyMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NTUzNiZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNjE0NyZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmR4qVyRZMPt1b5SEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why Robert Kennedy Jr.’s 2024 Bid Is a Headache for Biden</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “The unexpected polling strength of an anti-vaccine activist with a celebrated Democratic lineage points to the president’s weaknesses, which his team is aiming to shore up.” RFK Jr.’s platform cuts across the divide and could win thumbs-up from Center Right. But some of his musings are whacked. Rolling Stone: “RFK Jr. Claims China and the US Are Developing Race-Based Bioweapons.” </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Race-Based Bioweapons: An ethnic bioweapon (or a biogenetic weapon) is a hypothetical type of bioweapon which could preferentially target people of specific ethnicities or people with specific genotypes. 🏦🗽🏦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">New York Times: “Dozens of Democratic officials nearly all agreed that Donald Trump deserved his latest indictment, but were far more divided over whether the case was good for the country.” Trump is a creation of U.S. partisanship politics and culture war. Whatever decision Law imposes on him, that’d only divide the world because he isn’t really disliked by the other side. China favors his dovish foreign policy, and he’s friends with powers Russia, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> As Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban said, the war in Ukraine wouldn’t be happening if Trump was still president. In a speech last month, he cried: “Come back, Mr. President! Make America great again, and bring us peace!” 🏦🗽🏦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz78rYS4nUujFwVjEDXovk04Q4YrDXFbNh50VU_H_MfUJ8CSgMgLdWxuPG3CkqnK4hqL8V3orlBHehhkXxo6rUtqNzuM84jbFBfYziiANNwNuuYOX_8HH7hel0kj2JC4HuIet8NuIlPNxV27wvwJTSmjkW-deMKrZvFs1_H9zB9WcDlbgBRHQ6VwpCUUk/s1024/trump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="894" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz78rYS4nUujFwVjEDXovk04Q4YrDXFbNh50VU_H_MfUJ8CSgMgLdWxuPG3CkqnK4hqL8V3orlBHehhkXxo6rUtqNzuM84jbFBfYziiANNwNuuYOX_8HH7hel0kj2JC4HuIet8NuIlPNxV27wvwJTSmjkW-deMKrZvFs1_H9zB9WcDlbgBRHQ6VwpCUUk/w174-h200/trump.jpg" width="174" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/U2d70q2Pt9L8NdwtYyP-JQ~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmYCI8P0TbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wNC9vcGluaW9uL2VpbnN0ZWluLWRpc2luZm9ybWF0aW9uLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYwNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NDIyOCZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNDY5NCZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmR4PJ19ZOsGisBSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Einstein and a Theory of Disinformation</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “Time is relative depending on your frame of reference. Maybe truth is too?” We gotta break this treatise into common English, right? Theory of Disinformation? Do we need to “theorize” fake news or misleading narratives? High-falutin’ academic liberals toss us magnificent wordage to justify the influencing tact or rebranding of common human sense. When it’s all about? Power goals or aims to dominate. 😒😟🤨</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Rolling Stone: “Why the NBA Is Losing Its Mind Over Victor Wembanyama.” Of course, that is sportswriting hyperbole or </span><a href="https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sxsrf=APwXEdcTGqZHzHpHmgzwkWZoa1_OOTEPQA:1687559393147&q=exaggerated&si=AMnBZoG9fGMZkoPgk-g4eVoaZFdE1rM5Nfx76jKvaOzUJQfEH5zqt7yKX97vF3kFNyCJbJ7ovwUWN7eVC_hZkxZu4-Z8jaeJqw86-eNx3TfIzkeFOxNWWIE%3D&expnd=1" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">exaggerated</span></a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> statement or claim not meant to be taken literally. The 19-year old Wemby is fine but not spectacular. And NBA contest is not for the frail, softy, or cocky. Victor isn’t those. But we still gotta see how he fares versus the nastiest, deadliest, and roughest in American pro basketball. Yet the young Frenchman is a cool reason to eagerly await October. 🏀⛹️🏀</span></span></p>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-76797696542869345602024-02-09T11:04:00.000-08:002024-02-09T11:04:37.464-08:00MY THOUGHTS About News and Stuff. <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Previously posted on my Facebook Page.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Time: “Indian Prime Minister Modi's Visit to Washington Is His Most Important So Far.” Per geopolitical power measure, India has the upper hand. Regardless of Covid and Ukraine War, India had the highest economic growth, 7+ percent, among large economies in the last 3 years. India is second to China in labor force, owns enormous supply of pertinent raw materials/minerals + a huge consumer market as 2nd most populous country on earth. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQn7r5KS-U0lfDmHtsgYqaV8ltfVcZt6Bla4AJv8iJKaezuJ52IdfZooMwYSorojcwBrF7iwKrePR9jNvSedUQzmUsPCb8-jhg43VNrDswdNW_0tU5VofN7Y_yda2_UtX8dbaK_GZtHko1SqQ5scFAY578g9q9APCT_LwVNCLv88YzXsNUsbO_iba-Vj8/s1200/india1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQn7r5KS-U0lfDmHtsgYqaV8ltfVcZt6Bla4AJv8iJKaezuJ52IdfZooMwYSorojcwBrF7iwKrePR9jNvSedUQzmUsPCb8-jhg43VNrDswdNW_0tU5VofN7Y_yda2_UtX8dbaK_GZtHko1SqQ5scFAY578g9q9APCT_LwVNCLv88YzXsNUsbO_iba-Vj8/w400-h223/india1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Also: India is BRICS partner of China and Russia, and other giant emerging markets/economies Brazil and South Africa. But India is not a member of the 15-nation RCEP trade bloc, with China as de facto leader. So the U.S. may directly negotiate with Narendra Modi on stuff. But the Prime Minister is not easy, he is a hardball negotiator. 🇮🇳😎🇺🇸</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/3k2QhMK7snDBgITMdQ77PA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmdTMnP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yMC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9odW50ZXItYmlkZW4tcGxlYS1kZWFsLXRheC1jaGFyZ2VzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYyMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NTYyOCZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNjI2MiZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmSRJ66SZN7U-L9SEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hunter Biden Reaches Deal to Plead Guilty to Misdemeanor Tax Charges</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” Under a deal with the DOJ, Hunter agreed to probation for filing his taxes late, and “...he can avoid a charge that he lied about his drug use when he purchased a handgun.” I am more interested in Hunter’s life with Ukraine’s natural gas giant </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burisma_Holdings" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Burisma Holdings</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. And why the fantastic support for Kyiv’s war with Moscow instead of dad Joe brokering peace, instead. 🏦🗽🏦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rolling Stone: “Majority of American Voters Shrug at Trump Indictment. 53 Percent Want Him Pardoned If Convicted.” Most federal criminal defendants in the U.S. faced offenses related to drug, immigration, firearms and explosives, and property. Not those against Trump. Of course, he is not a typical federal defendant. He is the first former president ever to face federal criminal charges and is running for president again in 2024. Ah Hollywood, Washington drama. 🗽🇺🇸🗽</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/2OswO_MdzRD5bm8SaVvLsg~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmZA_jP0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wNy9idXNpbmVzcy9lY29ub215L2RlYnQtY2VpbGluZy1ib3Jyb3dpbmctYmluZ2UuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjA4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk0NDk4Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM0OTgwJnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZHjjioFk1fzWG1IRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A $1 Trillion Borrowing Binge Looms After Debt Limit Standoff</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” Weird, isn't it? Lawmakers agreed per debt limit decision, only to start borrowing again! But then, “debt” is complex. Let's talk of highly-indebted Japan, with a debt of 221 percent of GDP. Yet Japan is still #3 top global economy. But Japan's inflation rate is 3.2 percent and unemployment at 2.60 percent. U.S. inflation is 5 percent; unemployment, 3.7 percent. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMxj7Z8h9PJevO3q51oAh49oxjVQw2MsZRUiztA8VAd5rSfLF2pcgw84aYtwaMm14V21GCKDEWZQmPGoPyLTGLi5PFDqMtdr6_tlxB9aK6fsdVgkVp-IRg3QAyRRS_paGe2duEgnzVXXcZZXAZ0tx9WncR1_sqxrb0rrDKReEyqYFKSVzR4ZndKE270o/s1000/US%20economy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="1000" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMxj7Z8h9PJevO3q51oAh49oxjVQw2MsZRUiztA8VAd5rSfLF2pcgw84aYtwaMm14V21GCKDEWZQmPGoPyLTGLi5PFDqMtdr6_tlxB9aK6fsdVgkVp-IRg3QAyRRS_paGe2duEgnzVXXcZZXAZ0tx9WncR1_sqxrb0rrDKReEyqYFKSVzR4ZndKE270o/s320/US%20economy.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The U.S. is still world’s #1 economy and so while China stays at #2, America must ponder deep. Washington needs to lose the high-handed hawkish/military mojo and think economics. As does Tokyo, and of course, Beijing. Or be pulled down to #2. 💸🤌💸</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “Analysts said Russia and Saudi Arabia’s mutual need to keep energy prices high would help them maintain close ties, despite signs that Moscow has undercut previous deals.” Not new. Russia was the first country to establish full diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. These days: The two countries account for a quarter of the world's </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crude_oil" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">crude oil</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_oil_production" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">production.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> However, the Moscow-Riyadh pact pales in comparison to Saudi arms contracts with the U.S. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The Russia (or Soviet Union then) and Saudi Arabia relations began in 1926 as a means for Moscow to stand up to the U.K. Apparently, their main adversity these days is the United States. And then, there’s China, the world’s top oil client, but aligned with Moscow and Riyadh. 🇷🇺⛽️🇸🇦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/5gPzNbsiLJ5vvgVCyUtiHg~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmc-GpP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8xOC93b3JsZC9hc2lhL2JsaW5rZW4tY2hpbmEteGktZGlwbG9tYWN5Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYyMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NTUzNiZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNjE0NyZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmR4qVyRZMPt1b5SEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blinken Meets Xi as China and the U.S. Try to Rein in Tensions</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “The talks pave the way for a possible Biden-Xi meeting.” Didn’t China broker peace, especially between longtime rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, while the U.S. was busy dissing Beijing per Taiwan etcetera? Yet the competition or endgame is all economics. Not military machismo. So why do the U.S. and Europe lose the arms aid to Kyiv and start negotiating peace with Russia?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> News adds: “U.S. diplomats visited Beijing to try to ensure that competition `does not veer into conflict.’” It’s all economics. Let’s face it, China or Beijing’s BRICS partners (including Russia and India) own the strongest trade leverage these days: Labor force/manufacturing, supply of raw materials and pertinent minerals, energy/fuel sales (Russia and buddy Saudi Arabia/OPEC), and must we talk of RCEP trade bloc? 🇺🇸☮️🇨🇳</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/LLRiTD0qRiCkt1Z94HMpow~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmb-1XP0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8xNi9idXNpbmVzcy9tZWRpYS90dWNrZXItY2FybHNvbi1wcm9kdWNlcnMtbGVhdmUtZm94Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NTM3NiZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNTk2OCZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmR4V2iNZLll_wtSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two Former Tucker Carlson Producers Exit Fox News</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “The departures are the latest fallout since the network sidelined Mr. Carlson in April.” The Murdoch Kingdom is embroiled in a “Succession”-level internal tempest. Current Fox News CEO is Suzanne Scott, who was installed by Lachlan Murdoch as the first (Fox) female CEO to rival Rashida Jones* of MSNBC. Lachlan is ultra Right but wickedly business-minded. James? Elisabeth? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8MrcIGdB9yvKMo_8Wpc-uM5afl_mv29vKOD-aWNWfSs6E7BHbXHkpnz7wSvKT5PMnqyMeEbazXn9Vezy_89-hFeE3TWrUhTBf6okh4HguhuqYlvNdkybGQrjYuXtfc5u6jtM2E7HdUXt6zrlcAn6itnR5N39GLi__ySwcZgQ8Ie27KWFiUhuzGChF8U/s1024/fox%20news.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1024" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8MrcIGdB9yvKMo_8Wpc-uM5afl_mv29vKOD-aWNWfSs6E7BHbXHkpnz7wSvKT5PMnqyMeEbazXn9Vezy_89-hFeE3TWrUhTBf6okh4HguhuqYlvNdkybGQrjYuXtfc5u6jtM2E7HdUXt6zrlcAn6itnR5N39GLi__ySwcZgQ8Ie27KWFiUhuzGChF8U/s320/fox%20news.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Lachlan is viewed as far more personally conservative than his father, who at times prioritized the finances and political influence of his media outlets rather than their ideology. The younger James is known to donate to Democratic causes. Elisabeth’s politics tends to go liberal. Or is Rupert still in control? So when top draw Tucker Carlson was eased out, we don’t really know who masterminded it, as we head to 2024 election, with Donald Trump up and running. Of course the old Murdoch backed the beleaguered but Republican frontrunner ex-prez. Suzanne Scott, along with </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Wallace_(journalist)" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jay Wallace</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jack_Abernethy&action=edit&redlink=1" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jack Abernethy, took over Fox after Roger Ailes left in 2016. The disgraced Ailes, who loved Trump, was a Rupert gamble. (Note: Rashida Jones, not the actress.)</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 📺🗣📺</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/pateYhmpkifz2fA9vGIPVw~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmaqeQP0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8xMi93b3JsZC9taWRkbGVlYXN0L3NhdWRpLWNoaW5hLWludmVzdG1lbnQtZm9ydW0uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjEzJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk0ODk1Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM1NDA1JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZHiQIohk3lGAvlIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saudi Arabia and China Flaunt Growing Ties at Investment Forum</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” The kingdom hosted a lavish Arab-China business conference days after a visit from the U.S. secretary of state, inviting companies blacklisted by Washington. Sanctions don't work anymore. Negotiations and compromises result in better global dynamics. Geopolitical power is now balanced between West and East. So “rogue” nations are welcomed by other giants such as China and Saudi Arabia. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Meanwhile, trade between China and Saudi Arabia has been exponentially spiking. Riyadh's trade with Beijing: $87.3 billion against $25.1 billion with Washington. China and Saudi Arabia are close and strategic allies and have been increasing cooperation in the energy and financial sectors, the Belt and Road Initiative, and have signed numerous deals across several areas.</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jack_Abernethy&action=edit&redlink=1" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">🇨🇳🇸🇦🇺🇸</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/OWv7KpCdb4IAzlAyby7gUw~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRma_jlP0TaaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8xNC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9iaWRlbi1uYXRvLXVrcmFpbmUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjE0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk0OTg2Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM1NTAxJnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZHflc4lkyTc0GFIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Allies Pressure Biden to Hasten NATO Membership for Ukraine</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “Some members of the military alliance want to set a timetable for Ukraine to join, though only after the war is no longer raging.” So what is the point then? The Warsaw Pact ended in 1991 as the Cold War closed, alongside USSR's dissolution. NATO and the Warsaw Pact were ideologically opposed. Would have been logical that NATO ended as well or at least stopped expansion. Nope. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqW_pl6i7WgIQQ7TDw7IgSm15UkR0x-ilpY_W3HlHKlsgS1Wm2IN6h91r8Jstj3BEKz8C2DOsqbkPNiNqFqu928lieI7XhyphenhyphenR8_vJcEBdY92Rz-uM5smVeBMHZR4g3ocIKxS88wB93Y7bejgTCBKxdV8w33G0nvtn4qTk8Ca2LcotvMZg9ay4JhvYcbiE/s5316/NATO1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3721" data-original-width="5316" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqW_pl6i7WgIQQ7TDw7IgSm15UkR0x-ilpY_W3HlHKlsgS1Wm2IN6h91r8Jstj3BEKz8C2DOsqbkPNiNqFqu928lieI7XhyphenhyphenR8_vJcEBdY92Rz-uM5smVeBMHZR4g3ocIKxS88wB93Y7bejgTCBKxdV8w33G0nvtn4qTk8Ca2LcotvMZg9ay4JhvYcbiE/s320/NATO1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> NATO was formed in 1949. The Warsaw Pact was signed in 1955 in Poland between the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Soviet Union</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and seven other </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Bloc" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eastern Bloc</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_socialist_states" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">socialist republics</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. NATO and Warsaw Pact built up their own defenses and started an arms race then. But WP was over long time ago. Yet NATO continued to expand. The Ukraine War isn't linear as “evil country invades weaker country.” Agreements were ignored in pursuit of greater economic leverage and political supremacy. ☮️☮️☮️</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Time: “Why Everyone Is Having Bad Sex (Especially Young People).” First, we gotta ask young people what is sex to them. Interviewed by AP, an 18-year old high schooler who identifies as LGBTQ, offers: “Honestly, that question is a little laughable. There’s probably a lot of teenagers who are like, ‘No, I’ve never had sexual intercourse, but I’ve had other kinds of sex.’” Another survey says 30 percent of teens in 2021 reported having sex. Or do they call it “sex,” anyways? 😏😒😟</span></span></p>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-56048454895495168352024-01-21T13:02:00.000-08:002024-01-21T13:04:17.860-08:00MY THOUGHTS About News and Stuff. <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Previously posted on my Facebook Page.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">New York Times: “In Legal Peril, Trump Tries to Shift the Spotlight to Biden.” Still confounds me. An ex-President kept top secret documents in his house. Unlawful, unconstitutional. Yet I also assume that heads of state are aware of sensitive government materials. Docs that hackers easily get access to. Then let’s align this with $113 billion in aid or taxpayer money to another head of state whose gargantuan corruption was massively documented. No basis of comparison.</span> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQYYljVOFLctlVSMwc_W40kUkmmbjCj8JUwUKqH_ONgekVoJvhajFWrzxpAcOcNfCQwLaF8Y-Q6fLCdjj6RDYwUCcHJBOEct4B1SFUZIAlcA2WdwEZvX13o4TDzIFbk1L9GwQIl33IlXHjry3TgQN6jSoj1gxsbpBvJeRSf8rl0FOYYOSwAdZATJ8iuM/s1200/washington%20politics.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1200" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQYYljVOFLctlVSMwc_W40kUkmmbjCj8JUwUKqH_ONgekVoJvhajFWrzxpAcOcNfCQwLaF8Y-Q6fLCdjj6RDYwUCcHJBOEct4B1SFUZIAlcA2WdwEZvX13o4TDzIFbk1L9GwQIl33IlXHjry3TgQN6jSoj1gxsbpBvJeRSf8rl0FOYYOSwAdZATJ8iuM/w400-h234/washington%20politics.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> News adds: “Donald J. Trump, who is under indictment, is trying to undermine the American justice system by lashing out at his successor.” If only Mr Trump is able to speak his mind in calm coolness (sic) but that ain’t his mojo. Anyhow, I can also talk of other issues, mostly foreign policy, that shudder America’s once-vaunted stature as world’s most powerful due to President Biden’s risky hawkish playbook. 🏦🗽🏦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">New York Times: “Hoping to Avert Nuclear Crisis, U.S. Seeks Informal Agreement With Iran.” The talks reflect a resumption of diplomacy between Washington and Tehran after the collapse of negotiations to restore the 2015 nuclear deal.” If we really want to avert a nuclear crisis, why don’t we instead end the Ukraine war via peace negotiations? Stop the supply of arms to Ukraine. Russia, like the U.S., has more than 5,000 nuclear warheads, with 1,600+ deployed. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Other countries with nuclear weapons, aside from the United States and Russia: China, The U.K., France, North Korea, India, Pakistan, and Israel. China has 410 nuclear warheads but none has been deployed. Russia, China, and Iran are political buddies and business partners. ☮️☮️☮️</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/hsZ-Z6mO7qE4V-HRwzNkOA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmZA_jP0TZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wNy9ueXJlZ2lvbi9lcmljLWFkYW1zLWFwYXJ0bWVudC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTImZW1jPWVkaXRfdGhfMjAyMzA2MDgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTQ0OTgmbmw9dG9kYXlzaGVhZGxpbmVzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9NjU2Nzk1ODcmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzQ5ODAmdXNlcl9pZD0zYzczNjFkNTY3ZTgwMjc5NGMxMjc0NzJlMWMzYzU1NVcDbnl0QgpkeOOKgWTV_NYbUhFwYXNja2llQHlhaG9vLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mayor Adams and the Brooklyn Apartment He Just Can’t Quit</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “Despite Mayor Eric Adams’s multiple claims that he had sold an apartment to an ex-girlfriend, he filed financial disclosure forms showing he still owns it.” Wazzup, New York? Adams’ mishaps don’t seem to end. Gov. Kathy Hochul allegedly used her power to advance hubby’s business agenda. It’d seem the lying shenanigans of Rep. George Santos are mere intermission fodders. AOC? She only works when her mouth works. 🗽🗽🗽</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Time: “7 Ways to Get Better at Small Talk—And Why You Should.” Small talk, p</span><a href="https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&hl=en&sxsrf=APwXEdeLL-BA4J_ApytPVv3VU1LUyvgo7w:1687153079940&q=polite&si=AMnBZoEP2YukYW07_nAjizsjQPEkM7Yb3JS6IaXsQFDxFeNcuL8dGP_5yuQJhE8T_hR2bTNcwEwWqnImvNAtSTKiyRtiwNVQuA%3D%3D&expnd=1" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">olite</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> conversation about </span><a href="https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&hl=en&sxsrf=APwXEdeLL-BA4J_ApytPVv3VU1LUyvgo7w:1687153079940&q=unimportant&si=AMnBZoG9fGMZkoPgk-g4eVoaZFdEL9ImD-qvZ5uHKornRKLnhzAxu9nX1oDHomrvS6VWp8CfuZYCDBpKYIhve5Jt3-j39bT3AclT44gNN6gCje7v36gw_bs%3D&expnd=1" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">unimportant</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or </span><a href="https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&hl=en&sxsrf=APwXEdeLL-BA4J_ApytPVv3VU1LUyvgo7w:1687153079940&q=uncontroversial&si=AMnBZoGHIoBqH5NB1urY1HgDsH9EJtuFJsJRVBnflaMjwo_j1p1N-12-9HP_qFwXn3KE61qgi3tGWJgvfOeudGaakkUFgmW2Qpf4ccxT5VBI7p5EyAji5ZM%3D&expnd=1" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">uncontroversial</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> matters, especially as engaged in on social occasions. Nope, I am not good at small talk. Little chats as I walk the dogs, wassup in a grocery store, blahblah in a party (I don’t even like parties). I am weird, aloof, impatient. A smile and a hello would be fine. If we really want to talk? Let’s arrange it, 4 PM in the neighborhood cafe, Friday. 🗣🗣👀</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJHVlwk4OWyiRQwokIwgyL0lqwkf0nWf7Q1oCowvAx6bRPXUN4jrn1zVuqi9lO1MIOQpsKOSnKuFj-fxzdruap6M9ZefT69WjRe2IlKoZmc-tRCcbTmnKI1eQjNBRQFBLD36Q-fHb-B9YEVCRYtmwTn9VMkz-vD2lxi2AxS8UYUgKqb4xWZdZe0UpIkQ/s597/abuse%20of%20free%20speech.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="597" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJHVlwk4OWyiRQwokIwgyL0lqwkf0nWf7Q1oCowvAx6bRPXUN4jrn1zVuqi9lO1MIOQpsKOSnKuFj-fxzdruap6M9ZefT69WjRe2IlKoZmc-tRCcbTmnKI1eQjNBRQFBLD36Q-fHb-B9YEVCRYtmwTn9VMkz-vD2lxi2AxS8UYUgKqb4xWZdZe0UpIkQ/s320/abuse%20of%20free%20speech.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">New York Times: “The Politics of Delusion Have Taken Hold.” And adds: “The irrational element of partisan hostility has seemingly created a political culture resistant to correction or reform.” Everybody’s correct. In fact, you are already wrong once you toss an opinion or insight that seems to lean Left or Right. Or somewhere in the middle. A new YouGov poll says two-thirds or 65 percent of Americans think the country is more divided than usual. I think, 95 percent. 🏦🛖🏦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Time: “Tucker Carlson Hit with 'Cease-and-Desist' Letter From Fox Over Twitter Series.” Of course Tucker brought his loyal minions to Twitter. Although Fox is still #1, its ratings fell by around 50 percent since its top draw left. As the legal battle plays out, Fox is still paying the massively influential voice in conservative politics his $20 million annual salary. The dude’s worth before his termination was $380 million. And now he works for a man who is worth $320 billion. Ha! 📺🗣📺</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/YoDA_Ij940p697EULHZFkQ~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRma_jlP0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8xMy91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9ob3VzZS1yZXNvbHV0aW9uLWV2YW4tZ2Vyc2hrb3ZpY2gtcGF1bC13aGVsYW4uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjE0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk0OTg2Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM1NTAxJnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZHflc4lkyTc0GFIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">House Passes Resolution Calling on Russia to Free U.S. Prisoners</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “The measure urging Moscow to release Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter arrested on assignment, and Paul Whelan, a former Marine, earned the unanimous backing of the House.” Until the war ends, Evan and Paul’s fate stays in the dark. Or the U.S. will have to give up another high-end chip in the mold of arms dealer Viktor Bout. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The “Merchant of Death” is a shrewd arms smuggler with wide-reaching operations, extensive clientele, and willingness to bypass embargoes from </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Europe" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eastern Europe</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Africa</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Middle East</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The Kremlin got him back; the U.S. brought home a basketball player. History: The first major prisoner exchange between Russia and the U.S. was in 1962, with the then-Soviet Union. KGB spy Rudolf Abel for Air Force pilot Capt. Francis Gary Powers. 🇺🇸☮️🇷🇺</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGO2hr2oBIc0A6CihohRTBQIXS4BLgT22pI4BYcaM_swNEz0PY2k0KJ7Vc6da8gxeSixx7FUKNznig73dDrjg4GRu_nnLee5KZuAcGs2kJUrd5Xm6oxSJZmc6zMvutYV1_P08SIZsoyl4wrlMW0QIGZIXS_pcbEZgkp0b1JHQypNuFcPZ2YjN8d_BBj3M/s1017/geopolitics3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1017" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGO2hr2oBIc0A6CihohRTBQIXS4BLgT22pI4BYcaM_swNEz0PY2k0KJ7Vc6da8gxeSixx7FUKNznig73dDrjg4GRu_nnLee5KZuAcGs2kJUrd5Xm6oxSJZmc6zMvutYV1_P08SIZsoyl4wrlMW0QIGZIXS_pcbEZgkp0b1JHQypNuFcPZ2YjN8d_BBj3M/s320/geopolitics3.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">New York Times: “A $528 billion plan to clean up 54 million gallons of radioactive bomb-making waste (from the Cold War) may never be achieved.” How’d we suppose to achieve such as quixotic resolve when war is still ongoing? This: From fire in military infrastructures, smoke clouds of toxic gas spread. The use of explosive weapons in populated areas creates pollution from building materials including asbestos, metals, and combustion products. ☮️☮️☮️</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/Ee_IO3BagvBR7KZ8ea3MVA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmWtWXP0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNS8zMS93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvZ2VybWFueS1sZWZ0LXdpbmctYWN0aXZpc3QtYXR0YWNrcy1mYXItcmlnaHQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjAxJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTkzOTMxJm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM0MzkwJnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZHCXUHhkAXFhgVIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">German Court Convicts 4 Leftists in Attacks vs Neo-Nazis</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” A 28-year-old woman and three others were sentenced to prison for their roles in a series of attacks on people they considered neo-Nazis. Vigilantism is illegal. No matter that the Joker and Bane, or in real life, Schutzstaffel remnants are the targets. Yet Batman-wannabes are many. In Scandinavia, The Netherlands, Germany and the UK, vigilante groups number more than 3 million citizens. 🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/mK756cUxUDoDPLr4hNeDpQ~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRma_jlP0TlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8xMy9hcnRzL211c2ljL3BhdWwtbWNjYXJ0bmV5LWFpLWJlYXRsZXMtc29uZy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTImZW1jPWVkaXRfdGhfMjAyMzA2MTQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTQ5ODYmbmw9dG9kYXlzaGVhZGxpbmVzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9NjU2Nzk1ODcmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzU1MDEmdXNlcl9pZD0zYzczNjFkNTY3ZTgwMjc5NGMxMjc0NzJlMWMzYzU1NVcDbnl0Qgpkd-VziWTJNzQYUhFwYXNja2llQHlhaG9vLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul McCartney Says A.I. Helped Complete ‘Last’ Beatles Song</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “The song was made using a demo with John Lennon’s voice and will be released later this year, McCartney said.” So what if that song is the last Beatles song? Sure, it’d sell for intrigue’s sake. But I don’t buy the AI trick. Fix the demo? Different from the sheer intimacy of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Cole" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Natalie Cole</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on a “virtual duet” of “Unforgettable” with dad Nat King Cole in 1991. 🤖🎼🤖</span></span></p>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-50407587806283485612023-12-31T10:27:00.000-08:002023-12-31T10:27:05.951-08:00MY THOUGHTS About News and Stuff. <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Previously posted on my Facebook Page.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Time: “China Says It Doesn’t Want Conflict. Its Actions at Sea Suggest Otherwise.” From a journalism point of view, this coverage is one-sided. Let's look at the tally board. China has only 1 foreign military base, in Djibouti. True, the CCP has established a naval facility in Cambodia, Ream Naval Base. The U.S.? In addition to the potentially nine military bases in the Philippines, the Pentagon has 313 more in East Asia alone. Overall, 750 in 80 countries. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1rrboXMH5_5GYwLDM5YD7fo_kPOQ-VGt1kGbtf9VxYG5axtFkg4xCV2Yfpt73bTdMw2YNp7afr0_DNc4rPGAaK44fjbEtgvtrsF8jOj7ng9K-cGS0GOrb-bbWMbcs0KTdtTKz2QZomJssdySfMJakUZNd4LDPhg9SmETHbfCYZER0eUpDcZz1rVyujo/s2560/peace%20city.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1718" data-original-width="2560" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1rrboXMH5_5GYwLDM5YD7fo_kPOQ-VGt1kGbtf9VxYG5axtFkg4xCV2Yfpt73bTdMw2YNp7afr0_DNc4rPGAaK44fjbEtgvtrsF8jOj7ng9K-cGS0GOrb-bbWMbcs0KTdtTKz2QZomJssdySfMJakUZNd4LDPhg9SmETHbfCYZER0eUpDcZz1rVyujo/w400-h269/peace%20city.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Currently, China has only one foreign military base located in Djibouti in East Africa. Building a naval facility capable of accommodating military vessels in the western region of the South China Sea would be a crucial step in China’s efforts to expand its influence in the area. Why would China focus on military grandiosity when it already rules the region’s economic roost. Meanwhile, the U.S. Army Pacific has approximately 106,000 personnel, plus over 300 aircraft and five watercraft assigned throughout the AOR from Japan and Korea to Solomon Islands and to Alaska and Hawaii. 🇺🇸☮️🇨🇳</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/ZKTNFWoTmrkzy9xbLiEbUw~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmZA_jP0TaaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wNy9idXNpbmVzcy9tZWRpYS9jaHJpcy1saWNodC1jbm4uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjA4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk0NDk4Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM0OTgwJnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZHjjioFk1fzWG1IRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chris Licht Is Out at CNN, Leaving Network at a Crossroads</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “Mr. Licht’s turbulent time running the 24-hour news organization lasted slightly more than a year.” I actually thought Mr Licht was fired already or few months ago when he criticized internal newsroom tact as one-sided, sort of. The real issue here is Fox or the Murdoch empire still rules the TV media planet, viewership or profit. CNN's viewer share is why below Fox and MSNBC for years now. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> On a parallel vein per Fox, though the network is still #1, its ratings fell by around 50 percent since top draw Tucker Carlson left. Fox's audience among 25- to 54-year-olds had shrunk by two thirds. 💻📺🖥</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/cu-MNcfzTQ3VPSfiOMdq2g~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmYCI8P0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wNC9idXNpbmVzcy9ncmFpbC1ibG9vZC10ZXN0LW1pc3Rha2UtY2FuY2VyLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYwNSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NDIyOCZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNDY5NCZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmR4PJ19ZOsGisBSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hundreds Were Mistakenly Told They Might Have Cancer, Test Company Says</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” Many deaths could be prevented if the rate of misdiagnosis was not so high. Approximately 10 to 20 percent of all cases of cancer are misdiagnosed. One study found that about 28 percent of the mistakes made out of 583 cases were life threatening or life altering. I bet, the same with mental health. Bipolar diagnosis after two 1 hour sessions? Next: Prescription drugs. 🩺🩻🩺</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/Xa9PG-Cq5TCnSjBZ4q3r1w~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmYW8zP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wNS91cy9va2xhaG9tYS1maXJzdC1yZWxpZ2lvdXMtY2hhcnRlci1zY2hvb2wtaW4tdGhlLXVzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYwNiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NDMxNyZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNDc4NSZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmR4M-p-ZMrnHDdSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oklahoma Approves First Religious Charter School in the U.S.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” And adds: “The school will offer online, Roman Catholic instruction funded by taxpayers. Its approval is certain to tee off a legal battle over the separation of church and state.” State and local governments provide an equal share of school funding, with the federal money covering less than 10 percent. Catholics also pay taxes. Why don’t we instead gear our sight on taxpayer money wasted in war? 📝✝️📝</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjV2TX4q__uB1KNPHrh2bCjuPhMfJk2ZtG1EVO3xUz9SK1RQiPTAJbk19RNT5nfh09txHaivIg44KuYKnp15GnptViyEmh5-zI4njRLUJDUnMWy5LXvKDauyrWLZA55LIB4u5tIEw42sr2uf9YOsJPDNafcQKrL8yAZvenkE3yKPD8Pf4aMvE48yq_P94/s992/american%20schoolchildren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="992" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjV2TX4q__uB1KNPHrh2bCjuPhMfJk2ZtG1EVO3xUz9SK1RQiPTAJbk19RNT5nfh09txHaivIg44KuYKnp15GnptViyEmh5-zI4njRLUJDUnMWy5LXvKDauyrWLZA55LIB4u5tIEw42sr2uf9YOsJPDNafcQKrL8yAZvenkE3yKPD8Pf4aMvE48yq_P94/s320/american%20schoolchildren.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/ApaG0haAfaRrPMxY4JGrEQ~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmWtWXP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNS8zMS9vcGluaW9uL21pc3Npc3NpcHBpLWVkdWNhdGlvbi1wb3ZlcnR5Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYwMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05MzkzMSZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNDM5MCZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmRwl1B4ZAFxYYFSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mississippi Is Offering Lessons for America on Education</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “The state shows that poverty is no excuse for failing to teach kids to read.” I concur. In my grade school days in the Philippines, we held classes under a mango tree since enrollments overflowed. And when typhoons flooded classrooms, we continued in churches. Etcetera. Still, teachers taught and we learned. Mississippi has the highest poverty rate among U.S. states at 19.58 percent. 📝✏️📝</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Smithsonian: “Scientists Identify 12 Major Symptoms of Long Covid.” And adds: “The effort is a step toward accelerating research and finding treatments for the debilitating condition.” Long Covid symptoms: Chronic pain, brain fog, shortness of breath, chest pain, and intense fatigue. Five straight hours of “The Walking Dead,” while stoned and/or drunk, seated and intermittently responding to anti-Trump memes on FB, give people symptoms of “long indolence” as well. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> News adds: “Long Covid, the condition where symptoms that surface after recovering from Covid-19 linger for weeks, months, or even years, is still a mystery to doctors and researchers.” Long Covid a.k.a. New Depression. At home, swallow Prozacs, get stoned, binge-watch on Netflix, and wait for Unemployment Benefit checks. Sarcasm, okay? 💉🥹💉</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/iWCSy5HnVfkq3UpUNQzL0Q~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmWDKPP0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNS8yOS9zY2llbmNlL3VhZS1hc3Rlcm9pZC1taXNzaW9uLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDUzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05Mzc3MCZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNDIyNyZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmRvj611ZPhZ_OZSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The United Arab Emirates Is Heading for the Asteroid Belt</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “After a successful mission to Mars, the Emirati space agency is planning a tour of the debris field between Mars and Jupiter.” All good. Spread the space knowledge out. Nations around the world spent a total of $92 billion on the "space sector" in 2021. I dig this. Yet the Ukraine war cost the global economy over $1.6 trillion. You dig? End the war! Let’s shake hands with extra-terrestrials! </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The United States' space budget is far and away the largest on earth. With $62 billion of expenditure on its space programs last year, U.S. government spending outweighed that of all other governments combined ($41 billion). Second place: China $11.94b. Third: Japan $4.90b. Fourth: France $4.20b. And fifth, yes only fifth: Russia $3.42b. 🛰🛸🚀</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/DBNC438y2NUNAX8md4hrog~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmYW8zP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wNS91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9yb2JlcnQtZi1rZW5uZWR5LWpyLXR3aXR0ZXItMjAyNC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTImZW1jPWVkaXRfdGhfMjAyMzA2MDYmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTQzMTcmbmw9dG9kYXlzaGVhZGxpbmVzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9NjU2Nzk1ODcmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzQ3ODUmdXNlcl9pZD0zYzczNjFkNTY3ZTgwMjc5NGMxMjc0NzJlMWMzYzU1NVcDbnl0QgpkeDPqfmTK5xw3UhFwYXNja2llQHlhaG9vLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Robert Kennedy Jr., With Musk, Pushes Right-Wing Ideas and Misinformation</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” Mr. Kennedy said he wanted to close the Mexican border and attributed the rise of mass shootings to pharmaceutical drugs. I don’t see Right-wing (or Left-wing) “ideas or misinformation” behind closing borders (isn’t this no brainer?) or mass shootings are exacerbated by excessive drugs, legal or illegal. Although these require lengthier discussion. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeIKkvE2xnDm1z73RhaPzz_7rbRX4Ux2EPcHf4KAu3KzrJ8CNLcPM1lhqzSabk-7TZqbqsdaMYxZspd1fKzckh_gh2TVuZ8z8V4Cenr1AD7YVOimnPVTQsmQInRTvC56XrhcSpzSwkoN4eFrhldz63KhcRoZ-fplOAbD-Ar7QAgqJBlFjxd0dXgsK9Js/s1600/politics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1600" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeIKkvE2xnDm1z73RhaPzz_7rbRX4Ux2EPcHf4KAu3KzrJ8CNLcPM1lhqzSabk-7TZqbqsdaMYxZspd1fKzckh_gh2TVuZ8z8V4Cenr1AD7YVOimnPVTQsmQInRTvC56XrhcSpzSwkoN4eFrhldz63KhcRoZ-fplOAbD-Ar7QAgqJBlFjxd0dXgsK9Js/s320/politics.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> NY Times adds: “Robert Kennedy Jr. is a long-shot Democratic presidential candidate with surprisingly high polling numbers.” 🏦🗽🏦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Time: “Volunteering May Boost Kids' Well-Being, Study Says.” Whatever happened to the young as humanity gets engulfed by 21st century’s bombastic computer technology? Cold, cool inertia (sic). Detained in their gadget? People aged 65–74 (58 percent) are the age group most likely to volunteer formally. The old. Next, 30-40 years bracket, 25 percent. Volunteer work out there should fix a spike in youth depression in recent years. They gotta get out and sweat the funk out. 👧✌️🧒</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/XoaZeoV7dITIFYeCw7E9VQ~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmWtWXP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNS8zMS9kaW5pbmcvamFtZXMtYmVhcmQtcmVzdGF1cmFudHMtaW52ZXN0aWdhdGlvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTImZW1jPWVkaXRfdGhfMjAyMzA2MDEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTM5MzEmbmw9dG9kYXlzaGVhZGxpbmVzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9NjU2Nzk1ODcmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzQzOTAmdXNlcl9pZD0zYzczNjFkNTY3ZTgwMjc5NGMxMjc0NzJlMWMzYzU1NVcDbnl0QgpkcJdQeGQBcWGBUhFwYXNja2llQHlhaG9vLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">James Beard Foundation, Whose Awards Honor Chefs, Is Now Investigating Them</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “The group behind `the Oscars of the food world’ created a new process to weed out nominees with problematic pasts. But that process has troubles of its own.” A problematic past messes up an otherwise fine paella de mariscos, I guess. So all chefs who abided by the New Morality (whatever that is), then and now, qualify for an award? In cooking. 🍽🥣🍽</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/5ccCcwSYY2_xEgXeYxS2sA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmaAyWP0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8xMC9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLWluZGljdGVkLWphY2stc21pdGguaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjExJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk0NzU1Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM1MjU1JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZHiWh4Vk2K696lIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bathroom Reading at Mar-a-Lago</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “Let’s Make America Great Again — by getting Trump out of politics.” I don’t think, seriously/sincerely, that Donald Trump is a focal reason why America isn’t great anymore, as the other extreme avers. But Trump is The Convenient Alibi. Perhaps if China opts to close its doors again and Russia goes back to world trade isolation unable to sell lotsa fuel, then America (maybe) loses competition and becomes great again. 🏦🗽🏦</span></span></p>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-65896388044674131912023-12-25T10:29:00.000-08:002023-12-25T10:29:26.203-08:00MY THOUGHTS About News and Stuff. <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b>Previously posted on my Facebook Page.</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/0MwUjDNV5m4bJxgwdwVyyw~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmaAyWP0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8xMC93b3JsZC9taWRkbGVlYXN0L3NhdWRpLWxlYWRlci1wcmluY2UtbW9oYW1tZWQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjExJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk0NzU1Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM1MjU1JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZHiWh4Vk2K696lIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From ‘Pariah’ to Partner, Saudi Leader Defies Threats to Isolate Him</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” MBS reforms: Restricts powers of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_for_the_Promotion_of_Virtue_and_the_Prevention_of_Vice_(Saudi_Arabia)" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">religious police</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, improves </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">women's rights</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, weakens </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_anti_male-guardianship_campaign#Moves_toward_equality" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">male-guardianship system</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and cultural developments such as public concerts by a female singer, increased presence of women in the workforce etcetera. His </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Vision_2030" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saudi Vision 2030</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> program aims to diversify </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Saudi_Arabia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the country's economy</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> through investment in non-oil sectors. Add peace talks with Houthis. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsRKfb5dxZpqCCEWseeZS_MH18rC4W1DWxWC6ubsBhRU2yygc86y3jxFEVFPdo7gqFPXZrL2n9ql3FD9wtuLZx7Tw1iAzNp5QyqF-yB0PJnh-dlIMVsUo5z9vUnLCs82siSGZJwu5j2Xz7ZxiTgfTp0onzEBVzpvSo2PpftP2s91PQnUO757Hl5hQSQM/s700/saudis%20and%20fun.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="700" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsRKfb5dxZpqCCEWseeZS_MH18rC4W1DWxWC6ubsBhRU2yygc86y3jxFEVFPdo7gqFPXZrL2n9ql3FD9wtuLZx7Tw1iAzNp5QyqF-yB0PJnh-dlIMVsUo5z9vUnLCs82siSGZJwu5j2Xz7ZxiTgfTp0onzEBVzpvSo2PpftP2s91PQnUO757Hl5hQSQM/w400-h243/saudis%20and%20fun.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> News adds: “Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has repeatedly leveraged Saudi Arabia’s wealth and influence to overcome international condemnation of the kingdom’s human rights violations.” Human rights violations? Tell me about a superpower that didn’t have blood on its hand. Problem is, people prefer to view an Arab, sheikh or bedouin, as clueless, dumb, and misinformed of Western capitalism. You see, the world has changed and evolved. Deal with it. 🇸🇦🇸🇦🇸🇦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Time: “A Stunning Golf Merger Shows How Saudi Cash Could Change Sports.” Pro golf is pro sports. Money. The issue: LIV Golf is financed by the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_wealth_fund" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sovereign wealth fund</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of Saudi Arabia. Yet I don’t think “Saudi cash could change sports.” Exaggeration. Corruption? So why did we have an Olympics in Brazil? How many heads of state in Brasilia have been jailed? Human rights abuses? Here we go again. Yet the bigger issue: Trump invested in LIV and he is a friend of MBS sans a fist-bump. 🏒💰🏒</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Time: “The Tree of Life Trial and the Necessity to Forget Mass Violence.” This article refers to the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting by an </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">antisemitic</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> terrorist in Oct 2018; 11 fatalities. A necessity to forget mass violence? How can we forget? The United States has had more mass shootings than any other country, including those in perennial social disorder. Forget the horror in our midst? While the government spends billions$ of taxpayer money to an ongoing war? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Mass shooting is defined as an act of public firearm violence—excluding gang killings, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_violence" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">domestic violence</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, or terrorist acts sponsored by an organization—in which a shooter kills at least four victims. The numbers: New York Times: Nearly one-third of the world's public mass shootings between 1966 and 2012 (90 of 292 incidents) occurred in the United States. Washington Post: 163 mass shootings in the U.S. between 1967 and June 2019. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Jones_(magazine)" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mother Jones</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: 140 mass shootings between 1982 and February 2023. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associated_Press" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Associated Press</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: 59 mass shootings between 2006 and August 2022. The Violence Project of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institute_of_Justice" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">National Institute of Justice</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: 185 mass shootings from 1966 to December 2022. The FBI: 61 events as </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_shooter" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">active shooter</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> incidents in 2021. ☮️☮️☮️</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/DuRt5rU-JP_fSvL5z2HlOQ~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmWYQmP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNS8zMC9vcGluaW9uL3JlZC1jcm9zcy11a3JhaW5lLXJ1c3NpYS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTImZW1jPWVkaXRfdGhfMjAyMzA1MzEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTM4NjMmbmw9dG9kYXlzaGVhZGxpbmVzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9NjU2Nzk1ODcmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzQzMTAmdXNlcl9pZD0zYzczNjFkNTY3ZTgwMjc5NGMxMjc0NzJlMWMzYzU1NVcDbnl0Qgpkbyb_dmTUG5ufUhFwYXNja2llQHlhaG9vLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The World Needs Neutrals</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “Picking sides isn’t an option for humanitarian aid workers.” How’d that be possible in America? When sports, beer, and pronouns are triggers for intense political caterwaul? Many social trends divide people elsewhere as well but the U.S. stands out for its degree of divisiveness, says a Pew study. </span><a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/10/13/diversity-and-division-in-advanced-economies/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Americans are split</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> along partisan, racial and ethnic lines. Or religion. America simply can’t agree on basic facts. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOinVDzabSP_JVNiMS6fVJtK626tVQz8GAZf190BcVQR6UODEM1sOcI9btP3J1omJvcVUHu2sF9TQLGS8ul3RPKZyvuMREDfeaNYMYHSKbY-7RiKT0Wpc2ihSwoiCT8-P-m67zm_vyRnWmsQJaOx1LkzroD8KL7XuOZrIXVroPI_e9UYHAu-xZc1giyRc/s600/New%20York%20City.Depositphotos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOinVDzabSP_JVNiMS6fVJtK626tVQz8GAZf190BcVQR6UODEM1sOcI9btP3J1omJvcVUHu2sF9TQLGS8ul3RPKZyvuMREDfeaNYMYHSKbY-7RiKT0Wpc2ihSwoiCT8-P-m67zm_vyRnWmsQJaOx1LkzroD8KL7XuOZrIXVroPI_e9UYHAu-xZc1giyRc/s320/New%20York%20City.Depositphotos.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Take this: According to the same Pew Research survey, the countries that feel the least divided are Saudi Arabia and China. 👈🖐👉</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “Trump Pleads Not Guilty in Documents Case.” The former President pleaded not guilty to criminal charges that he risked disclosure of defense secrets etcetera. Given. The weird thing? How easy documents of those secret kinds can easily be leaked or hacked. In April, 21-year old a</span><a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/1649832950408552449" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">irman Jack Teixeira leaked intelligence documents to a larger grou</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">p. Just like that. The U.S. should protect its classified info from hackers, instead. Just saying. 😏😒🤨</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/c-F9T9ktgPrMluCTublwiA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmaqeQP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8xMi93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvbmF0by1leGVyY2lzZXMtZ2VybWFueS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTImZW1jPWVkaXRfdGhfMjAyMzA2MTMmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTQ4OTUmbmw9dG9kYXlzaGVhZGxpbmVzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9NjU2Nzk1ODcmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzU0MDUmdXNlcl9pZD0zYzczNjFkNTY3ZTgwMjc5NGMxMjc0NzJlMWMzYzU1NVcDbnl0QgpkeJAiiGTeUYC-UhFwYXNja2llQHlhaG9vLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NATO Members Use a Major Air Exercise to Send a Message to Russia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “More than 200 planes from 25 countries gathered in Germany for the largest-scale war games in decades.” How leadership settles economic rivalry. Military machismo. Facts: World’s #1 natural gas exporter is Russia, #1 oil exporter is Saudi Arabia, and #1 oil importer is China. These three are buddies. NATO tries to shake that triumvirate. All about oil and natural gas. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> While Russia #1 natural gas exporter, the United States is #1 producer and second in export. The U.S. is also #1 importer of natural gas. This war isn’t all about Ukraine per se; this is all about who rules the global energy market. ☮️⛽️☮️</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/DspTXbGlzv3EE4VfMUOnFg~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmZrKzP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8xMC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy91a3JhaW5lLWNvdW50ZXJvZmZlbnNpdmUtcnVzc2lhLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYxMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NDY5OSZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNTE4NSZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmR4sy2EZLlUfmlSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Ukraine Launches Counteroffensive, Definitions of ‘Success’ Vary</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” Propaganda war. Primary objective of propaganda is to break down the enemy’s will to fight, reinforced by public perception of who’s winning and who’s losing. In these times of market economics, war narrative leans towards propaganda mojo, which influences Congress decisions such as continuous $aid to Volodymyr Zelensky’s Kyiv leadership. He’s got to justify the arms aid, somehow. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The U.S. alone has tossed almost $50 billion, or 61 percent of total aid, to Ukraine since the beginning of war in Feb 2022. News adds: ““Privately, U.S. and European officials concede that pushing all of Russia’s forces out of occupied Ukrainian land is highly unlikely.” Just end the war, please! 🇺🇦☮️🇷🇺</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Time: “Why the Advice to Follow Your Dreams Is Selling Graduates Short.” College has historically yielded greater career opportunities and higher earning potential. The average cost of attendance for a student living on campus at a public 4-year in-state institution is $25,707 per year or $102,828 over 4 years. This: Cut Defense budget and allot $ to Education. But, for now, those who owed money? Pay. No money to pay despite a college degree? I don’t know about that. 👩🎓💰🧑🎓</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvj6E0vavOtQbhxZiU7tdvv2Bq65TNfaRGya5p1GIASWAx9n7yZRTomqD79jloDtbXMhq1uCHyO3jP6NQj9nvoNhjvp2JRAV_mbjndVoYd0lfAhW6rpmTvn00ubt5DZdB0_UF278bSiXC9sqlKwXr24QghWpj88n1il_gHKQMNX7N6AdTf1HjTYL9b74/s1000/college%20graduates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1000" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvj6E0vavOtQbhxZiU7tdvv2Bq65TNfaRGya5p1GIASWAx9n7yZRTomqD79jloDtbXMhq1uCHyO3jP6NQj9nvoNhjvp2JRAV_mbjndVoYd0lfAhW6rpmTvn00ubt5DZdB0_UF278bSiXC9sqlKwXr24QghWpj88n1il_gHKQMNX7N6AdTf1HjTYL9b74/s320/college%20graduates.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/UzHXFavoIT5Q6fg7VKCIsw~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmVuENP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNS8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2ZyZW5lbWllcy1yZWxhdGlvbnNoaXBzLWhlYWx0aC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTImZW1jPWVkaXRfdGhfMjAyMzA1MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTM3MTUmbmw9dG9kYXlzaGVhZGxpbmVzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9NjU2Nzk1ODcmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzQxNzImdXNlcl9pZD0zYzczNjFkNTY3ZTgwMjc5NGMxMjc0NzJlMWMzYzU1NVcDbnl0QgpkcA1cdGQIq4vZUhFwYXNja2llQHlhaG9vLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your Most Ambivalent Relationships Are the Most Toxic</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “Science shows that seesaw relationships can be more damaging than those that are purely negative.” Uh huh. Meanwhile, divorce rates in the United States have been steadily declining over the past few decades, but unfortunately, the divorce rate is still higher than it was in the early 1970s. But divorce isn’t linear or one-dimensional as in “I don’t want to be with you anymore.” Toxicity is relative. 💓💔💖</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/fPKKfveMAi4PErIPeeHtJA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmYW8zP0TjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wNS91cy9taWdyYW50cy1wbGFuZS1zYWNyYW1lbnRvLWNhbGlmb3JuaWEuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNjA2Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk0MzE3Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM0Nzg1JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZHgz6n5kyuccN1IRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Second Plane Carrying Migrants Arrives in Sacramento</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” As California officials accused Florida of shipping migrants to its capital city last week, about 20 more arrived last Monday on the same chartered plane. Childish? Republican governors </span><a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-immigration-ron-desantis-charlie-baker-massachusetts-7e97720aceae5d70f137ece06851f3fc" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">have been sending migrants</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> released at the U.S. border to Democratic strongholds. Short of telling the Dem, you want them, here they are! Then why let them cross in droves of thousands each day, anyway. 🏃♀️🗽🏃</span></span></p>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-47602407645488302742023-12-15T11:09:00.000-08:002023-12-15T11:09:33.306-08:00MY THOUGHTS About News and Stuff. <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b>Previously posted on my Facebook Page.</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “A </span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/ZtNn1SLD8ZQk4LETQ4ynHw~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmXCbwP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wMS93b3JsZC9hc2lhL2NoaW5hLXVzLXJlbGF0aW9ucy10aGF3Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NDAyNyZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNDQ5MCZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmR48KF5ZOsGrY9SEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">‘Thaw’ in U.S.-China Relations Seems Far From Reach</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” 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. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05eCID0jzGPluwy-FWyoDpimzWB_qmGWQ0l_Oa_AAeD9GNo5B32DB4QZ88OuoSK6hu3YY3g21w6OsLmgyiJ_KT-bHxAhxqIEv0vP8rmhaLJUR7carS3bXIJ5OrZnAZxrTE6VfzYKrbGocxzalZCBjiXYZyl_K9SVPs8VmB3qherNZD29lprAUoe4oKD0/s947/US%20China%20friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="947" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05eCID0jzGPluwy-FWyoDpimzWB_qmGWQ0l_Oa_AAeD9GNo5B32DB4QZ88OuoSK6hu3YY3g21w6OsLmgyiJ_KT-bHxAhxqIEv0vP8rmhaLJUR7carS3bXIJ5OrZnAZxrTE6VfzYKrbGocxzalZCBjiXYZyl_K9SVPs8VmB3qherNZD29lprAUoe4oKD0/w400-h281/US%20China%20friends.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 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? 🇨🇳☮️🇺🇸</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/AK7mzWH97rfPZ0QXafO8xg~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmYr5lP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wNi91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9ub3JkLXN0cmVhbS1waXBlbGluZS1hdHRhY2staW50ZWxsaWdlbmNlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NDQxMyZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNDg4MyZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmR4ZTmAZL5Iq-FSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Americans Were Aware of Intelligence Warning of Ukrainian Pipeline Attacks</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” 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? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 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. 🇺🇦⛽️🇷🇺</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/mCpF-DlfdKf_xZ2h5FCM0w~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmVZG_P0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNS8yNy93b3JsZC9hc2lhL2luZGlhbi1vZmZpY2lhbC1kcmFpbnMtZGFtLWxvc3QtcGhvbmUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNTI4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTkzNjc1Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM0MTE1JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZHC_DHNkAXF8NVIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Indian Official Who Drained a Reservoir to Retrieve His Phone Is Suspended</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” 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.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbEXOmdpMD1uQ88F9ySWumjXvTOQIL843shWWlUubVY4p4pOis9y7hSSGCn-CBmzhdW3v9oKMEOtZ-Al1j4U1imE2TGGViXqwBmD274VJVTpOkx4784QBrYMGX4xUzqvCmoRZlBhUEmpZahMu3_rqUv86w1r6xtJXd3MeMTB3noZXcjb4hom0JCICc90/s597/abuse%20of%20free%20speech.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="597" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbEXOmdpMD1uQ88F9ySWumjXvTOQIL843shWWlUubVY4p4pOis9y7hSSGCn-CBmzhdW3v9oKMEOtZ-Al1j4U1imE2TGGViXqwBmD274VJVTpOkx4784QBrYMGX4xUzqvCmoRZlBhUEmpZahMu3_rqUv86w1r6xtJXd3MeMTB3noZXcjb4hom0JCICc90/w200-h111/abuse%20of%20free%20speech.jpeg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 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. 📱👳♂️📲</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/ngNnjP99j8IVqTqIQ38cXg~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmWYQmP0TjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNS8zMS9idXNpbmVzcy9tb3ZpZS10aGVhdGVyLXVwZ3JhZGUtcGFuZGVtaWMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNTMxJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTkzODYzJm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM0MzEwJnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZG8m_3Zk1Bubn1IRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Larger Screens, Heated Seats, Sushi: Theater Owners Want You Back</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” 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. 🎥👎📽</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">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? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 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.” 🇺🇦☮️🇷🇺</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/7GsIBZOeHhFSmvRP1iqjpQ~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmXXixP0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wMi91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9kZWJ0LWNlaWxpbmctYmlsbC1uYXRpb25hbC1kZWJ0LWdyb3d0aC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTImZW1jPWVkaXRfdGhfMjAyMzA2MDMmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTQxMzkmbmw9dG9kYXlzaGVhZGxpbmVzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9NjU2Nzk1ODcmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzQ1ODQmdXNlcl9pZD0zYzczNjFkNTY3ZTgwMjc5NGMxMjc0NzJlMWMzYzU1NVcDbnl0QgpkeLHzemS-SGCiUhFwYXNja2llQHlhaG9vLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Debt-Limit Deal Suggests Debt Will Keep Growing, Fast</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” 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? 💸🗽💸</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfxOYi2kii_8geJZFpPzOdfBBYGxNARwYppOJhzcOm6kMF1xZRSSdRywiHzwU2zIaIzUZYJolS3Rcj6Cyvq0rYDd0ONBXEw4VTxVk6BIti2Cnv3rPqC8IWWNbhACWXigGa0rCUafa-z2QFWV4GXmjFULLvp8K3dR92QJiSYmCCr22rB2vK0Zhf35_Rl4/s700/banks.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="700" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfxOYi2kii_8geJZFpPzOdfBBYGxNARwYppOJhzcOm6kMF1xZRSSdRywiHzwU2zIaIzUZYJolS3Rcj6Cyvq0rYDd0ONBXEw4VTxVk6BIti2Cnv3rPqC8IWWNbhACWXigGa0rCUafa-z2QFWV4GXmjFULLvp8K3dR92QJiSYmCCr22rB2vK0Zhf35_Rl4/s320/banks.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/a/pxFGXW31y9jvp0D-PEZcMw~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmXXixP0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyMy8wNS8zMC93b3JsZC9hc2lhL3J1c3NpYS1vaWwtc2hpcHMtc2FuY3Rpb25zLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDYwMyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NDEzOSZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNDU4NCZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmR4sfN6ZL5IYKJSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How a Dark Fleet Moves Russian Oil</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” 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. ⛴🛟⛽️</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">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. 🥱😴🥱</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">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? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, passed in 2000, helps the government preserve lighthouses that are no longer needed by the Coast Guard. 🛟🛥⚓️</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">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. 🤖☮️🤖</span></span></p>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-85728774427803770752023-12-14T10:40:00.000-08:002023-12-14T10:40:21.367-08:00The Russia Story.<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Previously posted on my Facebook Page. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">THERE are a lot of stories—front, back, center, and sides—of Russia. But most of these are mysteries, hearsays, speculations, or outright biased judgments. Most are borne from the fact that Russia is the United States’ traditional antithesis. The favorite anti-hero, villain, and antagonist. Yet there are more know about this transcontinental country that spans Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, dating back to Oldowan period in the early Lower Paleolithic—than its enigmatic ruler Vladimir Putin.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbTBdnvAj3ApnaaBufLX9ALqBeEV9yRgundvGpouFQmkUikXRKxcmGvrlDH0semu6Cdj9YaEfrP_HIwT2Gio6VJa_YKawiTs-ikQHka467D7EbSveBveKA1v5HWH5VV_VASbKzwES3jCcwLLh6tmWy24m9VhJ2ks6MRCYJTAcsl1RZ7X1vJbPSDkAqgA/s3072/russia%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="3072" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbTBdnvAj3ApnaaBufLX9ALqBeEV9yRgundvGpouFQmkUikXRKxcmGvrlDH0semu6Cdj9YaEfrP_HIwT2Gio6VJa_YKawiTs-ikQHka467D7EbSveBveKA1v5HWH5VV_VASbKzwES3jCcwLLh6tmWy24m9VhJ2ks6MRCYJTAcsl1RZ7X1vJbPSDkAqgA/w400-h266/russia%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Sans the 14 republics that were part of the USSR till 1991, the Russian Federation is the largest country in the world by area, and Moscow, the capital, is the largest city entirely within Europe. But Russia’s population of 144.1 million is only ranked 9th in the world.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> More significantly, Russia is again the leading rival of the United States in Big Energy supremacy, the measure of real geopolitical power. While the U.S. is currently #1 in oil production, oil export, and natural gas production, Russia is #2 (or #3) in other categories—but #1 in natural gas export. The U.S. is only a distant #6 in natural gas sales. The other superpower China, which also a Top 5 or Top 10 producer of oil and natural gas, choose to keep their energy resources mostly stocked up for “rainy days.” But China is top oil importer and #3 buyer of natural gas.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Finally, Moscow has realized a true rivalry in oil/natural gas with America, that could have ensued in the Middle East when oil was first discovered in the desert in the 1940s. Animosities never die though the Cold War also ended upon collapse of the Soviets in 1991. All three superpowers heavily trade with each other these days. China is the United States’ top trading partner; China is also Russia’s top business comrade.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Yet there were speculations before Joe Biden sat in White House. Time’s Ian Bremmer wrote in 2016 that Putin will probably prove less confrontational. While he has effectively won the stalemate in Europe, and he believes he can parlay his power in Syria into an end to sanctions, a more cool mojo would benefit him most.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> But a contracting economy, rising inflation and lower oil prices will further darken the mood of life in Russia. And then here comes the Ukraine invasion 2022. President Biden has his reasons why Putin’s new aggression would benefit Washington—but the Russian strongman has his as well. Which will only unfold as the war slides on, sputters, or halts. 🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">RUSSIA is not a Top 10 world economy. But it is viewed by Washington and the West as a major threat to global security. (And now an economic “headache” due to Moscow’s oil/gas influence in the market.) Yet I don’t get the “security” paranoia. True, Moscow has the most number nuclear weapons at 6,257 against the United States’ 3,750 but seven other countries possess nukes as well—though detailed transparency is always an issue.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6YlhoJcDn08evgNQ5D4VkTlZ9dP5AggjfEgxTEEc0eyftXbU5YjqztIEFU7srvt-8AAtpHANSJaJmTHtumi102Gbq0uQJV1KTiPJhI5cjZdgHKX_PWhpfZ_msFttMLoCnsMQc7MGG0gBcsWJfWHd_7loAOfOZajTI4ISqNSiZxuLz5wYwPzCDhmT260/s900/russia%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6YlhoJcDn08evgNQ5D4VkTlZ9dP5AggjfEgxTEEc0eyftXbU5YjqztIEFU7srvt-8AAtpHANSJaJmTHtumi102Gbq0uQJV1KTiPJhI5cjZdgHKX_PWhpfZ_msFttMLoCnsMQc7MGG0gBcsWJfWHd_7loAOfOZajTI4ISqNSiZxuLz5wYwPzCDhmT260/s320/russia%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Economics-wise, besides its oil and natural gas, Russia’s GDP growth rate is modest at 2.6 percent alongside a 4.4 percent unemployment rate. Chief industries (beside oil/gas): Mining, processing precious stones and metals, aircraft building, aerospace production, weapons and military machinery manufacture, electric engineering, pulp-and-paper production, automotive industry, transport, road and agriculture.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Moscow’s top trading partners are China, The Netherlands, Germany, Belarus, the U.S. as its 5th-largest business relations. (Sure, as war rages in Ukraine, Russia isn’t a U.S. trading chum anymore.) In fact, Russia enjoys trade surplus with a number of countries, including The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Turkey, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Poland, and Finland. The U.S. also owes Russia $164 billion in (external) debt.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Makes we wonder why countries that owe Russia money and those who buy Moscow’s energy products (like the U.K., Poland and Finland) openly sent arms support to Ukraine in its war with Russia? Politics/economics don’t mix or do they?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Asia, notably China and South Korea, are significantly mum on the Russian invasion. A few countries, including Japan and Singapore, joined the economic sanction vs Moscow though they refused to send military equipment to Kyiv. 🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">RELATIONS between China and Russia go back to the 17th-century, when the Qing dynasty tried to drive Russian settlers out of Manchuria, but this animosity ended by the signing of the Treaty of Nerchinsk. During the Cold War, China and the USSR were rivals after the Sino-Soviet split in 1961, competing for control of the worldwide Communist movement.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJ5ti3Chg9B763gF9j55zTQKEmnACtUzGJGGs5Mk0R9nuXNm-PZaYzVbT1ljcNf8-FPTW4hB7T6ewh2tglMoEqRfah0nnzOzfbKL4tjFrDqGvoVXDQqXA_w_zsZAib1IPBwYKHu6Y80s0Y76nNtd5ofKlc5RkRQSBcWBocDC8XVhF3HPMNW_QpOJcZjI/s1920/russia%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJ5ti3Chg9B763gF9j55zTQKEmnACtUzGJGGs5Mk0R9nuXNm-PZaYzVbT1ljcNf8-FPTW4hB7T6ewh2tglMoEqRfah0nnzOzfbKL4tjFrDqGvoVXDQqXA_w_zsZAib1IPBwYKHu6Y80s0Y76nNtd5ofKlc5RkRQSBcWBocDC8XVhF3HPMNW_QpOJcZjI/s320/russia%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> But since the end of the Soviets, the two nations gradually evolved as true friends. In 1992, Russian President Boris Yeltsin made his first official visit to China, who met with CCP general secretary Jiang Zemin. In 1996, at the end of Chinese Premier Li Peng’s visit to Moscow, Russia and China issued a joint communique pledging to build an "equal and reliable partnership." They haven’t relented since then.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> In 2001, the close relations between the two countries were formalized with the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, a twenty-year strategic, economic, and – controversially and arguably—an implicit military treaty. A month before the treaty was signed, the two countries joined with junior partners Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Still active as of 2021, the organization is expected to counter the growing influence of the United States military outreach program in Central Asia.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> In February 2022, during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, China refused to consider the war in Ukraine as an invasion, and it has blamed the U.S. or President Biden in particular for goading Putin to invade. 🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">ECONOMIC relations between Russia and China demonstrate mixed trends. Until the 2008 crisis interceded. Trade slumped back to around $60 billion in 2015 and 2016 but started to recover again in 2017. Both countries are expecting to raise the trade volume to $200 billion by 2024. In 2008–2009, when Russia experienced a financial crisis, there was a sharp increase in borrowing from China.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Since 2010, China is the largest trading partner of Russia. Significantly, the two countries are also partners in BRICS and RIC (Russia-India-China), which cemented their economic relations. The most telling testament of the economic friendship took place in 2013—when China offered Russia to be part of Belt and Road Initiative.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> This massive project a.k.a. the “New Silk Road” is designed primarily to strengthen economic ties and cooperation and to attract investors from Asia and other parts of the world to actively participate in the creation of an economic belt that is run by the Chinese. The zone should extend from China to Europe through Central Asia and Russia, as it is an important transit logistical link between China and Europe, in which the Beijing-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) may play a significant role.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> In recent years, construction of cross-border infrastructure were stepped up. New Eurasian transport routes are being built as well, including the "Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe" railway and the "Western Europe – Western China" route, which will pass through Russia. In northeast China and the Russian far East, both countries are actively promoting the construction of bridges, ports, and other projects.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> To fortify Beijing and Moscow’s infrastructure deal per BRI, energy agreements were signed. In 2014, they signed a $400 billion gas deal. Starting 2019, Russia plans to provide natural gas to China for the next 30 years.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Two pipelines served this purpose: The Russian Eastern Siberia – Pacific Ocean oil pipeline and the Altai gas pipeline which would link West Siberian fields with the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in western China into northeastern China. 🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-small;">Photo credits: National Geographic. Corriere del Ticino. Russia Travel Specialists.</span></span></p>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-39026570906784660832023-11-04T11:27:00.001-07:002023-11-04T11:27:59.486-07:00MY THOUGHTS About News and Stuff.<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Previously posted on my Facebook Page.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/a/RJfof0N4ajwXGAvtH7RjNQ~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmWDKPP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyMy8wNS8xNi9idXNpbmVzcy9jaGluYS1ldi1iYXR0ZXJ5Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDUzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05Mzc3MCZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNDIyNyZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmRvj611ZPhZ_OZSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="font-family: georgia; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Can the World Make an Electric Car Battery Without China?</span></a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">” And adds: “From mines to refineries and factories, China began investing decades ago. Today, most of your electric car batteries are made in China and that’s unlikely to change soon.” Years before Bill Clinton and Jiang Zemin signed a trade pact in 2000, or when Deng Xiaoping quietly unleashed his “open door economic policy” in the 1970s, China was already diversifying and expanding, globally. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9K49yfeCjDFmlyoO6FM4Yui8hbgnnw-peujdRch8GkMV-_dDiK5Ky2r0pz_7emw9zkhlmexyDiyjQnPgfmWJyRiFjJR4TY_UAKV3JarthaDkaHmt6rpQTH02WYgzv5sMRN3yTh1e2xrFSQzRdcryo0nzZr93Al-J2c5U1yH8CiX8LlclY0tTyagCzOY/s5500/EV2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3667" data-original-width="5500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9K49yfeCjDFmlyoO6FM4Yui8hbgnnw-peujdRch8GkMV-_dDiK5Ky2r0pz_7emw9zkhlmexyDiyjQnPgfmWJyRiFjJR4TY_UAKV3JarthaDkaHmt6rpQTH02WYgzv5sMRN3yTh1e2xrFSQzRdcryo0nzZr93Al-J2c5U1yH8CiX8LlclY0tTyagCzOY/w400-h266/EV2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> As China eases up its manufacturing overdrive to spread FDIs out in relation to the CCP’s grand Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing’s factories have spread in four corners of the earth. Why Taiwan is hot? Think Foxconn, the world's largest technology manufacturer, with factories in 24 countries, the most in China with 12, including the largest in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longhua_Subdistrict,_Shenzhen" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shenzhen</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. 🛻🇨🇳🛵</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “House Passes Debt Limit Bill in Bipartisan Vote to Avert Default.” / “Senate </span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/m7HjYTFiqYC6LTq1ZFaj_g~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmXCbwP0TZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8wMS91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9kZWJ0LWxpbWl0LXNlbmF0ZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTImZW1jPWVkaXRfdGhfMjAyMzA2MDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTQwMjcmbmw9dG9kYXlzaGVhZGxpbmVzJnJlZ2lfaWQ9NjU2Nzk1ODcmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzQ0OTAmdXNlcl9pZD0zYzczNjFkNTY3ZTgwMjc5NGMxMjc0NzJlMWMzYzU1NVcDbnl0QgpkePCheWTrBq2PUhFwYXNja2llQHlhaG9vLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Passes Debt Limit Bill, Staving Off a Calamitous Default</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” As expected, both Houses of Congress passed the bill sans a few revolts in the Senate, fearing an “under-funded” Pentagon. (What?!?) Budget cuts would be around $160 billion. Now the issue: What federal program budgets will be on the chopping board. Congress signed the $113 billion aid to Ukraine late last year, by the way. 🏦🗽🏦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/lKZOAAWGFpP_oDteXMFnZg~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmTaaIP0TgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNS8yMS9idXNpbmVzcy91YmVyLWJvLXlvdW5nLWxlZS1zdXNwZW5kZWQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNTIyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTkzMTY2Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTMzNTc2JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZGKIIWtklshfDFIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Uber’s Diversity Chief Put on Leave After Complaints of Insensitivity</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “The executive hosted sessions about race and being a white woman that were titled `Don’t Call Me Karen,’ prompting an employee uproar.” A Chief Diversity Officer is responsible for designing diversity and inclusion strategy. Ensure equal opportunity for employees across age, gender, race, ethnicity and disability. That position seems like a kind of god to me. Just saying. 🚘😒🚖</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0E9jQLdXovpatWsuBKBlfvjdw1Zd06LL2Wh994GjH2JeB5as9y3gIc5bNfcY6aT2c-l1Cp_QpEBmYxincSL-zPGuvzSEz-hCW1eqYInEgrXVd2Uq-vd2svQb0E565EHifzyjTy_RtYUKCav8AOIeoQarD24bMYad_M_nxmqbGMhuQ8cpAQwbcxATTaY/s994/cars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="994" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0E9jQLdXovpatWsuBKBlfvjdw1Zd06LL2Wh994GjH2JeB5as9y3gIc5bNfcY6aT2c-l1Cp_QpEBmYxincSL-zPGuvzSEz-hCW1eqYInEgrXVd2Uq-vd2svQb0E565EHifzyjTy_RtYUKCav8AOIeoQarD24bMYad_M_nxmqbGMhuQ8cpAQwbcxATTaY/s320/cars.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/1KPcupsFG8spprP1fx6uGg~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmWDKPP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNS8yOS9idXNpbmVzcy9kZWJ0LWNlaWxpbmctYWdyZWVtZW50Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDUzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05Mzc3MCZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNDIyNyZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmRvj611ZPhZ_OZSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New Details in Debt Limit Deal: Where $136 Billion in Cuts Will Come From</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “Two years of spending caps, additional work requirements for food stamps and cuts to I.R.S. funding are among the components in the deal.” The budget cuts would be around $160 billion. Among others, the armed forces expect/s austerity. However, the $113 billion aid for Ukraine, which was approved in 2022, stays. But medical care for veterans would be hit. Sad. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Other affected programs support a wide range of functions and services: Administration of Social Security and Medicare; support for K-12 and college education, Head Start and child care; mental health and substance use treatment; small business assistance; public health programs; clean air and water; medical research; housing assistance for families with low incomes; law enforcement and the courts; and many others. 🏦💵🏦</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/rP9B2XtZJZ0nwgcyTPG1mA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmVuENP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNS8yNy9idXNpbmVzcy9lY29ub215L2JpZGVuLWluZG8tcGFjaWZpYy10cmFkZS1kZWFsLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDUyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05MzcxNSZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNDE3MiZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmRwDVx0ZAiri9lSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biden Administration Announces Indo-Pacific Deal…” </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but prominent business groups said the deal fell short on “reducing tariffs and other trade barriers.” Biden’s negotiators face a tough grind on the table since most of those allies are already members of the China-led RCEP bloc, since Nov 2020. First, lose the Taiwan intrigue. The East isn’t high on disruptive hawkish girth, regardless of territorial jostling in South China Sea. Then let trade talks commence! </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0jEOJ54efZCiA918IipsJXL4mzbvl3x2Xj-gWQq_aAMUzCkZ5_FUoI7023QJQswNEos-YEKfnqKLBqH5upq1JRD2tdIEKRXXHzglyrYUoepvhMTN3xECT39IxipIlP1UtEXHS1VMrr7vqdoBtdhFrJlTJnxj2BUipXOTcw5cLDSwiUZUh8cSPDc0quk/s2560/US%20versus%20China%20in%20trade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1656" data-original-width="2560" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0jEOJ54efZCiA918IipsJXL4mzbvl3x2Xj-gWQq_aAMUzCkZ5_FUoI7023QJQswNEos-YEKfnqKLBqH5upq1JRD2tdIEKRXXHzglyrYUoepvhMTN3xECT39IxipIlP1UtEXHS1VMrr7vqdoBtdhFrJlTJnxj2BUipXOTcw5cLDSwiUZUh8cSPDc0quk/s320/US%20versus%20China%20in%20trade.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_trade_agreement" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">free trade agreement</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> among the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia-Pacific" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Asia-Pacific</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> nations of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Australia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunei" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brunei</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cambodia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">China</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Indonesia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Japan</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">South Korea</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laos" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laos</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Malaysia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Myanmar</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New Zealand</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philippines</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Singapore</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thailand</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vietna</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">m. The 15 member countries account for 30 percent of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_world_product" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">global GD</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">P, making it the largest </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_bloc" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">trade bloc</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in history. RCEP is the first free trade agreement among the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Asian_countries_by_GDP" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">largest economies in Asia</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, including China, Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea. 🏢☮️🏢</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/wLoJrUOsdvz2_y8Vwhg-KQ~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmTFUKP4QWAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjMvMDUvMTkvdGVjaG5vbG9neS9haS1nZW5lcmF0ZWQtY29udGVudC1kaXNjb3ZlcmVkLW9uLW5ld3Mtc2l0ZXMtY29udGVudC1mYXJtcy1hbmQtcHJvZHVjdC1yZXZpZXdzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDUyMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05MzExMyZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzMzUxNiZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmRiCtBpZHPEhnxSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A.I.-Generated Content Discovered on News Sites, Content Farms and Product Reviews</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” New reports raise fresh concerns over how artificial intelligence may transform the misinformation landscape online. While some countries embrace </span><a href="https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-use-openai-chatgpt-text-generation-chatbot/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ChatGPT and AI tools</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, others lean hard on regulation. Countries that have banned ChatGPT: Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba, Iran, Syria, and Italy. I am not Communist, Muslim, or Italian but if I am a country, I’ll ban AI, too. 🤖📜🤖</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Smithsonian: “The Shipwrecked Teenager Who Helped End Japan's Isolationist Era.” And adds: “Manjiro spent time abroad before returning home, where he was valued for his expertise but never fully trusted.” Was Manjiro a spy? History: The Perry Expedition of 1853-54. The goal was to force an end to Japan's 220-year isolationism and open Japanese ports to American trade, through the use of “gunboat diplomacy.” Pretty much “trade with us or else…” </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Japan’s Edo period, the time when borders remained closed for almost three centuries until 1868. This allowed the country's unique culture, customs and ways of life to flourish in isolation, much of which was recorded in art forms that remain alive today such as haiku poetry or kabuki theater. 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ao-F2DeEasQxQYUasL-qySyWgZJNaS8QD2IuaNwiCRjar4HOEdP98ciTqQMeDvfvL8POGwWTaKhr6aT6Ku4RBCuaQIm0PnR7QfPRcxztzddSOEImNuVyt3ePcs-18-ZdJHcL9inU9bGrSaOLGocYop_G8vOO9ODBmZOQbvjz4xA9VmzQD2D2ThU9bqo/s1000/japan%20peace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1000" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ao-F2DeEasQxQYUasL-qySyWgZJNaS8QD2IuaNwiCRjar4HOEdP98ciTqQMeDvfvL8POGwWTaKhr6aT6Ku4RBCuaQIm0PnR7QfPRcxztzddSOEImNuVyt3ePcs-18-ZdJHcL9inU9bGrSaOLGocYop_G8vOO9ODBmZOQbvjz4xA9VmzQD2D2ThU9bqo/s320/japan%20peace.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/7keirXGhCddPN0ITBtpjEA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmTFUKP0TaaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNS8yMC9ueXJlZ2lvbi9tYXJpanVhbmEtZHJpdmluZy1ueWMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNTIxJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTkzMTEzJm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTMzNTE2JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZGIK0Glkc8SGfFIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why It’s So Hard to Crack Down on Stoned Drivers in New York</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” And adds: “Smoking marijuana while operating a vehicle appears to have become ubiquitous in New York City after the drug’s legalization. But it’s a trend, though illegal, that’s not easy to curb.” I’d be clobbered here if I diss the weed. I don’t, LOL! Anyhow, many believe alcohol is different from marijuana. Yes. Trudat. But when abused, all I see is intoxication, drunk or stoned. Either, I don’t dig at all. 🥹🚗🥴</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/7LmkPMgJ5OtQ9rqjDTmROA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmVuENP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNS8yOC93b3JsZC9taWRkbGVlYXN0L2Vkb3JnYW4tZWxlY3Rpb24tdHVya2V5Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MiZlbWM9ZWRpdF90aF8yMDIzMDUyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05MzcxNSZubD10b2RheXNoZWFkbGluZXMmcmVnaV9pZD02NTY3OTU4NyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNDE3MiZ1c2VyX2lkPTNjNzM2MWQ1NjdlODAyNzk0YzEyNzQ3MmUxYzNjNTU1VwNueXRCCmRwDVx0ZAiri9lSEXBhc2NraWVAeWFob28uY29tWAQAAAAA" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite Inflation, Earthquakes and Tough Race, Erdogan Is Re-elected</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a fave punching bag of the West. But the truth is, Turkey is significant to global/regional peace. Turkey borders Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, and is a key partner for U.S. policy in the surrounding region. A security buffer in Europe, and the seas bordering Somalia, and in the Mediterranean. Yet Erdogan is no yes man.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> While the West boasts of housing huge numbers of refugees, Turkey hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees, the most for any country. Ankara has delivered aid reaching $30 billion (total between 2011 and 2018) on refugee assistance. As a member of NATO since 1952, Turkey has the second largest army. But the country is the sole dissenting vote in the military alliance that is why Erdogan (president since 2014) riles the U.S./Europe a lot. He is a hardball. News adds: “Recep Tayyip Erdogan has given few indications that he intends to change course at home, where he faces a looming economic crisis, or in foreign policy, where he has vexed Western allies.” 🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times: “</span><a href="https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/nmlLBx_XBiwPZU1u5M5Irw~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmVZG_P0TaaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNS8yOC9ueXJlZ2lvbi9ob2NodWwtZGVsYXdhcmUtbm9ydGguaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0yJmVtYz1lZGl0X3RoXzIwMjMwNTI4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTkzNjc1Jm5sPXRvZGF5c2hlYWRsaW5lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTY1Njc5NTg3JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM0MTE1JnVzZXJfaWQ9M2M3MzYxZDU2N2U4MDI3OTRjMTI3NDcyZTFjM2M1NTVXA255dEIKZHC_DHNkAXF8NVIRcGFzY2tpZUB5YWhvby5jb21YBAAAAAA~" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite Hochul’s Pledge, Her Policies Have Helped Husband’s Firm</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” Kathy Hochul says she has taken no role per decisions that benefited her hubby’s Delaware North company. Hmmm. Remember, she also used state aircraft 140 times between last August and March 31 of this year at a cost to taxpayers of upwards of $170,000. What about her proposal to build sports arenas with taxpayer money? Ms </span><a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/172280/kathy-hochul-worse-andrew-cuomo" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hochul could be worse for New York than Andrew Cuomo.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 👎🗽👎</span></span></p>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-12414946438325818562023-10-14T12:29:00.000-07:002023-10-14T12:29:41.559-07:00More AI Blah.<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Facebook Homepage Response: AI Stuff. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">JUST the word "illusion," that AI generates and many seemingly are fond of, doesn't move me. "Artificial" to me is close to saying "fake." Of course, AI can perfect (verb) art, photography, music, literature. But do I like "perfect," nope. I am an imperfect human being with no illusion of perfection. Existence is it. Not a robot. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> Example, the excitement of mere anticipation of a poetry workshop gathering then was to experience knowing flaws in your work and then try to fix it for next week. If poetry is perfect why the hell write one? AI can do it. What happens to the poet? Zombie? LOL!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyAzs77a5jCmhRbjj45UUHxj2qkI9CnwdYngqj6-L4YTx6xkft5DeabXSjmch2_NMs6hmaAjR6IuOP4X5Gdc_rpO_Xaq0GNGteSVzGbjM5oLPaNu9MAJ32A629iarBSOrejZkQlhdy1O7eJJ_G1mtE_dNYT8zAcx9fhPKxKYRt-zOAA9FjsZKbBr7o2g/s1200/AI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyAzs77a5jCmhRbjj45UUHxj2qkI9CnwdYngqj6-L4YTx6xkft5DeabXSjmch2_NMs6hmaAjR6IuOP4X5Gdc_rpO_Xaq0GNGteSVzGbjM5oLPaNu9MAJ32A629iarBSOrejZkQlhdy1O7eJJ_G1mtE_dNYT8zAcx9fhPKxKYRt-zOAA9FjsZKbBr7o2g/w400-h320/AI.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">MACHINES are fine. Wooden cart to bicycle to horse/carriage to Toyota Sedan. Firewood to clay kiln to LPG stove to microwaves. Slingshot to sword to 22 Magnum to missiles etc (which is NOT okay though). But today's AI covers practically all facets or reflexes of human existence, including war machinery or conflict technology. Plus the resources wasted in pursuit and consumption of AI? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> When the fact is we haven't even lessened the basic or gut needs of humanity such as hunger and homelessness and sickness or prevention of deadly diseases. Not here to influence people about how I view AI though. Just speaking my mind. Yet since AI or far-out technology is owned and controlled by global 1 Percent, AI will eventually rule the world. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> If I am still alive by then, I will still be speaking/writing my mind against it. 🤖👎🤖</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I DON’T see the sense in "perfecting" human existence via current computer technology or Artificial Intelligence. We are by nature flawed, "incomplete," fragile etcetera and so the pursuit of a level of "contentment" per level of progression or stages of life makes living worth, well, living. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncg2P9hiFqrFVo9wPCei2s1UBbZVYMTK-dQX4_D-_LltQrDKulcxNx8z_UAI7tCvspZFLg_NueETg37ovukEgsQHaIz1rrKTL8WYsZk5Ok3Vsk2oKvvOeFMioaCEm88DXi_2Rn9gRvy8dDDZ6f09vy9hWydaBma0SMyq6TMcZ1EalrJoGAkkrMe14AHw/s1600/AI%20writer.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1600" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncg2P9hiFqrFVo9wPCei2s1UBbZVYMTK-dQX4_D-_LltQrDKulcxNx8z_UAI7tCvspZFLg_NueETg37ovukEgsQHaIz1rrKTL8WYsZk5Ok3Vsk2oKvvOeFMioaCEm88DXi_2Rn9gRvy8dDDZ6f09vy9hWydaBma0SMyq6TMcZ1EalrJoGAkkrMe14AHw/s320/AI%20writer.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> If a machine a.k.a. AI can do everything, what is the point in human labor or human intellect? I mean, if I get a better car that could stand snowstorm or flood during travel, why not? But I don't need a car that drives by itself because driving with human hands is an integral part of the “drive activity.” If I only earn 5 and then gets extra 15 next week as bonus, my joy is enjoyed (ha!) but I am sure "joy" would be less if the struggle is out of the equation of work. Because I already got 5s and 15s 155x more than my lifetime requires. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The sublimity in writing poetry and crafting art is in the process that is why it is called achievement. Etc etcetera. Besides, are AI or technology free? Can AI stop a war over making destruction and killing faster and easier and in heightened impunity? Can AI feed all the hungry, house all the homeless, heal all the sick, or stop a natural disaster? Certainly not. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Yet all the money spent, just for R&D of new AI-enhanced tech, which are billions$, can do a lot to fix crises while we are still living imperfect lives. Because the world or earth is imperfect, anyways. 🤖👎🤖</span></p><div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-68208712866343280212023-09-26T10:54:00.000-07:002023-09-26T10:54:02.614-07:00 Sinophobia and Another Lockdown? <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Facebook Homepage Response, reposted via blog.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">LEST I'd be labeled as conspiracy theorist, I don't think another covid-induced lockdown is warranted. Or the people will bite into another freeze in life. But the China factor stays as a loud narrative. But not because of the Sinophobic reasoning that the virus was induced by the Chinese. The current political chess game that Washington under President Joe Biden imposes points to lessen (trade) dependence on China although thousands of U.S. corporations are presently active out there and thousands more import products and raw materials from China. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQXY7OvY_UGeT8Qw02EfQTBV789XTyIYyGIFUE4Jk7l15w6N98msrX3a0dRP0Ui1e8hdhrgjGewWBFzziZXcb9JKg-0jdZO1e9ktvH43Y6ePWIaG3rWZRlJqynuuvTFRsA5uE6iKI4Uokr9a1G7NsR8wWjZNXOifhwlrq7uAKta2Z15ANe-pE0JH6Jl4/s1100/sinophobia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1100" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQXY7OvY_UGeT8Qw02EfQTBV789XTyIYyGIFUE4Jk7l15w6N98msrX3a0dRP0Ui1e8hdhrgjGewWBFzziZXcb9JKg-0jdZO1e9ktvH43Y6ePWIaG3rWZRlJqynuuvTFRsA5uE6iKI4Uokr9a1G7NsR8wWjZNXOifhwlrq7uAKta2Z15ANe-pE0JH6Jl4/w400-h300/sinophobia.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Although U.S. deficit with China has been considerably cut to $65.0 billion, still America is in trade imbalance with its rival, which enjoys a massive surplus of $857 billion. Meanwhile, China is not a top investor in the U.S. The largest investing country in the U.S. is Canada, followed by the United Kingdom, France. China is not even in the top 10. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The “Made in China” that we continually buy on retail are imports by U.S. companies. We are buying American products and merch that were bought from China, so this is American profit already. 🥹🇨🇳😌</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">ANOTHER lockdown means economic activity slows, not just purchase/price of and availability of consumer products that are mostly on retail but including gasoline, utilities, mortgage/real estate, private health care/insurance, interest rates etc. Why? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> As the US tries to pull out of China and maybe turn to India as fallback and/or homebased factories are reactivated, naturally profit margins of U.S. corporations will suffer. They need to adjust, if ever they oblige. Yet per free trade, a government can’t impose private companies from importing etc unless war happens between the U.S. and China, which I doubt. Yet we should know sanction on Russia per Ukraine didn't really work.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> In other words, the U.S. needs a massive reset to rearrange global economics to levels pre-21st century. Hence, another virus lockdown predicated on anti China seems a strategic pitch. Bring the world back to Cold War. But this is not 1970s anymore. China and Russia and India or BRICS has balanced geopolitical power. They have gathered their own formidable allies, including oil powerhouse Saudi Arabia. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> If ever manufacturing and oil drilling go back home, and maybe prices etc will go back down after years of adjustment as surplus gains over deficit. Last year the U.S. has a trade surplus was in 1975. Besides, return to manufacturing poses contradiction to Washington’s “climate change” policies. China, Russia etc supply raw materials and pertinent minerals to almost all things that we consume. Drugs and roofings and car batteries plus their massive workforce are super cheap. And because their environmental "laws" aren't as stringent or strict as ours, business there is easy. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> And so another lockdown? I don't know. Billions$ of taxpayer money are already handed to Ukraine and more will go out as the U.S. ups the security intrigue red flag vs China. And we are heading to austerity measures per debt limit in the next FY. (China holds 2nd largest chunk of US external debt.) And it's all because of the unfounded fear or narcissism that China threatens America’s stature as world's #1? I don't think the Chinese want to be #1. They simply want to sell stuff. And we haven't really stopped buying. 🥹🇨🇳😌</span></p><div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-28146572576764405372023-08-31T12:19:00.007-07:002023-09-01T11:29:06.204-07:00Power. Taxes. Freedom of Speech. <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Facebook ramblings, years ago. Unedited, mostly. So some thoughts evolved. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">IN this world of power tilts, surprising realigments and contradictions, Kremlin's machinations via WikiLeaks fed the fire inside the Democratic front by widening the crack between Bernheads (socialists) and Hillarysts (centrists)--thus dividing the camp so the ruling class rules again. It worked. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjkegqzpx6lK69C58atgcl0e9UTcNoExeHyz6r-18n3-n7wVQchpM2rDPdnKkTOK93FHhbkcWXIPigSMqQ5An23yn8WMhfZzg6Ts5t8team-cSA0Umzc2Tlc0BUuMXQlfsjsVWxuvq5FofFerWXGC_LSBP9Bbhuekqd5XS_3XNwQCNyyol1AFYk0Q2tI/s772/US%20politicz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="772" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjkegqzpx6lK69C58atgcl0e9UTcNoExeHyz6r-18n3-n7wVQchpM2rDPdnKkTOK93FHhbkcWXIPigSMqQ5An23yn8WMhfZzg6Ts5t8team-cSA0Umzc2Tlc0BUuMXQlfsjsVWxuvq5FofFerWXGC_LSBP9Bbhuekqd5XS_3XNwQCNyyol1AFYk0Q2tI/w400-h266/US%20politicz.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Trump is in power. Russia entered WTO in 2012 (okayed by Congress which were generally Republican) which means Russia has a say now in sale of crude oil to the US and elsewhere. Vladimir Putin aligned with Donald Trump because, among other things, Trump eases up taxing the rich (investors = Russians and Chinese). Meantime, oil whether it is Opec or Russia is gold to the Koch brothers. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Another backgrounder. George Soros aligned himself with Hillary from PAC days and even funded groups on the left side like Black Lives Matter and cannabis legalization to balance the brinkmanship internally and win the progressives—as what he did in the 90s in Southeast Asia by derailing Asean's march to less reliance or independence from the West (West = OPEC oil and security machinations in South China Sea). Russia and Indonesia (who's got oil) are non-OPEC members. Russian oil companies owe Chinese banks lotsa money. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Before elections, Soros was in Indonesia, HQ of Asean—which was always anti-Washington (Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar etc). How does Duterte and Trump play up in all these? Russia-China-US 1 percent matrix. Beijing operates behind the scenes as always in regards US affairs—but Kremlin has a poster boy in Putin. PR-wise Russia is less evil than China these days in the eyes of American heartland. Duterte-China, Russia-Washington/Trump. Meanwhile Soros regroups. That's how I see it. Irrelevant what kind of drivel or twaddle comes out of the mouths of Beavis and Butt-head.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">TAXES. Taxes are such an issue. But it's not entirely that bad if taxes translate to increased social program accessibility—like in the cases of Belgium, The Netherlands, Denmark, Austria and Japan where total tax rates are around 50 percent and more per capita income. <br /><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6qa_RKcCpqMjEhvAgnRW1iY0ndQRZ5s90wL1nB_5jPHlkU1ffEKqgI5s5nYURecBLZ33zk2xzepeW-VmG8KpooLWyE2DwBgx7RHeonok-S3etW9WbUVc4oNkPbivugBRLhsHCo7tAe5QONxRtiq328KmulrA6R-mGFNIHWWV5reqgWDo9npEHRjUlfU/s4032/peace%20in%20US.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6qa_RKcCpqMjEhvAgnRW1iY0ndQRZ5s90wL1nB_5jPHlkU1ffEKqgI5s5nYURecBLZ33zk2xzepeW-VmG8KpooLWyE2DwBgx7RHeonok-S3etW9WbUVc4oNkPbivugBRLhsHCo7tAe5QONxRtiq328KmulrA6R-mGFNIHWWV5reqgWDo9npEHRjUlfU/s320/peace%20in%20US.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Fact check to Donald Trump. The highest taxed nation is not the US. Argentina (but I desist from discussing that for now). Tax rate per capita in the US is 24 percent. But Canadians are taxed lesser at 21 percent. The Canadian province of Manitoba has a 0 percent corporation tax rate for small businesses. In most surveys however Canada ranks No. 1 overall for providing a good quality of life. The country is tops for its well-developed education system, job market. In fact, Canada was rated in the top five in all but one of the nine attributes – affordability, where Asian countries dominated.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Meantime, wanna know that in rich Qatar, tax rate is just 11.3 percent! Lamborghinis and Ferraris rule the parking lots out there with camels. No kidding. But seriously where I'd pursue business (in case I end my American journey)? Singapore. A low tax rate of 18.4 percent. Many companies from around the world choose Singapore as a base for their Asian operations.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">FREEDOM of speech. I know. We know. No one stops no one from speaking their mind. So I will—and continue to invite unfriending, of course. I couldn't wrap my mind with this absurdity of absurdities. This is directed to Democrats or progressives/liberals who boycotted the election because they were overcome with anger and grief that Bernie Sanders wasn't chosen to carry the Party banner against Donald Trump—or to those who voted the 3rd candidate as a form of subtle protest that their bet didn't make it instead. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I posted time and again that the pre-election signs or forecast were pretty much even. Hillary Clinton needed the Sanders votes. I assume that Sanders supporters knew that—and the larger assumption or certainty is Trump will clobber Clinton if the other half of the Democrat throng don't participate. It was either Trump or Clinton, it's as simple as that. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Now I don't see the point why Sanders supporters are so noisy that Trump is the new President. I wonder wouldn't they be noisier or less noisy if it's Clinton? For me this not just a crack on the left side of the road—the damage is a lot worse than that. It also magnifies a national problem that is even beyond what the current protest is shouting. Their fear of hate, racism, misogyny etc under Trump is overtaken by the fear of a collective weakness to fight hate, racism, misogyny because those who profess to fight them are more concerned with individual end than the welfare of the majority. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> A divided people is a divided country, tempest in the yard is the ruin of the house. Yet since the Conservatives/Right seems tighter and bonded, I could see that if their President fails to deliver what he promised, it's them—those who voted for him—will be the power that'll bring him down not those who didn't. Why? Because they are united as a people. </span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Facebook ramblings, years ago. Unedited, mostly. So some thoughts evolved. “Power. Taxes. Freedom of Speech.”</span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Facebook ramblings, years ago. Unedited, mostly. So some thoughts evolved. “Power. Taxes. Freedom of Speech.” </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">🧐😎🤨</span></p>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-75155675778154849862023-08-28T10:35:00.002-07:002023-08-28T10:35:26.272-07:00Oil and Pipelines.<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">MY take on News. Past Facebook posts. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">OIL and natural gas companies will continue, exponentially earning. Especially that these giants are owned by private corporations. Same with oil-rich Middle East. Nonstop. In fact, even as the war in Ukraine continues and sanctions on Russia are imposed by the U.S. and most of Europe, Energy resource deals are ongoing.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBQVZb2Pk0mXNREkiUOcRGLA2STnIdhyzzZQlIB9HCwEpvoh7lf8i1-7OxsMz5MfnnvGHC9sg2KEp6e3zBmMb5YsIGaAMDnb5O09wXUxZ030x-JHxrR5TUEQO-V_kRy5DlZT3xywmlRSWYanP8jWYPheVEJbgAwjldgl0d-nGwAbUfYXnjtzzz-p4HkU/s1237/oil%20drilling1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1237" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBQVZb2Pk0mXNREkiUOcRGLA2STnIdhyzzZQlIB9HCwEpvoh7lf8i1-7OxsMz5MfnnvGHC9sg2KEp6e3zBmMb5YsIGaAMDnb5O09wXUxZ030x-JHxrR5TUEQO-V_kRy5DlZT3xywmlRSWYanP8jWYPheVEJbgAwjldgl0d-nGwAbUfYXnjtzzz-p4HkU/w400-h215/oil%20drilling1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> News on 3/31/2022: “OPEC and Russia are set to meet as the war continues to roil the oil market.” Big producers seem to be sticking to modest output raises and alliance with Russia. No brainer why the Middle East didn’t join the U.S./E.U. collective whip versus Moscow for the invasion. Economic although war, especially prolonged war, is mostly bad for energy business or business per se. Except for the merchants of war, of course.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Meantime, in America: “Biden will tap oil reserve, hoping to push gasoline prices down.” The plan would mean release of crude reserves daily for six months—or up to 180 million barrels in all, over 180 days, aimed at helping “ease prices at the pump.” The price per gallon hasn’t really moved in about 2 weeks since the start of Ukraine tempest on Feb 24: At around $4 average.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I am not an economist, and definitely, I am no oil price expert. So I wonder out loud: By tapping U.S. oil reserves, it’d mean lower gas prices? Let’s see and that’d be awesome. But then, fact is, the U.S. is already #1 in oil production globally since 2016. Yet we still import oil/crude oil from 73 countries. Russia was #4 U.S. importer before Vladimir Putin got infuriated and earned a sanction. Yet even if we kick Moscow out, doesn’t America already got lotsa oil?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Or this is the rationale post-Ukraine War (please let it end) because the end has just justified the means? Now let’s wait and see if gasoline cost/s per gallon go down to 2019 levels or at least the 7.9 inflation rate is cut in half. ⛽️⚓️⛽️</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">AT the time that I typed this post up, gasoline cost per gallon was at $4.22 average. Remember, it was $2.41 in 2017; $2.74 in 2018; $2.60 in 2019; $2.17 in 2020. On Bidentime, in 2021: #3.15, the lowest cost.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_mNJrrazIsYrHfTdkm2KDWSzhE7wJ7Ad5eC6CeXgBogYImqQ3t9xhwbkPo6SvCGusHnZlpjkRmyIaXXLdGQPUQurqbapGBdsBztKQ8HTKLqLr8JHXusVSad6lR4uIYbr18OGXL5mPOV7Mng2N6EISMUwu2iue0FlaveIJ6M5C_s5BPDsVXFVZpbR3f4/s1000/oil%20drilling2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_mNJrrazIsYrHfTdkm2KDWSzhE7wJ7Ad5eC6CeXgBogYImqQ3t9xhwbkPo6SvCGusHnZlpjkRmyIaXXLdGQPUQurqbapGBdsBztKQ8HTKLqLr8JHXusVSad6lR4uIYbr18OGXL5mPOV7Mng2N6EISMUwu2iue0FlaveIJ6M5C_s5BPDsVXFVZpbR3f4/s320/oil%20drilling2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Sure, Saudi Arabia and Russia are wrestling per price. OPEC and U.S. are pretty much in the thick of the market haggling as well. No brainer since the U.S. and Saudi Arabia/Russia are #1 and #2 (#3) in oil production and oil export.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Yet look at South America’s average: Below a dollar. Oil-rich Middle East, a bit higher than in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela et al but still below 1 dollar. Russia, amidst war? $2.10. (Add info: Moscow’s oil industry is state-owned. All oil trunk pipelines, except Caspian Pipeline Consortium, are owned and operated by the government’s monopoly Transneft and oil products pipeline are owned and operated by its subsidiary Transnefteproduct.)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Meanwhile, gasoline cost in Europe has always been high so the $5.79 in the U.K., $5.57 in Germany, and $5.54 in France aren’t really so big deal. (Those numbers are last week’s figures.) But let’s see what’s up next per stoppage of supply from its #1 supplier Russia.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> It’d be an understatement to say that the U.S. aimed to grab the top spot as Europe’s oil/gas importer from Russia. So this announcement from the Biden administration of release of U.S. reserves clearly points to impending demands from Washington allies’ in the region.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Another thing that confounds me is the extent of United States’ inflation rate, which is now at 7.9 percent. Norway, which is also a bigtime energy exporter: 2.7 percent inflation—although the European average is 6.20 percent. In case you are wondering, inflation in China is 2.2 percent. ⛽️⚓️⛽️</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">TO sort of aid the gasoline problem in the U.S., I read posts and memes that suggest reactivation or lifting of suspension of the Keystone XL pipeline.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9G6xaZhj-qx4YTMCKPBtNjKTpUjAozq0W5xatXxzjgq3Ka1KsQhctbGqHIlDQ6r__iITWT_B3cQY3TS305LWOcWSFxYsTUIoVShSQdXmQoQwwgBEM6i26YHuu6cWVVKjAO19_5DBCqDdiFx6LXNFOT2B-lieKZ9qrDD-u4zZYn9y7ih7i910IULelHCc/s2657/oil%20drilling3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1772" data-original-width="2657" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9G6xaZhj-qx4YTMCKPBtNjKTpUjAozq0W5xatXxzjgq3Ka1KsQhctbGqHIlDQ6r__iITWT_B3cQY3TS305LWOcWSFxYsTUIoVShSQdXmQoQwwgBEM6i26YHuu6cWVVKjAO19_5DBCqDdiFx6LXNFOT2B-lieKZ9qrDD-u4zZYn9y7ih7i910IULelHCc/s320/oil%20drilling3.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The proposed Phase IV, Keystone XL Pipeline, would have connected the Phase I-pipeline terminals in Hardisty, Alberta, and Steele City, Nebraska, by a shorter route and a larger-diameter pipe. It would have run through Baker, Montana, where American-produced light crude oil from the Williston Basin of Montana and North Dakota would have been added to the Keystone's throughput of synthetic crude oil and diluted bitumen from the oil sands of Canada. And so on and so forth.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Said pipeline attracted opposition from environmentalists. In 2015 it was temporarily delayed by Obama. In 2017, Trump took action intended to permit the pipeline's completion. But when Biden sat in White House, he signed an executive order to revoke the permit.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> However, I don’t really see much significance of Keystone XL’s pipeline vis a vis America’s flood of oil. You see, there are 70 operating oil and gas pipelines that cross the Canada-US border: 31 oil and 39 natural gas. There are 16 operating pipelines which transport other commodities.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The United States is also home to the greatest number of oil and gas pipelines in the world. As of December 2020, there were 185 operational oil pipelines in the country and a further 34 under development.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> So why the high cost of energy, again? I don’t blame oil/gas titans per se. I blame economic management by a country’s leadership. There. ⛽️⚓️⛽️</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-small;">Photo credits: Wikipedia. BOP Products.</span></span></p>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-38603357324395444832023-08-23T15:50:00.000-07:002023-08-23T15:50:11.698-07:00POSTED years ago. Racism, sexism and xenophobia during the campaign. <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">AFTER-election thoughts that I shared in another friend's Wall, on the subject of racism, sexism and xenophobia during the campaign. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">IF majority or all of those who voted for Donald Trump are racist, sexist and xenophobic “as their leader,” and then the leader won--then something is really ailing with America. Really bad. Not the government or President-elect per se but its own people. These are Americans as in heartland America. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">And if we study the demographics, these are mostly Americans who got ran over to poverty in the last ten or 20 years. That hardship pulled their American-ness out of the hole--because they found a voice. They don't see their America anymore in retail stores, in media, in a politically-correct pop culture, in basic structures of society--especially when America masterminded the entry of China then Russia to WTO and let globalization dance for utmost benefit of the 1 Percent. </span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65X_8Z3-SoDdhT8hDiiUE_NNeKB7M9x46bNvH_nS0CpNTxuEbIAsbfBOAKVo6bpXwxPno5DvybK6Vtr8Z9Y2Xahfci8bS9rO7kpYxLhQpQ2SjSEPJaDU6oRtuGHF5zmBBy4jbLQRr7Al8h6eorQRxyHY1gf3ADt8TGZZANn7ZImHB0Wuo1AYVBVuNOdk/s1320/US%20elections2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1320" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65X_8Z3-SoDdhT8hDiiUE_NNeKB7M9x46bNvH_nS0CpNTxuEbIAsbfBOAKVo6bpXwxPno5DvybK6Vtr8Z9Y2Xahfci8bS9rO7kpYxLhQpQ2SjSEPJaDU6oRtuGHF5zmBBy4jbLQRr7Al8h6eorQRxyHY1gf3ADt8TGZZANn7ZImHB0Wuo1AYVBVuNOdk/w400-h225/US%20elections2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> So when a “despot” like Trump came out swinging, they heard some of their muffled voice in his rhetoric. They don't see good life in another Democrat. They don't see good like in another Republican like Bush either. They see it in someone who promises a new order by spouting an anti-GOP girth and f—k the corporations/let's reclaim America bombast--who also didn't have a public office portfolio which only fired up his line. That's how Adolph Hitler rose to power--by appealing to the disenfranchised German majority who's been relegated to the background. And he rescued the economy in the next 4 or 6 years--before got totally insane. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> In America, in the polar extreme of disgruntled America--are those who opted for Bernie Sanders who promised his throng a sociopolitical system that hasn't been tried in the US (not even with FDR's New Deal in mid-1900s), the same "voice" that Trump sounded albeit on a different sociocultural spectrum. A new system. Those voices communicated with a disgruntled mass--polar extremes but those were the words that many wanted. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Hillary Clinton is a centrist. So they didn't see her as their messenger or deliverer--it's more the ethnic communities who liked Clinton. The difference though in terms of Trump/Sanders voters, Trumps went out to vote but Bern people opted not to--which is tactically flawed. Truth is, it's either Trump or Hillary for president--but by dividing the Dem's vote, that'd only catapult the GOP bet to presidency, which happened. Meanwhile, I observe many arguments and discussion on Facebook--and I can say both sides exude both rude and disrespectful tact. That was a nasty election--and not just because the Conservatives are nasty--it's because it is general nasty. And social media gave people somehow the "license" to talk ill of these candidates and their followers. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> I am called moron and idiot and stupid by Bern followers and "go home to your Third World dump!" (my country of birth is not 3rd world) by Trump fanatics although all I did was present facts. Bottomline, it comes down to who got a mass base that was intact despite partyline schism, Donald Trump. While the Democrats need to go back to the drawing board how to instill partyline allegiance from its mass base and leadership. It's after all a united front that instills power, whether it is by means of democratic elections or revolution. Which the Democrats/progressives failed to show. That for me is worrisome. </span><span class="x1xsqp64 xiy17q3 x1o6pynw x19co3pv xdj266r xcwd3tp xat24cr x39eecv x2b8uid" data-testid="emoji" style="background-image: url("https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tf/1.5/20/1f9d0.png"); background-size: 20px 20px; cursor: default;"><span class="xexx8yu xn5pp95 x18d9i69 x2fxd7x x1yqt14a x1bhl96m">🧐</span></span><span class="x1xsqp64 xiy17q3 x1o6pynw x19co3pv xdj266r xcwd3tp xat24cr x39eecv x2b8uid" data-testid="emoji" style="background-image: url("https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/te5/1.5/20/1f913.png"); background-size: 20px 20px; cursor: default;"><span class="xexx8yu xn5pp95 x18d9i69 x2fxd7x x1yqt14a x1bhl96m">🤓</span></span><span class="x1xsqp64 xiy17q3 x1o6pynw x19co3pv xdj266r xcwd3tp xat24cr x39eecv x2b8uid" data-testid="emoji" style="background-image: url("https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tb5/1.5/20/1f60e.png"); background-size: 20px 20px; cursor: default;"><span class="xexx8yu xn5pp95 x18d9i69 x2fxd7x x1yqt14a x1bhl96m">😎</span></span></p>PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-5259849876215375092014-10-19T14:15:00.003-07:002014-10-19T14:19:50.964-07:00The Indie. Oct 15 to Nov 15, 2014. Vol 10, Number 3. <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOvtjXXG2PmJdSG-GKa1TC-pLbXsQMgUFVzbkgjBFNozlLDZhZc8IJZHj6-cH24I7J9atyP9zd0BNM_NbjWTMX9VDZEcoh8MKHZy_-Z9tcI0I1uAaU2rNIuYze09DzlyUPmmQjaACoXw/s1600/IMG_0693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOvtjXXG2PmJdSG-GKa1TC-pLbXsQMgUFVzbkgjBFNozlLDZhZc8IJZHj6-cH24I7J9atyP9zd0BNM_NbjWTMX9VDZEcoh8MKHZy_-Z9tcI0I1uAaU2rNIuYze09DzlyUPmmQjaACoXw/s1600/IMG_0693.JPG" height="268" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>[1]
FOOD:</b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Noi's Thai Kitchen serves it hot, healthy, delicious and to your
individual liking</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Breakfasting at Sunny Point (by Marta Osborne)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.16in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>[2]
COMMUNITY:</b></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Hickory Nut Gap: Food, Family, Community</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Community Soundboard (letter to editor)</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>[3]
MUSIC/ARTS: </b></span>
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Caleb Beissert: Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Jaime Lauren Webb: Ethereal, Warm, Contemplative</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>[4]
COLUMNS:</b></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Herbal Moon, Hearts & Hearth/Chris Wagoner</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Elderberry
and Wild Cherry</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Babedawgs and Koolcats</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Seven
Reasons Why Chloe is a Unique Babedawg</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
From the Bookshelf/Matthew Mulder</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Glimmering
Coming-of-age Story (“Drinking Until Morning” by Justin Grimbol)</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Renegade Reel/Duane Lucas Pascua</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Moral
Exercise in Lawful Conflict (“A Separation,” a film by Ssghar
Farhadi)</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Economics, Beyond America/Donna Phoebe Pascua</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Schooling
in an Emerging Economy</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Like a Rolling Stone/Pasckie Pascua</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Connecting
the Dots: A Traveler's Guide</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>[5]
ADS:</b></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
The Blotter, ¼</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
West End Bakery, 1/8</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Diamond Thieves Body Piercing & Tattoo, ¼</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Mellow Mushroom, ¼</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Rosetta's Kitchen, 1/8</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Noi's Thai Kitchen, ¼ color</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Athens Locally Grown, ¼ color</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Moonflower Botanicals, business card</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
LEAF, full-page/back page color</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
AND house ads</span></div>
PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-91695677606335381922014-08-24T13:41:00.001-07:002014-08-24T13:45:25.117-07:00Life, Community, Relations—one cup of tea at a time<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Dobra
Tea</b></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>by
Pasckie Pascua</b></span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>[NOTE:
A few typo errors and missing quote marks slipped our eyes in the
print version of this article. We will cite those errors in an
“Erratum” notice in the next/Sept issue of The Indie. Our
apologies.]</b></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">THE</span></b>
story of Dobra Tea strikes a chord.
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"> Years
ago, in the northern mountains of the Philippines, tribes and
lowlanders, Communist rebels and government troops, were mired in
both cultural and political polar extremes that it seemed dialogue
was a quixotic proposition. Peace was gasping like a flower caught in
a hale of monsoon rain and typhoon wind. And then, a ceasefire was
declared and “tapuy” (home-crafted rice wine) was served on the
negotiating table. Then peace starts to emerge like rainbow after a
storm. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"> I
may be simplifying (or idealizing) it but a good brew at the center
of any discourse keeps the compromises alive and resolutions open.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-gQ-YRKmGB_w1DpAdQ8Oq_Nqu8zjtcmj_CnUsKWP8dNhEs7n2WGPGzFR28_yr9HG4XUrQCO-6p8pRffUXbdVr3f-CVM6GqvHinGfEK9YNnEa7OZ5FTYZqcNxIdc_DtXYwsgTrKXLLuE/s1600/dobra+tea+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-gQ-YRKmGB_w1DpAdQ8Oq_Nqu8zjtcmj_CnUsKWP8dNhEs7n2WGPGzFR28_yr9HG4XUrQCO-6p8pRffUXbdVr3f-CVM6GqvHinGfEK9YNnEa7OZ5FTYZqcNxIdc_DtXYwsgTrKXLLuE/s1600/dobra+tea+4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"> </span>
</span><br />
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> The
story of Dobrá Tea, as its website narrates, begins in Prague during
the last few years of Communism, where a group of young tea lovers
began meeting to sample rare Indian, Chinese and Japanese teas
smuggled into Czechoslovakia.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> "Because
of a shortage of foreign currency, high quality teas were then
available exclusively to the Party, State and Military elite. Then
came the `Velvet Revolution' and the Fall of Communism in 1989. In
1992, `The Society of Tea Devotees' was formed and the following
year, Dobra Tea's first Bohemian-style tearoom, Dobrá Čajovna,
opened in Prague... The Čajovna (tearoom) became a shelter, a place
for safety, where like minded individuals could gather and taste the
world of tea. Much success blossomed with Dobrá's idea and the
company began to spread its tea concept to many small towns
throughout Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland."</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> In
2003 Dobrá Tea opened its first US tearoom in Burlington, VT then
one followed in Portland, Maine and then in 2001, a Moroccan-motif
incarnation opened in Asheville. In August last year, a Japanese
style Tearoom was up in Black Mountain.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> The
story of Dobra Tea, and the entrepreneurial saga of Snavely and his
partner/co-owner Lindsay Thomas, certainly play like a microcosm of a
Merchant-Ivory epic... Yet Snavely's demeanor doesn't seem to exude
such magnificent cross-continental journey in search for tea. Or the
meaning of life in a teabag.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Tea
is a very universal beverage. It is a beverage and a plant that is
cultivated throughout the world, in every single continent, and it
brings forth community and togetherness,” Snavely, slight and
bearded, told The Indie with a feline soft-spokenness like an ascetic
meandering over words of wisdom than a Brooks Brothers-garbed
business dude spewing market economics with synthetic confidence.
Then he declares, “I like to say that the social importance of
meetings, and togetherness and relationships are formed and founded
around tea.”</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5tv16HhfGUVdSjK0OVz6qX1aEDwAmIHxxOiG5MPougdVdg05q5RYtfXE7G2RxF7gJ_lLY8Bh_2jC2or3Tzq4iODOjY4YQPKHTtFZda1bGXxI2uS3QIFplwkDYHWQWBMjdqDngUUWQgk/s1600/dobratealogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5tv16HhfGUVdSjK0OVz6qX1aEDwAmIHxxOiG5MPougdVdg05q5RYtfXE7G2RxF7gJ_lLY8Bh_2jC2or3Tzq4iODOjY4YQPKHTtFZda1bGXxI2uS3QIFplwkDYHWQWBMjdqDngUUWQgk/s1600/dobratealogo.png" height="320" width="234" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> This
is a man who believes in his tea like no other that I've ever known.
“I have been traveling the world for about ten years now to meet
with tea farmers and then discover new varieties,” he enthuses. As
a testimony of his beautiful tea madness, even Dobra Tea's menu comes
out more like a textbook than a look-see breakdown of choices—85
pages of literature. Says he, “Each tea has its own story that is
based on our travels.”</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"> Here
are a few samplings from the menu cum journal.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> [
] Chinese Green Tea: Dian Lu Eshan. Remembering the Tea King. A
remarkable, fresh green China tea produced in the famous tea province
of Yunnan. No other tea is comparable to this sparkling, pale green
infusion which offers unique and inimitable delights of taste and
aroma. It is cultivated at high altitude, with long, silver,
downy-tipped leaves firmly rolled lengthwise. This tea promotes
health, and has a mild, euphoric effect.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> [
] Japanese Tea: Bancha Kyoto. A common type of green Japanese tea,
intended for everyday drinking. A small, flat, light green leaf with
yellow tints, it is smooth and easy to drink, with the characteristic
freshness of Japanese greens.<br /> [ ] Vietnamese Tea. Che Xanh. A
remarkable Vietnamese green tea, whose leaves are picked with
extraordinary care. A vegetal infusion with hints of both Chinese and
Japanese greens due to processing. This tea is gently steamed, then
pan-fried to stop oxidation. It will awaken a drifting mind, and is
excellent hot or chilled.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> [
] Korean Tea. Nok Cha. A seasonal variety of green tea from the
Jirishan mountain range on the southern Korean coast. This light
infusion conceals an unseen taste "on the boundary" between
Chinese and Japanese teas. The leaves are gently steamed and then
pan-fried to complete the drying process, offering a savory, oceanic
flavor.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"> Costs
ranges from $3.50 to $5.50, which aren't bad at all.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Tea
aside, a most fascinating facet of Snavely and Thomas' brainchild is
its deep affinity with local-ness. While they bring culture to the
table via their tea, they also interface their menu with what the
community could offer, like a light fare of sweet snacks, all 100
percent gluten-free. Some of their collaborators are Asheville bakers
Silvermoon Chocolates, Herban Baker, French Broad Chocolate Lounge,
and Blue Door Bakery.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
like to bring the community side of this business through
collaboration, which is very important in Asheville,” Snavely adds.
There is no way to end this story but pause it and go check out the
thick journal of tea choices—before Andrew Snavely and Lindsay
Thomas add more to what's already available. “A new shipment of
Japanese Green Tea just came in, and later this week...”</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"> At
Dobra Tea, life is alive and community is continually in flowing
engagement. Indeed, that's how relations and relationships are built,
nurtured and nourished—one cup of tea at a time.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">DOBRA
TEA</span> Asheville is located at 78
N Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801 (828 575-2424). Open: Mon—Wed,
9am – 10pm; Thu—Sat, 9am – 11pm; Sunday, 11am – 7pm. DOBRA
TEA Black Muntain is at 120 Broadway Street (828.357.8530). Open:
Mon—Sat, 9am – 7pm; Sunday, 11am – 7pm. More info:
<a href="http://www.dobrateanc.com/" style="color: black;">www.dobrateanc.com</a></b></span></div>
PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-35752006537017979632014-08-05T15:55:00.001-07:002014-08-05T15:55:26.270-07:00The Indie. August 2014. Vol 10, Number 2. 16 pages<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>[1]
FOOD:</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Buchi Bar: Kombucha, anyone?</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Dobra Tea: Life, Community Relations—One Cup of Tea at a Time</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbB7xzh9EbcH6XsmWqHnZJU4m9M-CevcChSh16QS5YO3F9Gb83iWzAGOnnCKzDTb-BNmT2rXWx_U9G7Dvzxu1s_6_Ynr3DJLH7yNyYrvOU2xmAbyRpkpe8uSyf8-t9gcjrWBMbqqFwuU/s1600/100_1622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbB7xzh9EbcH6XsmWqHnZJU4m9M-CevcChSh16QS5YO3F9Gb83iWzAGOnnCKzDTb-BNmT2rXWx_U9G7Dvzxu1s_6_Ynr3DJLH7yNyYrvOU2xmAbyRpkpe8uSyf8-t9gcjrWBMbqqFwuU/s1600/100_1622.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.16in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.16in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>[2]
COMMUNITY:</b></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Beauty Parade: How do we stylize Diversity?</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Word Up: Jeff Davis takes Wordplay Radio to the FM Waves</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">by
Caleb Beissert</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>[3]
MUSIC: </b></span>
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Bonfires for Peace celebrates its 12<sup>th</sup> year this summer at
Pritchard Park</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Pipapelli: Kilts, pyps, and rockin' blues with a celtic-knotted twist</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Riyen Roots: Intimate & Homebound</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Lyric: Streetwise, Cool and Classy</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and
Tom Hoa Binh, Marshall Jim Duncan</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>[4]
COLUMNS:</b></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Herbal Moon, Hearts & Hearth/Chris Wagoner</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Medicinal
Fungi</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
From the Bookshelf/Matthew Mulder</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Public
Library and a City's Poets</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Renegade Reel/Duane Lucas Pascua</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;">Mother
(South Korea): What Would a Mother Do? </span>
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Economics, Beyond America/Donna Phoebe Pascua</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The
Philippines' Changing Skyline</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Babedawgs and Koolcats/Georgia and Cyd</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Like a Rolling Stone/Pasckie Pascua</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Community,
de-complicated, gut-level</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>[5]
ADS:</b></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Diamond Thieves Body Piercing & Tattoo, 1/4</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Equinox, 1/4</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Moonflower Botanicals, business card</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Athens Locally Grown, ¼ color</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><>
Organicfest, ¼ color </span>
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
The Blotter, 1/4</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Rosetta's Kitchen, business card (pending revised copy, 1/4)</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
LEAF, ½ page (back cover)</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
Poetry Cabaret, free</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><>
West End Bakery, 1/8 </span>
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><>
Mellow Mushroom, ¼ </span>
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
AND house ads</span></div>
PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-42814767362361805422014-06-30T08:09:00.001-07:002014-08-13T10:54:19.330-07:00Where to find The Indie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGXu_iBRSH3zU4KFO3OczrRzebCjT7Qhb7KrcHM8LUkzzizhpocKR8ZPMf8PmtakbsHjpbApaVYmew4spP9rI4ZKYetcDegjsfa4WvbXtOlteb1afYC_yDhQaLQ60uwruF4Almnhw6gU/s1600/100_1301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGXu_iBRSH3zU4KFO3OczrRzebCjT7Qhb7KrcHM8LUkzzizhpocKR8ZPMf8PmtakbsHjpbApaVYmew4spP9rI4ZKYetcDegjsfa4WvbXtOlteb1afYC_yDhQaLQ60uwruF4Almnhw6gU/s1600/100_1301.JPG" height="295" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><b>GRAB
a copy of The Indie then share the love. </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><b>[1] Downtown Asheville: Ben's Tune Up, Buchi Bar, City Bakery, The Crow and The Quill, Dobra Tea, Downtown Market, Fine Arts Theater, Flipside, French Broad Coop, Izzy's, Hi-Wire Brewing, Malaprop's, Mamacita's, Mela Indian Restaurant, Orange Peel, Posana Cafe, Rosetta's
Kitchen, Savage Moon, Sly Grog Wine and Beer Lounge (at Downtown Market), Ultimate
Ice Cream Company, Urban Orchard, Woolworth Walk. </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><b>[2] West Asheville: Asheville Sandwich Company, Beauty Parade, Farmacy Juice &
Tonic Bar, Lucky Otter, Odd Cafe, Orbit Video, Universal Joint, West End Bakery, Westville Pub,
West Village Market. </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><b>[3] Merrimon Avenue: Asheville Brewing Company, Noi's Thai Kitchen, Plant. </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><b>[4] River Arts District: Ananda West, Clingman Cafe, Grey Eagle, Old Souls Pizza, Tailgate Market, The Wedge. </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><b>[5] </b></span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><b>E</b></span></span><b style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 100%;">lsewhere in Asheville: CinTom's Frozen Custard (Sweeten Creek), Corner Kitchen, Highland Brewing Company, Neo Cantina, Wynn's Diner (Leicester Hwy). </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 100%;">[6] Black Mountain: Black Mountain College/Cafeteria, Dobra Tea, Dripolator Coffeehouse, Hopey & Co. (formerly, Amazing Savings), My Father's Pizza and Pasta, Town Pump, Trailhead Restaurant, White Horse. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 100%;">[7] Fairview: The Local Joint. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 100%;">[8] Weaverville: Blue Mountain Pizza, Well-Bred Bakery. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 100%;">[9] Athens GA: 40 Watt Club, Bar South, Cine, Flicker, Fuzzy's Taco, Georgia Bar, Georgia Theatre Rooftop, The
Globe, The Grill, The Grit, Hendershot's, Little Kings, Mellow Mushroom, Nowhere Bar, Park Plaza, Ted's Most
Best, and Trappeze. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 100%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">More outlets, later. Or you may want to
subscribe, so you don't need to drive to wherever—we'll mail you
your Indie while it's hot as you!</span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5H8VMtAAMltKfou41IYRHzAotsI7Kui8bCHkTttzCd4GsisQxbcA7KlH51bL_IRN0qUlECbhiww2drxauRFqKy0FjlRYwgmjs-wDqzs_45X7dLt9r7CjS6FwXs-PBITiJrgjpYGzxok/s1600/Flyer3+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5H8VMtAAMltKfou41IYRHzAotsI7Kui8bCHkTttzCd4GsisQxbcA7KlH51bL_IRN0qUlECbhiww2drxauRFqKy0FjlRYwgmjs-wDqzs_45X7dLt9r7CjS6FwXs-PBITiJrgjpYGzxok/s1600/Flyer3+b.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-90182209595825468612014-06-27T09:21:00.001-07:002014-06-27T09:23:09.589-07:00The Indie. July 2014. Vol 10, Number 1. 16 pages<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>[1]
FOOD:</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
The Local Joint:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 0.25in;">An Intriguing Eggplant and the Best Reuben Sandwich
in the Mountains</span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.16in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><>
<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Rocky’s
Hot Chicken Shack: </span></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Homecooked Southern Soul Food, Served Hot</span></strong></span></span></div>
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<h3 style="border: none; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.16in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0in;">
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>[2]
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Woolworth Walk: Keeping Tradition
Alive (even as digital age wafts through the mountains)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>[3]
MUSIC: </b></span>
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Aaron Price's Mobile Brainchild: Collapseable Recording
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By
Caleb Beissert</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>[4]
COLUMNS:</b></span></div>
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From the Bookshelf/Matthew Mulder</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Three
Books, Three Fathers</span></span></div>
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Herbal Moon, Hearts & Hearth/Chris Wagoner</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oldboy:
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Like a Rolling Stone/Pasckie Pascua</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>[5]
ADS:</b></span></div>
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Equinox, 1/4</span></span></div>
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Organicfest, ¼ color </span>
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Rosetta's Kitchen, business card (pending revised copy, 1/4)</span></span></div>
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Ben's Tune Up, full-page/back page color</span></span></div>
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PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-44885833809257604342014-05-30T09:21:00.001-07:002014-05-30T09:27:39.145-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>NOW also distributed in Athens, Georgia.</b></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Food. Arts. Music. Community. Stuff</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Facebook Page: </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>https://www.facebook.com/asheville.travelingbonfires?fref=ts</b></span></div>
PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320228683344702624.post-51301156836788603392013-10-05T14:35:00.001-07:002013-10-05T14:37:55.495-07:00Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack:<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<strong style="line-height: 0.17in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Homecooked, Homemade Southern Soul Food, Served Hot</span></strong><br />
<strong style="line-height: 0.17in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></strong></div>
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</div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">by
Pasckie Pascua</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">CHICKEN</span><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;">
is a no-brainer. Why is that? Well, for one—I am a Filipino. Back
home in the islands, we could prepare a chicken dish 101 ways, and
that is an understatement. We also consume almost all of the fowl's
endowments: Meat, feet, head, blood, bones, entrails. The feathers
and claws also serve other purposes other than as food.</span></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"></span></span></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5j9n5m7WrWXjgpFTmUIs0UmhHYNwjGrf3fZ2gS3cmK46HwNkE4yD0EXvE5zShU37gaPlNEmyc984ER3lg7BXt2EBCmKkSz10X1484TzFt2SxEIDdtpd3dqilG3SG_vI1sAcBMgzNJhg/s1600/photo+(2)b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5j9n5m7WrWXjgpFTmUIs0UmhHYNwjGrf3fZ2gS3cmK46HwNkE4yD0EXvE5zShU37gaPlNEmyc984ER3lg7BXt2EBCmKkSz10X1484TzFt2SxEIDdtpd3dqilG3SG_vI1sAcBMgzNJhg/s320/photo+(2)b.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></strong></div>
<br />
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> But
I am not in the Philippines at this juncture. I am wombed in
Asheville, in the mountains of North Carolina. Yet, chicken remains
“easy” to me. Why is that? Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack, that is
why. This is “homecooked, home-made Southern soul food” marvel
the way granny cooked them, with some modifications. “Our hot
chicken experience is a pleasure you keep on coming back to,” owner
Rich Cundiff told The Indie recently. “It is addictive and face
melting!” “Face-melting” means spicy cayenne face melting, that
is—that could definitely rival Indian cuisine's tikka masala or the
Filipino chili peppers on coconut milk plate, “Bicol Express.”</span></span></span></strong></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Rocky's
“Tennessee Style” hot chicken, says its menu folder, “... is
brined and cooked in small batches, to maintain freshness and flavor,
then prepared to order with the spice level as you like it—from
plain to xx hot.” Hotness is categorized as (not so hot to
hottest): Plain, Honey, X-mild, Mild, Mildium, Medium, Hot,
Foothills, Xxhot. The fried chicken, spicy or not, exudes an intimate
kick that—yes, reminds us of what exactly grandma used to prepare.
The dry rub, thin flour dredge, and flimsy oil wash makes for an
exquisite crust and body. Juicy but never greasy—and with a choice
of 4 sides out of 13, an order is already a full meal at below $12.</span></span></span></strong></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Meantime,
chicken “hotness” and its standout choice of side dishes aren't
really the very reason why one ventures at Rocky's. </span></span></strong><span style="color: black;">Cundiff,
who was Earth Fare's chief operating officer, took over Rocky's </span><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hot
Chicken Shack more than two years ago, from a friend when it was
still located in Arden. “I bought the recipe, and expanded it,”
he says. “From then on, we have enjoyed steady growth.”</span></span></strong></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Said
unprecedented surge in patronage in a relatively far-flung locale –
away from Asheville's restaurant row in downtown, somewhere down
Patton Avenue beside a tiny car auto dealership and honky tonk motel
– isn't just credited to Cundiff's finger-lickin' good fowl on a
plate. Rocky's “casual family dining concept,” ably shared by its
staff of 20 on 7-days rotation, makes the restaurant more of
destination for locals, not for tourists. That's hardly a marketing
hook, it's an honest invite. Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack is one of
Asheville’s locally owned and operated restaurants, and Rich is an
active board member of Asheville Independent Restaurants (AIR)
association.</span></span></span></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFP-VtgluRbPS4lHe8e8Z7eugpehA6CjXfi2EHUZ37KTxE4ARkJIWa8CJ_Pp3_BnjObGhHaY9NYxGY1PCskCMOcPj3uNRJQwKyRoUG_w0zmOXPmh6ZGmMk1mdMkvvtQTxOGHmq9sJV2I/s1600/photo+(1)b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFP-VtgluRbPS4lHe8e8Z7eugpehA6CjXfi2EHUZ37KTxE4ARkJIWa8CJ_Pp3_BnjObGhHaY9NYxGY1PCskCMOcPj3uNRJQwKyRoUG_w0zmOXPmh6ZGmMk1mdMkvvtQTxOGHmq9sJV2I/s320/photo+(1)b.jpg" width="243" /></a></span></span></strong></div>
<br />
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong> “</strong><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">You
get that feeling of being taken cared of,” prides Lauren Cundiff,
Rich's wife and co-owner. “And we also share these blessings with
the community by way of donations to local churches, food banks, and
school system.” Adds Rich, “We also help local musicians,
individually,” which makes Rocky's stand out among other businesses
in town, being the only local establishment that treats local
performers with special love.</span></span></strong></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Localness
that almost instantaneously comes with healthy eating certainly add
sublime fervor to Rocky's “mercilessly hot” and “psychedelic”
chicken allure. “We source quality and local ingredients for the
recipes that we make from scratch,” says Rich. “Our natural birds
are raised without antibiotics or other additives.” The Cundiffs'
menu doesn't end with the obligatory slew of enflaming birds. “We
have a crowd-pleasing menu and daily specials based upon seasonality
and freshness,” offers Lauren. These favorites include waffles,
desserts like their own “banana pudding in a jar,” and what
Rocky's prides as “our daily soul bowl”--all chased down by
freshly squeezed lemonade, sweet southern tea and other soft drinks.
Not to be missed, of course, is the bar's choice of locally crafted
beers.</span></span></span></strong></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> There
you go. My islands-chicken fix is pretty well served and pleased
right here in Asheville. I may boast that Filipinos like me could
prepare a fowl 101 ways... But, I bet Rich and Lauren Cundiff and
their staff could whip out 102 “hot” ways to cook and savor a
chicken, the Appalachian way. So get hot like a true Southern spirit
at Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack. It's all good.</span></span></span></strong></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.16in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.17in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><>Rocky's
Hot Chicken Shack is located at 1455 Patton Avenue, West Asheville,
North Carolina. Tel # 828 575 2260. Open Everyday.
11:00 AM to 9:00 PM: Sunday-Thursday; 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM: Friday
and Saturday. www.rockyshotchickenshack.com</b></span></div>
PASCKIE PASCUAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05312716892828923035noreply@blogger.com0