Tuesday, April 29, 2025

習主席刺激內需、打好持久戰,華爾街大鱷說時間不在中國那邊

 

圖一:習主席想拖死特朗普,華爾街說時間不在中共那邊(圖片來源:yahoo,香港01)

四月初特朗普佛宣布新關稅政策後,我立即錄製會員短片,分析這次特朗普的矩陣戰術是針對中國的戰爭行為;兵貴神速,而美國比中國有更多時間,時間在美國那邊,美國可以嘆唱板。我不會公開講,免得說破了,事情不靈。就等大家罵特朗普,愈罵他癲狂,他愈快得手。

昨日,美國財長貝森特出來說,中美元首並無通電話談關稅,與特朗普說的不同。無他,辯論有無通電話,略施雕蟲小技,特朗普已經浪費了中共三個月時間!

特朗普的對等關稅令全球嘩然,外界幾乎一而倒評論那是「七傷拳」,最終美國將會失敗,而且經濟受到重創云云;我的看法是特朗普兵行險着,而他不打沒把握的仗,此外中國國內危機比美國更加嚴重特朗普的目的很簡單,他不是要美國贏,而是要中共輸將中共拖入時間的深淵,中共就會沒頂而溺死。習主席的戰術當然是準確地錯,他堅信「東升西降」,要打大範圍的持久戰

特朗普這個策略,除了我之外,終於有人公開說破!念念不忘必有迴響。對沖基金Pershing Square Capital創辦人兼億萬富豪阿克曼(Bill Ackman)在社交平台發長文,力排眾議,直言中國無法打贏這場戰爭。「如果中國出於驕傲或其他情緒執意拒絕談判,將承受更嚴重且長久的經濟後果。在這場談判中,時間是美國的朋友、中國的敵人。」他認為中國必須及早與美達成貿易協議,否則企業對於中國作為採購或生產基地失去信心,轉移所有在華的供應鏈至印度、越南、墨西哥等,甚至美國,中國經濟終將受到嚴重傷害。


中共高層開會提「四穩」,以內需對沖三頭馬車缺口

無獨有偶,中共中央政治局四月廿五日開會,首次提出穩就業、穩企業、穩市場、穩預期「四穩」方針,強調提高中低收入群體收入、大力發展服務消費等目標。

之前的中央會議多次提出穩增長、穩就業、穩預期「三穩」,今次多了穩市場一項,簡單來說就是要穩定內需。原因是自從特朗普回朝,中國經濟形勢愈加嚴峻,房地產泡沫爆破,拖累本地金融與投資,加上過勁產能被各國圍堵、外資紛紛撤走、「三頭馬車」當中,政府唯一有機會破局的,就是內需消費。故此有輿論認為,隨着局勢變化,習主席自二〇一五年提出「供給側改革」之國策,現在要轉為「需求側改革」。「需求側改革」,是在需求那邊做改革。隨便改換政策詞彙,這是共產黨的遺忘術或創新術,在江澤民、胡錦濤時期,叫「刺激內需」。


關稅戰三個走向,茅頭全都指向中國

圖二:BBC分析這次中美貿易戰共有三個走向,共通點是對美國有利,對中國不利。(圖片來源:Forbes)

先不論中國能否用增內需來對沖出口與投資的缺口,BBC引述專家與學者分析,這次中美貿易戰共有三個走向高關稅持續數年短期內關稅大減關稅在暫緩和加碼之間反復。經濟學人智庫(EIU)首席中國經濟學家蘇月認為,如果美國對華徵收高關稅,同時對他國亦徵稅並禁止繞道轉運,即是對華實施禁運,將導致中國製造業產業鏈由上游開始收縮;若只有中國面臨高關稅,且繞道轉運受阻,最終大部分中企在第三國建設廠。

荷蘭ING集團大中華區首席經濟學家宋林(Lynn Song)認為,若美國率先示弱,中國在後續談判中將佔更有利地位,對華而言這種態勢至關重要,否則可能陷入被動。但蘇月指出,美國大幅調低對華關稅,美企即減少購買其他國家的貨品,最終美企受益,卻令中國與其他國家的經濟關係更緊張。

如果中美雙方持續就貿易問題博弈,關稅時加時減,出口商就最難受。生成式AI網絡營銷公司GenPark創辦人兼CEO龐國強(Chris Pang)指出,屆時整個供應鏈和定價規劃搖擺不定,無論是客戶抑或服務提供者都疲於應對。宋林認為全球業界必須經常調整轉口與物流路徑,盡可能降低風險,必須避免過度依賴美國市場。


各國嚴打「洗產地」,中國貨更難繞道出口美國

圖三:特朗普佛與其他國家談判時,都會要求他們出口貨物到美國,必須保證貨品的真實原產地來源,未來華府或將會嚴打「洗產地」的中國貨。(圖片來源:信報,RFA)

BBC提出的三個發展方向,共通點是對美國有利,對中國不利。當然啦,對等關稅是由特朗普佛提出的,他是美國總統,他的國策當然對本國最為有利。由於他與其他國家進行談判時,都會要求他們出口貨物到美國,必須保證貨品的真實原產地與來源,看來華府或將會嚴打「洗產地」(transshipment)的中國貨;更換標籤、或以大量中國製部件組裝的貨品,將成為重點打擊對象。

至於文首提到的阿克曼先生,雖然無從得知他有否看過我月初的短片,但我倆對於這次貿易戰的看法,確實相當接近。有意思的是,彭博社的報道隱隱暗示,阿克曼的觀點之所以與主流媒體與輿論相反,很可能是因為他是特朗普佛的支持者。或說我與他的見解相同是微妙巧合,但其實阿克曼是白手興家的金融大鱷來的,這種人務實、直接,不花言巧語,說話雖有理據但總是難聽,因為不是每個人都願意接受現實


附錄:習主席的供給側與需求側

供給側(supply side)改革,是包括消化落後及過剩產能,同時培育先進產能。例如「房住不炒」、管控網企、打擊教培,限制「三高一低」(高投入、高能耗、高污染、低效益)產業,還有發展高科技、新能源、半導體等「新質生產力」。至於「需求側」(demand side)改革,主要由消費投資出口構成,亦即是所謂「三頭馬車」

四月廿五日的中央政治局會議上,提出了多項與需求側改革相關的措施,包括提高中低收入群體收入,大力發展服務消費,增強消費對經濟增長的拉動作用」;設立服務消費與養老再貸款;着力保民生,對訴受關稅影響較大的企業,提高失業保險基金穩崗返還比例;不斷完善穩就業穩經濟的政策工具箱……加強超常規逆周期調節,全力鞏固經濟發展和社會穩定的基本面。

Source: 陳雲

https://www.patreon.com/posts/xi-zhu-xi-ci-ji-127705125

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Soft Skills

Technical skills get you hired.

Soft skills help you thrive.


89% of careers don't fail because of technical gaps.

They fail because of poor soft skills.

Your career grows as fast as your human skills do.


9 powerful skills most people never truly learn:


1️⃣ The SHR Method

→ Makes people feel truly valued

→ Creates instant connections

→ Builds lasting relationships


2️⃣ Body Language Mastery

Only 7% is what you say

38% is your tone

55% is how you move


3️⃣ The 4-Bullet Update

→ Clear communication

→ No confusion

→ Maximum impact


4️⃣ Speaking Excellence

→ Record yourself

→ Review your patterns

→ Refine your delivery


5️⃣ Strategic Questions

→ Build deeper connections

→ Create genuine interest

→ Foster real relationships


6️⃣ Friday Highlights

→ Build team trust

→ Increase visibility

→ Drive accountability


7️⃣ Emotional Intelligence

→ Stay above drama

→ Build respect

→ Maintain professionalism


8️⃣ Name Mastery

→ Show genuine care

→ Create lasting impressions

→ Deepen connections


9️⃣ Continuous Learning

→ 30 minutes daily

→ Compound your knowledge

→ Accelerate your growth


You deserve to thrive, not just survive.

Build the soft skills that get you there.


Source: Dora Vanourek

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:7321886019266510848/

Sunday, April 20, 2025

「香港製造」產品,供應中國市場?為何中國內銷市場無法興旺?消費品味無法培養?

 

圖、有些港商無奈轉為內銷中國大陸。自由亞洲電台

很久以前,克林頓做美國總統的年代,已經敦促中共要做好內銷市場,不要老是把貨物賣到美國去。克林頓是一番好意,中共也不是不領情,而是另有隱衷。內銷啊,就是內鬥,各自來爭奪市場,搶薄利潤,淘汰對手,這是表面的擔憂,外銷也是鬥爭啊,真正的擔憂,是內銷的最終的話事權力掌握在大陸消費者手裡,而且要人民放心消費、熱情享樂,必須要他們開心,有社會保障或者家族保障,才會消費無憂的社會保障要提高企業繳稅,增加工業成本家族保障就要放寬節育,滋長親戚的自治圈子,這些都不利專制統治的。

外銷則不同,一起在外邊鬥外國廠商,槍口統一對外,賺的外匯暫時截留在中央手裡,增加國家外匯存底和官府的權威,賺的外匯也可匯到國外,不在本土興建莊園、招兵買馬,也增加了共黨的安全。基於政治的原因,中共的內銷搞不起來,也錯過了興旺內銷的黃金時期——中產階級、中等收入工人興起的一九九〇年代到二〇一〇年代,大概就是二十年的黃金時期。那麼中產階級、中等收入工人的錢哪裡去了呢?去了中國最大的內銷產業——去了房地產那邊去了,去了經營房貸的銀行那邊去了!財富集中到房產業、銀行業,那麼中產就少錢消費了。在工業興旺的年代,中共沒有像香港殖民政府那樣——大建廉租屋、公屋,令中產階級和中等收入的工人的錢不浪費在房產購買之上,而是流向內部消費和儲蓄投資等等,令香港在一九七〇年代至一九九〇年代有興旺的本土消費熱潮,建立了香港人的流行文化和品味培養。這是統治眼界的不同啊!

現在呢,美國要中港一併打擊,港商有些轉向內銷,特別是保健品、藥品之類,用香港製造的品牌來打開大陸市場。那麼可以遇見的,並非大陸為香港提供便利,而是內鬥排擠模仿,即是平價替代


新聞詳情:

美中關稅戰持續升溫, 香港中華廠商聯合會副會長陳家偉周五(18日)接受港台訪問指,旗下保健食品集團在美國及香港均有智能生產線,原材料來自美國、南美洲及歐洲。

他指出,受美中關稅戰影響,不少使用中國原材料的美國廠商同行,或轉用其他地方原材料,預料生產成本至少上升兩成,將推高價格。

陳家偉指集團本月已有數千產品訂單被取消,如情況持續,一年或被取消過萬訂單。身兼香港品牌發展局主席的他,正改造位於大埔創新園的智能生產中心,盼提升約兩成產能,以「香港製造」產品供應中國市場,並加快原產地認證事項,希望兩個月內成事。他又認為,中國消費者願付更高價錢,購買「香港製造」產品。

有分析認為,過往香港產品被譽為「東方之珠」,外銷歐美市場,現在如跟中國走封閉路線,只會失去優勢及競爭力,最終死路一條。


Source: 陳雲

https://www.patreon.com/posts/xiang-gang-zhi-127052512


Saturday, April 19, 2025

Leaders, you have two choices

 Leaders, you have two choices:


Protect your team,

From unfair blame. ❌

From toxic cultures. ❌

From micromanagement. ❌


...Or step aside.


Here's what 15 years of leadership taught me:


Leadership isn't about titles.

It's about protection. ✅ 

It's about defense. ✅ 

It's about trust. ✅ 


Real leaders shield their teams from:

↳ Gaslighting and disrespect

↳ Mandatory meetings

↳ Unnecessary drama

↳ Micromanagement

↳ False urgency

↳ Toxic politics

↳ Unfair blame

↳ Unfair pay

↳ Burnout


Because leadership isn't optional.

But neither is protecting your team.


The best leader I ever worked under taught me:

↳ "When we fail, that's on me"

↳ "When we succeed, that's on them"


That's your job as a leader.

To support their decisions,

fight for them in rooms they're not in,

recommend them for roles and promotions,

and elevate the team's success and impact together.


Once I realized this.

I put my ego aside.

I put my team's success before mine.


And what happened?

Team performance skyrocketed.

People gave their absolute best.

Trust became unshakeable.


Because they knew they were safe.

Valued. Protected. Appreciated.


Your team is watching.

They never forget who had their back.


Have you ever had a leader like that?


Source: Dr Miro Bada

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/share:7319023501456130051/

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Everyone thinks toxic workplaces are obvious

Everyone thinks toxic workplaces are obvious.

They're not.


We get good at explaining away the signs:

↳ "It's just a phase."

↳ "I need to step up."

↳ "Every job has problems."


Here's what no one tells you:

Toxic jobs never change

Hard work won't fix bad culture

Your career is what pays the price


12 warning signs of a toxic workplace and how they destroy your career:


1) Unfair Promotions

↳ Less qualified people get promoted while you stay stuck

↳ Impact: You watch others rise through politics, not talent


2) Micromanagement

↳ Every tiny decision needs multiple layers of approval

↳ Impact: You stop making decisions while others lead change


3) Zero Recognition

↳ Your best work gets ignored or claimed by others

↳ Impact: Your wins become invisible in future interviews


4) Toxic Politics

↳ Being good at your job matters less than being liked

↳ Impact: Career opportunity gets ignored while politics win


5) Work-Life Invasion

↳ Personal life becomes a myth, burnout is normal

↳ Impact: Boundaries blur until work consumes everything


6) Zero Transparency

↳ Big changes happen with zero transparency

↳ Impact: Your future opportunities get decided without you


7) Fear Culture

↳ Speaking up feels risky, staying quiet feels safer

↳ Impact: You become another silent face in meetings


8) Constant Turnover

↳ Good people leave while problems stay

↳ Impact: Your network shrinks while others build theirs


9) Unrealistic Workload

↳ You're constantly overloaded while being told to manage better

↳ Impact: Quality drops while expectations keep rising


10) No Consistency

↳ Everything's urgent until suddenly nothing matters

↳ Impact: You can't show results when nothing gets finished


11) No Growth

↳ Training gets promised but never delivered

↳ Impact: Your skills stay stuck while others advance


12) Pay Games

↳ Promises keep coming while your value keeps dropping

↳ Impact: Your salary falls behind market rate each year


The real problem?

The longer you stay, the harder it becomes to leave


No position is worth sacrificing your future for.


Source: Dr Miro Bada

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/ugcPost:7317926284980822017/

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

7 Signs You're a People-Pleasing Leader

7 Signs You're a People-Pleasing Leader:

(and it's hurting your team)


True kindness builds strong teams.

People-pleasing destroys them.


1. You Never Defend Your Team's Boundaries

↳ You accept every "urgent" request, overwhelming your team

↳ Require other leaders to use proper channels, no "just this once"


2. You Play Favourites to Keep Everyone Happy

↳ Rewarding complainers while overloading reliable people

Make decisions based on performance, not who might get upset


3. You Hide Bad News Because You "Care Too Much"

↳ Delaying tough updates, thinking you would hurt your team

Share news promptly with empathy - they need time to plan


4. You Bury Problems Until They Explode

↳ Worrying about upsetting your boss

↳ Be transparent and share any problem within a day


5. You Do Performance Reviews at Starbucks

↳ Making serious conversations casual to avoid tension

↳ Stop sugar-coating, share specific examples of needed changes


6. You Make Inconsistent Decisions

↳ Struggling with decisions, fearing they'll upset someone

↳ Prioritize business needs, not who might get upset


7. Your Top Performers Are Becoming Toxic

↳ You watch star employees break rules, too afraid to confront them

↳ Have the hard conversation now, before good people leave


Strong leadership isn't about being liked.

It's about doing what's right for your team.


Source: Dora Vanourek

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/ugcPost:7317394155616288769/

Monday, April 14, 2025

Leadership

Leadership isn't about showing off.

It's about showing up - for others.

When you lead, you either lift people up,

or make them doubt themselves.


What to do as a leader:


✅ Believe in them before they believe in themselves

↳ Show them the strengths they didn’t know they had


✅ Ask powerful questions

↳ Help them think, not just follow


✅ Amplify quiet voices

↳ Make space for the ones who rarely speak


✅ Celebrate their wins

↳ Shine the spotlight - publicly and often


✅ Step back on purpose

↳ Let them lead even when you could do it faster


What to avoid as a leader:


❌ Taking the credit

↳ Don't claim ownership of your team's ideas


❌ Solving every problem

↳ Resist jumping in before others can contribute


❌ Dominating conversations

↳ Listen first. Speak last.


❌ Highlighting only your wins

↳ Make your team feel seen and valued


❌ Creating dependency

↳ Encourage independent decision-making


Empower others to see their potential.

The best leaders create new leaders.

Which of these habits do you wish more leaders had?




Source: Dora Vanourek

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7316450201269874688/

Most workplaces are optimized for efficiency, not emotional truth

One piece of advice for you this week, from the Executive Director of Case Research at Harvard, Carin-Isabel Knoop: Bring your emotions to work.

In an essay about the unspoken feelings many of us carry into our jobs (and throughout our lives), Isabel-Knoop asks: Is there something you're carrying alone that you wish others understood? She encourages leaders to not just check in on the state of their businesses, but on the "emotional pulse" of their teams, because — and this feels very true to me — most workplaces are optimized for efficiency, not for emotional truth. (When was the last time you left a meeting feeling like some “emotional truth” had been revealed? I can remember a few meetings that felt like that, but they're rare—and transformative, when they do happen.)


How would you build a workplace that's emotionally true? A few of Isabel-Knoop’s thought starters...

  • What if we measured how safe people feel to say "I'm not okay"?
  • Do you feel proud of who you are here — not just what you do?
  • How many trusted relationships do you feel that you have at work? Do you have someone here you can trust when things are hard?
  • How often do you feel that someone listens to you without interrupting?

Last year, we published an issue of this newsletter on bringing your "whole self" to work — and we pushed back on the idea a bit, arguing that, sure, bringing your whole self is fine... but what you really want is to bring your best self to work. Many people equate their "best selves" with emotionless automatons, but that doesn't have to be true. As executive coach Melody Wilding writes, your emotions themselves, especially at work, are less important than your self-awareness about them. "If you take ownership of your feelings and reactions, it conveys strength and confidence that other people will respect."


Source: Harris Sockel

https://blog.medium.com/most-workplaces-are-optimized-for-efficiency-not-emotional-truth-809d082b7801

Saturday, April 05, 2025

小孩的詩,我嘗試改一下

 

圖一、小孩的詩。圖片來源

網友給我傳來一首兒童詩,認為寫得好。撇開殘體字不論,此詩寫得不錯的。原詩是:

煩惱

爸爸在陽台抽煙

他抽一半

風抽一半

爸爸沒和風計較

也許風

也有煩惱吧


究竟風吸的煙,是抽煙還是吹煙?即是說,人在吸煙的時候,實際上是空氣灌了入去,是吹。風很大的時候,是空氣灌進煙內,也在外圍吹,令煙燃點得更快些。

在詩的想像中,不會理會這些物理機制,理會到當然更好,詩寫得更現在,不理會,沒人會責怪。

這詩的缺陷,是主體由父親轉去了風,以煩惱作結論,道出意義,煩惱也是詩的題目。風的主體不夠強,故此令詩的想像力削弱了。


要改好,是這樣:

煩惱

爸爸在陽台抽煙

他抽一半

風抽一半

爸爸沒和風計較

也許風

也有它的煩惱吧


加入「它的」,在上面用粗體字顯示。這就令風有了主體性,令詩人也關注其風來,而不是歸結到煩惱去。

不要說破,保持愚昧與天真。這是極為重要也是極為基本的詩藝。在中國詩藝,稱之為含蓄,不直露。含蓄是《詩經》奠定的中國詩藝。

當老師的,如果可以加上「它的」,然後對小孩說出上述的道路,他/她可以省回二十年的讀書時間,成為超越同儕的小神童。

Source: 陳雲

https://www.patreon.com/posts/xiao-hai-de-shi-125973884

Monday, March 31, 2025

Sorry, Not Sorry

Sorry is a powerful word.

But over-apologizing weakens your power at work.

Late by two minutes? Sorry.

Tiny typo in an email? Sorry.

Not even your fault? Still sorry.

Over-apologizing makes you look less confident.

And weakens the power of genuine apologies.


So, how do we stop?


9 Ways to Ditch "Sorry"

(And Sound More Confident):


1. Delayed response

❌ "Sorry for the delay."

✅ "Thanks for your patience."


2. Need someone's time

❌ "Sorry to bother you."

✅ "When you have a moment, could you...?"


3. Declining a request

❌ "Sorry, I can't help."

✅ "I appreciate you thinking of me, but I can't."


4. Missed a meeting

❌ "Sorry I missed it."

✅ "Thanks for understanding, I'll catch up."


5. Setting boundaries

❌ "Sorry, I can't make it."

✅ "I'm unavailable, but how about…?"


6. Following up

❌ "Sorry to follow up."

✅ "Just checking in, any updates?"


7. Made a mistake

❌ "Sorry, my bad!"

✅ "Thanks for catching that, I'll fix it."


8. Taking up space

❌ "Sorry for taking your time."

✅ "I appreciate your time today."


9. Asking a question

❌ "Sorry, this might be dumb."

✅ "Here's something I'd like clarity on…"


Stop shrinking yourself. 

It's not helping anyone.


These small changes will shift how you're perceived.

Which "sorry" are you letting go of first?


Source: Dora Vanourek

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/doravanourek_9-ways-to-stop-saying-sorry-at-work-activity-7309202444016566273-g5Fu?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAAAibFXUBKjuR4skSQw8r8nr-p7IN-ZCAFYk

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

The 1-Minute Introduction That Makes People Remember You Forever

The Day I Bombed My Introduction (And What I Learned)

"Hi, I’m… uh… John? I like… stuff?"

That's how I introduced myself at a conference once. Spoiler: No one remembered me. Fast-forward to today — I use a 1-minute trick that turns strangers into superfans. Here's how to make your next introduction unforgettable (no "liking stuff" required).


Why Your Brain Hates Basic Intros

The “Broken Robot” Effect: “Name, job, hobby” intros are predictable → brains tune out.

The Halo Effect: People decide if you're smart/kind/interesting in seconds — first impressions stick like glue.

Science Fix: Use storytelling + curiosity to hijack their attention.


The 3-Part Formula (Steal This!)

1. The Hook: Start With a Story, Not Your Name

Bad: "Hi, I’m Sarah, a marketer from Chicago."

Better: "I once accidentally emailed 10,000 customers a cat meme. Now I teach companies how to avoid my mistakes."

Why: Stories activate the brain's "movie mode" → you’re memorable.

2. The Highlight: Add a "WTF" Detail

Bad: “I love hiking.”

Better: “I climbed a mountain in flip-flops to prove my mom wrong.”

Why: Quirky details stick 5x longer (Journal of Experimental Psychology).

3. The Handoff: Make It About Them

Bad: "Nice to meet you!"

Better: "What’s the weirdest hobby you’ve tried?"

Why: Questions force their brain to engage → they associate you with curiosity.


Real-Life Example: From "Who?" to "Wow!"

Before:

"I'm Alex. I work in data. I like reading." → Forgotten in 10 seconds.

After:

"I spent 3 years tracking how 500 people brush their teeth. Now companies pay me to fix weird habits. What’s a habit you’d love to break?"

→ Result: "Wait, you’re the Toothbrush Data Guy!"


Your 7-Day Challenge

Day 1–2: Write your "Hook" (use the formula above).

Day 3–4: Practice saying it in the mirror (no cringing!).

Day 5–6: Test it on a friend (ask for honest feedback).

Day 7: Use it in real life (coffee shop, Zoom call, anywhere!).


Why This Works (Brain Science)

Dopamine Hit: Surprise triggers dopamine → brains love you.

Mirror Neurons: Stories make people "feel" your intro → emotional connection.

Recency Bias: End with a question → you're the last thing they remember.


Source: Alessia Fransisca

https://medium.com/social-science-weekly/the-1-minute-introduction-that-makes-people-remember-you-forever-497cefcfdccc

Thursday, March 13, 2025

How “circles of trust” explain the political divide

Last month, Nichola Raihani — British psychologist and author of The Social Instinct, a book about the history of human cooperation — published a fascinating story on Medium. It made me think differently about why (in the U.S., at least) we’re so divided politically.

A Gallup poll released in January reveals that Republicans’ and Democrats’ ideologies have grown more extreme in the last 30 years. Even if you compare polls from the last 2–3 years, the number of people who label themselves “very conservative” or “very liberal” is increasing.

Raihani sees political division through a specific lens: circles of trust. We mentioned this briefly in issue #261, but essentially, political differences (in Raihani’s view) come down to how we envision our obligations to people who are not close family or friends. She cites a behavioral study which found that political conservatives “profess greater love for their family, but less love for humanity as a whole (with political liberals showing the opposite pattern).” Conservatives’ circles of trust are smaller (family + township come first); liberalscircles of trust are larger (love for humanity writ large). By extension, conservatives trust institutions less than liberals, because institutions (e.g. banks, schools, governments) are basically manifestations of care for people beyond your core family/friend group.

For an institution to exist, its users must have a pretty wide circle of trust.

More interestingly, our circles of trust expand and contract over time. If we perceive our institutions as untrustworthy, our circles of trust shrink; if our institutions serve us well, they expand. Raihani concludes: “Our moral boundaries are, therefore, determined as much by the society that we live in as they are by our own personal values and beliefs.”


Source: Harris Sockel

https://blog.medium.com/how-circles-of-trust-explain-the-political-divide-d51a058a16ac

Monday, March 10, 2025

How to Combine LLMs for Your Breakthrough AI Learning Stack

A cognitive science approach on when to use ChatGPT, Claude, Qwen, DeepSeek, Gemini or Grok.



What if you could have a personal team of AI tutors, each specializing in a different aspect of learning? One breaking down complex ideas, another fact-checking through the latest research, and yet another providing vocal feedback on your performance.

This guide shows you how to match each model's unique capabilities to specific learning processes—creating a personalized system that's greater than the sum of its parts.

Caveat: I’ve researched this over the past week and am publishing it on March 10. AI moves fast—new releases, little documentation. I might get things wrong, or you might disagree (please let me know in the comments!).


Here’s a breakdown of each category—so you can confidently choose the right AI for your needs. By the end, you’ll be LLM-literate and know exactly which model to use (plus, I’ll share specific examples you can apply right away).

https://www.canva.com/design/DAF_Z_pow14/Gd43WNwegfF27vILvr41ZA/edit

Source: Eva Keiffenheim

https://evakeiffenheim.substack.com/p/how-to-combine-llms-for-your-breakthrough

Monday, March 03, 2025

特朗普佛心解說,歐洲盟友歸隊,普京夜長夢多

既然特朗普佛如此大方,將礦產投資計劃暗含美國安全保障講個清楚,我也不妨將歐洲的姿態講清楚。英法帶頭籌備好烏克蘭防衛聯盟之後,北約成員國的美國就被逼被動地支援,即是整個北約都加入防衛了。

由於美國是被人捉媒人上轎,故此特朗普也容易向普京交代,說自己是被人挾持的,媒人被捉上轎,怪不得我啊。最想停戰的普京,被澤倫斯基使計,拖延之後由英國駐軍變成北約駐軍烏克蘭保護,烏克蘭並無北約成員國之名,卻有北約成員國之實。然而,普京仍可接受和平協議,畢竟他懼怕的是名,不是實。所謂不打不相識,北約國家在俄烏戰爭買了個教訓,弄得自己三年戰爭期間得不到俄國天然氣和烏克蘭礦產、農產,民生困苦,工廠荒廢,日後該不會再做北約東擴之事吧。

香港仍有希望,因為我在。世界上,有幾多人可以解釋明白給你看?這是尋常的人情世故,但屬於擺得上檯面、出得國際場合的人情世故,最緊要的是,這是基於仁心的人情世故,不是爭權奪利的權謀。香港人要學。


附錄:

哥倫比亞大學經濟學家Jeffrey Sachs 二月十九日在歐洲議會解釋為何普京會攻打烏克蘭。Jeffrey Sachs' roaring speech at EU Parliament, lambasts US Europe over Ukraine war. ET Online | 01 Mar 2025, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/jeffrey-sachs-roaring-speech-at-eu-parliament-lambasts-us-europe-over-ukraine-war/videoshow/118652924.cms?from=mdr ; 短片:‘Putin-Trump will end Ukraine war, cut your losses’: Jeffrey Sachs to Europe in fiery EU speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sc4FiMmT-I

Source: 陳雲

https://www.patreon.com/posts/te-lang-pu-fo-ou-123532775

https://www.facebook.com/wan.chin.75/posts/pfbid02z8QgJ6pmkEjS6GBtqToMk8Ynpx2meaYkT7XfWJYJBfAADmEzki8hA7PptHktrjDFl

Saturday, March 01, 2025

澤倫斯基大無畏,火中取栗翻桌子

 

圖、澤倫斯基大鬧白宮

古有孫悟空大鬧天宮,今有澤倫斯基大鬧白宮。尋常政治妥協的藝術高深政治不妥協的藝術。前者有特朗普在調停俄烏戰爭的示範,後者由澤倫斯基示範。澤倫斯基一直不妥協,開戰之初,沒聽拜登說走去波蘭流亡,死守住基輔近郊,也沒聽特朗普說割讓礦產來換取和平。

特朗普說要烏克蘭交出機要礦產來換取美國介入和平協議之後,特朗普退了一步,說是共同開發,美國買貨付款的一半收益播歸烏克蘭的建設基金。之後,英國的維和部隊和法國的礦產開發參與也來了。這是特朗普第一次讓步,令澤倫斯基得到變相的馬歇爾計劃——那是美國無償援助二戰之後的德國和日本,並協助它們改革憲政民主和建立公民社會。

第一步成功之後,澤倫斯基想要第二步讓步,就是要美國保證烏克蘭的安全,保證俄羅斯不會好似二〇二二年攻打烏克蘭那樣,再次撕毀和平協議,於是澤倫斯基想要有一點美國駐軍在烏克蘭東部的礦產開發區。

談起駐軍,這不免令我回憶起一九八四年談起香港的中共駐軍問題。原本鄧小平是不想駐軍的,但也不講明白不駐軍,然而,前國防部長耿飚向香港記者說中央不駐軍,只是掛一面旗,此話令鄧小平相當懊惱,於是斥責這是胡說八道,說香港是中國領土,豈可不駐軍?後來,鄧小平對此感到後悔和遺憾,好好的曖昧藝術被多言的耿飆糟蹋了。

這令特朗普相當難堪,因為他之前講過美國不會給予烏克蘭太多的安全保障,主要由歐洲提供,目前已有英國承諾派出維和部隊,將來很可能也有法國與德國加入,然而這是特朗普的權宜之計,因為援助烏克蘭是整個北約的參與,美國只是出較大一份、給予較多的先進武器和戰略指導。現在和平停火之後,美國要抽身而出,留下北約的歐洲部分來防衛烏克蘭,這是虎頭蛇尾,也不合道義,澤倫斯基是吃準了這一點來爭取。特朗普這位大佬,想顯示的,正如我之前在會員區的戰略分析短片說的,他要最大一份,要利益最大化,而烏克蘭得到的是利益最小化——割讓價值五千億美元的烏克蘭機要礦產給美國來抵償軍援(大概兩千億美元),令美國大賺。

澤倫斯基能否善罷甘休、所謂港人那些政治傻瓜說的「見好就收」呢?可以,但也不必。既然美國讓了第一步,當然也會讓第二步。讓第二步就是包括美軍的北約整體派出維持和平部隊駐守在礦區,也就是烏克蘭東部的防線。那麼讓第三步呢?就是普京來讓:普京讓出佔領區的主權,宣稱由烏東佔領區的自治議會自行決定,而北約認為該等地區的民主公投不可靠,於是由北約託管和監督若干時日……


好了!到了談判最要緊的地方,就是看誰輸得起,誰輸不起!首先,輸不起的是俄羅斯,也是其頭目普京!在俄羅斯的國家,也在普京的個人顏面,俄羅斯輸不起,它必須要宣布勝利完成而停火。著急的是普京,不是澤倫斯基,更不是特朗普。烏克蘭是破罐子破摔,北約的軍火和援助源源不絕,俄羅斯民窮財盡,難以為繼。特朗普呢,是逞個人之強,但強澤倫斯基之所難,他想美國抽身而出,集中資源做工業重建和圍堵中共,也避過美國援助越南戰爭和援助阿富汗的泥淖,可以漂亮抽身而出,贏得美國人民的掌聲。澤倫斯基也看準特朗普的個人所圖,於是在美國和烏克蘭的幕僚商議妥當之後,在華盛頓的白宮上演一哭二鬧三上吊

特朗普呢,沒好氣的,說歡迎澤倫斯基想好之後再來簽署,目前或會暫停烏克蘭的援助——當然,已經付運的停止不了。美國是不能打贏這場仗,因為懼怕普京倒台引起更大混亂,也不能在中途打輸,這意味美國重演它在越南和阿富汗的窘態。在特朗普執政的第一屆,他毅然決定與塔利班有和平約定,之後撤軍阿富汗。事前當然知道塔利班會違背諾言,奪權執政,也會殘殺幫助美軍基地的阿富汗人。然而,沒法子,反正阿富汗的混亂只是害慘中共,無傷於歐美與日本。美國在烏克蘭這邊呢,不能打贏也不能打輸,只能和談,那麼俄烏美歐四方的道義和利益都要拉扯計算。

至於烏克蘭,打贏俄羅斯可以,可以復仇,打輸也沒所謂,雖敗猶榮,而且俄軍佔領烏克蘭全部之後,緊迫北約,最終北約也要開戰,到時俄羅斯不堪一擊,北約會幫烏克蘭報仇。烏克蘭繼續打也可以,反正援助源源不絕。於是,澤倫斯基就在白宮胡鬧了!

必死者,橫行於天下。說到底呀,命都不要,豁出去之後,澤倫斯基才是在牌局最自由的人。特朗普說澤倫斯基手上沒牌,是說給美國人聽罷了。


附錄:

是次鳳凰衛視的短片剪輯甚有意思,證明中共是看透此事的,但無可奈何!

一、鳳凰衛視 2025-03-01 04:53【從戰爭一開始就孤軍奮戰?澤連斯基言論惹特朗普狂嗆:那個愚蠢的總統給了你們3500億美元!】澤連斯基與特朗普在白宮爆發激烈爭執。特朗普直言烏克蘭陷入了大麻煩,因為美國才有如今絕佳的脫身機會。但澤連斯基回應稱烏克蘭從一開始就孤軍奮戰,從而惹惱了特朗普。他先是批評拜登“給了烏克蘭3500億美元”,隨後又指若非美國提供武器裝備,俄烏衝突兩周之內就結束了。

https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=9534267599927359


二、鳳凰衛視2025-03-01 12:10【“你後悔了嗎?”“是的,我覺得這樣不好”澤連斯基:爭吵對雙方都不利,但強調烏方沒做什麼壞事】澤連斯基在與特朗普發生激烈爭吵後,28日晚些時候在接受福克斯新聞採訪時稱,這種爭吵對雙方都不利,但被問到他是否覺得應該向特朗普道歉時,澤連斯基回應說沒必要,他尊重美國總統和人民,烏方沒做什麼壞事。同時,烏克蘭已經為和平做好準備,但需要盟友的支持和安全保障。

https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=484576874711776


三、鳳凰衛視2025-03-01 12:40【特朗普:澤連斯基並不想實現和平,“他還想繼續戰鬥!戰鬥!戰鬥!”】美烏總統2月28日在會談中爆發激烈衝突,特朗普當天晚些時候回應稱,澤連斯基看起來並不想要和平,並稱其“高估了自己的籌碼”。特朗普還在社交平台表示,歡迎澤連斯基準備好實現和平後再來。

https://www.facebook.com/PhoenixTVHK/videos/2128388937617587


Source: 陳雲

https://www.patreon.com/posts/123391764

Thursday, February 27, 2025

中共無緣參與烏克蘭重建工程!——美、烏協議內容曝光

 

圖、美烏協定的英文版本,截圖第一段就是衝著中共而來的。


今晚我用短片解釋了特朗普在俄烏戰場的談判術——掌握俄羅斯這個主要目標之後,逐個擊破。

今日,美國與烏克蘭之間的協定公佈了,英文和中文翻譯都可以讀到。[2]最奧妙的前言,是講明「鑒於美國和烏克蘭希望確保在衝突中,對烏克蘭採取敵對行動的國家和其他國家在持久和平到來後不會從烏克蘭的重建中受益;……」(鳳凰衛視翻譯,英文原文:“Whereas the United States of America and Ukraine wish to ensure that those States and other persons that have acted adversely to Ukraine in the conflict do not benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine;……" )中共無法參與烏克蘭重建,甚至將來能否重返烏克蘭也難有保證。

這個協議,看出特朗普相當仁慈,這簡直是當代的馬歇爾計劃!美國用購買烏克蘭礦產的錢,投入在烏克蘭的重建工作美國的稅金不會再去烏克蘭,但美國的投資和訂單會幫忙烏克蘭,而且帶動其他投資進入

美國會與烏克蘭一起,在烏克蘭成立一個基金共同管理。日後烏克蘭的礦產挖出來,精鍊並找到市場賣掉後,一半的錢要入這個基金,另外一半就是烏克蘭政府拿去。基金每年至少要再投資一次烏克蘭,可以做軍事安全、經濟繁榮、烏克蘭戰後重建等。目的是確保錢不會給烏克蘭亂花掉!要有美國監督,促進烏克蘭成為一個適合全世界資本流入的環境,創造再投資循環。


Source: 陳雲

https://www.patreon.com/posts/zhong-gong-wu-yu-123231051


Friday, February 21, 2025

如果由國師陳雲處理阿伯兩元搭車的議題……

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=967796258824690&set=a.559251419679178

我的做法是積極一面(pro-active side),如果六十歲以上用樂悠卡搭車的人,在非繁忙時段搭車搭船,可以享有一元的進一步優惠。


做完。


兩元搭車鼓勵老人出來遊覽、社交和跨區購物,促進健康和減低家庭開支之用,也補貼了公共交通,如果用獎勵措施令他們散開在不同時段搭車,那麼公共交通的載客量得到最優化的使用,一來是環保,二來是令沒有優惠的通勤一族消了怨氣,不再埋怨阿伯阿婆在繁忙時段來逼車。

至於cut那些六十至六十五歲那群人的兩元搭車,是毫無意義的,只是節省五億元至十億元,但在老人醫療開支增加和老人消費減小的效益抵消了有餘,得不償失。

在經濟衰退、財政赤字但又面臨消費萎縮和對政府管治的信心減低的目前情況,最重要的除了平衡預算之外,是要提振社會士氣和團結感,故此我上述的做法是切合時弊的。

Pro-active的政府措施,是我在政府總部工作期間,第一任特首董建華政府的思維,現在丟失了。那群官員,也隨著董伯下台而各散東西,當初一群政界、商界、學界精英結合的統治思想,除了我偶然提起之外,媒體和輿論也不見了。香港之落寞,由此而起。我之所以被泛民左膠戲稱為國師,是我仍記得當年一群橫跨港英殖民地與中國特區年代的精英的做事方法吧。

Source: 陳雲

https://www.patreon.com/posts/122766830?display_app_qr=1

Saturday, February 08, 2025

保守黨黨魁修改移英居留年期荒唐,彭定康嘲笑她是「神風特擊隊」

 

圖、英國保守黨黨魁澄清,修改移民政策建議不涉及BNO簽證。圖片來源:香港01

英國保守黨黨魁昨日(英國時間二月六日)提出的移民年期改革,沒有追溯到BNO visa 5+1.  柏丹娜主張,移民取得永久居留(indefinite leave to remain,又稱ILR)的所需在英年期應由五年加長至十年,且期間且不得領取福利;若有犯罪記錄,或已申請福利或公共住房,亦不會獲得居留權。

她今日(英國時間二月七日)澄清了,說BNO visa不在她的修訂建議影響。此事可見,英國政壇之腐敗與混帳。BNO visa 5+1是既定的政策,換了三次首相也從無檢討或修訂,即使修訂也是限於後來的申請人,之前的依照法律是不能改變的,否則引起訴訟及索償(除非英國國會在新法例規定不可訴訟及豁免賠償但這是嚴重的法治損害!),我在當日一早如此判斷了,BNO visa 移居計劃並非一般的移民,而是前殖民地當年給予香港人的不公平的國籍身份的恢復計劃或補償計劃,故此除了付出醫療保險費用及辦公費用之外,並無資格審查保守黨黨魁不知就裡,貿然發言,不知道BNO visa的情況,也不知道BNO visa的居英者大多數支持保守黨,看來英國在約翰遜被人陷害而落台之後,英國政壇無人可用。執政工黨諷刺保守黨黨魁的提議,認為無需認真看待。

二月七日,香港海外傳媒協會(Hong Kong Media Overseas)舉行新春晚宴,邀請前港督彭定康為嘉賓,有約一百人出席。美國之音在問答環節時問他就栢丹娜言論回應,他首先說:「當以往還有保守黨的時候,我曾經是保守黨主席。」("I was the chairman of the Conservative Party when there was one.")(媒體的中文翻譯得不好,該翻譯為:「我曾是保守黨的主席,當年還有這個黨的。」 現場的對話:https://www.facebook.com/582339226/videos/4050948571893861 ;他在2023年6月2日BBC訪問中,也講過此笑話。https://x.com/bbcquestiontime/status/1664395801790136320 )他的說話顯示出他不認同現時保守黨的政策方向,令在場者大笑。他繼續:「《衛報》(評論)批評她(栢丹娜)是‘神風Kemi’(Kemikaze),我覺得可能對她有點不公平。我不認為栢丹娜今天所說的任何事會對現時的BN(O)簽證計劃會有任何影響。」


新聞詳情:

英國保守黨黨魁柏丹娜(Kemi Badenoch)提出修改移民政策,建議入籍時間由現時「5+1」延長為「10+5」,在移英港人社群引起極大震撼。事隔一天,保守黨在回應黨員查詢時澄清,有關修例倡議並不涉及BN(O)簽證,強調BN(O)簽證計劃情況獨特。有港人保守黨員去信柏丹娜,提醒保守黨不要違背對港人承諾,令努力融入及貢獻英國社會的新移民受到懲罰。

本身是保守黨黨員的時事評論員黃世澤,昨日(二月七日)在其YouTube頻道上載保守黨的回信,就柏丹娜的移民修例倡議作出回應。信中指,柏丹娜清楚BN(O)簽證的獨特性,強調保守黨在2月5日公佈的修例倡議,並不涉及BN(O)簽證,希望能澄清坊間說法。

在英國現屆國會的650個議席中,執政工黨擁有412席,在野保守黨只有121席,第三大黨自由民主黨有72席。如果沒有部分工黨或其他黨派人士支持,保守黨提出的任何建議都難獲通過。根據YouGov最新公佈的民調顯示,英國改革黨(Reform UK)現時以25%支持度領先,較第二位的執政工黨多一個百分點。至於保守黨支持度則跌至第三位,僅得21%,輿論相信作為黨魁的柏丹娜希望透過提出收緊移民政策,爭取回保守派選民的信任。柏丹娜最新主張將移民申請「永居權」(Indefinite Leave to Remain, ILR)的資格從5年延長至10年,申請英國護照的時間要求則從12個月延長至5年;換言之,移民必須等待至少15年才獲得英國公民身份,並修改下周在國會辯論的《邊境安全、庇護與移民法案》(Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill),追溯至2021年生效。


Source: 陳雲

https://www.patreon.com/posts/121780202?display_app_qr=1

Friday, February 07, 2025

想越混越好,一定要識人


看起來特別溫和的人,內心比較成熟

外表大大咧咧的人,一般格局高

單獨指出你問題的人,才是真正在意你的人。


低調話少的人,一般都有過人之處

飯桌上特別會敬酒的人,大多虛僞

同情心特別重的人,一般都很善良


說話總是先誇你的人,一般比較虛僞

經常請客吃飯的人,大多很重感情

騙過你一次的人,他還會繼續騙你


Source: elitesinsider

https://www.instagram.com/elitesinsider/p/DFweU4QMq5y/