Obama was sworn in Tuesday with huge support — 68 percent in a Gallup poll released Saturday — and incredible optimism from the public; Bush left Washington with record-low job approval ratings.
A picture of poise, Obama didn't get rattled when Chief Justice John Roberts flubbed the oath of office, an exercise repeated a day later to ensure constitutionality. He breezed through his speech — which repudiated Bush's tenure though never personally attacked him — without a misstep. Even with the weight of the country's troubles now on his shoulders, he was relaxed as he twirled his wife, Michelle, at celebratory balls.
President Barack Obama opened his presidency by breaking sharply from the former President George W. Bush administration, but he mostly avoided divisive partisan and ideological stands. He focused instead on fixing the economy, repairing a battered world image and cleaning up government. Obama overturned a slew of Bush policies with great fanfare. He largely avoided cultural issues; the exception was reversing one abortion-related policy, a predictable move done in a very low-profile way. Obama was making good on his promise to bring change. Yet domestic and international challenges continue to pile up, and it's doubtful that life will be dramatically different for much of the ailing country anytime soon. His biggest agenda items — stabilizing the economy and ending the Iraq war — are complex tasks with results not expected soon. Even as Obama made broad pronouncements and signed a stream of executive orders to usher in a new governing era, his actions leave unanswered or unresolved questions, including how he will close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp for suspected terrorists.
He decreed that interrogators must follow techniques outlined in the Army Field Manual when questioning terrorism suspects, even as he ordered a review that could allow CIA interrogators to use other methods for high-value targets. Also, while a new White House rule limits staffers' previous lobbying activities, exceptions were made for at least two senior administration officials.
Certainly, some Republicans are griping about Obama's economic stimulus plan and closing Guantanamo. But their protests are somewhat muted, perhaps because little of what Obama has done thus far is a surprise. He had prepared the country and Congress for such steps during the campaign and transition. He also has emphasized a pragmatic, bipartisan approach, and enjoys broad public support.
Most of what he tackled came in areas where there is agreement across the political spectrum for a new direction, although the country is divided over shuttering Guantanamo. Obama long has emphasized solutions over partisanship, and he doesn't seem eager to address issues — at least for now — that create great ideological divides.
So far, Obama's only real brush with issues that stoke partisan passions came when he revoked a ban on federal funding for international groups that provide or promote abortions. He did that quietly by issuing a memorandum late Friday afternoon. The move was expected; the issue has vacillated between Republican and Democratic presidents.
Maybe not. But he has yet to face a crisis head-on as the country's leader, and it's only then that his confidence truly will be tested.
Still, Obama clearly has made the transition to governing.
In a mix of symbolism and substance, Obama used a host of executive tools to put his stamp on the country without having to go through Congress, making statements from the bully pulpit and signing White House directives.
He pledged to take bold steps to reverse the recession while meeting with his economic team, and told top military officials to do whatever planning necessary to execute a responsible military drawdown from Iraq. He issued new ethics rules for his administration and pledged to preside over a transparent government.
He ordered the Guantanamo detention center shut within a year, required the closure of any remaining secret CIA "black site" prisons abroad and barred CIA interrogators form using harsh techniques already banned for military questioners. He also assigned veteran troubleshooters to the Middle East, and Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Throughout it all, Obama demonstrated noticeable stylistic differences with his predecessor.
The high-tech Obama chose to keep his cherished BlackBerry, becoming the first sitting president to use e-mail. He made an impromptu visit to the White House's cramped media quarters just "to say hello." He also was spotted at one point ducking into the White House press office to consult with an aide. Bush avoided both areas at all costs. That sort of deferral to someone else in a public setting and admission of a less-than-perfect command of the facts was never Bush's style.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Kung Hei Fat Choi
Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is one of the most important day of Chinese holidays. It is calle the Lunar Ney Year, especially by people outside China. The tradition begins on the first day of the lunar month (Chinese正月; pinyin: zhēng yuè) in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival. Chinese New year's eve is known as Chúxī means Year-pass Eve.
The Celebration is considered a major holiday among the Chinese and has influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors. It is the most important oe the traditional Chinese holidays. It is the time of the largest human migration, when migrant workers in China, as well as overseas Chinese around the world travel home to have reunion dinners with their families on New Year's eve. The aboriginal Taiwanese people, Koreans, Mongolians, Nepalese, Bhutanese, Vietnamese, and formerly Japanese before 1873. In Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and other countries with significant Han Chinese populations.
Although the Chinese calendar traditionally does not use continuously numbered years, its years are often numbered from the reign of Huangdi outside China. But at least three different years numbered 1 are now used by various scholars, making the year 2008 "Chinese Year 4706, 4705, or 4645.
The 2009 date for Chinese New Year is January 26.
In the Gregorian calendar, Chinese New Year falls on different dates each year, a date between January 21 and February 20. This means that the holiday usually falls on the second (very rare third) new moon after the winter soltice. In traditional Chinese Culture, lichun is a solar term marking the start of spring, which occurs about February 4.
Today, our Chinese brothers and Sisters around the world is welcoming the year of the Earth Ox, which symbolizes strength gathers through unity, harmony, obedience, courage and hard slog.
Each Year is named for one of the twelve animals in turn: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
Alongside the 12-year cycle of the animal zodiac there is a ten-year cycle of heavenly stems. Eachof the ten heavenly stems is associated with one of the five elements of the Chinese astrology, namely: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. The elements are rotated every two years while a yin and yang association alternates every year. The elements are thus distinguished: Yang Wood, Yin Wood, Yang Fire, Yin Fire, etc. These produce a combined cycle that repeats every 60 years. For example, the year of the Yang Fire Rat occured in 1936 and in 1996, 60 years apart.
It is a time when families visit the oldest and most senior members of their extended family, usually their parents, grand parents, or greatgrandparents. Members of the family who are married give red packets (ang pao) containing cash to junior members of the family, mostly children and teenagers. Red is the favorite color for Chinese New Year clothing and decorations, as it is said to bring good luck. Since it symbolizes fire, it is believed to ward away evil.
The houses doors are decorated with gold and red scroll that are inscribed with wishes with good charms, and windows are opened at midnight to out the evil of the past year and let in the luck and prosperity of the new year. The most colorful of the celebration is the dragon and lion dance. An enormous dragon and lion dance head, with a long body of colotful fabric, performs and energetic dance manipulated by skilled operators.
The food are serve during the Chinese New Year are mostly symbolic since Chinese believe food can directly affect one's fortune in the coming year. Dining tables are filled with food to ensure prosperity and abundance in the new year. Dishes or ingredients are chosen that will bring good luck, and long life, and hapinnes. It also signifies the end of winter and is a celebration to welcome spring in the company of family and friends, with Chinese music and dance, lanterns and feasts, and the thundering beat of drums, and fireworks ro dispel the bad and bring in good luck.
The Celebration is considered a major holiday among the Chinese and has influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors. It is the most important oe the traditional Chinese holidays. It is the time of the largest human migration, when migrant workers in China, as well as overseas Chinese around the world travel home to have reunion dinners with their families on New Year's eve. The aboriginal Taiwanese people, Koreans, Mongolians, Nepalese, Bhutanese, Vietnamese, and formerly Japanese before 1873. In Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and other countries with significant Han Chinese populations.
Although the Chinese calendar traditionally does not use continuously numbered years, its years are often numbered from the reign of Huangdi outside China. But at least three different years numbered 1 are now used by various scholars, making the year 2008 "Chinese Year 4706, 4705, or 4645.
The 2009 date for Chinese New Year is January 26.
In the Gregorian calendar, Chinese New Year falls on different dates each year, a date between January 21 and February 20. This means that the holiday usually falls on the second (very rare third) new moon after the winter soltice. In traditional Chinese Culture, lichun is a solar term marking the start of spring, which occurs about February 4.
Today, our Chinese brothers and Sisters around the world is welcoming the year of the Earth Ox, which symbolizes strength gathers through unity, harmony, obedience, courage and hard slog.
Each Year is named for one of the twelve animals in turn: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
Alongside the 12-year cycle of the animal zodiac there is a ten-year cycle of heavenly stems. Eachof the ten heavenly stems is associated with one of the five elements of the Chinese astrology, namely: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. The elements are rotated every two years while a yin and yang association alternates every year. The elements are thus distinguished: Yang Wood, Yin Wood, Yang Fire, Yin Fire, etc. These produce a combined cycle that repeats every 60 years. For example, the year of the Yang Fire Rat occured in 1936 and in 1996, 60 years apart.
It is a time when families visit the oldest and most senior members of their extended family, usually their parents, grand parents, or greatgrandparents. Members of the family who are married give red packets (ang pao) containing cash to junior members of the family, mostly children and teenagers. Red is the favorite color for Chinese New Year clothing and decorations, as it is said to bring good luck. Since it symbolizes fire, it is believed to ward away evil.
The houses doors are decorated with gold and red scroll that are inscribed with wishes with good charms, and windows are opened at midnight to out the evil of the past year and let in the luck and prosperity of the new year. The most colorful of the celebration is the dragon and lion dance. An enormous dragon and lion dance head, with a long body of colotful fabric, performs and energetic dance manipulated by skilled operators.
The food are serve during the Chinese New Year are mostly symbolic since Chinese believe food can directly affect one's fortune in the coming year. Dining tables are filled with food to ensure prosperity and abundance in the new year. Dishes or ingredients are chosen that will bring good luck, and long life, and hapinnes. It also signifies the end of winter and is a celebration to welcome spring in the company of family and friends, with Chinese music and dance, lanterns and feasts, and the thundering beat of drums, and fireworks ro dispel the bad and bring in good luck.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Ice Breaking Off Antartica
As evidence of man made indication of global warming, the breakage of the ice in Antartica as the global warming increases. The climate changes, the hot season is longer.
Jatropha Curcas
Jatropha curcas, is a perennial poisonous shrub, Barbados nut or Physic nut with a height of up to 5 meters.
The plant originating in Central America, and it has been spreead to other countries in tropical ang sub-tropical countries as well and is widely grown in Asia and Africa. It is an uncultivated wild species, a non-food plants. In the Philippines it is widely use as a living fence to protect the gardens and any other fields from animals, it is also use believed as a deterent to snakes, it grows in desert and even grow with less water and as such does not compete with food crops, the animals don't like to eat the leaves so they can grow well.
The seeds contains 30% oil that can be process to produced high quality bio-diesel fuel, usable for a standard diesel engine.
We try to plant Jatropha curcas, but the problem is the market. There is no known market yet in the Philippines, so we stop planting Jatropha, in the bakyard of our house Jatropha is a common plant.
The plant originating in Central America, and it has been spreead to other countries in tropical ang sub-tropical countries as well and is widely grown in Asia and Africa. It is an uncultivated wild species, a non-food plants. In the Philippines it is widely use as a living fence to protect the gardens and any other fields from animals, it is also use believed as a deterent to snakes, it grows in desert and even grow with less water and as such does not compete with food crops, the animals don't like to eat the leaves so they can grow well.
The seeds contains 30% oil that can be process to produced high quality bio-diesel fuel, usable for a standard diesel engine.
We try to plant Jatropha curcas, but the problem is the market. There is no known market yet in the Philippines, so we stop planting Jatropha, in the bakyard of our house Jatropha is a common plant.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Intel Philippines Close
Intel Philippines is closing its manufacturing plant in cavity by year end, Intel announced a billion dollar fab in china tha fave the way of speculation. The reasons vary — from high corporate taxes, to expensive electricity charges and even stealing of microchips. Other's says it’s about the structural integrity of the Cavite plant (that’s why the Laguna TechnoPark was an option). Intel may be really moving most of its Asian operations to China. That’s where cheap labor is abundant. Intel still has assembly test sites in Kulim & Penang, Malaysia, Pudong & Chengdu, China and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Bake Bibingka Supreme
Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 385ml. Evap Milk coco evap.
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup grated cheese
2 salted eggs, sliced
Procedure:
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and line bottom of 2 8-inch layer baking pan with banana leaves or wax paper. Set aside.
2. Sft flour, banking powder and salt together. Set aside.
3. Beat eggs until light and creamy. Gradually and sugar, beating well after each addition.
4. Add flour mixture alternately with Carnation coco evap into the egg. Beat to blend thoroughly.
5. Pour mixture in lined pans. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven.
6. Spread butter on top then sprinkle with sugar and grated cheese. Decorate with salted egg slices and for 10 to 15 minutes more.
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 385ml. Evap Milk coco evap.
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup grated cheese
2 salted eggs, sliced
Procedure:
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and line bottom of 2 8-inch layer baking pan with banana leaves or wax paper. Set aside.
2. Sft flour, banking powder and salt together. Set aside.
3. Beat eggs until light and creamy. Gradually and sugar, beating well after each addition.
4. Add flour mixture alternately with Carnation coco evap into the egg. Beat to blend thoroughly.
5. Pour mixture in lined pans. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven.
6. Spread butter on top then sprinkle with sugar and grated cheese. Decorate with salted egg slices and for 10 to 15 minutes more.
Ponzi Schemes
Ponzi Scheme, named after an Italian immigrant, Carlo "Charles" Ponzi.
Carlo Ponzi came to America from Canada where he spent some time in jail for passing bounced checks. He ended up rather quickly in Federal prison in the U.S. for smuggling illegal aliens into the country.
Here's what He did.
At that time, the post offices of the world issued what were called International Reply Coupons, which in essence were certificates good for postage stamps throughout the world. Ponzi's idea was to purchase these coupons in countries where the inflation rate was high and redeem them in countries where the rate was low. Simply put, this enable him to buy low and sell high.
On the strength of these coupons, Ponzi created the Securities Exchange Company and issued his own "promissory notes." An investor could purchase one of Ponzi's notes with a face value of say $100 or $150. In just 90 days, the investor could redeem the note for its full value. In the days when banks were regulated to offer four percent interest, Ponzi's notes promised an extraordinary returns.!
At first, the investors were dubious and risked only a few dollars say $20 . However, after earning 50 percent interest on their money a couple of times, they felt more secure and soon began to invest thousands. Ponzi also cut the time frame down to 45 days to sweeten the deal for investors. (It works!)
In no time at all, Ponzi's kingdom grew to a staggering proportions. One million bucks would flow into his offices every day! As his investor got rich and spread the word of mouth, Ponzi got even richer. He was hailed as a financial genius. He now owned a local bank (the Hanover Trust Company), lived in the posh suburb of Lexington, Massachusetts, and was known far as The Great Ponzi."
The Problem.
Ponzi's "money machine" operated by robbing from Peter to pay Paul. He took the money investors sent in today to pay the money due tomorrow on previous investor's notes. It was a merry-go-round of money that seemed to work perfectly.. The International Reply coupons that were supposed to be the source of Ponzi's wealth building investments didn't exist. Ponzi never purchased more than $100 worth of them.
And one day in 1920, the merry-go-round stopped dead.
A public relations man whom Ponzi had hired to handle the attactks from the Boston press took one look at was actually going on-- and blew the whistle.
Ponzi was convicted of mail fraud and sentenced to nine years in prison. He jumped bail, and move to Florida, sold swamp land in a real estate scam, got caught and was returned to prison. Eventually, he was deported back to Italy . Ponzi died alone and broke in 1949.
Imagine, over $15 million (in 1920 dollars) was paid out to investors before the merry-go-round business collapsed.
The total amount of money lost during the time of Ponzi will never be known.
What made Ponzi's scam an illegal pyramid scheme was the merry-go-round principle. As long as money was coming in, money would continue to go out. Investors were paid in full , on time, and everyone was happy. However, when the money stopped coming in, the "jig was up." The same thing would happened if the amount of money coming in had begun to slow down.
Carlo "Charles" Ponzi was the proud father of one of the most incredible inventions of all time--the illegal pyramid scheme.
What Ponzi did was to live on the "float" you know, like writing a check today to pay yesterday's bills based on money that won't be cashed until tomorrow in the hope that the check won't be cashed until some time next week and so on and on.
The people who invested late in the game lost their money. Some of them lost everything they had.
Carlo Ponzi came to America from Canada where he spent some time in jail for passing bounced checks. He ended up rather quickly in Federal prison in the U.S. for smuggling illegal aliens into the country.
Here's what He did.
At that time, the post offices of the world issued what were called International Reply Coupons, which in essence were certificates good for postage stamps throughout the world. Ponzi's idea was to purchase these coupons in countries where the inflation rate was high and redeem them in countries where the rate was low. Simply put, this enable him to buy low and sell high.
On the strength of these coupons, Ponzi created the Securities Exchange Company and issued his own "promissory notes." An investor could purchase one of Ponzi's notes with a face value of say $100 or $150. In just 90 days, the investor could redeem the note for its full value. In the days when banks were regulated to offer four percent interest, Ponzi's notes promised an extraordinary returns.!
At first, the investors were dubious and risked only a few dollars say $20 . However, after earning 50 percent interest on their money a couple of times, they felt more secure and soon began to invest thousands. Ponzi also cut the time frame down to 45 days to sweeten the deal for investors. (It works!)
In no time at all, Ponzi's kingdom grew to a staggering proportions. One million bucks would flow into his offices every day! As his investor got rich and spread the word of mouth, Ponzi got even richer. He was hailed as a financial genius. He now owned a local bank (the Hanover Trust Company), lived in the posh suburb of Lexington, Massachusetts, and was known far as The Great Ponzi."
The Problem.
Ponzi's "money machine" operated by robbing from Peter to pay Paul. He took the money investors sent in today to pay the money due tomorrow on previous investor's notes. It was a merry-go-round of money that seemed to work perfectly.. The International Reply coupons that were supposed to be the source of Ponzi's wealth building investments didn't exist. Ponzi never purchased more than $100 worth of them.
And one day in 1920, the merry-go-round stopped dead.
A public relations man whom Ponzi had hired to handle the attactks from the Boston press took one look at was actually going on-- and blew the whistle.
Ponzi was convicted of mail fraud and sentenced to nine years in prison. He jumped bail, and move to Florida, sold swamp land in a real estate scam, got caught and was returned to prison. Eventually, he was deported back to Italy . Ponzi died alone and broke in 1949.
Imagine, over $15 million (in 1920 dollars) was paid out to investors before the merry-go-round business collapsed.
The total amount of money lost during the time of Ponzi will never be known.
What made Ponzi's scam an illegal pyramid scheme was the merry-go-round principle. As long as money was coming in, money would continue to go out. Investors were paid in full , on time, and everyone was happy. However, when the money stopped coming in, the "jig was up." The same thing would happened if the amount of money coming in had begun to slow down.
Carlo "Charles" Ponzi was the proud father of one of the most incredible inventions of all time--the illegal pyramid scheme.
What Ponzi did was to live on the "float" you know, like writing a check today to pay yesterday's bills based on money that won't be cashed until tomorrow in the hope that the check won't be cashed until some time next week and so on and on.
The people who invested late in the game lost their money. Some of them lost everything they had.
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