If I were a terrorist, I'd hop over to New York immediately. The gettings are just so much better than in London! Why, in London the latest bombers are being labelled a bunch of amateurs by the police. The Prime Minister is reminding people to react calmly and get back to their daily routines, though it doesn't seem they need any particular reminder. There's been no change to the country's politics that I can see.

Meanwhile in America, there are inflammatory news articles based on the fact that a bombing suspect leaving the scene at London's Oval station was wearing a "New York" sweatshirt. The NYC police department has suddenly instituted a policy of randomly checking passenger's bags, despite concerns that there will almost certainly be problems with racial profiling. And 14 of 16 provisions in the privacy destroying Patriot Act were extended indefinitely today, with the other two getting another 10 years run.

So if your goal is to scare people, to change the policies of a behemoth government normally outside your control, and in short to flatter yourself as being the mouse that roared, come visit New York. The big red target is already painted on our behinds, as you can see. Just bring your own ammunition. :-PPP

I figure there are a lot of people reading this journal who don't know why they should care about the recent change in China's currency. And on a immediate personal level, they've got a point. But when it comes to understanding our society and its future, I'd like to do a little explaining. If I've wasted anyone's time, they can feel free to complain in a reply to this post.

On a technical note, this is a running matter of interest for me. I grew up in family where finances were never discussed and were often alluded to being very frightening. Even the word bank account was taboo. So I took an interest in learning about America's economy as a sort of stand-in.

China and America have had a very weird relationship in this way, and I've taken note of it. I'm also condensing some of what I've read online over the past couple of days. If anybody really wants sources, ask now. I'll probably have forgotten what info was where in a month or so. ( Read on. )