The Situation

A driver was stuck in a traffic jam on the beltway outside of Washington DC.
Nothing moved.
Suddenly, a man knocked on the car window.
When the driver rolled down the window, he asked, “What’s going on?”
“Terrorists have kidnapped the entire US Congress, and they’re asking for a $100 million dollar ransom. If they don’t get it, they’re going to douse them all in gasoline and set them on fire. We’re going from car to car, asking for donations.”
“How much is everyone giving, on average,” the driver asks?
The man replied, “Roughly a gallon.”

The Baby

Ok, he’s my grandson, but he’s cute. My daughter ended up spending six days in the hospital because of some health concerns, but everyone is home, and life is cycling back to normal.
During the time that I was out of action with grandson and daughter issues, a friend was killed in a head-on collision, and I heard of an acquaintance who died of a heart attack. Sic Transit Glori Mundi. Life begins and life ends, and on day the time will run out for all of us. I have funerals to attend at the end of the week.
People seem amazed that I left ‘civilization’ to move up to the White Wolf Mine. But let me assure you now that I’m home again, that civilization as presently constituted, is highly over rated.
China
The situation in Hong Kong and the trade war is a daily conversation among people on the mainland. The communists can’t take the hit for bad decisions that led to an insurrection in Hong Kong and a declining economy, so the USA is blamed. However, Chinese investment in manufacturing plants in the US and Mexico continues as they react to a changing landscape on the Mainland. For those pundits who claim that there is an imminent kinetic war between the US and China, I suggest that they take a step back.
If/when the People’s Republic of China marches the People’s Liberation Army into Hong Kong, the international reaction is likely to make their economic situation worse. China is able to endure severe hardship. We’ve all seen that. But that was old China…and the expectations of people living in New China (Modern China) are quite different. The weapons that they will face from the World is simply a place that won’t buy their wares. Embargo and quarantine are often a more effective weapon than armies and navies. 
This past weekend, 1.7 million people in Hong Kong marched peacefully (about 20% of the residents). That sort of people power is simply difficult to ignore. Is the cause and effect limited to that particular movement? No.
Many Chinese companies are reacting by expanding into Mexico and to a lesser extent, the US, to avoid the coming crisis’ impact on them. My company has been asked to assist Chinese companies wishing to do this with risk assessment and other services. We’ve done it in the past but the present scope is much larger.
And what does the man on the street in Shanghai think? To some extent, they swallow the propaganda. To some extent they think that removing the yoke of the Central Government  in Beijing makes sense. And those are dangerous thoughts.

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12 COMMENTS

  1. Now that's one fine looking boy and I'm sure you're looking forward to spoiling him. One of the downsides of getting old, I reach my three score and ten next year, is the increasing number of funerals one has to attend. None lately for me, but I imagine another will happen soon. +1 on the civilization comment.

  2. Political humor: pretty funny, in a hostile kind of way.

    Some not-so-hostile political humor: Recently elected Democrat governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, is the largest serving governor in the U.S., currently, at roughly 360 pounds, depending on what he had for breakfast.

    J.B. was cruising around in his limo, checking out on his constituents in and around Chicago, when his chauffeur got confused as to where they were, and he needed to get back onto Interstate 290.

    J.B. asked the driver to pull over by the next constituent they saw, and the driver pulled up to a man walking his dog. J.B. leaned out the window and asked, 'how do I get to 290?' And the constituent, ever helpful, replied 'drop about 70 pounds and you're in the ball park.'

    Get it? See, JB is a big fat guy, 290 is a highway, oh, never mind…

  3. Praise God your daughter is okay. God bless family.

    Condolences to you and all who knew your friend and aquaintence.

    Hoping it will end good for Hong Kong; but probably won't.

  4. Fine looking grandson! And I enjoyed the joke even though it showed a dangerous level of disrespect for our rulers.

    And that seems to be spreading in China, interesting.

  5. I'm glad you daughter finally got to download her finished product and all is well. As for Hong Kong, I wonder if physical or weapon contact will be used… what with the world watching. You do have your work cut out for you.

  6. China has other problems that have nothing to do with the USA or the Hong Kong situation, I've been reading. Seems their pig population is in peril to the point of losing 80% to Asian Swine Flu. In addition, plant diseases are hurting their crops. Any thoughts/insights?

    Excellent news about daughter and child.

    Funerals? Another to attend at the end of the month (Memorial Service).

  9. Fine looking progeny in that photo.
    Congrats again!
    Just took a vacay day today to attend a memorial for a deceased friend.
    She's in a better place.

  11. Congrats to momma and baby. Prayers for your friends. May they rest in peace. Re China, watching the indicators and glad I'm out of the business…

  12. Glad to hear daughter and grandson are home and doing well.

    I recently lost a friend, a good man, a good father to his children, a hard worker, to a drunk uninsured driver.

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