Surviving The Next Onslaught - Fiat Money Vs Commodity Money

looking back, looks forward & lost along the paths ...

The difficult past has always been a push factor - the motivators. Hardship mould the character & survival thickens it. Giving up was never a choice 手停口停

Why are mental issues, like depression, anxiety, suspicions & intolerance on the rise? Perhaps, they are getting more attention & airings because of eMedia but there are scientific bases to prove that certain chemicals are lacking or worn off within the body

A weakened body cannot sustain a stable mind, but a strong mind can push the body to extreme limits  

Mind over body ~ a natural instinct that not everybody has or is gutsy nor able to experience

The world has never stayed immobile nor stagnant, but everchanging & developing ~ change is the only constant

There is an answer to every problem. It's illusive because many look at the problem instead of looking for solutions

A journey is never wrong if you start in the right direction; it's just the speed  

The past will not return & the future remains a mystery. Use today to rectify yesterday follies & be empowered with hopes and positivity for the many tomorrows to come

Budai - the Laughing Buddha - is the symbol of happiness, abundance & contentment

Life on Earth is transient 

Do your best & leave the rest; GOD willing, everyone gets whatever they are 'entitled' 天意~天助我也

The world is getting smaller as information are compacted, speed manifest & the populace are highly mobile ~ more noises are generated than the average person can process & digest

 

Contentment - a simple word without bondage 知足常乐 明天和意外哪个先到谁也不知 

Challenges are not obstacle but 'the baptism of fire' ~ from ashes rise the phoenix ~ success is as natural as day & night when you go with the flow

The world is forever changing, made faster by erratic, eccentric, & greedy dictatorial politicians as they turned Master over their citizens instead of serving [their needs]  

The world economy has grown & expanded after the Great Depression & despite WW1 & WW2 - the pains & sufferings of economic disruption & the WWs were painful reminders

The end of the era of colonialists had loosen up control but it did not prevent 'grab, command & control' by the West - Imperialists & Hegemony are well & alive

Will the world enter the next depression, economic disruption or another WW? The chance of occurrence is real as the "Thucydides Trap"; describes as the heightened risk of conflict when a rising power threatens to displace an established dominant power is apparent. US has refused to accept, despite assurances, that China is not interested in being No. 1

How to survive the next onslaught of WW or economic meltdown? Accept whatever may come as there is little choice - when the elephants fight, the grass suffer

Live best when others live worse

Money is a means of exchange, but without recognition, it's another piece of wastepaper.  Fiat money is government-issued currency that has no intrinsic value

The opposite of fiat money is commodity money [Commodity money is backed by tangible assets such as gold, silver, or other precious metals] or non-fiat currency, which has intrinsic value or is backed by tangible assets

Reduce gearing or ungear whenever possible. Store enough food, medicines, water & basic necessities to last a month or two [most emergencies would have settled down or become more manageable after the initial 'fallouts']. Keep a little commodity money to hedge against total loss of value

Do Not be overly alarmed! The world is not going to end but it is likely to level down. Everyone has a chance to rise again ~ just be there when the situation gets better

GOD willing

 

The Great Reset - Be Prepared & Ready

be prepared ...

US abducted the sitting Venezuelan President & his wife 

US/Israel unleashed a war onto Iran hoping to win speedily & gain control of the least pliant MidEast country but were brutally locked in for 6 months & there is no quick solution to the sting 

The Persians are no walkovers while the cowboys are fast running out of ammunitions

Nobody wins a 'gentleman' war. The 2WW would not be likely to have ended without the atomic bombs. Vietnam, Afghanistan & N/S Korea wars witnessed the withdrawal of US after long drawn battles, plausibly due to fatigue, lost causes, geopolitical shifts and money [lack of] 

Iraq, Syria, Libya & a few non-nuke abled countries were overran & swallowed with wimpy reasons & prognoses ~ the Power of the Gun Barrel

The world is being pushed to the brink of recession, not excluding a widened globalized war, as US continues to spread awkward propositions & highhanded acquisitions, skewed optics, military misdemeanor & mischievous intents & tactics

The threat of 'nuking the enemy' has become less onerous 80 years after Nagasaki & Hiroshima - that's really MAD - Mutual Assured Destruction   

Will US put boots onto Iran? Very likely as P Trump attempts to continue as an unquestioned wartime President & the threats by Iran to attack his family assets & pliant MidEast countries that hosted American facilities 先下手为强

The US will likely fan the Ukraine/Russia war to entangle Europe/NATO while escalating the SCSeas conflicts hence tying down China against Japanese/Philippines. A North/South Korean conflict is an ideal ground zero for nukes use  

With the three theatres burning - US/Israel[MidEast] vs Iran, Ukraine/Europe vs Russia & a bogged down China/SCSeas vs Japan & others, US will seize Greenland. 

When nukes fly, WW3 ends with Massively Assured Destruction - MAD - when all Hell breaks loose, the reconstruction and recovery will be a long road

Only sanity will save the day

The uncertainties include abandoning the US$, dumping of US debts, switching to Gold &/or cryptos, collapsed of private debts, capital markets, shortage of medicines, food and water! Why worry? While one Man's folly may place everyone into the Devil's grip in our interdependent world, the wrath of Mother Nature will cleanse up our polluted environment

I am not a doomsday prophet nor an alarmist

I believe that the World will not end because of "human follies & doings", but half the [world] population will be around to rebuild a less crowded world & live harmoniously in everlasting peace 

Keep enough food, water and medicine to last the uncertainties as all shalt pass

The great Reset is ready ~ see you when the dusts settle

Friends & Lesser Friends, No Enemy

parting needs generosity, not ambiguity ...

Everyone will have a story to tell when their life expires

Most people have two chances to succeed in their lives, but with a few getting a third or more chances

Nobody is boring ~ the rich & 'rags to riches' lecture & reminisced on how they succeeded and the ways & means toward successes while the failed ones rattled about the "IFs" & "BUTs" and "I should have..."

Live life like there is no tomorrow

Do not keep the best for tomorrow or a special occasion; many don't get to reach that 'special occasion'

If there are good things to say, say it. If there are only bad recalls, there is no need to share nor gossip ~ let it be buried & forgotten  良言一句三冬暖 恶语伤人六月寒

I have only fond memories of things past

Occasionally, I love to wonder back to the tough & challenging days ~ those were the days that moulded me into a toughie today. I look back for inspiration, not regrets

Music and songs of the past allow me to 'wallow in dreams' & reminisce - the love, the trials & tribulations and the 'unspoken' truths & dangers

I am no saint nor hero. I am a warrior of sorts who take every challenge as an opportunity to harness, sharpen & craft my preferred future 

I am not a perfectionist as perfection, like ideals, changes when you neared

Birds take to the sky & fishes swim; pigs can't fly & without bees, Nature's ecosystem collapses ~ everyone has a role to play & to keep Earth complete, safe & wholesome

The menacing attack & confrontation by US/Israel against had pushed Iran into the China, Russia & N Korea orbit

NATO-backed Ukraine war against Russia is prolonged; a clear sign that pawny-Ukraine "is taking the bullets for NATO"

Will, or can, NATO ignore Denmark's dilemma if US move in(to) Greenland? If yes, that's cowardice & hypocrisy 

Japan, eke by US, roped in Philippines to roast SCSea. S Korea is an accidental partner but the persistent 'missile thrower - N Korea' send a clear reminder that Japan, S Korea, the Philippines & the surrounding areas are within 'nukes' reach ~ a price that is too heavy to bear as proxy war(lords). 

It is better to coexist harmoniously & peacefully than to live with the threat of MAD ~ Mutual Assured Destruction

Politicians act like warlords & mafia chiefs & demand pliancy, obeisance & submission whereas the population at large want stability & simple living

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s “Debt to the Penny” dataset provides the most precise measure of total national debt at at $37.85 trillion as of October 3, 2025. A Master once said "If someone owes you money, there is little that you can do to demand back your money. If you are looking through the barrel of his gun, you'd be forced to forego"

Beware who you choose as friends

Given a choice, everyone would like to do businesses with friendly counterparts, not bullies

You don't have to quarrel, but part with the rascals & align with the power-to-be; strength in numbers is power ~ part with a SMILE

Slavery & vassal states disappeared because 'someone dares to be different'

I have only friends & lesser friends, no enemies; I will live to tell my story

My Reflection - Be Ready When Good Times Return

lost & found in today's world ...

You can make back monies lost; you can find another spouse [not the same though], another job or another hobby but you can never find your loved ones who had passed on ~ only memories remain

It will take me a long while to accept that my mum had departed ~ whenever I have time, however busy my schedules were, I will make time to visit her, buy her her favorite foods & titbits or simply to chitchat

No moments were bored as I shared jokes & make humor & create 'comical & laughable' subjects out of thin air

I was her punching bag, her safety net & her solutions provider ~ come whatever may ~ 她养我大 我养她老

In the world of relationship, you are as good as you are useful 有利用价值 

Who to develop deeper relationship 深交 is a function of your & their usefulness

Do not loss yourself & never speculate your [innate] future ~ calculated risks are manageable though

The world will ignore you when fail, slip, loss or gets entangled with the authorities. Why so? Because the world only loves winners and avoids potential pitfalls & fallen guys

The money world is vastly fluid; you need to have enough wealth to keep going! Oops!! This is not about having more money; it's about cash flows

In a rising market [stocks & commodity], even the fool is a guru; a mirage

In the current omnipresent WallStreet, every sharp correction is deemed as 'an opportunity' to buy despite overly rich valuations and stretched technical indicators. "This time is different" is an oft heard echo. 

In late July, the South Korean stockmarket dropped about 40% from its peak within days   

Gold peaked at around $5,500 & drop [about 30%] to slightly under $4,000 while Silver peaked at $121 before hitting low [about 50%] of near $55: both have recovered [Gold $4,400 / Silver $63.50]. **In case, you think that Gold/metals will rally because of the US/Israel vs Iran war, gold/metals didn't quite rally during the Vietnam War but 'rallied' after ...

Above losses were 'largely unexpected' & most had experienced some recovery, but there are already 'blood on the streets' and many didn't quite make it on the recovery phases - a fool is born every day

The market is old, but the players are new

With adequate capital, diligence, research and unemotive decisions, you can 'make back' your losses ~ markets movements reflect the aggregate of emotions 

In the material world, you can "make some, loss some"! Even if you loss all there is still a chance to make them back, but you can never find nor replaced a loved one lost - that's final & only memories remain

Going forward, there are still lots of money to make but few want to do [their] homework as you can buy/long or sell/short the markets or hedge - the world loves a winner & winning is everything   

This pic captured the roadside barbers#at#work under streetlights who make, say RMB10 per customer along buzzling Shenzhen. Just across the road, in cool, comfort aircon shops, per haircut costs RMB150

There are opportunities for everyone & anyone who are diligent, willing and hardworking

不躺平 不认命 智慧能改运

Making money aren't the most difficult, but unfollowing the crowds is

With the onset of Autumn, cooler weather ahead

Go slow, stay alert and be prepared - when opportunity presents, pounced

Hindsight is always 20/20 没有如果 只有结果和因果

Do not leave everything to chances. The wise anticipates

August ~ An Upbeat Period

the kingdom lies within ...

My life is not void nor loneliness but alone forever

Fifty years ago, my secondary four discipline teacher, Mr Sim, wrote "你要江山自己去闯 ~ you want success, go fight for it [yourself]"

Alone is blessings-in-motion; you decide your Fate that builds your Future

Tomorrow is never promised but you have the absolute freedom to paint your life on the blank canvas. Many wait for the appropriate occasion to do what they wanted to do but their lives were cut short & never crystalize their intent

Today is the best and the moment is now 

Don't blame others for your [own] failures, inept and lacking in direction

You can learn from books [least painful as the results are known], others' experiences [find a mentor] &/or your own [the most painful amongst all]

If you work, you earn a salary; you're forever under bondage ~ try to be an entrepreneurial employee! Get paid for whatever keeps you going and earn performance bonuses and ex-gratia payments. He thinks you're cheap, but you know he's your platform to make more money without, or minimum, risk 

Birds of a feather flock together 物以类聚，人以群分 Are you aware that crow rides on the back of eagles while goats climb vertical cliffs with ease - a reflection of exceeding your self-imposed limitations

HEALTH above all; no or few wealthy lords can outlive the commoners. Almost all lived to about 36,000 days and no one can 'pay another' to suffer their ill-health; without health you're a rotten self

You reap what you sow 因果  Man proposes, GOD disposes. Your destiny may be 'fixed' but your ways toward achieving destination is as varied as the rainbow 命难改 命运可变

You can be concerned but don't worry too much. Why worry to death when death is the ultimate end journey? Live and experience your journey 

My life is never bored yet sprinkled with lots of ups & downs and surprises ... yours too

You can project forward but you cannot say for sure that "it will happen timely"

Everything is a chance

Grab when chance presents; otherwise, it's just a passing

Do not try to change others 做好自己

In this turbulent period, live best when others live worse; be there when peace, stability and prosperity return