U$1 / ISGD=U$ .77
.93AUD Australian/.98
1.36 SGD S'pore/ .77
1.36 BNDBrunei $ / .77
3.11 RM M'sian Ringgit/.34
7.00 CNY Ch Renminbiyuan/ .15
7.78 HKD HKG / .13
8.01 MOP Macau/.13
31.68 THB Thai Baht/.03
41.60INR
41.65PHP Pesos Philippines/.03
9,200 IDR Indonesian Rupiah/ -
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Currency Exchange Summer 2008
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
$75 Cash for U from U.S. Bank (Utah only)
I was at Smith's and saw the flyer below, advertising they would deposit their $75 into your account after you show them your receipts showing your expenditure. I find it hard to believe. I contact the bank (see contact info) and they assured me that it is their bank promotion, inviting new customers to try out their bank.
So I went to the bank branch in Pleasant Grove, and was told that they would reimburse my $75 when I spend up to that amount within 30 days or by April 13, whichever came first. I was required to open a minimum of $50 checking and $25 saving accounts. There's no fees bank fee or minimum requirement. There are charges with overdraft. For the purpose of $75 spending, I deposited $100 in checking and $25 in savings. I planned to spend the $75 (and get reimbursed) and leave the $100 untouched after. Other than the bank card, and conducting all my transaction at the bank, I did not have any checks.
I will get my card in the mail within 5 days, and for my convenience, purchase a $75 gift card at Smith's for gas and groceries so I could get quick reimburse using one receipt and spend my money at my leisure. If you choose to take advantage of this OFFER, would you email me and let me know of your experience? (usausak@hotmail.com) Thank you.
Contact Info : Jenny of Pleasant Grove US Bank 801-785-0873
This is the information, but do your own due diligence regarding this promotion.
Though U.S. Banks are nationwide, this promotion is of Utah. I could not find information on their website regarding this promotion, so stumbling upon this promotion was an accident. I vaguely remember another such promotion sometime ago but did nothing with it. I was told they do such a promotion every so often.
--------------
From their flyer :
"Now US Bank is even more convenient with the addition of our new, full-service branches inside Smith's.
To celebrate, we're offering $75 in free groceries when you open a new checking account and use your new U.S. Bank Visa Check Card inside Smith's."
1. Open up a new consumer checking account with a U.S. Bank Visa Check Card
2. Activate the check card you revieve via US Mail by following the directions on the card.
3. Use your new US Bank Xheck Card to make non-PIN purchase(s) at this grovery store within 30 days of account opening.
4. By April 13, 2009, take your grovery store receipt(s) to the U.S. Bank branch and receive credit for the amount of the purchase(s), up to $75.
5. Allow 30 days for $75 credit to post to your account.
"In small prints on the flyer :
$50 minimum deposit to open a U.S. Bank Free Checking. All regular opening procedures apply. Non-routine transaction fees may apply. 1. Offer Terms & conditions: To earn the $75 cash bonus, the customer must open a new Free account between February 26-March 13, 2009 and to use their U.S. Bank Visa Check Card for any non-PIN based purchases at the grocery store within 30 days of the new checking account opening and bring the grocery receipt(s) in the U.S. Bank branch where they opened the account for verification by April 13, 2009. The cash bonus, up to $75 based on the grocery receipt(s) total, will be deposited directly back into the new US bank consumer checking account. Accounts holder is responsible for any applicable taxes. Ony one bonus per household. Offer, amy bot be combined with any other bonus points or marketing offers, and is not valid if you have received other U.S. Bank bonus offers in the past 6 months. Other restrictions may apply. Offer valid at any participating U.S. Bank."
So I went to the bank branch in Pleasant Grove, and was told that they would reimburse my $75 when I spend up to that amount within 30 days or by April 13, whichever came first. I was required to open a minimum of $50 checking and $25 saving accounts. There's no fees bank fee or minimum requirement. There are charges with overdraft. For the purpose of $75 spending, I deposited $100 in checking and $25 in savings. I planned to spend the $75 (and get reimbursed) and leave the $100 untouched after. Other than the bank card, and conducting all my transaction at the bank, I did not have any checks.
I will get my card in the mail within 5 days, and for my convenience, purchase a $75 gift card at Smith's for gas and groceries so I could get quick reimburse using one receipt and spend my money at my leisure. If you choose to take advantage of this OFFER, would you email me and let me know of your experience? (usausak@hotmail.com) Thank you.
Contact Info : Jenny of Pleasant Grove US Bank 801-785-0873
This is the information, but do your own due diligence regarding this promotion.
Though U.S. Banks are nationwide, this promotion is of Utah. I could not find information on their website regarding this promotion, so stumbling upon this promotion was an accident. I vaguely remember another such promotion sometime ago but did nothing with it. I was told they do such a promotion every so often.
--------------
From their flyer :
"Now US Bank is even more convenient with the addition of our new, full-service branches inside Smith's.
To celebrate, we're offering $75 in free groceries when you open a new checking account and use your new U.S. Bank Visa Check Card inside Smith's."
1. Open up a new consumer checking account with a U.S. Bank Visa Check Card
2. Activate the check card you revieve via US Mail by following the directions on the card.
3. Use your new US Bank Xheck Card to make non-PIN purchase(s) at this grovery store within 30 days of account opening.
4. By April 13, 2009, take your grovery store receipt(s) to the U.S. Bank branch and receive credit for the amount of the purchase(s), up to $75.
5. Allow 30 days for $75 credit to post to your account.
"In small prints on the flyer :
$50 minimum deposit to open a U.S. Bank Free Checking. All regular opening procedures apply. Non-routine transaction fees may apply. 1. Offer Terms & conditions: To earn the $75 cash bonus, the customer must open a new Free account between February 26-March 13, 2009 and to use their U.S. Bank Visa Check Card for any non-PIN based purchases at the grocery store within 30 days of the new checking account opening and bring the grocery receipt(s) in the U.S. Bank branch where they opened the account for verification by April 13, 2009. The cash bonus, up to $75 based on the grocery receipt(s) total, will be deposited directly back into the new US bank consumer checking account. Accounts holder is responsible for any applicable taxes. Ony one bonus per household. Offer, amy bot be combined with any other bonus points or marketing offers, and is not valid if you have received other U.S. Bank bonus offers in the past 6 months. Other restrictions may apply. Offer valid at any participating U.S. Bank."
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Best Picture "Slumdog Millionaire" & the Hour of Truth Oscar 2009 Predictions (@ the 11th hour) Part 2
Best Picture "Slumdog Millionaire" & the Hour of Truth
Report card of my Oscar 2009 Predictions the 11th Hour- Part 2
Slumdog Millionaire nabbed all but one Oscar (won by ” The Dark Knight” - the late Heath Ledger for best sound editing)
“It is nominated for 9 Academy Awards and, were it to win seven, would equal the record set by Shakespeare in Love, the last British film to sweep the Oscars 10 years ago.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/oscars/4783664/Oscars-2009-Slumdog-Millionaire-stars-struggle-to-contain-excitement.html
Guess what? They won 8 Oscars including BEST PICTURE. It surpasses the record set by “Shakespeare in Love”, a British made movie to sweep the Oscars.
My predictions did not include some obscure nominations (foreign movie or documentary) that I was not familiar with.
Predicted 21 out of 24, missed 7 but accurately predicted 14 Oscar Winners. Had I place my money where my mouth is, I would have won myself some money at Intrade (http://www.intrade.net/market/listing/showEventGroup.faces?eg=162).
Oscar Winners (in bold type versus my italicized predictions) of The Academy Awards Feb. 22, 2009 in the order of appearance are :
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 1
Amy Adams, Doubt; Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona; Viola Davis, Doubt; Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY 2
Frozen River, Courtney Hunt; Happy-Go-Lucky, Mike Leigh; In Bruges, Martin McDonagh; Milk, Dustin Lance Black (Gay Mormon from TX); WALL-E, Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Pete Docter
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY 3
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Eric Roth; Doubt, John Patrick Shanley; Frost/Nixon, Peter Morgan; The Reader, David Hare; Slumdog Millionaire, Simon Beaufoy
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE 4
Bolt; Kung Fu Panda; WALL-E
BEST ANIMATED SHORT 5 (no prediction)
La Maison en Petits Cubes; Lavatory — Lovestory; Oktapodi; Presto; This Way Up
BEST ART DIRECTION 6
Changeling; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Dark Knight; The Duchess; Revolutionary Road
BEST COSTUME DESIGN 7
Australia; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Duchess (Michael O’Connor); Milk; Revolutionary Road
BEST MAKEUP 8
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Dark Knight; Hellboy II: The Golden Army
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 9
Changeling; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Dark Knight; The Reader; Slumdog Millionaire
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT (no prediction) 10
Auf der Strecke (On the Line) ; Manon on the Asphalt; New Boy; The Pig; Spielzeugland (Toyland)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR 11
Josh Brolin, Milk; Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight; Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder; Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt; Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE 12 (no prediction)
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon); Encounters at the End of the World; The Garden; Man on Wire; Trouble the Water
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT 13
The Conscience of Nhem En; The Final Inch; Smile Pinki; The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS 14
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Dark Knight; Iron Man; How did I do?
BEST SOUND EDITING 15
The Dark Knight; Iron Man; Slumdog Millionaire; WALL-E; Wanted
BEST SOUND MIXING 16
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Dark Knight; Slumdog Millionaire; WALL-E; Wanted
BEST EDITING 17
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Dark Knight; Frost/Nixon; Milk; Slumdog Millionaire
Humanitarian Award given to Jerry Lewis
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE 18
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Alexandre Desplat; Defiance, James Newton Howard; Milk, Danny Elfman; Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman; WALL-E, Thomas Newman
BEST ORIGINAL SONG 19
''Down to Earth,'' WALL-E; ''Jai Ho,'' Slumdog Millionaire; ''O Saya,'' Slumdog Millionaire
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM 20
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany); The Class (France) ; Departures (Japan) ; Revanche (Austria) ; Waltz with Bashir (Israel)
BEST DIRECTOR 21
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire; David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon; Stephen Daldry, The Reader; Gus Van Sant, Milk
BEST ACTRESS 22
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married; Angelina Jolie, Changeling; Melissa Leo, Frozen River; Meryl Streep, Doubt; Kate Winslet, The Reader
BEST ACTOR 23
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor; Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon; Sean Penn, Milk; Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
BEST PICTURE 24
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Frost/Nixon; Milk; The Reader; Slumdog Millionaire
Notice how many women wear a one shoulder dress – what a tribute to the First Lady.
Kate Winslet, Marisa Tomei (what an incredible dress) Queen Latifah
Report card of my Oscar 2009 Predictions the 11th Hour- Part 2
Slumdog Millionaire nabbed all but one Oscar (won by ” The Dark Knight” - the late Heath Ledger for best sound editing)
“It is nominated for 9 Academy Awards and, were it to win seven, would equal the record set by Shakespeare in Love, the last British film to sweep the Oscars 10 years ago.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/oscars/4783664/Oscars-2009-Slumdog-Millionaire-stars-struggle-to-contain-excitement.html
Guess what? They won 8 Oscars including BEST PICTURE. It surpasses the record set by “Shakespeare in Love”, a British made movie to sweep the Oscars.
My predictions did not include some obscure nominations (foreign movie or documentary) that I was not familiar with.
Predicted 21 out of 24, missed 7 but accurately predicted 14 Oscar Winners. Had I place my money where my mouth is, I would have won myself some money at Intrade (http://www.intrade.net/market/listing/showEventGroup.faces?eg=162).
Oscar Winners (in bold type versus my italicized predictions) of The Academy Awards Feb. 22, 2009 in the order of appearance are :
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 1
Amy Adams, Doubt; Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona; Viola Davis, Doubt; Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY 2
Frozen River, Courtney Hunt; Happy-Go-Lucky, Mike Leigh; In Bruges, Martin McDonagh; Milk, Dustin Lance Black (Gay Mormon from TX); WALL-E, Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Pete Docter
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY 3
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Eric Roth; Doubt, John Patrick Shanley; Frost/Nixon, Peter Morgan; The Reader, David Hare; Slumdog Millionaire, Simon Beaufoy
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE 4
Bolt; Kung Fu Panda; WALL-E
BEST ANIMATED SHORT 5 (no prediction)
La Maison en Petits Cubes; Lavatory — Lovestory; Oktapodi; Presto; This Way Up
BEST ART DIRECTION 6
Changeling; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Dark Knight; The Duchess; Revolutionary Road
BEST COSTUME DESIGN 7
Australia; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Duchess (Michael O’Connor); Milk; Revolutionary Road
BEST MAKEUP 8
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Dark Knight; Hellboy II: The Golden Army
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 9
Changeling; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Dark Knight; The Reader; Slumdog Millionaire
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT (no prediction) 10
Auf der Strecke (On the Line) ; Manon on the Asphalt; New Boy; The Pig; Spielzeugland (Toyland)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR 11
Josh Brolin, Milk; Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight; Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder; Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt; Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE 12 (no prediction)
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon); Encounters at the End of the World; The Garden; Man on Wire; Trouble the Water
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT 13
The Conscience of Nhem En; The Final Inch; Smile Pinki; The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS 14
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Dark Knight; Iron Man; How did I do?
BEST SOUND EDITING 15
The Dark Knight; Iron Man; Slumdog Millionaire; WALL-E; Wanted
BEST SOUND MIXING 16
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Dark Knight; Slumdog Millionaire; WALL-E; Wanted
BEST EDITING 17
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Dark Knight; Frost/Nixon; Milk; Slumdog Millionaire
Humanitarian Award given to Jerry Lewis
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE 18
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Alexandre Desplat; Defiance, James Newton Howard; Milk, Danny Elfman; Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman; WALL-E, Thomas Newman
BEST ORIGINAL SONG 19
''Down to Earth,'' WALL-E; ''Jai Ho,'' Slumdog Millionaire; ''O Saya,'' Slumdog Millionaire
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM 20
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany); The Class (France) ; Departures (Japan) ; Revanche (Austria) ; Waltz with Bashir (Israel)
BEST DIRECTOR 21
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire; David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon; Stephen Daldry, The Reader; Gus Van Sant, Milk
BEST ACTRESS 22
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married; Angelina Jolie, Changeling; Melissa Leo, Frozen River; Meryl Streep, Doubt; Kate Winslet, The Reader
BEST ACTOR 23
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor; Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon; Sean Penn, Milk; Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
BEST PICTURE 24
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Frost/Nixon; Milk; The Reader; Slumdog Millionaire
Notice how many women wear a one shoulder dress – what a tribute to the First Lady.
Kate Winslet, Marisa Tomei (what an incredible dress) Queen Latifah
Oscar 2009 Predictions (@ the 11th hour)
This is the 1st year that I care to predict.
Why? Hugh Jackman will bring glitz and fun to the Oscar, versus stale jokes and token audience laughter. And love that Slumdog Millionaire, the feel good movie has brought Bollywood to the Oscars
BEST PICTURE : Slumdog Millionaire (this but I also like) The Reader
BEST DIRECTOR : Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
BEST ACTOR : Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
BEST ACTRESS : Kate Winslet, The Reader (this but I also like) Angelina Jolie, Changeling
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR : Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS : Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY : In Bruges, Martin McDonagh
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY : Slumdog Millionaire, Simon Beaufoy
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE : Bolt
BEST ANIMATED SHORT : not familiar with this category
BEST ART DIRECTION : The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (this but I also like) Changeling
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY : Slumdog Millionaire
BEST COSTUME DESIGN : Australia
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE : not familiar with this category
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT : The Final Inch
BEST EDITING : Slumdog Millionaire
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM : The Class (France)
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT : not familiar with this category
BEST MAKEUP : The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE : Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman
BEST ORIGINAL SONG : ''Jai Ho,'' Slumdog Millionaire
BEST SOUND EDITING : Slumdog Millionaire
BEST SOUND MIXING : Slumdog Millionaire
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS : The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Slumdog Millionaire (particularly because we are in economic depression and such feel good movie is the call of the day)
++++++++++++++++++
List of nominees & the Academy Awards will be handed out on Feb. 22.
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20254167,00.html
Why? Hugh Jackman will bring glitz and fun to the Oscar, versus stale jokes and token audience laughter. And love that Slumdog Millionaire, the feel good movie has brought Bollywood to the Oscars
BEST PICTURE : Slumdog Millionaire (this but I also like) The Reader
BEST DIRECTOR : Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
BEST ACTOR : Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
BEST ACTRESS : Kate Winslet, The Reader (this but I also like) Angelina Jolie, Changeling
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR : Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS : Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY : In Bruges, Martin McDonagh
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY : Slumdog Millionaire, Simon Beaufoy
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE : Bolt
BEST ANIMATED SHORT : not familiar with this category
BEST ART DIRECTION : The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (this but I also like) Changeling
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY : Slumdog Millionaire
BEST COSTUME DESIGN : Australia
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE : not familiar with this category
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT : The Final Inch
BEST EDITING : Slumdog Millionaire
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM : The Class (France)
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT : not familiar with this category
BEST MAKEUP : The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE : Slumdog Millionaire, A.R. Rahman
BEST ORIGINAL SONG : ''Jai Ho,'' Slumdog Millionaire
BEST SOUND EDITING : Slumdog Millionaire
BEST SOUND MIXING : Slumdog Millionaire
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS : The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Slumdog Millionaire (particularly because we are in economic depression and such feel good movie is the call of the day)
++++++++++++++++++
List of nominees & the Academy Awards will be handed out on Feb. 22.
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20254167,00.html
Saturday, February 7, 2009
090207 Obama donates Presidential Income?
Pres. O, Would you consider donating your $400K presidential income (Y) to charter schools / charity. Your gesture would put shame on the preposterous CEO & their ridiculous pay & arrogance (who think that their colleagues'd go to foreign banks if their high Y demands are not met). Mercenary CEOs would bleed their co & bankruptcy graves than make temporary sacrifices to save co & the nation. You'd be hailed in history, & secure 2012 reelection. It's tax ded. for your bk Y & compel Hse to act reasonably on the stimulus package.
(And perhaps prompt the U$2M incomes of the Singapore cabinet.)
The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 FAX: 202-456-2461
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
(And perhaps prompt the U$2M incomes of the Singapore cabinet.)
The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 FAX: 202-456-2461
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Friday, February 6, 2009
February 6, 2009 Anticipated Hollywood Strike not going to happen
It is unlikely that there will be a Hollywood actors strike in 2009 or the subsequent months as predicted below. As the American economy has gone down south, hurting ALL Americans, and for those exorbitantly paid actors to demand more financial benefits and royalty from all sources of media (DVS, online streaming, etc,). Their strike would backfire on them, labeling them as greedy bourgeois and part of the American problem of financial disaster.
Damages Season 3- 2010: After the first season of the series had finished its run, FX announced that Damages had been renewed for a third season as well, with 13 episodes. The air date has not yet been announced, and with another possible Hollywood strike on the horizon, this time from the actors[3], Damages may be pushed back again, assuming that FX chooses January 2010 to begin airing of season 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Damages_episodes
Damages Season 3- 2010: After the first season of the series had finished its run, FX announced that Damages had been renewed for a third season as well, with 13 episodes. The air date has not yet been announced, and with another possible Hollywood strike on the horizon, this time from the actors[3], Damages may be pushed back again, assuming that FX chooses January 2010 to begin airing of season 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Damages_episodes
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Obama caps $500K Execute Pay tied to Bailout money
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iYX--wRrv7CQhjxb9FFjidsIvjLQD9653GGO0
About time!
While American hangs on to dear economic life, and fat Wall Street cats are rewarded with whopping milions in bonus for failed performance that plumet American economy!
Obama's take was, "There is a deep sense across this country that those who were not responsible for this crisis are bearing a greater burden than those who were."
It's about time someone slaps the door shut on pilaging the American tax dole-out!
About time!
While American hangs on to dear economic life, and fat Wall Street cats are rewarded with whopping milions in bonus for failed performance that plumet American economy!
Obama's take was, "There is a deep sense across this country that those who were not responsible for this crisis are bearing a greater burden than those who were."
It's about time someone slaps the door shut on pilaging the American tax dole-out!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
USA Financial Meltdown - keep on globe-trotting
I wanted to add an addendum email to my off –the- cuff response to your email, hoping it would prompt in-depth assessment about returning to the States.
Last email I guess you did not expect to receive an “enthusiasm void” email when you announced your return to USA. Contrary to your expectations, I encouraged you to continue your global trekking and stay in SE Asia. Your return, I assume, is not due to illness in the family or such concerns. With regards to “growing roots”, I recommended holding it off for at least 6 months or longer, giving this reeling nation a chance to stabilize. Fall 2007 you liquidated and “cut ties” to be free to roam, and 15 months at your pace falls short of halfway across the world (India, China, Indonesia, Australia, NZ and a whole continent of South America?) Upon your return, the accompanying euphoria would smack against the palpable dire climate and unemployment could frustrate and depress anyone and you’d wish you were still in SE Asia. It is unlikely you’d turn around at that point, or could afford it.
I’m writing you again because of my concerns for you, and wish to share with you some insightful information about the American financial climate* you’d be impacted with. Were I you, I’d wish for a “messenger” to provide me a clear perspective of the dire financial catastrophe America is in. Consult your ex-colleagues and close friends who know money for their candor before deciding to come home to the States. It is unlikely you’d have any employment opportunities waiting for you. At job fairs, for every job offered, there are hundreds of people applying wanting to work, having waited and camped overnight. Were there any anticipated, promised or presumed expectations of having employment, they no longer exist. Long term job employment, retirement or severance packages seem to evaporate, and good luck to those that hope company policies and the law could protect them. Folks are cutting out wants and focus on needs or in some cases, surviving. Fortune 500 are announcing layoffs by the hundreds and thousands daily/ weekly (Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Macy’s; Circuit City and Mervyn’s filed bankruptcy and there were/ are more). Not sure how much online reading you have done but this is the America Reality Check.
For what is is worth…
Considering the disastrous American crisis, it is wise to take advantage of the maximum elasticity of US dollars to buy/ live a fuller and richer lifestyle in SE Asia. As oxymoron as it may sound, this is the BEST time to live and learn (get an education or degree) and travel because you are already there. You’ve uprooted once (temporarily, and almost all globe trotters voluntarily do that once in their life), and best to continue and complete your journey. Under the current circumstances, for another globe trotting opportunity to come up again is very unlikely and it is more difficult now than ever to accumulate the $$$ to do it. I’m drawing from experience and extensive travel background. Unlike most, I’m blessed with financial IQ and void of “wanting stuff” so I always find the means and ways to travel (and yeah! now HC & CS is part of the travel equation) because I have the “I can” and fearless attitude and personality to ensure travelling flourishes in my life. So much about me…
Traveling in third world countries (where you are generally among the average or poor communities), you may not feel the punch of this major meltdown because out there there’s always a want for money. But “when America sneezes, the rest of the world has a cold,” there will be global economic rippling heading your way, hurting tourism in a BIG way which increased your negotiation power** for food and lodging (see below).
I am very disheartened by the current depression that is too palpable. The economy will not see any upswing any time soon. At the end of the year, if as a nation we grasp the balance of a national budgeting, economy and employment, (too bad Mitt Romney- and Ross Perot- timing of presidential running are off as these two men willing to run for presidency have a clear understanding of money while America was selling their future for today’s trinkets) we may see some stability.
Now what?
Were I you …
1. I’d stay put. Food and accommodation are cheap, and $10-15/ day. You cannot get by with 10 times that here, and certainly not the interesting lifestyle.
2. Contact 5 star resorts/ hotels and offer your services in exchange for food, lodging (suite) and stipend (and/ or hotel frequency miles that you could use at a chain hotels anywhere. (Plenty of rooms at Resorts as tourism dives. )
3. Services : English teacher (to hotel employees), activities co-coordinator (Club Med, resort), scuba instructor, web design and a whole host of expat / farang jobs. Also Freelancing : http://freelancer.com/ http://getafreelancer.com/ http://www.englishtown.com/Sp/lp/Home.aspx?bhcp=1
4. Craigslist- offer guided motorbike tours, professional “nanny” for young expat boys (activities: play, football, scuba dive, etc) -
5. Learn native language, local university for class to take or teach
6. Negotiate for 2 or 3 weeks on a week off so you can travel.
7. A month’s expenses back home could easily provide several months of wonderful living in Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia (countries with a lot of ocean opportunities with mega and “rich” tourists descending) and with some employment, you have no expenses.
In the past year while communicating with you, I feel we have made a connection and I consider you a “close friend” who I care about. Someone like yourself who is willing to sacrifice his material lifestyle and creature comforts for a global education garners my respect, admiration, envy and affection. Sometime in the not too distant future, I’d like to embark on such a journey myself. Now is not the time. I have a greater priority to be home for my daughter.
Your time is now. You have flourished exponentially since your Asian adventures that I can see.
Consider it seriously before booking a flight.
--------------
PS – Should you return (but DO NOT THAT anytime soon), and you’re in need of room by bartering your home-improvement skills, (but CHOOSE SE Asia for another 6 to 12 months). I promise you will not regret staying longer in Asia.
Besides, who else am I going to criss-cross India, Burma and China (I could be talked into it) with this summer? Aaah… the hidden agenda…Why else would I spend precious time trying to convince you not to make a HUGE mistake by returning to the States come March.
Added Notes:
*The dire depressed economy is palpable, unlike the 80s or even the 90s crises. Then I was under the radar and was unscathed, but this time around, my portfolio has been negatively impacted – and that causes dramatic anxiety. Fortunately, my nice neighborhood unlike many other neighborhoods is not ostentatious or fervent in trying to keep up with the Jones or living above our means. However, there is no stopping the waves of financial disasters resulting in loss of jobs, hours, homes and overall loss in financial lifestyle that America used to know. Utah requires staff to take unpaid furlo to cut state budget. I don’t expect America to recover before the end of the year, and rebound to the level prior to the Wall Street disaster and SubPrime loan crisis for a few years.
* Fall 2007 – Liquidating your assets -very timely, probably best home offer
* late 2008- 2009 – probably the worst year to jumpstart a career.
**You may benefit from low tourism, and better bargaining power for accommodations, etc), but I am very disheartened by the current depression that is very palpable.
Singapore visit (if interested, & very much worth your while as it is a “ShangriLa”- almost crime-free & U could eat off the streets):
Contact Couchsurf Lim Boon Huat for couch surfing – seems like a great party organizer and lovely host. If interested, I’d send more for hosting or coffee.
My siblings speak Mandarin and workaholics, and CS is as foreign as Mars to them.
Last email I guess you did not expect to receive an “enthusiasm void” email when you announced your return to USA. Contrary to your expectations, I encouraged you to continue your global trekking and stay in SE Asia. Your return, I assume, is not due to illness in the family or such concerns. With regards to “growing roots”, I recommended holding it off for at least 6 months or longer, giving this reeling nation a chance to stabilize. Fall 2007 you liquidated and “cut ties” to be free to roam, and 15 months at your pace falls short of halfway across the world (India, China, Indonesia, Australia, NZ and a whole continent of South America?) Upon your return, the accompanying euphoria would smack against the palpable dire climate and unemployment could frustrate and depress anyone and you’d wish you were still in SE Asia. It is unlikely you’d turn around at that point, or could afford it.
I’m writing you again because of my concerns for you, and wish to share with you some insightful information about the American financial climate* you’d be impacted with. Were I you, I’d wish for a “messenger” to provide me a clear perspective of the dire financial catastrophe America is in. Consult your ex-colleagues and close friends who know money for their candor before deciding to come home to the States. It is unlikely you’d have any employment opportunities waiting for you. At job fairs, for every job offered, there are hundreds of people applying wanting to work, having waited and camped overnight. Were there any anticipated, promised or presumed expectations of having employment, they no longer exist. Long term job employment, retirement or severance packages seem to evaporate, and good luck to those that hope company policies and the law could protect them. Folks are cutting out wants and focus on needs or in some cases, surviving. Fortune 500 are announcing layoffs by the hundreds and thousands daily/ weekly (Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Macy’s; Circuit City and Mervyn’s filed bankruptcy and there were/ are more). Not sure how much online reading you have done but this is the America Reality Check.
For what is is worth…
Considering the disastrous American crisis, it is wise to take advantage of the maximum elasticity of US dollars to buy/ live a fuller and richer lifestyle in SE Asia. As oxymoron as it may sound, this is the BEST time to live and learn (get an education or degree) and travel because you are already there. You’ve uprooted once (temporarily, and almost all globe trotters voluntarily do that once in their life), and best to continue and complete your journey. Under the current circumstances, for another globe trotting opportunity to come up again is very unlikely and it is more difficult now than ever to accumulate the $$$ to do it. I’m drawing from experience and extensive travel background. Unlike most, I’m blessed with financial IQ and void of “wanting stuff” so I always find the means and ways to travel (and yeah! now HC & CS is part of the travel equation) because I have the “I can” and fearless attitude and personality to ensure travelling flourishes in my life. So much about me…
Traveling in third world countries (where you are generally among the average or poor communities), you may not feel the punch of this major meltdown because out there there’s always a want for money. But “when America sneezes, the rest of the world has a cold,” there will be global economic rippling heading your way, hurting tourism in a BIG way which increased your negotiation power** for food and lodging (see below).
I am very disheartened by the current depression that is too palpable. The economy will not see any upswing any time soon. At the end of the year, if as a nation we grasp the balance of a national budgeting, economy and employment, (too bad Mitt Romney- and Ross Perot- timing of presidential running are off as these two men willing to run for presidency have a clear understanding of money while America was selling their future for today’s trinkets) we may see some stability.
Now what?
Were I you …
1. I’d stay put. Food and accommodation are cheap, and $10-15/ day. You cannot get by with 10 times that here, and certainly not the interesting lifestyle.
2. Contact 5 star resorts/ hotels and offer your services in exchange for food, lodging (suite) and stipend (and/ or hotel frequency miles that you could use at a chain hotels anywhere. (Plenty of rooms at Resorts as tourism dives. )
3. Services : English teacher (to hotel employees), activities co-coordinator (Club Med, resort), scuba instructor, web design and a whole host of expat / farang jobs. Also Freelancing : http://freelancer.com/ http://getafreelancer.com/ http://www.englishtown.com/Sp/lp/Home.aspx?bhcp=1
4. Craigslist- offer guided motorbike tours, professional “nanny” for young expat boys (activities: play, football, scuba dive, etc) -
5. Learn native language, local university for class to take or teach
6. Negotiate for 2 or 3 weeks on a week off so you can travel.
7. A month’s expenses back home could easily provide several months of wonderful living in Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia (countries with a lot of ocean opportunities with mega and “rich” tourists descending) and with some employment, you have no expenses.
In the past year while communicating with you, I feel we have made a connection and I consider you a “close friend” who I care about. Someone like yourself who is willing to sacrifice his material lifestyle and creature comforts for a global education garners my respect, admiration, envy and affection. Sometime in the not too distant future, I’d like to embark on such a journey myself. Now is not the time. I have a greater priority to be home for my daughter.
Your time is now. You have flourished exponentially since your Asian adventures that I can see.
Consider it seriously before booking a flight.
--------------
PS – Should you return (but DO NOT THAT anytime soon), and you’re in need of room by bartering your home-improvement skills, (but CHOOSE SE Asia for another 6 to 12 months). I promise you will not regret staying longer in Asia.
Besides, who else am I going to criss-cross India, Burma and China (I could be talked into it) with this summer? Aaah… the hidden agenda…Why else would I spend precious time trying to convince you not to make a HUGE mistake by returning to the States come March.
Added Notes:
*The dire depressed economy is palpable, unlike the 80s or even the 90s crises. Then I was under the radar and was unscathed, but this time around, my portfolio has been negatively impacted – and that causes dramatic anxiety. Fortunately, my nice neighborhood unlike many other neighborhoods is not ostentatious or fervent in trying to keep up with the Jones or living above our means. However, there is no stopping the waves of financial disasters resulting in loss of jobs, hours, homes and overall loss in financial lifestyle that America used to know. Utah requires staff to take unpaid furlo to cut state budget. I don’t expect America to recover before the end of the year, and rebound to the level prior to the Wall Street disaster and SubPrime loan crisis for a few years.
* Fall 2007 – Liquidating your assets -very timely, probably best home offer
* late 2008- 2009 – probably the worst year to jumpstart a career.
**You may benefit from low tourism, and better bargaining power for accommodations, etc), but I am very disheartened by the current depression that is very palpable.
Singapore visit (if interested, & very much worth your while as it is a “ShangriLa”- almost crime-free & U could eat off the streets):
Contact Couchsurf Lim Boon Huat for couch surfing – seems like a great party organizer and lovely host. If interested, I’d send more for hosting or coffee.
My siblings speak Mandarin and workaholics, and CS is as foreign as Mars to them.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
(Sagway) President-elect Barack Obama acceptance speech
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/11/barack-obama.html
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.
It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled –- Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of red states and blue states: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.
It’s the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.
I just received a very gracious call from Sen. McCain. [UPDATE: Complete text of Sen. John McCain's concession speech available here.] He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he’s fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Gov. Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation’s promise in the months ahead.
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke....
...for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation’s next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House. And while she’s no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.
To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics – you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you’ve sacrificed to get it done.
But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to -– it belongs to you.
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn’t start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington –- it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.
It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.
I know you didn’t do this just to win an election and I know you didn’t do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime -– two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.
Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they’ll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor’s bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America –- I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you –- we as a people will get there.
There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face.
I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years –- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.
What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek -– it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers -– in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.
Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House –- a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity.
Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, “We are not enemies, but friends…though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.” And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn -– I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president too.
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world –- our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down –- we will defeat you.
To those who seek peace and security -– we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright –- tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.
For that is the true genius of America -– that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing –- Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons –- because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.
And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America –- the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes, we can.
At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes, we can.
When there was despair in the Dust Bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes, we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes, we can.
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes, we can.
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes, we can.
America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves –- if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time –- to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth –- that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
Yes, we can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.
It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled –- Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of red states and blue states: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.
It’s the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.
I just received a very gracious call from Sen. McCain. [UPDATE: Complete text of Sen. John McCain's concession speech available here.] He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he’s fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Gov. Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation’s promise in the months ahead.
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke....
...for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation’s next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House. And while she’s no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.
To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics – you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you’ve sacrificed to get it done.
But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to -– it belongs to you.
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn’t start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington –- it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.
It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.
I know you didn’t do this just to win an election and I know you didn’t do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime -– two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.
Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they’ll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor’s bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America –- I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you –- we as a people will get there.
There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face.
I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years –- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.
What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek -– it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers -– in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.
Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House –- a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity.
Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, “We are not enemies, but friends…though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.” And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn -– I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president too.
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world –- our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down –- we will defeat you.
To those who seek peace and security -– we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright –- tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.
For that is the true genius of America -– that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing –- Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons –- because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.
And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America –- the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes, we can.
At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes, we can.
When there was despair in the Dust Bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes, we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes, we can.
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes, we can.
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes, we can.
America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves –- if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time –- to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth –- that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
Yes, we can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
China Itinerary (share with future travelers)
Hi milesdenman of http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1686605&tstart=15 (Italized by travelinglife)
From usausak@hotmail.com (drop me a note on updates, or guide to your site)
I’m writing most of the info based on summer memory.
Been to most of the places you want to go, but may not know one or two places.
Winter is low season, and I recommend 1st class tickets for overnight (soft bed, and generally 4 to a room; but with double decker, you could ask for upper deck and it’s 2 to a room), special waiting room with no crowds.
Train tickets - Hostels are a treasure trove of information. They know where the closest have a contact too. Cheap domestic tickets are sold at discount, generally 30-50% off the ticket booth to get train tickets without going to the train station (which is usually crowded), and you pay a minimum handling fee.
Airline tickets – hostel probably regular price, but I got my Beijing to Xian at 80% - almost unheard of.
Hostel – easy to find. In Xian, go to the Xiangzimen Hostel http://www.yhaxian.com/xiangzi/english/sheshi.asp
Jiaozi on Friday night- learn to make dumplings and eat them! Xiangzimen - Love it, very authentic, owner spent in access of U$1M to remodel a 400 year old estate. (skip Bell Tower hostel – dark and dingy, but centrally located, and great to pick up the Terra Cotta tour, cheaper as more people join)
Arrive 26th November in the morning to Beijing. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 = Beijing & Great Wall
NOTICE: Self-tours in Beijing is very easy for you. But you had better join tour group if you want to hike Mutianyu or Simatai or Jingshanling Great Wall. You can take by the fast train to Badaling Great Wall in one day.
K: Great wall – take a tour from hostel. Badaling or Simatai locations.
Most sights are within city and self guided. Olympics sights – water cube, and bird nest. Must see Forbidden Palace & TianAnMen , Heaven ?, Summer Palace, Beihai lake;
Shopping Waffujing, Sanlitun (got Polo shirts, etc – 2 blocks from worker’s stadium)
Food Beijing duck. Skip Beijing Acrobats but go to Shanghai’s – better skilled and variety.
Stay at Backpackers – interesting street, close to most to hutong (must go to old town within Beijing http://www.hostels.com/availability.php/HostelNumber.7893
Leave on the 1st December in the morning for Datong by train. 1, 2 Dec = Datong. There are many trains from Beijing to Datong (374km) daily. But the train Number K615 (14:57—20:50) lasting about close to 6 hours is the best one. Depart Datong evening of the 2nd to travel to Ping Yao by sleeper train.NOTICE: there is NO train starting from Datong to Pingyao (463km). The train Number 2462/2463 (22:56—07:19) last about 8 hours 23 minutes from Datong to Pingyao starting from Baotou City. But buying this train ticket (sleeper is impossible) is very difficult. So suggest you take by the train Number N265 (14:25--1944) from Datong to Taiyuan (355km) lasting about 5 hours 19 minutes and then take by the bus from Taiyuan to Pingyao (108km) lasting about 1.5 hours.Or suggest you take by bus from Datong to Taiyuan and then to Pingyao.
K: Not sure about this location. If there is no reason for this stop but to catch a train, I’d pay the money and fly to Taiyuan and rail to PingYao – flight should cost than U$100 but saves you a couple of days for the back end (like Shenzhen). Then take the bus, many companies to choose from and runs regularly. 3, 4 Ping Yao
Depart 4th in the evening to Xian by sleeper train.
NOTICE:There is NO train starting from Pingyao to Xian. The train to Xian pass by Pingyao starting from Taiyuan. So buying the train ticket will be difficult. so suggest you had better transfer by bus from Pingyao to Taiyuan and then take by the train Number L 27 (21:30—07:24) from Taiyuan to Xian (651km) lasting about close to 10 hours.No suggestion here. I flew from Xian to Beijing, skipping PingYao (ran out of time)
5, 6, 7, 8 = Xian 2 days is plenty, 3 max
K:. Stay at Xiangzimen – no regrets (see above). Terra Cotta Warriors (skip Banpo Museum), Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and night water show (walk around seeing kids and locals), moslem area near bell tower, Xian City Wall and bike along the wall (there is a tour, I was told) (fit river cruise and Panda in here – worth it, especially the Pandas)
Not familiar with this section of the itinerary from Nanjing to Hangzhou.
Depart on the 8th and fly from Xian to Nanjing if possible.
There are many flights daily from Xian to Nanjing. You can buy the flights RMB 430+200 NOW after discount. The price RMB 430 for soft-sleeper on the train from Xian to Nanjing (1208km) lasting about 12 hours to 18 hours. Just reference to you. 8, 9, 10 = Nanjing
(Ancient capital but I’ve not been there.) Depart 10th to Tunxi
There are many trains from Nanjing to Huangshan (371km) lasing about 5—8 hours.
10, 11, 12, 13, 14 = Tunxi (as a base for Huang Shan, also for day trips to Yixian Xidi and Hongcun, Shexian. There is NOT enough time for day trips to Yianxian Xidi and Hongcun. Depart 14th from Tunxi to Hangzhou. There is NO train from Huangshan to Hangzhou (230km) but taking by shuttle bus lasting about 2 hours is very easy.
14, 15, 16 = Hangzhou, Anchang, WuzhenDepart 17th for Shanghai. There are many trains from Hangzhou to Shanghai (167km) daily lasting about 1-2 hours. You can also take by shuttle bus from Hangzhou to Shanghai.
Other than Shanghai, not familiar with the other places. I do recommend Suzhou overnight for bridges and big ancient administrator’s home
17, 18, 19 = Shanghai (Putuoshan if time) Two days trip to Putuoshan will be better.Putuoshan Island is located in Zhoushan City of Zhejiang Province: Buddhist realm between sea and skybuy the ticket to Wusong Dock (吴淞码头) and Luchaogang Dock (芦潮港码头). In Nanpu Bridge at 08:00 you can take shuttle bus to Luchaogang Dock and the fast ferry will start at 09:30. In Shanghai City taking yacht to Zhoushan Island (136 sea-mile) is from RMB 255/person lasting about 3 hours.
Depart 20th for Guilin 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Guilin and Yangshuo
*There are five trains daily from Shanghai to Guilin (1631km) lasting abour 21—24 hours. *Depart from Guilin 24th by express bus to Shenzhen to arrive morning of the 25th.Taking by the train number T40 (21:48--10:23) from Guiliin to Shenzhen (1040km) lasting about 12 hours 35 minutes would be BETTER.
Shenzhen – stay a day or two.
Stay at least a day to visit Folk Culture Village (ethnic cultural village – raving reviews)
Splendid China in miniature http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splendid_China (miniature China)
Dep from Shenzhen 25th on first available train for Hong Kong. There are many trains from Shenzhen to Hong Kong daily. so DO NOT worry about it.
25th 1 night in Hong Kong26, 27 = Macau 28, 29, 30, 31, 01 = Hong Kong
2-3 days would be good. Very large city, very efficient and competent compared to most of China.
Easy for stopover any other time enroute to Bali, or Thailand, etc while the rest of China requires more planning and time.Depart Hong Kong on the 2nd.
______________
With patience, you can shift a lot of details in my housekeeping blog http://placesisee.blogspot.com/
Great site for reference : http://www.funforlesstours.com/china051609.html
If possible add Shenzhen, Dazu,
Chongqing or Chengdu for Pandas – must see – they are so playful and fun to watch!
Happy planning, and good luck. Bring lots of patience and humor and enjoy. Love to be added to your mailing list / blog.
Thanks, K
From usausak@hotmail.com (drop me a note on updates, or guide to your site)
I’m writing most of the info based on summer memory.
Been to most of the places you want to go, but may not know one or two places.
Winter is low season, and I recommend 1st class tickets for overnight (soft bed, and generally 4 to a room; but with double decker, you could ask for upper deck and it’s 2 to a room), special waiting room with no crowds.
Train tickets - Hostels are a treasure trove of information. They know where the closest have a contact too. Cheap domestic tickets are sold at discount, generally 30-50% off the ticket booth to get train tickets without going to the train station (which is usually crowded), and you pay a minimum handling fee.
Airline tickets – hostel probably regular price, but I got my Beijing to Xian at 80% - almost unheard of.
Hostel – easy to find. In Xian, go to the Xiangzimen Hostel http://www.yhaxian.com/xiangzi/english/sheshi.asp
Jiaozi on Friday night- learn to make dumplings and eat them! Xiangzimen - Love it, very authentic, owner spent in access of U$1M to remodel a 400 year old estate. (skip Bell Tower hostel – dark and dingy, but centrally located, and great to pick up the Terra Cotta tour, cheaper as more people join)
Arrive 26th November in the morning to Beijing. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 = Beijing & Great Wall
NOTICE: Self-tours in Beijing is very easy for you. But you had better join tour group if you want to hike Mutianyu or Simatai or Jingshanling Great Wall. You can take by the fast train to Badaling Great Wall in one day.
K: Great wall – take a tour from hostel. Badaling or Simatai locations.
Most sights are within city and self guided. Olympics sights – water cube, and bird nest. Must see Forbidden Palace & TianAnMen , Heaven ?, Summer Palace, Beihai lake;
Shopping Waffujing, Sanlitun (got Polo shirts, etc – 2 blocks from worker’s stadium)
Food Beijing duck. Skip Beijing Acrobats but go to Shanghai’s – better skilled and variety.
Stay at Backpackers – interesting street, close to most to hutong (must go to old town within Beijing http://www.hostels.com/availability.php/HostelNumber.7893
Leave on the 1st December in the morning for Datong by train. 1, 2 Dec = Datong. There are many trains from Beijing to Datong (374km) daily. But the train Number K615 (14:57—20:50) lasting about close to 6 hours is the best one. Depart Datong evening of the 2nd to travel to Ping Yao by sleeper train.NOTICE: there is NO train starting from Datong to Pingyao (463km). The train Number 2462/2463 (22:56—07:19) last about 8 hours 23 minutes from Datong to Pingyao starting from Baotou City. But buying this train ticket (sleeper is impossible) is very difficult. So suggest you take by the train Number N265 (14:25--1944) from Datong to Taiyuan (355km) lasting about 5 hours 19 minutes and then take by the bus from Taiyuan to Pingyao (108km) lasting about 1.5 hours.Or suggest you take by bus from Datong to Taiyuan and then to Pingyao.
K: Not sure about this location. If there is no reason for this stop but to catch a train, I’d pay the money and fly to Taiyuan and rail to PingYao – flight should cost than U$100 but saves you a couple of days for the back end (like Shenzhen). Then take the bus, many companies to choose from and runs regularly. 3, 4 Ping Yao
Depart 4th in the evening to Xian by sleeper train.
NOTICE:There is NO train starting from Pingyao to Xian. The train to Xian pass by Pingyao starting from Taiyuan. So buying the train ticket will be difficult. so suggest you had better transfer by bus from Pingyao to Taiyuan and then take by the train Number L 27 (21:30—07:24) from Taiyuan to Xian (651km) lasting about close to 10 hours.No suggestion here. I flew from Xian to Beijing, skipping PingYao (ran out of time)
5, 6, 7, 8 = Xian 2 days is plenty, 3 max
K:. Stay at Xiangzimen – no regrets (see above). Terra Cotta Warriors (skip Banpo Museum), Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and night water show (walk around seeing kids and locals), moslem area near bell tower, Xian City Wall and bike along the wall (there is a tour, I was told) (fit river cruise and Panda in here – worth it, especially the Pandas)
Not familiar with this section of the itinerary from Nanjing to Hangzhou.
Depart on the 8th and fly from Xian to Nanjing if possible.
There are many flights daily from Xian to Nanjing. You can buy the flights RMB 430+200 NOW after discount. The price RMB 430 for soft-sleeper on the train from Xian to Nanjing (1208km) lasting about 12 hours to 18 hours. Just reference to you. 8, 9, 10 = Nanjing
(Ancient capital but I’ve not been there.) Depart 10th to Tunxi
There are many trains from Nanjing to Huangshan (371km) lasing about 5—8 hours.
10, 11, 12, 13, 14 = Tunxi (as a base for Huang Shan, also for day trips to Yixian Xidi and Hongcun, Shexian. There is NOT enough time for day trips to Yianxian Xidi and Hongcun. Depart 14th from Tunxi to Hangzhou. There is NO train from Huangshan to Hangzhou (230km) but taking by shuttle bus lasting about 2 hours is very easy.
14, 15, 16 = Hangzhou, Anchang, WuzhenDepart 17th for Shanghai. There are many trains from Hangzhou to Shanghai (167km) daily lasting about 1-2 hours. You can also take by shuttle bus from Hangzhou to Shanghai.
Other than Shanghai, not familiar with the other places. I do recommend Suzhou overnight for bridges and big ancient administrator’s home
17, 18, 19 = Shanghai (Putuoshan if time) Two days trip to Putuoshan will be better.Putuoshan Island is located in Zhoushan City of Zhejiang Province: Buddhist realm between sea and skybuy the ticket to Wusong Dock (吴淞码头) and Luchaogang Dock (芦潮港码头). In Nanpu Bridge at 08:00 you can take shuttle bus to Luchaogang Dock and the fast ferry will start at 09:30. In Shanghai City taking yacht to Zhoushan Island (136 sea-mile) is from RMB 255/person lasting about 3 hours.
Depart 20th for Guilin 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Guilin and Yangshuo
*There are five trains daily from Shanghai to Guilin (1631km) lasting abour 21—24 hours. *Depart from Guilin 24th by express bus to Shenzhen to arrive morning of the 25th.Taking by the train number T40 (21:48--10:23) from Guiliin to Shenzhen (1040km) lasting about 12 hours 35 minutes would be BETTER.
Shenzhen – stay a day or two.
Stay at least a day to visit Folk Culture Village (ethnic cultural village – raving reviews)
Splendid China in miniature http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splendid_China (miniature China)
Dep from Shenzhen 25th on first available train for Hong Kong. There are many trains from Shenzhen to Hong Kong daily. so DO NOT worry about it.
25th 1 night in Hong Kong26, 27 = Macau 28, 29, 30, 31, 01 = Hong Kong
2-3 days would be good. Very large city, very efficient and competent compared to most of China.
Easy for stopover any other time enroute to Bali, or Thailand, etc while the rest of China requires more planning and time.Depart Hong Kong on the 2nd.
______________
With patience, you can shift a lot of details in my housekeeping blog http://placesisee.blogspot.com/
Great site for reference : http://www.funforlesstours.com/china051609.html
If possible add Shenzhen, Dazu,
Chongqing or Chengdu for Pandas – must see – they are so playful and fun to watch!
Happy planning, and good luck. Bring lots of patience and humor and enjoy. Love to be added to your mailing list / blog.
Thanks, K
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
A touch of Beijing in Chicago - Sep 9 Oprah
Chicago is pushing for 2016 hosting of the Olympics . That would be a blast, after London 2012!
"About 150 Olympians, including Michael Phelps, Nastia Liukin and Kobe Bryant, are expected to attend a taping of the show in Millennium Park on Wednesday."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-080830-oprah-olympics,0,4404698.story?track=rss
Youtube Olympians at Millennium Park show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tumBRWlSkl0&feature=related
Michael Phelps @ Oprah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM2XyOjKzTQ&feature=related
I'm planning on London 2012, anyone else??? Email me.
"About 150 Olympians, including Michael Phelps, Nastia Liukin and Kobe Bryant, are expected to attend a taping of the show in Millennium Park on Wednesday."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-080830-oprah-olympics,0,4404698.story?track=rss
Youtube Olympians at Millennium Park show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tumBRWlSkl0&feature=related
Michael Phelps @ Oprah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM2XyOjKzTQ&feature=related
I'm planning on London 2012, anyone else??? Email me.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Jeremy BYU Engerbretsen contact
081029 To Jeremy Peteron - Hi,
It's been a long time, and I apologize not getting to you sooner.
We hit the ground running as soon as we returned, and Kasey was in class within 12 hours. It was incredibly difficult for her, but lucky for her, she rebounded and got into the rhythm of things very quickly as youth is on her side.
First the Olympics, then the presidential race, followed by Ike hurricane, and financial disaster and voting. A lot to happen, and a lot of people are hurt by the crisis. I was immuned for the longest time, until now.
I got involved this election. Surveys, and volunteer at election.
One way or the other, we are making election history with either an African President or woman VP. A nightmare for Obama's security detail!
Info you might find useful to get contact in China for new opportunity in Shanghai with your talents. I spoke to BYU Bro Engerbretsen in May before I left for Singapore, but did not make it to the Dinner. Call BYU info is 801-422 4636 for his number.
Well, be in touch, and would love to be in your emailing list to her about the church in China or any China news.
Kate
It's been a long time, and I apologize not getting to you sooner.
We hit the ground running as soon as we returned, and Kasey was in class within 12 hours. It was incredibly difficult for her, but lucky for her, she rebounded and got into the rhythm of things very quickly as youth is on her side.
First the Olympics, then the presidential race, followed by Ike hurricane, and financial disaster and voting. A lot to happen, and a lot of people are hurt by the crisis. I was immuned for the longest time, until now.
I got involved this election. Surveys, and volunteer at election.
One way or the other, we are making election history with either an African President or woman VP. A nightmare for Obama's security detail!
Info you might find useful to get contact in China for new opportunity in Shanghai with your talents. I spoke to BYU Bro Engerbretsen in May before I left for Singapore, but did not make it to the Dinner. Call BYU info is 801-422 4636 for his number.
Well, be in touch, and would love to be in your emailing list to her about the church in China or any China news.
Kate
Sirens so early in morning,are we back in USA?
Heard the sirens of fire engine and ambulance this morning at 6? Are we back in the US of A?
On at least two occasions back home, I shot out of bed in panic because we were late* for a flight back trekking before heading E for home. It would be disastrous had we missed a flight over the Pacific for the next 2 available seats would not be until the middle of September! Missing too much high school therefore jeopardizing U scholarship is a price too high to pay for accidentally muting the alarm or even for a coveted scenario of Olympics fun and U$ salaried position - neither should compromise scholarship $$$ in 3 years.
As for the Olympics, there is another in 4 years - London 2010, but who with Mandarin, Guangdong, Fujian and Chaozhou language skills have any advantage in good O' England.
Sigh...
We got home no worse for (some) wear, but rearing to go.
Had the TV Olympics on continuously, even in my sleep as I "osmosis it in" and suffering Oly withdrawal Saturday before the Sunday closing. And thanks Rayonna and her dozen guests dining and partying our last Olympics cheers.
Next morning, America was catapulted into the Obama Democratic convention without catching a breadth and for others an Oly hangover.
And the explosion of Governor Sarah Palin into the American voting stage (Republican John McCain's surprised choice of VP running mate).
Simultaneously followed by the threat of Hurricane Gustav to bear down on New Orleans, resulting in record 2 million residents evacuating the south Louisiana coast while offshore oil platforms and refineries (supplying a quarter of US oil demand) shut down.
Beijing Olympics wound down... but unlike past Olympics fever and eventual withdrawal, this Oly got left in the dust trailing the Democrat and Republican conventions and Hurricane Gustav. Not surprising enthusiastic viewers watched the closing on Youtube and cable while others waited for the 12 delayed hours for prime time television viewing on NBC - somewhat of an anti-climax.
---------
* HKG - shot out of bed, missing my planned morning self tour and took off to the airport on Coach 21A like a bat outta H. That scenario kept playing in my head and in my sleep.
On at least two occasions back home, I shot out of bed in panic because we were late* for a flight back trekking before heading E for home. It would be disastrous had we missed a flight over the Pacific for the next 2 available seats would not be until the middle of September! Missing too much high school therefore jeopardizing U scholarship is a price too high to pay for accidentally muting the alarm or even for a coveted scenario of Olympics fun and U$ salaried position - neither should compromise scholarship $$$ in 3 years.
As for the Olympics, there is another in 4 years - London 2010, but who with Mandarin, Guangdong, Fujian and Chaozhou language skills have any advantage in good O' England.
Sigh...
We got home no worse for (some) wear, but rearing to go.
Had the TV Olympics on continuously, even in my sleep as I "osmosis it in" and suffering Oly withdrawal Saturday before the Sunday closing. And thanks Rayonna and her dozen guests dining and partying our last Olympics cheers.
Next morning, America was catapulted into the Obama Democratic convention without catching a breadth and for others an Oly hangover.
And the explosion of Governor Sarah Palin into the American voting stage (Republican John McCain's surprised choice of VP running mate).
Simultaneously followed by the threat of Hurricane Gustav to bear down on New Orleans, resulting in record 2 million residents evacuating the south Louisiana coast while offshore oil platforms and refineries (supplying a quarter of US oil demand) shut down.
Beijing Olympics wound down... but unlike past Olympics fever and eventual withdrawal, this Oly got left in the dust trailing the Democrat and Republican conventions and Hurricane Gustav. Not surprising enthusiastic viewers watched the closing on Youtube and cable while others waited for the 12 delayed hours for prime time television viewing on NBC - somewhat of an anti-climax.
---------
* HKG - shot out of bed, missing my planned morning self tour and took off to the airport on Coach 21A like a bat outta H. That scenario kept playing in my head and in my sleep.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Goos in Singapore/ LDS China, Olympics, Chengdu & Yangtze River Cruise
Hi,
The Goos are some people I liked in Hawaii and who may actually remember me, so needless to say, I'd be disappointed not to see them in Singapore in late August while I'm in USA. Please let me know how I can visit with them via email while I’m still in China.
Updates on LDS China - Got to church in Shanghai and Beijing, but through determined efforts. And the stringent China government rules* compel the church to abide by them or lose it’s current status in China. Too complicated for a visitor to fully grasp the concept.
Met some cool people there, and liked Shanghai and Beijing. All expatriates of (China) Shanghai meet at 9:30am while Beijing meets at 8:30am ("country" LDS - Beijing outside 5th Ring) and 10:30am ("city" LDS). So glad to be at church, a familiar environment where I could revert to English exclusively.
One of my China goals was to seek out the best learning Mandarin environment for KC and hoping it would be Beijing, Tainjin or Chengde (but I was told "Qingdao German" coast is a great learning environment that is both pretty and pollution free, and somewhat like California) - the best place to learn standard Mandarin without the interference of the local while learning Mandarin. I beg to differ regarding “er” in Beijing Mandarin. which is not close to standard Mandarin. I’ve been impressed with the Mandarin that some Americans studying in Beijing universities have acquired. The nagging issue of this city pollution is in the forefront, and though major strive have been made during the Olympics, (and they are seeing some success of late, and Saturday there was clear sky- 6 days before the Olympics), it may only be a short term goal.
I'm in China in Chengdu with the pandas, soon floating down stream on the Yangtze River cruise [from Chongqing to Yichang], followed by Xian (Terra Cotta warriors) and Olympics in Beijing. Greatly desired, but surely unable to fulfilled, a trip to PingYao where ancient China is preserved while the rest of China cities are in full throttle to resemble the world's major cities. WHY? (sigh)
Best regards to all, K
Updates: placesisee.blogspot.com
From Singapore's Philip Loh, a BYU Alumni
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2008 22:02:33 -0700 From: martphil@yahoo.com
Dear BYU Alumuni:
You are cordially invited to attend a Fireside on 29 August @ 7:30 pm with Pres. & Sis Goo, formerly Dean of International Student Affairs @ BYU Hawaii. Pres. Goo is currently serving with his wife as Hong Kong China Temple President after retiring @ BYU Hawaii. They will be here on Church assignment over the weekend and but for the love they have for the international students; now alumni, they would like to meet the Alumni on a personal basis. We plan to have Pot-luck dinner for the evening, so please confirm what you are bringing by 25 August.
We would like to thank Bro. & Sis. Josiah Chan for their hospitality to open their home for this event. (Details followed)
Attire: Smart Casual
Regards, Mahalo! Philip
* Insert China LDS (are they affecting other churches) rules:
??????????????????
The Goos are some people I liked in Hawaii and who may actually remember me, so needless to say, I'd be disappointed not to see them in Singapore in late August while I'm in USA. Please let me know how I can visit with them via email while I’m still in China.
Updates on LDS China - Got to church in Shanghai and Beijing, but through determined efforts. And the stringent China government rules* compel the church to abide by them or lose it’s current status in China. Too complicated for a visitor to fully grasp the concept.
Met some cool people there, and liked Shanghai and Beijing. All expatriates of (China) Shanghai meet at 9:30am while Beijing meets at 8:30am ("country" LDS - Beijing outside 5th Ring) and 10:30am ("city" LDS). So glad to be at church, a familiar environment where I could revert to English exclusively.
One of my China goals was to seek out the best learning Mandarin environment for KC and hoping it would be Beijing, Tainjin or Chengde (but I was told "Qingdao German" coast is a great learning environment that is both pretty and pollution free, and somewhat like California) - the best place to learn standard Mandarin without the interference of the local while learning Mandarin. I beg to differ regarding “er” in Beijing Mandarin. which is not close to standard Mandarin. I’ve been impressed with the Mandarin that some Americans studying in Beijing universities have acquired. The nagging issue of this city pollution is in the forefront, and though major strive have been made during the Olympics, (and they are seeing some success of late, and Saturday there was clear sky- 6 days before the Olympics), it may only be a short term goal.
I'm in China in Chengdu with the pandas, soon floating down stream on the Yangtze River cruise [from Chongqing to Yichang], followed by Xian (Terra Cotta warriors) and Olympics in Beijing. Greatly desired, but surely unable to fulfilled, a trip to PingYao where ancient China is preserved while the rest of China cities are in full throttle to resemble the world's major cities. WHY? (sigh)
Best regards to all, K
Updates: placesisee.blogspot.com
From Singapore's Philip Loh, a BYU Alumni
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2008 22:02:33 -0700 From: martphil@yahoo.com
Dear BYU Alumuni:
You are cordially invited to attend a Fireside on 29 August @ 7:30 pm with Pres. & Sis Goo, formerly Dean of International Student Affairs @ BYU Hawaii. Pres. Goo is currently serving with his wife as Hong Kong China Temple President after retiring @ BYU Hawaii. They will be here on Church assignment over the weekend and but for the love they have for the international students; now alumni, they would like to meet the Alumni on a personal basis. We plan to have Pot-luck dinner for the evening, so please confirm what you are bringing by 25 August.
We would like to thank Bro. & Sis. Josiah Chan for their hospitality to open their home for this event. (Details followed)
Attire: Smart Casual
Regards, Mahalo! Philip
* Insert China LDS (are they affecting other churches) rules:
??????????????????
Friday, August 1, 2008
Rendezvous: Kim&Bob @Beijing
Hi,
Sorry to hear about Bob's mother-in-law's passing.
We were looking fwd to visiting with you in Beijing. I bought you an umbrella and 2 fans to ease the heat and humidity, so now we'll give them away to someone else.
As for us, it turned out, we got here early from Shanghai and the tour company was able to accommodate us- which we were glad for.
Hotels are hard to come by (outside the tour, especially beginning August1), but we made some contacts, and we have a place to stay in August.
At the moment, depending on the outcome in the next day or so,we may do option: 1)we may fly to Chengdu (and using it as a base, and there to Llasha, Tibet and Xian) to see more of southwest China. We have an August 17 flight to USA.
Or Option 2) By a miracle, I got connected with a British company and get hired as a host for their ajor Olympics sponsor (Omega Watch), and work during the Olympics. If that were to happen, I would have to revamp our original plas, travels, and schedule and move heaven and earth to reschedule and make many calls to Singapore and US so we/ I could stay. Regardless of the outcome, this experience initiated great interests for me to be involved in the Olympics curcuit. 2010 in Vancouver, Canada (love that place) and 2012 London - absolutely love the city - both there cities I have visited several times through the years, and it would be such a blast to be recruited for the events!
Either way, we experience Olympics in some form or another.
Sorry we missed you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
kim28@vzw.blackberry.net
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:38:00 +0000
(from Kim) Hi Kate
Sorry for the late reply. Bob and I had to return to USA because his mother in law died on Wednesday. It was so nice to meet you. Enjoy Beijing and keep in touch. Kim
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
My tour guide, his cell phone and the hotel I'll be at:
候小磊: 13911778789 in Be ijing
北京:准5* 萨尔利兹酒店 - 5*(Sariz International in Haidin Shi- 4th ring, west side, subway line 10, 3 to last stop)
(from Kate) I'll be arriving Jul 23 Wed and spending most of the time at the Forbidden Palace - asking the guide to leave us there for the entire day- and we'll find our way to the hotel ourselves.
Tour guiding is almost unnecessary in Beijing with the exception of Great wall and a couple of other attractions as most are within the city.
Are you at Courtyard Marriot?
3-18 Chong Wen Men Wai Street, Chongwen District
Beijing, 100062 China
Phone: 86 10 67081188 Fax: 86 10 67081808
Sales fax: 86 10 67088019 Toll-free: 400 888 5551
What's Bob's or Kim's last name? Time share under whose name? Let's get together and do a few things. We could use some real English and you might need some Mandarin to get the most out of China through my interpretation.
Sorry to hear about Bob's mother-in-law's passing.
We were looking fwd to visiting with you in Beijing. I bought you an umbrella and 2 fans to ease the heat and humidity, so now we'll give them away to someone else.
As for us, it turned out, we got here early from Shanghai and the tour company was able to accommodate us- which we were glad for.
Hotels are hard to come by (outside the tour, especially beginning August1), but we made some contacts, and we have a place to stay in August.
At the moment, depending on the outcome in the next day or so,we may do option: 1)we may fly to Chengdu (and using it as a base, and there to Llasha, Tibet and Xian) to see more of southwest China. We have an August 17 flight to USA.
Or Option 2) By a miracle, I got connected with a British company and get hired as a host for their ajor Olympics sponsor (Omega Watch), and work during the Olympics. If that were to happen, I would have to revamp our original plas, travels, and schedule and move heaven and earth to reschedule and make many calls to Singapore and US so we/ I could stay. Regardless of the outcome, this experience initiated great interests for me to be involved in the Olympics curcuit. 2010 in Vancouver, Canada (love that place) and 2012 London - absolutely love the city - both there cities I have visited several times through the years, and it would be such a blast to be recruited for the events!
Either way, we experience Olympics in some form or another.
Sorry we missed you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
kim28@vzw.blackberry.net
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:38:00 +0000
(from Kim) Hi Kate
Sorry for the late reply. Bob and I had to return to USA because his mother in law died on Wednesday. It was so nice to meet you. Enjoy Beijing and keep in touch. Kim
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
My tour guide, his cell phone and the hotel I'll be at:
候小磊: 13911778789 in Be ijing
北京:准5* 萨尔利兹酒店 - 5*(Sariz International in Haidin Shi- 4th ring, west side, subway line 10, 3 to last stop)
(from Kate) I'll be arriving Jul 23 Wed and spending most of the time at the Forbidden Palace - asking the guide to leave us there for the entire day- and we'll find our way to the hotel ourselves.
Tour guiding is almost unnecessary in Beijing with the exception of Great wall and a couple of other attractions as most are within the city.
Are you at Courtyard Marriot?
3-18 Chong Wen Men Wai Street, Chongwen District
Beijing, 100062 China
Phone: 86 10 67081188 Fax: 86 10 67081808
Sales fax: 86 10 67088019 Toll-free: 400 888 5551
What's Bob's or Kim's last name? Time share under whose name? Let's get together and do a few things. We could use some real English and you might need some Mandarin to get the most out of China through my interpretation.
Monday, July 28, 2008
July 28 Chengde 5 hrs NE
*After 6 days in Beijing, headed generally N, E for Chengde
*Y20 agent train fare- hot and miserable 5 hour trip, time for contemplation, reflection,- reading, etc but all for naught- miserable heat! If not for train rules, we would be among chickens and ducks, cows and goats. (Stark contrast from to 1 hour sleek Tainjin train for 2 days ago for Y44 OW.
*Made some acquaintances, and green top middle age woman got off at Chengde waited for us, ensured we got met by Chengde guide. (I appreciate extension of hospitality for fellow human being- something that's amiss in 20M Beijingers (where pushing, shoving and unpleasantness seem to be the order of the day, one day in the life of Beijing.)
*Lament loss of mutual civility and kindness with no expectation of material rewards.
*Met by English speaking Mary 131 80112268. Amiable personality, extrovert and knowledgeable.
* Hotel (4*star- Hmmm, nah - upgraded Motel 6 with bathtub mould)
* Tight schedule, show tonight and tightly packed tomorrow and catch 1:30pm to PEK (A/C for Y44- thank heavens for considerate thinking. Sure, one can upgrade at the on board "train office but I had my share of that XMN-SHA (a near death crunching experience; many passengers were sold "standing room only" tickets SHA bound- 24 hours! (details to be filled)
*Night activity between Y150 Monglian/ Tibet show or Y120 massage (but show got canceled)
*made choice of staying another night"
*
*
*
*
+125,000 pop- "country living
*Y20 agent train fare- hot and miserable 5 hour trip, time for contemplation, reflection,- reading, etc but all for naught- miserable heat! If not for train rules, we would be among chickens and ducks, cows and goats. (Stark contrast from to 1 hour sleek Tainjin train for 2 days ago for Y44 OW.
*Made some acquaintances, and green top middle age woman got off at Chengde waited for us, ensured we got met by Chengde guide. (I appreciate extension of hospitality for fellow human being- something that's amiss in 20M Beijingers (where pushing, shoving and unpleasantness seem to be the order of the day, one day in the life of Beijing.)
*Lament loss of mutual civility and kindness with no expectation of material rewards.
*Met by English speaking Mary 131 80112268. Amiable personality, extrovert and knowledgeable.
* Hotel (4*star- Hmmm, nah - upgraded Motel 6 with bathtub mould)
* Tight schedule, show tonight and tightly packed tomorrow and catch 1:30pm to PEK (A/C for Y44- thank heavens for considerate thinking. Sure, one can upgrade at the on board "train office but I had my share of that XMN-SHA (a near death crunching experience; many passengers were sold "standing room only" tickets SHA bound- 24 hours! (details to be filled)
*Night activity between Y150 Monglian/ Tibet show or Y120 massage (but show got canceled)
*made choice of staying another night"
*
*
*
*
+125,000 pop- "country living
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Buggin' in Wangfujing Street in Beijing
Not a chance the world's most populated country in world is going to starve - all that crawls can be boiled, broiled, fried, steam or raw served for your gourment delight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxg9PdOULWc&feature=PlayList&p=F9B77C471D168D56&index=6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxg9PdOULWc&feature=PlayList&p=F9B77C471D168D56&index=6
Sunday, July 20, 2008
JH Luau sadly missed, Shanghai train to Beijing (sights)
Got invited in April to a Hawaiian luau in July by JH- she had180 people in attendance. Sounds like a blast, and I had all the Hawaiian shirts, lava lavas and leis to hula the night away! I sure hope someone took great pictures for me to appreciate what I have missed, and it'll teach me not to be prancing around halfway across the world. Can't win them all, J and thanks again for the invitation and update. Sounds like you had a great success.
While the luau was a-hulaing, we were probably in China, and a-sweating by the buckets. Though we were in (beginning from South heading North, along the eastern sea board) Xiamen, Shanghai and now Beijing, a luau in warm but dry weather sounds wonderful.
Arrived Beijing Wednesday Aug 23 morning, riding the 13-hour night train, sleeping through the night - worked out really well, and getting great sleep. China rail can't touch Eurail trains, but Eurail can't touch China price of Y499. Had a night's sleep and arriving in the morning to start a brand new day in a new city ain't a bad way to travel. (Flight - I was told it would be an hour flight, about Y500ish - but with increased surcharged Olympic prices, plus an hour ride to airport, another 2 hour airport arrival, and another destination transfer, all costs and time add up quick - all making the night train looking pretty good. In addition, at least for now, I am not dealing with all the flying restrictions of practically undressing at security, and liquid limitation and weight limit on low cost airlines of 15Kg checkin and 7 Kg carryon - 2.2 lbs, per Kg)
KC loves train rides (got hooked on Eurail at age ten), and enjoys them in China too. Considering the number of China's 1.3 billion (1,325,115,000= 20% world's population vs USA 304,678,000= 5% world's population), public transportation, including trains can get crowded. (Need to relate the Xiamen- Shanghai 10pm ride that was sold out due to U start of school break- and experiencing first hand the onslaught and crushing of Chinese aggression) Privacy /personal space is a premium virtually unknown in this land of pushing and shoveling to jostle for a spot anywhere and demanding one's turn NOW. I suppose one could relate to a child among 10 siblings vying for parents' one on one time. If I ever consider job offers in China (perhaps in a few years,) I may consider taking up black belt to pro actively react to some aggressive person stomping all over me - something to think about- LOL
Convinced the tour guide to let us drop the rest of the tour to let us to wander the day at TianAnMen Square (the June 4 student protect), and Forbidden Palace after his canned tour. Essentially, he got the rest of the afternoon off. We walked the paths of the last 24 emperors of Qing and Ming dynasties who lived at the Forbidden Palace from some 600 years ago (Beijing was the 3rd China capital after Xi'an and Nanjing) before the imperial reign ended with the beginning of Communism in 1949. We took time to enjoy the sights and sounds of this royal site while savoring our authentic Peking Duck (crispy deletable duck) wrapped in Chinese thin "tortilla" with springs of sliced green onions and cucumber and duck sauce. You'd love it. The Palace staff found humor in our picnic as they hurried us out of the grounds of the Palace at five o'clock closing. KC wanted to see the royal collection of time-pieces gifted to the emperors from local and foreign dignitaries, but the staff waved her off near closing. I'd paid the Y10 to catch a 5-minute glimpse of the collection - but that didn't happen. Perhaps they might consider letting her do the clock museum with paying the high cost entrance for the Palace on a different day. I tend to believe that cute chicks can get away with anything if they requests courteously. Time to test that hypothesis another day next week when we have extended visit after the land tour we signed up for ends.
Strolled the Square for more sights: Mao ZeDong's Memorial and Heros Memorial, and made friends of Marialaura of Brussels, Belguim (Italian from Naples, Italy) who came for a few day convention in Beijing. Great company, delightful visit, and promises of accompanied / entertained visits if we go to Italy. We shopped some, and she spent almost all her last RMB (Y) on a silk fan she bargained down to Y20 from Y25. She's leaving for Brussels that evening, and sad to part company while we headed NW of Beijing to return to our hotel (http://sarizhotel.com.cn/Html/285/) - via subway that we have yet to try. All subways are similar - if you are geared with a subway map, can visually read/ recognize the stations, or count the number of stops, have a decent street map of the city, you can reach your destination (assuming you have the hotel business card with all the relevant information in the target language) without being a rocket scientist. If all else fails, take a taxi costing about Y50 in Beijing (one of the cheapest taxis in the world) . I don't reccommend this strategy in Mexico and similar countries, but China is relatively safe - especially since the world is watching as the Olympics roll around on August 8, 2008, two weeks from Friday.
Got to go to bed, up in 6 hours and seeing more of Beijing.
While the luau was a-hulaing, we were probably in China, and a-sweating by the buckets. Though we were in (beginning from South heading North, along the eastern sea board) Xiamen, Shanghai and now Beijing, a luau in warm but dry weather sounds wonderful.
Arrived Beijing Wednesday Aug 23 morning, riding the 13-hour night train, sleeping through the night - worked out really well, and getting great sleep. China rail can't touch Eurail trains, but Eurail can't touch China price of Y499. Had a night's sleep and arriving in the morning to start a brand new day in a new city ain't a bad way to travel. (Flight - I was told it would be an hour flight, about Y500ish - but with increased surcharged Olympic prices, plus an hour ride to airport, another 2 hour airport arrival, and another destination transfer, all costs and time add up quick - all making the night train looking pretty good. In addition, at least for now, I am not dealing with all the flying restrictions of practically undressing at security, and liquid limitation and weight limit on low cost airlines of 15Kg checkin and 7 Kg carryon - 2.2 lbs, per Kg)
KC loves train rides (got hooked on Eurail at age ten), and enjoys them in China too. Considering the number of China's 1.3 billion (1,325,115,000= 20% world's population vs USA 304,678,000= 5% world's population), public transportation, including trains can get crowded. (Need to relate the Xiamen- Shanghai 10pm ride that was sold out due to U start of school break- and experiencing first hand the onslaught and crushing of Chinese aggression) Privacy /personal space is a premium virtually unknown in this land of pushing and shoveling to jostle for a spot anywhere and demanding one's turn NOW. I suppose one could relate to a child among 10 siblings vying for parents' one on one time. If I ever consider job offers in China (perhaps in a few years,) I may consider taking up black belt to pro actively react to some aggressive person stomping all over me - something to think about- LOL
Convinced the tour guide to let us drop the rest of the tour to let us to wander the day at TianAnMen Square (the June 4 student protect), and Forbidden Palace after his canned tour. Essentially, he got the rest of the afternoon off. We walked the paths of the last 24 emperors of Qing and Ming dynasties who lived at the Forbidden Palace from some 600 years ago (Beijing was the 3rd China capital after Xi'an and Nanjing) before the imperial reign ended with the beginning of Communism in 1949. We took time to enjoy the sights and sounds of this royal site while savoring our authentic Peking Duck (crispy deletable duck) wrapped in Chinese thin "tortilla" with springs of sliced green onions and cucumber and duck sauce. You'd love it. The Palace staff found humor in our picnic as they hurried us out of the grounds of the Palace at five o'clock closing. KC wanted to see the royal collection of time-pieces gifted to the emperors from local and foreign dignitaries, but the staff waved her off near closing. I'd paid the Y10 to catch a 5-minute glimpse of the collection - but that didn't happen. Perhaps they might consider letting her do the clock museum with paying the high cost entrance for the Palace on a different day. I tend to believe that cute chicks can get away with anything if they requests courteously. Time to test that hypothesis another day next week when we have extended visit after the land tour we signed up for ends.
Strolled the Square for more sights: Mao ZeDong's Memorial and Heros Memorial, and made friends of Marialaura of Brussels, Belguim (Italian from Naples, Italy) who came for a few day convention in Beijing. Great company, delightful visit, and promises of accompanied / entertained visits if we go to Italy. We shopped some, and she spent almost all her last RMB (Y) on a silk fan she bargained down to Y20 from Y25. She's leaving for Brussels that evening, and sad to part company while we headed NW of Beijing to return to our hotel (http://sarizhotel.com.cn/Html/285/) - via subway that we have yet to try. All subways are similar - if you are geared with a subway map, can visually read/ recognize the stations, or count the number of stops, have a decent street map of the city, you can reach your destination (assuming you have the hotel business card with all the relevant information in the target language) without being a rocket scientist. If all else fails, take a taxi costing about Y50 in Beijing (one of the cheapest taxis in the world) . I don't reccommend this strategy in Mexico and similar countries, but China is relatively safe - especially since the world is watching as the Olympics roll around on August 8, 2008, two weeks from Friday.
Got to go to bed, up in 6 hours and seeing more of Beijing.
Singapore June 17, 08
HeidiB,
We’ve been having a great time, sweating buckets, but also having major electronic problems. We brought two digital cameras and they are both having problems (what are the chances of that happening? – we’ve sent from UT our 3rd camera), and now we have a laptop with problems. It won’t turn on, and unfortunately, we have lost the genealogical files that we had, including yours. Bad Karma, and that’s not the extent of it.
Thankfully, a local friend has allowed us to borrow an old HP laptop for the interim, which is slower, and klunkier but we are grateful to have something versus nada. Not sure if it’s worth fixing the KC’s used Dell is worth the hundreds - we’ll check it out the end of this week.
Adversary is hard at work. I’m having a lot of resistance in genealogy because they don’t care about the dead*, and it’s those living and my “filial responsibility” they were more interested in.
We are trying to reconstruct as much as we had in the Dell. And one of those is genealogy.
Is there any chance that you could send us another copy of both the website URL and the PAF file? We would really appreciate it.
Thanks K
*It sinks to be the youngest in this family, and being told what my obligations are and my “running away” was a big mistake, blah, blah, blah.
No support for my educational goals to go to BYU, and likely I would fail. I earned enough to pay for my international ticket, a year of tuition, and the rest was faith. I graduated BSc with no debt and graduate school with $2,000 debt. It was my personal triumph. Some of my siblings never bothered to find out about my educational accomplishments but insist on telling me what my duties are, not sure if its out of jealousy or denial or ignorance- but it’s not that important to me- I know and I have my education, pride and success. Well,…
HC Hui Nee 130 pm at Bugis MRT; Malaysia map; Print pics for mom
We’ve been having a great time, sweating buckets, but also having major electronic problems. We brought two digital cameras and they are both having problems (what are the chances of that happening? – we’ve sent from UT our 3rd camera), and now we have a laptop with problems. It won’t turn on, and unfortunately, we have lost the genealogical files that we had, including yours. Bad Karma, and that’s not the extent of it.
Thankfully, a local friend has allowed us to borrow an old HP laptop for the interim, which is slower, and klunkier but we are grateful to have something versus nada. Not sure if it’s worth fixing the KC’s used Dell is worth the hundreds - we’ll check it out the end of this week.
Adversary is hard at work. I’m having a lot of resistance in genealogy because they don’t care about the dead*, and it’s those living and my “filial responsibility” they were more interested in.
We are trying to reconstruct as much as we had in the Dell. And one of those is genealogy.
Is there any chance that you could send us another copy of both the website URL and the PAF file? We would really appreciate it.
Thanks K
*It sinks to be the youngest in this family, and being told what my obligations are and my “running away” was a big mistake, blah, blah, blah.
No support for my educational goals to go to BYU, and likely I would fail. I earned enough to pay for my international ticket, a year of tuition, and the rest was faith. I graduated BSc with no debt and graduate school with $2,000 debt. It was my personal triumph. Some of my siblings never bothered to find out about my educational accomplishments but insist on telling me what my duties are, not sure if its out of jealousy or denial or ignorance- but it’s not that important to me- I know and I have my education, pride and success. Well,…
HC Hui Nee 130 pm at Bugis MRT; Malaysia map; Print pics for mom
Shanghai, China July 21 (Rsvp D. Dean)
(TO D. Dean)Hey,
It's a great sense of relief to know that it's as hot somewhere else in the world. However, I'm sure I got you beat with over 85% humidity and 37 degrees C (=99 degrees F) in Suzhou and Hangzhou! No amount of mental pyche, "Think Alaska in the deep Freeze" could save us from intense heat and devilish humidity. Soaking wetness by merely walking, with an umbrella, with non-stop manual fanning, with a Chinese wide rimmed hat could save KC nor I from dripping wetness and clothes stuck to our skin. As much as I dislike guided tours, I must admit that I appreciate a waiting A/C vehicle within minutes of our finished tours (we got a tour package for each city we visit- bought out of Singapore- there is a lot of hidden agenda not revealed to us and we are surprised by them, no doubt). You see, I am a grassroot traveler [similar to Rick Steves', the Europe through the Back Door guru] and love the local and native feel of each country I come to see, and coming away with a sense of having truly “tasted” a slice of the country. It seems pointless to travel otherwise. I could replace travel with any amount of media, including youtube.
Kasey is not keeping up with our free lance travels and asked to do land tours. I swore never to take another tour after seeing the Forbidden Palace in two brief hours in the one and only tour I had to take when China initially opened her doors to tourism. I’m just not a “guided by the nose” and see “country in can” kind of traveler.
Oh, well, “make lemonade” moments is the order of the day while seeing China via tours. It has it's perks. "Tuk Tuk" (Bangkok term) shopping is a necessary part of these tours*, though it is infuriating to tourists who have traveled long distances to see the sights and not herded from one high priced shopping to another.
http://placesisee.blogspot.com/ (here) for more quirky details/ housekeeping notes of our Singapore/ China/ Asia experience.
We'll be home in time for school. Hope our home is still standing, and the lawn and yard is well and alive, and the Blacks are there and no natural disasters befall the area or our home.
From Shanghai (July 16-22),
Beijing July 23 (arrival in overnight train- bed in compartment - but I suspect nothing like 1st class Eurail berths in Western Europe - we absolutely loved that!)
(Comment by J Peterson of Shanghai:
Especially if you (Kate) can offer a quality service that avoids a lot of the annoyances of the typical tours. My wife's aunt went on a tour in Beijing and came back to the US thinking she got a steal of a deal on an 65$ necklace. She was pretty ticked when she found out we paid about that much in RMB for the same item right next to our [Shanghai] house. I even heard tale of some Chinese tourists physically locked in a mall until they bought something. I think for most westerners it becomes pretty infuriating when they realize that the reason the tour was so cheap was because the guide is getting a [kickback] proportion of their purchases and is only taking them to outrageously priced places and they end up spending lots of their time in stores they don't have any interest in visiting. It's more of a problem with the whole industry and western expectations, but there is definitely some money to be made by whoever finds a way to fix that divide between expectations and experience.
I'm not nearly as aware of what Asians think about the tour experience in China because I don't know what their expectations are or if they're just coming into it with no idea and don't find anything wrong with it. [Any Asian reading this, feel free to comment. usausak@hotmail.com]
(Kate's comment on tours out of USA and Singapore:
* However, because of how disappointing the guided tours were done here (via Singapore travel agent; and there are a lot of herding to high end shops to pressure tourists to purchase merchandise) I have decided that I may be interested in putting tours together and bypassing the middle men (the travel agency monopoly run by China). I have enough contacts (tour guides and van drivers/owners) and traveled in all kinds of public transportation (XMN, SHA, PEK traveled by intercity trains, public transportation - buses and subways, taxis, etc.) and have enough knowledge of shops and hotels that I could actually do a better job putting together tours, and enjoy this and be successful at it. J. Peterson (American living in Shanghai and familar with the language and culture ) could be my contact man in Shanghai.
I am also interested in a Beijing guide, and hoping to add Xian, Chongqing (and Wuhan got Yangtze cruise) and a few other contacts to the list.
I hope to sell this idea to R.Steves in Washington and one other contact in Utah.
If I could find a J or Kate in Singapore as contact, this whole scenario could be successful in Singapore too, and a USA registered company. In Singapore/ Malaysia, initially, for folks that are related.
-------
(From D Dean [Orem,UT]) Hi Kate,
Debbie and I just got back form Salem, Oregon and are heading off to Arizona Wednesday. I've been wondering how you're doing and if you've been able to travel to all of the places you planned on? Hope the heat there isn't as hot as what we've had here. Probably more humid than here isn't it? How is Kacy doing anyway. Will she be traveling over to see you? Do you know when you might be coming home. Let me know how you're doing. Hope all is well with your family over there.
Take care, D Dean
It's a great sense of relief to know that it's as hot somewhere else in the world. However, I'm sure I got you beat with over 85% humidity and 37 degrees C (=99 degrees F) in Suzhou and Hangzhou! No amount of mental pyche, "Think Alaska in the deep Freeze" could save us from intense heat and devilish humidity. Soaking wetness by merely walking, with an umbrella, with non-stop manual fanning, with a Chinese wide rimmed hat could save KC nor I from dripping wetness and clothes stuck to our skin. As much as I dislike guided tours, I must admit that I appreciate a waiting A/C vehicle within minutes of our finished tours (we got a tour package for each city we visit- bought out of Singapore- there is a lot of hidden agenda not revealed to us and we are surprised by them, no doubt). You see, I am a grassroot traveler [similar to Rick Steves', the Europe through the Back Door guru] and love the local and native feel of each country I come to see, and coming away with a sense of having truly “tasted” a slice of the country. It seems pointless to travel otherwise. I could replace travel with any amount of media, including youtube.
Kasey is not keeping up with our free lance travels and asked to do land tours. I swore never to take another tour after seeing the Forbidden Palace in two brief hours in the one and only tour I had to take when China initially opened her doors to tourism. I’m just not a “guided by the nose” and see “country in can” kind of traveler.
Oh, well, “make lemonade” moments is the order of the day while seeing China via tours. It has it's perks. "Tuk Tuk" (Bangkok term) shopping is a necessary part of these tours*, though it is infuriating to tourists who have traveled long distances to see the sights and not herded from one high priced shopping to another.
http://placesisee.blogspot.com/ (here) for more quirky details/ housekeeping notes of our Singapore/ China/ Asia experience.
We'll be home in time for school. Hope our home is still standing, and the lawn and yard is well and alive, and the Blacks are there and no natural disasters befall the area or our home.
From Shanghai (July 16-22),
Beijing July 23 (arrival in overnight train- bed in compartment - but I suspect nothing like 1st class Eurail berths in Western Europe - we absolutely loved that!)
(Comment by J Peterson of Shanghai:
Especially if you (Kate) can offer a quality service that avoids a lot of the annoyances of the typical tours. My wife's aunt went on a tour in Beijing and came back to the US thinking she got a steal of a deal on an 65$ necklace. She was pretty ticked when she found out we paid about that much in RMB for the same item right next to our [Shanghai] house. I even heard tale of some Chinese tourists physically locked in a mall until they bought something. I think for most westerners it becomes pretty infuriating when they realize that the reason the tour was so cheap was because the guide is getting a [kickback] proportion of their purchases and is only taking them to outrageously priced places and they end up spending lots of their time in stores they don't have any interest in visiting. It's more of a problem with the whole industry and western expectations, but there is definitely some money to be made by whoever finds a way to fix that divide between expectations and experience.
I'm not nearly as aware of what Asians think about the tour experience in China because I don't know what their expectations are or if they're just coming into it with no idea and don't find anything wrong with it. [Any Asian reading this, feel free to comment. usausak@hotmail.com]
(Kate's comment on tours out of USA and Singapore:
* However, because of how disappointing the guided tours were done here (via Singapore travel agent; and there are a lot of herding to high end shops to pressure tourists to purchase merchandise) I have decided that I may be interested in putting tours together and bypassing the middle men (the travel agency monopoly run by China). I have enough contacts (tour guides and van drivers/owners) and traveled in all kinds of public transportation (XMN, SHA, PEK traveled by intercity trains, public transportation - buses and subways, taxis, etc.) and have enough knowledge of shops and hotels that I could actually do a better job putting together tours, and enjoy this and be successful at it. J. Peterson (American living in Shanghai and familar with the language and culture ) could be my contact man in Shanghai.
I am also interested in a Beijing guide, and hoping to add Xian, Chongqing (and Wuhan got Yangtze cruise) and a few other contacts to the list.
I hope to sell this idea to R.Steves in Washington and one other contact in Utah.
If I could find a J or Kate in Singapore as contact, this whole scenario could be successful in Singapore too, and a USA registered company. In Singapore/ Malaysia, initially, for folks that are related.
-------
(From D Dean [Orem,UT]) Hi Kate,
Debbie and I just got back form Salem, Oregon and are heading off to Arizona Wednesday. I've been wondering how you're doing and if you've been able to travel to all of the places you planned on? Hope the heat there isn't as hot as what we've had here. Probably more humid than here isn't it? How is Kacy doing anyway. Will she be traveling over to see you? Do you know when you might be coming home. Let me know how you're doing. Hope all is well with your family over there.
Take care, D Dean
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