I do important work in conjunction with the federal government. I don't think I'm paid enough (but I'll do it anyway).

 And when you stop to think of it.  Supreme Court judges don't get anywhere worth what their work should entitle them to make!

A person doing military service can make the time he has spent there to count in the business world.  But there are positions, such as Supreme Court Justice, where one holding the position isn't expected to retire. US Presidents after serving in that capacity can make a lot of money upon leaving office.   In my case, I am "retired" from business only.  The terms that brought me into serve, I've proven my worth already some 40 years since!

All I'm asking for is a modest adjustment, because I am dedicated to the Country and believe in what I'm doing as if I were a Supreme Court Justice; and I'm doing important stuff the country needs to have done!

I know we should welcome the opportunity to serve.  But really, Oastler could use some more mullah.

My opinion.    

I've not seen how enthusiastic US can be over a foreign country's build-up for battle as it is in support of Ukraine's Spring Offensive!

President Zelensky must feel gratified he's got the United States and the West behind him in his major thrust to reclaim Ukrainian lands for his people!

And, personally, I'm proud to be an American, and lend my anxiety for the preservation of  his courageous nation!  I'm concerned they do well.

My hearty, "Go get 'em!" 

Pakistan's Charge: Afghanistan

Not certain how much I can attend the Wilson Center Pakistan Think Tank meeting, but I've already had my say!  If I am prone, I'll listen to bits--bytes.

 My schedule!

Wilson Center: The Road Ahead for US-Japan Economic Security Partnership in the Indo-Pacific

 A discussion on the topic of how should 2 members of the Western Alliance of democratic countries, namely, US and Japan, should discuss with other governments  information and knowledge of a technical and scientific nature relative to an item's economic value--that having greater worth being secure and protected from general parlance.

The meeting took place on April 25, 2023, 9AM in the Wilson Center and was carried online.  Discussants were Professor Walter Hudson, National Defense University; Professor Yasuyuki Todo, Waseda University; Jun Osawa, Nakasone Peace Institute; and the introductions by Shihoko Goto, Director for Geoeconomics.

A brief 20th Century history of the topic was presented as the background of the Economic Security issue.

Actually, this topic has been lively debated since the rise of science in the annals of the history of science in the field of philosophy.  1.  Those doing innovative and creative work in theoretical science or its practical applications are cautioned to keep secret their scientific advances.  In the case of governments discussion of new concepts and ideas can be shared freely only among those closely aligned partners, such as Japan and the United States.  This would apply also to such practical applications in industry and business.

2.  Then, there's the everyday parlance of business and social transactions among those sharing a common heritage and cultural background.  So, for example, China and the United States, as friendly nations and members of the United Nations, do invest in one another's companies and enterprises as  normal business transactions--secrecy to preserve economic advantage not in play.

3. Finally, there's a special class of applied theoretical knowledge in the most advanced machinery and technology where the know-how to use the implement or conveyance is to be shared among certain members of the club or alliance, e.g., building and developing nuclear power plants.

Now with respect to the United States and Japan all 3 areas of economic knowledge could be shared between them. Professor Hudson, using the language of strategic approach, thought Ms. Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury, would place China as a competitor and so the innovative range of theoretical knowledge and highly valued applications probably would be off limits.            

Periodically I am complained against to property management!

 It's happened all the several years I've been living here, but I've weathered the problems with help and assistance.

Now, it's over the kitchen area.  Some hints that my aide or me are not cleaning up after use.  We keep the pots and pans, etc. in my room in cabinets.  I occasionally check to make sure things are ok.  Will make it more often.

They spray the room nearly weekly.

I like it here very much. 

I predict a great future for my health aide in the Muslim Faith!

I'm helping her for what I think will be a leadership role among women in the Muslim Faith.

She's easy to teach her, too!  I'm so surprised how she is growing in religion!

My tutelage.  

PBS program shows that treated wastewater could be piped to just about anywhere!

Pipe treated wastewater wherever you need water--for crops; to drink (once it is purified)!

 Now that climate change is causing heavy rains, etc. the danger is that the overflow floods property and the banks of rivers and streams.  Yet the overflow could endure wastewater treatment, then enter piping which would send it to areas suffering, due to climate change, from drought and parched earth.

Seems a possible solution to both areas drenched with excess precipitation or experiencing a drought! 

Just a thought based on the PBS presentation I was watching re: wastewater after its treatment.

The FBI needed in Mexico and Central America

 The area is infested and just not with flying bugs!  The US is being precluded from the Central American countries because of drug trafficking from China (not always from there) and Mexico.

It's real in need of an infestation treatment that's permanent.  Central America could be vital partners, I've been working many years, especially Guatemala (China thinks Costa Rica)---they love it here, to be developed, however.

My opinion.  

My modus operandi in world affairs (a reminder)

I have taken the time to articulate my strategy in world affairs once again.  My dedicated purpose is to make a contribution for the betterment of the world and to assure the continuance of mankind.

I have not endeavored to champion a cause in which I believe because I learned early on in my life that I'm an idea man!  Someone who has visions of a better tomorrow.  I have so many things I endeavor to change over my lifetime that I have adopted the methodology of trying to interest those around me to pursue some particular cause I hold in the hopes that they will follow through by making it theirs!  Henceforth, they can represent themselves as an "authority" on the cause.

For instance, I believe in visions as a means to know the future--some particular event or place envisioned.  I don't know how it happens, but I've experienced it upon occasion.  Well, I talked with a seminarian attending a seminary in Virginia about a book of compilations of reported visions that have come "true." I sort of interested him in undertaking publishing a book of testimonies of the experiencers' reports of same.

I try to find someone to undertake the project I believe in or to encourage the individual to pursue such a project.  I don't believe in following through on anyone of such projects, despite my enthusiasm that they be pursued in the public square.

I am always coming up with new projects; and have been that way.  For my Ph.D. in philosophy I wrote my dissertation refuting the position of an illustrious English philosopher; and after my dissertation was circulated, the particular position on the need for evidence of perceptual knowledge claims was no longer defended among philosophers!

But the point I want to make here is that I try not to waste my time thinking of a future with what I am promoting if it's not one the people don't envision for themselves.  So if I talk with a person who is not excited over knowing the future through visions or dreams, I change the subject; I don't try to interest him in the topic.

Of course, sometimes, I'll mention a course of action and see if my hearer is interested in it, such that he might become involved in promoting it in publication or merely advocating it forthwith.

Indeed, I've learned, my brain is futuristic! 

   

Sorting through China projects around the world.

 I've been privy to the direction these projects have taken in their developed phases.  Overall, the new infrastructure should aid China's supply chains in the production of goods these chains are designed for.  That's fine.  But then to expect the host country to pay back loans taken out to improve the performance of Chinese supply chains is just too much for the host country to accomplish, particularly, if the host country is experiencing the new, radical effects of climate change.

Moreover, I think the host country assumed the job workers would be from the local population.  Clearly, this has not always been the case.  Chinese workers have been brought in on at least some, I understand.

Nevertheless, with local settlements of migrants from China, there's been an infusion of new ideas and ways for digestion in different regions of the globe.  A sound achievement!

My opinion.

In Capitalism vs. Communism, investors have no money to "grease the palm" to start a business or keep it going!

 If a businessman under capitalism, needs a vacation, he doesn't think to himself, "What will it take to seal the deal--to make him my buddy?  He simply offers terms in the deal that convinces another business person to enter into the deal as stated in the contract--and then he has a partner: once the contractual terms are agreed upon by whoever signs the contract!

No extra effort should be expended to "grease the palm" off camera--buddy to buddy! 

That's how capitalism works.  Partners enter into stated agreements and once signed, the terms are enforceable in court (where you may not know the judge)!  

My opinion re: capitalism.

Fareed Zakaria's GPS: Featured today an author arguing for regionalism in trade in the entire Central-North American region!

 In an author's book that was being considered in the GPS program of today, the point emerged that the US tries to go it alone in production of goods--specifically, does not always take a regional approach in bringing into its supply cycle of the production of goods what other countries in the region could be contributing to its production cycles.

Perhaps, as I've been arguing (in the trade and commerce course I'm enrolled in through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute: OLLI) at American University, the US could take a more rigorous regional approach through expansion of the USMCA organization by including the Central American Countries, which are not included now in that membership, so as to bring the US and Canada and Mexico into forming a more inclusive regional trade group (by including Central American countries) to compete with the other two thriving regional conglomerates--Asia and Europe--that the program mentioned.

Again, my hat goes off to GPS aired over CNN on Sundays for bringing out the need to expand this region's supply chain by reaching out to the Central American lands for items in its supply chains to be manufactured regionally. 

My opinion.

    

Preservation of the water supply: critical infrastructure enhancement

 I was visiting California about 7 years ago and discussed the water situation, the lack thereof, with politicians in Sacramento, where I was staying.

What I suggested is a change in the flume system that brings water down from the mountains.  The need for a change is because the major problem in the preserving of captured water, e.g., to be used in the fields, is evaporation.  The canals around the state are typically uncovered, and with the sun baking down on the land, presents a problem in saving much of it for practical purposes in agriculture and for drinking.

Actually, there needs to be set up a system whereby water in flood areas is transported via pipes to areas experiencing much draught.  It's possible, using underground piping like they do in the oil industry.  I think the state of Georgia could benefit by taking run-off water and transport it via pipes to where it would be of practical use.

Just a suggestion, but I think it's a needful step to preserve water for use somewhere else.  In sum, stop the wasteful evaporation of water--transport water overflow to where it can be used, instead of just opening the ocean and river spickets!

My ;opinion. 

P.S.  I think the Army Corps of Engineers could be involved to advantage.    

The IMF is to finance the Ukrainian forces, apparently.

 It's the seventh largest funding for war in history of the international bank--some $16 billion, but the country will need close to $40 billion plus what it gets from taxes and aid.

Might the IMF provide even more this year?  It's likely just a new source for funds on which Zelensky will come to rely,

My opinion.  It's marvelous how well the Ukrainians are doing.

I understand many more wealthy Russians are packing up  and leaving the country. 

Mrs. Hilary Clinton can feel glad justice is being served in the cause of democracy through the Manhattan DA's diligence in office!

 Gaining an inkling of what former President Trump was up to in order to become President is shocking:  We citizens have reason to thank the Manhattan DA, Alvin Bragg, for his diligence in performing the duties of his office in setting forth the case of Mr. Trump's apparent shenanigans. 

If proven true, the cause of democracy has been defended against a grave injustice to Ms. Clinton.

Humph.

My opinion.

As users of AI Tech what will the military bring as its own point of view? Answer: the rule of KISS!

Yes, that's right.  There'll be plenty of technical people acting as end-users.  But the goodie that the military bring is the perspective of a real user of the technology in years to come:  KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID!  The end-user makes no pretense of being a tech user.

So, I hope the military will send their people as part of an AI Quality-Assurance (i.e., novice) team.

My opinion.

 

I am appealing to common sense: Remember how the military played an instrumental role in developing the computer?

 I am agreeing that industry should do its thing, but that does not prevent the military from getting involved in the development of AI technology.  The use of AI will soon become common-place.

So it's common sense: get the military involved forthwith!

IBM did not go it alone in developing the capabilities of the computer.  Welcome into the fray, the US military!

And to all, good luck and happy findings and discoveries on your adventures!

My opinion.