Still reeling from the harsh effects of recession, expats from Dubai are finding it hard to move on. Newspapers say that the economy is now improving, that more jobs will be created in the next months, that banks are now confident again to lend, etc. But all these maybe are just a spin doctor's campaign to manage the crisis. I guess, Dubai is doing its curtain call...
Every week, my prayer list always has "job-seekers". Many are long time, many are just recent. The feeling of paranoia is just so daunting that even the most stable man may find himself with emotions he is not familiar with.
Gathering from the various stories of people in the workforce like me, I can only say that truly, this recession has revealed the ugly face of consumerism/ capitalism. And what is that? The name itself says it. At the end of the day, it is money that really counts, and not the relationsips, not the human resources and not the skills. Many owners are turning into growling hungry tigers, who want the people under them to be turned into tigers as well, and threaten the people to do this, or else... The threat of "a lot of people are lining up for your post" is just so fiece, and so cold. Looking back, I think many of the employee empowerment programs were just a lie, a social blitz campaign to get all the brains it needed, just to be thrown away so easily when useless. Redundancy is such a convenient excuse for many companies.
This is the very cycle of the world that we are in that we fed ourselves with. More people spending, more jobs, more spending, more jobs... Vicious cycle. Cut it somewhere and you have recession. The good side is, we are back-to-the-basics.
There are a few laudable exemptions who have kept its corporate virtues and I really do admire them and these are the companies worth cutting paycheck for.
Showing posts with label World News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World News. Show all posts
11.11.2009
9.17.2008
Who will Insure my Insurance?????
hmmm, i looked at my bank fund notes, and it is insured by AIG. i looked at my life plan and pension plan, and both are insured by AIG... "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes." Ps 118:8-9
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Sept. 16 (Bloomberg) -- A collapse of American International Group Inc., the insurer seeking to raise as much as $75 billion, would have consequences for financial firms around the globe, analysts and investors said. Wall Street's top firms, and the biggest companies in Europe and Asia, have bought protection on $441 billion of fixed-income assets from AIG to guard their investments against potential bankruptcies. A failure by New York-based AIG may result in $180 billion of losses to financial institutions, RBC Capital Markets analyst Hank Calenti said in a report today.
``It is certainly a big number,'' Calenti said in an interview. ``AIG is ubiquitous.''
AIG, with $1 trillion in assets, piled up net losses totaling $18.5 billion in the past three quarters on writedowns tied to the collapse of the U.S. subprime mortgage market. It insures some of the largest assets in the world, doing business in more than 100 countries.
``If AIG goes under, there could be a domino effect,'' said Andrea Cicione, a credit strategist at BNP Paribas SA in London. ``AIG is very connected to the financial system and it is very connected to the real economy.''
AIG is the largest corporate insurer in the U.S. It sells protection against some of the biggest risks, insuring planes and commercial shipping and providing coverage against terrorist attacks.
AIG Global Real Estate's portfolio includes over 53 million square feet of property in more than 50 countries, the company said on its Web site.
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.'s London landlord, Songbird Estates Plc, said rent payments on the bank's offices in the Canary Wharf financial district are insured by AIG. The insurer is committed to paying up to four years of rent in the event of a default, Songbird said in a statement today.
AIG is the second-largest property and casualty insurer and the seventh-largest life insurer in the U.S., according to 2007 data compiled by A.M. Best Co. The company insures high-end homes through its Private Client Group and sells auto coverage online through AIG Direct.
More than 40 percent of AIG's revenue comes from property and casualty customers. AIG provides coverage for offshore oil drilling platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, warrantees for televisions in Brazil, and insurance that complies with Islamic law in Bahrain.
AIG's insurance businesses have enough money to pay claims, said David Neustadt, a spokesman for Eric Dinallo, the New York State insurance superintendent.
``AIG's problem is not that it is short of capital, unlike some other institutions,'' Neustadt told reporters today. ``It's a liquidity problem.
``We're ensuring that the new assets that come in will protect policyholders,'' he said. ``That's our job.''
New York Governor David Paterson said Wall Street is ``stunned'' by the AIG's struggles. The executives at U.S. financial firms ``aren't totally aware'' of the scope of the crisis, he said today in a Bloomberg Radio interview.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are working with AIG to determine how much the insurer needs, said two people familiar with the matter and declined to be identified because negotiations are private.
``AIG poses a systemic risk because it's a large counterparty in the financial system,'' said Prasad Patkar, who helps manage the equivalent of $1.8 billion at Platypus Asset Management in Sydney. ``It's too big to be allowed to fail.''
Without outside help from the U.S. government or investors, AIG will be forced into bankruptcy, said Maurice ``Hank'' Greenberg, its former chairman and chief executive officer. Greenberg, who controls the largest stake in the insurer, saw his holdings decline by $3.1 billion last week.
AIG would be able to sell assets to raise the funds it needs ``given some time,'' Greenberg said on CNBC today. Allowing it to fail would create a ``systemic'' issue, he said.
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Sept. 16 (Bloomberg) -- A collapse of American International Group Inc., the insurer seeking to raise as much as $75 billion, would have consequences for financial firms around the globe, analysts and investors said. Wall Street's top firms, and the biggest companies in Europe and Asia, have bought protection on $441 billion of fixed-income assets from AIG to guard their investments against potential bankruptcies. A failure by New York-based AIG may result in $180 billion of losses to financial institutions, RBC Capital Markets analyst Hank Calenti said in a report today.``It is certainly a big number,'' Calenti said in an interview. ``AIG is ubiquitous.''
AIG, with $1 trillion in assets, piled up net losses totaling $18.5 billion in the past three quarters on writedowns tied to the collapse of the U.S. subprime mortgage market. It insures some of the largest assets in the world, doing business in more than 100 countries.
``If AIG goes under, there could be a domino effect,'' said Andrea Cicione, a credit strategist at BNP Paribas SA in London. ``AIG is very connected to the financial system and it is very connected to the real economy.''
AIG is the largest corporate insurer in the U.S. It sells protection against some of the biggest risks, insuring planes and commercial shipping and providing coverage against terrorist attacks.
AIG Global Real Estate's portfolio includes over 53 million square feet of property in more than 50 countries, the company said on its Web site.
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.'s London landlord, Songbird Estates Plc, said rent payments on the bank's offices in the Canary Wharf financial district are insured by AIG. The insurer is committed to paying up to four years of rent in the event of a default, Songbird said in a statement today.
AIG is the second-largest property and casualty insurer and the seventh-largest life insurer in the U.S., according to 2007 data compiled by A.M. Best Co. The company insures high-end homes through its Private Client Group and sells auto coverage online through AIG Direct.
More than 40 percent of AIG's revenue comes from property and casualty customers. AIG provides coverage for offshore oil drilling platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, warrantees for televisions in Brazil, and insurance that complies with Islamic law in Bahrain.
AIG's insurance businesses have enough money to pay claims, said David Neustadt, a spokesman for Eric Dinallo, the New York State insurance superintendent.
``AIG's problem is not that it is short of capital, unlike some other institutions,'' Neustadt told reporters today. ``It's a liquidity problem.
``We're ensuring that the new assets that come in will protect policyholders,'' he said. ``That's our job.''
New York Governor David Paterson said Wall Street is ``stunned'' by the AIG's struggles. The executives at U.S. financial firms ``aren't totally aware'' of the scope of the crisis, he said today in a Bloomberg Radio interview.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are working with AIG to determine how much the insurer needs, said two people familiar with the matter and declined to be identified because negotiations are private.
``AIG poses a systemic risk because it's a large counterparty in the financial system,'' said Prasad Patkar, who helps manage the equivalent of $1.8 billion at Platypus Asset Management in Sydney. ``It's too big to be allowed to fail.''
Without outside help from the U.S. government or investors, AIG will be forced into bankruptcy, said Maurice ``Hank'' Greenberg, its former chairman and chief executive officer. Greenberg, who controls the largest stake in the insurer, saw his holdings decline by $3.1 billion last week.
AIG would be able to sell assets to raise the funds it needs ``given some time,'' Greenberg said on CNBC today. Allowing it to fail would create a ``systemic'' issue, he said.
3.04.2008
The End of An Era
I've known fidel castro's name since high school, you know, the current events quizzes. and then vladimir's name has been there in the political arena eversince 90s. and now that they are stepping down, is it really the end of their era? maybe not, as they 'appoint' their successors...
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Feb 19, 2008 ABC News
After almost half a century in power, Cuba's Fidel Castro is stepping down. He made the announcement overnight on the online edition of the Cuban Communist Daily paper Granma. "I will neither aspire to nor accept the positions of president of the state council and commander in chief." That means that for the first time since 1959, the 81-year-old will not be officially in charge in Cuba.
His brother Raul, 76, who has been acting president for his ailing brother, since July 2006, will be formally installed this weekend. The world's longest-serving political leader is leaving on his own terms, having survived efforts by 10 U.S. presidents to bring him down, including a disastrous CIA-backed invasion in 1961 and a missile crisis that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war in 1962.
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March 3, 2008, World News 
MOSCOW, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Russia's first deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev won a landslide victory in Sunday's presidential election, becoming the successor of incumbent President Vladimir Putin, who is barred constitutionally from seeking a consecutive third term and is to step down in May after eight years in office. Following is a timeline of highlights of Putin presidency:
-- Aug. 1999: President Boris Yeltsin names Putin as acting prime minister.
-- Dec. 1999: Yeltsin resigns on New Year's Eve; Putin becomes acting president.
-- March 2000: Putin is elected president of Russia.
-- May 2000: Putin is sworn in as Russia's second democratically elected president.
-- June 2000: Putin holds a summit in Moscow with U.S. President Bill Clinton. The two leaders sign agreements to tackle new threats to global stability and also agree to bridge differences over missile defense system.
-- Aug. 2000: The Kursk nuclear-powered submarine sinks in the Barents Sea, killing all 118 sailors on board. Putin's image suffers a jolt as he comments on the crisis for the first time four days later.
-- June 2001: Putin and U.S. President George W. Bush meet for their first summit in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana.
-- May 2002: Putin and Bush publicly differ in Moscow. Putin denies Russia could help Iran develop nuclear weapons.
-- June 2003: Russia closes the TVS television channel, the only countrywide TV station not controlled by the state.
-- March 2004: Putin is re-elected as Russian president, winning more than 70 percent of the vote.
-- Sept. 2004: A group of terrorists take more than 1,000 people hostage in a school in Beslan, North Ossetia-Alania, triggering a three-day standoff that ends in gun battle. More than 300 hostages are killed, half of them children.
-- April 2005: Putin becomes the first Russian leader to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories, as part of a Middle East tour.
-- Jan. 2006: Russian gas monopoly Gazprom halts gas supplies to Ukraine after Kiev rejects its terms on natural gas deliveries and transit. Europe's energy supplies are affected.
-- July 2006: Russia hosts its first Group of Eight summit in St. Petersburg, as bilateral relations between Moscow and Washington soured.
-- Dec. 2007: Putin publicly voices his support for First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as his favored successor and starts to support him in the election campaign.
-- Dec. 2007: Putin is named by the Time magazine "Person of the Year" for 2007.
-- Aug. 1999: President Boris Yeltsin names Putin as acting prime minister.
-- Dec. 1999: Yeltsin resigns on New Year's Eve; Putin becomes acting president.
-- March 2000: Putin is elected president of Russia.
-- May 2000: Putin is sworn in as Russia's second democratically elected president.
-- June 2000: Putin holds a summit in Moscow with U.S. President Bill Clinton. The two leaders sign agreements to tackle new threats to global stability and also agree to bridge differences over missile defense system.
-- Aug. 2000: The Kursk nuclear-powered submarine sinks in the Barents Sea, killing all 118 sailors on board. Putin's image suffers a jolt as he comments on the crisis for the first time four days later.
-- June 2001: Putin and U.S. President George W. Bush meet for their first summit in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana.
-- May 2002: Putin and Bush publicly differ in Moscow. Putin denies Russia could help Iran develop nuclear weapons.
-- June 2003: Russia closes the TVS television channel, the only countrywide TV station not controlled by the state.
-- March 2004: Putin is re-elected as Russian president, winning more than 70 percent of the vote.
-- Sept. 2004: A group of terrorists take more than 1,000 people hostage in a school in Beslan, North Ossetia-Alania, triggering a three-day standoff that ends in gun battle. More than 300 hostages are killed, half of them children.
-- April 2005: Putin becomes the first Russian leader to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories, as part of a Middle East tour.
-- Jan. 2006: Russian gas monopoly Gazprom halts gas supplies to Ukraine after Kiev rejects its terms on natural gas deliveries and transit. Europe's energy supplies are affected.
-- July 2006: Russia hosts its first Group of Eight summit in St. Petersburg, as bilateral relations between Moscow and Washington soured.
-- Dec. 2007: Putin publicly voices his support for First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as his favored successor and starts to support him in the election campaign.
-- Dec. 2007: Putin is named by the Time magazine "Person of the Year" for 2007.
2.19.2008
Election Blues
Kenya's disputed presidential election triggers an explosion of violence that has killed more than 275 people, including dozens burned alive as they sought refuge in a church. President Mwai Kibaki, newly inaugurated for a second term, calls for a meeting with his political opponents.
Kenya's leaders came under increasing pressure from the international community on Wednesday to end post-election violence that has resulted in the deaths of at least 250 people, including dozens who were burned alive as they sought refuge in a church. (NPR, Jan 2 2008)
US. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, two of the Democratic Party candidates for the US presidency, have clashed in a debate before South Carolina's primary. Mr Obama accused Mrs Clinton of saying anything to get elected. On Sunday he had accused her husband Bill Clinton of making false statements about him. But Mrs Clinton said it was hard to debate with someone who never took responsibility for any vote he cast. (BBC News, Jan 22 2008) oh, and they are from the same party, huh?
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Lahore, Pakistan. Fearful of violence and deterred by confusion at polling stations, Pakistanis voted Monday in parliamentary elections that may fail to produce clear winners and could result
in protracted post-election political skirmishing. A number of clashes among polling officials and voters resulted in 10 people killed and 70 wounded, according to Pakistani television channels.
Suppressed by fears of violence and vote rigging, turnout was low, which was expected to favor President Pervez Musharraf and the party that supports him, the Pakistan Muslim League-Q.
Within hours of the polls closing, however, several major defeats were reported for Musharraf's party, which some of his party workers took as a harbinger of bad news to come. Though no official results were yet announced, those parliamentary seats appeared to go instead to the Pakistan Muslim League-N, the opposition faction of the same party that supports the president's main rival, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. (International Herald Tribune, Feb
18 2008)
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the ugly heads of elections, elections... always been connected to violence, confusion, etc. unfortunately, it happens in my own country as well. oh well...
Kenya's leaders came under increasing pressure from the international community on Wednesday to end post-election violence that has resulted in the deaths of at least 250 people, including dozens who were burned alive as they sought refuge in a church. (NPR, Jan 2 2008)
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US. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, two of the Democratic Party candidates for the US presidency, have clashed in a debate before South Carolina's primary. Mr Obama accused Mrs Clinton of saying anything to get elected. On Sunday he had accused her husband Bill Clinton of making false statements about him. But Mrs Clinton said it was hard to debate with someone who never took responsibility for any vote he cast. (BBC News, Jan 22 2008) oh, and they are from the same party, huh?*******************
Lahore, Pakistan. Fearful of violence and deterred by confusion at polling stations, Pakistanis voted Monday in parliamentary elections that may fail to produce clear winners and could result
in protracted post-election political skirmishing. A number of clashes among polling officials and voters resulted in 10 people killed and 70 wounded, according to Pakistani television channels.Suppressed by fears of violence and vote rigging, turnout was low, which was expected to favor President Pervez Musharraf and the party that supports him, the Pakistan Muslim League-Q.
Within hours of the polls closing, however, several major defeats were reported for Musharraf's party, which some of his party workers took as a harbinger of bad news to come. Though no official results were yet announced, those parliamentary seats appeared to go instead to the Pakistan Muslim League-N, the opposition faction of the same party that supports the president's main rival, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. (International Herald Tribune, Feb
18 2008)
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the ugly heads of elections, elections... always been connected to violence, confusion, etc. unfortunately, it happens in my own country as well. oh well...
2.18.2008
When the Heavens Talk...
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Sharjah: Heavy downpours in Sharjah since Monday evening have left many vehicles submerged in large puddles of water. The developing area of Al Nahada, Sharjah has been particularly affected. (Gulf News, Jan 15 2008)
Sharjah: Heavy downpours in Sharjah since Monday evening have left many vehicles submerged in large puddles of water. The developing area of Al Nahada, Sharjah has been particularly affected. (Gulf News, Jan 15 2008)
************
The heaviest snow in decades is continuing to cause chaos across China ahead of the busy Lunar New Year holiday, state media report. The snowstorms, which began on 10 January, are the worst for half a century and have affected nearly 80 million people across 14 provinces. Houses and agricultural land have been destroyed, leading to economic losses totalling 22.09bn yuan ($3bn, £1.5bn), the official news agency Xinhua said. (BBC News, Jan 24 2008)
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A section of Interstate 8, a highway that almost touches the Mexican border, remained closed Friday after a surprise winter storm hit Southern California. The California Highway Patrol said more than 500 cars and trucks were abandoned on the highway, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. About 300 people sheltered overnight in a casino and 100 at a fire station. (Gulf in the Media, feb 15 2008)
12.30.2007
The Assassination of Benazir Bhutto
(Korea Times, Dec 30, 2007)
The assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto last December 27 has plunged the Muslim nation into extreme chaos. The nation faces its worst crisis since it was founded in 1947. What is more serious is the current situation shows no sign of abating in the foreseeable future with possibly a far-flung impact upon the entire global community. The ``blitzkrieg'' suicide terrorist attack has darkened the future direction of Pakistan's path toward democracy.Concern is rising over the possible nuclear instability given the geopolitical location of Pakistan as the only Muslim nation to possess nuclear weapons. It would be a nightmare of ``nuclear terror'' if Islamic extremists take the nuclear weapons, dealing a critical blow to the global anti-terrorism efforts, led by the United States. Additionally, there have already been signs of fluctuation in the prices of crude oil, gold and bonds.
The killing of Bhutto occurred during stumping for the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) ahead of the general elections slated for Jan. 8. Her death is all the more tragic as it comes in the wake of the killings of her father Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1979 by the then military regime, and her two younger brothers ― one in a foreign land and the other by police. Pre-election surveys had shown that her PPP was looking to win a majority in the upcoming elections.
The real attacker has yet to be identified as there are too many of the usual suspects ― pro-government activists, Islamic extremists, informants and members of the military. Further confusion will also intensify terrorists' activities and weaken anti-terrorism efforts. The United States faces a dilemma since it has supported the current Musharaff regime in the fight against terrorism. Musharaff has been the target of growing public criticism for attempting to extend his stay in power in a seemingly inappropriate manner. The U.S. deserves a fair part of the blame for having excessively pushed for its anti-terrorism war in coalition with a Pakistani regime that lacks legitimacy.
9.03.2007
New weekend on this side of the globe
UAE did it last year... and Kuwai is following suit this year... when will the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Oman take this huge step???
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by Lynne Roberts on Sunday, 02 September 2007
Kuwait switched to a Friday-Saturday weekend yesterday from its original Thursday-Friday, bringing the country in line with most of its fellow Gulf states.The move, designed to give the state an extra day with major trading partners, met with objections from Islamist MPs who called it ‘unIslamic’ and said it was done to please the Western world. Clerics say Islam forbids the imitation of Jews and Christians, and that the decision has been imposed based on the interests of a small group of businessment is following suit
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by Lynne Roberts on Sunday, 02 September 2007
Kuwait switched to a Friday-Saturday weekend yesterday from its original Thursday-Friday, bringing the country in line with most of its fellow Gulf states.The move, designed to give the state an extra day with major trading partners, met with objections from Islamist MPs who called it ‘unIslamic’ and said it was done to please the Western world. Clerics say Islam forbids the imitation of Jews and Christians, and that the decision has been imposed based on the interests of a small group of businessment is following suit
Proponents argue Islam neither prescribes nor prohibits Saturday as a day of rest, and say the move will boost the economy. The Thursday-Friday Muslim weekend is now applied only in Saudi Arabia and Oman out of all of the six GCC nations. In Saudi Arabia, an attempt to switch to a Friday-Saturday weekend was blocked by the Shura Council, but the initiative is still on the agenda.The change applies to public sector offices in Kuwait. Private sector companies are not bound to follow the government, but most already work to a Friday-Saturday weekend to be more in line with international markets.
8.16.2007
A Baby Girl?!%# I'm sorry...
i thought it only happens in the outskirts. but seeing it on CNN recently confirms that getting rid of baby girls is widespread even in the supposed 'modern' cities of India. there, it is indeed raining men!
i have an indian officemate who testifies to this. he's from kerala, a province in india. i've asked the same question with other indians i know. while some dismiss it as an 'urban legend and so yesterday', others confirm its existence upto now. do you know that ultrasound machines were prohibited in some areas so that the couple will not know the sex of the baby?
and if asked why is this practiced, i only get one answer on why it happens --- the dowry being paid on the wedding day is so high, that most have to start saving as soon as the baby is born! but an indian friend of mine who was born and raised here in dubai defied this tradition. he had an arranged marriage but he did not ask for dowry! very good indeed! very unstifling for the in-laws.
in ending, as Oprah commented (when she featured this is her show), "if it's gonna be all boys, i wonder how will more baby boys be conceived without a woman?" you really wonder how...
if there is dowry for the groom, i hope there is 'labor gifts' for the mothers --- i guess this will equalize everything!
i have an indian officemate who testifies to this. he's from kerala, a province in india. i've asked the same question with other indians i know. while some dismiss it as an 'urban legend and so yesterday', others confirm its existence upto now. do you know that ultrasound machines were prohibited in some areas so that the couple will not know the sex of the baby?
and if asked why is this practiced, i only get one answer on why it happens --- the dowry being paid on the wedding day is so high, that most have to start saving as soon as the baby is born! but an indian friend of mine who was born and raised here in dubai defied this tradition. he had an arranged marriage but he did not ask for dowry! very good indeed! very unstifling for the in-laws.
in ending, as Oprah commented (when she featured this is her show), "if it's gonna be all boys, i wonder how will more baby boys be conceived without a woman?" you really wonder how...
if there is dowry for the groom, i hope there is 'labor gifts' for the mothers --- i guess this will equalize everything!
8.06.2007
London Bridge is Falling Down....
that was a cute nursery rhyme. but replace 'london' with 'minnesota', and it equals tragedy which happened last wednesady.
i was watching CNN, and caught the safety camera shot of the collapse of the minnesota bridge. i cannot believe it! in split second! i felt goose bumps all over me. can it be true? the whole bridge?!#$
the survivors were interviewed. the city officials gave statements. the safety specialists have something to say. the newscasters have their two-cents worth on the issues. like a thunderbolt, it once again awakened the people... the survivors felt being given the second chance at life...
if i were there, i wouldn't know if i'd have the presence of mind some of the people had at the scene of the tragedy. they immediately thought of rescuing others, of jumping out of their cars, of taking a photo of the whole thing...
and would i be prepared to meet my God? by God's grace, i can say 'yes'.
but since i was not there, and i am still here alive and kicking... He is giving me another chance to cherish the gift of life, a gift which i usually take for granted...
i was watching CNN, and caught the safety camera shot of the collapse of the minnesota bridge. i cannot believe it! in split second! i felt goose bumps all over me. can it be true? the whole bridge?!#$
the survivors were interviewed. the city officials gave statements. the safety specialists have something to say. the newscasters have their two-cents worth on the issues. like a thunderbolt, it once again awakened the people... the survivors felt being given the second chance at life...
if i were there, i wouldn't know if i'd have the presence of mind some of the people had at the scene of the tragedy. they immediately thought of rescuing others, of jumping out of their cars, of taking a photo of the whole thing...
and would i be prepared to meet my God? by God's grace, i can say 'yes'.
but since i was not there, and i am still here alive and kicking... He is giving me another chance to cherish the gift of life, a gift which i usually take for granted...
8.01.2007
Does Life Imitate Art?
Scene 1: three months ago, afghan president is pressured to release its 5 terrorist prisoners in exchange for 1 italian reporter. he did.
Scene 2: the world community condemned this act.
Scene 3: two weeks ago, the terrorists kidnapped south korean christians riding a bus in ghazi province in kabul-khandar hi-way in afganistan. the demands --> release 8 taliban prisoners held by kabul, afghanistan government and pull out the korean armed forces in afghanistan.
Scene 4: kabul government did not heed.
Scene 5: talibans killed one hostage, the pastor. taliban pressured korea to pressure afghanistan, or else the remaining 22 will be killed. new deadline set.
Scene 6: kabul government said they will not release taliban prisoners.
Scene 7: talibans killed another hostage, and threatens to kill the others.
Scene 8: south korea pleads US intervention. others blame US for angering the talibans in 2001. korea government is in hot seat in deciding on this issue.
Scene 9: to be continued.....
i can't belive that what i am seeing are actual footages ad what i am reading are real stories, and not scenes from a movie. the sad thing is knowing that this does not end within 2 hours of reel-time. and that there is no assurance of victorious ending.
all i can do for now is to pray on bended knees, and seek the mercy of the Highest authority.
Scene 2: the world community condemned this act.
Scene 3: two weeks ago, the terrorists kidnapped south korean christians riding a bus in ghazi province in kabul-khandar hi-way in afganistan. the demands --> release 8 taliban prisoners held by kabul, afghanistan government and pull out the korean armed forces in afghanistan.
Scene 4: kabul government did not heed.
Scene 5: talibans killed one hostage, the pastor. taliban pressured korea to pressure afghanistan, or else the remaining 22 will be killed. new deadline set.
Scene 6: kabul government said they will not release taliban prisoners.
Scene 7: talibans killed another hostage, and threatens to kill the others.
Scene 8: south korea pleads US intervention. others blame US for angering the talibans in 2001. korea government is in hot seat in deciding on this issue.
Scene 9: to be continued.....
i can't belive that what i am seeing are actual footages ad what i am reading are real stories, and not scenes from a movie. the sad thing is knowing that this does not end within 2 hours of reel-time. and that there is no assurance of victorious ending.
all i can do for now is to pray on bended knees, and seek the mercy of the Highest authority.
7.31.2007
Red-Stained Victory for Iraq
By BUSHRA JUHI Associated Press Writer
BAGHDAD Jul 29, 2007 (AP)
Defying orders from authorities, revelers fired celebratory
gunshots and poured into the streets after Iraq beat Saudi Arabia to clinch its first Asian Cup soccer championship on Sunday. Mosques broadcast calls to stop the shootings, which killed at least four people. Security forces enforced a vehicle ban in an effort to prevent a repeat of car bombings that killed dozens celebrating Iraq's progress to the finals Wednesday.
Iraqis welcomed the victory as a chance to show the world they can come together and expressed frustration that their politicians couldn't do the same. "Those heroes have shown the real Iraq. They have done something useful for the people as opposed to the politicians and lawmakers who are stealing or killing each other," said Sabah Shaiyal, a 43-year-old policeman in Baghdad. "The players have made us proud, not the greedy politicians. Once again, our national team has shown that there is only one, united Iraq."
Defying orders from authorities, revelers fired celebratory
gunshots and poured into the streets after Iraq beat Saudi Arabia to clinch its first Asian Cup soccer championship on Sunday. Mosques broadcast calls to stop the shootings, which killed at least four people. Security forces enforced a vehicle ban in an effort to prevent a repeat of car bombings that killed dozens celebrating Iraq's progress to the finals Wednesday.Iraqis welcomed the victory as a chance to show the world they can come together and expressed frustration that their politicians couldn't do the same. "Those heroes have shown the real Iraq. They have done something useful for the people as opposed to the politicians and lawmakers who are stealing or killing each other," said Sabah Shaiyal, a 43-year-old policeman in Baghdad. "The players have made us proud, not the greedy politicians. Once again, our national team has shown that there is only one, united Iraq."
The Iraqi team, known as the "Lions of the Two Rivers" beat three-time champions Saudi Arabia 1-0 in its first appearance in the Asian Cup final.
The jubilation over the victorious run of the team has given Iraqis a rare respite from the daily sectarian attacks, with men of all ages cheering and dancing in the streets after each win.
But extremists seemed just as determined to destroy national pride and unity. Two car bombs tore through crowds of revelers in two Baghdad neighborhoods, killing 50 people after Wednesday's semifinal victory over South Korea.
But extremists seemed just as determined to destroy national pride and unity. Two car bombs tore through crowds of revelers in two Baghdad neighborhoods, killing 50 people after Wednesday's semifinal victory over South Korea.
7.30.2007
It's Raining Bills... in Japan!
i'm not exactly sure what to make out of this story... urban legend, or what???... good or what??? whatever!
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by Miwa Suzuki Sun Jul 29, 6:32 PM ET
TOKYO (AFP) - A mystery gripping Japan over anonymous cash gifts has taken a new twist. For those who want the next batch of giveaways, the place to look is in their mailboxes -- or even right at their feet.
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Residents of a Tokyo apartment building are baffled after a total of 1.81 million yen (15,210 dollars) was found in 18 mailboxes by Saturday, a police spokesman said.
"The money was in identical plain envelopes, which were unsealed and carried no names or messages," the spokesman told AFP. But residents became "spooked" rather than pleased with the anonymous gifts -- and were too upright to pocket the money secretly. "Some people initially suspected they were fake bills. When they realised the bills were real, they reported them to us," the spokesman said.
The predominantly middle-class apartment building in Tokyo is not alone. An envelope with one million yen was left in the mailbox of a 31-year-old woman in the western city of Kobe on Wednesday. Police admit they have no idea who is leaving the cash -- whether a few people are behind the bizarre giveaways or if Japan is witnessing a craze of copycat benevolence.
Since June, dozens of city halls and other public buildings across the country have reported finding neatly packaged envelopes full of cash in men's restrooms.
The bathroom money has come with identical letters asking people to do good deeds -- leading to speculation that the benefactor may be a public servant trying to cheer up his profession or perhaps a member of a new-age religion. Japanese cash dropoffs are not always so neat.
On Wednesday, bills worth 960,000 yen were inexplicably seen "falling" in front of a convenience store.
"We can just say the money came from the skies," a puzzled police official said. "There were other passers-by outside and customers in the store but the incident caused no confusion," he said. "People thought it was too eerie to touch." A man who contacted police saying his daughter had dropped the money had his claim rejected as groundless, the official said.
The largest single dropoff so far was in the ancient city of Kyoto on July 23, astonishing a 67-year-old woman who found an envelope containing 10 million yen of stacked bills in her mailbox.
But mystery money does not always reach police intact.
A woman walking on a bridge over Tokyo's Sumida River told officers that she saw bills falling at her feet from an elevated expressway above on July 6. She believes 30 to 40 notes fell but police managed to collect only six notes worth 46,000 yen by the time they arrived.
"Some people were picking the money up on the bridge," the Tokyo Shimbun quoted the woman as saying.
No one can say if more people have collected money and not told police.
Media tallies suggest more than four million yen, including some found last year, has been found in the public restrooms. Dutifully, police are holding most of the money in case the rightful owner eventually decides to reveal their identity.
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by Miwa Suzuki Sun Jul 29, 6:32 PM ET
TOKYO (AFP) - A mystery gripping Japan over anonymous cash gifts has taken a new twist. For those who want the next batch of giveaways, the place to look is in their mailboxes -- or even right at their feet.
ADVERTISEMENT
Residents of a Tokyo apartment building are baffled after a total of 1.81 million yen (15,210 dollars) was found in 18 mailboxes by Saturday, a police spokesman said.
"The money was in identical plain envelopes, which were unsealed and carried no names or messages," the spokesman told AFP. But residents became "spooked" rather than pleased with the anonymous gifts -- and were too upright to pocket the money secretly. "Some people initially suspected they were fake bills. When they realised the bills were real, they reported them to us," the spokesman said.
The predominantly middle-class apartment building in Tokyo is not alone. An envelope with one million yen was left in the mailbox of a 31-year-old woman in the western city of Kobe on Wednesday. Police admit they have no idea who is leaving the cash -- whether a few people are behind the bizarre giveaways or if Japan is witnessing a craze of copycat benevolence.
Since June, dozens of city halls and other public buildings across the country have reported finding neatly packaged envelopes full of cash in men's restrooms.
The bathroom money has come with identical letters asking people to do good deeds -- leading to speculation that the benefactor may be a public servant trying to cheer up his profession or perhaps a member of a new-age religion. Japanese cash dropoffs are not always so neat.
On Wednesday, bills worth 960,000 yen were inexplicably seen "falling" in front of a convenience store.
"We can just say the money came from the skies," a puzzled police official said. "There were other passers-by outside and customers in the store but the incident caused no confusion," he said. "People thought it was too eerie to touch." A man who contacted police saying his daughter had dropped the money had his claim rejected as groundless, the official said.
The largest single dropoff so far was in the ancient city of Kyoto on July 23, astonishing a 67-year-old woman who found an envelope containing 10 million yen of stacked bills in her mailbox.
But mystery money does not always reach police intact.
A woman walking on a bridge over Tokyo's Sumida River told officers that she saw bills falling at her feet from an elevated expressway above on July 6. She believes 30 to 40 notes fell but police managed to collect only six notes worth 46,000 yen by the time they arrived.
"Some people were picking the money up on the bridge," the Tokyo Shimbun quoted the woman as saying.
No one can say if more people have collected money and not told police.
Media tallies suggest more than four million yen, including some found last year, has been found in the public restrooms. Dutifully, police are holding most of the money in case the rightful owner eventually decides to reveal their identity.
3.05.2007
The Iraq Paradox
just like for most, media has painted a very bad picture of Iraq for me. but talking to my arab friends confirm the truths in what were written. civil wars, killings, bombings, etc... it's the never-ending saga of trying to build a new government. i only need to click "war in iraq" in google, and there pops 120,000,000 sites within 0.42 seconds! wow! just imagine all the space this topic occupies in the cyber history...
lately, i've been working frequently with our iraqi co-employee for some of our local business development projects. yes, an iraqi, but he is not the stereotype. trips going to traffic-congested dubai, and all the inner streets therein, leave us with so much time to kill. and being the ever-curious cat, i pestered him with my questionings...
"how's your family?" "since the war started in 2003, they stayed in Barsa, which is south of 
Baghdad. they are fine but i always worry about them."
Baghdad. they are fine but i always worry about them.""how has the war affected your life?" "i think things are never going to get better. we used to be a rich country, with good sources of oil. but now, economy is plunging sooo low. "
"what really is the war about" "i think it is more of the unresolvable conflict between Sunni and Shia, the two types of Muslims."
"what??? I thought there is only one type of muslim" "no. sunni is the bigger of the two. they have been fighting in iraq ever since. when saddam was ousted, we knew it was not going to be an end, but another beginnning. a new reason to fight over... and the cycle goes on... "
"what are they fighting for" "i really don't know anymore."
"blah blah blah".... my line of questionings were endless, with some bordering into ultimate boring ones, so i will spare you the details...
even if i ran thru the whole of the 120,000,000 sites, i still would not find one real answer to "why is this happening?" nor will i ever find a good rationalization on the occurence of all these. but one thing i have always been sure of, as cliche-ish as it may sound, truly, there are no winners in any kind of war. thousands of innocent lives have been taken away. thousands of lives shattered. thousands still are better off dead than slowly dying...
i remembered reading some marvelous things about Mesopotamia, the cradle of civilization... and centuries after, now Iraq, the cradle of uncivilization! A sad paradox.
2.07.2007
Slow Movement in Europe
I received this email from a friend. i guess the 'slow movement' is slowwwwly making waves... a lot of points make sense to me... oh, if this were true, i hope asia catches on with this european spirit. this is quite exactly what i had in mind about the balancing act of: making a living and real living...
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Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe named Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing. Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week.
Basically, the movement questions the sense of "hurry" and"craziness" generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity" (life status) versus "having with quality", "life quality" or the "quality of being". French people, even though they work 35 hours per week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have established 28.8 hour work weeks and have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US's attention, pupils of the fast and the "do it now!". This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having a lower productivity.
It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means re-establishing family values, friends, free and leisure time. Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined and anonymous. It means taking humans' essential values, the simplicity of living. It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighterand more productive where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do. It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.
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Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe named Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing. Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week.
Basically, the movement questions the sense of "hurry" and"craziness" generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity" (life status) versus "having with quality", "life quality" or the "quality of being". French people, even though they work 35 hours per week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have established 28.8 hour work weeks and have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US's attention, pupils of the fast and the "do it now!". This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having a lower productivity.
It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means re-establishing family values, friends, free and leisure time. Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined and anonymous. It means taking humans' essential values, the simplicity of living. It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighterand more productive where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do. It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.
1.07.2007
Baby Incentives
"...worried about the shrinking population and a birth rate at a post-war low in 2005, the government in September introduced the law to encourage working couples to have children. babies born on or after Jan 1 2007 qualify for the new baby incentives. parents who take time off fro work to care for newborns can receive two-thirds of their net monthly salary upto a maximum of 1,800 euros for 12 mos. if the other parent takes a further two months off, the benefit is extended to 14 months. -- reuters"
this could have been heaven-sent news to many Pinay moms who would like to be stay-at-home moms and enjoy rearing their babies!!! but this is meant for... Germans!
i was awed when i read this in Gulf News, Jan 2 2007 issue. you see, i came from a country where baby-making is never a problem... in fact, controlling it is the problem. just like in the philippines, china had a problem with population explosion, thus the controversial 'one child policy' was inked. it solved one problem, but surely created other problems...
i spoke with european friends, and most of them said, it is a trend there because of career boom among women, and increased physical consciousness of the moms. you see, it is not even about giving a good future because the government will take care of the education and other benefits. selfish maybe, but still, i do not know much to judge.
just like the UAE locals here... they seem to have difficulty doubling their population, when the government have already given all the possible benefits for doing so!
i guess no country can really have it all...
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