Of China, the USA, and Tariffs

14/04/2025 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary china, debt, functional illiteracy, tariffs, trade, us nationalism, USA, world economy

Here's a short and sweet take on the tariff situation between these two superpowers by Paul Renaud, a "trusted independent adviser to CxOs and boards in Canada, the UK, and the US. (Source: LinkedIn.) I especially like the graphic that puts things in perspective. I've been hammering away at the blind spot of US nationalism, … Continue reading Of China, the USA, and Tariffs

The Future Belongs to Those Who Welcome Talent

05/04/2025 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary canada, immigration, project 2025, USA

This is a guest post by Rakhmad Sobirov, a Canada-based attorney and LinkedIn connection. The answer to his rhetorical question is a resounding YES. This is one of the many prices the US will pay for implementing the Project 2025 playbook. Peace, MAA Life offers strange ironies. Rakhmad was interrogated by Officer Ahmad. 🤣 Here's … Continue reading The Future Belongs to Those Who Welcome Talent

If You Were Evil and Wanted to Destroy America, How Would You Do It?

07/03/2025 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary alliances and global influence, america, chatGPT, cultural and psychological warfare, cyber warfare, economic destabilization, military weaking, political division and social unrest, president musk, trump, united states, USA

Speaking of "super dark," this Halloween-esque image is AI-generated. All he needs is a black MAGA hat a la President Musk. This is a question I asked ChatGPT. I was "inspired" by a related Instagram video. Here's its initial response: ChatGPT: That’s a pretty wild question! But if you're asking from a strategic, analytical perspective—like … Continue reading If You Were Evil and Wanted to Destroy America, How Would You Do It?

Is Donald Trump a Fascist?

15/02/2025 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary 2017, 2025, authoritarianism, autocracy, christofascism, fascism, kleptocracy, project 2025, trump, USA

So are his henchmen/women, including de facto President Musk. I asked Chat GPT this rhetorical question. Here's its namby-pamby answer, obviously based on what transpired during his first term. 2025 is not 2017. Let's ask the same question after the end of Trump 2.0 - if not before. My response would be: Is the Pope … Continue reading Is Donald Trump a Fascist?

Homelessness in the Wealthiest Country on Earth

05/08/202407/08/2024 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary debt, homelessness, philadelphia, poverty, USA

Photo by MAA How a society treats its most vulnerable is always the measure of its humanity. Statement by Ambassador Matthew Rycroft of the UK Mission to the UN at the Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict I saw many scenes like the above in the major US cities I visited earlier … Continue reading Homelessness in the Wealthiest Country on Earth

Top 10 Overseas Study Destinations for Young Vietnamese

14/03/202426/07/2024 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates australia, canada, china, finland, france, germany, ireland, japan, netherlands, new zealand, philippines, russia, singapore, south korea, taiwan, UK, USA, vietnam, vietnamese studying overseas

Summer 2024 Update Source: Chào Hanoi These countries host 93% of all Vietnamese studying abroad with 64% in Asia based on an estimated total of 275,000. Australia is currently the leading English-speaking destination, a place it frequently trades with the US. I occasionally see reports with outdated statistics in the Vietnamese and English language media. For … Continue reading Top 10 Overseas Study Destinations for Young Vietnamese

The “Made in the USA” Addiction Business Model

12/12/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary addiction business model, obesity, USA, vietnam

Good for the Corporate Bottom Line, Bad for Consumers' Health A loud and clear message from Robert Lufkin, MD, a medical school professor (UCLA & USC) whom I follow on LinkedIn whose lengthy tagline is helping people prevent/reverse chronic disease, cultivate consciousness, and live life to the fullest. 'Envision a world of love, abundance, and … Continue reading The “Made in the USA” Addiction Business Model

Canadian Public Schools Remain Popular Destination

11/12/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Updates boarding schools, canada, day schools, public schools, USA, vietnam, Vietnamese students

Here's a useful update I received via email from the Canadian Association of Public Schools - International. During the 2022-2023 school year, over 33,000 international students from 139 different countries studied in Canadian public schools. Here’s a look at the top 10 source countries of students who studied in a one-semester or academic year program. … Continue reading Canadian Public Schools Remain Popular Destination

Zero Tolerance, No Exceptions

08/12/202307/12/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary delaware, drunk driving, fines, license revocation, USA, vietnam, zero tolerance

"If you drink beer or liquor, don't drive. Safety for you and society." On my drive home the other night after an evening event, I chose a route that I figured would have a police checkpoint at that time of night on the lookout for drunk drivers. Let me modify that: drivers who had even … Continue reading Zero Tolerance, No Exceptions

The Overlap of Family & US History

21/11/202320/11/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary ancestral mathematics, British Colonial America, genealogy, history, present, USA

With US Thanksgiving quickly approaching (23.11.23) and as one of the more eccentric members of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD), I thought this might be a good time to share this meme, the kind that people post like to post, again and again, in genealogy Facebook groups. (Full disclosure: Genealogy is one of … Continue reading The Overlap of Family & US History

An International Educator in Vietnam

Information, Insights & (Frequently) Intrigue

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