China

[Contrarian]

Manny will probably like this article, since he visits China so often. It talks about a sensible American diplomat, who many don't know about - Charles Freeman.
Too long for me to read entirely, however some others may enjoy it. Talks about US propaganda versus reality in regards to China.

https://www.unz.com/runz/american-pravda-propaganda-hoaxes-vs-chinese-reality/

[Contrarian]

[Manny]

Too long for me to read entirely,

GPT is your friend:

In his December 16, 2024, article "American Propaganda-Hoaxes vs. Chinese Reality," Ron Unz critiques U.S. narratives about China's treatment of its Uyghur population in Xinjiang. He argues that allegations of genocide lack solid evidence and parallel past unfounded claims, such as Iraq's supposed weapons of mass destruction.

Unz references former Ambassador Chas Freeman, who has expressed concerns over the deteriorating U.S.-China relationship. Freeman, with extensive experience in China, warns against escalating tensions that could lead to conflict over issues like Taiwan or the South China Sea.

The article also discusses the impact of the internet in disseminating alternative viewpoints, highlighting how platforms have enabled experts like Freeman, Jeffrey Sachs, and John Mearsheimer to share insights that challenge mainstream media narratives.

Unz emphasizes the importance of critically evaluating official narratives and considering diverse perspectives to avoid repeating historical mistakes driven by misinformation.

[Contrarian]

Too long for me to read entirely,

GPT is your friend:

In his December 16, 2024, article "American Propaganda-Hoaxes vs. Chinese Reality," Ron Unz critiques U.S. narratives about China's treatment of its Uyghur population in Xinjiang. He argues that allegations of genocide lack solid evidence and parallel past unfounded claims, such as Iraq's supposed weapons of mass destruction.

Unz references former Ambassador Chas Freeman, who has expressed concerns over the deteriorating U.S.-China relationship. Freeman, with extensive experience in China, warns against escalating tensions that could lead to conflict over issues like Taiwan or the South China Sea.

The article also discusses the impact of the internet in disseminating alternative viewpoints, highlighting how platforms have enabled experts like Freeman, Jeffrey Sachs, and John Mearsheimer to share insights that challenge mainstream media narratives.

Unz emphasizes the importance of critically evaluating official narratives and considering diverse perspectives to avoid repeating historical mistakes driven by misinformation.

Funny I did not use GPT however what I read is almost exactly what the GPT analysis came up with.

[Contrarian]

This was a previous article about Charles Freeman.

https://www.unz.com/runz/ambassador-chas-freeman-on-our-cold-war-against-china/

[Bodine]

Just watched this Spotlight report regarding the nasty, dirty side of technological nightmare.

[Faux Pas]

Just watched this Spotlight report regarding the nasty, dirty side of technological nightmare.

IIRC, you were on the cusp to buying an EV. Does this information play into your decision?

[andrewfi]

That big field of 'EVs'? Nope, not EVs.
However, as I recall, some were EVs, but a very old type, they used lead acid batteries. Hardly proper automobiles at all.

[Faux Pas]

That big field of 'EVs'? Nope, not EVs.
However, as I recall, some were EVs, but a very old type, they used lead acid batteries. Hardly proper automobiles at all.

Seems to me the narrator was fairly clear. From his description I gather they are mostly EVs. I didn't recognize any of them to be combustible.He wasn't clear on the wrecked cars as to their EV status but the rest of them are EV's. Not exactly desirable cars for most folks and not an environmental hazzard either but EVs nonetheless. Some used, some new and it appeared at least half or more were the result of bankrupt ride share companies. I did not hear lead acid batteries at all. The oldest cars were about 4 years old he said

[Bodine]

Just watched this Spotlight report regarding the nasty, dirty side of technological nightmare.

IIRC, you were on the cusp to buying an EV. Does this information play into your decision?

Actually have two. Tesla Juniper and Audi Q6. Actually like the Juniper much better. It’s the generative braking that gets me. They only come suited with FSD. I don’t care for that right now but may get comfortable enough in the future.

As for the lower video, usually the dead giveaway is the absence of mufflers. They’re mostly if not all EVs.

[Faux Pas]

Just watched this Spotlight report regarding the nasty, dirty side of technological nightmare.

IIRC, you were on the cusp to buying an EV. Does this information play into your decision?

Actually have two. Tesla Juniper and Audi Q6. Actually like the Juniper much better. It’s the generative braking that gets me. They only come suited with FSD. I don’t care for that right now but may get comfortable enough in the future.

As for the lower video, usually the dead giveaway is the absence of mufflers. They’re mostly if not all EVs.

From their inception and through the lefts and Obama's idea mandating the EVs I never bought into the idea of them. Largely because the country wasn't ready for such a concept IMO. Mostly from an infrastructure standpoint and it still isn't. But the idea that plugging up a car to the grid is saving the planet over filling up at the pump is asinine. Where the pollution is released makes no difference to the planet, no?  Now the havoc for the batteries is getting out it makes even less sense to me. My personal ride has for many years been a 4x4 truck. They've yet to develop an EV with the torque or power I need and Even if they did, it wouldn't blow my skirt up.

[AvHdB]

Just watched this Spotlight report regarding the nasty, dirty side of technological nightmare.

IIRC, you were on the cusp to buying an EV. Does this information play into your decision?

Actually have two. Tesla Juniper and Audi Q6. Actually like the Juniper much better. It’s the generative braking that gets me. They only come suited with FSD. I don’t care for that right now but may get comfortable enough in the future.

As for the lower video, usually the dead giveaway is the absence of mufflers. They’re mostly if not all EVs.

From their inception and through the lefts and Obama's idea mandating the EVs I never bought into the idea of them. Largely because the country wasn't ready for such a concept IMO. Mostly from an infrastructure standpoint and it still isn't. But the idea that plugging up a car to the grid is saving the planet over filling up at the pump is asinine. Where the pollution is released makes no difference to the planet, no?  Now the havoc for the batteries is getting out it makes even less sense to me. My personal ride has for many years been a 4x4 truck. They've yet to develop an EV with the torque or power I need and Even if they did, it wouldn't blow my skirt up.

While I do not wear skirts. Bingo at least one other sees the reality!

I now drive a 6 speed MINI Countryman. I can drive without stopping 15% faster and 40% further than my brother in his Tesla. But I am still not certain which is stupid, the car, his Golden Doodle, or my brother.

[Bodine]

Just watched this Spotlight report regarding the nasty, dirty side of technological nightmare.

IIRC, you were on the cusp to buying an EV. Does this information play into your decision?

Actually have two. Tesla Juniper and Audi Q6. Actually like the Juniper much better. It’s the generative braking that gets me. They only come suited with FSD. I don’t care for that right now but may get comfortable enough in the future.

As for the lower video, usually the dead giveaway is the absence of mufflers. They’re mostly if not all EVs.

From their inception and through the lefts and Obama's idea mandating the EVs I never bought into the idea of them. Largely because the country wasn't ready for such a concept IMO. Mostly from an infrastructure standpoint and it still isn't. But the idea that plugging up a car to the grid is saving the planet over filling up at the pump is asinine. Where the pollution is released makes no difference to the planet, no?  Now the havoc for the batteries is getting out it makes even less sense to me. My personal ride has for many years been a 4x4 truck. They've yet to develop an EV with the torque or power I need and Even if they did, it wouldn't blow my skirt up.

I didn't take after EVs because of some notion it's better for the environment, the planet or humanity at large.

Let's face it, how many millions of the people died over wars and territories for the storied black gold? It's still ongoing today. Doesn't mean I damn all combustion vehicle owners all to hell. Libyans are still grappling at the aftermath of our benevolent acts of liberating their resources to whomever want to profit from it, no?

Not sure about Audi, but US Tesla works with Panasonic/LGEnergy Solution. I believe they manufacture/process battery components in Michigan and Nevada. They're also building a plant in Ohio at the present time.

Tesla-China I believe does import their processed nickel from Indonesia, which is what you watched on the video. Don't know about Germany.

Indonesia have the largest deposit of nickel and this has a relatively long history to where it is today. In the beginning they were exporting Nickel to get processed somewhere else. Eventually the Indonesian government felt its far more beneficial for their national interest to produce and process the metal. Paired with BRI, China obliged. It was, and is - and you see the result of that on the video. It is the major source of China's EV market including China-Tesla amongst others.

[Bodine]

OK. CNN material, CGI/AI or actual victims that fell from Jonas’ favorite chinese snack ‘tang hulu? I think he likes it so much he’s planning to establish a kiosk in LA and import crates of it.

But did 350 million Chinese, a tick more than the population of the US (even adding Obama/Biden’s voting illegal aliens of 15 million), just vanished the last decade?

But you see a lot footages of these cities and towns devoid of life in arguably the most populated country in our known universal expanse.

What’s up Beijing? Maybe not a great time to invest in real estate?

[Texan77]

OK. CNN material, CGI/AI or actual victims that fell from Jonas’ favorite chinese snack ‘tang hulu? I think he likes it so much he’s planning to establish a kiosk in LA and import crates of it.

But did 350 million Chinese, a tick more than the population of the US (even adding Obama/Biden’s voting illegal aliens of 15 million), just vanished the last decade?

But you see a lot footages of these cities and towns devoid of life in arguably the most populated country in our known universal expanse.

What’s up Beijing? Maybe not a great time to invest in real estate?

At 11 minutes and 50 seconds into the video she explains the people got more than one ID so they could buy several apartments. These people were counted as part of the population for each ID. This accounted for a loss of 350 million people from the real population numbers.  So, China real population is closer to 1.01 bullion.

[Texan77]

The Chinese are asking Trump what he wants to reduce the Tariffs that are being put in China over Fentanyl. Twenty percent of the tariff being applied to the Tariffs is to punish the Chinese for letting Chinese sources import Fentanyl to the USA. It is expected if Trump does not make this too hard to do it could be the beginning of talks to reduce tariffs elsewhere. Each side will claim the other side made the first move.

 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/beijing-weighs-fentanyl-offer-to-us-to-start-trade-talks-wsj-reports/ar-AA1E4gNG?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=b3d50d93ea3847e59536bb09f6db33bc&ei=3

[Jonas!]

Each side will claim the other side made the first move.
 

It seems clear that Trump/US are trying to portray China as making the first move, but China seems to be fine with dropping us to whatever extent we are willing to go.    I'm reading about all the creative workarounds on the tariffs already, but they will all wind up costing the end consumer a little more money.   

Jonas! 

[Bodine]

OK. CNN material, CGI/AI or actual victims that fell from Jonas’ favorite chinese snack ‘tang hulu? I think he likes it so much he’s planning to establish a kiosk in LA and import crates of it.

But did 350 million Chinese, a tick more than the population of the US (even adding Obama/Biden’s voting illegal aliens of 15 million), just vanished the last decade?

But you see a lot footages of these cities and towns devoid of life in arguably the most populated country in our known universal expanse.

What’s up Beijing? Maybe not a great time to invest in real estate?

At 11 minutes and 50 seconds into the video she explains the people got more than one ID so they could buy several apartments. These people were counted as part of the population for each ID. This accounted for a loss of 350 million people from the real population numbers.  So, China real population is closer to 1.01 bullion.

She seemed studied  just hard to fathom the numbers she’s portraying. Hard to ascertain the contextual citations of ‘millions’ she uses in her sampling.

Folks in the province say most people moved to the global cities for work, while reports say city dwellers left for provinces because there’s no work available in these cities. Then there’s videos of both places literally abandoned. Like people were once living life and just disappeared. Weird stuff.

But there’s that segment when she started accounting for deaths during their lockdown/covid period and she couldn’t help herself and started crying. I can’t imagine how tough that period had been. Apartment buildings forcibly locked with iron bars so no one can get out. People that did was publicly punished to show the population of the consequences of breaking the law.

So many of these videos are still in the net.

Gives one a glimpse of a society still capable of a Mao Ze Dong mentality. Come to think of it, maybe the number she was citing isn’t too far off if related to how many Mao freely sacrificed during his rule.

[Bodine]

China matters and post trade deal saga.