Gongol.com Archives: May 2018

Brian Gongol


May 18, 2018

Business and Finance China disclaims plans to cut trade surplus with US

US authorities claimed that China had agreed to cut its trade surplus to the United States by $200 billion. Chinese outlets with quasi-official government status have declared to the contrary. A $200 billion cut would be large and dramatic -- not to mention difficult for both economies to accommodate. It's hard to imagine China voluntarily reducing its economic output by $145 per person without some kind of massive compensation in return. And it's almost certain that such cuts would have a huge impact on both the US consumer and producer markets.

Health Triplets: Identical twins, plus a fraternal

As adults, the three all work in the same hospital -- the one where they were born. Quite a story.

News A big fine for a wolf whistle

An uncompromising view: "Those who break the law will face on-the-spot fines of up to €750". The bill appears to have passed in France's lower legislative chamber and is headed to the upper chamber for approval.

News Former Secretary of State has harsh words for his former boss

Rex Tillerson, to the graduating class at VMI: "It is only by a fierce defense of the truth and a common set of facts that we create the conditions for a democratic free society [...] If our leaders seek to conceal the truth or we as a people become accepting of alternative realities that are no longer grounded in facts, then we as American citizens are on the pathway to relinquishing our freedom."

Business and Finance Job losses to steel tariffs could get very real

"We could lose 50 to 60 jobs easily", says the chair of a Nebraska company that depends on steel to make parts. Even domestic steel has risen in price under the threat of tariffs (for what else should anyone have expected?), and that's a "tremendous burden" to the company. Hardly an isolated situation.

Business and Finance Chicago's distinctive Wrigley Building sells for $255 million

A massive eight times its sale price in 2011. But, sure, everything's perfectly normal in the real-estate market.

Threats and Hazards Ten people murdered in Texas high-school shooting

Another instance of violence in the ongoing public-health emergency of violence in American schools. This would be a very good time to examine the "No Notoriety" movement -- which asks the media to refrain from publicizing the name, likeness, or ideas of any mass murderer unless necessary to aid in an apprehension. Mass killings have an element of social contagion, so there is a role for media outlets to play in stopping the spread.

Threats and Hazards Bill Gates tried talking the President out of an anti-vaccine commission

The damage that could be done by a Federal government quest to discredit vaccines is almost unfathomable


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