Compilation of short MORNING THOUGHTS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

When I was a little boy, my mind was always working on the "how" rather than the "what." A tiny talking box called a transistor radio puzzled me. So I tore it down to find out. (Bad!) To keep my (then) 5-year old son’s hyper-activity contained, I’d bring home bond papers from work, and then he’d start drawing on the other side. His art had backstories that he’d joyfully tell me. Last Christmas, I sent my grandson Keian an MTV “screen print” kit. Get the boy's mind working. 👶👀👦

YOU see, in these days when everything is electronically easy, children have to be motivated to think as they play. Somehow, that was my little trick with Arrow when she started chewing antique furniture in the house right after we adopted her. So I went to Goodwill Outlet and brought the dog a bag of stuffed toys to “eat.” Then I notice she doesn’t just tear them down. She figures out why the toys are squeaking. She knows how to start—by biting out the eye part to get in like a surgeon. If it’s hard to break the toy, she’d coax me to play tug. Smart dog! 

Correctness? Life now and then. Grass fed: Cattle were fed grass, hay, corn etcetera. Grain supplements and by-products, nope. Free range: Chickens, ducks, goats roamed the farm, freely. Handcrafted: Rice wine (“tapuy”) was made by hand in the house. Non-GMO/organic: Open-market veggies and meats, non-factory, were cooked before eaten. Herbal cure: Boiled guava leaves. A smart UC Berkeley grad lectured me on how to live a responsible, wellness life? Duh. ?☎️🐴

My activism began when I protested the dumping of mining wastes on a mountain river in a small town where I grew up. I pursued journalism so I could find out more about what’s going on. Before I was introduced to Leftist politics, it was all gut-level facts to me. So I don’t get the dissing of Walmart over Exxon. Black Lives Matter in America over black lives matter in Africa. One-time $11-20 billion border wall over an annual $768-770 billion military spending. (Re)educate me what really is activism. ☮️✊☮️

Craze at the moment on Facebook is the “10 Year Challenge” app. It upstaged the Betty White passing and the “Don’t Look Up” brouhaha. Certainly more fun frolic and grownup chill than all the juvenile political dissing and anti-Christian insults. Sure, there’s the Jan 6 hoopla and Novak Novac thingy but hey this is electronic plaza. To click or not to click? / That is the question—/ Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer…” Anyways, here is my 10-year challenge contribution. LOL! 👺🤠👽

The country with the most 1-person households is the United States. I notice that it is more of a choice than a consequence. Strange to me since I emanated from a planet where “aloneness” isn’t a cultural fact. No one lives alone. If neighbors notice that you are alone, they’d come knockin’ like crazy, 15x a day—with a bowl of “pansit” or a cerveza and offer to watch TV or play chess. If you insist on your aloneness, they’d spread rumours that you are a vampire, zombie, or a werewolf. 🤠👺👽

Words. Words are words. I was born into and grew up in a world where language is more sound-based than correct vocabulary. Tagalog and other tribal dialects are long, repetitive syllables or wordage. Mostly, we’d rather gesture with our nose, hands, or roll our eyes to speak our mind. No problemo. Then the internet was born, then Social Media. Boom! Words got complex. Politics. But then “Let’s go Brandon!” isn’t as nasty as parallels with Hitler, ain’t it? Words. Word... 🗣🙉😂

Our inconsistencies. Unvaccinated world #1 tennis player Novak (“novak,” dig?) Djokovic is barred from playing at the Australian Open set to start on the 17th. Yet Kyrie Irving, unaxxed as well, was allowed to play in the NBA, which sends players to weekly “covid protocols.” Meantime, U.S. ice hockey players say they are boycotting the Beijing Winter Olympics next month. Covid? Politics? Yup. But not business: Google how many U.S. companies are operating in China. 

       Other tennis issue: If Djokovic wins this year’s Australian Open, that’d be his 21st Grand Slam title. A world record, which breaks his tie with Roger Federer and Rafael Nada, 20 titles each. And by the way, Novak is “money” in Serbian language. Champ’s purse in Men’s play in Australian Open: $2.75 million. 🎾💉🎾

We sit in front of the computer and read stuff. Warnings of virus doom that stay over reassurances of end of scourge. News Left, News Right. Contradicting info. We issue criticism of leadership, blame stuff, whine no end—in here. Yet the truth is, whatever happens to the world or however politics evolves, we have a personal life. Family. The first and last field of battle to fight; first and last garden of goodness to enjoy. Till we get distracted again with stuff. 😟📲😫

Omnism is the recognition and respect of all religions and their gods or lack thereof. Eckankar is a New Age monotheistic religion. One God for all. “Religious Pluralism” is also expounded in Yan Martel's “Life of Pi.” While differences amidst diversity is a primal human reflex, unity or coexistence amidst such a reality is also a non-impossibility. Yet when Faith or non-Faith is boxed as a political exclusive, it gets harder. At least, these days. But hope springs eternal. 🦋🌺🐓

Many ask: "Do you trust science?" How about an analogy. "Black powder" was first used for festival fireworks in old China. Then Marco met Kublai. Science ensued and increased black powder's potency. Gunpowder was born. Wars got weirder. Enter opium, coca, cannabis. Herbs. Eased pain. Until science entered, made `em into mass-produced drugs, increased dosage. Kick is spiked for profit. Consumer products. But science is also cool. Like, cars finally rested the horse. 🔭💊🔬

[Photo: Eric Wrobbel.]

Tariff red flags, unfounded panic, and stuff.

From my response to Facebook chats etcetera.

I WOULD rather hope for new economic strategies (tariffs etc) in 2025 than "smartly" send doomsday signs. All these tariff red flags are "future tense" negativity pitched by liberals. Meanwhile, Mr Trump expects to sit with the Chinese next year and whatever deals they agree on, decides what's up. 

       Joe Biden (or his emissaries Antony Blinken and Janet Yellen) failed to break the Chinese on the trade table several times, mainly due to Joe's inconsistent or mostly aggro tactics vs the CCP. 

       Anyhow, the facts (after and during): Grocery prices are up 20 percent in the last 4 years. Current inflation rate is 2.4 percent. Economists forecast 3.1 percent as 2024 ends. Last year, it was 4.1 percent, down from 8 percent in 2022. In Mr Trump's last year, 2020, it was 1.23 percent. In pandemic time, 2019, it was 1.8 percent.

       Why the Chinese? No brainer. Over 40 percent of U.S. imports come from China. Some that come from elsewhere (like Mexico) somehow have Chinese investments or loans in them. If manufacturing is done here in the U.S. mainly, with over 8000 U.S. companies already operating in China, expect prices to go even higher. Of course. The last year the U.S. had a trade surplus was in 1975. 🏛🗽🏛

Farms. Agriculture. Food. Stuff.

From my response to Facebook chats etcetera.

A LONG time ago, China and Japan closed their ports to Western "outsiders." Before the Opium Wars (1839-1860), China’s protectionist policy limited trade with the West to the port of Canton (now Guangzhou). Meanwhile, the only Japanese port that was open to the West in the 1630s was Nagasaki, or a small artificial island called Dejima, but only a few Chinese and Dutch merchants were allowed to trade in Japan then.

       Well, the U.S. was seeking new markets for its manufactured goods and raw materials, and Japan had been practicing isolationism for 220 years! No way. Year, 1853. President Millard Fillmore ordered Commodore Matthew Perry to use “gunboat diplomacy” to establish trade relations with Japan in 1853. Of course, Mr Perry succeeded. And then came the Boxer Rebellion (1899 to 1901, Qing Dynasty) versus the Eight-Nation Alliance of foreign powers (you know who led the group). The Boxers were defeated so the Alliance forced the dynasty to submit to a punitive settlement that included opening new ports to trade with European and American traders. 

       Of course, Spain, Portugal, Britain, Netherlands, and other European powers were already embroiled in power play out there, who'd get to the region's massive resources. For example, old Burma had one of the earliest oil diggings, a major reason why the British came. Etc etcetera. Sans war (which of course happened) there's nothing wrong with trade between countries. So I don't get why many Americans dislike trade with China, when back in history, the West had to use an iron arm to pressure the Chinese to do business. 🍍🥥🍅

AMERICA is the world's #1 consumer market, regardless of China. The Chinese can sell and invest in other countries, especially with its BRICS bloc buddies which are huge economies, plus those “little” countries that they handed investments and loans. But since the trade pact of 2000, U.S. corporations have gained a lot of economic benefits from China as well. As we speak, 8,000+ US companies are operating there, including giants like Microsoft, GM, Boeing, Coke and Apple Inc. Yet China isn't even a top 15 FDI country in the US (#1 is Japan).   

       Meanwhile, sure we can perhaps boycott Chinese products per sinophobia. Yet the APIs in America's endless supply of drugs, silicon in our computers, and many more products that don't show "made in China" actually came from China. 🍍🥥🍅

AMERICA will have to sell (or export) its produce, still is.

       And Americans are still consuming its produce (from local farmers), in abundance, so much so that 40 percent of food in the U.S. is wasted or thrown away, annually. Meanwhile, it is not the fault of importing countries such as China and Mexico why our market is clogged with their products or products made by them or bought by U.S. companies from them to sell us. 

       The economic system that governs the U.S. which benefits huge American corporations does that. NAFTA, WTO, and as I said U.S./China trade pact. The last year the U.S. had a trade surplus was 1975. Hint: EPA was born in 1970. Overproduction (agriculture and manufacturing, including oil digging and mineral mining) does mess up the environment but we need to consume, right? As we desire a cool air. Hence, we gotta buy or import from others. The U.S. is already #1 producer of oil and natural gas yet we are still buying. Clogging the internal market with all these makes them relatively financially affordable to consumers (check gasoline prices in Europe, for example). Etc etcetera. 

       Bottomline, how do we fix this? Government leadership? How? This is America Incorporated. Maybe cut our consumerism? How? I don't know of any American with no maintenance meds or computer run gadgets or a car. Even U.S.-owned guns are manufactured elsewhere. Ergo, just enjoy life. Imagine the people in Gaza or Sudan. We got life, they don't. 🍍🥥🍅

WE  should not assume that others don't or they don't do "their best" to help make this world a better place. Me? But "support to the livelihoods of farmers" is a long discussion. But I will do away with the word "our." I view farmers in China, Philippines, Mexico, the U.S.--Afghanistan, Mali, and Lithuania etcetera--with the same level of humanity. But not how I view Big Corporations who buy their produce and market them home-based or overseas and the government leadership that implements "rules" on the trading table.

       In the micro. I try not to throw away food or I "recycle" leftovers for dinner. I. cook my food or try not to eat food from fast food counters or restaurants. That's how I was raised or grew up. I am not a picky eater either (although I was a vegetarian for many years in my younger life). I eat anything that is farmed, manufactured or whatever my personal economics can afford. As long as they are called Food. Yet I don't really ponder if my dinner was farmed by migrants or white people, black people, Chinese or Mexicans. I try not to lose my appetite with drama. Instead I trajectory my displeasure towards the Bigger Power (no, not God, LOL! I mean political power of profit). 🍍🥥🍅

[Photos: World Bank. AZoSensors. Minnesota Department of Agriculture.]

Words and Stuff and Love

Previously posted on my Facebook page. Or written years ago, unedited/not updated.

IT seems so effortless. I say words or write poems to try to comfort worried hearts and ease clouded minds. As though I had it all figured out—that healing wounds or making someone feel better is something that I am “good at.” Like that silly song, “Handy Man” is saying: “I fix broken hearts, I know I truly can.” But do I know what love really is? I don't know. 

       It's an individual truth. I am confident I know somehow how to project love yet do I know how it really works? Depends on the person receiving and giving, right? Interplay of negotiations. Interface of compromises. What I share in the area of love, relationships and all these sweet shenanigans don't necessarily work for me. How I wish that I am the dude who receives advice rather than the one giving it. Yet it doesn't lessen my joy when someone—either here on Facebook or in my little shows—tell me, “You made me feel better.” 

       That's cool. That's all the hero I need to be. 💖💔💝

WHEN I look at some relationships, I wonder what really works? Yet I have been a witness to many relationships that work and those that didn't. There seems to be a pattern (at least with people that I know). Most of those that end in divorce appear to stand by the dictum, “I do my thing, you do yours” and “I keep my own money, you spend yours.” In other words, they try to sustain their singlehood freedom while under one roof. They tend to idealize family and explore new dimensions yet they fight a lot or they don't talk a lot. 

       The other one is what the first one calls “uptight” and conservative. This kind of couple shares all as per conjugal belongings—bank account, decisions, church, problems, even friendships. They even share one email address. They “lose” their individual-ness (as opposed to individuality) in a synergetic whole and functions as per an agreed plan and direction. They have more laughter than arguments. They don't put so much ado on how to correctly raise children—they worry more about education and trust fund. 

       Most of these unions carry on to their 30 year anniversary or longer. Of course, a relationship isn't black and white or polar extremes. Just saying. 💖💔💝

Farms. Agriculture. Food. Stuff.

From my response to Facebook chats etcetera.

A LONG time ago, China and Japan closed their ports to Western "outsiders." Before the Opium Wars (1839-1860), China’s protectionist policy limited trade with the West to the port of Canton (now Guangzhou). Meanwhile, the only Japanese port that was open to the West in the 1630s was Nagasaki, or a small artificial island called Dejima, but only a few Chinese and Dutch merchants were allowed to trade in Japan then.

       Well, the U.S. was seeking new markets for its manufactured goods and raw materials, and Japan had been practicing isolationism for 220 years! No way. Year, 1853. President Millard Fillmore ordered Commodore Matthew Perry to use “gunboat diplomacy” to establish trade relations with Japan in 1853. Of course, Mr Perry succeeded. And then came the Boxer Rebellion (1899 to 1901, Qing Dynasty) versus the Eight-Nation Alliance of foreign powers (you know who led the group). The Boxers were defeated so the Alliance forced the dynasty to submit to a punitive settlement that included opening new ports to trade with European and American traders. 

       Of course, Spain, Portugal, Britain, Netherlands, and other European powers were already embroiled in power play out there, who'd get to the region's massive resources. For example, old Burma had one of the earliest oil diggings, a major reason why the British came. Etc etcetera. Sans war (which of course happened) there's nothing wrong with trade between countries. So I don't get why many Americans dislike trade with China, when back in history, the West had to use an iron arm to pressure the Chinese to do business. 🍍🥥🍅

AMERICA is the world's #1 consumer market, regardless of China. The Chinese can sell and invest in other countries, especially with its BRICS bloc buddies which are huge economies, plus those “little” countries that they handed investments and loans. But since the trade pact of 2000, U.S. corporations have gained a lot of economic benefits from China as well. As we speak, 8,000+ US companies are operating there, including giants like Microsoft, GM, Boeing, Coke and Apple Inc. Yet China isn't even a top 15 FDI country in the US (#1 is Japan).   

       Meanwhile, sure we can perhaps boycott Chinese products per sinophobia. Yet the APIs in America's endless supply of drugs, silicon in our computers, and many more products that don't show "made in China" actually came from China. 🍍🥥🍅

AMERICA will have to sell (or export) its produce, still is.

       And Americans are still consuming its produce (from local farmers), in abundance, so much so that 40 percent of food in the U.S. is wasted or thrown away, annually. Meanwhile, it is not the fault of importing countries such as China and Mexico why our market is clogged with their products or products made by them or bought by U.S. companies from them to sell us. 

       The economic system that governs the U.S. which benefits huge American corporations does that. NAFTA, WTO, and as I said U.S./China trade pact. The last year the U.S. had a trade surplus was 1975. Hint: EPA was born in 1970. Overproduction (agriculture and manufacturing, including oil digging and mineral mining) does mess up the environment but we need to consume, right? As we desire a cool air. Hence, we gotta buy or import from others. The U.S. is already #1 producer of oil and natural gas yet we are still buying. Clogging the internal market with all these makes them relatively financially affordable to consumers (check gasoline prices in Europe, for example). Etc etcetera. 

       Bottomline, how do we fix this? Government leadership? How? This is America Incorporated. Maybe cut our consumerism? How? I don't know of any American with no maintenance meds or computer run gadgets or a car. Even U.S.-owned guns are manufactured elsewhere. Ergo, just enjoy life. Imagine the people in Gaza or Sudan. We got life, they don't. 🍍🥥🍅

WE  should not assume that others don't or they don't do "their best" to help make this world a better place. Me? But "support to the livelihoods of farmers" is a long discussion. But I will do away with the word "our." I view farmers in China, Philippines, Mexico, the U.S.--Afghanistan, Mali, and Lithuania etcetera--with the same level of humanity. But not how I view Big Corporations who buy their produce and market them home-based or overseas and the government leadership that implements "rules" on the trading table.

       In the micro. I try not to throw away food or I "recycle" leftovers for dinner. I. cook my food or try not to eat food from fast food counters or restaurants. That's how I was raised or grew up. I am not a picky eater either (although I was a vegetarian for many years in my younger life). I eat anything that is farmed, manufactured or whatever my personal economics can afford. As long as they are called Food. Yet I don't really ponder if my dinner was farmed by migrants or white people, black people, Chinese or Mexicans. I try not to lose my appetite with drama. Instead I trajectory my displeasure towards the Bigger Power (no, not God, LOL! I mean political power of profit). 🍍🥥🍅

Visual credits: Asia Pacific Curriculum. Steam.

Post-November 5 Stuff. From Social Media Chats.

Facebook Friend: “Are you curious why Donald Trump won?”

I wasn't really "curious." But I formulated my pre-election insight on current reality. I believe those who voted for Mr Trump decided per sheer practical sense. The economy isn't doing good despite the Biden/Harris camp's efforts to "fix" it a month or so before November 5, which is obviously insincere or blatantly campaign related. 

       Meanwhile, a huge bloc in Blue's side, the progressives, thumbed down Kamala for her unclear stance on Gaza. This bloc is reinforced by RFK Jr.'s minions + somehow the Conservatives and "disengaged/unaligned" allied with them on anti-war due to the fact that amidst a failed economy, taxpayer money continuously is tossed to two ongoing wars. 

       Of course, there are other pressing issues such as the migrant crisis which proved Mr Trump was right for his stance to improve the borders. (And I am not even talking about foreign policy in which The D scored a few victories during his term vs Joe Biden's failures.) 

       Team Kamala focused more on disparaging Donald Trump for his (admittedly) crass personality instead of elaborating on programs. A sure blunder. I am still lost as to what really was Ms Harris plans for America other than the abortion issue.

Facebook Friend: "Trump's win is Russia's win."

How'd Russia win? 

       But this is what I see: The EU needs to recover economically (.04 percent growth as we speak) so the region needs Russian oil/natural gas imports soon. So the end of war means Nord Stream 2 is back. I am sure U.S. giants already got into Kyiv's Naftogaz. So what is the point in wasting more resources in a continuing war?

       Also Bibi Netayahu is cooler with Vladimir Putin than with Joe Biden. Note, Israel snubbed Mr Biden's call to send arms to Ukraine in 2022. Of course, Donald Trump has a more accessible line to the Kremlin. Meanwhile, what power can calm Iran out? China, top buyer of Tehran oil/natural gas and top FDI country in MENA. Syria? Note: Before the war, the Arab League welcomed Syria back. Saudi Arabia, de facto League boss may start talking. Meanwhile, Riyadh has a lot of fun projects, no need for longer war. So gotta fix it; Donald plays golf with MBS. 

       Bottomline, the region doesn’t need wars for obvious reasons. Etc etcetera. Who wins? No one wins, no one loses. They just share profit via trade in peace, no fighting, then they play soccer. 🏛🗽🏛

Blackrock et al and the corporate giant in U.S. elections.

From my response to Facebook chats etcetera.

BLACKROCK, Lockheed Martin, General Motors, Apple Inc. etc etcetera. All billionaires or giant corporations, including foreign giants, give to PACs. Since Barack Obama days, the Democratic Party has been out-PAC'ing the Republican Party, presidential and midterm elections. In 2020, Joe Biden raised a record $1+ billion, which Kamala Harris surpassed weeks or a month ago before November 5. 

Yet does it really matter to ID who these wealthy people or giant companies are? What we know, there are two ongoing wars right now. The Middle East tempest keeps on escalating. As anti war activists or peace advocates, we need to help stop these wars. Are we trying to stop wars or are we, in fact, trying to push a political party or presidential candidate over the other?

Facebook Friend: “They are two wings of the same bird and share most of the same donors. Elon musk is Trump's biggest donor. They're all a bunch of `fine’ people aren't they? We absolutely have to try to overcome this evil but I'm sad to say we're outpowered by the domination of big money buying everything and everyone. We lost our government and democracy a long time ago. Elections now are wishful thinking unfortunately, in my view. In another kind of world, it would be markedly different. But we're not there until we complete the shift.” 

       Shift? This is America. I don't think America ever changed from money money money at least since the U.S. defeated the Spanish armada in late 1890s or when the U.S. dollar became the world's reserve currency as the IMF and World Bank were born in 1944 Bretton Woods. America: The world's #1 economy, #1 consumer market, #1 producer of oil and natural gas etcetera. (But also #1 in military spending per shooting of others and frequency of mass shootings of its own.) 

       Meanwhile, I don't get it why we heap blame on America's rich (800+ billionaires) and private industries (as opposed to China, India, Russia and oil rich Middle East, where major industries are state-owned; except Big Tech in China is privately owned)--over blame on our government's obvious complicity in this gargantuan discrepancy in social status. The rich of America (or the world) will continue to get richer and we can't do much about it. But we can alter leadership or elect leaders who could lessen the wide Rich/Poor gap. 

       Or cut the massive so-called "defense" budget to fix FEMA's budget deficit, for example. Yes, regardless that politicians receive huge-ass campaign money from the rich per quid pro quo deals. Tough, isn't it. So in my older age, from my life of mostly Left-wing idealism, I blurred my paradigm line. My advocacy is focused on helping to end wars, whoever sits as POTUS or as a majority in Congress. And less violence in the streets. 

       But with the super wide divide in America, tough tough "ambition." But I ain't gonna lose sleep over it as long as I have a turntable to play endless Bee Gees, LOL! Life in America is a blessing to many like me and my kin. It's just that we are so damn dramatic or sentimental sometimes. We whine a lot and ignore the pleasures of the Bee Gees. But hey there's Prozac and Zoloft and lots of beers and whiskey, streaming TV, and Amazon and Temu boxes for my cats, Chewy for my dog. 🏛🗽🏛

Facebook Friend: “Things are shifting dramatically. If you leave the headlines and look at the people around you. People are changing dramatically and their attitudes are about coming together in amazing ways just to help and care about each other. Nothing changes unless we do. I cannot depend on the government to be what we want them to be. But we can come together and build in a new way. Perhaps you don't believe that? Seeing the love, just here in Asheville, gives me hope again.”

       After Hurricane Helene? I don't think so. The community grief was overpowered by the election run-up. Whether we read headlines, Facebook, or go to a store, it wasn't like the year 2000 anymore. But again, as I said, there are blessings but NOT what I am experiencing since the day I stopped my newspaper and events. I can't even start a grownup talk with longtime friends without that name tossed in the middle and here we go again with the hate. 

       There are clear reasons why depression is up among the young and mass shootings stay high (after the 1999 Columbine, at least). It was so different when Asheville still had Bele Chere and I could easily make friends at Malaprops, Vincent's Ear or Pritchard Park. Easily, people stereotype me as this and that these days. I mean, liberals even think I am so clueless about U.S. politics because I came "from a Third World" country. How ignorant that is! 

       But I repeat, I may sound dramatic, but I am cool. I just wait for the end of Tuesday (November 5) and carry on, whoever wins. If I am still young, and my personal circumstances are different, I'd easily fly back home (I will still do that, I don't wish to die here). I asked my housemate who is older than me, a white American, if this was America then. I know. It wasn't. But if I say what she thinks, she'd easily be profiled as well as this Right or this Left. No way to really know people if you are already "figured out" in the first sentence. 

       Asheville isn't even like the year 2000, as I said. And the sad thing? The blame is heaped on one man who I believe professes an ideal that for so long I hoped America's foreign policy would be. Anti-war or anti-NATO. He isn't maybe that old man in truth and he has reasons. But a day, just a day, rest from bombings and shootings elsewhere means a lot. 🏛🗽🏛