The China THREAT

The counterintelligence and economic espionage efforts emanating from the government of China and the Chinese Communist Party are a grave threat to the economic well-being and democratic values of the United States.



Confronting this threat is the FBI’s top counterintelligence priority.

To be clear, the adversary is not the Chinese people or people of Chinese descent or heritage. The threat comes from the programs and policies pursued by an authoritarian government.

The Chinese government is employing tactics that seek to influence lawmakers and public opinion to achieve policies that are more favorable to China.

At the same time, the Chinese government is seeking to become the world’s greatest superpower through predatory lending and business practices, systematic theft of intellectual property, and brazen cyber intrusions.

China’s efforts target businesses, academic institutions, researchers, lawmakers, and the general public and will require a whole-of-society response. The government and the private sector must commit to working together to better understand and counter the threat.

“The greatest long-term threat to our nation’s information and intellectual property, and to our economic vitality, is the counterintelligence and economic espionage threat from China.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray

It's Just This Simple...

Economics can be defined as the study of the allocation of scarce resources that have multiple purposes...

Why are they scarce resources?

They are scarce because the supplier cannot get all the resources that are needed into the marketplace at the time they are needed...

Why do the resources have multiple purposes?

Resources that have multiple purposes are those resources like petroleum crude oil which can be used to make a variety of products such as gasoline, jet fuel, plastics, fertilizer, etc.

When suppliers produce more resources than are needed in the marketplace, then the price goes down but if the opposite takes place then the price goes up...  and, when one thinks about that, it makes a lot of sense.

Gasoline prices are increasing because there is simply not enough gasoline being put into the marketplace for sale...  this same logic can be applied to all the food that is being sold in grocery stores...  and, since most food is transported by 18-wheelers and they have to pay more for gasoline, that also assists in increasing the price of food.

In addition to the price of gasoline, there are less Americans working in the marketplace today than were working two years ago.  If there are less workers, then there also must be less products being created that are available for purchase.

Less products as we know mean higher prices...

Inflation is typically controlled by increasing interest rates to remove money from the marketplace...  this removal of money will decrease the demand...  but, what also happens is that when less products are being produced and purchased, then our economy falls into a recession...  which means NO GROWTH AT ALL...

When a country falls into a recession, everyone one of the citizens or residents have less available to them...  and each and everyone of them are negatively impacted by this.  The only group of people that are not bothered by either inflation or a recession are the WEALTHY...

Underwater Cave

 

Lowering Risk of Dimentia

The habits include:

1. exercising
2. losing weight 
3. having good nutrition
4. maintaining a healthy blood pressure
5. reducing blood sugar
6. not smoking
7. regulating cholesterol.

Scientists have identified 7 healthy linked to lower rates of dementia in those with genetic risk.

According to a study recently published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, seven healthy habits and lifestyle factors may help reduce the risk of dementia in people with the greatest genetic risk.

The seven cardiovascular and brain health factors are known as the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7: being active, eating healthier, losing weight, not smoking, keeping a healthy blood pressure, regulating cholesterol, and lowering blood sugar.

“These healthy habits in the Life’s Simple 7 have been linked to a lower risk of dementia overall, but it is uncertain whether the same applies to people with a high genetic risk,” said study author Adrienne Tin, Ph.D., of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. “The good news is that even for people who are at the highest genetic risk, living by this same healthier lifestyle are likely to have a lower risk of dementia.”

In the research, 2,738 people with African heritage and 8,823 individuals with European ancestry were tracked over the course of 30 years. At the start of the trial, participants’ average age was 54.

The levels of each of the seven health factors were reported by study participants. The range of total scores was 0 to 14, with 0 being the most unhealthy score and 14 denoting the most healthy score. People of European heritage scored on average 8.3, whereas people of African descent scored on average 6.6.

Researchers calculated genetic risk scores at the start of the study using genome-wide statistics of Alzheimer’s disease, which have been used to study the genetic risk for dementia.  READ MORE...

Teaching Math Has Changed

1. Teaching Math in the 1950s ...

A forester sells a small load of timber for £100

His cost of production is 4/5 of the price.

What is his profit? £____


2. Teaching Math in the 1970s ...

A forester sells a small load of timber for £100.

His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or £80.

What is his profit? £___


3. Teaching Math in the 1990s ...

A forester sells a small load of timber for £100.

His cost of production is £80.

Did he make a profit? __Yes or __No


4. Teaching Math in the 2000s ...

A forester sells a small load of timber for £100.

His cost of production is £80 and his profit is £20.

Your assignment: Underline the number 20.


5. Teaching Math in the 2010s ...

A forester cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands.

He does this so he can make a profit of £20.

What do you think of this way of making a living?

Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes?


6. Teaching Math in the 2020s ...

Math is a racist subject.

Students no longer need any maths skills to go to University.

2+2 = 4, or 22, or whatever you feel is correct for you.

There are no wrong answers, feel free to express your feelings e.g., anger, anxiety, inadequacy, helplessness etc.

Should you require debriefing at the conclusion of the exam there are Counselors available to assist you.

Classic Sunday Morning Newspaper Cartoons

 

Watching Space in High Definition

This artist’s view shows a planet orbiting the young star Beta Pictoris. 

(Image credit: ESO L. Calçada/N. Risinger)

Researchers are looking forward to a glimpse of colliding worlds in action from NASA's cutting-edge space observatory.

After the James Webb Space Telescope finishes its commissioning period and releases its first operational images on July 12, the observatory will dive into science in earnest. And one of the telescope's first-year investigations will include a close-up view of the strange neighborhood of Beta Pictoris.

The young star, just 63 light years away from us, is surrounded by a dusty disc full of debris left over from its formation. It's a crowded space, hosting "at least two planets [and] a jumble of smaller, rocky bodies," researchers said in a 2021 press release(opens in new tab) about the investigation.

While the research has numerous directions, one key aspect is watching a young planetary system evolving as planetesimals (the predecessors to planets) collide. Because Beta Pictoris is wreathed in dust, researchers will be using Webb's infrared light to peer through the debris and see what is happening in high definition.

Webb will have decades of past work to draw upon, including ground-based observatories and space observations from the Hubble Space Telescope. We know from such studies that Beta Pictoris hosts at least two gigantic planets, both much more massive than Jupiter. Researchers also glimpsed the first known exocomets, or comets beyond our solar system, whirling in the debris cloud.  READ MORE...

Really???

 

Recession Proof Industries

Warnings about a looming recession have reached a fever pitch. Inflation continues to soar, causing chaos in the stock market, and companies are starting to prepare for the worst with layoffs, hiring freezes and, in some extreme cases, rescinding job offers.

The sudden shift in labor market dynamics — after months of strong job prospects and rising wages for employees — has left many working Americans scratching their heads.

“Job prospects are going to get much worse” in the next few months, Laurence Ball, an economics professor at Johns Hopkins University, tells CNBC Make It. “The question is: ‘How much worse?’”

If you’re thinking of changing roles soon, you should know that while no job is completely recession-proof, certain industries tend to fare worse than others during a downturn.

During the Great Recession, which lasted from 2007 to 2009, the construction and manufacturing sectors experienced sizable dips in employment, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That’s because during an economic downturn, people usually limit their discretionary spending and delay big purchases, including cars and new homes, says Karen Dynan, an economics professor at Harvard University and former chief economist at the U.S. Treasury. She predicts that these industries will see similar patterns if a recession were to occur soon.  READ MORE...

Large Fiddle

 

Retired and Offline

 

I earned my retirement credentials by working in a variety of positions in labor and management over a 45 year period of time..

I earned my retirement because I was an outspoken employee of integrity who would not back down and consequently was laid-off or fired 10 times during my career...

I earned my ability never having to work again at 67 years of age because despite my roller coaster employment, I was still able to save enough money to pay our bills until the age of 95 and my wife is 5 years younger.

I am able to live just as well off not working as I did when I was working...  and, one of those reasons that helped me achieve this goal was the fact that I became debt free 15 years before I retired.

Throughout my career whether I worked in labor or in management, I simply LOVED what I was doing and simply HATED the people for whom I had to work...  even in management, you have to report to someone and those people in my situation were incompetent assholes who thought being an intellectual meant wiping their asses with expensive toilet tissue.

On numerous occasions I wanted to give them glass belly buttons because they had their heads so far up their asses, I did not think they could see properly.

While you may think this hard to believe, the worst leaders and managers I worked for were employed at a Christian University.

I now live in East TN in a 24oo square foot home that sits on an acre of land.  The money I have is in a credit union and not invested in the stock market.  I don't calculate a build up of interest to determine how long my monies will last.  

I just take our social security income and subtract it from our monthly expenses, and whatever I need is removed from savings.  If my total monthly expenses exceed $5,000 then I look for ways to cut back but so far that has not happened even when confronted with the Biden inflation.

My wife and I go out to eat once or twice a week and take a vacation every other month but due to COVID, we only feel confident with two vacations to Myrtle Beach.

We grow our own veges in the summer.  We have a pool, a large deck with gazebo, and a hot tub for our entertainment and relaxation.

We are off cable completely and with fiber WIFI have membership with Hulu and Netflix which provides us all our needs.

Our 3 cats are a nuisance most of the time, but do provide us with comfort throughout the day and don't judge us on anything that we do...  although, they do not like us arguing especially when our voices are raised.

My daughter from a previous marriage lives in China and has chosen not to communicate with me anymore...  her loss...  my second wife's son comes by for a visit every other week, and when our neighbors are outside they are friendly.

My wife and I are free to walk around our community without the fear of any violence and do so often for exercise.

After traveling to Europe a couple of times, Hawaii 3 times, Alaska, 3 times to Vegas, Denver, twice to New Orleans, and taking about 10-12 cruises, there is not that much that we really want to see.

Traveling is fun and we got good at it, but at the same time, it is a hassle...  especially going through customs and trying to navigate foreign airports where few speak English like in Paris.

I will say this about cruises...  On every single cruise, I asked our waiter on the first night if I could have Salmon every night but on that night with Lobster, I wanted both.  All my waiters on all my cruises were able to accommodate my request.

With all our travels, the place that we still like the best is south myrtle beach...  we have found the perfect place to stay and have found the best places to eat, not always the most expensive, and feel the most comfortable going to barefoot landing and the other tourist sites.

Our room at the resort we like is divided into sections.  A bedroom with a door, a bath, a kitchen, a livingroom with balcony that faces the ocean.  We always have breakfast and lunch in our room and go out for dinner.  Our total cost for 7 days including food and transportation ranges between $1,500 to $2,000 which is always less than any other vacation we have ever taken.

Except for our health concerns, our RETIREMENT IS PERFECT...

Quallties of Followers

 

Believe it or not...  those who follow have qualities and attributes as well, not totally unlike being a leader...  just without the responsibilities.

But, before we get to these followers let me say a little something about those who don't want to lead or follow, all they want to do is to be told what to do...

While these may be compliant employees, they are the worst kind of employers to have as they do not want to think, they do not want to protect, they are not loyal, nor do they really care about what they do or for that matter don't do.

These employees will always try to do the very minimum to get by and are not really worth the wages that you are paying them in the long run...  they are short term employers that have to be watched all the time...

However, the employees that want to follow a leader are dramatically different.

They are skilled and capable, they can and do think for themselves and they look for problems to arise so that they can stop them from happening or minimize the impact if they do.

These followers know how to take orders (like a soldier without resentment) and can work by themselves or with a group of people in a team.  They know to contribute to the whole and they understand fully the role they play and are totally willing to accept that role.

These employees are capable of leadership roles but don't want the responsibility and yet, if something were to happen and they were needed, they would step into a leadership role in a heartbeat.

If I were to make a comparison, I would compare followers as those who are members of a Navy SEAL Team.

You can find these followers but you have to look for them and be willing to pay for their talents, abilities, and willingness to make good on their commitments.   

Castle in the Water

 

Palace of Palenque

If you are an individual that feels comfortable getting off the beaten track, then the ruin of the ancient city of the Palenque in Chiapas Mexico is a must-see sight for you.

Although the most well-known ruins include the Mayan structures throughout the Mexican Peninsula, the Palenque was located in an ancient Mayan city-state, and today it offers travelers some of the most exquisite and intricately designed architecture in all of Mexico. While the site is still being unearthed there is much you can learn by visiting it.

During your visit, you will get to experience the Mayan world and walk in the footsteps of the ancient priests and rulers of the time.

There are several pyramids located within the city most of which were used for ceremonies and rituals. The tranquility of the site will be lost in the emotions you may feel when you visit Palenque ruins and imagine its distant inhabitants who vanished off the Earth.

The Mayan Ruins of Palenque are a Mesoamerican site in southern Mexico in the Chiapas state of Mexico. They are believed to have been built sometime between the 7th and 8th centuries AD, although the exact date is uncertain.

These Mayan ruins were once the center of the Mayan city of Palenque founded by an ancient Maya ruler known as Pakal the Great, who ruled from 615 to 683 AD.

The site was first settled in the Early Classic Period, and the earliest evidence of Mayan occupation at the site comes from around 600 CE.

By the Late Classic Period, Palenque had become one of the most powerful Mayan city-states, and its influence extended throughout Mesoamerica. Archaeologists date the ruins of Palenque back to the year 226 BC. The city was smaller than Chichen Itza and Tikal.  READ MORE...

Hungry Bear

 

Children That Don't Give Up

A raging pandemic, gun violence, climate change — as an educational psychologist, I’ve seen firsthand how the troubling events of today are taking a toll on our children.

“It’s hard to stop thinking about bad stuff,” an 11-year-old told me recently. “Sometimes I worry about waking up.”


Without the right tools to handle adversity, hopelessness can set in and kids’ overall well-being can decline. Hope is what energizes them to stay mentally strong during tough times, and it’s what sets them apart from those who give up easily.

Research shows that hopefulness can dramatically reduce childhood anxiety and depression. Hopeful kids have an inner sense of control. They view challenges and obstacles as temporary and able to be overcome, so they are more likely to thrive and help others.

Yet despite its immense power, hope is largely excluded from our parenting agendas. The good news? Hope is teachable. One of the best ways to increase this strength is by equipping children with skills to handle life’s inevitable bumps.

Here are nine science-backed ways to help kids maintain hope — especially during tough times:  READ MORE...

Flute

 

Giant Heads Found in Tanzania

In 2018, archaeologists made a staggering discovery in Swaga Swaga Game Reserve in central Tanzania: 52 previously undocumented rock shelters, deliberately painted with rock art. Weathering had mostly destroyed all but a handful; but of those that were preserved, one was an absolute enigma.

The site, named Amak'hee 4, was elaborately painted with a frieze of figurative art – including three mysterious, anthropomorphic figures with extremely oversized heads.

These could be, according to archaeologist Maciej Grzelczyk of the Jagiellonian University in Poland, a clue to figuring out what other, similar trios of figures found in other rock art panels might be.

The Amak'hee 4 panel is difficult to date, but in 2021 Grzelczyk was able to gauge that it's at least a few hundred years old. It's painted almost entirely in red pigment, except for five figures in white.

The weathering on this pigment, and the absence of domestic animals, suggests that it's fairly old, dating back to the time of hunter-gatherer societies in the region.  READ MORE...

Snow Dogs

 

Qualities of a Leader

After 45 years of working in the marketplace holding a variety of positions and jobs, such as:

1. laborer
2. waiter
3. operator
4. customer service rep
5. technician
6. supervisor
7. teacher
8. instructor
9. course writer
10. professor
11. dean
12. director of education
13. president
14. owner
15. vice president
16. CEO
17. consultant
18. director
19. manager
20. executive director

I have come to the realization that a good leader (regardless of the title or position) must possess the following characteristics, skills, and abilities:

• a good communicator (written, verbal, presentation)
• must have the ability to lie as well as tell the truth
• must be at least 6 feet tall and not overweight or obese (attractiveness is optional but desireable)
• must be good with numbers, forecasts, and projections
• must be willing to take risks
• must be willing to empower people
• must be willing to hire direct reports that are just as capable 
• must be willing to take responsibility for failures and successes
• must have the desire to learn and a keen ability to retain
• must be willing to remove obstacles so that all employees can do their jobs to the best of their abillities
• must hire employees with a pre-determined but desireable mindset
• must be willing to pay for performance
• must have a well-defined career path for employees
• MUST BE ABLE TO CREATE THE VISION for the company and EXECUTE THE VISION
• must be a proponent of continuous improvement
• must be patient and tolerate and be able to teach
• must be able to manage stress, work, and home life simultaneously
• must be able to know when to say NO and not just say NO arbitrarily
• must be kind and generous with praise and gratitute
• must be willing to stand up to the stockholders if their wishes go against the company in the long term
• must understand the psychology of work in order to motivate
• must understand that true motivation comes from creating the environment that allows people to motivate themselves
• must be clean cut and well dressed but not always a suit and tie
• must have the ability to play chess as well as 3 dimensional chess
• must understand the competition or trust someone who understands the competition

While this list may be somewhat incomplete, it still provides the basic framework for a leader, whether this leader works in education, government, military, religion, manufacturing, service, hospitality, athletics, or entertainment.

Let me say that not all positions automatically create leaders...  Joe Biden is the President of the United States and he is very far away from being a leader...  Joe Biden, not only just does what the party wants him to do and not what is in the best interest of the country, but he blames others for the failures of his decisions.

Joe Biden is a politician not a LEADER...

You don't have to be in a powerful position to be a leader.