::Tuesday, August 24, 2004::
IT'S A JUNGLE OUT THERE
..Some things never change in New York city. I brought my cousin to JFK, took a livery cab and was mesmerized by the new Air Train circling the airport complex. It was clean and looked fabulous and so out of the nyc experience. I would say very Europish. Sadly, the comparison ended as quickly as you can say pay up. The ride will cost your wallet a substantial $5 for such a short distance. Makes you wonder why you have to pay so much looking at vast areas of parking spaces that are just ugly to behold. Then the hassles pile up. It takes a while to figure out which side you are suppose to take to get to your destination. The signs are so small and before you can even study the map, which takes a scientist to figure out, a train comes before you can even think properly and lo and behold - you have taken the wrong one. Getting to the Howard Beach stop, I find the A train is not running between Far Rockaway and Rockaway Boulevard and I need to take the shuttle bus in between. After a wait that seemed like forever, a bus comes and it stops on the other wait stop! Running after it sweating profusely, the driver announces it is going on the other direction just when you've settled comfortably in your seat. Wheh! Some things never change. When will the city make it easy and comfortable for New Yorkers? Pity those tourists who must have had no clue where to go.
WILL HIP-HOP STEAL ELECTION 2004?
..The Hip-hop summit's initiative to register young voters to make sure they vote in November should be commended at least for the effort they are putting. It remains doubtful, however, whether it will make much of a difference what with the heavily polarized election ever to occur in this country. The initiative has an understandable anti-Bush slant. The entertainment industry is decidedly liberal and the dominance of blacks and minorities in hip-hop presents a double whammy to the president. Democrats should not bring out the victory champaigne just yet and Republicans know this. The election will be decided not by the popular vote but by the electoral college where states represent a certain number of electoral votes based on population and representation. If Democrats learned the lesson of 2000, they are wise not to pin their hopes on entertainers who are more conscious of tv air time than actual pressing of the flesh. The election will be won by volunteers who are out everyday knocking on doors, distributing leaflets and talking to people. The party that listens more and connects with voters' problems will win the election.
::Wednesday, August 18, 2004::
A PUZZLE A DAY
..A study concludes blue collar workers are more prone to dementia and alzheimers than those people who have complex jobs. Although this is not conclusive, the point of the study seems to be that our brain needs to be stimulated as we grow older to prevent the two diseases. Bring out the crossword puzzles!
::Tuesday, August 17, 2004::
TAX ME NOT
WOMEN POWER
..The key to economic development, especially in developing countries may lie with women in society. Thus reports UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in a conference with Arab leaders regarding women's issues. This could be the missing link to help developing countries improve economically especially in the Middle East where women are still relegated to second status. I can't imagine going back to a world where women don't play a crucial role in society other than staying home and raising kids. The world is infinitely better with more women being involved in all areas of society as men are. I suspect the world will have less war and conflict if more women were heads of states and countries.
BIRD OF THE ORIENT SEAS
..Finally, some heartwarming news from a former ally of the US now branded as soft on the war on terror. A bird found only in the Philippines was discovered by scientists who are now out to protect it from development and sprawl. Probably only 200 of the bird's species are left in the forests of Calayan in the Babuyan islands.
::Monday, August 16, 2004::
STATE OF WORLD CONSUMPTION
..The sustainability of the world's economy may lie with China's consumption and how it impacts the rest of the world.
::Thursday, August 12, 2004::
THE OLYMPIC JUGGERNAUT
..The Olympics are here once again and people will be paying attention as always. What political implications , if any, the games will play make it all the more interesting than the previous ones. The political dynamics will flow over during the festivities as the world continues to dwell on the consequences, for good or bad, of President Bush's decision to go to war with Iraq as part of the overall war on terrorism. Will the American players be booed? What general reception will Americans get from a mostly European crowd? Will the rest of the world join in and choose sides or will they be fence-sitters this time? A conundrum indeed.
::Tuesday, August 10, 2004::
FIGHTING MYTHS ABOUT OBESITY
..A research paper tries to combat the hysteria surrounding the so called "obesity epidemic" in the United States.
::Thursday, August 05, 2004::
THE REAL THREAT
..A broken educational system, failing schools and undereducated students are the real threats to US national interest. America's preeminence in the world stage politically and economically rests on the mantle of its people's brain pool. Now this resource is disappearing, if not underfunded, replaced by a commercial culture epitomized by reality television that celebrates instant fame and success without having to bury oneself in books. This cultural fast-food mentality undercuts science and research and is beginning to show its ugly face in schools and educational institutions across the states. The federal government needs to fix this problem fast before it's too late. Poor and underforming kids, whatever the reason will not turn into scientists and innovators in an instant. Countries such as India and China lead the way by putting their money where their mouth is. Just think of the thousands of engineers they graduate each year while America produces just a fraction of the need. Talk about WMD.
TERROR THREAT REDUX
..Although the information which served as the basis for the terror threats against prominent financial centers in the city was dated, people need to take the threats seriously. I happily sacrificed my usual sunday book browsing at the Barnes and Noble branch on 53rd and Lexington. This cavernous hangout is popular among office workers in the midtown east side of the city. It happens to be located on the ground floor of the towering Citigroup building listed as one of the facilities surveyed by Al Qaida operatives a couple of years ago. I call this a hangout because lots of people do use this as a temporary respite amid the rustle and bustle characteristic New York weekdays. It's a glorious retreat on a Sunday for just about anyone. The coffee shop is empty and you can read your favorite magazines leisurely and get recharged.
THE REPUBLICANS ARE COMING!
..The Republican convention will descend upon the city at the end of the month. Native New Yorkers are planning their vacation on that week to avoid the bedlam. That week also happens to coincide with the 2004 US Open so you can just imagine the crowds. Imagine the subway for a second! We haven't even mentioned those Bush haters who are planning massive protests to disrupt the convention.
I saw a commercial enticing people about vacation to Maine on one of the networks. A well-timed and savvy marketing I must say. So New Yorkers, where are you going?
I saw a commercial enticing people about vacation to Maine on one of the networks. A well-timed and savvy marketing I must say. So New Yorkers, where are you going?
