::Monday, May 31, 2004::
CARING FOR THE SELF
.. Taking good care of your body is the most important gift you can give to yourself.
::Sunday, May 30, 2004::
MORE TROUBLE FOR VEEP
..The Halliburton issue will apparently not go away for Vice Pres. Dick Cheney. As the election nears, critics of Pres. Bush will keep on hitting him with the charge that he is too cozy with big business with lots of conflict of interests to go by. There will be no change of heart for the president, however, because he needs the support of his conservative base now more than ever as his poll ratings continue to fall. It will be all the way for the Bush-Cheney team no matter what come November.
VALUING GAY MARRIAGE
..The pros and cons of gay marriage not only deal with religious and societal issues but financial as well.
::Friday, May 28, 2004::
DIRTY FOODS
::Wednesday, May 26, 2004::
THE FALL OF U.S. BRANDS
..It is simplistic to attribute what is happening in Iraq to the flagging popularity of U.S. brands. Globalization changed the calculus of Free Trade and forced local and indigenous companies to be competitive in order to beat the corporate behemoths that have become symbols of American economic dominance such as McDonalds. The sagging sales reflect smart marketing and positioning by local companies in going after their market and serving their wants and needs. Globalization has never been about improving markets and helping less developed countries. It is about getting access to foreign markets in order to tap into cheap sources of raw materials and labor capital. This first-world country strategy championed by the U.S. has backfired and is the beginning of the end of Free Trade as we know it.
::Tuesday, May 25, 2004::
ALL ABOUT TRANS FATS
::Sunday, May 23, 2004::
GETTING THE JOB OF YOUR DREAMS
BUSH'S FALL
..Pundits will have a field day regarding Pres. Bush's fall and will use this as an omen for the president's defeat in the 2004 presidential race. It will not be enough to convince voters though. The elections will be decided on the issues and even though his poll ratings are at the lowest ever in his presidency at 42% (no president has ever been re-elected with approval ratings below 50%), Sen. John Kerry has not yet defined himself as a worthy successor come November.
::Saturday, May 22, 2004::
JESUS IS MY GUY
..Reintroduction of Christian themes into popular culture is not a novel idea and has been attempted before but it is one that should be further reinforced in today's secularistic and materialistic culture. I have never heard of skateboarding Jesus fanatics and it's certainly a welcome addition to the myriad of ideas already in the mainstream about the Bible stories. Keep 'em coming!
::Monday, May 17, 2004::
DATING IN NEW YORK
..Mean girls or cocky guys? You decide the state of dating in the great apple.
CLEANED UP YOUR CLOSET LATELY?
..Here's one that caught my fancy - an entire closet cleaning and organizing industry. New Yorkers really are an entrepreneurial bunch!
RESUME-WRITING TIPS
..Your resume may sometimes spell the difference if you will get hired or not. New graduates should take note and avoid the pitfalls stated in this article.
SUPERFLUOUS AT BEST
..Should I now feel bad that I only own a second generation iPod and not the latest mini ? Does that mean I'm not fashionable and "in"? Tell that to those who can't even afford to own even the oldest one! I must applaud Apple's marketing for trying to create a buzz for a product and turning it into a "need" rather than a want. Should I trade up? Do I really need to? Naah..I'd rather wait for the next generation colored ones. Ooops.. my true colors are showing.
::Saturday, May 15, 2004::
IDOL BATTLE IS ON!
..More on the Asian Pacific American stand that shook "American Idol". Turns out our Hawaiian brethren voted at least 100 times which accounted for the 1.2 million votes Jasmine got! The mayor's ad and Hawaiian radio reminding people to vote for Jasmine worked! That's people power aloha-style.
::Friday, May 14, 2004::
THE "ASIAN" FACTOR
..La Toya London's ouster from American Idol signals the emergence of the Asian voice in American culture. Though disproportionately low as a percentage of the whole U.S. population, Asian-Americans are becoming more aware and more involved in events affecting their welfare. Although the Idol show hardly counts at the top of things that profoundly impact their lives, Asian-Americans see the significance of making a statement and finally breaking out of the stigma of merely being a "statistical blip" in past Census results. Whether it may have been the "Hawaiian factor" or that there were two African-Americans to vote for that may have split their numbers, Asian-Americans see in Jasmine Trias an opportunity to be heard, to matter and to make a difference. To cast the deciding vote that swings the calculus of things is merely a bonus.
::Thursday, May 13, 2004::
POLITICS AS USUAL
..New York Times' columnist Thomas Friedman could not have been more right in his opinion. There is a different dynamic that governs government policy in the Bush administration that takes precedence over everything - win 2004 at all cost.
THE SKINNY ON CAB FARE HIKES ETC.
..If you have been out of town lately and noticed the extra pinch on your pocketbook, it must be your cab ride. Fare hikes have turned a New Yorker's world upside down and you need to take stock of how it changes yours. Check out the new cab calculus below:
NEW FARE STRUCTURE, MAY 3
Initial charge: $2.50
(was $2)
Mileage: 40 cents per 1/5 mile
(was 30 cents)
Waiting Charge: 40 cents per 120 seconds
(was 30 cents per 90 seconds)
JFK flat fare: $45
(was $35)
Newark surcharge: $15
(was $10)
4 p.m.-8 p.m. weekday
surcharge: $1
(new charge)
FIVE WAYS TO JFK FROM PORT AUTHORITY
SUBWAY/AIRTRAIN
Cost: $2 subway, $5 Airtrain connection (oneway)
Time: 1 hour, 8 minutes*
SUPERSHUTTLE (supershuttle.com, 212-BLUE-VAN/800-BLUE-VAN
Cost: $19
Time: 2 hours, 7 minutes*
TAXI
Cost: $45
Time: 1 hour, 23 minutes*
NEW YORK AIRPORT SERVICE (BUS), nyairportservice.com/718-875-8200
Cost: $13
Time: 1 hour, 13 minutes*
FIRST CORPORATE SEDANS (www.fcsny.com), 212-972-2222
Cost: $54
Time: 58 minutes*
* All approximated time
Source: New York Magazine
NEW FARE STRUCTURE, MAY 3
Initial charge: $2.50
(was $2)
Mileage: 40 cents per 1/5 mile
(was 30 cents)
Waiting Charge: 40 cents per 120 seconds
(was 30 cents per 90 seconds)
JFK flat fare: $45
(was $35)
Newark surcharge: $15
(was $10)
4 p.m.-8 p.m. weekday
surcharge: $1
(new charge)
FIVE WAYS TO JFK FROM PORT AUTHORITY
SUBWAY/AIRTRAIN
Cost: $2 subway, $5 Airtrain connection (oneway)
Time: 1 hour, 8 minutes*
SUPERSHUTTLE (supershuttle.com, 212-BLUE-VAN/800-BLUE-VAN
Cost: $19
Time: 2 hours, 7 minutes*
TAXI
Cost: $45
Time: 1 hour, 23 minutes*
NEW YORK AIRPORT SERVICE (BUS), nyairportservice.com/718-875-8200
Cost: $13
Time: 1 hour, 13 minutes*
FIRST CORPORATE SEDANS (www.fcsny.com), 212-972-2222
Cost: $54
Time: 58 minutes*
* All approximated time
Source: New York Magazine
::Wednesday, May 12, 2004::
CARE-LESS
..It is wishful thinking for politicians to claim that the United States offers the best medical care in the world. One need not get sick and experience the lack of medical attention in hospitals and medical institutions especially in big cities here. Access to medical care is becoming prohibitive where the best care can be had only by people with deep pockets while the poor and middle class who can barely afford health insurance are left to fend for themselves. This is hardly comforting for a first world country such as the U.S. The increase in rates of common diseases and sicknesses belie the fact that people are receiving excellent medical care the way politicians define them.
::Tuesday, May 11, 2004::
WHAT PICTURES ARE WORTH
::Friday, May 07, 2004::
BLUE EAGLE THE KING!
..The Ateneo Blue Eagle sits on top of the world as the Ateneo Law School beats the competition in the Jessup Cup.
VIRUS ALERT
..Tips from Microsoft to combat the Mydoom virus currently spreading over the internet right now..
