US Dollars/Carlos Pueblo

 US Dollars/Carlos Pueblo

It is very interesting to think of US Dollars nowadays. The US Dollar is par with the Euro now. One Dollar is equal to 130 Japanese Yen. At Istanbul Airport, you can purchase items with US Dollars. Chinese National banks are paying higher interests for the certificate of deposit in US Dollars higher than their own RMB Yuan. In the US now, Banks are offering higher interests for money market funds or CD, i.e. a one year CD can get 5.4% interest rate. The US Dollar is very attractive now because the Federal Reserve Bank raises short term interest rate to above 4.5% in order to suppress the inflation.

I must pay attention to my portfolio now because that they are mostly in stocks or stocks mutual fund. Once the interest rate getting into 8% annually, investors like to sell stocks to purchase CD to avoid the stressful stock investment. I was happened in the 1980's.

I don't blame the Fed to manage the interest rate in order to manage the inflation. Most people have bad experience with the inflation which I understand; however, in history both side have argued. Some farmers can get better income of their produce because of the inflation. Last year my savings were suppressed by the inflation like 30% yet my oil stock shares were coming back from a 10 years slum.

I do mention of individual finance plan strategy, always working, frugal, savings by investment, and finally let it grows. During the inflation time, my worry is very limited. I live in a pay off old house and I only need to prepare for the real estate tax. I don't need to know the macro-economic theory. My pension savings can pay my frugal life, foods and shelter, even some traveling.

美金／莊峻華

 美金／莊峻華

自從通貨膨脹係數飆高後，世界各國對美金有異類看法，幾乎都在搶購美金，美金對其他貨幣匯率增強，當然這對我並無大影響，我只是一小消費者，但確實能體會到，如旅行日本，美金日幣是一比一百三十，聽聞美金歐元已是一比一，台幣是一比三十一等等，當然美金再強，我也仍舊節儉生活，但美金之受寵，令人愉快。

原因是美國央行提高利率，以壓抑通貨膨脹，有通貨膨脹是因為美國15年連續之經濟成長，最後一年之消條是2008，股市崩盤，因為美金拮据，美國政府借太多錢，和民間搶美金，根據1987年大消條之經驗研究，美金拮据不夠暢通，就多印鈔票應急，所以有很多甦困計劃，幾乎世界各國都跟進，世界經濟慢慢復甦。

經濟成長日久，經濟繁榮，像是登山到頂峰，於是停滯不進反退，這就是山谷期，有為的政府，都想避免飛機之硬著路，要軟著陸，所以增加利息，搶美金使消費緩慢，緩慢物價上漲，這是基本經濟原理，物價高我就不花錢，開25年舊車渡日。

通貨膨脹在歷史上，也有爭辯，農作物價格高，使農人增加收入，我看郵輪單價提高，像一日價錢$40者，已無法找到，最便宜者已是$60一日，因為美國經濟好日久，消費力強，現在郵輪日價$100者多數，同樣服務不同價錢，這是通貨膨脹，這是幣制貶值。

因此我揭橥個人財務安排，工作儲蓄和投資，來對付如此變局，我曾儲蓄投資石油股票，套牢三十年，最近通貨膨脹，油價一度飆漲，於是幫我解套，還有日本股市猛漲，也有可能幫我解套一汽車股。

中國與美國打貿易戰，中國經濟面臨崩潰，習近平將人民幣利息反向降低，目的是促進消費，但台商外商在中國無利可圖，只好撤離中國，造成失業率高，消費緊縮，國家美金收入銳減，於是由國家銀行高利率收購民間美金應急，很有意思，我一直覺得中國仍舊是一貧窮國家，共產專制，無法面對這日新月異之現代社會。

Back to New York City for a day 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Back to New York City for a day 2022/Carlos Pueblo

After a day stop at St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, our ship turn south back to Manhattan. It was the end of my first seven day trip, I booked another seven day of the same route. We call it a back to back with a total of fourteen day trip. There is a day in this Metropolitan City of the world for me. I consider that is a good deal because of the cost of one day in this city in compare to what I have paid to the cruise liner.

I disembark early in the morning walked across the terminal to wait on a bus to the Port Authority Station on the Subway to change to Chinatown Canal Station. I have done it for many times and it is very in-expansive. I was too early for the restaurant to wait on me. I was going to have a bowl of seafood rice noodle and a plate of marinated duck, a famous Chao-Chou delicacy. I have been to this restaurant in Manhattan Chinatown for many years. IN the 1980's, I could even brought three whole ducks back to Houston. Usually, I would walk to the restaurant near by Moss Street and sit down to have the noodle and a plate of duck. It is always very busy day and night. More than two chefs would take turn to chop 180 ducks in a day. Ducks are grown nearby at Long Island.

There are fresh shrimp, squid, crispy fish balls, pork liver, and kidney, etc. in it with unique delight soup. If there is a beer or wine to be accompanied, it can be a very good treat.

After the rich lunch, I had to make a hurry back to the ship because I was not quite familiar to the city's rest room system in case I had to use it. The foods are a little bit greasy in compare to those on the ship.

到紐約逛唐人街2022／莊峻華

 到紐約逛唐人街2022／莊峻華

上次我說到新英格蘭加拿大兩省兩港行，是2022年九月底的事，船在新布蘭斯維克省的聖約翰港就回程南下紐約市，有一整日海上行程，我是精算過，選擇兩次行程，因此有一日在紐約市，晚上住在郵輪上，想想一夜在紐約之大都會花費，我就更加滿意。旅行紐約市許多次，都是靠親戚朋友招待介紹，但幾十年來打攪，現在開始羞怯起口，因此我就準備逛曼哈頓之唐人街，因為我喜歡一家中國潮州滷鴨河粉，現在一碗要$20，我喜歡的潮州滷鴨一隻要$23，但我不能帶上船，郵輪有禁令，否則船有紅酒佐配，日本人曰酒肴，很是享受。

我先在碼頭對面，找到一市巴士站，搭車到附近之地鐵站，我想是港務局站，然後就進入地鐵系統，車向曼哈頓方向，唐人街就在運河站下車，很便宜巴士和地鐵一次票，又讓我愉快一次。從運河站到滷鴨店走是有一段，過去都是榮祥帶路，很快就到，這次自行又問路，是麻煩一些，但我也經過一些熟悉店面，還有那小座公園，有華人打太極。有一水果攤是越南華僑經營，我有深刻印象，現在已經五，六攤，賣許多時鮮水果蔬菜，子女都有好教育，而且是醫生專業。

這滷鴨餐廳在莫街附近，一日廚師們要剁180鴨，手都剁受傷，而且要換師傅剁。我好不容易等到一個座位，然後就點一碗三鮮河粉，一盤滷鴨，慢慢品嚐，每次來訪紐約，都來光顧，已經有40年，女老闆娘都已過世，現在是大公子掌櫃，榮祥認識他，若榮祥同來，我們的三鮮料會多些，三鮮包括豬肝腰花，鮮蝦，和潮州魚丸一粒等，比我在師大龍泉街那碗更豐盛，當然價錢不同。

食畢摸著原路回碼頭，我不敢久留唐人街，因為食物油膩，深懼胃腸不適，紐約廁所不普遍，還是趕回船上安全，雖是蒼促急忙，也是有趣之一日。

How to manage the individual finance/Carlos Pueblo

 How to manage the individual finance/Carlos Pueblo

There are three factors to be satisfactory of our individual finance, first you need to have the capital, you need to invest such capital, and finally you need to let it grow and I call it the duration. 

How do you accumulate such capital? I assume that you just like me without any opportunity to inherit any fortune and started with zero. We must work all the time and before getting to work, we must prepare ourselves very well at the school. We can't kid ourselves at schools and waste our time.

Secondly, we must be frugal and live within our means. Our balance sheet must be in positive all the time. We only borrow money when we think that we can get it back such as a home loan, Now, I have doubt about auto loan seriously. While we are working, we can join pension plans such as 401k or individual IRA, etc. You must be in the stock market for investment and your knowledge of the security comes in to help you, especially the mutual funds.

Now, you are working all the time and let your saving investment grow. I have been witness almost every professional such as engineers make it to millionaire class when they retire in their pension saving. I know that it is very difficult to save the same on after tax money because IRS needs more from us to pay the huge expanse in the US governments.

如何應付個人財務局？／莊峻華

 如何應付個人財務局？／莊峻華

最近兩家美國大銀行，找我作生意，邀我一直無利息之銀行現金，轉到新活期存款，享受4.2％利息，而且希望我讓他們管理我的證券投資。我到葡萄牙里斯本旅行，途經土耳其伊斯坦堡機場，買份便當，餐廳收美金。小姨母女旅行歐洲，發現歐元美金已經一比一，還有六角五美金可抵一元加幣，非常有趣，美國央行為控制通膨升息，益使美金強勢，全世界都在收集美金，還有一美金值一百三十日幣，值三十一元新台幣，當然這些都屬總體經濟，我們如何應付個人財務局？此甚重要而且實際實用。

第一，要有工作，現在美國失業率低，3.4％，幾乎是全民就業，有了工作，就老老實實把握機會，絕對不能辭職。

第二，要儲蓄，要省吃儉用，養成習慣，累積資本。

第三，要投資，起先要灌足退休金。

美國國民退休制度，十分週全，一般國民工作到退休年紀，都可以儲蓄累積一筆相當之退休金養老，而且有老人健康保險，像我現在年老，無憂無慮，因有退休金有社會福利金，都是當年工作工資等累積，立於不敗之地。

通貨膨漲是必然，固然幣值稍降，但有些投資升值，像能源股票，像農產品農價增高，有人也蒙受其利，央行升息，主要是要銀行收回一些美金，免得在市場作怪，一般人只要準備好地方稅金，按時交房產稅，然後坐觀其變，通貨膨脹後，會有消條。

Presidential Election in Taiwan iin 2024/Carlos Pueblo

 Presidential Election in Taiwan in 2024/Carlos Pueblo

Taiwan National Election has been started now, National President as well as the Legislative House. Three parties shall chase for the President seat and the majority of the House. Currently the incumbent Democratic Progressive Party nominate William Lai, the incumbent Vice President, Taiwan People's Party will have its Party Chairman, former Taipei City Mayor, Dr. Ko Wen-jer to run, while Chinese Nationalist Party(Chiang Kai-sek's old Chinese exile force) will nominate New Taipei City incumbent Mayor Hou Yo-yi to run. I prefer Dr. Ko and there are several reasons.

He has his unique ideas to run the Nation and he clearly describes it on his books, speeches, and showing it during his 8 years mayor in the Capital City of Taipei. He is a very well learned person with sense of hummer. He can explain complicate issues in a simple and understandable way. He believes that Taiwan must talk to China for a main reason of cultural influence even though most of the population refuse to identify themselves as Chinese yet current Taiwanese are more Chinese than Communist ruled Chinese in China. He is for Taiwanese Independent away from one China. He doesn't believe we can cut off Chinese influence immediately. We need talk to China like the US still attempt to talk to China even the economic sanction is still in progress. He is pragmatic on every front yet he has a principle which is non  negotiatble which is Taiwan is an independent Nation from China.

In his 8 years tenure, I don't see the current KMT Mayor finds any corruption cases on him and his team. This the first time showing in Taipei for a long period of time, as a matter of fact since DPP's Chen Sui-bien left Taipei City Hall in 1998. 

He has a very adorable solid education and medical career in the University of Taiwan. He also has a very good traditional Chinese civilization influence as well as his parental Japanese cultural discipline while he has learned it from Taiwan University Hospital. He does what he says or he says what he means. He can improve Taiwan like he has improved Taipei in an excellent way.

明年2024台灣之總統選舉／莊峻華

 明年2024台灣之總統選舉／莊峻華

2024年台灣之總統選舉，已經在海內外開打，這次仍舊有三組候選人，民進黨的賴清德，民眾黨之柯文哲，和國民黨之侯友宜，都是一時之俊，三位都當過直轄市長，歷經選戰，我可以返台投票，但機票昂貴，僅此作罷。

我很欣賞柯文哲市長，他的學識，哲學觀念，和道德操守，都是政壇一流，我主張台灣獨立，但我相信這三位想法類似，所以都不可能出賣台灣。柯市長執政台北市八年，不但沒有馬英九和郝龍斌等弊案，而且有很多政績，年輕人覺得他較生動活潑有趣，而且他的辯才無礙，甚具說服力，而且他讀書甚多，甚至是暢銷書作者。

他主張與中國要有交流，先從文化和經濟可談者先談，當然中國根本不把台灣當國家看待，台灣永遠要委曲求全，我覺得此事我能諒解，畢竟台灣政治，需要有高智慧者來操作。

我當然不會考慮國民黨，國民黨是罪惡之黨，所以侯友宜苦戰，誰出戰都一樣，國民黨是中國人之政黨，我離台前在台灣為蔣家統治，許多吃苦經驗，我希望國民黨漸漸在台灣消失。

About Secretary of State's visit to Peking 2023/Carlos Pueblo

 About Secretary of State's visit to Peking 2023/Carlos Pueblo

Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, was invited to visit Peking, China for two days on official diplomatic business. This visit did expose Chinese rudeness among people who met him from the top, Xi and down to the foreign department officials. I can only conclude that Chinese are very impolite and attempting to get something to save their face.

Blinken is a top US official and represents President Biden to visit China. At least Chinese government need to send a proper official such as the foreign minister to greet him at the airport, to arrange a sedan to take him to his hotel not by a bus. After discussing matters with two Chinese top diplomats, one in Chinese foreign affairs department and the other one in the Community Party foreign apparatus. Blinken was permitted to meet Xi, the President of China and the Chairman of Chinese Communist Party. All Chinese media as well as Taiwanese media point it out Xi's seat is above Blinken on the top of a table to show that Xi is number 1 and looking down upon Blinken as a foreign subordinate. It is ridiculous.

The US and China are in the economic war via the tariff, 25%. Plus the US posts sanctions on some computer products to avoid some patent issues with China. Chinese export drops significantly, factories closed, and people unemployed that is the fact. The US White House must monitor the progress both nations agree to improve the situation. Blinken is on that mission. The US is gradually moving some Chinese import to many other nations in the rest of the world. The largest US trade partner are now Canada and Mexico. We can see many imports on the US market are from other nations not from China any longer. Some Chinese products are labeled ad Made in PRC to avoid China. PRC is the People Republic of China in short. Chinese are no longer proud of made in China to avoid the resentment.

I can point it out the world resentment in China, first in Hong Kong and second the covid19. The UK, US, and Japan are three major victim of the Hong Kong issue due to Chinese confiscate Hong Kong and violate the agreement with the UK signed in 1997. Chinese have covered up the out break of Wuhan Corona Virus or covid19 and the world have suffered huge loss of human life including China itself.

布林肯國務卿訪問北京2023／莊峻華

 布林肯國務卿訪問北京2023／莊峻華

美國國務卿安東尼.布林肯幾天前，專訪中國北京，繼二月裡美國擊落中國間牒氣球後，延遲之國事訪問，美中兩國，國事緊張，瀕臨武裝戰爭邊緣，布卿當然需要拜訪中國，避免誤會，擦槍走火，這是可理解者也，台灣和中國網路媒體，均大肆吹噓中國官方給布卿穿小鞋，故意冷落布卿，非常好笑，據報導布卿下機，無大官接機，需搭公車上釣魚台酒店等等，這是中國國務院之失禮，中國急需和美國溝通，挽救經濟崩潰之危機，美中正在關稅熱戰，中國外資撤離，加工廠關閉，國民失業等等，中國急需與美國和解，而非強調顏面之得失。布卿先見中國外長秦剛，續見中國共產黨外交首腦王毅，然後中國和台灣媒體都吹噓習近平不予接見，我開始覺得好笑，接見時又強調冷落布卿座位，真是好玩，布卿訪華主要是傳達拜登總統和當今美國政府，警告中國對台海問題，不可輕舉忘動，和國防部長奧斯汀和三軍參謀總長米利將軍兩武將，語調緩和，給足中國顏面。拜登總統聞訊，立即稀落習近平為獨裁者們之一，不知間牒氣球內有間牒器具，記者問布卿此事，布曰只要中國不再氣球挑釁，美國就此結束該案。

美中關稅戰已經開打，美國拜登團隊十分靈活，先派財卿葉倫女士訪問北京，討論中國出售美債之問題，曉以大義，中國仍舊需要有美債來穩定人民幣之本值，中國開始恢復購買美債。拜登也續派商務卿雷曼多女士訪問中國，報載討論中國停止購買波音客機一事，這是美中兩國之利益，不容擱置。至於貿易戰之問題，美國不急，等待貿易代表戴琪小姐出訪中國，始知此事涉及美國利益，不要小看美國政客，美國贏得兩次世界大戰，稱霸世界近百年，絕非蓋者也。

小看布卿是中國人，中國政權之愚昧無知，我因此專文敘述，布卿專任國務卿已經兩年餘，深得拜登總統之仰賴，中國國務院，甚至習近平本人，均甚無知，中國非倒不可也。

Trump first two criminal indictment/Carlos Pueblo

 Trump first two criminal indictment/Carlos Pueblo

Recently, former US 45th President Trump was on his second criminal indictment and 2nd arraignment in Miami Federal Court on a Federal offense, illegal possessing documents after leaving office. His first criminal indictment is in Manhattan for local criminal offense in the State of New York. There is a process of handcuff and a plea in front of a judge at the court house. Trump is facing several criminal cases such as one in Atlanta, Georgia and on January 6, 2021 D.C. riot with a total of four more. He is still very popular in the Republican side and leading the 2024 Presidential poll in Republican Party. Nixon was not that lucky after President Ford's pardon on Watergate and disappeared on the US politic until the end of his life. You may ask reasons why.

I learn the US rules of law from my daily watch of the MSNBC on the You tube from US lawyers and experts. Even though they don't mention the reasons of Trump's popularity yet I will. The Republican Party is now controlled by cults of some kinds such as the raciest or the red-neck in Texas language, the religious fundamental group, and self proclaim conservative, etc. It is a little bit lower than the 50% US population. This is a free nation above all and we all respect it.

It is very obvious of his offense of laws and common sense in his life yet he gets away of most parts. He has paid most of his civil cases out of courts, such as Trump University scandal before he entered 2016 Presidential Election. He paid out of his 7 plus business bankruptcies. He is still a rich person and he brags about it all the time and some people admire it, a man's life should be like this, the 45th, he calls himself some time.

I am glad that he is facing the law now and I expect that he would ask the media to spread a pardon from incumbent US President or the future Presidents for all his offense when he is found guilty. As a matter of the fact, some Republican candidates have already proposed his pardon after them got elected in 2024. 

川普之刑事案/莊峻華

 川普之刑事案/莊峻華

美國前總統川普，從事政治前經商，經常有民事訴訟，有過7次以上之倒閉訴訟，都是庭外和解了事，就在投入2016年總統大選前，就有著名之川普大學詐欺案，和解退費給受害學生，和律師費等超過兩千五百萬，川普食髓知味，玩弄司法，在位總統後，更是變本加厲，被罷免兩次，倖有共和黨參議員護航，2020年總統敗選後鬧事，圖謀暴徒暴力政變，攻擊國會，坐視國會危急，現在面對美國司法，有六項刑事案件，其中兩項已經偵辦結束，正式起訴，還有幾件馬上有結果將被起訴，一件民事訴訟，已經敗訴被判賠償，他有無端放話，原告再訴傷害名譽，每天川普訴訟案，佔領美國大小新聞，都是頭條。

川普是位姦商，是位大騙，講話徐徐然，但句句是謊言，沒有很好的學校教育，從小就是一紈絝子弟，講話不算話，就是言而無信，但他主張種族岐視，宗教岐視，討好美國富人減稅等，2016年獲得近半美國選民支持，騙取大位，大騙之一，就是信口開河，要墨西哥出錢蓋美墨萬里長城，阻擋非法移民，甚至自號上帝遣送他來美國當總統，更荒謬的是有美國福音派教會支持，連許多華人漢語世界，都泯滅良知，一脈支持。

倖好拜登上台，白宮恢復領導世界之功能，美國控制好中國之武漢肺炎，白宮團隊有效之掌握機制，應付通貨澎漲，有效支持烏克蘭抵抗俄羅斯，美金恢復強勢信用，連我的退休金都恢復，川普司法案，讓我更加了解美國法治。

拜登已經領導世界，經濟制裁中國，這是迫使中國開第一槍之手段，經濟戰是美英日在香港吃上悶虧後，又是武肺之害，中國無意遵守條約，講話不算話，拜登團隊只好做好其他打算矣。

Coming back from a 12 day cruise to Lisbon, Portugal 2023/Carlos Pueblo

 Coming back from a 12 day cruise to Lisbon, Portugal 2023/Carlos Pueblo

It took about two full days to complete my return from Lisbon, Portugal to Houston, Texas after a 12 day cruise mostly at sea. You would ask me if it is worth for me take these kinds of trip over and over again. I have no answers to that. I am a lonely person yet I like to travel around the world and cruising is the most comfortable journey for me at this time.

The journey started at Ft. Carnarval, Florida more than two weeks ago. I flied to Orlando, Florida a day before the ship embark. It was very different from what my last experience, a trip coming back from the port to Orlando Airport with a private shuttle bus. This time I had to take a cruise liner arranged bus to the port in time to make sure to be boarded.

Very soon after getting on the huge ship, I noticed that several staff whom I got to know on my previous cruising experience recognized me. After only a few hours, more staff came forward greeting me. We still can remember our first encountering which are very fond memories. I love to cruise and enjoy it very much.

We were running into a rain on our first disembark at a private island owned by the cruise liner. I was prepared before getting off the ship on a tender boat. We couldn't enjoy the facilities provided in the island, yet we did have our Garden Cafe type of lunch before heading back to the more comfortable ship.

It had been a 9 days at sea. It's the reason why the cruise is attracted to frugal people like me, the cost price is low during an inflation and the summer vacation season. The ship was fully booked. I found my way to fully enjoyed myself. We did disembark at Ponta Delagarda and Funchal before reaching Lisbon,

My bet to take a public train to the airport worked. A kindly couple guided me to a down stair terminal to board a light rail transit system. They kindly guided me to follow them to make a change of another train. A local young man helped me to carry my heavy one luggage down stair.

自葡萄牙里斯本跨大西洋郵輪旅行歸來2023/莊峻華

 自葡萄牙里斯本跨大西洋郵輪旅行歸來2023/莊峻華

兩日前始由葡萄牙里斯本搭機返回休市，結束一12日橫跨大西洋之郵輪旅行，郵輪行不累，倒是接駁飛機甚累，回到家後，需要幾日休息。從里斯本下船，設法搭乘地鐵，提行李上下樓，若非熱心青年幫忙，真會困著於車站，從里斯本回休市，飛機客滿，轉機候機超過28小時。

這次旅行船期12日，僅停靠三岸，其餘9日均在海上渡日夜，因此很多休息時間，認識許多新朋友。最近是暑假開始，郵輪旺季，連此船都客滿，大船客滿很是熱鬧，到處是排隊，餐廳酒吧等都很熱鬧，連賭場夜晚都是搶搶滾，想來郵輪賺錢。

首站巴哈馬一郵輪擁有小島，因不巧下雨，連郵輪準備之午餐，都不便享受，就倉皇逃逸，次兩站是葡萄牙兩島，德拉龐特港和芳雀爾港，都是漂亮花園城市，有600餘年歷史，芳雀爾居然種植香蕉為業，我在該島兩鎮搭車逛街。

Returning visit to St. John, New Brunswick, Canada 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Returning visit to St. John, New Brunswick, Canada 2022/Carlos Pueblo

St. John is a port that cruise ships make often stop on their routes in northeast America or the transatlantic on the north Atlantic Ocean. I am quite familiar to the scenery of the port and also feel related to it. I always remember a story told by my former professor about one of his student came to this city to have a graduate study and kept the correspondence wihh him. I do see a downtown campus of the University of New Brunswick yet I feel that may not be the main campus.

I was accompanied with my new found neighbor friend and her group to march on the downtown for several blocks, then I took it back to the ship for lunch. I prepared to have an excursion in the afternoon for a small bus ride to the city. A guide described the history of the city , its industry, and its significant. There is a rich family who owns a city paper mill as long a petroleum refinery, the only one in this area of three provinces. We did pass through several residential area including a mansion of this family. The trip ended at a paper mill by the bank of a river to the sea front.

It is very cold in this area during the winter. The ancestors of this area were from the former U.S. continent. they were the royalists who lost their lands due to the the revolution. The King gave them back their lands which were lost and protected them from the briefly aggression of the newly established U.S. Of course, the King got the new land from defeated France. It's a very interesting story of Canadian history.

It's very lovely town and I shall have my second opportunity to visit this town on my second back of this cruise.