How Lucky Can Lucky Be?

born, age, sick, die ... is a journey

Global capital markets went into a tailspin after the effects of trade-wars restrictions and tariffs
Throw in the contagion, Covid19, sprinkled with global border closures, isolation and quarantine
You have it made
Global economies grind to a <50 activities="" lockdowns="" p="" performances="" while="" zerorise="">
Wall Street fell almost 30% from its peak, bringing along other bourses
Equities, bonds, treasuries, gold, ETFs, hard assets, bitcoins drop like there's no tomorrow
Govts scrambled to stymie the 'collapse'
Many doomsday preachers surfaced to add credence to their beliefs

In my January blogpost, I did mention the turbulence & volatility in 1st Qtr & into 2nd Qtr
I also mentioned increase demands for medical & medicines
I am not a soothesayer but just providing level minded postulations
The world will turn better in the last Qtr, 2020

In life, it is not how bad things will become
It is whether when the situation turns better, are you sufficiently prepared to ride the next waves
More importantly, are you around and alive to harvest the next lap
Opportunities abound in crisis 危机

After years of being in the pink of health and fitness, I had an sudden uneventful gall bladder rupture which required immediate surgery
Four months after, I had to do another surgery to rid a growth and mend a hernia
Nobody wants to get into trouble but if it comes, 'take it by the horn' & resolve
There is no running away from a challenge

I am LUCKY as at both times, I have access to medical helps
I am equally LUCKY that I avoided the financial chaos & rout that many were caught off-guard
I am LUCKY that I came out well and alive
LUCK is where preparation meets opportunity - I am prepared & GOD presents the opportunity

Health is our capital
Without health, nothing can be achieved - no fame, no power, no wealth; not when you are dead
There is no need to delve into and be stuck in misery and misfortune
Between life and death, you are the ultimate DECIDER

Live simply and count your blessings活在当下

Slow Down & Watch The Winner Wins

winning & its pains...

The world loves a winner; any winner
History is written by winners
Glorious empires come and go; mismanagement, complacency & selfishness killed all
No nations, big or small, can survive by betraying their own citizens
The indifference and lackadaisical attitude towards commoners' concerns are their Achilles hill
Trust, when broken, can hardly be restored

Fruits of labor is as sweet as there is a harvest
No amount of sweet talks, half truths & lies can warrant performances
Why do you pay for someone to lord over you? But, the fool & his money will soon part
When you leave your fate to others, you shalt enjoy his providence
种瓜得瓜
Trusting someone blindly is not unlike leaving the cat in the fishery
The pen is mightier than the sword - vote for the best person

The winner will always be challenged
The champion will have to take on the challengers; again and again
You must know when to quit - quitting at the peak for sportspersons is the norm
知足常乐 胜者为王
Lights shine on winners only - there is no need to feel ashamed being a loser
Most people couldn't even remember who's the Number 2
[Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon; who's number 2? Edwin Aldrin
Jeff Bezos is the riches man in the world; who's number 2? Bill Gates]

漏气不要紧 不要没气 人在事在 人亡事完

Society grows great when people plant trees whose shades the future generation sit in & enjoy
前人栽树 后人乘凉
My labor today shalt be the fruits of the future
The land of abundance lives in the mind
Think of possibilities
You are as restrained as where your mind brings you

Winners are seen, recognized and glorified
But, no one sees their sweat, tears, blood & sacrifices before victory
To each his own
Today's victory maybe tomorrow's history
Be there, done that

Hurry not for we are all running towards the end

Stay Normal During Challenging Times

staying alive is about being healthy...

The current 'state of siege' by coronavirus is disabling & paralyzing the community
The disruptive effects can be far and wide; isolation, quarantine, closures of schools, loss of business
Many unnecessary services such as F&Bs, entertainment, personal effects will 'tanked' 
Unreliable and non-transparent announcements will only served to build distrust & panics
Fear and ignorance are the biggest threat in such crisis

From incubation to full-blown to recovery can take anything between 6-9 months
The drier and hotter Aprils onward will help to ease and destroy the viruses
In the meanwhile, prevention is the best defence
Practice good hygiene; wash hands, shower when you are back after an outing, especially if you have young ones at home, reduces the probability of catching it
Worry not as worries do not solve problems
Stay fit and healthy

You can have all the monies in the world but without health, you are dated - ask Steve Jobs
钱不是万能  但没钱万万不能

With health, you can find money; create, beg, borrow, steal 健康就是本钱
Even with plentiful of monies, nobody can help, nor take over from, you your sicknesses
Exercise regularly, drink more water, eat lightly and sleep well - the antidotes of aging & illness
A refresh mind aids the Soul
The healthy person avoids sicknesses and transmits positive vibes
You live 'forever' but you only die 'once' - the quality of living outweighs quantity

I have seen many who have next to nothing prospered and became multi-millionaires
Similarly, many well to do became paupers as 'the fool and his money will soon part'
But, HEALTH - no one can steal away your health
There is always the scars of recovery and the less optimum capability thereafter
Money - make enough but not too much that you need to pay for health recovery & salvage
Life is quantity versus quality

Let us not be immobilized by health scares and contagion outbreaks
Take all the necessary precautions and practice high(er) standards of hygiene
Life & living must be as normal as possible
Take this lull season to revisit your resolutions and plans and upskill and read more; be empowered
The trick is to "live well when others live controversially"; be natural
There is no need to challenge Mother Nature - normalcy shall returns

Alone is not loneliness
Silence is not mute
Empty is not void
It's not the calamities that kill many; it's ignorance
Keep fit, stay cool & healthy
Be there when tomorrow brightens

Fear Not

shed no tears ....

There is time to fear and there is time to 'shelf the fears' & take the bull by the horns
When push comes to shove, you must react aptly and swiftly
There is no time to hide from any adverse situations
When an infectious disease threaten to spread, all preemptive measures must not be spared
 Prevention is better than cure as the dead cannot be brought back to life

Paying & incentivizing anyone to prevent mischief is the silliest
You are, and will be, held at ransom in the long run
Simply throw the Books at the culprit
For the greater good, sound & decisive judgement is imperative
Wishy-washy decisions only serve to burn the 'house of cards'

The strong, selfless & wise leader protects the weak
It's 'Motherly love', not unlike Mother Earth, where almost everything is provided to humankind
A weakling can only make matters worse
In chaos, there is order & truths shall prevail
No amount of inheritance can make a person smarter nor wiser

From the ashes, rise the Phoenix

Money cannot chase away fears nor "extinguish" it ; Fear must be conquered

When you feel, or your gutfeel tells you, something is wrong, chances are "you are correct"
Blind loyalty is suicidal
Groupthink without conscience is "selfishness in motion"
The is no one best solution as human has a complex mind
How will you ever believe that everyone thinks alike all the time? Believe in yourself

乱世出英雄

This is just the beginning of 2020 & there is already acute challenges
Like everything else, life will be back to normal ...but, not so soon
Disruptions equal opportunities
Leveling down in this distorted ecosystem empowers the commonmen
GOD has a way of redistributing 'equality'
Like all major changes, something good will evolves

Lie low when your chips are low
Good days shall return but it is as good when you are around
Dead man tell no tales
Keep calm, remain healthy
Some day soon, the Light of hopes shall manifest

2020 & The Decade Ahead

new year and new decade ahead ...

By late 2019, I postulate that in 2020, the world will remain uncertain within the first 6 months and shall see the worst by 3rdQtr, with recovery towards end 2020.

Brexit, trade wars, HK and SCSeas are fast accepted as new normal. Even, whatever happened to Taiwan's election can only be better.

As for investment, my favorite was, and still is gold. Investments in equity is strictly on the blue chips which reflect daily necessities, basic needs fulfillment, commodities, AI, eCommerce & eSolutions and logistics. Banks are a little tricky but be selective.  

For the adventurous, 5% - 10% can be invested in non-liability & penny stocks.

Not a day passes without threats of violence and wrath of Nature. I am not concerned about the madness of violence and threats around the world; what will snowball into major conflicts are some mad men/women pulling the triggers. You need level-minded leaders and stable military hands to prevent a castrophe.

Globalization will be transformed from one-on-one to permanency following the implementation of OBOR initiatives:

1.0 Interstate and direct Free Trade Agreements between Nations

2.0 Free Trade Agreements between Economic Blocs or Group of Nations

3.0 Belt-Road Initiatives (BRI) 先建路桥港

【条条大路通罗马】The physical linking of roads, bridges and ports allow more permanency of trades and logistics greased exchanges

China's One Belt, One Road (OBOR - 2013) initiatives will serve to concretize the world of commerce, estimated at $43trillion (2016) 

Globally, China stands tall in eCommerce, ePayments & eSolutions plus her intents to introduce the crypto-exchange and YuanCoin will further booster OBOR -  a global-centric platform providing FinTech, blockchain crypto-solutions, bridging resources, assets and eBanking.

Globalization will find a natural linear solution in OBOR全球化（商业）将成为线性一条龙方案

 
Barring any unforeseen, the next growth cycle should be Asian-centric and China will be the lead player.

On a personal note, medicine and medical treatment will rise. Stay healthy and have a happy mind as it soothes the heart and improve the quality of life. Worries do not solve problems.
What if problems repeatedly surface? Well, it's either the solution didn't work, was unsustainable or the problem manifest. You can be concerned but need not worries; sometimes it just fade away.

Man proposes, GOD disposes

健康就是本钱 有了健康万事能 钱买不到健康也没人可以帮你受苦

 
 

Forward Fiction: What Will 2020 Brings

tomorrow may not come...

The Capital Markets

The US debts have risen from under $16trillion (2012) to $23trillion (2019).
The DJIA was about 5000 points in 2011 and rose to near 28,000 (2019).
Were debts powering DJIA or did DJIA pave the way for more debts? Either way, can each or both survive an economic stalemate to decline caused by trades restriction (read: trade war)?  
As the US$ finds save haven in Petrol$s, will a sudden 'divorce' cause a collapse of the almighty US$?
The future is uncertain...

The future of finance is as safe as a 'collapse' so as to enable the values in circulation to adjust to real, instead of fiat, money. Ideally, a managed decline is better than sudden changes but the world order is in disorder as trusts are dissipating fast. The avalange of derivatives written by banks and underwritten by insurance houses, if implode, will make 2007/8 looked miniscule; a child's play. Watch gold.

The first 3-quarters of 2020 will be a test of nerves where the trade wars may manifest into an accidental military confrontation of sorts. The level minded political leaders have to ward off the 'hawks & trigger-happy' politicians & military boys whose thoughts centred on 'limited warfare'! In this dangerously nuclear-armed world, it's gonna be MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) & it's destruction unlimited.        

I am not altogether negative.

Trade conflicts will be ironed out but painful acceptance is required. In the meantime, every countries and economic blocs adjust to each others' expectation. Trades may fall, economic numbers decline but over time, it become a 'new normal'; there are enough to go around as expectations wane. Smart monies will find haven in new techs, fintecs, eCommerce and, logistics and AI (Artificial Intelligence) will gain prominence.

On-time and Just-In-Time deliveries will grease the waves of commerce. Capital markets will continue to provide the money flow whereas commodities markets, especially soft commodities, will gain importance as more mouths need to be fed.

A divided global packs of USAmerica, USEurope and USAsia (include Russia), all commonly greased by MidEast Oil, will slow down commerce but not decimate trades. Watch Asia. Of course, if this happens, we may be walking through the dark tunnel of depression. Isn't this Boom & Bust Cycle?

Expect the global uncertainties to clear out but 4th Quarter, 2020. Hopefully, Earth still remains healthy and intact.

There is hope. 

You have your picks on where to 'invest your money'; the good old, "eat (everyone still need to eat), use (the basic supplements for daily living), necessities (need I say more?) and new eSolutions & eCommerce (the new eWorld)" industries should meet your needs.

Wishing ALL A Happy & Prosperous 2020

What Does The Wizard Say About 2020 - Forward Fiction

tomorrow may not come...

The Capital Markets

The US debts have risen from under $16trillion (2012) to $23trillion (2019).
The DJIA was about 5000 points in 2011 and rose to near 28,000 (2019).
Were debts powering DJIA or did DJIA pave the way for more debts? Either way, can each or both survive an economic stalemate to decline caused by trades restriction (read: trade war)?  
As the US$ finds save haven in Petrol$s, will a sudden 'divorce' cause a collapse of the almighty US$?
The future is uncertain...

The future of finance is as safe as a 'collapse' so as to enable the values in circulation to adjust to real, instead of fiat, money. Ideally, a managed decline is better than sudden changes but the world order is in disorder as trusts are dissipating fast. The avalange of derivatives written by banks and underwritten by insurance houses, if implode, will make 2007/8 looked miniscule; a child's play. Watch gold.

The first 3-quarters of 2020 will be a test of nerves where the trade wars may manifest into an accidental military confrontation of sorts. The level minded political leaders have to ward off the 'hawks & trigger-happy' politicians & military boys whose thoughts centred on 'limited warfare'! In this dangerously nuclear-armed world, it's gonna be MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) & it's destruction unlimited.        

I am not altogether negative.

Trade conflicts will be ironed out but painful acceptance is required. In the meantime, every countries and economic blocs adjust to each others' expectation. Trades may fall, economic numbers decline but over time, it become a 'new normal'; there are enough to go around as expectations wane. Smart monies will find haven in new techs, fintecs, eCommerce and, logistics and AI (Artificial Intelligence) will gain prominence.

On-time and Just-In-Time deliveries will grease the waves of commerce. Capital markets will continue to provide the money flow whereas commodities markets, especially soft commodities, will gain importance as more mouths need to be fed.

A divided global packs of USAmerica, USEurope and USAsia (include Russia), all commonly greased by MidEast Oil, will slow down commerce but not decimate trades. Watch Asia. Of course, if this happens, we may be walking through the dark tunnel of depression. Isn't this Boom & Bust Cycle?

Expect the global uncertainties to clear out but 4th Quarter, 2020. Hopefully, Earth still remains healthy and intact.

There is hope. 

You have your picks on where to 'invest your money'; the good old, "eat (everyone still need to eat), use (the basic supplements for daily living), necessities (need I say more?) and new eSolutions & eCommerce (the new eWorld)" industries should meet your needs.

Wishing ALL A Happy & Prosperous 2020

Change While You Can

the spirit is willing but the body is weak...

You are as strong as you are today; mobile, active & thinking
The strongest person is easily taken down by sickness or disease
Dr Alexandre Chao died from severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) while serving in a hospital fighting the deadly virus
Canadian model and actor Godfrey Gao dies at 35 while filming reality show, possibly heart attack
Steve Jobs died in Palo Alto on October 5, 2011, after battling pancreatic cancer for nearly a decade
Being born and death is not a choice as tomorrow's never promised

Between being born and death, you can do whatever you want within your ability
Climb the highest mountain, swim the deepest ocean, dive the clearest reef or being the worst dictator or best leader or remain a pauper
You can push the frontiers
But, do not push well beyond your limits - your body is the first signal
Material achievements and vanity fame are temporary & illusional

Stay healthy & laughs away your worries
No amount of money can give you a qualitative life
Health is the CAPITAL that drives all harmonious achievements 
Evil motives and a schemer's mind will eventually self-destruct
Gluttony - when you take more than what you can chew & digest, you implode in due course

There is fear in changes but without changes you will forever be entrapped 囚鸟
Eating out of another's hand is like drug dependency - forever stucked
Promises are illusions until delivered & if trust was/were broken, only fools grip on
Why leave your life to another who fools you forever? If you've made the choice, be prepared to live with it
Do not be a prisoner onto yourself

Give yourself a chance as nobody will
Go forth and conquer and push for newer frontiers
Nobody cares if you are alive and well but if you enjoy slavery, enjoy the suffering too
Bricks and stones break bones, not words
With a healthy mind and body, nobody can enslave you

Rest if you must but never quit
 
When you are being used and enslaved, that's because you have chosen so
The spirit is always willing but if your body is weak (to resist), you are a weakling
No amount of encouragement and motivation can save you but yourself
Begin today and now to see the best in yourself & break open from your self imposed misery
Winner write the story; followers read and fools applaud

There are few days left in December 2019
If you didn't change or don't want to change, you will have 366days to do so in next Leap year
But, death may arrive earlier
You are as good as your last breathe
Go...go on; be there, done that
There is no gifts in afterlife
 

Year 2019 Almost Stop

every moments pass shalt never return...

What is life and death? It's the moment that you start breathing & when it stops
GOD never serves notice for either
Between life and death, you can do whatever you want but that doesn't mean you will get all you wanted
There is that much to go around & not all desires can be crystalised
The world will never be equal yet humans are making the divide greater
December - the last month in the year - a challenging year indeed

I closed November in a most unexpected drama, having to face the shadow of death
One of my lesser used organ ruptured, requiring an urgent cut, clean and removal
The excruciating pain was the only symptom as I never has any health issues before
The thought of going under the knife was unthinkable for a healthy guy like me but I did
What if I didn't get out of the theatre alive? Well, that's never my concern
I have lived everyday to the fullest and tomorrow's never promised

I was warned by no less than two friends that, over the last one year, each of them have lost two fairly healthy friends
Their lives just expired
That's life
I hear and see many who complain more than utilizing their energies to find solutions
There are also many who preach the niceties of heaven and the wraths of hell
Why not live your best and enjoy a 'heavenly life on earth' than to wait for the next world? Alas
If you didn't live healthily and happily, you've wasted your time ...living

There is a short 25 days before December 2019 closes and passes
Dreams are sweet and goals are far
Go forth to achieve and push for new frontiers
Many who procrastinate will be repeating their resolutions again
You CAN and you must crystalize your dreams before your last breathe
There is no extension and mostly, it is sudden

When the music stops, the dance ceases

世上没有如果 只有结果和后果

Be there, done that is better than "I should have..."
Time and tides wait for no man
A day well spent is 86,400 seconds gained
May your balance in 2019 be the best
GOD bless

Turbulent Times

the pendulum swings ...

Life never ends and flips from good to bad and reverse
Just like sunrise and sunset
The four seasons come and go and remind everyone to pace their life/lives
It is not the length of down times that 'kills' but the intensity
Throw in 'impatience' and you will be almost totally incapacited
Many a person surrender for lack of patience

MaoTzeDong said "ignore it and it wouldn't hurt. Don't think about it and it didn't exist"
If you can ignore the pain, the hurt and the setback; nothing cuts
When Man is non-emotional & have no expectations, he is one realm above many
He can accept the good and the bad with equanimity
A Man can repeat a lie a million times such that all others believe it is true
All men are gullible

Self-beliefs drives the person 

When you are down, lie low; the world loves a Winner...losers are 'punished and banished'
Rostrum are for victors
There is time for everyone and everything
Rest, recharge, recuperate, wallow in self-pity, heal the wound...just don't rush
Some day, some how...you will return a better person and be able to fight better; if only you knew
Yuan ShiKai, Deng XiaoPing, Putin, Dr Mahathir & many others waited and arrived in due course

Wars are all painful, vengeful, merciless and regretable
But, many who survived the turbulent times return to prosperity and luxury
Normal life is abnormal to many
Just live the best you can when the situation is worst; you shall float up when good times return
It is all about surviving the "downs"; the "ups" is near heaven & need no guidances

I am not very smart
But, I wait in line, prepare my mental capacity, gather knowledge and skills, stay healthy & be ready
When the opportunity presents, pounce
Victory is the best and sweetest revenge
There are no turbulent times, just "down times"
Get over and it is the new phase....   




 

Eliminates The Useless And Irrelevance

time and tides wait for no man...

There are moments when people need help
There are urgency that cannot wait & require immediate attention
I will be there
But, when the reverse happens...I am also there alone
If there is a ruler to measure helping and asking for help, I would have a ruler that runs round to globe reflecting the former
Not that I needed help but I have to learn to resist helping others
My time, effort and resources are ill-spent

Respecting others' time is another virtue
When you let others wait idly for you, it reflects badly on you
Our time is finite; time spent on you means others are deprived of it
We must make the best use of time and spend it wisely and fruitfully
Only the best and non-toxic members deserve your time

拉黑

In today's internet world, the information avalanche is simply humongous
Wechat, Whatsapp, Twitter, Linkedln, Lines...my world is overwhelmed with datas
Many are getting lonelier than happier and stress is more intense as machines replace humans
There is minimum to no human interaction
Human devoid of others co-relation is void and lonely and suffers mental decay
The empty mind is the devil's workshop

The deluge of of eInformation and eFriends are detrimental
I safely assume I do not know 70% of my hp-contacts and others in the eChatsGroups
And, I wasted efforts and time just doing eCommunication; they only exist in space - the radiowave
No one can come to my rescue when I'm in need
I am not hopelessly negative but I am learning to be practical - only true friends count
And, I gonna do spring cleaning of my eFriends and eAcquaintances

Eliminate the useless, well not that they were useful
Forget the acquaintances and the "hellows from the Blue Moons"
Block those who knock on my doors for helps and favors and disappear almost as immediately
Blackmarked 拉黑那些无事不登三宝殿   the parasites
I would have save 30% of time & happily 'extend' my life
There are many who will love my presence

I am occasionally stress myself to the brink
Standing by the cliff and I ponder what's next
The Great GOD comes by to relieve me of my silliness
And give me a reprieve
At moments like these, I re-energised

Some day, some how; I will run out of time

But, I will live every day as currently and current as I possibly could
Today, as I breath, I am alive
I may expire any time...
Henceforth, I live everyday to the fullest