Don't watch television any more/Carlos Pueblo

 Don't watch television any more/Carlos Pueblo

Recently a television rating company solicits me to it's rating program with a small compensation monthly. I refuse to take the offer because that I don't watch television any more. At the most, I switch to watch some programs on You Tube which I feel that I have had more control of what I watch. After 1989, I have almost cut off my television watching time because it is too much commercial advertisement. I hate to be forced to watch something boring and I don't purchase anything from regular commercial advertisement. It is not worth for me to change my life style simply for such fee award.

I am getting less patient for some different political views from my belief, i.e. some television news program while I like to know some of my favorite. Now, I can select those news programs including special discussion on You Tube even though a few days behind. I have been behind all my life and may attempt to catch up. After Biden becomes the President, I can watch his White House News Brief almost every day to follow what he is doing for the Nation. I can also have an hour to listen to an excellent English of his spoke person.

I used to watch old movies on the television at late hour of a day. Now, I can get them from the You Tube collection; therefore, I can go to sleep early and wake up early in the morning for my morning walk and the tennis game. Doing my regular daily exercises is much more real for my health than watching professional ball games. I don't have any enthusiasm for NCAA or the Olympic Games, etc. any longer. I can be tolerated with my boring life.

I still don't quite understand why there are so much violent programs on the television. Some of the fiction is not realistic. The violent fiction, the mad people, and easy to have an assault weapon combined can make some tragedy in the society.

不看電視／莊峻華

 不看電視／莊峻華

最近有一電視調查公司，寄來資料，選上我當他們調查電視收看資料對象，我正不知所措，艾美已將寄來道具丟棄，又有信來，不久有專人，攜帶一禮盒來訪，巧遇艾美做園藝曰，來訪幾次不遇，因門鈴無聲，解釋此為有給調查，就是每日需要依時觀看電視節目，回答調查報告，問題是我已經三十多年，不看電視，現在收看網誌節目，包括新聞節目，而且是有選擇性，若接受邀請，勢必影響日常生活，我的生活時間已存不多，因此鐵口拒絕，艾美也同意。

電視節目廣告多，浪費很多時間，所有電視節目，都是置入性，都有目地，我在1989年返台，在虎尾朋友家，陪看電視，當時台灣電視，許多想像暴力，我想到美國電視節目，也多是杜撰想像暴力，電影也然，所以我就放棄收看電視，家裏電視機，都是女兒更換新機，留下來之過時舊品，我們家人都不看電視，兒子迷戀電玩，艾美訂閱韓劇。

不看電視後，一日突然時間増長，許多可供應用，我常感覺電視，已經漸漸為網誌所取代，現在網誌有很多自拍節目，像南越農村捕魚，烹調，許多園藝農作等，都能引我興趣，許多舊影重播，還有最近的白宮每日記者會，對我而言，是一十分有效之政治課，也是甚佳英語課，不看電視，可以増加兩次午睡。

網誌裏的政治節目，多半是一般電視新聞節目之篩選，或是特別節目，經過網誌可以有選擇，當然網誌也有廣告，但可以稍為控制，或是不看，這些新聞對一般人，尤其是老年人，並非必要，我常覺得美國之槍暴，和電視暴力節目有關，這些人從小就觀看電視暴力，槍枝彈藥又可自由購買，沒有時間去了解，甚麼是懦夫，濫殺無辜。

To the head underwriter of Texas Fair Plan Association/Carlos Pueblo

 To the head underwriter of Texas Fair Plan Association/Carlos Pueblo

Gentleman,

I have the privilege to report a distinguish colleague of yours, Norma, to you for her outstanding service to one of my accounts. One of Michelle Chuang's fire policies is become renewal in May without a HO225 liability extension from her homeowner policy. It is due to exceeding the three houses underwriting limit. She has alert me for such request has been declined ever since I send the request. I was not happy yet understood. Michelle and her friend purchase a homeowner policy and run into a problem to pay the invoice in order to get the decoration page of the policy. Lucky me my phone call went through to her again. I remind her that it is the same insured who gives me the hard time for the HO225 issue. Norma listens to me carefully and attempts to solve the new issue immediately.

The issue is that Michelle's email is rejecting our invoice once I submit the application. I thought that was my type error on the application. I change it correctly and Norma has tried it several times and still not going through. Finally I use Michelle's other email address which she prohibits me use it for some reasons. It did go through and Michelle paid the premium and we got the notice from the company.

I ran into a quick lender's demand to have additional request to increase the coverage to satisfy the home loan. The time is essential. It was under the underwriter's review. I suspect that again is under Norma's or other nice underwriters attention. We got the change overnight.

Norma also reminds me that Michelle's name does appear on the new homeowner's policy; therefore, she may be qualified for that HO225 extension issue. I am so appreciated for her effort to solve my problem as an agent. I have this daughter Michelle who loves to purchase property and like to support her dad's business. This has been almost at the end of my career as an insurance agent, 41 years total and ever since the beginning of the Association. Norma is the best underwriter who I have the pleasure to work with. The story which I like to share with you.

Sincerely yours,

Charles Chuang, agent

給保險公司成購經理／莊峻華

 給保險公司成購經理／莊峻華

最近我有幾件房屋保險續保和新保業務，經由令部下諾瑪處理，她很清楚解釋公司住家屋險，責任延申屋數之限制，就是只能延申三家租屋責任險，若是兩家合住屋，雖是一租屋險，但算兩屋，因此我有一客戶，勢必一屋無法延申責任險，因此，我建議客戶，另行投保，不巧此客戶，剛好是我女兒。

她又與夥伴新購一屋，住屋保險也在本公司投保，準備交接，需要保險證明，保險證書正本，依公司規定，需要先在網上繳費，而她又收不到帳單，因為電郵退件，我又被她徵調到奧斯汀看顧其屋，這時候需要公司幫忙，再寄一份電郵帳單，以便她在墨西哥繳費，然後始可取得保險證書，這時候我在奧斯汀電話貴部，感謝上帝，諾瑪接上電話，她尚憶得前日續保問題，聽聞我困難處境，她就特別幫忙，更該電郵住址幾次，失敗後再試幾次，最後我使用女兒服務公司郵址始通過，因這是女兒第二住屋險，諾瑪建議延申那被排除責任險租屋，令我甚為感激。

我在保險業服務四十年以上，接觸過無數公司業務成購者多人，諾瑪是我印象最為深刻，服務最為誠摯者，因此我特別上書感謝，也恭喜你有一位盡職之好部屬。

Arthur's grand jury duty select/Carlos Pueblo

 Arthur's grand jury duty select/Carlos Pueblo

Arthur's grand jury duty select is getting more real now after receiving a letter from the sitting judge. He is on the second run for the final 12 jurors and 4 alternatives. If he is selected, he needs to sit at a grand jury room three hours a day, two days in a week for May, June, and July. I hope that his manager can schedule him off for those two days when he is on duty.

I am going to deliver him to the Astro Arena jury selection room again next Tuesday. If he is selected, he will be delivered to the downtown courthouse for the first day of jury duty. I hope that he can take a bus home to a station near our home and I can drive him home. It is a hassle. He is not good at driving to a long distance, as a matter of the fact, he is used to drive three miles one way to work and back after midnight. We hope that he can drive to a parking place and take a bus to downtown.

He regrets very much that he votes for the national election and the court has his record. I disagree to his thinking. If we like the judicial system, we must support the jury duty selection. It is a part of the citizen obligation. We must support such rule of law. I don't mind to drive him to the bus stop and pick him up at the stop in the afternoon. This way I shall not be interrupted with my morning tennis.

It is very interesting that I have been through many jury selection and never been selected until I I am seventy years old. One time I did joined a pre-trail hearing with pay of seventy dollar. That was also a try to get him on yet I answered the phone and volunteered to replace him and got accepted. It was a civil case about a land donation.

元兒大審團選接送／莊峻華

 元兒大審團選接送／莊峻華

元兒大審團選複選法官信已達，我已經準備長期抗戰，這是一件刑事案，若中選十二名大審團，當日就需要回到城中法院聽審，每週兩日，一日聽訟三小時，一共三個月，元兒大呼倒霉，直呼下次不投票，以免被抽中陪審責任，我當好公民一生，盡國民義務，毫無怨言，要想有民主法治，享受權利自由，就需要盡義務，就像要減少武漢肺炎威脅，就要接種疫苗，不要癆種攻擊亞裔老人。

我知道元兒不喜開車，平常深居簡出，每週僅開車五日，上下班而已，而且車程僅三哩一趟，要他驅車出城，甚是危險，也沒有甚麼成熟不成熟，他從無車禍事故，而且我閒來無事，也找不到工作，當當家人司機，也是一件有意義之生活。只是這大審團接送，顯然需要中斷兩日網球局。

好友戴安聞言曰，無妨可搭公車，在市巴士集合停車場，隨清晨城中上班者，專車赴城中，再步行一小段即可，而且元兒可以自己驅車，來回停車場，如此，又解決一件事。

再來就是請公司經理，安排週休二日，剛好在這兩聽訟日，越想越週到，我一生奉召陪審多年多次，卻也不曾入圍，大約我太有意見耳。

The tooth extractions/Carlos Pueblo

 The tooth extractions/Carlos Pueblo

In order to have my fake teeth installed, I must first to have the loose teeth extracted. There are five of them. This part is covered by the newly added Medicare Dental Coverage; however, the denture cost is not. I get it all figure out that I must do it here at home in Houston in order to avoid the interruption of my daily life. 

The dentist did the bottom three first which were 14,15,and 16 and then the upper 25 and 26. 25 tooth was just a small remaining while 26 gave me tremendous hard time. Now, I need to wait two weeks to get the wound heal well and return to him for the mold in order to let the laboratory work on both set of denture. Fake teeth set is a traditional method to help the loosing teeth in the mouth to eat. I know that is my own fault for not taking a good care of my teeth while I was at the young age. 

The fake teeth installation is an old technology for more than a century. Eight years ago, I went back to Taipei to have my first two sets installed by my cousin, Dr. Chen. He has learned such trade from his childhood from his father, my mother's elder brother. I was lucky to find him after so many years absent from Taiwan. It is a good story to tell about how my uncle learns how to make the fake teeth. While I was attending senior high school, I stayed at his house and witness how his technician made the metal work and the mold. My last two sets have been working very well until several more are fallen.

I have seen some philanthropic dentists in California to use the sport facility to install the fake tooth set for the poor people otherwise they can't afford to pay for the cost. I believe that some mayors and magistrates in Taiwan sponsor free fake teeth installation for their poor constituency. Because of my unfortunate experience, I do pay attention to such kinds of news. I am almost done the hard part and ready to have a new alternative.

拔牙／莊峻華

 拔牙／莊峻華

終於等到整牙時刻，安裝假牙不賠，我心理有準備，但牙醫要先拔牙，一共五顆，保險包括，所以我跟上這筆小生意，醫生先拔門牙下面三顆，這是牙周病專科醫生之巧計，將三顆牙水泥黏箸，大約存活二十年，現在一顆牙齦已經腐朽，三顆需要手術拔出，另外兩顆在左上額，24，25，就是純拔出，右上額有三落牙，他則不動，我稍了解其意，他準備做上下兩具假牙。

麻醉很好，但拔牙則頗不順，有一顆需要敲碎，分幾次取出，和我上次在台北拔牙經驗不同，若是超然醫師決裁，他可能就留下這顆難纏者當支柱，但我事先並無異議，因為保險公司出錢，而且我相信一顆落牙也算在內，因為留下一小片，舌頭可以覺察。

滿口都是齒血，連忙戴上口罩，先生娘曰，今日免費，下次就需交假牙安裝費，我已經準備好，在美國安裝假牙，無論品質，都較方便，上次運氣好，遇到超然醫師，假牙祖傳秘方，假牙專門三代，安裝假牙，一次妥當就續，我就回美國，無需服務，是我齒質差劣，連續落兩牙，一金牙一巨齒，逼得假牙漏風，而且連環前牙，也開始崩潰，我這次整牙應該是最後一次，無怨無悔矣。

Take Arthur to his second shot/Carlos Pueblo

 Take Arthur to his second shot/Carlos Pueblo

Yesterday was Arthur's scheduled second vaccine shot. It is the final shot of our family of three. As a matter of fact, he is the most exposed in the family to have encountered so many while at work. After the shot, we'll be safer in regard to the pandemic. Now I am familiar with the route to the suburban Houston drug store for Amy and him. I take I-10 to I-610 loop north and cut in to I-290. I should exit on N.Gessner to the Philippine St intersection. There are still people registered to get the shot. Over all, the entire nation get high percentage of people vaccinated this time due to the governmental effort and the awareness of the corona virus.

While He was waiting on the line for his term, I went across the street to a small strip center full of Vietnamese stores, restaurants, insurance agency, nails parlor, etc. I believe that is a small center for the Vietnamese community. I checked on a grocery store with a small computer game set up. It is called the Pachinko in Japan. A guy showed me how to play the game, more complicate to a slot machine in the casino. I didn't play. I don't even play at the stock market nowadays.

An insurance agency office got my eyes. the agent represents one auto company which I used to produce for quite some time. I can tell his business is mostly from another carrier. There is a door map with a third carrier's log on it. I know immediately that he used to start his business with that company and I also see a pair of chairs after that company's new agent's training. I keep those two at my living room as well. It is a good memory that I have made it as my second carrier. In addition to the insurance, I also learn about the security especially the mutual fund business. My savings in the mutual fund help me to have a steady income at the old age.

This time, I didn't have to wait for a long time because we did arrive about the same as the scheduled time. The waiting que was not that long.

送元兒打第二針／莊峻華

 送元兒打第二針／莊峻華

昨日，為元兒為武漢肺炎疫苗第二針注射日，艾美特別交待幾次，我打完清晨網球，尚可嗑睡一小時，驅車西郊，綽綽有餘，藥局仍然按預約，接待前來注射者，按艾美告知，德州居民注射率，超過六成，若加州紐約州等，均超過七成注射率，武肺肆虐稍受控制，美國可以開始援助全球疫苗。

我習慣穿過菲律賓街，過馬路到一加油站雜貨店，上廁所再逛一逛，有一處安裝電玩四桌，我好奇趨近，女店員親切詢問，需否更換玩票，要一電玩者教我玩，我看他示範，發現比賭場之角子老虎複雜，但在東京則是一筆大生意，這種店面是車水馬龍，一位難球。

因是週日，店面關閉，而且有明示，需要戴口罩，保持距離，走幾步始發現，此為越南裔商場，幾家越南飲食餐館，食譜彩照張貼在玻璃窗上，也有指甲美飾沙龍，還有一家越南童性保險代理辦公室，顯然服務附近社區，我從窗外窺視，代理有一內室，外面有兩桌助理，牆上貼上幾家代理汽車保險公司，門口有一步墊，鑲有全州保險字樣，我再查看，果然有兩贈椅，我曾企圖捲土重來保險業，參加該保險新生訓練，結果仍然挫敗，後來就放棄工作，賦閒在家，我猜這位代理，也有此經驗，這一逛，逛出我多少保險業者美憶。

我因從事保險零售業，穩定在美國之工作，又加入基金投資業務，對退休計劃有專門認識，如今隨股市，水漲船高，有固定之退休金收入，無需為失業無收入煩腦，每天都過有意義之生活，幫忙家人，沒有煩惱。

My installing fake teeth in the U.S./Carlos Pueblo

 My installing fake teeth in the U.S./Carlos Pueblo

Recently I find a new dental insurance coverage on my Medicare HMO for up to a $2,000 coverage a year. I went to a pre-installation of fake teeth evaluation with a dentist clinic provided such coverage nearby. Yesterday, the estimate came back with an amount $3,381 for the entire work for the fake teeth or called denture for bout 8 teeth lost. The $2,000 coverage doesn't cover such installation yet does cover the abstraction and some other basic prevention procedures. I quickly agree to the dentist for the work and I shall keep my old denture for the spare usage.

Last time, I went back to Taiwan and let my cousin Dr. Chen install two sets total of 5 teeth on both up and down level. Since then I have lost two more teeth and one needed to be abstracted. I plan to go back to Taiwan to re-visit him for another dental work to meet my need. However, the Chinese Wuhan Corona Virus pandemic has kept me from going abroad. It is a requirement of three weeks quarantine when I land in the Island before I can visit the dentist and wait additional month for the make and installation. I calculate the total cost of room and board, airfare, and almost two months stay, etc. It is no longer cheap to install such device in Taiwan. 

I am in the middle of my promotion of every morning tennis games with my fellow senior citizen in the neighborhood. I can't afford to leave such a long period of time while the scheduling is very difficult to make up. My installing fake teeth in the U.S. will certainly resolve the issue, plus the cost does make very much sense.

According to the rumor, the charge for a tooth in plant is about $4,000 and a fake tooth installation is about $2,000. I need to multiple the amount by 8 to get the grand total. Therefore, the amount which I agree upon is considerably reasonable. This is what I call a generous policy which the Medicare HMO offers this year.

在美國整牙／莊峻華

 在美國整牙／莊峻華

兩三週前，獲悉今年開始，老人健保，開始提供若干牙險，我和一家牙醫診所，相約整牙估價，因為武肺期間，返台整牙旅行，諸多不便，於是此診所，幫我申請保險理賠，此牙險包括拔牙，但假牙不賠，於是診所提出估價，我需新做兩具假牙，上面一具包括三落牙，下面一具包括五落牙，過去我在台北整牙，大約花費八百五十美元，很克難租一永和市房間一個月，來回虎尾台北，又環島火車行，烈嶼行等，費用比在美國整牙便宜甚多，假牙是日本老技術，超過一百年以上之歷史，非常信用可靠，台灣一些地方政府，甚至免費提供老市民裝假牙。

診所報價是三千四美金，稍假裝遲疑，但很快就約好門診，因為這次牙醫報價，比傳說中之費用合理甚多，傳說中植牙一顆，要價四千美金，而且牙床要堅固，而且很痛，我如此八顆，將近三萬二美金，像是買一陽春朋馳轎車，年邁又不知何時大限？假牙和植牙，功用相仿，僅異於美觀耳，老人美觀不重要，體力重要，持久重要。

我想過這次返台之費用，飛機票傳說近萬美元，因為座位減少，又有武肺影響，中國統戰又武赫台灣。回台要關閉三週，始能牙醫門診，假牙製作要等一個月，住台北要錢，上次吃素，這次恢復肉食，費用較高，而且我提倡之每日網球局，勢必中斷，對身體健康也不好，於是我就決定在美國整牙，舊假牙當備用，以防萬一。

傳說中的假牙，在美國市價一顆兩千美元，所以我需一萬六，這次估價算便宜，否則我又要忍耐到明年，現在尚有幾個明年？

National revenue/Carlos Pueblo

 National revenue/Carlos Pueblo

The other day, I was informed to pay back some money for the national revenue or the internal revenue service due to two items which were not allowed to deduct on my 2019 tax return. It is called the paper audit. Every year every resident in the country is expected to file an income tax return to pay the federal government for the yearly income tax to support the federal government. We also pay local governments some local taxes to maintain all governments. This national revenue is one of the federal revenue to support all federal functions in a year. Recently, we can see that there are at least two huge spending federal law law passed in order to tackle with the Chinese Wuhan Corona Virus pandemic, one 900 billion dollars and another one 2.2 trillion dollars. Almost every one receives $3,200 checks from the federal. Another huge spending on the national infrastructure will cost 2.3 trillion dollars is on its way to the congress to be passed. I don't believe that there is money available yet it is necessary to meet the demand. I agree.

According to the economist, the national debt can be about 9% of the national growth domestic products numbers. As long as the federal can meet the debt service, we shall be alright. Most of the national investors purchase federal bonds for their savings and generate minimum interest return. They are happy. Low interest can help the federal government to manage the debt service. It is wise for the fed to borrow low interest money from all over the world and do some meaningful investment domestically. 

I disagree with such philosophy with my home economics. I want to make sure that I can pay back my debt on time before I borrow any money. I like to get something from nothing yet I don't like the debt service. I am going to withdraw my pension funds to the minimum level from now on before I can figure out a better way for a reasonable income tax obligation. If I need extra money to spend, I shall withdraw money from a regular saving account or a Roth IRA account before the end of my life. Most of my expanse is not deductible from the IRS points of view. The IRS gives me a standard deduction every year; therefore, I feel that my tax burden is higher than ever before.

國家稅收／莊峻華

 國家稅收／莊峻華

前日返家，收到國稅局通知，需補交若干2019年所得稅，因為有兩項支出，國稅局不許減免，因此需要補交所得稅，我因當年需要貸款給琳兒購屋，多領出一些退休金，増加當年收入，故需多交一些所得稅，美國各級政府，需要仰賴稅收，來維持政府支出，幾近半數人口，收入低無需交聯邦所得稅，地方稅靠房地產稅，還有購物稅等維持，美國是一法治國家，時間一到，國民均紛紛依法交稅，無需軍警登門索稅，而且公司行號，還自動幫國稅局扣稅，按時提前交稅給國家，這就是美國在中國武漢肺炎，重挫美國經濟，國民健康等後，美國膽敢迅速發放一人三千二美金補助，迅速免費注射肺炎疫苗，當然這免費疫苗，是靠幾種保險，老人健保，貧民健保，公司團體健保，歐巴瑪健保，和無健保之聯邦罰款等來支付，現在已經有近半人口注射完畢，疫情稍受控制。

拜登政府開始大刀闊斧新政，先是兩兆元拯救計劃金，已經通過實施，現在再來一兩點三兆元，國家基礎建設金，都是借錢來支付，就是印鈔票，當代經濟學者都不怕借債來建設，就是債額在百分之九國家總生產毛額內即可，只要將經濟恢復，國家有稅收，有足夠之稅收來支付債務，如何増加稅收？現在注意到公司稅率，要恢復到百分之二十八，個人稅率幾乎已達四十，有些州尚需加州稅百分之十，我們德州無州所得稅，但房地產稅是百分之三，加州是百分之一，但因氣候佳，房產價格是德州之五倍高，很是公平。

我的省吃儉用，武肺期間，不出外旅行，省下一筆錢，現在老人健保，似乎可以裝假牙，所以我無需回台灣整治牙齒，因此我將恢復最低額領出退休金，減少每年收入，若需疾用款，則領羅斯退休帳戶，減少稅務負擔。

Driving Amy for her second shot/Carlos Pueblo

 Driving Amy for her second shot/Carlos Pueblo

It's been three week after Amy's first vaccine shot, I drove her again to her CVS station on W. Little York at North Houston Roselyn where I made a wrong exit on North Houston Fairbank exit on I-290. It's alright, we still arrived half an hour earlier. She could get on the line. I quickly circle the drug store and went outside to take a look of the neighborhood.

It's on Harris County line of the Northwest part of Houston closed to the city limit. I can see the fading of the oil industry boom. The busy street is a short cut of I-45 to FM1960. I used to come back from the Champion Forest north FM 1960 and cut into the street to I-45 or vice versa. Finally, I found a Texas Human and Health Resource office for my toilet need. It is an office for the Medicaid and the Food Stamp services. 

Both services are for the weak group of the population to maintain their basic needs. The U.S. governments are working on gradually to improve people's life that I admire very much. After one hour including the 15 minutes waiting after the shot, she finally has a peace of her mind about the Wuhan virus pandemic. She feels safe.

Now, it's only Arthur is waiting for his second shot. I plan to drive him to another CVS nearby Amy's as well. We believe that Biden can make it 200 million shots on people's arm at his 100 days of the Presidency. It's very impressing of his efficiency. The U.S. is more peaceful now.

送愛美打第二針／莊峻華

 送愛美打第二針／莊峻華

三週後，愛美輪到武漢肺炎第二針，我衡量過我送她，效率較高，因為這是郊外社區，過去賣保險和訪友，公路甚熟，而且這是舉手之勞，幫忙人是件有意義之人生。她的藥房與元兒藥房相近，都在西北郊外，應該都在市區外之哈理斯郡，現在疫苗注射普遍迅速，登記注射地點，漸漸擴散到郊區，較新社區，我說較新約是三十年內開發者，年輕家庭較多，注射者離家較近。我是弄錯出口處，應在賓狗路出口，接北休士頓－若斯琳，結果我誤會在北休士頓－費爾邊出口，多走一段西小約克路。

我們提早到，藥局讓她排隊，打完還需等候十五分鐘，於是我就開始找廁所，沿著北若大道西北向，沿路甚是荒蕪，顯然不甚景氣，休市仍受石油業影響，加上武漢肺炎肆虐，對面有餐廳加油站，但大道車水馬龍，無需冒險，而且藥局近處不過馬路有大通銀行，大通有廁所，藥局沒有，大通有重要客戶也，我因不急，而且找廁所是國外旅行，首項要務，習慣上就是要優先解決。

看到一德州人事和衛生辦工室，偶有人進出，我就進入，全室都是座位，卻是空無一人，僅一制服女警衛在划手機，廁所就在左側，有明顯標誌，警衛不理我眼神，於是我不請自入方便，這是一甚佳維護之廁所，比外面街道高級甚多，也比一般歐洲廁所友善。窗內人士見我觀望，打開玻璃窗，我問此為醫生辦公室？他說是貧民保險和糧票服務辦公室，醫生診所在角落，我看需兩項服務者少，是窮戶少？或是服務效率高？

美國政府照顧弱勢，非常盡力，窮人不至於淪落到路有餓莩之地步，而且有很多工作機會，維持一基本人道生活不難，除非身體已經損壞，不克工作，無家可歸，無家可歸者，全球均是，無足為奇。我說是來借用廁所，兩項服務，我都不合格。

我幾乎隨時吃牛排，牛排比一些有機蔬菜便宜，吃慣牛排，就不懷念餐館食物，也不羨慕一般料理，吃過牛排，就認真運動打網球，然後午睡多次，早起早睡，對身體有益。

Continue to discuss the Sino-US Alaska talk/Carlos Pueblo

 Continue to discuss the Sino-US Alaska talk/Carlos Pueblo

When Biden became the President on January 20, 2021, he didn't call Chinese Chairman Xi until the Lunar New Year Eve. Many reporters asked Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary for such call. Biden's teams are evaluating the relationship with China and also first consulting with the allied. He keeps the tariff which Trump posted in 2020. I agree that the U.S. does invite Chinese diplomats to talk in Alaska eventually yet the talk is not that urgent for Biden and the U.S. as my understanding of the politics. The demands from the U.S. are the issues of Hsin Chiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the South China Sea. I don't see how China can accept such talk from the beginning because they are Chinese domestic affairs, and why China accepts the invitation and also hide its foreign minister tile as a party councilman instead. The U.S. show the full title of the attendees, the secretary of State and the President's National Secretary Advisor.

The full video of the meeting is out now for view on the You tube. The U.S. strike the demand of the meeting while Chinese diplomats are busy to defend something that the U.S. representatives have never raised. It is very funny to watch. I don't see how both parties can come to talk at the same table. China will never agree to what the U.S. demands and the U.S. will not yield any inch to trade. As a matter of the fact, the U.S. considers China as a major competitor like the former Soviet Union. The U.S. is ready to replace China with several other nations such as India and Vietnam for supply needs. China must learn from Japan if they are able to know. China must change its system. China must comply with the world order. I believe that Russia, Iran, Cuba and some others are fully aware.

Japan, Germany, UK, and the entire European Union as a whole, they know how to deal with the U.S. The U.S. President must listen to his voters. He must deal with the voters demand. The U.S. voters don't like to see the massacres in Hsin Chiang Uighur, the Eastern Turkistan, they don't like to see Hong Kong problem, and now they don't like China bully Taiwan, they don't like to see the situation in the South China Sea. The U.S. can handle the Chinese challenge, as a matter of fact, Biden is taking advantage to ask the Congress for more fund to compete with China on the national infrastructure like previous cold war to build up military hardware to bankrupt the Soviet Union.

續論中美阿拉斯加會談／莊峻華

 續論中美阿拉斯加會談／莊峻華

三月中旬，中美有一會談，引起全球關注，剛開始我僅能看到一小部分實況，我評論一次，就是以一長年關注此議題之興趣者觀點，昨日再看到開場白全場實況錄影，非常有趣，因此續談此會談，我固不知兩日之會談內容，但可猜測一二。美國提出三項問題，新疆維吾爾滅種，香港，和台灣，再加上南中國海通行問題，中國都以干涉中國內政為由，堅決拒談，中國約是想談美國之關稅，我未看到美方反應，中方急於辯白他事，並未提到此事，以我每日必看白宮記者會，知道拜登手下，正在評估川普之増加中國進口稅，並未行政命令，取消該増加關稅，是兩敗俱傷之局面，美國可以從他國取代中國貨物，中國可以出口美國以外之國，但美國是世界最大市場，利潤最高。

剛開始，我甚不齒中國外交官，想賣弄中文，為難翻譯官，後來看到實況，楊王二者之原文，不過如此，沒有毛時代之咬文嚼字，年輕之翻譯官是綽綽有餘，因此算不上傳統之花邊新聞，倒是美方兩官員，均講標準英文，翻譯官亦甚勝任，我兩文均通，無需為中國媒體之擺佈。

我一直費解，王毅何以冠黨代表職衘，而非中國外長衘出席？楊潔篪也未冠官職，而美方都是以國務卿和國家安全會首席顧問職出席，楊在場糾正翻譯官，美國民意調查報告，顯然是賣弄英文，中國並無民意報告這回事，而且民意報告，不若選票公正正確，這是西式民主名詞。

我想美國不會再浪費時間，跟中國會談，國務卿甚忙，美國民意媒體，已經習慣川普之高關稅，像我這種吝嗇者，連購物花錢都不樂，省下很多花費，中國之爛尾樓，不干我屁事，打台灣也甚無耐而已，美國正在與各國商談，如何制裁中國，就像制裁俄羅斯，北韓，和伊朗一般，拜登利用對抗中國，提醒國人，要増加國內基礎建設，要増加國內生產，不能仰賴中國廉價生產，這是美國趨勢。

The Medicare dental plan/Carlos Pueblo

 The Medicare dental plan/Carlos Pueblo

It is a happy day for me to learn that my Medicare HMO has a new dental coverage up to $2,000 a year including my denture, or the fake teeth. It has been more than a year that I need to make a dental trip back to Taiwan for my denture work. The Wuhan Corona Virus stops me due to the three weeks quarantine requirement for that nation's policy. I can neither pay the high cost nor the extra expanse and time to make the trip. The issue is here and I have no better way to deal with it.

I was checking my new Aetna identification number for a referral visit of my eyes doctor, I found the card shown a dental coverage. I called the company according to the tall free number and I got the affirmative answer. I found a dentist on the network and agreed to evaluate my cost. If I can get it done here in Houston, I can make it until the end of my life.

As a matter of the fact, the dentist was Arthur's former dentist until his health plan changed. I was arranged to have two X-rays and a teeth cleaning before the dentist's taking a look. He was confident to fix it up. His wife, the clinic manager, told me after the approval the insurance would cover all of it. 

I did a research about the new dental plan on the Medicare. It was initiated by a large group of dentists to offer the discount for the Medicare patients on dental work. The dollars limit is very basic for one year, yet the coverage can solve much misery for the un-insureds. From now on, I can go to visit the dentist when I run into any problem such as a tooth pain or cleaning teeth regularly. I don't have to rely my mother's remedy to release my tooth ache by drinking boiling Moon bean soup to get rid of fire on my tooth, means cool it down on the herb medicine. 

老人健保新政／莊峻華

 老人健保新政／莊峻華

昨日赴一牙醫診所門診，我希望奧蘭多醫生，給我一假牙估價，自上次超然幫我裝上假牙，我又掉兩顆，而且另一顆也需要處理，原本今年準備返台整治，但因武漢肺炎肆虐，行動不便，無法成行，每天隨時都有牙齒問題困擾，原因是美國牙醫昂貴，老人健保並不包括牙齒，所以進退維谷。

上週換輪胎，在店外靜候，接到內科醫生診所電話，追究眼科醫生報告，因我有糖尿病，內科主治，需要有我眼球血糖報告，我聲稱未接到眼醫轉診許可，於是我們再辦一次手續，查對老人健保帳號，我發現新卡有牙險，於是電話保險公司，證實牙險一年可賠二千美元，於是我找一家附近牙醫，可以接受我之保險，診所小姐聞畢，馬上安排門診，我想如果可以，分開兩年做假牙亦可。

我的門診，先有兩次愛克司電光，然後洗牙，奧蘭多醫生，仔細查看牙床落牙空隙，比較一下，我在台北裝置之兩假牙，然後就要門診經理記下，幾號幾號牙齒，準備送估價報告給保險公司核准，她說如批准，全部理賠。此門診經理，就是我猜之先生娘，年輕貌美，跟上跟下，當然奧蘭多醫生，也是年輕高大英俊，這是一非常成功之牙醫診所，超然是我表弟，其夫人也是診所經理，診所有七位牙醫，兩位是兩大公子，其先父就是我舅父，假牙專科牙醫，超然也能植牙。

我好奇查一下老人健保新増牙險緣起，原來這是牙醫業，推廣業務到老人健保，經過保險公司同意，價錢有折扣，不再是天價，逼我返台就醫，平常也不作牙齒維護，當然我也有我的打算，壽命畢竟有限，返台整治牙齒，需要一個月時間，而且不包括武肺三週禁閉，再加上旅館肺，食衣住行育樂，假牙都是中國製造，就是超然舍弟工廠，折扣有限，美國牙醫也精算，非常有趣。

Taking Arthur to the Grand Jury Select/Carlos Pueblo

 Taking Arthur to the Grand Jury Select/Carlos Pueblo

Arthur is on a Grand Jury Select duty this week, I must take him to the old Astro Arena because it is too far for him to reach on buses and very confusing even for me. I used to take buses to and from airports in Houston. He doesn't like to drive and that is his preference life style in Texas. I take I-10 and turn into I-610 to Kirby to enter that old Astrodom area. After the professional baseball game moves to the old downtown area, the Astrodom becomes a vaccination site while the old Arena becomes a jury assembly site, of course, the formal trial is still at the downtown court houses.

The parking space is plenty and I ask the door man to make sure that is the correct site. Then, I turn away to my eye examination with Dr. Kopel. My attending physician needs my eyes exam report to monitor my blood sugar for my diabetes. His office is near by the Medical Center. Once I finished, Arthur was still not discharged. I drove back to the Arena and passed the security check similar to the airport and waited inside the hall. I texted him and let him know that I was on site.

He woke me up and was outside of the parking lot. On our way back, he tells me that he is not going to vote on elections in order to avoid the jury duty. I disagree. I tell him that the jury duty is a civil duty for every citizen in order to keep our rule of law and our democracy. Of course, there are too many lawsuits nowadays. I would rather live in a democratic society than the other kinds of society.

He is required to come back for the final selection of the duty on May 4. He needs to take another work day leave. The second of his two annual incident/sick leave. I don't know how his company to compensate him because he is an hourly pay employee working on different amount of hours in every day. Like I was on commission based compensation; therefore, I shall not get any unemployed benefit in case I am terminated by any of my employers. I am alright and I take care of myself.

送元兒上大審團責任選／莊峻華

 送元兒上大審團責任選／莊峻華

元兒被徵召大審團責任選，地點在舊職棒宇宙場旁宇宙廳，市公車不到，於是我自告奮勇，送他到宇宙廳，感謝愛美的上帝，剛好我同時也需在附近眼睛體檢，於是我們提早出發，我年紀越大，發現身體功用更多，每天都過有意義之生活。

車經十號公路，轉往六一零，然後看到宇宙場大巨蛋，現在充當武漢肺炎疫苗注射，宇宙廳在東側，過去豐華一世，現在一面充當大審團責任選場地，我將車停好，詢問門口地點無誤，內有廁所，也給元兒零錢買零食，然後離去，我的眼科醫生在附近，所以一舉兩得，摸蛒蜊兼洗褲。右眼球有絲毫血糖，其他一切正常，視力二十二十，感謝這位眼醫，妙手回春，他將一年後，再看一次。元兒無話來，我再沿路摸回宇宙廳，車廳廣大停車場，攜一盒巧克力進場，需要像機場搜身，我寫電話便條給元兒，然後就吃糖打嗑睡。

過些時有便條聲來，元兒已結束外出在車場曰，五月四日需再來一次，決定是否入闈，這大審團是刑事案，選十二人，後補四人，培審是公民責任，美國訴訟很多，很多陪審責任選，不禁讓我想起孔子名句，聽訟吾猶人也，必也無訟乎？民主法治，就是訴訟多。我說願意再送他來，陪審是公民責任，比打疫苗更積極。

元兒需請事病假出席，一年可以有兩次，我仍搞不懂，公司如何補償他，因他是論工時計償，一日公出算幾小時？就好像我失業多次多年，永遠拿不到失業補助金，蓋我是論件計酬者，不領薪資者也，很不方便，但也習慣無妨也。

Taking Arthur to the vaccination/Carlos Pueblo

 Taking Arthur to the vaccination/Carlos Pueblo

It's Arthur's turn to get the shot. Amy got him registered on the second available day of his age. I prepared to take him to the drug store. When I heard that he was offered to get a shot at his own store pharmacy and he didn't take it, I was furious because he was very inconsiderate. He should take it and cancel the original appointment. The offer was become available due to a cancellation. I took the opportunity to lecture him.

I am back to my former experience now. I check my old Harris county Key Map. I still can find the location by imagining all streets are connected now. His location is on Gessner street at Philippine where is near Amy's site at W. Little York at Fairbank North Houston. It was at a Saturday noon appointment and there were many people on the line. We had to wait until 15 minutes before the appointment time. He waited another 40 minutes on the line to get his shot and another 15 minutes to recuperate.

There was another busy tent station outside of the parking lot, a low cost vaccination for pets. I saw many cute dogs waiting nearby with their parents. It was like a paradise to me. I love dogs. Many of them were very diplomatic and friendly coming to say hi and allowed me to pet and sweet talk to them. I estimated that there were 5 shots all together. An assistant would hold the small one on the table and the vet would apply 5 shots quickly. Before the dog felt the pain, it's done. They waited around the parking vehicles to pay their fees. I ran into a cute bull dog, I was mistaken as a boxer. The big cut dog is a deaf as the owner explains to me. It is a birth defect; therefore, they must communicate with him in sign language. We started with some basic ASL, the American Sign Language, because when Arthur was born till age 6, there was a NG tube through his neck. I did go to school to learn some ASL in order to communicate with him. This dog's name is Russco, a very adorable.

One large dog was very mean and resistant. In addition to a collar, the assistant did place a mask to cover his mouse to be  sure safely. The vet managed to apply shots quickly on his legs and body by throwing the syringe on the ground and late pick them up for disposal. Only that one was the most noise among all big dogs. I saw many other big one like the German Shepherd and the Husky were alright to get their shots.

Now, we must wait another three weeks to get his second shot. Amy will get her second shot in a few days and I have done mine for two weeks by now. We're protected and we can feel more confident now for the disease. 

攜元兒注射疫苗／莊峻華

 攜元兒注射疫苗／莊峻華

拜登政府執政下，武漢肺炎疫苗注射，進度神速，現在已經打到所有成人，愛美順利替元兒登記，昨日我已經攜元兒到市郊藥局注射，行前一日，元兒曰其工作超市藥局，也提供他有機會注射，因為有人臨時取消注射，他未答應，我聞言大怒，當場兇他一頓，這是非常不知體諒他人，如果他接受邀請注射，我可以省下路程和時間，也給其他一人有機會早注射，元兒啞口無語。

注射藥局和愛美注射藥局接近，現在疫苗増加，市內注射繼續，市郊有新増藥局，提供全民就近注射，拜登原定就職百日注射一億人口，早已突破，現在向兩億注射人口邁進，我很順利之沿兩超速公路，接上店址，有些毛毛雨，因早到，因此需要在店內外等候，等候超過一個半小時，一刻前入列，再排隊四十分鐘，週末人多，但打完後等待恢復，已經無人排隊。

我運氣好，藥局停車場，也有愛犬疫苗注射，當然不是武漢病毒，是一般疾病，一共有五枝注射，一般愛犬都非常訓服，只有一兩隻巨犬，稍有掙扎，獸醫有一女助手，先將愛犬套上自己提供繩帶，然後抱上愛犬上桌，獸醫就一針一針，四腳腿酒精一揮，就注射完畢，針管丟棄，再換一針，待愛犬知痛，已經被抱下桌，如是巨犬，則需要帶口罩，防止咬人，也是環首一大抱，掙扎中迅速完成注射，大部分之愛犬，都很規矩。注射完後，家長在外等候交費。

我真是福氣，我不斷和愛犬打招呼，甜言蜜語，有一隻巨大公牛犬，和男主人在車上等候，就是後座，後門敞開，因他有兩隻不同顏色之眼睛，非常可愛，於是我和男主人聊天，始知此愛犬耳聾，天生如此，主人需要學手語與之交談，剛好我也學過手語，於是我們更多話題，此家庭喜歡公牛犬，當天我誤認為拳師犬，主人和氣，未與更正我的誤認。

武漢肺炎在美國已經開始控制住，現在每日死亡人數降低，感染人數不再狂飆，和全民注射疫苗和戴口罩有關，我已注射完畢，愛美和元兒，均等第二針。

Replacing new tires for an old car/Carlos Pueblo

 Replacing new tires for an old car/Carlos Pueblo

Recently I have had two minor maintenance with my old 98 Q45, one was the windshield wiper replacement and the other was replacing new tires. Once driving aged vehicle, we are expected to have some kinds of the issue. The passenger side of the front tire was flat as Amy warned me one day. I drove the car to Costco to fill up the air and also made some other chores. The nest day after tennis, I had had that experience of replacing the windshield wiper and the tire was still flat. I finally noticed that there was a big nail bud shown on the tire. Tony estimated that I could drive to the store yet the tire might not be repaired due to the damage.

After tennis I carefully drove to the store that was an hour earlier before the store's opening time. I sit right outside of the door and waiting and watching shoppers coming by me to the main store. The clerk took my order and told me that might be two hours waiting as no appointment was made. It is alright with me as I am used to it. He called while I was doing some viewing of items at Lowe's. He said the tire was installed in 2013; therefore, it was too old to be replaced. I walked back to the tire store and paid the cost. It was alright that I just received my third rescue check.

I changed my nap location to the picnic bench of the air filling station. It was still not quite comfortable due to the notice of the high pressure of air release. A clerk from my doctor's office called to remind me to have an appointment with an eyes doctor to exam my blood sugar on my eyes in order to monitor of my diabetes. It was because that the referral was not my own eyes doctor and I didn't like to go through all medical questions. Merna, the clerk, called back and scheduled me for a proper referral.

I was still waiting and checking my vehicle's position on its bay. It was still up that indicated it was not ready. I have learned to get the most of my time while waiting for my vehicles ready through out those years. Shoppers are coming in and out of the main store. I even went to a liquor store on the other side. I saw a price tag on a bottle of XO and realized how much my bottle at home worth nowadays.

換舊車輪胎／莊峻華

 換舊車輪胎／莊峻華

剛換舊車雨刷，前日因輪胎漏風，勉強開到大賣場灌風，隔一日前輪仍舊無氣，發現有一根大鐵釘，穿入輪胎，我只好再開回大賣場修理，輪胎匠曰，輪胎已是八年，太舊不能修理，所以選一店裏稍便宜之輪胎換上，我就在店外呆坐，也順便逛到附近店面，我甚少開車，所以開舊車，舊車偶而需要維修，維修需花錢，但較便宜，而且責任險保費，也較便宜。

這大賣場生意很好，顧客絡繹不絕，愛美每兩週就來購物一次，平常家裏舊車輪胎維護，就是我的責任。我到附近的五金行大賣店，觀看五金產品價，一般電冰箱都是外國進口，昂貴者可以到五千美元一座，平常陽春型，約在千元之普，我也看吹風具，但未購買，我仍舊是掃把掃地，連垃圾桶破損，都用廢棄紙板墊底，非常將就，不像是富人。

車輪已換妥，停在車位上，技工正在整理書類，我知道歸家時近，愛美曰此四輪，可以開到我老去，第一，需要引擎一切都安然無恙，舊車像古戰車，而且亦僅開車打球，買牛排耳，連愛犬路過球場，均注意到舊車，知道我在球場。