起訴川普／莊峻華

 起訴川普／莊峻華

川普終於面對法律，這是人類文明歷史首遭，一位世界權勢最高者，接受法律審判，他和其共和黨同路人，均藉詞不曾在美國234年歷史發生過，真是好笑，其實不文明人類歷史中，川普政變失敗後，早就沒命矣，那有政治選舉募款，拿來付律師費保命不入牢？而且他不認錯，不知悔過自新，真是要命。我看雅虎新聞，看網誌新聞節目，絕大篇幅都在討論川普案，記者詳述新聞內容當頭條，政論節目主持人，反覆邀請法律專家，分析犯罪內容，涉及法條，巨細不遺，連我都相當滿意，覺得充實。

美國標榜法治人權，無人可以超過法律，過去46位總統，無人膽敢如此放肆，連尼克森都知進退，犯法由繼任之福特赦，川普之如意算盤是，提早宣佈參選2024總統，聲稱選舉重要，無法出庭，若當選可以特赦自己，美國人都如此愚昧？川普兩次參選，都不達半數選票，輸西拉蕊2.9百萬票，贏選舉人票，輸拜登超過7百萬票，選舉人票也輸，不服輸鬧事，始有今日之面對法律之窘況。

德州共和黨州長限制方便選舉，我們都提早投票，2020年大選我們先到附近一初中投票，排隊很久，人手不足，於是我們再到一社區中心，看到許多人排隊，就是充份顯示美國人重視此選舉，尤其是總統大選和國會議員，現在連州長局，郡守級市長等都開始忙碌。

美國政論節目主持人和名嘴都不相信，川普能再奪百宮，但2016年西拉蕊也輸，這意外結果，造成美國四年以上之壓抑，有愛阿華婦人提問川普宗教信仰，川普故左右而言他，台灣話曰豬頭皮炸無油，不知福音教徒做何感想？再來是種族岐視者，還有減稅者，川普耗用國家稅收，花費在他的無知任性和詐欺。

My repeated visit of Portland, Maine 20222/Carlos Pueblo

 My repeated visit of Portland, Maine 20222/Carlos Pueblo

Portland, Maine is located on the eastern coast of Maine. The city is very friendly to the cruise and is a fix point of the New England and Canadian Northeastern provinces route. I have been to this route several times since 2011. I can march along the harbor area and get to the city center easily. It is a very old and traditional colony of the new world. This time I attempted to buy a swimming goggles for my morning exercises on board yet there is none available due to the end of summer season. I took a different way to see the city included the city hall, a senior high school building, and a center by the Bank of America. 

Usually, I would follow passengers from the ship to walk along restaurants and gift shops along the harbor checking on the prices of a pair of lobsters in restaurants or on a street corner's bicycle stand. I also am interested to see a nice fish market and check on their prices. It is more economic to eat on the ship if you are not that care of the variety. You can get a better deal and selection of fish yet it may not be easy to find a restaurant to cook it for you. Also, you can't consume it like Sushi or Sashimi. I think that you can get a better price for fresh lobsters from the fish market indeed.

Portland visit ended right around early afternoon. I saw people were going back to the ship and I didn't mind to follow them. It is a routine that I stop by the 24 hours restaurant to have a fish sandwich for my lunch.

重返緬因州波特蘭市2022／莊峻華

 重返緬因州波特蘭市2022／莊峻華

因為這是新英格蘭二度遊，所以我又重返緬因州波特蘭市，二度遊是一習慣，一共兩週郵輪旅行，是很單調，但可節省飛機票，我自2011年開始郵輪旅行，就是紐約啟航新英格蘭加拿大東北三省，也忘記重複多少次？但仍舊十分有趣，像是避暑旅行。

我忘記攜帶游泳護水眼鏡，因此特地到市中心尋找，結果是夏季已過，店面不再擺設出售，於是我赤目下水，游上幾小圈，然後繼續揮桿高爾夫球和散步，維持每日清晨運動。

我未再逛碼頭附近魚市，龍蝦餐廳等，因為方向不同，波特蘭市政府大廈和一高中，我拍攝相片以供讀者欣賞，還有停泊碼頭之起跑號雄姿。

冰火雙重唱的羅斯和梅克是舊友，2011年搭乘珠寶號認識就在此線，羅斯教我午夜列車赴

喬治亞，每次重逢均點唱此歌，我在此部落格介紹多次。

Trump's number 3 criminal indictment/Carlos Pueblo

 Trump's number 3 criminal indictment/Carlos Pueblo

Trump himself announced that he received a letter from the department of Justice special prosecutor Jack Smith to invite him to appear to a Grand Jury before his number 3 criminal indictment on his criminal offense on January 6, 2021 at the Capitol Hill. Of course, he will not appear to the Grand Jury as always. He never respects the Law of the United States. He thinks that he is above the law and he is prosecuted for You, his supporters.

According to the legal experts in the society, they explain reasons this number 3 criminal indictment. Trump has received 250 millions political donation since the January 6 coup. I believe that the special prosecutor's office is looking into it to see if there is additional criminal offense such as mail fraud involved. You know that his first criminal indictment involved his illegal moving money from political fund to pay Stormy Daniel. Second criminal indictment is involving the Mar-Largo secret government document. Now, he even illegal obtaining a Jewish lamp loaned to the White House at the Mar-Largo. He does learn his lesson and promises to return to Israel.

I don't think that he can win again in 2024 even if the Republican select his as the candidate to run again. It is because he has never win the populate votes. He lost 2.9 millions popular votes to Hillary Clinton in 2016 and lost to Joe Biden 7 millions plus votes in 2020. I don't think that people don't like him will change his mind in 2024. It is very unfortunate that his supporters still donate money to him to do the crime stuff.

川普之第三刑事案／莊峻華

 川普之第三刑事案／莊峻華

川普之第三刑事案即將揭曉，這是有關搧動造反暴動案，著名的2021年元月六日，暴民衝入國會，川普在白宮看電視實況，不動聲色，任由暴民施暴，按照美國社會法律專家經驗，特殊檢察官傑克史密斯，最近即將起訴川普，就是第三次逮捕川普手續，川普自己在造勢會上，公布接到檢察官之通知，前兩次刑事案是紐約州檢察官，起訴川普濫用款遮羞費案，浮報房產價值貸款，低報房產價值逃漏稅等；第二件聯邦刑事案是偷竊國家機密文件，八月裡尚有一喬治亞州亞特蘭大妨礙選舉法案，就是電話錄音索票案，今日又有密西根州檢察官起訴16人非法偽造文書，假裝為總統選舉人，也有可能追溯到主使者川普。美國兩百三十四年首次有一總統，兩次被罷免，兩次被刑事案起訴，幾次民事案罷訴賠款等醜事，非常不明譽者。

但是他仍舊領先共和黨所有候選人，有60％之共和黨選民仍舊支持他，而且捐兩億五千萬給他，當然這兩億五千萬也面臨司法調查，若非政治選舉用途，應該有收入報所得稅之義務，美國稅法應是合乎邏輯才是。

川普選不上總統矣，他已經連敗兩次，希拉蕊克林頓選票總數2016，超過川普兩百九十萬票，拜登領先超過七百萬票，選拜登者絕對不會投川普，就像選希拉蕊者絕對不會改投川普一樣道理，共和黨人永遠無法進入白宮執政。

Revisiting New England and Canadian provinces 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Revisiting New England and Canadian provinces 2022/Carlos Pueblo

After my Manhattan Chinatown lunch, I managed to take subway back to the cruise terminal for my second back on cruise to revisit New England and Canadian Provinces in the fall of 2022. I don't mind to visit this area on cruises every year as long as I am healthy. Now, I have learned to take my early dinner to be seated by the window in a restaurant in order to have a good view of the coastal line of the Hudson River and the East River during the sun set and the lights of the metropolitan city. It's on a slowly moving large ship without any stress from driving a vehicle. I believe that we pass by the Oyster Bay between Connecticut and New York.

We arrived early in the morning to New Port, Rhode Island. We took a tender boat to disembark. I was raining last week and was better this week. I am very familiar to the city center and harbor streets. New Port is a lovely town with classical buildings more that 300 years old, of course, there are newly build section in the city center. I turned my march toward the residential area behind the Trinity Church. I always like to see the old house of the late U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell. He had been very friendly to Taiwan during his tenure in the Senate Foreign Committee. I was learned that he went to a briefing of the famous massacre of February 28, 1947 in Taiwan by Chiang Kai-sek's Nationalist Army spoken by a US consul in Taipei, Taiwan, George Kerr while he was on a Navy duty at that time in the Far East.

I have read Kerr's Formosa Betray several times both in English and Kanji editions. That is why Senator Pell sympathizes Taiwanese. He is a gentleman politician. I still can't locate his childhood house at New Port, yet I did find her great aunt Anna Pell's old mansion by a luxury Vanderbilt Hotel inside a residential neighborhood. I chatted with a young man who walked his dog in the neighborhood that morning. He promises me to find what I like to see and shows me how to take a free city bus to visit the city next time. Later when I was somewhere in my itinerary, I received his text message that he located the old house.

重遊加拿大東三省2022／莊峻華

 重遊加拿大東三省2022／莊峻華

結束紐約曼哈頓唐人街潮州海鮮河粉和一盤潮州滷鴨後，我摸著紐約地鐵回到12街郵輪碼頭，一切均甚廉價，準備重遊加國東三省，這種郵輪旅行，可以減少一次休市紐約之機票，讓我這種節省遊客感覺有效，郵輪旅行是我老年之精神寄託，打發多餘時間。

下午五點半，準時赴七層大廳旁餐廳晚餐，此艘啟跑號算是稍大巨輪，有三座免費餐廳，提供相同菜單，我習慣選第二座，餐廳早到可以被安排到窗戶旁座位，欣賞紐約黃昏和夜景，我一直多次查閱地圖，想知道郵輪駛出哈德遜河，經過自由女神島，布魯克林大橋，染後進入大西洋之路線，始終不得而知，入夜後始見紐約市之通火萬巷，我猜測郵輪經過牡蠣灣，然後全夜徐行抵達羅德島之新港市，已故裴爾參議員之故鄉。

裴爾參議員年輕時，在海巡部隊服役，被調到遠東值勤，羅德島州有海巡兵基地，海巡軍官學校，還有潛水艇基地，都在鄰近康州新倫敦市，裴爾在1947年抵達遠東，正值台灣之二二八大屠殺，海軍由當年美駐台灣領事喬治柯爾簡述屠殺給海軍軍官，年輕的裴爾留下刻印象。後來裴爾從政，參議員任內，與布魯克林區索拉茲眾議員連手，支持台灣民主化，裴爾連任參議員多次，做到退休，已經過世，新港市係一小島，其跨海大橋即以參議員命名。

我在美麗老街一美麗旅社旁，找到裴爾姑媽，安娜裴爾故居，此故居維護甚佳，牆上有標誌，於是我到處詢問，是否有裴爾童年故居？我知道裴爾後來遷居到郊外新社區，需搭公車始能抵達。有位年輕人蹓躂愛犬，聞我描述，答應幫我尋找，果然幾日後電話訊息來，已經找到裴爾故居舊址。

新港市老市區建築，多半高齡三，四百年，市中心有一美麗公園，標誌某年英國女皇伊莉莎白二世之到訪，我們是搭接駁小船上岸。

The business good will /Carlos Pueblo

 The business good will /Carlos Pueblo

The business good will has been practiced in the U.S. for a long time. American business world believes the good will in their practice all the times. My son shops at his working super market most of the times to support their business; therefore, he has received free staff regularly, for instance, there is a free sausage coupon this week good till August 1st. I found a time to go to a branch to cash it out. I also bought a watermelon and five mangos. My problem was I forgot to bring back the bag with such sausage. I felt very bad about myself when I got home.  It was $2.49 in value. It was very  hot during the day in Houston and I almost would let it go; however, I decided to call the store after three hours at home.

The customer service lady told me that the store would let me have another sausage within three days with the receipt. I was wondering if I should go back. Finally I did and got a new one without any question asked. I feel very good about it. I have known that American are good in business. I have been very impressed and I believe that is one of the reason why the U.S. is so great in business and on the top of the world.

My son has been very concerned with the shop lifting issue in the store. He worries that such problem will be in a result of the store is losing money and cuts his working hours. I tell him that is the worry of the company not him. I believe that the company has the mark up of such loss in to their merchandise. My duty is to be sure that I can sustain such mark up and keep on shopping at such store.

誠信商譽／莊峻華

 誠信商譽／莊峻華

昨日上超市購買西瓜，順便領到一免費美國香腸，這是元兒服務超過15年之商店，美國第一大超市商號，結帳後我忘記裝香腸這一小袋，回家後始發現，售價是兩塊五，中午開始熱浪來襲，我固不知回去尋找，是否值得？但此小事確實令我甚為不適，於是過午後我打電話給店裡客服，回曰三日內憑收據來領一只香腸，果然，今日下午冒大熱天，開無冷氣老車到店裡領取香腸，內心無比愉快，這商店如此誠信商譽，確實異於我之想像，其實美國就是一重視誠信商譽之國家。

按元兒解釋，他的公司最大損失之一是偷竊，肖小到店裡偷竊不付錢，這是美國治安之缺陷，像我這種心不在焉客戶之損失，微乎其微，而且我甚感謝，也多購三樣始回家，而且心生感激。

美國人能商，講話算話，我應邀申請信用卡，依據銀行廣告，前三個月花費若干，銀行就獎賞點數，然後我購買單程機票，運用點數，省下些現金，再買船票，增加點數，很是有趣。

The summer shower/Carlos Pueblo

 The summer shower/Carlos Pueblo

The summer shower of 2023 is here. We have three days in a row with afternoon showers recently, not only release the drought but also lower the temperature by the heatwave. If the shower continue, we have to worry about the flood and the hurricane. That is Houston where I am used to. I am very comfortable to live in Houston, Texas because of my previous experience in Taiwan, a sub-tropical area island which is hot and humid with Typhoon and the threat of flood all the time.

I check the front and back yard several times in a day to see the repaired yard and favorited plants. We grow some melons from seeds gathered throughout the yearly consumption fo fruits, water melons, Korean melons etc. We also grow some squashes, pumpkins and even corns which were came from our neighbor's tree via squirrels. There are okras, bell peppers, and bitter squash which we have enjoyed the harvest. The space is very limited yet we still enjoy some flowers like the amaryllis, the cleome or spider flowers, the cockscomb, roses, etc. They all coming in order in the spring. Gardens spaces are small pots within a 0.2 acres home lot front and back where we rely on the shower.

Due to the regular physical examination for our three family members, I must stay home this summer. My next cruise trips will be late in the summer to Alaska and Japan again. 

時雨／莊峻華

 時雨／莊峻華

夏日時雨，終於到來，已有三日連續，觀看窗外傾盆大雨，擋住些許德州熱浪襲人，再過一週，我們又需要傳統憂慮颶風季，洪水氾濫，居住在氣候溫暖如休士頓，所需習慣之天災，還好我早年在台灣成長，不把颶風洪水，當作一煩惱。

細數庭院菜圃花圃果圃，我們即興之春夏樂趣，草坪若水稻田，蜘蛛花已謝，花實落地埋藏，香瓜花開，西瓜小粒果實，金瓜葫蘆瓜均漫延，雞冠花幾蛛已取代蛛蜘花，可盼花開數月。

是我遠赴避暑旅行季矣，今年特殊，兩週前自葡萄牙里斯本歸來，就持續忙碌，先是拯救新植草皮盆栽，然後是例行門診，恢復清晨網球活動和游泳，恢復家務事。

再來就是七月底一週，需要北上照顧琳兒住屋和幾隻貓犬寵物，我仍就觀看郵輪特價，今夏旅行者眾，無甚打折，所幸我在年初和阿拉斯加遊後，安排一重返阿拉斯加三次遊，再加上一跨太平洋到日本，重遊日本三週，一共52日，我是休假成性矣。

日前，我將三週日本火車旅行排妥，一共居停八處旅店，橫濱，仙台，秋田，弘前，札幌，釧路，熊本，大阪，然後在東京搭長榮飛機返美，長榮安排路過桃園機場五小時，我有機會打電話問候台灣親友

Expecting to have a shower/Carlos Pueblo

 Expecting to have a shower/Carlos Pueblo

Houston is very hot in the summer, we are expecting to have a shower to cool the temperature a little bit and also salvage the lawn and plants on the yard. I thought that I can get by with the air conditioning and enjoy the inside rooms, yet the compressor can't take that much of the heat wave either. There was a scare two days ago, the air blown inside was a warm air; therefore, we had to spread tap water on the exterior of the compressor in order to cool it down. We are advised to hire the mechanic to check to see if there is a damage of the compressor. You can imagine how hard it will be without the A/C for a day in Houston. 

Lately, I have discovered to escape Houston heat wave by cruising. I have found that cruising like to stay in a summer villa around the world. First, I must find some depressed routes which the cruiser can't fill up the ship then yield some inches in prices, not this year. Most of cruise prices are higher than previous years. I must wait in patience.

The weather broadcast indicates that there are showers coming in this week. We shall have plenty of rain and back to the stress of the hurricane season. The flood may be occurred. The Eastern Texas agricultures are relying on the hurricane to bring in much needed rain to water the field.

期待陣雨／莊峻華

 期待陣雨／莊峻華

剛才一陣陣雨，稍解休士頓地區幾週之乾旱，今年德州早熱，又乏春雨，庭院乾燥，草皮和花果均奄奄一息，雖然澆水急救復健之草皮，仍舊不起作用，於是開始看天，注意氣象預告，今日氣象預告甚為準確，果然在下午五時，打雷然後傾盆大雨，三刻鐘後雨停，烈日復出，我已收集十餘盆雨水，以供不時之需，當然，按氣象預告，下週均有雨，著名之德州颶風季已準時抵達。

我們鄰居，多半不惜成本，固定時間草皮澆水，因此庭院綠油油一片，非常美觀，我們省錢，避免使用自動噴水器，因此全靠雨水，有時候老天幫忙，我們種植之花果，春天確實成長，帶來許多屋主之愉快，例如喇叭花，蜘蛛花，和雞冠花等草本科，水果中的香瓜和西瓜，我們也種苦瓜，辣椒，和金瓜等，效果均不佳，雨水缺乏之故。

比較難過的是草皮，前屋主交給我們是一時尚美麗之庭院，十一年後，一切的一切都淪落不堪，而且也不僅是庭院而已，屋況如地基也有問題，我逃避現實，得過且過，真是束手無策。

The stock market was up last week/Carlos Pueblo

 The stock market was up last week/Carlos Pueblo

The US stock market was up last week a little bit to recover some losses on the previous week. It is the resilient of the US economy during the inflation and investors are still hoping our soft landing for the long growth of a decade. We all keep our life time savings on the market and we have a sign of release.

The short term interest rate is mush higher than before because the Federal Reserve like to cool down the inflation. We pay more attention to what we purchase in order to make ourselves comfortable of fighting the inflation. Amy agrees to my purchase of on sale beef on Wednesday every week. I only buy steak on sale to cook beef noodle for Arthur on Sunday.

The short term interest rate is higher than the long term; therefore, our financial advisor tells us is a good time to get into bond. I shall let you judge if this is correct. She says also that the recession is not avoidable. The fluctuation of the market would determine my mood daily. Of course, I don't believe a wipe out market eventually because that will be the end of many people.

I know that the light bill is high during the summer in Houston, as a matter of the fact, the heating gas is about the same in the winter in Houston as well. We have to pay real estate tax and homeowner association fee every year like renting from the local governments. We have to pay IRS for what we take out from the RMD, the requirement minimum distribution, as well as the gains from our savings investment, now even our social security incomes are included. That's why I can get a relief feeling by shopping for grocery when it's on sale.

I am back to play tennis in order to keep myself active. I also swim. These physical exercises shall keep me healthy. As long as I am healthy, I should be able to enjoy my senior life no matter what the inflation or the market are doing.

股市微揚2023／莊峻華

 股市微揚2023／莊峻華

最近一週股市微揚，平常我們就隨時關注股市起伏，因為我們的退休儲蓄大部份，都在基金，一直都在成長，最近有通貨膨脹，央行升息，壓抑過多現金流通市面，這是制式總體經濟學，我看過多次如此操作，美國經濟也如此渡過難關，一般說來，美國是世界經濟大國，政治穩定，操作靈活，而且國民有自信消費，隨時帶動世界經濟火車頭。

美林證券公司代理，最近邀我們討論投資，希望我們讓她管理，我們在美林有自管帳戶，由她管理就需繳費，我們未曾有過如此經驗，她鼓勵目前是投資公債好時機，因為不久將面臨消條，兩種型式，軟著陸或是應著陸，這是教科書經濟學，無甚可議。

但是央行和掌管國家行政的白宮，卻不作如此想，央行調整利息，白宮推廣政策，現在講的拜登經濟，就是運用國家財力，不斷發展經濟，歷如穩定國家預算，推廣高科技製造工廠回美國，不依賴單一外國生產，維持世界秩序，因為生息抑制通膨，造成美金強勢，世界各國都搶購美金，無息貸款美國。

當然，這是我投資者之如意算盤，股市能起能跌，起也不敢兌現，因為有所得稅之考慮，也有錯失良機之慮，反之，套牢是股市投資之忌諱，有時候甚至有倒閉之憂，俗謂不入虎穴，焉得虎子？