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New Astrology Analysis of Nations

Western Astrological Analysis of Nations Table Resized New Astrology Analysis of Nations Table Resized

This article deals with mundane astrology which is the application of astrology geographical regions, places, countries and the whole world as opposed to individual astrology.

Analysis from:

http://suzannewhite.com/index.php?target=new_astrology

Suzanne White’s system of New Astrology combines the Chinese and Western astrological systems to produce synthesis types.  Perhaps this system can give us some insight into the national character of people in a particular nation.

Brazil, Mexico – The Prancing Producer

Virgo – Horse

 

The marriage of Virgo and Horse is one both lofty and elegant. Horses are self-motivated strivers, doers of grand deeds and sometimes – with all of their paradin – a mite foolish and overly passionate. The Virgo, as we all know by now, is reserved. He takes care never to go outside the lines in the coloring book of life. Virgo is tasteful and a bit of a nit-picker to boot. He or she is also a borderline social climber. You won’t find this subject hiding under any rocks or living among the homeless. His associations as well as his goals are high-minded and often intellectual. The Love life of the Virgo born Horse is never dull. He is both amiable and appealing. People literally fall at this alluring person’s feet. In bed, he will be efficient – not cuddly or cozy – but effective and eager to achieve satisfaction by any and all means available. If ever you find yourself in bed with this entrancing creature, you might be shocked. But you won’t be surprised at the skill with which…

Famous Virgo Horses – Sean Connery, Alan Jay Lerner, Leonard Bernstein…

Good Compatibilities – Cancer Dog…

Canada – The Diplomatic Enigma

Libra – Cat

 

Tasteful, safe and gracious living is the aim of the character born in the double sign of aesthetic appreciation. Librans born in Cat years are stay-at-home, suspicious, squeamish souls. They trust with great difficulty. Libra’s discretion about passing quick judgments becomes, in this subject, a near refusal to judge anything or anyone. Libra/Cats hesitate so long before making decisions or committing themselves that they frequently lose their prey. These subjects are, however, socially conscious. They worry endlessly about the fate of the underdog and long to improve the lot of everyone in the universe. Trouble is, they want the universe to cooperate, to see things their way and will argue vehemently if the universe doesn’t comply. The intimate life of Libra/Cats is intricate. Romantic entanglement fascinates them. Tender, generous lovemaking never fails to…

Famous Libra Cats – George C Scott, Arthur Miller, Gunther Grass…

Good Compatibilities – Aquarius Dog…

China – The Lucid Seeker

Libra – Ox

Beauty and the Beast. This subject is a veritable storm of contradiction. Every detail must be perfect, every line straight and every flaw concealed. Weakness must be routed. Sloth eradicated. Yet, under this foil of faultlessness, Libra/Ox hides a secret. On the strict surface, Libra/Ox is efficiency and power, example and security. Underneath? An anthill of conflicting emotions. Purity charms this sterling character. He claims not to want any messes about. He protests he needs calm and cannot live in turmoil, Yet, Libra/Oxen are forever getting themselves involved in emotional scrapes. Even though they seem to be above it all, they take in strays. They seek out madness. They are magnetized by complexity. The love life of Librans born in Ox year roil with complications. Nothing is simple – even in the bedroom where arcane tactics and multiple phantasies…

Famous Libra Oxen – Gore Vidal, Art Buchwald…

Good Compatibilities – Leo Snake…

France ­­ – The Snappish Mediator

Libra – Dog

 

Libra/Dogs are both dignified and brilliant. They possess innate humanitarianism and are softhearted in the best possible way. You will always be able to get sympathy from a Libra/Dog. He will help you, cheer you along and applaud your courage. He’s a great friend, a super associate and a bundle of nerves. Libra is able to sort out any of life’s conflicts through diplomacy and impartiality. In fact, one of the most annoying things about Libras is their refusal to take unpopular stands. They can always see both sides and will often agree with an adversary merely to keep the peace. This is a gentle (if sometimes controlling) soul with a brusque manner and a biting tongue who basically wouldn’t hurt a flea. Love and the Libra/Dog? Loyal. True. Faithful… and mostly very naughty in bed!

Famous Libra Dogs – Brigitte Bardot, George Gershwin…

Good Compatibilities – Gemini Tiger…

Germany – The Profligate Traditionalist

Gemini – Ox

 

Ox is a boon to the Gemini’s blithe spirit. This is an almost settling down Gemini – a family sort of Gemini with eyes for the good life. A Gemini born Ox will always go forward, albeit more deliberately and ponderously than other Geminis, toward goals big and small. This Gemini is a thinker, yes. But he’s not guilty of leaping from thought number one to idea number thirty-three and back to thought number one in two seconds flat. Concentration is more than possible and great work may even be accomplished. Under the quilt, this armchair lothario will work characteristically harder than most to do the job “right”. Not a lot of time for extensive foreplay when there’s serious business ahead so get ready for….

Famous Gemini Oxen – Yeats, Waylon Jennings, William Styron

Good Compatibilities – Aries Rats…

India, Pakistan – The Sybaritic Jester

Leo – Pig

This fiery, conscientious soul will always leave you laughing. Even in the most tragic circumstances, when the chips are down and Leo/Pigs seem to have reached an emotional nadir, from out the shivering bundle of despair will shine one little quip, one last pun or smart remark to bring a smile to your lips. Leo/Pigs cannot help it. They’re funny people. It must be the Leo sun shining on the Pig’s sincerity meter. Or else it s the Pig’s honesty infused with Leo’s philanthropic side. Whatever causes it, this person’s sense of fun will be capital. As they are packed with emotion, they can also be super sad – even depressive. But they always pull out of their doldrums because these people simply adore living Life with a capital L. Experiencing natural pleasure is their most intimate aim. Food. Love. Children. Home. Countrysides etc. As they are both Leo and Pig. Sex is high on their list of priorities, I won’t go into too much detail here because the juicy parts are a mite off color, but….

Famous Leo Pigs – Henry Ford, Alfred Hitchcock, Carl Jung…

Good Compatibilities – Aries Ox…

Iraq – The Glib Manipulator

Libra – Monkey

The Libra side of this person’s nature will want to live life as a couple and will be attracted to early marriage. Adding Monkey traits to the jabbery Libra’s chart infuses it with an increased need for communication – and even a certain desire for healthy conflict. The Libra/Monkey combo is not restful. These people are attracted to motion for its own sake. Sometimes they need to forget what they have just seen and travel on to new territories in order to soak up some joyful or at least different vibrations. Love, for the Libra/Monkey, must sizzle and snap. No lukewarm one night stands for this highly evolved gourmet of passion. Because they remain youthful well into old age, Librans born in Monkey years are not always lifelong faithful to one partner. But while they are being held in thrall by a lover, they are skilled and tender with techniques that will…

Famous Libra Monkeys – Jacques Tati, J.K.Galbraith, Timothy Leary, Buster Keaton…

Good Compatibilities – Leo Dragon…

Israel – The Protective Leader

Taurus – Rat

Taureans born in Rat years benefit from a happy accident. Rats are often hyper. The Taurus influence mitigates the Rat’s piano-wire nervousness. And… to the lumbering Taurus personality, Rats adds spice, pizzazz and a hefty pinch of calculation. The Taurus/Rat is a combination of William Shakespeare and the Alexander the Great: tough, bright, with nerves of steel and natural superiority. In most life situations, their reputation for strength of purpose precedes them so (obviously) one is not surprised to discover this person’s relentless, insistent ability to seduce and conquer. The sex may be fierce but …

Famous Taurus Rats – William Shakespeare, Ayatollah Khomeni, Charlotte Bronte…

Good Compatibilities – Pisces Ox…

Japan – The Silent Showoff

Taurus – Dragon

Might and bite come together here, giving us a powerhouse of brutal energy and excessive adroitness. Nobody will ever tell you that they “just couldn’t care less” about a Taurus/Dragon. People either adore Taurus Dragons or they detest them! On the one hand, this native exudes down-to the-ground good sense, but on the other he is tempestuously foolish and selfishly attention-getting. Taurus and Dragon form an unforgettable couple – a peripatetic love bug whose desires may suddenly shift from stuffy missionary to raunchy and rambunctious in what seems like a quest for pleasure at any cost. The sensuality quotient is exceedingly high in this fiery creature. Many sizzling sexual memories will be forged during lovemaking sessions with partners who dare to go all the way with a Taurus who…

Famous Taurus Dragons – Salvador Dali, Sigmund Freud, Shirley Temple…

Good Compatibilities – Cancer Rat…

Peru, Singapore – The Snake Charming

Leo – Snake

The Snake born in Leo is always right. Even if he’s wrong. He is nonetheless absolutely certain that he knows best. And frequently, especially for himself and in order to achieve his own ends, the Leo/Snake is not far off. Wisdom and clairvoyance are part of the Snake legacy. But the addition of Leo to the cool-headed Snake character, although it lends some sunshine and warmth, also deals this character a hand loaded with vanity. Now the already extravagant and presumptuous Snake has to carry around excess baggage in the form of a swollen skull that just doesn’t quit. Love is the outlet that this person seeks – everywhere! Multiple love affairs, serial marriages and a deep longing for true love characterize this gorgeous person’s sexual history. Intense lovemaking lends closeness and intimacy to this otherwise heady person’s existence. Let’s just say the Leo/Snake is famous for bone-chilling sexual exploits and, trust me, if you ever have the good fortune to bed one, you will remember my words…

Famous Leo Snakes – Mae West, Jackie Kennedy, Robert Mitchum…

Good Compatibilities – Gemini Ox…

Russia – The Luxuriant Philosopher

Scorpio – Snake

 

To a Scorpio/Snake, life without beauty and luxury, tenderness, compassion, admiration and extravagance is not worth living. This person is sensitive in the extreme and, for a cool-handed Snake, remarkably warm-hearted and loving. People appreciate this character for a certain innate nobility, which is both unquestionable and very comforting. Scorpios are already very sensual people with a tendency to introspect and suspect. To add the Snake characteristics of sagacity, clairvoyance and intuition certainly doesn’t diminish the philosophical side of Scorpio’s nature. This person is deep-thinking, sometimes even tormented. The love life of a Scorpio born Snake is always compelling. They take on lovers and acquire spouses, as effortlessly as they splurge on luxury items at every airport duty free shop. Scorpios born in Snake years enter love affairs with a dense silent passion. Then. sometime later, their utterly rambunctious, noisy plate-throwing breakups go clattering about the newspapers and gossip columns of the world and we wonder whatever happened to that nice dense quiet passion. Let’s just say this person is a sexual powerhouse whose grip on his or her lovers tends to be at least ruthless, if not lethal.

Famous Scorpio Snakes – Grace Kelly, Indira Ghandi, Pablo Picasso…

Good Compatibilities – Pisces Dragon…

South Korea – The Anxious Debonair

Leo – Rat

 

The cinematic image that comes to mind when I ponder the combination of Leo and Rat is of Gene Kelly, umbrella in hand, dancing through teeming rain and singin’ his heart out. Leo/Rats have it all over everybody for conjuring sunshine. They can make a party out of a thunderstorm more lavishly and efficiently than you can imagine possible. Leo/Rats’ attributes are many, their faults serious but few. Enterprise is their strong suit. In bed as well as in the world outside, this person will undertake to manage things. He or she is a take-charge lover whose technique between the sheets is notable by it sizzling passion and direct approach. There is never a dull.

Syria – The Petulant Sweetheart

Aries – Dog

 

Aries and Dog both call up a spirit of naiveté. In the case of Aries there is the ever-present quality of soldierliness. Aries is a scout, a pioneer and as credulous as they come. He is so nice. Why shouldn’t everybody else be nice too? The Dog is also quite nice. But he is also nervous and skeptical. Like Aries, the Dog wants to believe in the basic goodness of mankind. But he knows better. And that very knowledge can make him or her a shaking wreck. Kindly and giving of excellent advice, this person is also world famous for his or her ultra direct approach in the bedroom…

Famous Aries Dogs – Houdini, Paul Robeson

Good Compatibilities – Gemini Cat….

Thailand, U.S.A – The Emotional Planner

Cancer – Monkey

This person is forever awake to new concepts and possible avenues. He’s always on his toes. Even in the middle of the night, this variety of Cancer is raring to find out who makes the kinds of candles that exactly replicate church candles from Poland in the eighteenth century. Like all Monkeys, the Cancer/Monkey is a problem-solver. He can not only see a situation for what it is – as he is coldly objective when necessary – but he can see through cloudy dilemmas and for that reason come quickly to the end of them. The Cancer/Monkey lets very little grass grow under his feet. – especially when it come to love. Cancers born in Monkey years incessantly seek love wherever they can find it. They make rapacious love and don’t stop at…

Famous Cancer Monkeys – Julius Caesar, Nelson Rockefeller, Yul Brynner….

Good Compatibilities – Pisces Dragon…

Chinese Astrological Analysis of Nations

Western Astrological Analysis of Nations

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Chinese Astrological Analysis of Nations

Chinese Astrological Analysis of Nations Table

This article deals with mundane astrology which is the application of astrology geographical regions, places, countries and the whole world as opposed to individual astrology.

Brazil

Water Horse – Horse in the Army – Jen Wu

Key Words: dedicated; resourceful; financial stability; lively; independent

Canada

Fire Rabbit- Rabbit Looking at the Moon – Ting Mao

Key Words: great endurance; enthusiastic in work; over-excitable

 

China

Earth Ox

Ox Inside the Gate – Chi Ch’ou

Key Words: open, reliable, independent, filters speech

France

Earth Dog

Dog Going into the Mountain – Mou Hsu

Key Words: open, reliable, independent, filters speech

 

Germany

Earth Ox

Ox Inside the Gate – Chi Ch’ou

Key Words: open, reliable, independent, filters speech

India

Fire Boar

Boar Passing the Mountain – Ting Hai

Key Words: alert and enthusiastic; family life is priority

Iraq

Water Monkey

Elegant Monkey – Jen Shen

Key Words: bright; gregarious; moody; needs financial security

Israel

Earth Rat

Rat in the Warehouse – Chia Tzu

Key Words: pleasant and bright; adapts to the unexpected; uneasy w/domestic affairs; trusting; focus on positive

Japan

Water Dragon

Dragon in the Rain – Jen Ch’en

Key Words: industrious and intelligent; courageous

Mexico

Metal Horse

Horse in the Hall – Keng Wu

Key Words: industrious and intelligent; courageous

Pakistan

Fire Boar

Boar Passing the Mountain – Ting Hai

Key Words: alert and enthusiastic; family life is priority

Peru

Metal Snake

Snake Sleeping in the Winter – Hsin Szu

Key Words: original; intelligent; ambitious; hard to commit; good with finance

 

Russia

Fire Snake

Snake in the Fish Pond – Ting Szu

Key Words: tough and decisive; dedicated; maybe unconventional

South Korea

Earth Rat

Rat in the Warehouse – Mou Tzu

Singapore

Wood Snake

Snake Coming out of the Hole – Yi Szu

Syria

Fire Dog

Sleepy Dog – Ping Hsu

Key Words: relaxed; helpful; cannot make deadlines, lacks efficiency

Thailand

Water Monkey

Elegant Monkey – Jen Shen

Key Words: bright; gregarious; moody; needs financial security

U.S.A

Fire Monkey

Monkey Climbing the Mountain – Ping Shen

Key Words: bright; gregarious; moody; needs financial security

Also see:

New Astrology Analysis of Nations

Western Astrological Analysis of Nations

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My Articles About China and/or Chinese Culture

16 Basic Desires: China versus US

35 Accomplishments of Modern China

36 Stratagems

Acronym for Eight Types of Chinese Regional Cuisine

American versus Chinese Culture

American versus Chinese Culture

Astrology Chinese

Chinese Astrological Analysis of Nations

Chinese Astrology 60 Year Cycle

Chinese Do’s and Don’ts

Chinese Dream and American Reality

Chinese vs. Western Astrology

Confucius in Thailand 2012

Extending China’s One Belt One Road Initiative to Latin America

Table of Chinese Astrology 19th – 21st Century

The 36 Stratagems as Portrayed in Comic Books

Virtual Chinese Reunification Palace

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Western Astrological Analysis of Nations

Western Astrological Analysis of Nations Table Resized

This article deals with mundane astrology which is the application of astrology geographical regions, places, countries and the whole world as opposed to individual astrology.

The following site was used to calculate the Moon signs:

http://www.moonsigncalendar.net/moonphase.asp

The main source of founding information was:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_independence_days

The Sun sign describes the outer face of the nation.  In the case of nations, this may refer to how this nation interacts with other nations i.e. diplomacy and/or international relations.

The Moon sign shows what is going on in the nation under the surface.  In the case of nations, this may refer to how the government deals with its own people i.e. domestic politics.

Brazil

Virgo Sun Sign Keywords:  analytical, intelligent, reserved, critical, helpful, and conscientious.

Taurus Moon Sign Keywords: persevering, down-to-earth, stable, stubborn, possessive, prosperous, dependable, physical, and sensual.

Canada

Cancer Sun Sign Keywords: gentle, conservative, feeling, nurturing, defensive, and contemplative.                                                      

Gemini Moon Sign Keywords: talkative, mental, adaptable, flexible, changeable, responsive, sociable, and superficial.

China

Libra Sun Sign Keywords: just, sociable, refined, accommodating, kind, fair, diplomatic, likable, indecisive, respectful, and artistic.

Capricorn Moon Sign Keywords: tenacious, conservative, resourceful, disciplined, wise, ambitious, prudent, and constant.

 

France

Libra Sun Sign Keywords: just, sociable, refined, accommodating, kind, fair, diplomatic, likable, indecisive, respectful, and artistic.

 

Gemini Moon Sign Keywords: talkative, mental, adaptable, flexible, changeable, responsive, sociable, and superficial.

Germany

Gemini Sun Sign Keywords: talkative, mental, adaptable, flexible, changeable, responsive, sociable, and superficial.

Aries Moon Sign Keywords: active, initiating, leading, independent, aggressive, impatient, combative, energetic, pioneering, naive, and assertive.

India

Leo Sun Sign Keywords: magnanimous, generous, hospitable, caring, warm, authoritative, active, and open.

Leo Moon Sign Keywords: magnanimous, generous, hospitable, caring, warm, authoritative, active, and open.

Iraq

Libra Sun Sign Keywords: just, sociable, refined, accommodating, kind, fair, diplomatic, likable, indecisive, respectful, and artistic.

Scorpio Moon Sign Keywords: passionate, perceptive, resourceful, possessive, psychological, prowling, determined, probing, fixed, and focused.

Israel

Taurus Sun Sign Keywords: persevering, down-to-earth, stable, stubborn, possessive, prosperous, dependable, physical, and sensual.

Cancer Moon Sign Keywords: gentle, conservative, feeling, nurturing, defensive, and contemplative.

Japan

Taurus Sun Sign Keywords:  persevering, down-to-earth, stable, stubborn, possessive, prosperous, dependable, physical, and sensual.

Gemini Moon Sign Keywords: talkative, mental, adaptable, flexible, changeable, responsive, sociable, and superficial.

Mexico

Virgo Sun Sign Keywords: analytical, intelligent, reserved, critical, helpful, and conscientious.

Taurus Moon Sign Keywords: persevering, down-to-earth, stable, stubborn, possessive, prosperous, dependable, physical, and sensual.

Pakistan

Leo Sun Sign Keywords: magnanimous, generous, hospitable, caring, warm, authoritative, active, and open.

Cancer Moon Sign Keywords: gentle, conservative, feeling, nurturing, defensive, and contemplative.

Peru

Leo Sun Sign Keywords: magnanimous, generous, hospitable, caring, warm, authoritative, active, and open.

Cancer Moon Sign Keywords: gentle, conservative, feeling, nurturing, defensive, and contemplative.

Russia

Scorpio Sun Sign Keywords: passionate, perceptive, resourceful, possessive, psychological, prowling, determined, probing, fixed, and focused.

Virgo Moon Sign Keywords: analytical, intelligent, reserved, critical, helpful, and conscientious.

South Korea

Leo Sign Keywords: magnanimous, generous, hospitable, caring, warm, authoritative, active, and open.

Sagittarius Moon Sign Keywords: optimistic, restless, enthusiastic, adventurous, honest, irresponsible, outspoken, and independent.

Singapore

Leo Sun Sign Keywords: magnanimous, generous, hospitable, caring, warm, authoritative, active, and open.

Capricorn Moon Sign Keywords: tenacious, conservative, resourceful, disciplined, wise, ambitious, prudent, and constant.

Syria

Aries Sun Sign Keywords: active, initiating, leading, independent, aggressive, impatient, combative, energetic, pioneering, naive, and assertive.

Scorpio Moon Sign Keywords: passionate, perceptive, resourceful, possessive, psychological, prowling, determined, probing, fixed, and focused.

Thailand

Cancer Sun Sign Keywords: gentle, conservative, feeling, nurturing, defensive, and contemplative.

Pisces Moon Sign Keywords: intuitive, dreamy, artistic, humane, sympathetic, sensitive, compassionate, perceptive, tender, and impressionable.

U.S.A

Cancer Sun Sign Keywords: gentle, conservative, feeling, nurturing, defensive, and contemplative.

Aquarius Moon Sign Keywords: individualistic, assertive, independent, humanitarian, inventive, original, eccentric, opinionated, intellectual, idealistic, cool, friendly, and detached.

Sun and Moon Sign Combinations

New Astrology Analysis of Nations

Chinese Astrological Analysis of Nations

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Taiwan Faces Dangerous Times!

Taiwan Faces Dangerous Times

The source material is from articles from the US, Taiwan and mainland China and there is a lot of repetition between these studies so I have attempted to focus on different weaknesses in the Taiwanese military position in the different studies.

A) Synopsis of points taken from Brookings Study (2011)

http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2011/08/chinas-military-development-yang

This study is a bit dated since the military situation is changing dramatically but still makes some points worth noting.

1) The PLA has vastly improved the military capabilities of its artillery, including missiles, air capabilities, naval capabilities, ground and amphibious capabilities, cyber and electronic capabilities, and enjoys a huge quantitative edge in all these areas and will soon have a qualitative edge as well! The Brookings Study does not mention any dates.

2) China has pursued a policy of befriending neighboring nations that narrows Taiwan’s military options.  I would have to add this policy has been much less effective since 2010 when the report came out and many Asian neighbors now do view China as a potential military threat.  However, I see no attempt by Taiwan to take advantage of this situation as is the case with Japan.

B) Synopsis of points taken from Taiwan’s Defense Ministry (2012) via Reuters. 

I would have loved to get a copy of the actual report in English but couldn’t find it anywhere on the web.  The study was widely quoted in media outlets around the world.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/10/09/uk-taiwan-china-idUKBRE99808Y20131009

3) “In the future, the Chinese military will continue focusing on further integration of its military units, with the expectation that it will be able to resist foreign forces’ intervention in any attack on Taiwan.”

4) “Over the long-term, it will be wholly sufficient to engage in a war over Taiwan by 2020.”

C) Synopsis of points taken from an article in mainland China. 

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200208/16/eng20020816_101585.shtml

The following article has to be viewed with some suspicion since the line between objective journalism and propaganda often does not exist in newspapers in China but I would say some of the points are valid and very interesting.

5) Wartime ammunition insufficient.  This point has been verified by Taiwanese military reports in the past that I read while I was in Taiwan in the Taipei Times a long time ago!  An almost incredible, surrealistic situation in which Taiwan’s military literally runs out of ammo in days and even hours!  Perhaps steps have already been taken to rectify this colossal weakness.

6) “Many men are afraid of dying” i.e. poor morale on the part of soldiers in Taiwan. I think the article exaggerates the number of desertions that would occur in combat among Taiwanese soldiers.  Taiwanese soldiers are after all trained professionals.   Chinese military thought going back to Sun Tzu puts a lot of emphasis on psychological elements and this article does not disappoint.  There are some interesting points about American psychology that I think are difficult to verify logically but the historical events used to make the points did happen.  There is a place for this sort of “Chinese” analysis and I would like to add a few psychological observations of my own.

D) Personal Observations

Personal observations are extremely subjective and this is by far the weakest evidence in this essay.  However, not everyone has had the experience of living in both China and Taiwan.  I hope my observations are at least interesting.

7) I have taught in China and Taiwan and have dealt with hundreds of Chinese students and thousands of Taiwanese students.  Taiwanese students in general tend to be better educated and more polished than their Chinese counterparts.  However, Chinese students are tougher than their Taiwanese counterparts!  Many schools in China still have a physical education requirement in college.   Chinese students can put up with physical hardship since frankly as a less developed country there is more hardship to put up with.  Chinese students are often ambitious to the point of delusional.  Taiwanese students seem to have given up on life before life has even started.  Chinese students are like Rocky in the Hollywood movie and have a fire in the belly.  Taiwanese students just don’t have that same fire in the belly.

I think calling the current generations of Taiwanese “peaches”, as is common in the Taiwanese press, is an exaggeration but the current generation is softer than their parents and far softer than their grandparents.  I like the softness of Taiwanese but not sure it’s a good quality in soldiers! I am not sure how important this point is in modern warfare but 300 hundred Spartans were able to defeat thousands of Persian but 300 peaches would not fare as well!

8) Based on countless conversations with mainland Chinese students I would have to say that the mainland Chinese are united in their belief that Taiwan is part of China and that they personally would volunteer for such an operation.  When I have talked with Taiwanese students they have consistently expressed the view that war between mainland China and Taiwan as a big joke and basically feel their only hope is US intervention and would attempt to flee the conflict rather than fight or resist China.  I am totally aware that Chinese are more likely to say what is “politically correct” than Taiwanese due to the differences between the governments of both lands.  However, in private Chinese students can be surprisingly honest about what they really think.  Even Chinese who want more democracy in China and do not support many Chinese government policies do agree with the Chinese government when it comes to Taiwan!  One has to say that students are not professional soldiers.  However I do think students are representative of civilians in general in many respects. Based on this limited sample, students, I would have to say China wins in the civilian morale department!

Conclusion

Politics is the art of the possible.  Taiwan realistically has two options in the long run:  peaceful reunification or a war with China that it will surely lose.  Economic integration could buy Taiwan time that could be used to address the issues listed in this paper but I think this is very, very unlikely.

Taiwanese simply lack the Real Politik outlook needed to make the sacrifices needed to prevent reunification.  Taiwan has a truly mountainous center and giant monetary reserves and could study how Switzerland and Finland resisted giant neighbors using mountainous geography.  Taiwan could also study how Israel used a universal military conscription system effectively versus the mockery of such a system that currently exists in Taiwan.  China has the largest army in the world and Taiwan’s current big plan is to have even less soldiers than now in an all volunteer force in the future.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/01/22/2003581842

To paraphrase a rather famous mainlander, “War is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous. The Taiwanese are more refined, leisurely, gentle, temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous than their mainland Chinese brothers and their strengths as humans will be their undoing in war!  This seems to be a recurring theme in Chinese history.  Taiwanese like their low taxes and creature comforts and do not have the will to do what must be done!  In short, Taiwan truly is a paper tiger and a smart paper tiger negotiates before the other side figures what’s up!

The vast majority of Taiwanese do not want to become part of mainland China!  Can mainland China become a society that Taiwanese want to join voluntarily?  Taiwan is part of China legally but can one ethically ignore the desire of the vast majority of Taiwanese to remain separate from a society that has not evolved politically to a level the Taiwanese consider acceptable?

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Karma: Specific Views of Cause and Consequence

Karma is generally defined in very general terms. Bad actions lead to bad karma in this life and future lives. Good actions lead to good karma in this life and future lives. How specific actions lead to very specific consequences is not generally mentioned in Buddhism. I found the following view of karma labeled Law of Causality in a little notebook titled Chinese Zen (Ch’an)  by Thomas C. SY and published by the Merriam & Webster Bookstore, Inc., 1995, ISBN 971-30-0419-1.  I bought the booklet at the National Bookstore in Manila where it was published. I was struck by the specificity of the booklet. Certain deeds brought about very specific consequences.  Altogether over fifty deeds and consequences are described in great detail.  This was view of karma I had not run into before.  I did some research and really couldn’t find much on the internet. This is not a Zen Buddhist view of karma despite the title but I suspect the material in the booklet probably has some specific Buddhist source I have been unable to unearth. Below are scanned pages of the booklet and I would be curious if anyone out there can identify the original source of this material.

While doing research on the booklet, I did find another source that has some specific views of karmic cause and consequence. These causal connections are much less specific than in the booklet titled Zen Buddhism. I found the following in the Fo Guang English Buddhist Examination Reference Book Level 1 (Elementary), pg. 5, question 12:

1) Longevity comes from compassion.

2) Early death comes from acts of killing.

3) Dignity comes from tolerance.

4) Poverty comes from being miserly and greedy.

5) Status comes from being respectful.

6) The lack of status comes from pride.

7) Muteness comes from slander.

8) Blindness and deafness come from lack of faith.

9) Impaired faculties and deformities come from violation of the precepts.

10) Wholeness in the body is the result of upholding the precepts.

Hugh Fox III - Chick Flick

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A Comparison of Online Dungeons and Dragons Alignment Tests

Introduction

From Wikipedia:

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, alignment is a categorization of the ethical and moral perspective of people, creatures and societies.

Early editions of Dungeons & Dragons allowed players to choose between three alignments when creating a character: lawful, implying honor and respect for society’s rules; chaotic, implying the opposite; and neutral, meaning neither. Advanced Dungeons & Dragons introduced a second axis of good, neutral and evil, offering a combination of nine alignments.”

I went ahead and took three different online Dungeons and Dragons alignment tests at Truly Lawful Productions, OK Cupid and Wizards.com. I compared the results in the Conclusion section.

Results

At Truly Lawful Productions my alignment was found to be Neutral Good.  I was 41.7% Good and 15.4% Chaotic. According to the site:

“You do the best good that a person could be expected to do. You are devoted to helping others. You are willing to work with authority figures, but you do not feel any particular allegiance to them.

You are the stereotypical “Benefactor.” You believe in doing good without any particular bias for or against order.

Examples of characters and people who fit into the same alignment as you include Mother Theresa, Ghandi, Gandalf, Indiana Jones, O-Bi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, Frodo Baggins, and the Dalai Lama.  Description of alignments are adapted from the Revised (v3.5) System Reference Document, and are presented in accordance with the Open Gaming License v1.0a.”

At OK Cupid my alignment was Lawful Good.  I scored 61% on the Law versus Chaos measure.  I scored 64% on the Good versus Evil measure.  From the site:

“Keep this in mind, before you read this and take it too seriously…
This test is based on a system of moral absolutes. There is no subjectivity in D&D, as it is based on a fantasy world of heroes and villains. That is why their alignment system is so simple and polar. So naturally, if I were to apply this simple morality to modern day life, things would look very “black and white”. That is why I watered down the concept of evil and good. It is very unlikely that anyone who takes this test is a mass murderer or a superhero, so Mean vs. Nice will have to take the place of good vs. evil.

Lawfulness and Good in a nutshell:
-Lawful characters are organized and rational. They believe that order is important, and they respect authority. They tend to be fairly rigid in their beliefs and behavior, but this is not always the case.
-Good characters believe in doing the right thing. They help others when possible, and they are usually friendly.

Your Alignment:
“Crusader”
Lawful Good, eh? I hope you’re proud of yourself. It’s easy to live by the rules, but not so easy to have a strong conscience. It takes a special kind of person to be able to do both and not go insane.
It’s possible that you are a bit holier-than-thou, but not necessarily. At least you mean well. Way to go!

Your Analysis (Vertical line = Average)

You scored 61% on Law vs Chaos, higher than 71% of your peers.

You scored 64% on Good vs Evil, higher than 58% of your peers.”

According to the Wizards.com Test, I was Neutral Evil.  From the site:

“A neutral evil villain does whatever she can get away with. She is out for herself, pure and simple. She sheds no tears for those she kills, whether for profit, sport, or convenience. She has no love of order and holds no illusion that following laws, traditions, or codes would make her any better or more noble. On the other hand, she doesn’t have the restless nature or love of conflict that a chaotic evil villain has. The criminal who robs and murders to get what she wants is neutral evil. Some neutral evil villains hold up evil as an ideal, committing evil for its own sake. Most often, such villains are devoted to evil deities or secret societies. The common phrase for neutral evil is “true evil.” Neutral evil is the most dangerous alignment because it represents pure evil without honor and without variation.”

Conclusion

Three different tests and three different results!  Truly Lawful Productions asked a lot of test questions that made sense and I could make a clear moral judgment about.  OK Cupid also asked pretty valid questions but not as valid as the questions in Lawful Productions.  The Wizards test asked questions that were straight out of a medieval situation but were totally irrelevant to moral situations of the present.  I felt the Wizards test was the weakest in terms of face validity.  I would say have fun with the online tests but not to take them too seriously since they have problems in terms of reliability and face validity.

Personally I would say I am Neutral Good with a giant caveat.  I am no crusader!  As I have gotten older I have become much more conscious of the limits of the power of one person and will not act when my action will not affect the outcome of a struggle but will put me at risk.  However, I will take a moral stand if the odds are on my side.  I would help a weaker person being picked on by a bully that I was obviously capable of taking on.  I would not help a weaker person against a gang that could obviously beat the crap out of me as well.  I may want to do the right thing but suicide is not beneficial to anyone!

Hugh Fox III - Invasion

WereVerse Universe Baby!

WereVerse Universe at Google Drive Link

The World Says Goodbye to My Father on the Internet

http://estesleadley.com/?p=4595

http://greenheritagenews.com/?p=9368

http://obitpatrol.blogspot.com/2011/09/hugh-fox.html

http://regator.com/p/253001112/remembering_hugh_fox_1932-2011/

http://www.cafedoom.com/forum/index.php?topic=4439.0

http://www.haggardandhalloo.com/2011/09/05/hugh-fox-dies/

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/lsj/obituary-preview.aspx?n=hugh-bernard-fox&pid=153484508&referrer=2289

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2011/09/remembering-hugh-fox-1932-2011/

http://www.thehorrorzine.com/Fiction/Oct2011/HughFox/HughFox.html

http://www.thesomervillenews.com/archives/18939

http://www.tributes.com/show/Hugh-B.-Fox-92316404

http://www.wikio.com/themes/Hugh+Fox

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Where can you buy American comic books in Asia?

I have some answers.  First of all American comic books are defined as comic books from the United States of America.  This means not anime, manga or whatever!  If you can’t find Japanese comic books in Asia then you have more serious problems than where to find American comic books.  Asia on the whole prefers Japanese comic books to American comic books by a factor of ten at least.  British stuff, especially 2000 AD stuff is found in the same places as American comic books which is why I initially titled this post where you can find Western comic books but I mean Western as in culture not as in cowboys and the latter meaning was misleading.

First of all there is a Japanese chain called Kinokuniya that is all over Asia. The chain sucks when it comes to Western comic books in Japan but is pretty good about having Western comic books in their stores outside of Japan.

Below is a list of Kinokuniya stores in Asia:

Singapore

Ngee Ann City, Orchard

Bugis Junction, Bugis

Liang Court, Chinatown

Indonesia

Sogo Plaza Senayan, Jakarta

Debenhams Plaza Indonesia, Jakarta

Sogo Pondok Indah Mall, Jakarta

Seibu Grand Indonesia, Jakarta
Malaysia

Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur

Thailand

CentralWorld, Bangkok

Siam Paragon, Bangkok – The best source of Western comic books outside of the Philippines!

Emporium, Bangkok

Australia

I mention the store but of course Australia is basically a Western country that happens to be in Asia and Western comic books are everywhere.

Sydney The Galeries Victoria, New South Wales

Taiwan

Dayeh Takashimaya, Taipei

Breeze Center, Taipei

Kuang San Sogo, Taichung

Talee Isetan, Kaoshiung

United Arab Emirates

Dubai, Dubai Mall

Page One is a Singaporean chain of bookstores that is also all over Asia and also has a pretty good selection of Western comic books.

Page One locations are listed below:

Singapore

Vivocity

 

Malaysia

Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur

 

Hong Kong

Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong (with cafe)

Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui

Times Square, Causeway Bay (formerly known as Page One Twins)

 

Taiwan

SOGO Fuxing, Taipei

Taipei 101, Taipei

The best country in Asia for Western comic books, besides Australia,  is the Philippines.  All the major chains have a section devoted to Western comic books and there are out and out dedicated comic book stores in most of the big malls in Manila.

My other website at:

Fox Superpower List

More comic book articles on this blog at:

http://foxhugh.com/?s=comic

WereVerse Universe Baby!

 

Why Can’t Doyle Fruit Modernize!

doyle-fruit-can1

I am American who has been living in Japan for over six months.  Last night I saw a can of Doyle pineapple and it brought up good memories and I bought it.  When I tried to open the can I realized I would need a can opener!  I eat canned stuff all the time and have managed to survive without a can opener in Japan because all, and I do mean all, Japanese canned goods  can be popped open without a can opener.  I can assure the people at Doyle that the Japanese price convenience highly and their archaic technology will affect their sales in Japan dramatically.  I finally opened up the can with my Swiss Army knife but will not do this again.  So do I buy a can opener or just skip buying Doyle canned goods?  Hard choices and probably I will go the path of least resistance and just skip buying Doyle canned goods.

After I wrote this post I received this email from the Doyle company.

Dear Mr. Fox,

Thank you for contacting us about Dole Pineapple.  While the easy open feature is available in our smaller 8 and
16 ounce cans, it is less common in the 20 ounce cans in the Japanese market and we apologize for the
inconvenience you experienced.

We appreciate your interest in Dole Food Company and are glad to provide the information you requested.  We hope it is useful. It’s been a pleasure to help you!

Sincerely,

Consumer Response Staff
Dole Consumer Services

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