Previously posted on my Facebook Page.
New York Times: “The U.S.-China Rivalry Is Complicating the World’s Debt Crisis.” Trade war is tricky. The 2019 U.S./China “trade war,” for example, benefited a number of countries such as Vietnam, which gained 7.9 percent GDP from trade diversion. But a continuing rivalry would pummel heavily-indebted nations such as Sri Lanka, Zambia, and Suriname. Yet the U.S. and China would hardly shudder. Profit stays as they push debtors deep in murk.
Other countries that gained from 2019’s trade diversion (or additional China imports) were Chile, Malaysia and Argentina. As well as Hong Kong, Mexico, South Korea, Singapore, Brazil and Canada. In Europe, the biggest beneficiary was France. But countries with the highest debt-to-GDP ratios would sink deeper, especially tiny nations that are already ravaged by recession, inflation and astronomical debts. Their relief is held hostage by superpower politics. 🇺🇸💰🇨🇳
Rolling Stone: “Demi Lovato Re-Adopted 'She/Her' Pronouns Because Explaining 'They/Them' Was 'Exhausting'.” Of course, it is exhausting, if not confusing. Beyond male/female or he/she, gender identities seem to expand nonstop from LBTQ or “no gender” or non-binary categories: Transgender, genderqueer, agender, bigender, genderfluid, gender neutral, pangender, two-spirit, third gender, or a combination of these. Just call me Pasckie, okay? 😒😟🤨
New York Times: “Secret Service Examining How Suspected Cocaine Ended Up at the White House.” And adds: “An initial test of the white powdery substance found inside the White House showed it was cocaine.” What’s going on, the President’s staff? Pragmatically speaking, coke, shrooms and weed are no brainers to those who can afford them. At least, choose your spot. But that place is the White House, you dig? Remember the 1998 BJ? Common sense. 😏😒😟
Time: “Alcohol Might Improve Heart Health by Reducing Your Stress.” Hear that, my alcoholic buddies? No stress, be happy. Drink more! Just look out for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems. Cancers of your choice from: Throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, rectum. Weakened immune system. Memory loss. Irritating company. Etc etcetera. Don’t give me the Bukowski, Poe, or Keef rationale. Just drink! Don’t stress. Sarcasm, okay? 🥃🥹🍺
Smithsonian: “Male Primate Masturbation May Have Evolved to Prevent STIs.” And adds: “The behavior originated some 40 million years ago to improve breeding success and protect against pathogens, according to a new study.” I am perplexed by the amount of scientific energy and financial resources smart people spend on stuff like this. Medical research is imperative but there are many that I find frivolous such as study of a humongous Viking poop, and stuff like that. 🐵🙈🙉
New York Times: “Xi Jinping needs Vladimir Putin to remain in power, and Russia to maintain stability, to help uphold the countries’ shared interests and to keep challenging the United States.” The contention: Why challenge and wrestle to decide who’s #1? China needs Russia; the U.S. needs its allies. China spent $81.3 billion on imports of Russian oil, coal, LNG, and pipeline gas in 2022, up from $52.1 billion in 2021. Russia’s top trading partner: China.
Also: China, the world's top metals consumer, imported a combined $5.1 billion worth of aluminum, refined copper and refined nickel from Russia in 2022, up 16 percent from 2021 with import volumes heading higher so far this year. A week before the Ukraine war, Vladimir Putin unveiled new Russian oil and gas deals with China worth an estimated $117.5 billion. Yet even as armed hostilities continue, the U.S. and Europe are still doing business with Russia somehow, and Chinese trade hasn’t stopped to whoever wants to do economics. (Visual credit: FreightWaves.) ☮️☯️☮️
New York Times: “Generative A.I. Can Add $4.4 Trillion in Value to Global Economy, Study Says.” And adds: “The report from McKinsey comes as a debate rages over the potential economic effects of A.I.-powered chatbots on labor and the economy.” I don’t need to concur with governments that banned ChatGPT–such as Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba, Iran, Syria, and Italy–to buy AI’s braggadocio. AI is not good for humanity, now and whenever. 💸💰💸
New York Times: “Federal Judge Limits Biden Officials’ Contacts With Social Media Sites.” And adds: “The order came in a lawsuit filed by the attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana, who claim the administration is trying to silence its critics.” Of course, Facebook and Twitter et al–or Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk–are blamed, instead. On a larger context, media stories these days are clearly “influenced” by powers that be. Then people say, “AI!” LOL! 🙈🙉🙊
Smithsonian: “Why Fireworks Scare Some Dogs but Not Others.” I don’t need to google why or ask Fizz The Wiz Koolcat. How we hoomans behave rubs off in our pet animals. So don’t tell me your dog is a pitiful little baby on fireworks time. You are. If ever they are, it’s instinctive response for me. Hold the dog and reassure her, it’s okay. Until they get used to it. Arrow The Good Doog, in fact, isn’t bothered by fireworks. But when people seem angry or sad? That’s when she’s bothered. 🐕🐾🦮
Rolling Stone: “Fox News Settles With Former Tucker Carlson Producer for $12 Million.” Meanwhile, Mr Carlson is indeed amassing lotsa moolah! Tucker’s net worth is estimated to be $380 million as of 2023. He was earning $35 million salary from Fox News annually, making him the highest-paid and richest television host in the world. As Nov 2024 comes near, the enormously influential voice in conservative politics would be counting more $. So more drama, upcoming. 📺🦊📺
