Attending two arts shows/Carlos Pueblo

 Attending two arts shows/Carlos Pueblo

During last weekend, we're invited to an art show on the Taiwanese Community Center for an alumnus personal show presented by his daughter. The opening ceremony was too long and I was bothered by my low blood sugar issue; therefore, I went out for a break then I found a second art show in the same hall. The second art show is products by Chia Yi Chen Chen-Po who was a famous victim by Chinese Nationalist during the famous 228 massacre in 1947. Both deceased artists are Chen in surname, the prior one is in water color while the later one is in oil painting.

Both of them are impressionists which are not the realists and their fine art products do have their own opinions in it. They all painted local scenery of which I am very much attracted to. I have left Taiwan for about half a century and Taiwan has been changed. I don't see those kinds of scenery and only existed in my mind in memory.

I attended all fine arts shows when I was a student in Taipei at Taiwan Normal University. There is a fine art department with annual exhibition of students and faculty products during the University birthday every year in June. It was on the third floor of the main building where the department located. Taiwan Normal is the sole college to provide teachers for secondary schools in Taiwan at that time. We consider ourselves as the best for such purposes.

I adore very much of an artist even though I myself have a difficulty to finish a painting yet I love to attend or visit museum of fine arts everywhere. There are two family members in my family who can draw, my son Arthur and my young sister Ru-In yet they both gave up paintings later in their life. I can tell what are my favorite paintings when I see at the shows. In a few weeks I am leaving for cruises again and I shall have plenty of opportunity to attend the arts auction on board.

參觀嘉義陳澄波畫展／莊峻華

 參觀嘉義陳澄波畫展／莊峻華

休市台師大校友會與畫家陳榮和校友基金會，為慶祝母校百年校慶，在此地僑教中心，舉辦水彩畫展，我自高中時代，生活在師大龍泉街附近，每年校慶日，都參觀美術系畫展，畫展在台北高等學校三樓美術系普通教室，後來國文系也同時同地，舉行大一國文作文展覽，師大美術系獨步全台，當年師大畫展師生作品，以國畫山水仕女，較為顯赫，蓋為國民黨中國畫家掌權勢也，台籍老畫家受日本西畫影響，是有些油畫水彩作品，榮和先生其一也，他是水彩畫，台灣風景寫生，因為開幕式致詞冗長，影響我體內血糖，只好走出展覽室外，正巧碰上走廊上之嘉義陳澄波油畫展，我順便介紹愛美陳之二二八，也在谷歌查閱陳之介紹和作品。

我在郵輪上，參觀畫廊畫展拍賣，很多經驗，而且我喜歡參觀免費美術館畫展，僑教館澄波先生作品，是整理過之原作，郵輪上之作品都是複製膺品，澄波先生遇難時年約52，應該有相當成熟之作品，我想是印象派，按畫家施並錫之定義，印象派畫與寫實派有異，印象派畫中，加入畫家之意見，所以寫真大小比例，與真實未必相符合。

然後我們看到畫家之著色技巧，隨著時間歲月，顏料會退色，但近代科技可以補救，參觀畫展，可以調濟身心，是人生之樂趣。

Go shopping at Katy Mill Mall/Carlos Pueblo

 Go shopping at Katy Mill Mall/Carlos Pueblo

During the Labor Days weekend, we usually go shopping at Katy Mill Mall for some shoes and cloths. The Mall is an outlet stores outside of Houston not very far from our house. I need a hiking shoes for my Alaska cruise trip and the current one pairs are too small hurting my toes. We need to purchase some underwear and short pans for Arthur to wear at home. Of course, Amy is very anxious to go shopping with my company.

I found my gentry worn refurbish pairs with a discount to cover the value added tax with my re-applied membership of the store. The clerk explained to me that shoes were returned to the company from purchasers slighly worn; however, the factory could refurbish pairs with discount price to sell again. Frugal person like me care more about the price and don't mind at all. There is a market for it.

We went to another store for Arthur's need. We are lucky that the store is included in the Mall. We went to the clearance section to select three short pans and the underwear section to find only one bag with his size. The clerk reminded me to apply a new credit card in order to get 10% discount plus additional regular 5% discount. I agreed; therefore, I couldn't spend my other promotional new credit card limit. I applied two new credit cards to take advantage of their promotional credit if I spend $1,000 and $4,000 in first three months, It is designed to use them on my year end cruise trips originally.

On our way back home, we went to a drug store to pick up two drugs for my diabetes. A telephone clerk asked me if I would let her re-fill one of my drug and I said yes and checked if the other one was ready. She checked it on her screen and replied that was ready. I picked both up at the same time. I am very impressed of their efficiency.

As a matter of fact, I am very impressed of the American business industry how they know the business. American are good at business and that is why the entire nation is so prosperous and  the number one in the whole world. They can move their huge inventory fast and effectively in time and make a profit.

I asked Arthur to help me to spend some money on my credit cards. He promised $200 and I got it on that day. I believe that he purchases his company's gift card for his regular purchase in order to help me.

勞工節凱蒂鎮購物記／莊峻華

 勞工節凱蒂鎮購物記／莊峻華

每年勞工節，愛美均約我凱蒂鎮購物去，勞工節衣物有特價，凱蒂鎮在休市西郊，有大賣店，專門提供過時未售商品，給講價之客戶，愛美和女兒酷愛購物，逛大賣店，因此家裡穿著衣物充沛無慮新購，難得今年一家銀行核准兩張信用卡，給予購物優待，我藉此機會購置稍高統步鞋，當登山用途，順便買些內褲短褲給元兒，結果對新信用卡新購物優待點數，幫助不大，我們只購上$170，離目標三個月五千元購買額，尚差甚遠，需要繼續努力。

美國人能商也，鼓勵消費，這銀行准我兩張信用卡，一張鼓勵我三個月花一千元，回扣兩百元，另一張是商號信用卡，三個月花四千元，給回扣四百元，如我旅行一趟郵輪，大概甚易達成目標，如此，郵輪旅行又增加一折扣，對我也有好處，但現在郵輪旅行有好價錢，機票卻有困難，因此只能他算計為要。我看好一雙皮質球鞋，可供我登阿拉斯加史凱格衛下杜威湖山路專用，上次用一小號半統高鞋，腳姆指礙血，指甲終於脫落，很不好看。此鞋是有人訂購，又穿過但退還，鞋廠整修後，重新廉價出售，我最喜歡購此類物品，我又要店員幫我申請會員資格，再拿一些折扣，像是省下購物添加稅額，美國人能商也，我也興高采烈。

愛美熟悉店面，帶我到另外一家，專門男女服裝衣物，我們幫元兒購買內褲和短便褲，結帳時店員告知申請該店信用卡，可享受當日10％折扣，再加上5％例行折扣，於是我又申請，馬上核准，但只能使用該卡付帳，美國人真能商也，我看這些店龐大，貨品堆積，而且不僅一家，能售空存貨，真是本領。我只能使用不到百元，回家後請元兒幫忙，半夜餐廳相遇，他說已經買上若干，信用卡還在桌上。

我又想起史記太史公筆下之陶朱公故事，陶朱公一子在楚國殺人犯罪，陶朱公在遣使長子和么子間踟躅，最後逼不過長子懇求，由長子代理，結果救命失敗，陶朱公有預感理由，就是錢的觀念。

Go vegan again/Carlos Pueblo

 Go vegan again/Carlos Pueblo

Doctor's nurse informs me that I take additional new drug for my diabetes because my blood sugar is still not controllable. I know that is because of my uncontrol diet recently, I eat too much watermelon, pineapple, etc. plus the steak. I therefore declare war against my chronicle disease, I will go vegan diet again.

I did have 7 years vegan diet between 2001 to 2012 because I was unable to hold a health insurance. I was terminated by an insurance company and couldn't find a job with an insurance coverage. I was lucky both my college bound children safely passed their un-insured life. They didn't even purchase basic college medical coverage. I read a book, the reversed diabetes, and learned my only choice was go vegan to save my life. 

Go vegan is to take vegetarian foods without any of animal products. I gave it up upon my Medicare age at 65. Of course, regular diets are more interesting and easier for Amy to prepare. Actually, I don't have to worry about her now because that my children are grown up now and I am retired. I can cook for myself and if I need it, I can always go back to my regular diets. This is a war that I can retreat and I shall do my best.

In the morning after my swimming, I went to a Japanese Grocery to find my favorite pickle, the Naratsuke. It is my side dish for my morning oatmeal instead of rice porridge. At noon, I can have my left over from last nigh dinner. I always cook a plate of combination vegetables for my rice or noodle.

It is going to be very boring; however, I must win this battle to control my diabetes and I hope at least five more years. I go vegan, I exercises regularly, I shall avoid watermelon and pineapple, I have avoid the stress, and I don't drink.

重啟素食／莊峻華

 重啟素食／莊峻華

日前布魯梭醫生之護士逮到我，轉告驗血結果，指數仍高，醫生要我再加一藥，於是我每日需服五種不同藥物，以便控制血糖，說來可憐，糖尿病痼疾，已隨我26年，仍然無法擺脫它，經一夜思考，決定重啟素食，與此疾宣戰，2001－2112年，我因失業無團體健保，於是採取素食對抗血糖，有了老人健保後，恢復葷食，雖然服藥增加，控制十年，仍舊危機四伏，於是我要破釜沉舟，表示決心。

我的素食是不攝取動物產品，剛好郵輪生意好，票價不讓，於是我就取消出門念頭，也可以省下一筆費用。我先到一家日本超市，買下漬梅，海帶鹹醬，庵漬黃菜頭，奈良漬瓜需要到一專門店，這些都是我童年之最愛，刺身壽司手卷，都是來美國後之享受，均是葷食不宜。

我希望素食戰鬥再撐五年，就是服藥，運動，和素食，三路並進，剩下半粒西瓜和鳳梨食畢後，就避免如此高糖分水果。

Understand how the U.S. manage the 2022 Inflation/Carlos Pueblo

 Understand how the U.S. manage the 2022 Inflation/Carlos Pueblo

The 2022 Inflation is real and we need to understand how the U.S. manage it and help us to go through it, in the other word a soft landing. The popular thinking of the inflation is that our currency is diminished in a result of printing too much money, i.e. the Covid extra help and the PPP to stimulate the loom of the recession. Of course, there is another major reason that the overall U.S. economic growth has been continually since 1980's. It is the time to reach to the top and the plateau. The money circulation is not tight as a matter of the fact. 

The Federal Reserve raises the key interest rate which means it is more concerned to the inflation than the downturn of the economic into the recession. The White House is in agree to the Fed. Both Commerce and Treasury Secretaries both agree that the U.S. Economic is looking well and the national unemployment rate is very low to a full national employment. 

During the last two threat of recession, 1987 & 2008, the Fed has lowered the interest rate continuously till this year to the reverse. It helps the economic to expand with a soft landing in mind. I boldly guess that the U.S. both the Fed and White House included have the conclusion that the 2022 inflation is a pure inflation such as the diminished US dollars. As a matter of the fact, after the inflation and the rising U.S. interest rate, The U.S. currency become the most strong currency in the world. Of course, I don't see anything to do with me.

The stock market has been reversed of it downturn with a recovery, yet today there is a crashed on the market. The recession is back into the investors' mind. Perhaps, we need to go back to the definition of the inflation to look at the plateau and the slide curve to the valley.

了解美國如何處理2022通貨膨脹／莊峻華

 了解美國如何處理2022通貨膨脹／莊峻華

今年之通貨膨脹已經到來快一週年，如何了解美國政府各界，如何處置應對？此為我們儲蓄投資者之課題，今晨我試著解釋給元兒，他有他的看法，除一些基金不動外，股票投資，全部兌現，我有20％現金，在石油股進出，買低賣高，賺些蠅頭毛利。通貨膨脹是因長期經濟擴充，美國已經連續35年成長，1987迄今，中間經過2008和今年，不是消條，或是大消條，美金是在貶值，有趣者為美金仍是世界強勢貨幣。

央行總裁立即升息，我馬上固定活期存款，移至一年定期，享受2.7％利息，活期是0.3％，支票帳號是0，尚且要交手續費，包威爾主席比較憂慮過度經濟擴充，而不是通貨膨脹後之消條期，他的看法受到白宮兩位部長的支持，就是商務部之萊夢多，和財政部之葉倫，兩位指出幾近全就業率3.7％，幾乎全民就業之狀況，就難想像到消條，所以英語曰軟著陸，中國和世界近七十國是硬著陸，台灣經濟雄厚穩重，隨貶新台幣若干，經濟是相當穩定，日本西歐亦然。

這週，我看股市已經稍微回升，尤其是高科技股，我是眼不見為淨，或靜，只注意我的石油股，股市翻雲作雨者，也大勢發揮，元兒曰石油股因公司暴利，給長短線投資者機會，我看汽油價已稍緩和，前天加油是$3.05／加侖，我相信美國石油公司，已經開始恢復開採石油。

如果油價穩定，物價也將跟著穩定，因為許多原料來自石油產品，例如肥料，奈龍等，當然關稅也影響物價，消費者考慮減少消費，控制支出，無可厚非，這是通膨之剋星，當然不能淪落消條，影響國家稅收，我是相信官員們之判斷，和拜登總統之誠意。

The roll over IRA/Carlos Pueblo

 The roll over IRA/Carlos Pueblo

Recently, I did run into a small procedure of the roll over IRA. One of my funding retirement accounts distributed automatically in August after I did all my requirement minimum distribution for 2022. This would increase my annual income; therefore, I sent that whole amount back to another retirement account for the roll over like that I didn't withdraw it at all. This is the way I have known it since my insurance sales time.

I did my Keogh Plan, HR-10 for the sole proprietorship pension plan to a roll over IRA to avoid the annual report of the plan value to IRA. I self direct such roll over IRA with some mutual funds investment mostly in high technology fields. The second company's 401k and annuity which I leave it with the company for their asset management. I also have some Roth IRA built up when I lost my regular job after 2001 with the help of two children at colleges to help to shield the roll over regular IRA to the Roth. Now, this is the third time that I practice such procedure in order to complete my tax planning.

I advise my two children what I know the best to save and invest. Savings for the retirement through various investments with the Federal sanction can shelter some income tax, of course, we pay it back when we retire like myself now. It is always better to pay more tax when we have enough money. I fully understand why the U.S. Government encourage their citizen to save through various retirement plans just point one out. Citizens of the U.S. have enough retirement funds will save the Federal Government very much budget to go to the welfare. In addition to that, it will create a more peaceful society. I think that I am living in a paradise now.

轉換退休金／莊峻華

 轉換退休金／莊峻華

最近我需要使用轉換退休金，因為我早領出年度退休金最低領出額，我是賣出高價石油股，套牢跌價之基金股退休金，因為今年股市崩盤，不巧八月裡一退休金帳戶，自動售出最低要求額，將扣除稅務額寄來，於是我就需要採取轉換退休金辦法，將該款寄給石油股帳戶，維持我原計劃之領出收入，當然也無需多交所得稅，大概是三千美金之譜。我可以在三個月後新年度，再領出這筆錢。美國政府鼓勵國民儲蓄，稅務暫緩，待國民退休後，個人所得稅反高，其中奧妙處，真難體會。

以前我曾是個體戶，保險代理人，論件計酬，所以社會福利金和老人健保稅自理，交一般領薪水者一倍，因為他們顧主出另一半，他們有401k退休金計劃，我們個體戶可以辦基歐計劃，就是HR-10計劃，因為基歐計劃需要每年價值很煩，所以我在更換公司後，依法轉換退休金，全名應是轉換成個人退休計劃，投資內容仍舊自選，我的主要投資，交給基金公司管理，僅存兩種單一股票，石油股和一日本汽車股，石油今年大漲，日本汽車股仍舊低迷不醒。

美國是一有制度之國，國民容易生存，只要認真工作，節約儲蓄，像這種退休計劃，鼓勵國民年輕時存錢，老年後無憂無慮，不小心還要多交所得稅，聯邦州政府也無社會福利之負擔，像我這種人，年輕時按照移民法移民美國，美國給我很多機會，我也一直交所得稅，就是心甘情願貢獻美國。

How to face the down turn economy ?/Carlos Pueblo

 How to face the down turn economy ?/Carlos Pueblo

The current inflation to the stock market crushed is a concern for most of the consumer. I am not the one who is scared because that I know how to face the down turn economy. Before 1975, I was in Taiwan, I learned the inflation of the early 1970 due to the oil embargo of Saudi's Romani. My Dad's business was totally wiped out because he could sold out his steel bearing products easily and quickly yet he could not purchase the raw material to make the same amount of product with the amount of money he got. That's how fast the inflation was at that time in Taiwan. He filed bankruptcy and wiped out all his retirement fund about US$3,000 at that time. He explained it to me and I learned it very well. I was making about US$100 a month as a new senior school chemistry teacher and I gave $50 to him, $25 to my Mom for food and the rest to prepare for the cost to come to the U.S.

I always have a very clear mind of the money. Now, I do have enough retirement funds to live by. I consider to postpone my three cruise trips in the fall due to the rate and the mid-term election. The trips are not necessary and it won't hurt to save that money and I don't need to worry about the absentee ballot.

I help Amy to buy the grocery, mainly steaks, fruits, and some on sale items. She doesn't know how and doesn't care. I watch the weekly advertisement on Wednesday junk mails. There is a new marketing system available with two supermarkets. I can buy limited on sale items such as Rib Eyes steak or T-Bone Steak for about $5 a pound, 20 lbs. plus water melon for $5 a piece, 19 cent a ear of corn, etc. I only eat happily when I get them on sale.

I only drive to play tennis and swimming. I even walk to my bank to make a deposit check. I drive a 25 years old vehicle. I borrow money from bank credit cards too yet I always pay them off before the 0% rate expired.

A frugal life style and gaining knowledge are very essential to face the down turn economy. I have been through the previous down turn such as 1987 and 2008. Both were brief and the U.S. Economy has come back quickly. The U.S. is the most dynamic and power house of the world.