TPP representitives - pigs at the trough?

Why was the job market bad last week? It was bad because many companies have decided to hold off on hiring for now.

Why are many companies holding off on hiring for now? They are holding off because of the possible approval of The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

What is the TPP? It is a multilateral free trade agreement something like NAFTA—something that will export more American jobs overseas. That is why hiring is off in the United States.

The TPP? What’s that? It is a proposed agreement which aims to open U.S. markets to countries of the Asia-Pacific region, namely New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Peru, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei. Canada, Japan and Mexico are all expected to join the TPP talks, and many see more Pacific Rim countries including China and Russia eventually signing on.

TPP is estimated to be able to boost trade by $1.1 trillion by 2025. The next round of negotiations will be in Dallas next week. It will be the biggest giveaway of jobs and tax money (overseas tax-free profits) in the history of the U.S.

Next week in Dallas, negotiations for what’s likely to be the largest Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in U.S. history will continue in near total secrecy.

Why the secrecy? The darkness surrounding the talks isn’t surprising, considering the American public’s increasing disapproval of FTAs and the laundry list of corporate handouts under discussion.

Who is responsible for the blackout of information about TPP? The big multinationals. Their henchman is US trade representative Ron Kirk and his growing crackdown on public involvement, despite his false claims of “unprecedented transparency.”

Vietnam workers replacing Americans

The negotiators must hide certain facts, such as the TPP would make it easier for corporations to offshore jobs by opening our market to Vietnamese labor, which has even lower average wages than China. Labor costs in Vietnam are still lower than those of its other neighbors Thailand and China. Vietnamese factory workers earn just two thirds of what their comrades in China bring home.

Brunei is another beneficiary of TPP. This is even though Brunei remains on a “watch list” of countries identified as violators of intellectual property rights (IPR), according to a report by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). After all, Brunei and the US are founding members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key says the timeframe of concluding the TPP agreement is important noting that the TPP could add $2.1 billion to the New Zealand economy by 2025. Of course he failed to point out that the TPP would rob the US of jobs and income.

The only that the TPP can get past public scrutiny is if no one ever hears about it. Fortunately, activists are fighting back May 8 to 18 in Dallas, and an online petition has already garnered thousands of signatures calling on Kirk either to be fired or to release TPP proposals.

Not everyone is unhappy over the incident

Senior Senate Republican Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley says Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan told him Tuesday that he’s referred the matter to the agency’s inspector general.

Other lawmakers Sullivan met with on Tuesday say he reports getting conflicting accounts about whether the 20 or 21 women who met with eleven Secret Service members and ten military personnel in Cartagena, Columbia were prostitutes. Other sources state the girls were not prostitutes but minors, but that has been contested,

Cocaine and several bottles of whiskey apparently fueled the fling according to the hotel staff.

The room where the drug fueled orgy was held was trashed by the Secret Service (two of which were supervisors) and military personnel (of which five are elite special forces men). The hotel staff went to the room with the police after one prostitute raised hell after a Secret Service member initially refused to pay her.

According to the hotel staff, “The prostitute was screaming in the lobby that he didn’t pay her,” the early-morning shift worker recalled. “She looked like she had a few drinks in her. She just wanted what was promised to her.”

“The agent was supposed to pay her a “bar fine” (really a fee for the pimp) on top of the pay rate for her sexual services, but he didn’t,” he said. Her name was reported to be Dania.

Dania claims she was short changed and that the Secret Service refused to pay her pimp

“When I went upstairs I walked into a messy room. The room was littered with two whiskey bottles—and a line of white powder, I believed to be cocaine, was on top of a round glass table in the room,” the hotel staff member said.

Secret Service Agents in Columbia. With their uniforms and badges, how secret can they be?

Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan reports to Homeland Security head, Janet Napolitano. Whoever these girls may or may not be, hookers, spies, or schoolgirls, Secretary Napolitano is livid even apoplectic over the affair. It is feared she may have a conniption fit over the incident.

In order to enter through the top security surrounding Obama’s secret service agents, and a couple of dog handling marines, the girls had to give their identities. This has enabled the authorities to track down the girls and question them. The concern is that some of the girls may be in the pay of Al Qaeda or other Arab terrorists.

One of the Secret Service officers,  David Randall Chaney, 48, has agreed to resign and the other, a supervisor, intends to retire according to the agency. A third, Greg Stokes, who was assistant special agent in charge of the K-9 division,, has been recommended for firing, but will have an opportunity to appeal, officials said.

It is incredible that any of the agents should be allowed to retire. The agency has stated that the suspected agents have or will be given lie detector tests.

Since, however, these agents have been trained on how to fool lie detector tests, what good will the tests do? Perhaps the the entire group, the eleven Secret Service agents, and the ten military men should be put to another type of test.

They should be waterboarded!

Developing…

Bieber, Kardashian, Gone with the Wind!

It was an exciting day for us. We had a chance to interview James Cameroon the producer/director of the remake of Gone with the Wind starring Justin Bieber and Kim Kardashian.

In spite of the two hundred million dollar cost of producing the new Gone with the Wind, we noticed that James Cameroon’s office was modest and unimposing as we entered. We felt very much at ease.

A secretary asked us to be seated as Mr. Cameroon would be with us in a minute.

In no time, James Cameroon himself entered the office from a side door.

“Hi, I’m Jim,” said Mr. Cameroon with a friendly smile. He was an unimposing fellow, short and fat, and seemed to be somewhere in his forties or fifties.

We explained to Mr. Cameroon that we were reporters from JohnHarding.com, and were here to get some background information on his epic re-make of Gone with the Wind.

“Youse come to the right place,” smiled Mr. Cameroon.

We felt quite at ease with the great man.

Before we could ask a single question, Cameroon took off on an explanation of Gone with the Wind, and its stars, Bieber and Kardashian.

“Dis here film is gonna cost two hundred million dollars to produce—easy. Justin and Kim are getting thirty million apiece. Nice chunk’a change, huh?”

“Who is going to finance the film?” we asked.

“Nobody,” said Cameroon.

“Nobody?”

“Yeah, the entire thing is financed by product placements. You know, like there is an iPad on the dining table a Black and Decker toaster in the kitchen and stuff like that.”

“But, did they have those things in Civil War days?”

“Izzy,” shouted a voice from the other room. Cameroon took no notice of it.

“Well, yeah, of course, I just wanted to give you an easy example. We can have lawnmowers and stuff like that. They can be drinkin’ Pepsi or milk—ya know milk is big now.”

“But?”

“Izzy, the phone ain’t workin’,” came a shout from the other room.

“Who is ‘Izzy?” we asked.

“Nah—that was my partner—he was shouting ‘Is he’ not ‘Izzy.’”

Taking another angle on the film we asked if Justin Bieber could handle a manly role like Clark Gable. Especially the scene where Clark Gable runs up the stairs, carrying Vivian Lee. “It is hard to think that Justin Bieber could run up those stairs carrying Kim Kardashian.”

“Yeah, know what ya mean—Kim’s gotta a lotta beef on her,” laughed Cameroon, “We could’a got Schwarzenegger, but he don’t speak English too good.”

Cameroon continued, “Youse guys don’t know anything about the movies or the way that scene was done. They used something like Pixar animation, pixel stuff—pixels.”

“Yes, but Pixar didn’t exist and those days.”

“Pixar, did I say Pixar? In dat scene, the figure of Clark Gable was actually drawn by the Disney studios cartoonists. It was just a cartoon. It wasn’t really happening.”

“It sure didn’t look like a cartoon.”

“Yeah, it could have been one of them stop motion things where he would take one step and then they would click take the frame and then take another step, click, you know, they did stuff like that back in those days, like King Kong.”

“Yes, I see.”

 ”No, the only problem I had with Justin Bieber was the deciding between him and Ben Stiller. Stiller really wanted the role but I just didn’t see him in make-out scenes with Kim Kardashian, so we went with Bieber. Also, Stiller wanted his mom in the movie playing that maid that said, ‘I don’t know nothin’ ’bout birthin’ babies!’—go figure.”

“I see.”

“Izzy, did you pay the phone bill?” came the voice again from the other room,

We decided to ignore the voice and instead ask Cameroon about the curious similarity between his name and that of the director of Titanic, James Cameron.

“Ain’t no similarity between names so far as I know. Don’t think he’s Italian like me but we are in some ways a bit similar. I love the sea. He does all that deep sea diving. I got a mask and snorkel and I’m going down there and taking a look at what is under the water just like that there James Cameron guy you mentioned. Our deep sea stuff is our only similarity—and producing and directing big time movies. Still, my name gets a lotta respect with them there head waiters.”

“Izzy!” came the voice again from the other room.

“Hey guys,” said Cameroon, “Love, ya, but I gotta go. It’s the first of April. Great talking to youse. Be sure to give a good write up on my film starring Kim and Justin they’s great kids.”

We thanked James Cameroon and left.

Haughty Franziska Zimmermann

Swiss lawyer Franziska Zimmermann may have been in Singapore for only 18 months, but she talked as if she has been staying in Singapore since birth and even found fit to lecture Singaporeans!

In an interview conducted by the Straits Times on expatriates working in Singapore, 37 year old Ms Zimmermann felt that Singaporeans are generally friendly to foreigners though some harbor anti-foreigner sentiments, that is to be expected.

“This anti-foreigner issue is in every city. It’s a natural debate and the Swiss are questioning it too. But no one owes anyone else a living; you cannot say you are entitled to jobs in your country,” she says.

Her colleague Ms. Elouisa Dalli added that she is “aware” that Singaporeans worry about a growing divide between the cosmopolitan rich like her she brags, and lower-income heartlanders, but praises Singapore as a society where “opportunities remain open to all.”

"Cosmopolitan rich" Elouisa Dalli

“Everyone in Singapore, regardless of his social background, has the same access to the MRT, education, safety and job opportunities. “Only if these opportunities are available only to the top in society that you have a true divide,” she was quoted as saying.

The insensitive and downright stupid statements by the arrogant ladies, Zimmerman and Dalli, are not only insulting to Singaporeans, but are harmful to the two ladies and even more so to Syngenta, the company for which they both work.

Ms. Zimmerman is Manager, Public Affairs Asia-Pacific at Syngenta Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. It is unforgivable that a manager of public affairs would make such an inappropriate comment about the guest country, Singapore, where she is working.  

Elouisa Dalli is Media & Community Relations Manager, for Syngenta. She is supposed to generate good publicity for Syngenta, but has done exactly the opposite.

Franziska Zimmermann and Elouisa Dalli are not qualified for their jobs as they are insensitive to public affairs or community relations. In both these areas they have only damaged not only their own reputations, but Syngenta’s as well.

Syngenta for its own good, and as an apology to Singapore and Singaporeans, should fire both Franziska Zimmermann and Elouisa Dalli.

Singapore should withdraw their employment visas, as well.

Millions of Shia Muslims gather around the Hussein Mosque in Karbala after making the Pilgrimage on foot to mourn the loss of the Battle of Karbala

On Wednesday, March 14, 2012, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Martin Dempsey told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Obama administration would seek “international permission” before engaging in war in Syria.

This is obviously a ruse as the United States is already covertly involved in Syria’s war and is allied in this effort with two Sunni dominated allies—Saudi Arabia and Al Qaeda.

The unholy (literally) alliance of the U. S., the Saudis and al-Qaeda is out to destroy Bashar Assad, the Shiite ruler of Syria. The alliance is behind the “revolt” in Syria, which  is actually a covert proxy war against Iran who has sent 15,000 troops to help Syria’s Assad.

The unintended consequence of the U. S. invasion of Iraq was that it enabled the Shias to come to power in Iraq after Sadaam’s Sunni government was wiped out. The Sunni/Shia balance of power was tipped in favor of the Shias.

By defeating Iraq’s Sunnis and putting the Shias in power, President Bush unwittingly (how apt a term!) inserted the U. S. in the Sunni-Shiite struggle-a struggle which began 1,332 years ago.

The Sunni/Shia conflict stated with The Battle of Karbala on Muharram 10, in the year 61 of the Islamic calendar (October 10, 680) in Karbala—a city in present day Iraq.

The Sunnis won the battle and the Shiite leader, Hussain, and all his supporters were killed, including his six months old infant son. The triumphant Sunnis took the Shiite women and children as prisoners.

Consequently, in Iraq, as in Syria, Al Qaeda is also fighting on the side of the Sunnis as an ally of the U. S. to defeat the Shias.

The media, notably CNN’s Anderson Cooper, spins a misleading story of the oppressed minority in Syria. CNN fails to report that this “oppressed minority” is actually the Sunni majority.

According to another misleading report by NBC correspondent, Ayman Mohyeldin, “The conflict in neighboring Syria has put Hezbollah, the staunch regional resistance movement, in a tough spot. Despite praising the Arab Spring democracy movement in many other countries, Hezbollah and its leader Nasrallah are standing by the Assad regime, even as it kills thousands of its own people to preserve power.”

Ayman conveniently fails to tell us that Nasrallah is a Shia.

Welcome to the new ally of the United States—Al Qaeda, and to The Battle of Karbala II.

April 4, 2012 update: Saudi Propaganda to the rescue!

Abdulateef Al-Mulhim, Commodore, Royal Saudi Navy (Retired)

Abdulateef Al-Mulhim, Commodore, Royal Saudi Navy (Retired) has written an revealing piece or propaganda in the semi-official Saudi blog, SusrisBlog.

Al-Mulhim states, “What started the Syrian Spring uprising are very simple basic rights, which many of the Syrian masses didn’t have. All the Syrian masses demand good education, good health care, good roads, justice and free space to breathe-democracy.”

He goes on to say, “And are outsiders the real threat to Syria? Or is it poverty, bad education, injustice, early morning political arrests and unemployment?”

It is interesting to hear Al-Mulhim, a Saudi, make the case that the current civil war in Syria, is simply between Syrians.

Al-Mulhim is following the American line in order to disguise the true cause of the uprising in Syria. Like CNN’s Anderson Cooper he goes on to recite the atrocities of the Syrian conflict, “We saw live coverage of Syrian soldiers killing men, women and children. We saw live coverage of mosques being blown up by the mighty Syrian war machine.”

Al Mulhim even seems to be on the side of Israel stating further, “In the Syrian Spring, Israel for the first time won a war without mobilizing one single soldier, tank or plane. The Syrians lost even the media war of the Syrian Spring. And Israel, without paying any public relations money, showed the world how the Syrians used their war machine against their own people.”

Al Mulhim, a Sunni Moslem, obviously hates the fact that Syria is run by a Shia minority. He attempts to conceal the fact that the conflict in Syria has been brought about by as we wrote before, “the unholy alliance of the U. S., the Saudis and al-Qaeda.”

The propaganda machine rolls on…

May 12, 2012 update

Finally, the news media is beginning to raise “concerns” that Al-Qaida terrorists may be involved in the Syrian civil war.

Bashar Al-Assad, Syria’s president’s claims of Al-Qaeda interference are proving be correct after all, admits the media and others.

Massive car bombs, a tool of Al-Qaeda, are just more indications that foreign fighters  have entered into the political chaos. Shipments of stolen arms from Libya have been entering Syria for some time, with the complicity of the U.S.

“I think this is a symptom of the fact that the conflict is attracting the influx of jihadists who are often involved in these kinds of suicide attacks. And specifically it looks like al-Qaida,” said Heritage Foundation senior Middle East analyst James Phillips.

The Syrian government is urging the U.N. Security Council to take action in the wake of the blasts, maintaining that they are proof that Syria is facing terrorist attacks led by groups receiving foreign support. This fact of Syria’s seeking U.S. Security Council action is largely ignored by Al-Qaeda’s de-facto “ally,” the United States.

Panetta’s admission

At a briefing at the Pentagon with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Panetta was asked, “Secretary Panetta, if I may, on al Qaeda in Syria, you’ve said that we don’t have any indication of al Qaeda in that—those double explosions that took place in Damascus. But what kind of assessment do you have on al Qaeda activity in Syria? Because the Syrian government confirms that Al-Qaida is active in Syria. Do you have an indication to say that Al-Qaeda is actually active, how big it is, and is it a concern for you?”

Panetta responded by confirming the terrorist group’s presence, but provided few details.

There you have it—Panetta’s confirmation of what we told you back on March 19th! Panetta has yet to admit that Al-Qaeda, along with the Saudis are allies of the United States in this effort to take over Syria.

(I have lived for nine years in Saudi Arabia, speak Arabic, and have great sources. Stay tuned…)

Hospital Fray Bernardino in Mexico City

Health-tourism.com estimates the number of medical tourists thronging Mexico to vary between 150,000 and 500,000 every year. If you are considering medical treatments in Mexico, you may have a few questions and concerns. This is not only completely normal, but also wise. Whenever you are making a major decision regarding your personal health, you should take the time to understand all of the dynamics and possible risks of your desired surgery.

Some television shows have depicted the ugliest side of medical tourism in countries like Mexico, thus leaving potential medical tourists fearful. While it is good to consider things, it must also be taken into account that these shows are dramatized versions of reality. Almost all concerns regarding medical tourism in Mexico have solutions. Here are some of the most common hesitations:

How Do I Ensure That I Will Get Quality Care?  

Whether you are going for breast augmentation in Cancun or dental implants in Tijuana, the most common way to ensure you get the best possible care is to do your homework.

• Read up about the doctor who will be treating you.
• Check the credentials of the medical facility where you will get your treatment.
• Try to get testimonies from patients who have had the same treatment at the same facility.

If you do the aforementioned research, your chances of getting quality care while in Mexico go up exponentially.

How Will I Get Follow-up Care?

It is a good idea to make sure that your general physician in the US knows that you are about to undergo medical treatment abroad. You should fill your local doctor in on all of the details so that when you come home you have a doctor familiar with your case on hand should you need it.

Mexico – Safety Tips

Every day we keep on reading about the safety issues in Mexico. However, following the travel advice issued by the government of your country and being vigilant can help ward off the likelihood of any untoward incidents. When you are a tourist in a foreign country you should take certain precautions. Some of those include:

• Don’t venture out alone with people you have just met.
• Don’t stay out late while alone.
• Don’t walk around in places with few people, even if with a friend.
• Don’t carry large sums of cash around with you.
• Don’t accept drinks from unknown persons in bars.

And

• Do be alert and attentive.
• Do travel with a friend or companion if possible.
• Do build a good relationship with the front desk reception of the hotel where you are staying.

Can I Go Back to the US Right After My Procedure?  

The one mistake many medical tourists make, is rushing back to the US immediately after their surgery. If you are getting a treatment such as cancer treatment or IVF in Mexico, you may be required to stay for a few days, so you can get the required follow-up care and recuperate well in order for the procedure to be a success.

Listen to the advice of your doctor. Give yourself ample time to recover in Mexico. You have to remember that you just underwent surgery! Rest and relaxation are required for at least a few days. If this seems impossible to fit into your schedule, just remember that failure to recover properly could lead to complications later, which could result in months of recovery

Our guest author Bio:

Dr. Deepika Garg – Dentist, Internet Enthusiast, now involved in Medical Tourism.

Jessica Alba and her family

This is a sponsored blog (and we agree with this message!).

The Honest Company was founded by Jessica Alba. Jessica is a Golden Globe-nominated actress and starred in two of our favorites, Honey and Little Fockers.

What you may not know about Jessica, who is a California native, is that she comes from modest beginnings and is involved with a number of forward-looking charities, including Habitat for Humanity and Project HOME.

Jessica’s most important and favorite role, however, is that of being the mother of her two young daughters.

Just as for many others, becoming a mother had a profound effect on Jessica. Being a parent with all its life-changing joys, late night responsibilities, and diaper duties can be overwhelming.

To help both children and  parents get off to a better start, Jessica founded The Honest Company—which provides a monthly service that delivers customized bundles of non- toxic, eco-friendly, affordable products on time to your front door. Even the packaging is non-toxic!

The Honest Company is dedicated to supplying parents and their children products which contain no harmful ingredients. All the products are made from natural substances.

The products are not only safe and non-toxic, but are also affordable.

What’s more—they are made in America!

Like Jessica, everybody wants to buy only the very best for their babies and for themselves.

All the qualities that Jessica and all parents would want are incorporated in her dream brand, The Honest Company. This includes great and fun design, safety and on-time convenience delivered to your doorstep.

The Honest Company even follows eco-friendly and green rules in the manufacture of its products. The company tracks all the materials and ingredients used in its products and in its packaging.

All its products and packaging use 100% renewable and/or recycled materials.

This achieves Jessica’s goal of delivering the best, safest, and most affordable products to its clients.

The company’s products include Honest Diapers and Honest Wipes which are made from 100% non-toxic, chlorine-free, sustainable, and plant-based materials—ensuring your baby is safe and not exposed to any harsh or synthetic chemicals.

The Honest Company has a range of products even for the entire family.

This includes its Honest Laundry Detergent, which is hypoallergenic and is the purest and most effective around. This detergent is developed without using chemicals that can harm fabrics and irritate your family’s skin.

The Honest Company has a whole range of safe products for the entire family—again, all of which are proudly made in America.

And, yes, the products are affordable. For each product The Honest Company provides a product price comparison right on its website.

You should visit The Honest Company website to check out the products, their ingredients, on-time delivery, and price comparisons

You will be glad you did—and so will your baby.

Like all Chung gang members, however, Keith C. Wilson screwed up and made some comments which turn out to be extremely helpful. He states, “the book is full of undisputable facts.” Even though we have never been sued over our book, it is nice to have this validation—from one who knows. “Undisputable” means the facts in the book are true, and not open to question.

Keith C. Wilson goes on to state, “the book does not go deep enough…” Well, of course, we were not privy to everything that the Chung gang was up to. Still, we had enough, but it would have been interesting to hear Keith C. Wilson spill his guts.

Below, is an excerpt from Escape from Paradise, naming Keith C. Wilson under his own name and under his initials K.C.W.

In the excerpt, the Chung gang has been panicked by the incarceration of the boss’s son, Chung Hin Chew, in Brunei. The boss, S. P. Chung (code name “the Man” ), had just fled Singapore, and his guardian angel, Daniel C. Arnold, former CIA Chief of Station in Bangkok was planning to rescue Chung Hin Chew by helicopter. The CIA? Gosh, what were the Chungs up to?

S. P. Chung fled to Singapore where he purchased that country’s citizenship. Son, Chung Hin Chew, is now holed up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Keith C. Wilson? Our sources tell us he is most likely in Malaysia—now taking orders from the heir to the Chung gang, Chung Hin Chew.

Below is an excerpt from Escape from Paradise, only one of the places where our “reviewer,” Keith C. Wilson, is mentioned.

Kenneth C. Wilson's review

THE FALL OF S.  P.  CHUNG

The next two meetings of the Chungs took place at S.  P’s office in Hong Kong, so “the man” could attend.
The minutes of these meetings produced a laundry list of things for Hin Chew to do in Brunei:

NOTES OF MEETINGS HELD ON THE 14 AND 55 NOV., 1984 PRESENT: THE MAN, PHILIP AND KEVIN.

1. SELL ALL ASSETS TO NO 4.
2. PAYMENT FOR THESE CAN BE MADE OVER THE NEXT IO YEARS.
3. PUSH AHEAD WITH THE CLAIMS AGAINST B.S.P.
4. KEEP CALM AND DO NOT PUSH TOO HARD.
5. DO NOT SEND OUT ANY OF THE YARD EQUIP.
6. HAND OVER BY 1985 1ST OF JANUARY.
7. TELL JIM BELL TO KEEP QUIET AND NOT TO PUSH B.S.P.
8. TRY TO GET H.C.  OUT FOR A SHORT VISIT TO SING.
9. CHECK WITH RONNIE IF ASSETS IN SIN.  OR H.K.  CAN BE CONFISCATED.
10. CHECK IF THE STATES HAS AN EXTRADITION TREATY WITH BRUNEI.
11. S.  P.  TRYING TO ARRANGE TRANSFER OF THE 5.8M FROM NEW YORK.
12. FIND OUT WHAT IS THE FEELINGS OF HARDY IN C.B.
13. AFTER FATHER READ THE BOYS LETTERS HE DID NOT SLEEP FOR THREE NIGHTS.
14. FATHER IS VERY UPSET AND WORRIED HE IS DOING ALL HE CAN TO PUT THINGS RIGHT BUT HE FEELS VERY HELPLESS.
15. TRY TO GET HARDY TO EXCHANGE THE GOLD FOR PHYSICAL GOLD IN H.K.
16. JEWELS AND GOLD COINS WILL BE TAKEN OUT TO SIN. BY K.C.W.
17. S.  P.  WILL ISSUE A POWER OF ATT.  FOR H.C.
18. CHECK ON THE LIABILITIES OF MRS.  C.  WHAT LIABILITIES HAS SHE GOT.
19. GOLD IS TO BE PUT IN MADAME YEO’S NAME.
20. H.C.  HAS TO KEEP FIT AND LOSE A BIT OF WEIGHT.  HE IS TO STOP DRINKS.

The Chung gang was becoming professional with the use of code names.  “Philip” and “Kevin” had joined the gang, code names for Peter, and Goh Boon Kok, respectively.

Could Brunei extradite S.  P.  from the United States?

Could they confiscate his assets in Hong Kong or Singapore?

This was beginning to sound like something more than a simple case of “bribery.”

The Chungs were still hoping for “No.  4,” Prince Jefri, to purchase the company, and were willing to give the prince an easy ten-year payment plan, which I doubt that Prince Jefri really needed.

Keith Wilson, aka “K.C.W,” was to smuggle out the Chungs’ jewels and gold from Brunei, and Jim Bell, who didn’t rate a code name, as he was doing too much blabbing, should shut up.

Madam Yeo, Lillian’s maiden name, was to get the gold, which Hardy of Citibank was to deliver in gold bars to Hong Kong.

I could envision the staid Citibanker, Hardy, rowing up to a lonely Hong Kong wharf in a small rowboat laden with gold bars, and nearly sinking under their weight.

Citibank always did a lot for the Chungs.  The situation was growing desperate, and on November 16, the next day, the third meeting was called to order at 10:20 A.M.  This meeting was attended by “The man,” “Philip,” “Eric,” “Amy,” and “Kevin.”

More gangland style “handles” were appearing.  Feng, the accountant somehow signed on as “Eric,” Agnes, S.  P.’s trusted secretary, joined up as “Amy.” Hin Chew and Paul, S.  P.’s youngest, became “Carl,” and “Patrick.”

The important players had to be protected, although most of the unimaginative code names were a dead giveaway.

The minutes of this meeting revealed that, “The man will take his wife to the University Land on 19 Nov., Philip will follow ASAP.”

Countries were also being protected by code names, “University Land,” was the United States, and “Philip,” who was Peter, would follow.

“All contacts with the man to be made through Eric or Amy.” Only Agnes and Feng would know S.  P.’s whereabouts.

“Try to arrange for Carl to go the Supply Land for a short visit.  He will not return.” “Supply Land” was Singapore.  S.  P.  would try to spring Hin Chew from Brunei, but Jim would be left holding the bag.  Jim was expendable.

“Ask Mac and Carl to see No.  4, if he doesn’t want the company, give it to H.H., keeping only 5 to 10% for `face.”‘ “H.H.” was a thinly disguised reference to His Highness Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

It was interesting to see that S.  P.  had been able to involve “Mac,” in the deal.  Why would John McCormack of Coopers and Lybrand want to associate with the Chungs at this point, didn’t he have a lot to lose?  Was there a compensating gain on the other side of the ledger for Mac?

The minutes of the November 16 meeting continued with, “Buy shares immediately with the 3.5m in H.K.S.B.  to be put in a nominee company in Hong Kong under the name of Madame Yeo.  They must buy shares immediately no matter what the price is.  Afterwards the link with H.K.S.B.  will be cut.  Transfer the 225,000 in OUB to a deposit in the name of Madame Yeo in Singapore.”

“Locked box in City to be taken out by Carl.  The bricks are to be exchanged with Hardy then put in the name of Madame Yeo in H.K.”

We all know what “bricks” are in gangster-lingo, gold bars.  The money was moving fast, and the money trail was being erased.

“The office in Thailand is to be given up and closed down.”

It was not a good time for S.  P.  to go on with his business plan, it was a time to cut losses, and to lower profiles.

“Maximum expenditure permitted in S’pore and H.K.  is z.8 to 3.5m.  Meeting ended Ii:45AM.”

The expenditures, 2.8 to 3.5 million, were surprising to me.  Again, where was all this money coming from?

At this point, S.  P.  and Lillian were scheduled to make their getaway to America, but suddenly the information was received that Hin Chew’s life was in danger, and an emergency meeting was called.

Lillian would also attend this meeting, after all her son’s life was now at stake.

This final meeting, a crucial and emotional event, took place on November 17, at 8:30 in the morning.  Present were “The man, Philip, Kevin and Mrs.  Man,” S.  P., Peter, Goh Boon Kok, and Lillian.

Goh Boon Kok was the only person, outside of the family, who would be allowed to know of the threat to Hin Chew’s life.

“The man said that Carl’s life is in danger if he cannot sort things out by December he will be in for a difficult two years.”

Hin Chew’s life in danger?  Why?  For bribery?  It didn’t make sense.  There had to be more than bribery involved.

And how did the “word” get to the Chungs that Hin Chew was in danger?  Who would know such a thing?  Did the news that Hin Chew’s life was in danger come from Inspector Freddie Chong in Brunei?  Possibly, but I doubt it as he was highly placed.  He didn’t have advance notice that Hin Chew would be arrested at the Brunei airport, or so he claimed.

Who then?  The only person I could think of was S. P.’s guardian angel, Dan Arnold, who had high-level intelligence connections dating back his days in the CIA.

The noble's first rights to the serf's bride

For those who may not know, here is how the finances of the New World Order now work.

Let’s begin with the fact that people are taxed by their sovereign states, also known as “countries.”

The wealth that the sovereign state extracts from its populace through taxes is used to run the government. This includes lending money to the banking  system at the very low interest rate of one percent. In bad economic times, the sovereign state gifts even more money to the banking system as bailouts—free money.

The banking system then uses these funds to purchase higher yielding securities—thereby profiting by doing virtually nothing.

Originally, banks were lending institutions, but they devolved into becoming speculative investors, seeking profits, not from loans, but from investments.

This explains why it has become so difficult to get loans from banks. Investments are more profitable and safer than dealing with borrowers. The safety factor comes from the knowledge that if the banking system makes some poor investments, the sovereign state is ready to bail them out.

Bailouts and low interest loans to the financial community are easy for the sovereign state. Sovereign states can spend money they do not have by creating sovereign debt. This debt will be paid off eventually by taxing the populace or future generations, if necessary.

The management of banks and financial institutions are now paid enormous sums of money for doing very little other than holding their position in their corporate infrastructure. Similar rules apply to the managers of large non-financial corporations. These captains of industry, as they are called, by simply holding on to their job also receive enormous benefits, usually in the form of bonuses which may exceed $100 million.

These managers along with others of vast wealth are now referred to as the 1%. Once upon a time they were called “nobles.” 

Those who are not in the 1% are now referred to as the 99%, formerly known as “serfs.”

This new system of extracting wealth from the 99% (the serfs) to redistribute it to the 1% (the nobles), has evolved from a prior system, now defunct, called “capitalism.”

This new system can best be termed feudalism. Yes, that does sound antiquated, so the term should be brought up to date by calling it “neo-feudalism.” This brings it into line with such terms as neo-conservatism, neo-cons and the like.

Neo-feudalistic sovereign states do not confine their loans to their own countries. They have expanded by pushing money onto other states. This is what today’s Germany has done to Greece. Angela Merkel has done what Adolph Hitler failed to do—made Greece a fiefdom—a vassal—a feud of Germany.

As a vassal state of Germany, the Greek people are expected to live in austerity for decades, if not forever, to pay their lords, the German Fourth Reich.

One might argue, however, that in this modern high-tech day and age how can we possibly claim that capitalism has morphed into neo-feudalism. Why feudalism is the stuff of the Middle Ages, the Medieval period when Crusades were launched against the infidels, when the lord of the manor had first rights to the serf’s bride.

That sounds familiar— just like what’s going on today in the neo-medieval age.

2/23/2012 Update

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has reported a larger than expected loss of almost £2bn this morning as it is hit by another raft of impairment charges. The biggest hits included a £1.1bn gamble of its clients’ money on sovereign debt.

Stephen Hester, RBS chief executive, is nevertheless upbeat, stating “We started in a deep hole. We are clawing are way out. The turnaround is ahead of course. We are well ahead of schedule.” Yes, and Stephen Hester will get a large bonus in spite of losing his clients’ money. And when a bailout comes, that of the British taxpayers—the serfs.

Update, 2/29/2012:

Ireland has shocked Europe with plans for a referendum on the EU’s fiscal treaty, a move that risks an unprecedented fragmentation of the eurozone and a major clash with Germany’s Fourth Reich. The Irish Premier, Enda Kenny, said Dublin the fiscal agreement requires a vote under the country’s constitution. “It gives the Irish people the opportunity to reaffirm Ireland’s commitment to membership of the euro.”.

All three major Irish parties back the treaty but there is a high risk of rejection by angry voters, the serfs, who are in a restive mood. The fiscal agreement gives the EU intrusive powers to police the budgets of debtor states, and has been denounced as feudal bondage by Sinn Fein.

Like we said—feudalism.

Scrap cardboard not only provides unemployed Singaporeans with a meager income, it can be used as housing during sleeping hours.

On February 3rd, Singapore’s de facto ruler and former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew gave an interesting speech. The topic of Lee’s speech was that Singaporeans need to accept immigrants-specifically immigrant labor.

Lee noted that “Singaporeans do not feel very comfortable seeing so many strange new faces,” but urged locals to understand “why we’re doing what we’re doing.”

He said that Singapore is doing well in the economy, “but the birth rate is 1.2 last year, far below the replacement rate of 2.1.” Native Singaporeans are a dying breed.

“Like it or not, unless we have more babies, we need to accept immigrants,” Lee stated.

“Otherwise, we face economic stagnation, and worse, nobody to look after our old people later on.” What? Why should imported foreign laborers be expected to look after Singapore’s old people?

Lee went on to express hopes that more Chinese couples will choose to have children in the current auspicious Year of the Dragon.

Unfortunately, with the world economy in bad shape, having children has become a luxury that many cannot afford.

As of 2011, the population of Singapore is 5.18 million people, of whom 3.25 million (63%) are citizens while the rest (37%) are permanent residents or foreign workers.

In the last ten years, Singapore’s population has grown by over one million people—a huge increase due mainly to foreign workers.

Apparently, the immigrants are coming in too fast to be absorbed by Singapore’s inadequate infrastructure to support the population explosion.

The influx of foreign workers is taking jobs from more expensive Singaporeans. While this may benefit business, it is a disaster for Singaporeans. Singapore has no unemployment compensation or welfare benefits. Singapore does have a retirement fund, the Central Provident Fund (CPF), to which Singaporeans contribute on an individual basis. Like the United States, which has borrowed heavily from its Social Security system, Singapore has borrowed heavily from its CPF.

This explains why Singapore is not only raising the retirement age, but making it more difficult for Singaporeans to get their retirement funds even when they reach retirement age.

Singapore has a sovereign debt of US$254 billion, which is 95% of Singapore’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This puts Singapore at 8th position of the world’s most indebted nations.

Like many Americans, few Singaporeans will ever be able to afford to retire. Statistically, only 14% of Singaporeans will ever be able to retire.

When Singapore’s foreign workers retire, they will return to their own countries, where the cost of living is much cheaper than that of Singapore. They will be much better off financially than the unemployed Singaporeans they have replaced.

The foreign workers won’t be sticking around to help Singapore’s elderly.