Just a year ago, millions of Americans were hooked on the thrill of getting cute tops from Shein, quirky gadgets from Temu, and discounted tech from AliExpress—all straight from China, often for under $10. For working-class families, students, and bargain hunters, these apps became essential. But now, the once-booming wave of ultra-cheap shopping is crashing—and it’s not by choice. The $800 Loophole That Made It All Work For years, Chinese companies capitalized on a U.S. customs rule that allowed goods under $800 to enter the country duty-free. By shipping directly to consumers in small packages, giants like Temu , Shein , and Alibaba bypassed traditional retail tariffs. It was a win-win: businesses saved money, and customers got rock-bottom prices. But the rules of the game have changed. Tariffs Go Nuclear: Up to 145% on Chinese Goods The U.S. government has recently imposed drastic new tariffs , with some rates reaching 125% or even 145% depending on the category. ...
A long time ago, there was an Emperor who told his horseman that if he could ride on his horse and cover as much land area as he likes, then the Emperor would give him the area of land he has covered. Sure enough, the horseman quickly jumped onto his horse and rode as fast as possible to cover as much land area as he could. He kept on riding and riding, whipping the horse to go as fast as possible. When he was hungry or tired, he did not stop because he wanted to cover as much area as possible. Came to a point when he had covered a substantial area and he was exhausted and was dying. Then he asked himself,"Why did I push myself so hard to cover so much land area? Now I am dying and I only need a very small area to bury myself." The above story is similar with the journey of our Life. We push very hard everyday to make more money, to gain power and recognition. We neglect our health, time with our family and to appreciate the surrounding beauty and the hobbies we...