Lock and Load...

This message is being sent to all students with the approval of the UW
Police Department.

Timely Warning Notification of a Criminal Incident - Seattle Campus
04/17/09
University Way Shooting Incident

This message to members of the University community is being sent in the
interest of public safety and in compliance with federal law requiring
timely warning notification of crimes committed on or near campus.

On April 17, 2009 at 8:45 p.m., two men with no known affiliation to the
University of Washington had an altercation in the 4200 block of University
Way Northeast. During the altercation one of the individuals shot the other
in the face. The victim sustained an injury to the jaw area of his face and
was transported to Harborview Medical Center.

Witnesses called 911 and Seattle Police and paramedics responded. The
suspect ran southbound from the scene and was not found. No additional
information is available at this time. This incident is being investigated
by the Seattle Police Department. If you have any additional information
about this crime, please call Seattle Police at 206-684-5550.

University Police advises students to be cautious and aware of their
surroundings at night in the District.

Remember this post back in November of last year? Besides a few predictions on the stock market, one of which was wrong (lower lows in 2009), and the other of which was right (lower lows after Obama inauguration), I also mentioned how things might start to deteriorate in terms of safety and civility in our neighborhoods. Specifically, I wrote:

The warning signs are all there, if you don't prepare yourselves, well truly I can say you deserve it. People have been laughing in a way when I say I'm thinking about getting a gun- but I'm serious. When people start losing massive amounts of money, no jobs to be obtained, and a trip to the grocery starts becoming as expensive as a PS3, there will be civil unrest. And when you get that, you get problems. No, that does not mean I'm going to become a vigilante maverick, but you never know in an environment like that when you may need that kind of protection.

I might have some hoops to jump through in order to get a gun when I get back to the states, but it's something that is definitely on my list of things to do when I'm back. Especially with the Democrats and their fascination of disregard for the 2nd amendment. Anyways, it has been no surprise to me to see these types of e-mails increase in frequency, and also the seriousness of the attacks increase over the past year. Any UW student can attest to this.

Sorry for the lack of updates, I've sort of been busy here in Taiwan. I'll try to start updating more again. There's a large protest happening in May, and I hope to be there for that one. :)

Maybe If We Keep Throwing Money At The Problem... Then...

There's a common phrase among investors/traders and overall, in the general business sense- that is: "Don't Throw Good Money After Bad Money."

One of the main reasons I believe that we're in for more lows in the markets is due to the fear that it will create in the general public. Fear causes panic, and panic can lead to irrational decisions. I believe that's the exact play the Obama administration is aiming for. For those who still wonder about how our representatives passed the initial $700B bailout in the face of strong opposition by the majority of the public, the answer is simple: (1) they scared the majority of you into believing it was necessary in order to prevent a collapse of the financial system, and (2) they are being paid to do so. Don't be so naive into thinking that people who donate thousands/millions to political campaigns don't expect something in return. Yes, this goes for Obama as well, despite his false claim that he does not take money from lobbyists (perhaps not directly, but in directly, it comes his way). Is there really any other rational explanation for this?

Although I'm no business major, it seems pretty reasonable to not put more money into a company that is obviously failing to correct its mistakes. Sure, maybe give them one shot to make it right, but with companies (such as the automakers) that have continually failed to move their R&D in the right direction, they should not be given a lifeline. For all you people (mainly the left-side) who apparently despise the rich getting richer, these bailouts are in fact, lining the pockets of the rich. The wealth that was created by these few rich people, built upon a mountain of lies (Madoff and many others) and deception (falsifying financial statements), is remaining in their pockets. Why? Because our president and our congress is choosing to reward them for doing wrong. We are saying to these robber barons, "Cheat? Lie? Ok, because you guys are "too big to fail," we must save you, at the expense of everyone else."

The scare tactics by Obama, such as describing the financial bailouts as neccessary in order to "prevent a crisis from turning into a catastrophe," are a slap in the face to the average American. I know a lot of people that voted for Obama honestly believe every word he says, but take a step back off your partisan platform, and look objectively. Each time some sort of "stimulus" or "bailout" has been passed since late last summer, the markets have corrected downwards. The mess we are can be blamed on both Republicans and Democrats. During the first bailout, I specifically urged others to vote out incumbents who voted for the $700B bailout package, regardless of party. Those who still think this is a partisan battle are pitifully misinformed. The quicker that we as a nation agree that this is actually a battle between these robber baron elites, and the rest of Americans, we can begin to talk about the road towards recovery.

Until then, I look forward to profiting the most from the declines in the markets, and perhaps be a little better off in the future changed America.

A brief quote from Tim Knight, whose blog I frequent, and recommend to other traders for daily trading ideas and general commentary on the markets, describing the change from a capitalist America, towards the new socialist America:

The pendulum has just started to swing the other way, and I don't think it's a little bobble before we return to the above. I seriously think we are in for just as long as period - - and just as deep a change - - as the era above. We'll be stumbling our way back to where things were in the late 1970s..........malaise, weakness, and Billy Beer.

What would people think if, just six months ago, you speculated that Citigroup would be a nationalized institution? Would they laugh at you? Look at you as if you were insane? Cart you off to a rubber room?

That, of course, is just the tip of the iceberg. When Obama speaks of a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to change the government, he isn't talking about remodeling the oval office. The "opportunity" is the most dramatic expansion of the government and its intrusions than any of us have seen in our lifetimes.

I have no doubt that Obama, with an almost filibuster-proof Democratically controlled congress, will change the landscape of America in a way in which, as TK says, "we can scarcely imagine today." The change will come, but I'm not sure everyone who vouched for Obama realize that the change that comes will be much more than they bargained for.

二二八

Since it was my first time in Taiwan on 2/28, and likely will be my only time in Taiwan on this day, I decided to make a trip to the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall / National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall, as well as the 228 Peace Park. I wish I had really gotten up earlier as I believe I missed seeing a sit-in outside of the " ?? " Memorial Hall, in the shape of 228.

Anyways, I made it out to the " ?? " Memorial Hall just before 4:00PM, so I had missed a substantial part of the events. I believe the event that I saw when I got there started at 2:28PM and was to end at 4:30PM. There was an orchestra playing for the event, called "Concert for 228 Justice & Peace." It was overall quite an upbeat atmosphere, and I had an easy time making conversation with random people due to my ability to only speak Taiwanese and English. Here comes the pictures!


Entering the many-names Memorial Hall


The main stage of today's events in the middle of Liberty Square. Aligned on the sides of the stage (the white/green tents), you can see vendors selling various merchandise (books, t-shirts, hats, random items) that in general, is pro DPP, pro Taiwan, or anti-Ma.


This stand (with the flags on it), was handing out World Taiwanese Congress flags to wave, as well as "Taiwan water" and some pins that say 護台灣 (protect Taiwan). After conversing with the lady at this stand for a bit after getting a flag, I was given the location of a cafe where apparently a lot of pro-Taiwan people go to just leisure and hang-out. Located in Shi-da... I will find a time to check it out, apparently Freddy (the Taiwan Freddy) frequents that place, along with one of A-bian's old cabinet member or some ranking official?


Cleaning up the stage... at this point it was well past 4:30PM, probably a quarter past 5:00PM.


On my way out of the " ?? " Memorial Hall, decided to snap a picture with the flag.


Now at the 228 Memorial Park, almost night fall, and the people were cleaning up the stage just behind the monument seen here.


Writings, can't read/understand all of it- but I'm pretty sure it is about what 228 is.


A lady just finished paying respects to her ancestors (I assume).


Looking down the interesting waterfall-like well inside the monument.


Another angle of the monument.


The pathway into the center of the monument. For some reason, I felt like the pathway wasn't very stable-- I felt like I was going to fall into the water or mis-step.


A local Taiwanese girl reads the writings.


The National Taiwan Museum, which was closed by the time I got there. I guess another time will have to do.

It was a meaningful day... it definitely gave me a strong desire to support Taiwan. One of the people I talked to who was also giving out DPP flags (and wanted me to take a bunch of them to give to my friends) consistenly said that we need to let others know about Taiwan, and what our situation is. As long as we do not give up, she says, Taiwan will have a future. We must never forget this day.

And as Taiwanese, how pitiful are we if we do not know the history behind this day. It was sort of sad to hear some of my friends who aren't Taiwanese, know nothing about what happened during those years of White Terror, and what happened on 228 and the ensuing massacres and suppresion of the local Taiwanese. Everyone knows about the Holcaust and Hitler, and we must also remember that. But now, in Taiwan, where the liklihood of something like this occuring once more is much higher than that in Europe, is it not more important for people to know what happened in Taiwan? I spent the day visiting various 228 events, and was given the chance to briefly explain what 228 is about to a few people-- and, not so much a sense of accomplishment that I feel, rather, simply a sense of obligation to let people know what happened.

Let us not forget Taiwan's Holocaust.

Finally Some Mainstream News Against Obama's Plan

Rick Santelli's video has been circulating the internet the past day or two. If you haven't seen it, check it out below. He brings up a good point, why don't the white house put up a referendum about whether we the people actually care for bailing out the fail-outs. If this is so-called change, then I think we need to redefine the definition of change.

Can Ma Dodge A Shoe Like Bush?

Apparently there's plans/rumors of people planning on throwing a shoe/shoes at Ma Ying-Jeou on the 228 Memorial Day. See the original idea about throwing shoes at presidents below (Bush), and then see the Taiwan coverage here.

While the idea of throwing a shoe at Ma is quite entertaining, like I said when the Bush-shoe incident happened, regardless of how hated or not respected you are, simply said, a president of a country should not have shoes thrown at him- or anything else for that matter. There should be other ways to express your protest and anger at a president then doing so.

But, it is pretty discouraging to see the KMT continue to attempt to get rid of some of the small positives that the DPP did. All this with Ma Ying-Jeou just stepping aside and again, not being heard from. While having it a day as a vacation day or not isn't really a big deal, the whole idea of reducing these three DPP created holidays to holidays without being able to take the day off, is just mocking what the previous administration did. How will there ever be stability in a country if the opposing parties merely renege on each other's laws and mandates. I suppose if democracy in Taiwan truly worked to perfection, there wouldn't be this need for going back on prevoius laws that the previous opposing administration/party initiated. Such as the not so legal way the DPP changed the name of CKS Memorial Hall- that I can understand going back on. But if things are done in the proper channels, should not they be honored unless they were some significant problems that occured from them?

Anyways, since this is my first time in Taiwan for 228, I may try to make it out to the memorial that day. I've never even been there during other months. Perhaps I can catch a video of Ma attemping to dodge a shoe. :)

Bush dodging shoes:

Complaints Against Pro-Green TV Shows

The NCC of Taiwan, which I think it some sort of regulatory agent of TV and Broadcasting Programs in Taiwan, has come out with a report saying that numerous "Pro-Green" shows have received complaints about being 'sensational.'

Interestingly enough, there are no details of what the actual complaints are, nor of what the actual 'sensationalist' content are on Da Hua News. I picked up some Da Hua News last night with my Grandma and Mom, and Cheng Hong-Yi was also asking everyone, what exactly did they do wrong as there was no evidence to support the mysterious complaints?

This reminds me of movies/TV shows where the workers at super-markets/stores stuff the Suggestion/Comment box with their own falsified comments of praise so that their boss will get off their backs and see how "well" they are doing. Or in the opposite case, filling the box with complaints as to get the supervisor fired or what not.

Taiwan news, which I've never really watched much of until these past few days, seems to be enthralled with these three things, which usually appear everyday in one way or another:

1) Pandas
2) Daily footage of A-bian's daily excercise in jail
5) Daily footage of Ma's "generosity" in visiting areas of Taiwan and giving out Red Envelopes

Good strategy by the KMT. Pummel the image of A-bian to the ground, and glamorize Ma.

Quick Poll

Poll on Obama's Fix-All stimulus plan:

http://money.cnn.com/POLLSERVER/results/44770.html

Someone tell me why this is going to pass the Senate and Obama is signing this again? Don't we vote these people into office to represent us?