Thursday, August 11, 2022

Articles Predicting Presidential Pardon For Samsung Head

There are more articles stating that it is likely that JY Lee, the head of Samsung, will be pardoned on 15 August. The articles also claim that due to his conviction, Samsung cannot do M&A deals and prepare large investment plans for the future. 

Apparently testing the waters. If there is public outrage, then no pardon. If less outrage than expected, then pardon.

SK 159곳 투자할 때 삼성은 5곳뿐…"JY 사면땐 M&A 재시동"  (Translated - While SK invested in 159 companies, Samsung invested in only 5... "If JY Lee is pardoned, M&As will resume")

Republic of Samsung

The pardons were just announced.

Lee Jae-yong: Why did South Korea pardon the Samsung 'prince'?

Heads of Lotte Group, Dongkuk Steel, and STX Group were also pardoned. Lots of business heads convicted of crimes, almost always pardoned. Same with their companies. Fined and barred for bid rigging and such, then re-allowed to resume business. 

Samsung heir Lee granted special presidential pardon

Alas, all is not perfect. Time to listen to music. :)



Keeps Raining On Prez Yoon

The first two days of flooding saw Prez Yoon plastered on TV news visiting flooded areas, giving orders, stating that all agencies should prevent further flooding, ordering that aid be given, and such.

Reminded me of North Korean news broadcasts on Kim Jong-un. Both walking, looking serious, giving orders and expecting others to be subservient.

Yoon visits flood-hit area in Seoul 

Anyway, there are now floods in southern Korea and Yoon is nowhere on TV, for some reason. Yoon will probably not visit the flooded areas in the south, despite the danger of seeming to not care by not visiting.

It seems public opinion is against mostly conservative politicians using the floods for publicity photos, as per their leader. 



Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Korean Media Making Up Excuses For President's Blunders

At around 2:25pm, a Korean cable news channel stated that presidents can make mistakes and that they are not perfect. He added that Yoon is doing a really good job but the circumstances make him look bad. 

Never heard anyone on media say that about former administrations, like former President Moon's or Roh's administrations. They were blamed for everything bad under the sun. 

Let's see if the Korean public believes this BULL.



Companies Competing To Develop Tech?

Would it be wiser to collaborate and team up to develop technology?

Would collaboration waste less resources (people, money, equipment, energy, etc.)?

Would a country that coordinates R&D efforts hold an advantage over ones that didn't?

Maybe a little less competition and a little more collaboration?

Employees are supposed to collaborate, why not companies?

Get compensated according to effort put in and results of those efforts, or split it evenly.

Maybe, form a consortium for companies interested in developing that technology and everyone gets to share the results of the research and development. 

Usually when companies need money for R&D, they issue bonds or new shares. The wise ones get the government to give them money and use media to persuade the public with promises of jobs and a good economy.

If governments continue to give money to companies for no return but promises of jobs and good economy, then the poor will continue to be poor. Give the poor bonds or stock in the companies receiving government money. That will definitely help the poor with no loopholes and minimal overhead.

There are many more things wrong with society. Stop believing the media which disproportionately represents the rich and take TIME to THINK about things. Some poor people envy and try to emulate the rich, compounding the problem. Some poor people even think that the rich are smarter and better. Why? Society and peer pressure. 

People need to look at things from more than just one perspective. Being slightly poor and being rich both have their advantages and disadvantages. 

Why do people envy Chanel handbags and such? Because they probably don't have one. I don't have one and I don't care. But if you are of the opposite sex...

Cartier watches? I have one. Would never buy one. Got it as a gift. Over $6,000 for an electronic movement watch, albeit in gold and steel. The mechanical ones are over $14,000, I think. Used to envy expensive things, not anymore. 

Expensive things are not of much use to one who endeavors to be alone. No one to impress. Haven't worn a watch in over a decade, almost two.



Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Samsung Seems To Control Most Korea Media, Not To Mention Government

Articles are calling for government aid to help Samsung overtake TSMC? Samsung probably has over 100 billion dollars or more on hand. 

Also articles claiming that Samsung is rudderless and will probably go down the drain if vice chairman Lee is not pardoned. Since he has a conviction, they say he cannot manage the group properly. Lee has gone on business trips for Samsung all over the world recently.

지금껏 싸운 것도 용하네…삼성, 세제·임금·인력수급 TSMC보다 열악 (Samsung is weaker than TSMC in terms of wages, taxes, and hiring. It's amazing that Samsung managed to compete)





Sunday, August 7, 2022

Cannabis Users 55% Less Likely To Get Liver Cancer

A peer-reviewed study found that cannabis use could lessen the chances of developing hepatocellular carcinoma, considered the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the world.

Lower Rates of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Observed Among Cannabis Users: A Population-Based Study

Study conclusion: "Based on our large database analysis, we found that cannabis use patients were 55% less likely to have HCC compared to patients without cannabis use. Further prospective studies are needed to assess the role of cannabis use on HCC."

The cannabis users group had a higher prevalence of alcohol abuse, smoking history, HBV, HCV, and liver cirrhosis, but still were less likely to get liver cancer!







Saturday, August 6, 2022

News Gun Manufacturers Love

 AR-15s to Be Stored in County Schools to Protect Against Mass Shootings

Geez, instead of 'AR-15s to be banned', it's 'AR-15s to come to your neighborhood school soon'. 

Gun manufacturers seem to be banking on weak-minded people, weak government and civil chaos in hopes that everyone will want AR-15s. Why else would they back loonies for congress? 

Something seems amiss. 

The cops and school police at Uvalde had automatic weapons, armor, bulletproof shields, hazard pay and SWAT, but didn't do anything. What makes them think teachers will turn into heroes with no hazard pay or insurance and use AR-15s to defeat attackers? I thought teachers were paid to teach, not use AR-15s in emergencies.

If people start using bombs/tanks to attack schools, is the solution to have bombs/tanks stored at schools? Duh!

A lot of corporations pushing for lesser government and fewer regulations. Betcha financial institutions and crypto companies want to revoke a lot of regulations, not to mention pharmaceutical companies and conglomerates with enormous political clout.