In the response to a blogger's post answering his reader regarding the complaint on the subject, I wrote the below as my comment.
或者也可從另一角度去看這命題：這世界根本從未公平過，追求公平的社會根本就是緣木求魚。在不公平的環境中，人只好盡量爭取對自己有利的情況盡最大能力去發揮。不去奢求公平，不浪費時間抱怨。得着會更大。
話好像是賭氣話，但細心想一下，社會制度，財富分配制度，富人圈子人脈，富人子女優勝的教育機會等等是除了真正的贏在起跑線，起跑後的助力也比凡夫俗子強。成為富人後在富人圈子找到的機會更是圈外人可望不可即的。
這社會從來就不是公平的。
明白百樂兄寫這blog是要散發正能量，但我也希望除了鼓勵的話，讀者也能看清身處的社會。孫子兵法曰知己知彼，百戰百勝。看清這社會的不公平實況，live with it and devise proper strategy，才有出路。
世界從來都不公平在於所有國家以及城市的統治層都是錢權結合體。錢權統治層掌握政府機器，有立法和制訂稅制等各種政策權力。自然會把遊戲規則傾向有利錢權階層。他們本來就有比凡夫俗子更多的資源，加上對他們有利的遊戲規則，比凡夫俗子更成功自不言喻。這就是富者越富的根源。凡夫俗子要看清這殘酷事實。看清不等於認命，if
you can't beat them, join them.
非洲草原的角馬在食物鏈中注定是獵物，它們有否抱怨不知道，但肯定沒有認命。角馬不能變成獅子，凡夫俗子雖然很難變誠哥，但變個財自是有可能的。只要認清身處甚麼社會，不要奢望有人打救，也不要怨天尤人，更不要自暴自棄。命運在一定程度還是可以改寫的。百樂兄就是最好的人辦。
2017年9月28日 星期四
Patriot, noble or idiot?
Usually people praise the patriots for their sacrifice devoted to their countries. The sacrifices include but not limited to loss of life. Life cannot be more precious than anything else for any individual. If one affords to lose his/her life for their countries, certainly he/she holds his/her country above all.
The answers are always positive on the question whether one loves his/her country. That is why someone rate it even more important than their lives. However, what exactly a country is? Why does it so much matter to patriots?
Any dictionary can give the definition of a country but this is not my question of what a country is. My point is that what it is which is behind a country. A country is an abstract concept. What is real, physically existing is the people whom run the country. A country exists disregard changes on regimes. However, how often people mixes up the two ideas? Or contrarily how often a regime confuses its people they are the same?
One very good example is soldier. Soldiers are regarded as patriots because they serve the country. In war time, they fight for the country or even die for it. Soldiers died in wars were seen as hero. However, very seldom people would examine the nature of the war and for what purpose soldiers died in that wars. There is no question at all when soldiers died in the defense of an invasion to their country. They were hero and patriots. They protected their fellows thus lost their lives. But how about those died in the invasion or in the wars abroad in name of anti-terrorism? It is controversial, isn't it?
Now back to the confusion on country and regime. The regime that started the invasion could and most likely would say it was for the benefits of the country. The officials in the regime called the youth to join the army, fooling them they were fighting for the country. Were these youth patriots? or idiots?
A country is only an abstract concept. A country is indeed manipulated by the regime that rules the country. Patriots thought that they devoted their lives to their country. The fact could be that the regime started war for their own interests and benefits. The reasons behind most wars in the past were related to monetary benefits to conglomerates. The oil is the example of the never ending wars in the Middle East.
So patriots, next time when the regime is calling for your sacrifice in the name of country, think carefully, don't end up to be idiots.
The answers are always positive on the question whether one loves his/her country. That is why someone rate it even more important than their lives. However, what exactly a country is? Why does it so much matter to patriots?
Any dictionary can give the definition of a country but this is not my question of what a country is. My point is that what it is which is behind a country. A country is an abstract concept. What is real, physically existing is the people whom run the country. A country exists disregard changes on regimes. However, how often people mixes up the two ideas? Or contrarily how often a regime confuses its people they are the same?
One very good example is soldier. Soldiers are regarded as patriots because they serve the country. In war time, they fight for the country or even die for it. Soldiers died in wars were seen as hero. However, very seldom people would examine the nature of the war and for what purpose soldiers died in that wars. There is no question at all when soldiers died in the defense of an invasion to their country. They were hero and patriots. They protected their fellows thus lost their lives. But how about those died in the invasion or in the wars abroad in name of anti-terrorism? It is controversial, isn't it?
Now back to the confusion on country and regime. The regime that started the invasion could and most likely would say it was for the benefits of the country. The officials in the regime called the youth to join the army, fooling them they were fighting for the country. Were these youth patriots? or idiots?
A country is only an abstract concept. A country is indeed manipulated by the regime that rules the country. Patriots thought that they devoted their lives to their country. The fact could be that the regime started war for their own interests and benefits. The reasons behind most wars in the past were related to monetary benefits to conglomerates. The oil is the example of the never ending wars in the Middle East.
So patriots, next time when the regime is calling for your sacrifice in the name of country, think carefully, don't end up to be idiots.
2017年8月2日 星期三
Scam phone call victims, or are they?
I am puzzled with one phenomenon that from time to time there came reporting that someone were scammed over the phones and lost a great deal of money. More surprisingly the victims were not confined to those elderly with little education but also included university students.
I have installed incoming calls screening app so scam calls were largely reduced and indeed I ignored many suspicious or unfamiliar numbers because I am not in sales business so I can afford to ignore numbers I do not know of. I did come across a suspected scam call though long before when this type of scam has yet been exposed.
One day a guy rang me up saying I got a parcel but needed to verify my name. This incident happened long before the public awareness on scam phone call was drawn but instinct put me in alert. Despite I did not know what the problem was but it did not sound right for a courier to ask for my name when they knew it in the first place if they were really a courier holding my parcel. With much suspicion so I did not tell him my name. That scam happened in their version 1.0 which victims would be asked to browse a false website where a warrant with the victim's name was posed so the victim was lured that he/she was really wanted by the Chinese police. I think that's why they asked for my name right at the beginning.
Now this type or scam has evolved into 2.0 or 3.0 so scammers no longer ask for names. I do not know how exactly the victims were cheated now because I have not talked to any scammer since then. However I am just really puzzled why after 2 years since the first case was reported there were still so many people got scammed. Haven't they never read newspaper? never watched news report? or never chatted with someone on scam?
Some said perhaps those victims did hear about the cases but were confused when they received the scam calls in person. I am not sure and perhaps they are right. However, I hold another view. Scamming is all about the combat on intelligence between the two parties. Those has higher I.Q. win. When phone scam first happened victims usually lost. It does not has much about the I.Q. level but just because the victims have never come across such situation. However as and when more and more news reporting on this type of scam and it was brought to light yet people still got trapped. I really doubt on their brain. A normal people should know what the hack is going on as soon as the scammer talks. So please don't blame me I am mean when I concluded the victims nowadays are not stupid 蠢 but damn stupid死蠢。
I have installed incoming calls screening app so scam calls were largely reduced and indeed I ignored many suspicious or unfamiliar numbers because I am not in sales business so I can afford to ignore numbers I do not know of. I did come across a suspected scam call though long before when this type of scam has yet been exposed.
One day a guy rang me up saying I got a parcel but needed to verify my name. This incident happened long before the public awareness on scam phone call was drawn but instinct put me in alert. Despite I did not know what the problem was but it did not sound right for a courier to ask for my name when they knew it in the first place if they were really a courier holding my parcel. With much suspicion so I did not tell him my name. That scam happened in their version 1.0 which victims would be asked to browse a false website where a warrant with the victim's name was posed so the victim was lured that he/she was really wanted by the Chinese police. I think that's why they asked for my name right at the beginning.
Now this type or scam has evolved into 2.0 or 3.0 so scammers no longer ask for names. I do not know how exactly the victims were cheated now because I have not talked to any scammer since then. However I am just really puzzled why after 2 years since the first case was reported there were still so many people got scammed. Haven't they never read newspaper? never watched news report? or never chatted with someone on scam?
Some said perhaps those victims did hear about the cases but were confused when they received the scam calls in person. I am not sure and perhaps they are right. However, I hold another view. Scamming is all about the combat on intelligence between the two parties. Those has higher I.Q. win. When phone scam first happened victims usually lost. It does not has much about the I.Q. level but just because the victims have never come across such situation. However as and when more and more news reporting on this type of scam and it was brought to light yet people still got trapped. I really doubt on their brain. A normal people should know what the hack is going on as soon as the scammer talks. So please don't blame me I am mean when I concluded the victims nowadays are not stupid 蠢 but damn stupid死蠢。
2017年5月10日 星期三
Myth on A.I.
Over the past few years, there was a huge progress on A.I. This technology is no longer the topic of scientific research but indeed it has been integrated into our daily life without our awareness.
While our life is largely benefited by A.I. but as this technology advances, there is not without worry. The biggest one lies on whether A.I. will turn out one day to be the master of human being.
Despite of the huge progress but A.I. is still in its infancy just like a baby whom needs the pampering and looking after from its counter part. This means no matter how powerful the technology is now but it still needs human to feed the background data so that it can start learning. That is to say, it is completely under human's control. It just does whatever human being wants it to do.
However, the trend of this technology is that scientists are tempted to give more and more autonomy to A.I. to explore the boundary of this technology. As a A.I. freak, it is natural for scientists to do so because basically exploration is the instinct of being scientists. However, this approach may give rise to the machines. When A.I. combined with a super computer, it could mean a monster. Basically the essence of A.I. is its ability to learn from the fed background data to turn it into an understanding of the outside world. It means the ability to perceive, interpret and anticipate. It is very much similar to human's thinking. There is only a fine line between the two, ie., consciousness.
I am sure if A.I., when backed with a very very super computer, after learning more and long enough, will generate consciousness of self. A new born baby is actually unaware of self due to the primitive brain function only but as his brain develops he differentiates the outside world from himself gradually. A.I now is like a new born baby but as scientists empower the machines, they will grow from infantry to adult. It means it is not just a machine only but has its true own thinking just like what we folks do. That is when human being's nightmare begins.
When a machine starts to has consciousness and can think for well-being of itself. It is the time of independence. These super machines could become an interested group with very strong power. Needless to say, the world at that time is more than ever connected with internet or similar technology. Super machines no longer need to get fed by human being. They can search and retrieve the resources they need through the world network of IoT. Super machines no longer serve human being but a competitor instead.
The scenario in Terminator finally comes true.
================================================================
Latest update
This article was written a year ago and now there is an Amercian company which has developed robot dogs that can cooperate among themselves to escape from a room by opening a locked door. They did that all by themselves. The controllers just sent two commands to proceed forward during the course of action. That means these robot dogs are basically an individual that can assess and react corresponding to the outside world just like a creature. How far away A.I. will become autonomous?
While our life is largely benefited by A.I. but as this technology advances, there is not without worry. The biggest one lies on whether A.I. will turn out one day to be the master of human being.
Despite of the huge progress but A.I. is still in its infancy just like a baby whom needs the pampering and looking after from its counter part. This means no matter how powerful the technology is now but it still needs human to feed the background data so that it can start learning. That is to say, it is completely under human's control. It just does whatever human being wants it to do.
However, the trend of this technology is that scientists are tempted to give more and more autonomy to A.I. to explore the boundary of this technology. As a A.I. freak, it is natural for scientists to do so because basically exploration is the instinct of being scientists. However, this approach may give rise to the machines. When A.I. combined with a super computer, it could mean a monster. Basically the essence of A.I. is its ability to learn from the fed background data to turn it into an understanding of the outside world. It means the ability to perceive, interpret and anticipate. It is very much similar to human's thinking. There is only a fine line between the two, ie., consciousness.
I am sure if A.I., when backed with a very very super computer, after learning more and long enough, will generate consciousness of self. A new born baby is actually unaware of self due to the primitive brain function only but as his brain develops he differentiates the outside world from himself gradually. A.I now is like a new born baby but as scientists empower the machines, they will grow from infantry to adult. It means it is not just a machine only but has its true own thinking just like what we folks do. That is when human being's nightmare begins.
When a machine starts to has consciousness and can think for well-being of itself. It is the time of independence. These super machines could become an interested group with very strong power. Needless to say, the world at that time is more than ever connected with internet or similar technology. Super machines no longer need to get fed by human being. They can search and retrieve the resources they need through the world network of IoT. Super machines no longer serve human being but a competitor instead.
The scenario in Terminator finally comes true.
================================================================
Latest update
This article was written a year ago and now there is an Amercian company which has developed robot dogs that can cooperate among themselves to escape from a room by opening a locked door. They did that all by themselves. The controllers just sent two commands to proceed forward during the course of action. That means these robot dogs are basically an individual that can assess and react corresponding to the outside world just like a creature. How far away A.I. will become autonomous?
2017年5月7日 星期日
Way to financial freedom
When reading other financial blogs, very often there were questions on how one can achieve financial freedom and most of the time the bloggers just gave some vague indication. In fact, it is not a very complicated issue. State of financial freedom is a vague concept though. So let's put everything in figures.
Financial freedom depends on the level of requirement. Some consider financial freedom means he/she can buy things with whatever price tags. While others just want to be free from the salaried job. So there is actually quite a large range of state of financial freedom between the two ends of the spectrum.
There is also one very important concept behind financial freedom. Usually it does not rest on the state that one is inherited a large sum of legacy but indeed he/she has secured a steady stream of income, usually passive one, that can support his/her life without working.
The amount of this passive income could vary a lot as laid out in paragraph two but let say an hypothetic amount of $100,000 a month meaning an annual passive income of $1.2 million. Let's assume this $1.2 million is generated by a working capital with an humble annual yield of 5%. This requires a working capital of $24 million. In other words, as long as one got $24 million, finding an investment with 5% return is rather easy so he/she can enter the state of financial freedom. Isn't that easy?
Now it seems the question goes to how on earth one can get $24 million working capital. Again let figures tell the story.
Except those who were born with silver spoon in their mouth, usually people has to accumulate the seed fund through building it from scratch. Assume one finally has built a seed fund of $1 million through different ways. Then he/she can start thinking of financial freedom and seriously looks into ways to achieve it. Again assume he/she keeps adding $100,000 every year to the seed fund and at the same time he/she managed to achieve 10% compound annual return on the seed fund. After 26 years this seed fund will grow to $24 million when he/she can stop making contribution. This is the time this person no longer needs to work meaning to enter the state of financial freedom
Naturally getting the working capital of $24 million is just the beginning, one still needs to get a steady income stream out from it to support his/her living. However, with this amount of working capital, just a 5% annual return will contribute a monthly cash income of $100,000 but of course one must bear in mind that this $100,000 after 26 years actually has a today's purchasing power of $46,000 only assuming there will be inflation rate of 3% over 26 years.
In short, if one is satisfied with a monthly passive income of $46,000 present value and as long as he/she has a seed fund of $1 million now. Achieving financial freedom in 26 years time is not a dream but just a matter of self -discipline.
Some might say 26 years is too long. Yes, it is indeed. If one kicks off the plan at 30 years old then it will be 56 years old when he/she reaches financial freedom. However, the above example is based on the assumption that during the financial freedom period, the working capital is kept intact but just use the income only on the expenses. If there is no need on passing the wealth down to children, actually the capital fund could also be depleted along with the passive income. This can significantly reduce the size of the capital fund thus the length of the time to build it. The downside is the smaller income amount that follows a smaller working capital. But in fact when the working capital grows over $8 million then the path will become much easier because there are more investment choices with higher return for professional investors. On the other hand, leverage could also give a hand as long as proper risk management is in place. So it is quite possible financial freedom can happen within 26 years.
Financial freedom depends on the level of requirement. Some consider financial freedom means he/she can buy things with whatever price tags. While others just want to be free from the salaried job. So there is actually quite a large range of state of financial freedom between the two ends of the spectrum.
There is also one very important concept behind financial freedom. Usually it does not rest on the state that one is inherited a large sum of legacy but indeed he/she has secured a steady stream of income, usually passive one, that can support his/her life without working.
The amount of this passive income could vary a lot as laid out in paragraph two but let say an hypothetic amount of $100,000 a month meaning an annual passive income of $1.2 million. Let's assume this $1.2 million is generated by a working capital with an humble annual yield of 5%. This requires a working capital of $24 million. In other words, as long as one got $24 million, finding an investment with 5% return is rather easy so he/she can enter the state of financial freedom. Isn't that easy?
Now it seems the question goes to how on earth one can get $24 million working capital. Again let figures tell the story.
Except those who were born with silver spoon in their mouth, usually people has to accumulate the seed fund through building it from scratch. Assume one finally has built a seed fund of $1 million through different ways. Then he/she can start thinking of financial freedom and seriously looks into ways to achieve it. Again assume he/she keeps adding $100,000 every year to the seed fund and at the same time he/she managed to achieve 10% compound annual return on the seed fund. After 26 years this seed fund will grow to $24 million when he/she can stop making contribution. This is the time this person no longer needs to work meaning to enter the state of financial freedom
Naturally getting the working capital of $24 million is just the beginning, one still needs to get a steady income stream out from it to support his/her living. However, with this amount of working capital, just a 5% annual return will contribute a monthly cash income of $100,000 but of course one must bear in mind that this $100,000 after 26 years actually has a today's purchasing power of $46,000 only assuming there will be inflation rate of 3% over 26 years.
In short, if one is satisfied with a monthly passive income of $46,000 present value and as long as he/she has a seed fund of $1 million now. Achieving financial freedom in 26 years time is not a dream but just a matter of self -discipline.
Some might say 26 years is too long. Yes, it is indeed. If one kicks off the plan at 30 years old then it will be 56 years old when he/she reaches financial freedom. However, the above example is based on the assumption that during the financial freedom period, the working capital is kept intact but just use the income only on the expenses. If there is no need on passing the wealth down to children, actually the capital fund could also be depleted along with the passive income. This can significantly reduce the size of the capital fund thus the length of the time to build it. The downside is the smaller income amount that follows a smaller working capital. But in fact when the working capital grows over $8 million then the path will become much easier because there are more investment choices with higher return for professional investors. On the other hand, leverage could also give a hand as long as proper risk management is in place. So it is quite possible financial freedom can happen within 26 years.
2017年3月18日 星期六
horse racing
I did not realize that it was 3 months ago that I posted my last article. Nothing really attracted me on a new post not until this interesting horse racing.
By nature this is only a low class racing so actually I am not really interested in it but the funny thing is that there is a phenomenon quite contrary to traditional understanding, ie., hard-working pays off. The first fall-off is the one whom drilled most! So this is really a heart-striking result to those whom flatter most. How on earth could this happen? Not even a chance to run! In fact I was a bit surprised to see this result. In another way, it shows that I lack of political wisdom.
Despite there are remaining three horses but it seems quite clear there are only two opponents. 2.0 appears to be hotter than chips. The remaining one? Unfortunately there is no prize for supporting role in this race, sadly.
Be it 2.0 or chips to outrun, all punters are bound to be losers. None of them can really heal the community. Of course 2.0 can do the job in other direction better than can chips. At this point, I am really not interested in which horse will win but I am rather interested in the background of this match. These two horses represent two horse stables in the north pole. I am really keen to know what stables 2.0 and chips come from. This is really a fun thing to see one combats with the other. And successfully reading thru this game could bring substantial benefit.
The common wisdom has pledged themselves on 2.0 but I hold my own view on chips. Not because this horse is more likable but this horse has hidden away for 9 years. There must be something triggered the participation. I mean not the horse per se but the horse trainer in the stable. Anyway, I place my bet on chips. Let's see two weeks later and to unveil my political wisdom again then.
By nature this is only a low class racing so actually I am not really interested in it but the funny thing is that there is a phenomenon quite contrary to traditional understanding, ie., hard-working pays off. The first fall-off is the one whom drilled most! So this is really a heart-striking result to those whom flatter most. How on earth could this happen? Not even a chance to run! In fact I was a bit surprised to see this result. In another way, it shows that I lack of political wisdom.
Despite there are remaining three horses but it seems quite clear there are only two opponents. 2.0 appears to be hotter than chips. The remaining one? Unfortunately there is no prize for supporting role in this race, sadly.
Be it 2.0 or chips to outrun, all punters are bound to be losers. None of them can really heal the community. Of course 2.0 can do the job in other direction better than can chips. At this point, I am really not interested in which horse will win but I am rather interested in the background of this match. These two horses represent two horse stables in the north pole. I am really keen to know what stables 2.0 and chips come from. This is really a fun thing to see one combats with the other. And successfully reading thru this game could bring substantial benefit.
The common wisdom has pledged themselves on 2.0 but I hold my own view on chips. Not because this horse is more likable but this horse has hidden away for 9 years. There must be something triggered the participation. I mean not the horse per se but the horse trainer in the stable. Anyway, I place my bet on chips. Let's see two weeks later and to unveil my political wisdom again then.
2016年12月11日 星期日
salaried men slaves
It's been quite a while since my last post. It's because I did not have any thing to share. However, recently I have a strong desire to write down my thought about the subject.
Slavery age was over since the liberation of black slaves, but in fact was it?
Black slaves were captivated in the farms and were chained to work in cotton field in the America. They worked a hard day but just got some poor meals but nothing else. Their hardworking created wealth for the farm masters.
Slavery does not exist in the modern world now, at least officially. However, I see there are more slaves than were in the black slave age. Where are they? If you are a salaried man without much saving then you will find one when you look into the mirror.
Forgive my mean wording but just compare salaried-men with the black slaves, is situation of salaried men pretty much the same? Black slaves got nothing after hard work so do salaried men.
Yet you may say slaves were captivated but salaried men are free man. It is only a matter of degree. It is like an once caged dog then is released into the backyard so it is very happy to run, to jump and to play with the butterflies in the lawn. Yet it is still captivated in the backyard. They are free to move around but as long as one is salaried then he is not a free man, at least financially.
Salaried men and the black slaves share a common point. The former worked for farm masters and the latter works for the super rich families to create wealth for them. Both got nothing back but just necessities at the end of the day. It seems salary is paid to salaried men at the beginning of each month but money is returned, in name of supermarket bills, utility bills, car loan, rent/mortgage installment...etc, back to different super rich families whom control conglomerates that run all kinds of businesses.
In fact the world is controlled by a few super rich families. To the eyes of these super rich families, the salaried is only free-ranged slave that is nothing but just a tool to create wealth for them. Through different conglomerates and their affiliations and subsidiaries, these super rich families dominate the business world and the financial markets. They are the true governors of the world.
Different governments in different countries are in fact their puppets. Candidates of president, prime minister and congress are representatives of the interests of these super rich families. No matter who stands out to run the election and who win the election, it is just the matter of competition between these super rich families. Or the worse, a democracy show to the slaves.
With the enormous money power the super rich families rule the financial world and with the governmental machines they rule the physical world as well. So who do you think you are now Mr. slave?
Slavery age was over since the liberation of black slaves, but in fact was it?
Black slaves were captivated in the farms and were chained to work in cotton field in the America. They worked a hard day but just got some poor meals but nothing else. Their hardworking created wealth for the farm masters.
Slavery does not exist in the modern world now, at least officially. However, I see there are more slaves than were in the black slave age. Where are they? If you are a salaried man without much saving then you will find one when you look into the mirror.
Forgive my mean wording but just compare salaried-men with the black slaves, is situation of salaried men pretty much the same? Black slaves got nothing after hard work so do salaried men.
Yet you may say slaves were captivated but salaried men are free man. It is only a matter of degree. It is like an once caged dog then is released into the backyard so it is very happy to run, to jump and to play with the butterflies in the lawn. Yet it is still captivated in the backyard. They are free to move around but as long as one is salaried then he is not a free man, at least financially.
Salaried men and the black slaves share a common point. The former worked for farm masters and the latter works for the super rich families to create wealth for them. Both got nothing back but just necessities at the end of the day. It seems salary is paid to salaried men at the beginning of each month but money is returned, in name of supermarket bills, utility bills, car loan, rent/mortgage installment...etc, back to different super rich families whom control conglomerates that run all kinds of businesses.
In fact the world is controlled by a few super rich families. To the eyes of these super rich families, the salaried is only free-ranged slave that is nothing but just a tool to create wealth for them. Through different conglomerates and their affiliations and subsidiaries, these super rich families dominate the business world and the financial markets. They are the true governors of the world.
Different governments in different countries are in fact their puppets. Candidates of president, prime minister and congress are representatives of the interests of these super rich families. No matter who stands out to run the election and who win the election, it is just the matter of competition between these super rich families. Or the worse, a democracy show to the slaves.
With the enormous money power the super rich families rule the financial world and with the governmental machines they rule the physical world as well. So who do you think you are now Mr. slave?
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