What’s the opposite of the Meiji Restoration? Hopefully they can skip the caste system this time around.

Could’ve held it at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad. Likely more secure. And fewer folk would have had to fly in.

Large meeting at WH to discuss spelunking being reported rn

Most of you may know less than a cute retail banking officer in Taiwan…

And while published April 16th, it certainly didn’t say the U.S. would use a bust-up in the Middle East as an excuse for a (badly needed?) devaluation.

The actual shocking thing I learned from that article is Bretton Woods has a golf course.

Breakingviews - IMF’s Washington country club is rare and useful Despite jibes from Treasury ⁠Secretary Scott ​Bessent, the multilateral ​lender continues to enjoy American support. Its ​balance sheet ​is too small for ‌many ⁠rescue operations and geopolitics limit...

But if there’s a balance of payments/current account issue with a state “flexible exchange rate regimes… make currency depreciation the adjustment mechanism of first resort.”

That has nothing to do with Iran.

I just brought a stack of USD with me but depending on how the next few hours go might not want to hold it. USD might spike on risk, but many overseas were heavily hedging USD exposure while seeking access to the sock market a few months back…

Believe me, I’m just as shocked about that as you.

Strangely, it seems threats of war crimes may not hasten good-faith negotiations.

Prior reporting was that he had made the trip. Whatever. Back in D.C. now if he even left at all.

Vance didn’t even go to Pakistan or something.

Famous last words and all that. Still lookin’ pretty dicey out there.

Most of you may know less than a cute retail banking officer in Taiwan…

Line of Taipei City Police Department scooters, all Gogoros.

It’s a police line-up, in a way.

Will be jogging late, today.

Prepared food and HMR count as domestic products, right? And they did have good take-away soup. Bakery items are usually a skip.

Shin Kong might actually be better—but be prepared to bring clean notes. Genuinely got a benjamin rejected due to ink splotch 🫟 No fee and you can get a printout of FX rates from the kiosk.

The weird thing is, news of Australia’s purchase of warships broke three or so days ago.

Not actually accessible as permissions needed a correction. Should be viewable with the link, now, however.

Peeling paint adds texture to a building behind Beitou’s Hot Spring zone. Perhaps emblematic of the oldest type of (non-Japanese-colonial-era, that is) architecture you’re likely to readily find in Taipei. April, 2026.

Okay, done with the library. Had LUNCH. Delicious!

Detail from page 8 of "Taiwan Festivals" booklet

Found this while looking through my Google Drive.

Taiwan Tourism Bureau. "Taiwan Festivals: Exciting Events Happening Throughout the Year." Vision Creative Marketing & Media Co. Undated. <drive.google.com/file/d/1_7MeVsV1K6ykd5Ak...>

Weekly reflection/“pre-flection” journal atop a laptop bag with other accoutrements in Beitou Library, Taipei, April 2026.

Made it

Maybe an actual library day today.

Would prefer a mercantilist U.S. but it seems like they’ll push you to buy their LNG just to spend the current-account surplus on Lagrange-point loitering space nukes or something? Instead of more drill baby drill, that is.

Still on a Costco kick. If you can get out the door spending < $3,500 with > 50% domestic goods, you win! Hard to accomplish, however. Gift cards for local hotels, some produce, some meat/seafood. Believe there’s even a Taiwanese maker of USB-C cords but perhaps not actually from Taiwan?

Dine-in serving of Costco Taiwan’s pork rice with radish soup. Better than the clam chowder, which I remember being a bit sweet.

Costco Taiwan’s foodcourt signage including the $99 braised pork with radish soup offering.

Good choice at foodcourt is the “BRAISED PORK W/ RADISH SOUP” although actual presentation isn’t choice. Completely unique to Taiwan but Korea (for example) now has Tteokbokki, apparently.

Learning lots today