China’s 9 Dash Lines and the demise of the $ (Part I)

Posted by chemrock on January 23, 2017 · 108 Comments 

By Chemrock I had wanted to do a follow up on my November 2016 blog on the Rube Goldberg US$ printing machine, but following Distant Observer’s article on “Scarborough Shoal, it’s not about fishes or oil, it’s about power”, I decided to tie 2 issues together. Due to its length, I’ll publish in 2 parts. … Continue reading →

Category China, Economy, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Philippine Government

HALL OF SHAME – SSS PAYOUT HIKE

Posted by chemrock on January 9, 2017 · 133 Comments 

By Chemrock Of all the economic planning that the government undertakes, policy decisions regarding SSS payout hike are actually the easiest. The simple reason being they are based on actuarial sciences. The actuary works on certain assumptions like life expectancy, demographics, interest rate, inflation rate, when a person retires, etc etc. Re-calibrate anyway we want, … Continue reading →

Category Economy, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government, Philippine Politics

Enter the New Year, on hope, superstition and maybe a prayer

Posted by JoeAm on January 1, 2017 · 80 Comments 

By Joe America Best wishes to all for the New Year. Resolutions are important, I think. I hope that you will strive for high values based on knowledge, and will have the discipline to align your acts with your values. If you do that, it will be hard for anyone to expect any more from you, … Continue reading →

Category China, Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Economy, Education, Philippine Government, Religion, USA/Americans

VP Robredo would lead a weak LP opposition

Posted by JoeAm on December 12, 2016 · 60 Comments 

By Joe America Well, to be sure, VP Robredo is and always will be strong, but the idea that LP can form a resistance to the deadly and autocratic ways of the Duterte Administration is an idea that is weak. The Philippines is stuck in a nightmare of death, disunity and economic drift. Influential people see this but … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Economy, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

The Philippines leads the world into post-truth modernism. It’s ugly.

Posted by JoeAm on November 19, 2016 · 125 Comments 

By Joe America In the post-truth world we live in, we define our values according to utility, and so we paint the factual world around us as we need to in order to get what we want to get. Okay, okay, I know that is vague, a lot of words chasing an idea but not … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Culture and Arts, Economy, Laws and Ethics