Tuesday, August 31. 2010
In a previous entry I listed airports I have visited, so in this post I will list seaports I have entered or exited (or both). | PORT | ENTER/EXIT | NOTES | | Canada | | | | Vancouver | Enter 2x Exit 2x | | | Victoria | Enter 2x Exit 2x | Spectacular scenery on passage through the islands from Vancouver. | | United States | | | | Pearl Harbor, Hawaii | Exit | Great view of the wreck of the USS Arizona. | | San Diego, California | Enter | | | Europe | | | | Dover, England | Exit | Left Dover by Hovercraft, famous white cliffs of Dover behind us. | | Calais, France | Enter | | | Helsinki, Finland | Exit and Enter | Beautiful cruise through small, rocky islands which reminded me of Muskoka (except it's saltwater). | | Talinn, Estonia | Enter and Exit | Odd, Soviet-era pier, with heliport. Not very welcoming. Old Talinn is worth the visit, though. | | Piraeus (Athens), Greece | Exit and Enter | | | Heraklion, Crete, Greece | Enter and Exit | The old Venetian port is more interesting than the modern port, where the ferry comes in. | | Africa and Middle East | | | | Hurghada, Egypt | Exit | | | Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt | Enter | Very barren, desert coast | | Asia | | | | Hong Kong, China | Exit | Travelled by hydrofoil to Macau. | | Macau, China | Enter | | | Mokpo, South Korea | Exit | A small fishing port, it had many shops selling anchors and marine supplies. | | Jeju Do, South Korea | Enter and Exit | Jeju Island is the most unique part of Korea. Fascinating. | | Busan, South Korea | Enter | | | Incheon, South Korea | Exit | | | Qingdao, China | Enter | Qingdao is a pretty little seaside city, which reminded me of Victoria (except it's much larger). | | | |
Wednesday, August 25. 2010
I'm going to play a little game. I've noticed that the Australian dollar, over the past 2 years, has fluctuated between USD$0.88 and USD$0.91. Actually, it's gone much higher and lower, but it has passed both markers several times. Right now, the Australian buck is at $0.883, which means its probably a good time to buy. My plan is to buy the Aussie dollar (on paper, not in reality) and "sell it" at USD$0.910. I will "buy" again if (and when) it reaches $0.880. I will repeat this process as often as I am able over the next 2 years (I expect to do so at least 4 times), and add up the profit. So, here goes: August 25, 2010 USD$10,000 at AUD$1.13155 ($0.883743) = AUD$11,315.51 September 3, 2010 The Australian dollar has climbed to USD$91.09, so it's time to sell. AUD$11315.51 = USD$ 10,307.29 (USD$307.29 profit)
Tuesday, August 24. 2010
The latest fad amongst opinionators seems to be to compare China's recent, rapid economic assent to Japan's former economic 'miracle'. I just read an article opining that the cure for the American trade deficit with China is to encourage Chinese companies to build factories in the U.S., the way Japanese companies such as Toyota did in the '80s. The article was written by several 'experts', including a former U.S. trade negotiator (who should have known better). I'd like to point out one itsy bitsy problem with that idea: Chinese companies do not export to the United States. Let me repeat that: Chinese companies (with a few exceptions) DO NOT EXPORT to the United States! The products which are exported from China are either: a) made by foreign companies in China b) made by joint enterprises in China c) made by Chinese companies under contract, or licensing arrangement, with foreign companies.
Think about it: can you name a single Chinese brand? I bet you can name a dozen famous Japanese brands: Sony, Toshiba, Toyota, Honda, etc. You can probably even name a few South Korean brands: Samsung and Hyundai, for instance. But there are no famous Chinese brands (at least, not yet). So where are these Chinese companies which are going to build factories in the U.S.?
The Chinese economy does not resemble Japan's in the '70s and '80s, except in it's growth rate. It's a completely different situation. So please, spare us the facile and misleading comparisons.
Sunday, August 15. 2010
More than 60 years ago George Orwell, in his classic dystopian novel, 1984, spoke of a new type of English called 'newspeak'. Well now, thanks to the U.S. military, we have 'warspeak': Assassinations are now called 'targeted killings'. Torture is now 'enhanced interrogation'. Refugees are now 'displaced persons'. Civilians killed- deliberately or by accident- are 'collateral damage'. Unless they are killed by the enemy, then it's 'terrorism'. Rebels against communist or unfriendly (to the U.S.) regimes are 'freedom fighters'. Rebels against U.S. occupation or puppet regimes are 'terrorists'. Even if their tactics are identical. Congratulations, Orwell. You were truly prescient.
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