Info in Bits & Pieces

Parable
“It happened that a fire broke out backstage in a theater. The clown came out to inform the public. They thought it was just a jest and applauded. He repeated his warning. They shouted even louder. So I think the world will come to an end amid general applause from all the wits who believe that it is a joke.”
~~~ Soren Kierkegaard

A parable about a wise man who sails on a ship with a wicked one.
“When the ship was in distress, the wicked man lifted up his voice in prayer, but the wise man said to him: ‘Keep quiet, my friend, if heaven discovers that you are on board, the ship will go under.’”
~~~ Soren Kierkegaard

Military:
Were you aware that nearly 80% of Americans between the ages of 17 to 24 were unfit for military service? I was a bit taken back by that percentage. According to an unnamed U.S. Army general, he bluntly said that young Americans are either too obese, too sick, or too criminal to serve in the military. These problems in recruiting has seen a 6% increase since 2017. The prevalence of obesity in the adult population hit nearly 42%.

“Each year, more than $60 million goes toward replacing the 1,200-plus first-term enlistees discharged for excess weight.” per Irian Tsukerman, a security analysts and owner of Scarab Rising. The CDC estimates that 1 in 5 children and 2 in 5 U.S. adults are now obese. So it appears that we have a security threat due to overweightness!

~~~ https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/downloads/unfit-to-serve-062322-508.pdf
~~~ https://www.ksnblocal4.com/2023/03/20/80-americans-ages-17-24-are-unfit-military-service/

18 MONTHS:
The cost to fuel electric vehicles in the United States is higher than that of gas-powered cars for the first time in 18 months, according to Anderson Economic Group.

DID YOU KNOW?
Firefighters use more water to put out electric car fires than fires of gas-powered vehicles. In fact, firefighters use nearly 40 times the amount of water normally needed to contain a fire of a gas-powered auto.
https://thehill.com/changing-america/enrichment/arts-culture/568255-firefighters-have-to-blast-40-times-more-water-at/

2,000 at Boeing
Boeing expects to cut about 2,000 white-collar jobs this year in finance and human resources through a combination of attrition and layoffs, according to the company.

$1.1 MILLION
The FAA says it’s proposing to fine United Airlines $1.1 million for allegedly conducting Boeing 777 flights without making required preflight fire system warning checks.

Vitamin D – Diabetes
A study found that regular vitamin D supplements may lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes among millions of adults who have prediabetes. A team of researchers with the Tufts Medical Center found that taking the vitamin supplements has been associated with a 15% drop in the chance of developing Type 2 diabetes among those adults.
~~~ Annals of Internal Medicine

343,230 PEOPLE
California experienced the largst net domestic outmigration of nay state in 2022, with a decrease of 343,230 people, according to the National Association of Realtors.

ADVICE:
A son or daughter shouldn’t mock their father – at his direction, firm warnings, and instructions. No rolling of your eyes at what he says. Never look at him scornfully or think he is unworthy of your respect. And never treat him as a weak, silly old man.

Similarly, do not despise or hate your mother’s orders and commands. While under your parents’ roof, listen obediently. Never treat her as a foolish old woman, even when wrinkles begin to gather on her face. Such disobedience and disrespect of parents by you can bring an untimely end and shameful death.
~~~ Proverbs 30:17

Reasons Why Chinese Manufacturing Will Decline Rapidly

• POPULATION CRISIS
  China’s National Bureau of Statistics shows that 9.56 million were born and 10.41 million died in 2022, a decline of about 850,0000 in one year. This decline is different than the one during the “Great Famine” 60 years ago. Today’s decline may be irreversible.
• CHINA’S THEFT OF TRADE SECRETS UNDER SCRUTINY
  The Chinese regime has resorted to intellectual property theft to improve their competitiveness, which has caused alarm in various coountries.
• TOTALITARIAN REGIME
  With the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, the democratic countries are more worried that if the CCP launched an attack on Taiwan, it would disrupt the global industrial chain.
• ENERGY COSTS
  China is the world’s largest oil importer, importing 540 million tons of oil in 2020 alone. Thus, China’s energy costs are much higher than the United States.
• LAND COSTS
  Recently, Chinese investors have been buying up farmland in the U.S., making them the largest foreign buyer of U.S. real estate. According to the National Association of Realtors, these investors have spent over $6 billion in the previous 12 months.
• TRANSPORTATION COSTS
  China’s transportation costs are much higher than products made in the United States because of its distance from European and U.S. markets.
• THE HIDDEN COSTS
  In short, Chinese manufacturing is losing its competitive advantage in all aspects, so the industry may be decaying much faster than predicted.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-62830775

QUOTE:
”The key to finding joy in loving others is to focus on giving love, not on getting it.”
~~~ Gary Chapman, author