Will Trump Revisit Martial Law?

 Seems likely to me.

China tells Korea not to export certain products to US

Last week, China informed Korean companies that make magnets, electronic components, and other products with rare earths from China not to export them to the US.

This week, Trump backs down after insisting that China make concessions first. LOL

Paper tiger.

Korea Economic Daily - China bans export of Korean goods containing its rare earth metals to US

Korea has been punished to the tune of several tens of billions of dollars for THAAD, which is mainly for US defense. It detects long-range high-altitude missiles. 

The US did not defend Korea from China at the time or afterwards.

US news media is purposefully not reporting on China's banning of exports from Korea and other countries to the US.

Trump threatening to fire Powell

Seems to be looking for someone to blame for the inevitable slowdown in the US economy.

Foreigner's view of Trump

Felon, liar, sex offender, extortionist, paper tiger, bankrupts many businesses, uses lawsuits to wear out opposition, narcissist, white supremacist, no ally of mine...

Trump is president for 3 years and 10 months or so, while Xi, Putin, Kim, Iranian nut, and others are long term planners. 

I understand that Trump is trying to cut the deficit and taxes, but after spending a couple months enacting revenge on what he feebly recognizes as enemies, to suddenly attack other countries as thieves and unfair is ridiculous. 

If anything, it's the westerners that have done the stealing.

To say the US has a trade deficit but exclude software, services, entertainment, education, and other services is misrepresentation. Could get sued. 

Lying leads to cognitive dissonance, which is clearly infecting Trump's consciousness.

Must get a kick out of bullying people.

Ukraine Donations - Government Website

 The website link.

Dividends in Korea

Have to post a long list of Korean companies paying over a 6% dividend. Most companies report dividends in March.

Anyway, my beef is that 90% of the companies send me a receipt by mail. They also send shareholder meeting and other announcements by mail.

What a waste of money.

Definitely need to get those receipts and notices electronically and add the saved money to my dividends.

Is it time to buy stocks or wait? I procrastinate a lot and buy a few shares here and there while figuring things out.

US is the debtor, while so-called 'job thieves' are its creditors

Japan, China, and many other countries that Trump says stole jobs buy bonds that help keep America afloat and prosperous.

Foreigners hold about 25-30% of US debt?

Run up debts and then fight with the creditor? Creditor could refuse to buy bonds, maybe demand higher interest.

So, Trump pays attention to the bond market. Last week, stocks went down but bond yields went up (to raise bond sales). Usually bond sales go up when stocks go down. 

The US owns many services markets. Such as essential software for designing semiconductors and complicated electronic devices. Exports of software are not included in import-export figures, which are based on goods shipped into and out of countries. Many of these software companies each have revenues of tens of billions of dollars.

Youtube, Facebook? Add them into the import-export figures and a different picture emerges.

The entire service sector, including education, is not included.

When those figures are included, America's trade deficit is not so large.

What a frigging liar and cheat! And still people say they believe what he says. I bet most of his supporters know he lies, but support him because they are anti-social. 

Trump seems to be about diverting attention from what he and his bunch are really trying to do. From their nature and past actions, most likely making money and avoiding taxes.

Talk crazy and divert attention to make money and avoid taxes.

 

Taking Advantage of the Depressed?

Depressed people lash out and are likely to vent anger. Depression is a phase for some, while others are chronically affected.

Conservative parties of Korea, the US, and other nations lash out and vent anger at the opposition and lie. 

Some estimate that over a third of the population is depressed, even higher in times of recession or oppression.

These depressed people are likely to be stirred up and empathize with the hate speeches and lies, leading to cognitive dissonance.

That could be why Yoon and Trump got elected, IMHO.

Times I Fell Asleep While Highway Driving

3 or 4 times, but no accidents. Car slightly scrapped once by a barrier.

Luckily, my foot fell off the accelerator and the car stopped in all instances ranging from 1am to 5am.

Several cancers and surgeries, two vehicle accidents, diabetes, gall bladder removal, kidney stone removals, high blood pressure, obesity, and must be others. Currently malignant-cancer free, almost normal weight, problem with gall duct, etc. I get checkups for various things two months or so.

Familiar faces dying every year. Only one or more decades left, probably.

Decided to drink alcohol a few times a year. Reunions, mostly. Many friends are very in favor of the decision. Decided to drink and was offered a $1,500 bottle of wine to drink as well as other ones. Wine and spirits collector friend. 

Never thought I would experience really fine wine. Friend decided to start drinking his wine and whiskey collections. Told me it was hard to start drinking them but decided to enjoy while he could.

Thoughts Are You?

You are thoughts?

Thoughts make who you are?

You make thoughts?

You+Body+Environment+Knowledge+Something make thoughts?

If you are not shaping who you are, then who is? 

If you are not shaping who you are, then you are nothing?

Korea Doesn't Already Spend Billions on Quantum Computing?

Why or why not? China and the US do.

Quantum computing could rule.

Got to continue research on listed quantum computer related companies and buy shares, sell some present shares.

Some Predicted Korea President Would Declare Martial Law Months Ago

Why is Korea’s Democratic Party talking about martial law?, reported Hankyoreh on 4 September.

Link to article

1+1=2?

One electron plus one proton equals neutral hydrogen, but neutral hydrogen has different properties than one electron and one proton separated.

So, it is like 1+1 is more than 2.

Molecules plus a certain structure (information) equals RNA or DNA. Where did the information come from? By chance?

Where does wisdom come from? By chance? 

Thoughts to mediate on...

Consciousness?

Stream of consciousness seems to be the right phrase.

Meanings and concepts could arise from the 'brain' trying to consolidate and understand all the incoming and stored data in the body (nerves, chemicals in cells, synapses, parts of the brain, etc.).

Primitive cells or life would have limited understanding and concepts. 

Still, where does wisdom and conscience come from?

Used To Wear Brand Sneakers. Now Wear $16 Sneakers

Used to wear Adidas and Nike when I was middle-aged, I started wearing $16  sneakers made in China some 20 or so years ago. The first ones wore out quickly and were low quality, but the last one I bought lasted over 6-7 years before I bought another one a few days ago.

I noticed on the subway, over 90% wear no-brand shoes, like me. Many tourists wear famous brand shoes, so do people who drive expensive cars.

Use to drive but now I take the subway much more often as it is free for people over 65 in Seoul. Many politicians want to do away with the free pass for over 65. However, pensions and other social safety nets started in around 1988, I think, so most people over 65 receive very little pensions. If they had to pay for the subway, then that would use up around a third of most of their pensions.

Might as well take the subways in Seoul while they are free.

People Starving, While Some Eat Thousand Dollar Dinners?

Such nonsense.

Yet, there seems to be some Good in the world. Need much more...

Learning to be very grateful for 'small' things.

News Disapproving of Korea President?

After watching and reading all the pro-Yoon slanted news online and on broadcast channels, it was enheartending to read this following article in Hankyoreh about recent relations between China and Korea.

[Column] Yoon Suk-yeol’s diplomacy of delusion

Putting Figurine Characters on Booze Bottles? Is That Legal?

They are putting 'cartoon' characters in Korean rice wine. Isn't this illegal in the US and Europe?

Thank goodness, they can't do that on cigarettes.

From Pulse News - Kooksoondang, a major Korean traditional liquor producer, announced on Monday its plans to export the ‘LINE FRIENDS Character' Makgeolli 

(Makgeolli is Korean for rice wine or booze made from rice)

Does Cognitive Dissonance Cause Mental Disorders?

 Apparently.

Why Vote For People Who Incite Anger Or Hate?

Doesn't that make people feel angry and hateful?

Should people be made to feel peaceful and friendly?

Why let some hateful person turn you into one and spend precious time hating things?

Cognitive dissonance?