Social networking services are online communities of people who share interests and activities. They allow users to create a profile of themselves, upload pictures, invite their friends and also make friends. Users can interact through emails, and instant messages.
There are about two hundreds social network services. The tops one are Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and Bebo.
Social networking services have become very popular to the point that even businesses are using them as a tool to build their brand image. Businesses create brand awareness through social networking services, they learn about new technologies and competitors, they look for potential prospects and they even recruit.
Social networking services are now being used in political campaigns. As we saw in the last presidential campaign, Youtube was a way for candidates to send out their messages, but also for voters to ask questions and get to know better their candidates, as well as the opponents.
The people of Boston will soon vote for a new Mayor. Candidates for the election are using different method to reach the voters. Michael Flaherty and Sam Yoon, who are two of the candidates in the mayoral election, are “pro” social networking services. Flaherty said in the Metro: “It’s about bringing the election to the people in real different way”. His site allows residents to share their ideas and make suggestions. Sam Yoon said that he will “engage in debates with Boston city residents on his Twitter page”. They are using Obama as a reference and Yoon said, “Obama really pointed the way in terms of how people get connected in new ways”.
One of the way people can get connected now is through social networking services, which is becoming a part of society, a part of the way people talk, and informed themselves, date, decide who they want to vote for and so on. This new way of communication facilitates the exchange of information. It touches a wide range of people, and in a political contest has proven to be very useful.
In everything that is good, there is a bad side that comes with it. Social networking services can be harmful for those who use them. The danger comes from having your identity stolen to young children being manipulated and abused. But for now it is not yet the prime concern of the media.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
"Three hefty tax increases on business"
In an article from fortune magazine, Geoff Colvin reports on the new laws that the Obama administration plan to put in place in search of revenue as well as to protect American jobs. This article entitled "Business Gets Taxed, Workers Get hurt" is about "three hefty tax increases on business"
The first one is about corporation that are located overseas in order to evade corporate taxes. The US Government is said to be "virtually the world's highest corporate tax rate". Countries with lower corporate tax rates are considered to be "tax haven" and more and more corporations established themselves in those countries and only pay the country tax requirement. In order to reduce this from happening the White house is proposing to charges American companies that are overseas taxes on "their profits as soon as they are earned, no matter where". This is supposed to discourage companies from relocating and at the same time keep the jobs in the USA. As it said by Steve Ballmer, Microsoft Chief "we are better off taking lots of people and moving them out of the U.S as opposed to keeping them inside the US".
The other proposed law is about how companies should account their inventories. It will be required that they use FIFO instead of LIFO. This will make companies pay taxes "on phantom profits as value of goods gets inflated while they sit in inventory". Due to inflation that keep on rising it will cost more for companies rather than benefiting them.
The third proposed tax increase is on carbon emissions, which is for the benefit of the planet but still is a tax that companies will have to incur.
As Geoff Covin reports, the victim are not the companies but the employees, the shareholders and the customers. Especially the employees of those companies being taxed. Because most of the tax increase come out of employees' pay.
With this economy and the fact that companies have to be more and more competitive in order to survive, it seems that proposed laws that are being put in place are not very favorable to US corporate and also to their employees. The "loser" of all as it is stipulated in this article are the employees who are really the ordinary people.
The first one is about corporation that are located overseas in order to evade corporate taxes. The US Government is said to be "virtually the world's highest corporate tax rate". Countries with lower corporate tax rates are considered to be "tax haven" and more and more corporations established themselves in those countries and only pay the country tax requirement. In order to reduce this from happening the White house is proposing to charges American companies that are overseas taxes on "their profits as soon as they are earned, no matter where". This is supposed to discourage companies from relocating and at the same time keep the jobs in the USA. As it said by Steve Ballmer, Microsoft Chief "we are better off taking lots of people and moving them out of the U.S as opposed to keeping them inside the US".
The other proposed law is about how companies should account their inventories. It will be required that they use FIFO instead of LIFO. This will make companies pay taxes "on phantom profits as value of goods gets inflated while they sit in inventory". Due to inflation that keep on rising it will cost more for companies rather than benefiting them.
The third proposed tax increase is on carbon emissions, which is for the benefit of the planet but still is a tax that companies will have to incur.
As Geoff Covin reports, the victim are not the companies but the employees, the shareholders and the customers. Especially the employees of those companies being taxed. Because most of the tax increase come out of employees' pay.
With this economy and the fact that companies have to be more and more competitive in order to survive, it seems that proposed laws that are being put in place are not very favorable to US corporate and also to their employees. The "loser" of all as it is stipulated in this article are the employees who are really the ordinary people.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The Chairman of the Fed defends himself
Ben Bernanke was appearing in front of the Congress on June 25th regarding his role in the merger of Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. He is being accused of pressuring, and threatening to fire the Chief Executive of Bank of America, if the company decide to "pull out of the deal".
Edmund Andrews gives a report on the matter to Jeff Summer of the New York podcats. The Federal reserve and the treasury have intervened more than once in the bail out of big Banks since the economic crisis. The merger of Bank of America and Merill Lynch is being seen as a "messy business" because Merill Lynch has incurred huge losses and to avoid the collapse of this huge financial institution Bank of America is to take over of Merill Lynch. But as it is reported in the podcast, the Federal Reserve has been to "secretive to the regulatory agencies about Merill Lynch losses". The merger does not seem to be of an interest to Bank of America but since the Fed wants to avoid the collapse of Merill Lynch, Ben Bernanke is supposedly pressuring the Chief executive as well as the board of Bank of America to seal the deal.
The latest bail out of the banks by the Fed have been viewed differently by the Republicans and the Democrats. As Edmund says in the report "Republicans are out for blood", they disapprove the Fed "authority in regulating important institutions" and also the President Obama's plan of "arming private institutions". For the Republican the government interference can be the reason why Merill Lynch has collapsed compare to the inadequate regulations of the government. For the Democrats the Fed did not do enough to resolve Merill Lynch issue.
Even though the bail out of Banks by the Fed and the treasury is a controversy, it has helped "stop the free fall of the financial institution" and bring the economy in a "plain fashion recession" as it said by Edmund Andrews.
At this point some programs are being held and even suppressed, but the one that is still in process are loaned such as, consumer loan, business loan as well as mortgage loan that will be finance by the Fed and the treasury, a program of $30 billion to trillion.
Edmund Andrews gives a report on the matter to Jeff Summer of the New York podcats. The Federal reserve and the treasury have intervened more than once in the bail out of big Banks since the economic crisis. The merger of Bank of America and Merill Lynch is being seen as a "messy business" because Merill Lynch has incurred huge losses and to avoid the collapse of this huge financial institution Bank of America is to take over of Merill Lynch. But as it is reported in the podcast, the Federal Reserve has been to "secretive to the regulatory agencies about Merill Lynch losses". The merger does not seem to be of an interest to Bank of America but since the Fed wants to avoid the collapse of Merill Lynch, Ben Bernanke is supposedly pressuring the Chief executive as well as the board of Bank of America to seal the deal.
The latest bail out of the banks by the Fed have been viewed differently by the Republicans and the Democrats. As Edmund says in the report "Republicans are out for blood", they disapprove the Fed "authority in regulating important institutions" and also the President Obama's plan of "arming private institutions". For the Republican the government interference can be the reason why Merill Lynch has collapsed compare to the inadequate regulations of the government. For the Democrats the Fed did not do enough to resolve Merill Lynch issue.
Even though the bail out of Banks by the Fed and the treasury is a controversy, it has helped "stop the free fall of the financial institution" and bring the economy in a "plain fashion recession" as it said by Edmund Andrews.
At this point some programs are being held and even suppressed, but the one that is still in process are loaned such as, consumer loan, business loan as well as mortgage loan that will be finance by the Fed and the treasury, a program of $30 billion to trillion.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
The success of the Iphone 3GS
Despite the economical hardship the Iphone 3GS keeps its position as the most desirable "gadget" of the twenty one century. As it was reported on Fortune.com, the new Iphone that was released last week sold "more than one million copies". An average sales that surpassed what they had predicted.
The report on the sale of the new Iphone 3GS is significant but not as much as the special quote made by Steve Jobs the CEO of Apple. Steve Jobs, who has been absent for sometimes due to medical condition, is an important key in the success of Apple. His presence is very well regarded by retail investors and since Steve Jobs left for medical condition the stock price of Apple has change but not significantly. On June 12 it closed at $136.97 dropped to $135.88 on June 18 ( the day before the release of the Iphone 3GS) and climbed back to $139.48 on June 19 and now is down at $137.37 as of June 22.
The medical situation of Steve Jobs was kept silence and major newspapers would not confirm on this. Until it was reported by CNBC and after the Wall Street Journal that Steve Jobs has received liver transplant two months ago. The fact that Apple's executive kept silence on this issue has been criticized. Since Apple is a public company it should disclosed every information concerning the company that might affect the stock. Especially that the CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs, influenced a lot the confidence of investors in Apple' stock.
The report on the sale of the new Iphone 3GS is significant but not as much as the special quote made by Steve Jobs the CEO of Apple. Steve Jobs, who has been absent for sometimes due to medical condition, is an important key in the success of Apple. His presence is very well regarded by retail investors and since Steve Jobs left for medical condition the stock price of Apple has change but not significantly. On June 12 it closed at $136.97 dropped to $135.88 on June 18 ( the day before the release of the Iphone 3GS) and climbed back to $139.48 on June 19 and now is down at $137.37 as of June 22.
The medical situation of Steve Jobs was kept silence and major newspapers would not confirm on this. Until it was reported by CNBC and after the Wall Street Journal that Steve Jobs has received liver transplant two months ago. The fact that Apple's executive kept silence on this issue has been criticized. Since Apple is a public company it should disclosed every information concerning the company that might affect the stock. Especially that the CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs, influenced a lot the confidence of investors in Apple' stock.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Living in Paris
Paris is known has one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Their excellent taste in food, their beautiful places, beautiful clothes are one of the many reasons some people love Paris.
Paris is an historic city where lot of monuments can be visited. The Eiffel tower as well as the Louvre are some of them.
One of the famous food in my opinion in Paris is the bread. There are different type of bread, the most popular one is "la baguette". French eat "La baguette" with almost every meal they have throughout the day.
In Paris there are a lot of bakery shop, which sell "la baguette" all day long, along with other pastry such as pie, and cake. If you ever go to Paris on vacation, do not forget to stop by any bakery and taste the beauty of "la baguette" with some cheese.
Paris is an historic city where lot of monuments can be visited. The Eiffel tower as well as the Louvre are some of them.
One of the famous food in my opinion in Paris is the bread. There are different type of bread, the most popular one is "la baguette". French eat "La baguette" with almost every meal they have throughout the day.
In Paris there are a lot of bakery shop, which sell "la baguette" all day long, along with other pastry such as pie, and cake. If you ever go to Paris on vacation, do not forget to stop by any bakery and taste the beauty of "la baguette" with some cheese.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Another scheme!!!!
On June 19, Jeff Sommer interviewed Clifford Kraus in the New York podcast regarding another scheme that was made by a Texas Billionaire named R.Allen Stanford.
Mister Stanford has been "indicted on fraud and obstruction charges". He is the owner of an offshore bank in Antiga, which is supposed to invest in safe investments such as, high yield CD in Latin America and in the USA. But instead he was running a "ponzy scheme" that consist of "buying real estate to operate his organization and also invest in risky investment". The total of the scheme accounted for seven billion dollar, which it said to be less that what Madoff did but still is a lot of money. R.Allen corrupted Mr King, the head of regulatory commissions of Antiga, which made is scheme easier to operate and harder to catch. This ponzy scheme has affected mainly the people from Latin America who actually do not want to have this issue publicized intensively, due to the fact that most of them put those fund offshore to avoid taxes in their own country and the other who might want to get their fund back will not get a lot because some of the money has been frozen by investors fund and the over is "less than 2 billion of recoverable asset". Mr Stanford is said to be in Antiga, and has proclaimed his innocence. He blamed the US government for "cracking down his organization".
Lately the financial world has shown how corrupted it can be. Hopefully solutions will be found to better regulate the investment sector and protect more the investors.
Mister Stanford has been "indicted on fraud and obstruction charges". He is the owner of an offshore bank in Antiga, which is supposed to invest in safe investments such as, high yield CD in Latin America and in the USA. But instead he was running a "ponzy scheme" that consist of "buying real estate to operate his organization and also invest in risky investment". The total of the scheme accounted for seven billion dollar, which it said to be less that what Madoff did but still is a lot of money. R.Allen corrupted Mr King, the head of regulatory commissions of Antiga, which made is scheme easier to operate and harder to catch. This ponzy scheme has affected mainly the people from Latin America who actually do not want to have this issue publicized intensively, due to the fact that most of them put those fund offshore to avoid taxes in their own country and the other who might want to get their fund back will not get a lot because some of the money has been frozen by investors fund and the over is "less than 2 billion of recoverable asset". Mr Stanford is said to be in Antiga, and has proclaimed his innocence. He blamed the US government for "cracking down his organization".
Lately the financial world has shown how corrupted it can be. Hopefully solutions will be found to better regulate the investment sector and protect more the investors.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Ships Exposition on the Boston Harbor
In an article from the boston.com, untitled "$1m deal will open Tall Ships to public", Donovan Slack reports on the coming Ships exhibition on the Boston Harbor. This event will take place from July 8 to July 13. It will enable public to board free of charge on ships from "20 different countries" and also different types of ships.
It is not the first time that Boston has hosted such an event. It was done back in 2000 and was a great success. But it brought some dispute over whose responsible for the cost of security. This year, this event is facing the same issue, Mayor Menino does not want the city to take charge of all the expenses that the exposition require. But, the Mayor of Boston (Menino Thomas) as well as the Governor of Massachusetts (Deval Patrick) came up with an agreement where the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority will come up with $1 Million to support "the security costs" of this event.
The reason why the Mayor is so concern about the funding of this event is that he does not want the city of Boston to be responsible of all the costs that will be incurred to provided the safety of the public. Back in 2000, the city was left with a bill of $1.6 million that it had to pay without any support of the state as well as the organizer who actually made huge profit out of this exposition.
As they say in this article, this event will boost the economy of the city by booking more hotels rooms, as well as restaurants. This should be an incentive for the Mayor to be more engaged financially in this exposition. But with what happened in 2000, the Mayor has well founded reasons to make sure that the fund will be sponsored from somewhere instead of leaving the city responsible of all the security costs.
Beside the funding issue, this event seems to give an opportunity to people who love prestigious ships to board on them and share great moments.
It is not the first time that Boston has hosted such an event. It was done back in 2000 and was a great success. But it brought some dispute over whose responsible for the cost of security. This year, this event is facing the same issue, Mayor Menino does not want the city to take charge of all the expenses that the exposition require. But, the Mayor of Boston (Menino Thomas) as well as the Governor of Massachusetts (Deval Patrick) came up with an agreement where the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority will come up with $1 Million to support "the security costs" of this event.
The reason why the Mayor is so concern about the funding of this event is that he does not want the city of Boston to be responsible of all the costs that will be incurred to provided the safety of the public. Back in 2000, the city was left with a bill of $1.6 million that it had to pay without any support of the state as well as the organizer who actually made huge profit out of this exposition.
As they say in this article, this event will boost the economy of the city by booking more hotels rooms, as well as restaurants. This should be an incentive for the Mayor to be more engaged financially in this exposition. But with what happened in 2000, the Mayor has well founded reasons to make sure that the fund will be sponsored from somewhere instead of leaving the city responsible of all the security costs.
Beside the funding issue, this event seems to give an opportunity to people who love prestigious ships to board on them and share great moments.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The power of reading
Do you read? If yes, How reading has influenced your life? If you ask me it has influence my life a lot. I would like to share with you a poem from RUMI, which I just find "deep" and inspiring.
" The wine and the cup
The wine of divine grace is limitless.
All limits come only from the faults of the cup.
Moonlight floods the whole sky from horizon to horizon;
How much it can fill your room depends on its windows.
Grant a great dignity, my friend, to the cup of your life;
Love has designed it to hold His eternal wine.
Mathnawi"
This poem in my opinion is a metaphor of the body and the soul. The body being the cup and the soul being the wine. Just like the sea, the sea is limtless to the human eyes. The wine as well is limtless as long as the cup can hold it. The soul being pure, being love, is limtless. Love has no limit when we really want to love and only put love first in every of our actions. Human beings set their own boundaries by being to tied up to their body, worrying about the satisfaction of the body, the ego. That where we become limited in our actions. How love can fill our heart is by having on open mind, an open heart, being able to let yourself love and being loved in return. We should respect our body, love our body because it is the container of the love that we receive on daily basis and that we return on a daily basis. But we should not let our body guide us because it is the wine which really contains the cup and not the cup that contains the wine.
" The wine and the cup
The wine of divine grace is limitless.
All limits come only from the faults of the cup.
Moonlight floods the whole sky from horizon to horizon;
How much it can fill your room depends on its windows.
Grant a great dignity, my friend, to the cup of your life;
Love has designed it to hold His eternal wine.
Mathnawi"
This poem in my opinion is a metaphor of the body and the soul. The body being the cup and the soul being the wine. Just like the sea, the sea is limtless to the human eyes. The wine as well is limtless as long as the cup can hold it. The soul being pure, being love, is limtless. Love has no limit when we really want to love and only put love first in every of our actions. Human beings set their own boundaries by being to tied up to their body, worrying about the satisfaction of the body, the ego. That where we become limited in our actions. How love can fill our heart is by having on open mind, an open heart, being able to let yourself love and being loved in return. We should respect our body, love our body because it is the container of the love that we receive on daily basis and that we return on a daily basis. But we should not let our body guide us because it is the wine which really contains the cup and not the cup that contains the wine.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Federal Regulation on Tobacco
In the New York Times Podcast dated June 11, 2009, Jeff Sommer interviews Duff Wilson regarding the new legislation that will certainly be approved by senate regarding the disclosure of the chemicals products used in cigarettes and all type of tobaccos.
This legislation is now possible because of the Democrats who have the majority votes in the Senate.
This legislation will force Tobacco Industry to "get rid" of some of the dangerous chemicals ingredients used in tobaccos, but also regulate the way they do their marketing.
This regulation will reduce the number of young smokers as well as the number of new users. But as they say tobacco will never be banned.
The tobacco industry are arguing that tobacco is not a drug and that menthol is not consider as a dangerous ingredient.
Is tobacco a drug? If not why do people want to regulate it?
Tobacco is considered as a killing machine, it kills more people everyday compare to AIDS for example. But it is only now that something is being made to protect children, those who have never smoked and those who are already addicted.
In developed countries like the United States of America and Europe laws "protect" citizens again abusive industries who only think of their profits. But those legislation only protect a group of people who live on the "good side" of the planet. What about those who live in countries where tobacco industries can actually advertise on television as well as on humongous billboard that are almost everywhere. Those countries can only blame themselves, some people might say. But I say this, if you are protecting a human being from being killed, you should protect all human beings. I guess that is why humanity came up with those International organizations who only act when they have some kind of interest.
If Europe is fighting against tobacco industries and now the United States, I guess it has become a world issues, so what the UN,UNICEF or all those NGOs are waiting for to protect those who are in need by regulating the tobacco industry not only on a national level but on a worldwide level?
This legislation is now possible because of the Democrats who have the majority votes in the Senate.
This legislation will force Tobacco Industry to "get rid" of some of the dangerous chemicals ingredients used in tobaccos, but also regulate the way they do their marketing.
This regulation will reduce the number of young smokers as well as the number of new users. But as they say tobacco will never be banned.
The tobacco industry are arguing that tobacco is not a drug and that menthol is not consider as a dangerous ingredient.
Is tobacco a drug? If not why do people want to regulate it?
Tobacco is considered as a killing machine, it kills more people everyday compare to AIDS for example. But it is only now that something is being made to protect children, those who have never smoked and those who are already addicted.
In developed countries like the United States of America and Europe laws "protect" citizens again abusive industries who only think of their profits. But those legislation only protect a group of people who live on the "good side" of the planet. What about those who live in countries where tobacco industries can actually advertise on television as well as on humongous billboard that are almost everywhere. Those countries can only blame themselves, some people might say. But I say this, if you are protecting a human being from being killed, you should protect all human beings. I guess that is why humanity came up with those International organizations who only act when they have some kind of interest.
If Europe is fighting against tobacco industries and now the United States, I guess it has become a world issues, so what the UN,UNICEF or all those NGOs are waiting for to protect those who are in need by regulating the tobacco industry not only on a national level but on a worldwide level?
Monday, June 8, 2009
High end Vacation for the price of "almost nothing"
I an article from the fortune magazine dated June 5 2009, Diane Tegmeye reports on the prices of hotels' rooms that have been decreasing at the highest since the economic recession.
For those who want a nice getaway in some nice places around the world, the time has never been better than before. High end hotels such as the Four Seasons Hotels, the Ritz, offer packaged for less than half the price they usually charged.
As it is reported in this article, even though some people are afraid of offering themselves a nice vacation because of the current economy, they should think twice especially if they can afford it.
Even for those who travel with their family can benefits from the great deals. Hotels have decreased their prices to make it possible for large and small family to afford their vacation."One child per paying adult flies free from any Cayman Airways gateway city -- Miami, New York, or Tampa". At the Disney resort in Paris, children under twelve do not pay for their stay as well as for the parks entrance. Making it more attracting for family who would like to offer a great vacation to their children.
We are in tough time but we can see some great opportunities outside that allow everyone to offer themselves a precious and memorable moment.
For those who want a nice getaway in some nice places around the world, the time has never been better than before. High end hotels such as the Four Seasons Hotels, the Ritz, offer packaged for less than half the price they usually charged.
As it is reported in this article, even though some people are afraid of offering themselves a nice vacation because of the current economy, they should think twice especially if they can afford it.
Even for those who travel with their family can benefits from the great deals. Hotels have decreased their prices to make it possible for large and small family to afford their vacation."One child per paying adult flies free from any Cayman Airways gateway city -- Miami, New York, or Tampa". At the Disney resort in Paris, children under twelve do not pay for their stay as well as for the parks entrance. Making it more attracting for family who would like to offer a great vacation to their children.
We are in tough time but we can see some great opportunities outside that allow everyone to offer themselves a precious and memorable moment.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Are you a "Herbivore" or a "Carnivore" Man
In an article from the CNN.com, dated June 7th, Morgan Neill covers a topic about the new man generation in Japan, the "herbivorous boys". Do you know what is it to be an "herbivorous boy"? This name came from Maki Fukasawa an author and pop culture columnist. She describes those young men from 20 and 30 years old as "skinny", less aggressive, and more "vulnerable". The are interested in their appearance and certainly not about having a girlfriend or having a sexual relationship. "In Japan, sex is translated as 'relationship in flesh,'" she said, "so I named those boys 'herbivorous boys' since they are not interested in flesh." They believe men can have a friendly relationship with women without having to engage themselves.
The carnivore men do not agree with the way those young boy behave. In their opinion a man should be more aggressive and less passive in order to succeed in their enterprises. The herbivore men, not only, are not interested in relationship but also not in money. As it is reported in the article, this is due to the economic crisis. More and more people are unemployed especially the younger one.
If being a "herbivorous man" means being skinny, vulnerable, not driven by money, and passive, and being a "carnivorous man" means being aggressive, money driven, proactive, which one do you think you are, for you man? and for woman, which one do you prefer?
The carnivore men do not agree with the way those young boy behave. In their opinion a man should be more aggressive and less passive in order to succeed in their enterprises. The herbivore men, not only, are not interested in relationship but also not in money. As it is reported in the article, this is due to the economic crisis. More and more people are unemployed especially the younger one.
If being a "herbivorous man" means being skinny, vulnerable, not driven by money, and passive, and being a "carnivorous man" means being aggressive, money driven, proactive, which one do you think you are, for you man? and for woman, which one do you prefer?
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Obama and his letter about healthcare
From the Boston.com website, Lisa Wangsness, published an article about the new plan of the President Obama regarding health care.
For the President of the United States, Barack Obama, it is imperative that everyone should have a health care coverage, especially, the poor and the elder. His plan is to have the committee decide on a new proposal for health care by October. But with the Republicans, who are opposed to "public insurance option" and the cost of health care that keep on increasing, it will be difficult, not even to say impossible for the President to come up with a plan that will benefits most of the American people.
The cost of health is skyrocketing in every states, but two well known clinics manage to keep their costs lower than the national average. The President Obama wants other clinic to learn from their success and follow their lead.
The simplest issues always cause the most noises and the least actions. Hopefully, the people who decide and control the life of millions will think less of their pocket and more of those who are in need of support.
For the President of the United States, Barack Obama, it is imperative that everyone should have a health care coverage, especially, the poor and the elder. His plan is to have the committee decide on a new proposal for health care by October. But with the Republicans, who are opposed to "public insurance option" and the cost of health care that keep on increasing, it will be difficult, not even to say impossible for the President to come up with a plan that will benefits most of the American people.
The cost of health is skyrocketing in every states, but two well known clinics manage to keep their costs lower than the national average. The President Obama wants other clinic to learn from their success and follow their lead.
The simplest issues always cause the most noises and the least actions. Hopefully, the people who decide and control the life of millions will think less of their pocket and more of those who are in need of support.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Apple and its rivalries
In the pod cast of June 4th Jeff summer interviewed Brad Stone who is currently at the World Wide Developer Conference in San Francisco.
As we all know the Iphone from Apple is the new gadget that we all have to have. The stock price of Apple has been increasing. As it is said in the pod cast, “Apple stocks price is on the roll” meaning it is having a lot of success. Despite being successful Apple has to face competition, which is “stiff” (severe than usual). The primary competitors of Apple are RIM, Google and Palm. Those three are considered to be the prime competitors of Apple.
This conference is more about the new moves that Apple will give to its products to keep them attractive to its consumers. Apple is envisioning the possibility of inventing a new phone, with features that will enable users not only to view a specific restaurant review, but also get better image for the camera, basically a phone that will be more smarter than the current Iphone.
Even though they worry about Palms, Apple’s “folks” are confident about the future.
When it comes to MACS, Apple talks about the new version of the MAC OS “Snow leopard”.
Beside all those great news from Apple, the only backside is that Apple needs to be more competitive especially in this current economy where “customer spending has been pulled back”. They need to revise they prices and take into account the fact that “low cost notebook are getting in the market”.
As we all know the Iphone from Apple is the new gadget that we all have to have. The stock price of Apple has been increasing. As it is said in the pod cast, “Apple stocks price is on the roll” meaning it is having a lot of success. Despite being successful Apple has to face competition, which is “stiff” (severe than usual). The primary competitors of Apple are RIM, Google and Palm. Those three are considered to be the prime competitors of Apple.
This conference is more about the new moves that Apple will give to its products to keep them attractive to its consumers. Apple is envisioning the possibility of inventing a new phone, with features that will enable users not only to view a specific restaurant review, but also get better image for the camera, basically a phone that will be more smarter than the current Iphone.
Even though they worry about Palms, Apple’s “folks” are confident about the future.
When it comes to MACS, Apple talks about the new version of the MAC OS “Snow leopard”.
Beside all those great news from Apple, the only backside is that Apple needs to be more competitive especially in this current economy where “customer spending has been pulled back”. They need to revise they prices and take into account the fact that “low cost notebook are getting in the market”.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Small and sweet memories
From an article in the CNN.com under living Bob green talks about "small and sweet"memories that we keep in our mind despite the time that have passed.
He talks about this 80 years old lady, who remember this grocery owner who was very patient with her and her friend, while they were deciding on which candy to pick. He also talks about this lady from japan who studied in the USA and who was not good at baseball but got the encouragement of a stranger who told her "you can do it". Those words are now her mantra in everything she sees challenging.
"Small and sweet memories", we do all have one at least, that make us smile or boost our energy. While we are living those experiences, we do not see the importance in it. But as time pass, we become more aware of the importance of those moments that make us smile today. As tiny as it can be sometime. Bob Green article is about encouragement, encouragement that we receive from our family, friends, or even stranger, they can be tiny from the outside but from the inside, they are limitless. The nice gesture that comes from some people with no interest behind are the best one that we ever going to receive. They can be "small and sweet memories" but those memories give us qualities that we could never have imagined.
He talks about this 80 years old lady, who remember this grocery owner who was very patient with her and her friend, while they were deciding on which candy to pick. He also talks about this lady from japan who studied in the USA and who was not good at baseball but got the encouragement of a stranger who told her "you can do it". Those words are now her mantra in everything she sees challenging.
"Small and sweet memories", we do all have one at least, that make us smile or boost our energy. While we are living those experiences, we do not see the importance in it. But as time pass, we become more aware of the importance of those moments that make us smile today. As tiny as it can be sometime. Bob Green article is about encouragement, encouragement that we receive from our family, friends, or even stranger, they can be tiny from the outside but from the inside, they are limitless. The nice gesture that comes from some people with no interest behind are the best one that we ever going to receive. They can be "small and sweet memories" but those memories give us qualities that we could never have imagined.
Me or I
How do we define ourselves?
Who am I?
Is it my name that define who I am or is it how I see myself or other sees me?
I am an African, from the West side of Africa, The Ivory Coast. I don't know if I should feel lucky about being born in France, but I know that I am grateful for that. If you wonder why, I will tell you why?
With today's world, most people who are from "the third world" want to be able to live in developed countries, why is that? "because they think life is better on the other side". Is it or is it not? I would not be able to answer this question on behalf of everyone, but what I can say it is a privilege to have an European or even an American passport. That is why I am grateful to be a citizens of France as well as the European Union.
It gives me the opportunity to travel anywhere without having to worry about the "visa".
About introducing myself, who am I?
I am a human being just like everyone of you, who might read this blog. Sometime confused, sometime happy, sometime confused about being happy. Why am I happy and at the same time confused? How this one works?
I am a citizens of planet Earth, who wants the best for the planet and at the same time confused about what we really need to do to help save the planet.
Some teachings says that we are souls, and I believe I am a soul waiting to be awaken, by what, I do not know yet but I am searching. "Search and you will find". So I am searching, by interacting with people, interacting with myself and trying to understand what I am living and what is around me. So that is "Me or I"
Who am I?
Is it my name that define who I am or is it how I see myself or other sees me?
I am an African, from the West side of Africa, The Ivory Coast. I don't know if I should feel lucky about being born in France, but I know that I am grateful for that. If you wonder why, I will tell you why?
With today's world, most people who are from "the third world" want to be able to live in developed countries, why is that? "because they think life is better on the other side". Is it or is it not? I would not be able to answer this question on behalf of everyone, but what I can say it is a privilege to have an European or even an American passport. That is why I am grateful to be a citizens of France as well as the European Union.
It gives me the opportunity to travel anywhere without having to worry about the "visa".
About introducing myself, who am I?
I am a human being just like everyone of you, who might read this blog. Sometime confused, sometime happy, sometime confused about being happy. Why am I happy and at the same time confused? How this one works?
I am a citizens of planet Earth, who wants the best for the planet and at the same time confused about what we really need to do to help save the planet.
Some teachings says that we are souls, and I believe I am a soul waiting to be awaken, by what, I do not know yet but I am searching. "Search and you will find". So I am searching, by interacting with people, interacting with myself and trying to understand what I am living and what is around me. So that is "Me or I"
Healthcare system in France
France as everyone knows is a country where the social is very predominant. The most important is to have everyone under health care but also everyone should have a minimum income.
The health care system in France is mainly based on income.
Let's say you are an individual with no income, you have the right to be covered, it is called CMU (couverture mutuelle universelle). The CMU gives you the right to go to specific health providers. With the CMU you do not pay anything, everything is paid by the governement. This only apply to those who are unemployed or underemployed. For those who atre employed with a decent salary, they have the CMU through their companies they work for. A part of the bill is being paid by the company and the other by the beneficiary.
For those who does not have the CMU, the social security covers seventy percent of the medical bills, prescriptions and the rest is for the beneficiary to pay. This coverage is done through social security. The beneficiary needs first to pay his/her bill, which will be reimburse in two weeks period.
The health care system in France is mainly based on income.
Let's say you are an individual with no income, you have the right to be covered, it is called CMU (couverture mutuelle universelle). The CMU gives you the right to go to specific health providers. With the CMU you do not pay anything, everything is paid by the governement. This only apply to those who are unemployed or underemployed. For those who atre employed with a decent salary, they have the CMU through their companies they work for. A part of the bill is being paid by the company and the other by the beneficiary.
For those who does not have the CMU, the social security covers seventy percent of the medical bills, prescriptions and the rest is for the beneficiary to pay. This coverage is done through social security. The beneficiary needs first to pay his/her bill, which will be reimburse in two weeks period.
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