The US Economy vs the World Reality

I AM LEARNING HOW TO PERSUADE MYSELF NOT TO BE LATE AGAIN

2011-05-09T12:07:00.004-07:00

We all know that being late is closely linked to many other bad habits such as being lazy, avoiding responsibility, ineffective time management skills, being unable to understand that making other people waiting is not good, or a lack of motivation, procrastination and many more. It is so true, I have ever thought that such a habit as being “late” can be associated with something quite negative, incompetence, self-centeredness, lack of integrity or increased stress and just being lazy in everything.
People who know me know that I have never been late for anything in my whole life. But then I was brought up that way. My parents taught me a lesson that all latecomers didn’t learn or neglect. When I was 6 years old and older my father would make me miss whatever or wherever it was I should have done or been if I couldn’t be ready 25 minutes early to the time estimate to get anywhere or do anything. Whether I had appointments, went to soccer practice or Judo training deadlines, or even attending churches or catching a movie on a regular basis I had to technically give myself 25 minutes early. At first, I had a very hard time to proper measure my times but when I realize the more I was on time the more respect I owned from my peers so somehow I felt less stress about what I was doing.
My father always believes that being late is the rudest things. He thinks it is something everyone can learn. For example, I had a typical neighbor and friend who was constantly and embarrassingly late and I hated it. It wasn't laziness or lack of caring, just poor estimation of how long something would take him to just get done on a timely fashion. One day, I advised him to follow my father’s secret system for being late. I know it was stupid but maybe he could just start with small stuff first like brushing his teeth, or taking a shower. So we would end up leaving 10 or 15 minutes after we should have done. At least I was not able to help him be ready 25 minutes early but he was always ahead of his daily schedules and everyone thought he became a punctual person.
As my father has decided ‘years’ ago to teach me how to be on time, today I can confirm how easy it is to handle punctuality. I can go to bed at 2 am and up at 5:30 am every day no matter during week days or weekends. I’m rather a few minutes early to my appointments than just being on time. A couple months ago, I gave a talk about leadership to a small group student at Clark Atlanta University in which I gave an extended version of this article. One of the students in the room gave me this compliment after my presentation that ‘‘I would be never late again and would never miss an appointment’’. I wish I had a father like yours when I was growing up.” I was chocked but knew I would make a difference in her life. That is my harvest of the seed I’ve put out several years back. One answer I gave to a question from the crowd was ‘when you are on time, you feel more in control of your life you feel more in balance. Although, I use my blackberry to carry my appointments and meetings but I don’t need a reminder on my mobile, I have a good feeling of what my transition time is and I put in some extra empty times like 25 minutes to allow me to be on time and no stress, not late, no loss of credibility.
I have an old and very dear friend who is constitutionally incapable of being on time. Although I won’t say her name here because I have many many very punctual friends, It's literally her only fault, I absolutely love her but I think she has a kind of tolerance about being late, almost as if she's trying to prove something. I've watched her trying to keep appointments and she will only just start to prepare for the meeting at the appointed hour. For example, if she has to be somewhere at 11:00, then at exactly 11:00 she will say "oh shit, I better start putting my make-up on" and laugh. Even though, she knows it’s going to take half an hour to get there. It frustrated me so much about her I would say something to her, but I don't remember it would drive her to change her behavior towards being on time. It simply just does not occur to her to do things such as check on time. There’s time she can remind herself to, but sometimes she just doesn’t, and she really feels she has no control over her behavior.
For all you latecomers out there, it is very important for you to understand that it is necessary to teach yourselves to be punctual. Making other people waiting, missing deadlines and running behind their schedules is something that may cause significant impact on everyone around them, and it actually contradicts with the full idea of a great leader. We all do it when we get closer to an appointment, you always feel the desire to do something other than getting ready or you want to see if you can get one more thing done before you go. So you end up being late and sometimes making other people who have waited for you late as well. That is why in order to break down the wall of being unpunctual; you should develop a learning process that will allow you to proper manage your times. A good exercise can be first writing down all your tasks and actions for the day, and then prioritizing them accordingly. Write the most important and the most necessary things to be done on the top of your paper or on your calendar, followed by less important and the least important things. Choose to do first only the things which are vital and essential for you, and understand the fact that watching the 10 top plays on ESPN Sportscenter or cleaning the house are not that important sometimes. Also, increase your awareness of the fact that being on time is also a key factor that plays an important role and can serve you for good in a great deal of various situations in your life! Very punctual people are always higher achievers, more discipline, appreciated, respected and are generally more successful in their life than latecomer folks.
Ok those are good lessons and tactics for being punctual, and how to change our bad habits and take more control of our life in order to become a better and more responsible person. What other advice do you have for people who will read this article but can’t figure out how to be always on time? Let us know your tips and techniques in the comment box bellow.

Thanks for reading my blog!!!

Rony Delgarde

Envisioning a new Haiti

2010-01-27T12:01:00.001-08:00

Envisioning a new Haiti

Posted using ShareThis

Reviving Tourism in Haiti - TheMoveChannel.com

2009-10-13T18:00:00.000-07:00

Inspired by what is being seen as Haiti's most stable moment in a generation, President Rene Preval's Government is planning various incentives to entice tourists to the poorest nation in the Americas and the largest cruise ship in the world is amongst
(EMAILWIRE.COM, October 09, 2009 ) Inspired by what is being seen as Haiti's most stable moment in a generation, President Rene Preval's Government is planning various incentives to entice tourists to the poorest nation in the Americas and the largest cruise ship in the world is amongst the attractions…

Haiti is hoping for a renaissance. Despite its rich history - it was the first independent nation in Latin America, the first post-colonial independent Black-led nation in the world, and the only nation whose independence was gained as part of a successful slave rebellion - the poverty stricken Caribbean country just can’t seem to lure in the tourists.

Boosting the number of visitors would have a huge impact on the economy, so a
bold plan has been put in place to lure tourists to northern Haiti, far from the dilapidated capital Port-au-Prince and its rash of slums.

Easier access is also being created, which always helps to pull in the punters. Haitian Tourism Minister Patrick Delatour said the Government recently signed a deal with Venezuela for an international airport, Haiti's second, in Cap-Haitien, its second-largest city.

And, as of December this year, the largest cruise ship in the world, the Oasis of the Seas, will be doing a stopover at the beach resort of Labadee.

Political unrest has led to the drop off in tourists, but, currently the country is enjoying a period of relative calm.

The next move could be to build a road between Labadee and Haiti's World Heritage Site, a park containing the famous Citadelle Laferriere fortress and the Sans Souci palace built by Henri Christophe, a leader of the slave revolt that freed Haiti from French rule in 1804.

The Government hopes to lure in four million visitors a year, putting the Caribbean country of Haiti on a par with the Dominican Republic, which attracted 4.2 million last year.

“In 2011 we will be able to say that Haiti is back on the world tourism map,” Mr Delatour said.

For more information on Caribbean properties and the market in general, please visit http://caribbean.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organizations.

For further information as well as images and interview possibilities, please contact:

Rony Delgarde
678-314-3521

President Obama at the U.N. General Assembly

2009-09-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

"Join us in building the future that our people deserve"

...This morning, nine months after taking office, President Obama made his first address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He spoke to the world leaders gathered there about their skepticism regarding America's engagement with the international community, and reflected on how he has worked to change that in his first months as President of the United States.

I took office at a time when many around the world had come to view America with skepticism and distrust. Part of this was due to misperceptions and misinformation about my country. Part of this was due to opposition to specific policies, and a belief that on certain critical issues, America has acted unilaterally, without regard for the interests of others. This has fed an almost reflexive anti-Americanism, which too often has served as an excuse for our collective inaction.

Like all of you, my responsibility is to act in the interest of my nation and my people, and I will never apologize for defending those interests. But it is my deeply held belief that in the year 2009 – more than at any point in human history – the interests of nations and peoples are shared.

The religious convictions that we hold in our hearts can forge new bonds among people, or tear us apart. The technology we harness can light the path to peace, or forever darken it. The energy we use can sustain our planet, or destroy it. What happens to the hope of a single child – anywhere – can enrich our world, or impoverish it.

...This is what we have done. But this is just a beginning. Some of our actions have yielded progress. Some have laid the groundwork for progress in the future. But make no mistake: this cannot be solely America’s endeavor. Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world’s problems alone. We have sought – in word and deed – a new era of engagement with the world. Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges.

The President then called on the nations of the world to engage in a new cooperative effort to secure international peace and prosperity. And he outlined four pillars that he believes essential to securing that prosperous future: non-proliferation and disarmament; the promotion of peace and security; the preservation of our planet; and a global economy that advances opportunity for all people.

...This body was founded on the belief that the nations of the world could solve their problems together. Franklin Roosevelt, who died before he could see his vision for this institution become a reality, put it this way – and I quote: “The structure of world peace cannot be the work of one man, or one party, or one Nation…. It cannot be a peace of large nations – or of small nations. It must be a peace which rests on the cooperative effort of the whole world.”

The cooperative effort of the whole world. Those words ring even more true today, when it is not simply peace – but our very health and prosperity that we hold in common. Yet I also know that this body is made up of sovereign states. And sadly, but not surprisingly, this body has often become a forum for sowing discord instead of forging common ground; a venue for playing politics and exploiting grievances rather than solving problems. After all, it is easy to walk up to this podium and to point fingers and stoke division. Nothing is easier than blaming others for our troubles, and absolving ourselves of responsibility for our choices and our actions. Anyone can do that.

Responsibility and leadership in the 21st century demand more. In an era when our destiny is shared, power is no longer a zero sum game. No one nation can or should try to dominate another nation. No world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will succeed. No balance of power among nations will hold. The traditional division between nations of the south and north makes no sense in an interconnected world. Nor do alignments of nations rooted in the cleavages of a long gone Cold War.

Finally, he called on those assembled in the chamber to recommit to The United Nations as an institution, and to work together to build a strong future for all world peoples.

...Now it falls to us – for this institution will be what we make of it. The United Nations does extraordinary good around the world in feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, and mending places that have been broken. But it also struggles to enforce its will, and to live up to the ideals of its founding.

I believe that those imperfections are not a reason to walk away from this institution – they are a calling to redouble our efforts. The United Nations can either be a place where we bicker about outdated grievances, or forge common ground; a place where we focus on what drives us apart, or what brings us together; a place where we indulge tyranny, or a source of moral authority. In short, the United Nations can be an institution that is disconnected from what matters in the lives of our citizens, or it can be indispensable in advancing the interests of the people we serve.

We have reached a pivotal moment. The United States stands ready to begin a new chapter of international cooperation – one that recognizes the rights and responsibilities of all nations. With confidence in our cause, and with a commitment to our values, we call on all nations to join us in building the future that our people deserve.

Thanks all for visiting my blogs..
Rony Delgarde

"Don't borrow from your 401k"

2009-07-23T06:13:00.000-07:00

I've received several of emails asking about whether people should borrow money from their 401K accounts to help in this economic hardship. I'm not a financial expert so don't listen to anything I say! But, here's my opinion anyway.

I looked into this because I'm a little short in my down payment account. Yes, I know if I'd taken a few less vacations last year, I'd be in better shape. I came to the conclusion that this was a bad plan for me. Having a smaller DP and putting up with mortgage insurance for a few years seems like a better way to go. With decent credit you can still get a loan with 10% down as long as you can fully document your income and your DTI is reasonable. You will get stuck with mortgage insurance if your DP is less than 20%. The insurance usually runs around .05%($200/mo on a $400k loan).

I was looking at borrowing $40k for the additional 10% on the down payment. That would lower payments by about $200/mo and save me the $200/mo insurance for a net savings of about $400/mo. However I have to repay the loan. If I choose to repay that $40k over 5 years the monthly payment is $800/mo. So it's costs me an additional $400/mo for the first 5 years. After crunching all the numbers it did not make sense for me to borrow from my 401k.

There are risks and costs involved with Borrowing from your 401K. First off you have to pay it back with interest (which is often credited to your account, so you are paying interest to yourself). You pay it back using after tax dollars though. It does not get paid back using your usual 401k deduction. Then when you pull out that money later you are taxed again. Basically you get taxed twice on that "loan". So it does end up costing you a lot more than a regular loan. If you lose your job, normally you are required to pay the loan off in full. If you cannot that is then treated as a withdrawal and you get taxed on it AND penalized for an early withdrawal. This can be very costly.

So if you borrow $20,000 from your 401k and you are in 28%/5% state tax, you need to earn $30,000 to put $20,000 back into the 401k to repay your loan. When you withdraw that $20,000 in retirement, you pay tax again. Assuming similar tax bracket (a common scenario) you loose another $6,600.

Don't be jaded by the fact that you pay interest to yourself...

Not all companies will allow you to Borrow from your 401K. If yours does not then you have to make a hardship withdrawal. Those are subject to full income taxes on your next years taxes. So you will want to put some of the amount you withdraw into the bank to pay next years taxes.

We are all in different situations and you should probably talk with your 401k administrator and a financial adviser (not some blogger) before pulling cash from your 401K. For me. it did not make sense to consider this path. The costs were too high as were the risks in order to save $200/mo.

Your 401k is for food and medicine when you retire, so you don't have to eat dog food or be a WalMart greeter.

Fair, in the last downturn I saw many people on the "slope of hope" spend their entire savings, borrow money from relatives, etc, to keep their upside down homes.

Eventually they threw in the towel and lost it all, making things much worse for them. I know one guy that borrowed against his Mother's home to keep his spec homes going. His Mom still loved him, but his wife divorced him, he lost the Corvette, his huge ego setback a bit.

Rony Delgarde

50 Best Companies to Work For!!!

2009-06-29T15:32:00.000-07:00

The annual rankings of the “50 Best Small and Medium Companies to Work for in America” are conducted by The Great Places to Work Institute and SHRM. The 50 winners range in size from 50 to 999 workers, with “small” companies employing 50-250 and “medium” companies employing 251-999 workers. This year, more than 550 companies participated in the selection process, which includes a 57-question survey sent to each organization’s workforce and a separate questionnaire for management. GPTWI also reviews annual reports, employee handbooks and other materials.

Top 25 small winners include:

1. Badger Mining Corporation
Industry: Mining and Quarrying
Location: Berlin, Wisc.

2. Dixon Schwabl Advertising
Industry: Advertising & Marketing
Location: Victor, NY

3. SnagAJob.com
Industry: Professional Services
Location: Glen Allen, Va.

4. Heinfeld, Meech & Co.
Industry: Financial Services & Insurance
Location: Tucson, Ariz.

5. McMurry
Industry: Advertising & Marketing
Location: Phoenix, Ariz.

6. Johnson & Johnson, Inc.
Industry: Financial Services & Insurance
Location: Charleston, S.C.

7. AutomationDirect.com
Industry: Industrial Services
Location: Cumming, Ga.

8. Root Learning
Industry: Professional Services
Location: Sylvania, Ohio

9. Professional Placement Resources
Industry: Professional Services
Location: Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

10. DAXKO
Industry: Information Technology
Location: Birmingham, Ala.

11. Studer Group
Industry: Professional Services — Consulting
Location: Gulf Breeze, Fla.

12. Navigator Management Partners
Industry: Information Technology
Location: Columbus, Ohio

13. ENGEO Incorporated
Industry: Professional Services
Location: San Ramon, Calif.

14. Seventh Generation
Industry: Manufacturing & Production
Location: Burlington, Vt.

15. Moody, Famiglietti & Andronico
Industry: Professional Services
Location: Tewksbury, Ma

16. MAYA Design
Industry: Professional Services
Location: Pittsburgh, Penn.

17. TerpSys
Industry: Information Technology
Location: Rockville, Md.

18. Landrum Human Resource Companies
Industry: Professional Services
Location: Pensacola, Fla.

19. InsureMe
Industry: Financial Services & Insurance
Location: Englewood, Colo.

20. Clark Nuber
Industry: Professional Services
Location: Bellevue, Wash.

21. Paramount Staffing
Industry: Professional Services
Location: Northbrook, Ill.

22. Kahler Slater
Industry: Professional Services
Location: Milwaukee, Wisc.

23. Bridge Worldwide
Industry: Advertising & Marketing
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

24. McDonough Bolyard Peck
Industry: Professional Services
Location: Fairfax, Va.

25. RedBrick Health
Industry: Health Care
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.

Top 25 Medium Winners

1. Ultimate Software
Industry: Information Technology
Location: Weston, Fla.

2. ACUITY
Industry: Financial Services & Insurance
Location: Sheboygan, Wisc.

3. Holder Construction Company
Industry: Construction & Real Estate
Location: Atlanta, Ga.

4. Integrity Applications Incorporated
Industry: Professional Services
Location: Chantilly, Va.

5. SAGE PRODUCTS, INC.
Industry: Health Care
Location: Cary, Ill.

6. Development Dimensions International
Industry: Professional Services
Location: Pittsburgh, Penn.

7. Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Industry: Professional Services
Location: Fort Worth, Texas

8. Hoar Construction, LLC
Industry: Construction & Real Estate
Location: Birmingham, Ala.

9. The Integer Group
Industry: Advertising & Marketing
Location: Lakewood, Colo.

10. 4imprint, Inc.
Industry: Advertising & Marketing
Location: Oshkosh, Wisc.

11. Triage Consulting Group
Industry: Professional Services
Location: San Francisco, Calif.

12. Eileen Fisher
Industry: Retail
Location: Irvington, NY

13. AMX
Industry: Electronics
Location: Richardson, Texas

14. Bowen Engineering Corporation
Industry: Construction & Real Estate
Location: Fishers, Ind.

15. Hilcorp Energy Company
Industry: Manufacturing & Production
Location: Houston, Texas

16. Ehrhardt Keefe Steiner & Hottman PC
Industry: Professional Services
Location: Denver, Colo.

17. Robins & Morton
Industry: Advertising & Marketing
Location: Birmingham, Ala.

18. City Bank
Industry: Financial Services & Insurance
Location: Lubbock, Texas

19. Advanced Financial Services, Inc.
Industry: Financial Services & Insurance
Location: Newport, R.I.

20. Pinnacol Assurance
Industry: Financial Services & Insurance
Location: Denver, Colo.

21. Nevada Federal Credit Union
Industry: Financial Services & Insurance
Location: Las Vegas, Nev.

22. Noblis
Industry: Professional Services
Location: Falls Church, Va.

23. Rothstein Kass
Industry: Professional Services
Location: Roseland, N.J.

24. Parkway Properties, Inc.
Industry: Construction & Real Estate
Location: Jackson, Miss.

25. Minitab Inc.
Industry: Information Technology
Location: State College, Penn.

Why doesn’t media report statistics on who have hiv, aids, and herpes by culture, race, age, etc?

2009-06-29T14:28:00.000-07:00

If somebody has a deadly Virus you can’t exposed that person to the public unless he/she wants to be exposed to the public. It is up to you to get to know your partner and their sex life. It is your responsibility to go to the doctor with your partner to get tested for these kind of issues. It is your responsibility to used all the protection that is giving to you by the doctors or leaders in your community. It has been said that using a condom doesn't mean you can't get the deadly virus. You can get the virus by giving oral sex or kissing an affected person. Because some people might be bleeding inside and outside. I understand why you are worry. Because some people don’t even tell you they have the deadly virus. They should tell you and Let you make a choice if you still want to be with them or not. I can understand why people that have the deadly virus don’t tell because they end up being alone. They are a lot of married couple who got the deadly virus from there spouses. If you are still scared then you need to be like me. Don’t have sex at all unit you sure this person is clean. Until you get to know this person at least for two years.

Please, get tested and protect yourself!!!

Rony Delgarde

50 Twitter Users to Follow for Your Job Search

2009-06-04T16:55:00.000-07:00

By Willy Franzen on February 3, 2009. Franzen is graduated from Cornell University in 2006 and quickly realized how frustrating the job search can be for new grads. That's why he started www.OneDayOneJob.com- the site serves as a guide to exciting entry level job and career opportunities for recent college graduates.

That post can be found here: http://www.onedayonejob.com/blog/50-twitter-users-to-follow-for-your-job-search/

Good luck and let tweet it's fun!!!
Rony Delgarde

Cobb Chamber Business Expo

2009-06-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

Known as the premier Chamber sponsored business to business exposition in the area, this annual event is held for the promotion of local businesses and corporate networking. More than 150 companies showcase their products and services to almost 1,000 attendees. Open to the public, this event keeps participants on the competitive edge with networking, idea sharing, product introduction and service solutions attracting executives at every level.

June 4, 2009
Cobb Galleria Centre, Marietta, GA
4 to 7 p.m.
FREE to Attend
Open to the Public

ROny Delgarde
678-314-3521

Reach Your Zenith and Become Successful!!!

2009-05-27T16:29:00.000-07:00

We all have peak experiences. The enduring memories that we have that we live for. The time we were able to push ourselves to run a marathon, to do our jobs better…peak experiences are why we’re alive. Some of ‘em are found at work. Some of the things that we live for are in our jobs, but some things have nothing to do with the work nor the business. Peak experiences leave us with a permanent mark, changing us for the better. And let’s be honest. Making money is fantastic, it’s fun, but it’s not an end-all be-all. Having an extra $ 2k bucks in your checking account isn’t the point. …the freedom money allows is the point. The reason we’re working or in this business is to fuel those peak experiences. That’s it. Not Every Peak Experience is found at work! The work that we do–even in the healthcare or mortgage business–can make it so we can be around for more and more peak experiences. If we are ALWAYS having things that change us for the better, exposing ourselves, pressing ourselves, and doing whatever we can to have new and better experiences…life becomes a fulfilling playground of wonder and joy. And that’s what this blog is all about. I created this blod to teach you more about leadership and Peak Experiences.

Know Your Peak Experiences
Often, the worry about money, the worry about ego driven “junk” can hide from us what the peak experiences we’re after really are. We elevate other things that don’t matter, and we strive for stuff that doesn’t really make us tick because we think we oughta have it. Some people who don’t care about cars buy a Mercedes. Some people that don’t care about houses buy a big house. These decisions are made because they do what others do, they don’t take JUST a moment to figure out and connect with what really turns them on. Sometimes peak experiences cost (i.e. Christmas shopping at Macys), and you need to arrange your budget to include them. Sometimes, Peak Experiences don’t cost much at all (taking your kid to the park, playing basketball with friends). The point is we need to have a peak experience to look forward to.

What If you Don’t Know What your Peak Experiences Are?
Be adventurous. Try new things. What might your peak experiences be? What do you think you’ve always wanted to try to learn? Don’t think about what other people are doing or the level of success they have accomplished or what turns YOU on?
What are the best memories that you have? What things do you want MORE of in your life? What things do you want to have in your life? What is going great right now? Spend some time thinking about this–how can other people be served by your peak experiences?
You’ll come across goals that really charge you and really turn you on when you’re always asking the question: what next?

To help you get started, here is a List Of Peak Experiences.
1. Shopping in New York City
2. Paying off A credit card
3. Running a 5k
4. Running a Marathon
5. Being completely debt free.
6. Being recognized as #1 in your office.
7. Starting a scholarship fund in your community.
8. Competing in an Iron Man Triathalon
9. Giving Money To Church.
10. Completing A Course on Being a Public Speaker
11. Running in a Road Race.
12. Making amends with family members
13. Buying a Sports Car
14. Performing our Art in front of a good audience.
15. Getting the recognition of our peers.
16. Getting in world class shape.
17. Reading 500 books.
18. Learning a new language.
19. Renewing wedding vows.
20. Taking a month long vacation
21. Meeting a famous mentor
22. Helping a famous mentor.
23. Creating a new church program
24. Quitting Smoking.
25. Going to Mardi Gras.
26. Going to a World Series Game
27. Teaching your child baseball.
28. Re-finishing family heirloom furniture.
29. Becoming an expert in a sport or game
30. Getting an article published in a magazine.

Feel free to add to the list, thank you.

Self-Improving Artificial Intelligence

2009-05-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

See a lecture by Steve Omohundro for the Stanford University Computer Systems Colloquium (EE 380). Steve presents fundamental principles that underlie the operation of "self-improving system....

Multiple job openings.......

2009-05-06T20:01:00.000-07:00

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER WITH OPPORTUNITIES IN PUBLIC HEALTH

The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Office of New Drugs located on the FDA’s new White Oak campus in Silver Spring, Maryland is seeking individuals to serve in the highly challenging and innovative atmosphere of drug development, regulation and research.

.If you are looking for the opportunity to:
• Advance the public health through new drug development
• Experience teaching and training opportunities
• Work with a wide range of scientific disciplines in a team oriented atmosphere

We may have a position that is right for you!
• Physicians Various Medical Specialties
 Evaluate clinical trial data related to the safety and efficacy of new drugs
 Civil service base salary at the GS-14 level of $83,445 plus an additional very generous supplemental allowance determined by relevant experience and medical specialty.
• Scientists Pharmacologists, Toxicologists, Biologists, Microbiologists
 Determine scientific validity of manufacturer’s tests relating to safety and efficacy of new drugs
 Civil Service Salary at the GS 12 or 13 level ($73,100-$113,007) depending on level of experience
• Consumer Safety Officers
 Perform project management and liaison responsibilities by; monitoring work progress and performing coordination activities with pharmaceutical industry officials
 Civil Service Salary at the GS 9-12 level ($50,408-$95,026) depending on level of experience

All positions include an excellent Federal Government Benefits Package including health and life insurance, thrift savings plan, retirement, flexible work schedules and opportunities for professional development. Recruitment Bonus, Relocation Expenses and Student Loan Repayment may be offered to eligible candidates.

GENERAL INFORMATION: The following positions may be filled as civil service or U.S. Commissioned Corps, which requires U.S. citizenship. Permanent U.S. residents may apply for Staff Fellowship appointments in physician and scientist positions. Graduates of foreign colleges/universities must provide proof of U.S. education equivalency certification.

PHYSICIANS: Basic Requirements: Degree: Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy from a school in the United States or Canada approved by a recognized accrediting body in the year of the applicant's graduation. [A Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree from a foreign medical school that provided education and medical knowledge substantially equivalent to accredited schools in the United States may be demonstrated by permanent certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) (or a fifth pathway certificate for Americans who completed premedical education in the United States and graduate education in a foreign country).]

SCIENTISTS: An advanced degree such as a PhD, Pharm D., or D.V.M, in an appropriate medical, biological, veterinary or physical science, or pharmacy is highly desirable.

Pharmacologists: Basic Requirements: Degree: with a major in an appropriate biological, medical, veterinary, or physical science, or in pharmacy that included at least 30 semester hours in chemistry and physiology and 12 semester hours in pharmacology. Toxicologists: Basic Requirements: Degree: toxicology; or an appropriate discipline of the biological, medical, or veterinary sciences that included at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, biochemistry, or physiology, and 12 semester hours in toxicology. Biologists: Basic Requirements: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. Microbiologists: Basic Requirements: Degree: microbiology; or biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included at least 20 semester hours in microbiology and other subjects related to the study of microorganisms, and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences combining course work in organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra, or their equivalent.

CONSUMER SAFETY OFFICERS: Basic Requirements: Degree or combination of education and experience, which includes at least 30 semester hours in one or a combination of courses in the fields of biological science, chemistry, pharmacy, physical science, food technology, nutrition, medical science, epidemiology, engineering, veterinary medical science, or related scientific fields.

FOR CONSIDERATION: Submit electronic curriculum vitae with a cover letter to Recruitment Team via e-mail at: OND-Employment@fda.hhs.gov no later than August 1, 2009. Please indicate that you are applying to source code # 09-050.

For more information, contact the Office of New Drugs/Recruitment Team at 301-796-0800.
FDA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND HAS A SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENT.
MINORITIES, WOMEN, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND VETERANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

Personal Care Home

2009-05-02T19:20:00.001-07:00

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Personal Care Home

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US VS Mexico in Border Waste Trade Issues

2009-03-27T18:00:00.000-07:00

One of the most critical and longstanding international
pollution issue facing the border lands is the discharge of
municipal sewage and industrial wastes into the rivers flowing
from Mexico to the United States. All the communities on the
Mexican side of the border lack adequate municipal wastewater
collection and treatment systems. Industrial effluents also
contribute to surface water pollution. Many Mexican industries,
as well as Maquiladoras owned by U.S. companies have no on site
treatment facilities, and industrial wastes including toxic
substances are dumped, illegally of course, into river systems.

Description of the problem

The U.S.-Mexico border extends approximately 2,000 miles
from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Gulf of Mexico in the
east. This region lies within the political jurisdiction of four
U.S. States and six Mexican States. Along the border, there has
been the development of "twin cities" located along the border
between both countries. Although this region belongs to the
jurisdiction of each individual state, these states share common
air and water resources. Responsibility for resource management
falls within the political authority of two nations with
different legal systems, national objectives, and most
importantly, different priorities and levels of development. The
major environmental problem is the shortage and poor quality of
surface and underground water, and the increasing levels of
pollution in urban areas.

One of the most concentrated problems resides in the
pollution that is found in the ground and surface waters of the
border region. When the surface waters are no longer sufficient
for a nation to develop, underground water reservoirs, commonly
called aquifers, are resorted to in order to satisfy needs.
Nevertheless, the uncontrolled mining of groundwater creates
further problems for the future. First, aquifers may become
irreversibly depleted if pumping exceeds the very slow rate of
natural replenishment by rainfall and percolation. Moreover,
the increased mining of groundwater creates the risk of aquifer
contamination.

Excessive over drafting of an aquifer lowers the water table
and allows highly saline surface waste waters from agricultural
and industrial activities to enter and infect the entire
underground water supply. This situation has worsened as
aquifers are not self cleansing, but instead store contaminants
indefinitely. Because cleaning and monitoring of underground
pollutants are difficult and expensive, aquifer contamination can
go undetected for years. In addition, many of Maquiladora plants
have been illegally dumping the toxic waste generated by their
manufacturing process into the local communities' waters, but
officials in both countries have failed to track the sources,
amount and destination of these contaminated waters.

The Mexican government has promoted the development of the
border area through the Maquiladora program, initiated in 1965.
This program allows foreign-owned business to set up
manufacturing plants in Mexico to produce for export. The
exports go primarily to the United States. These U.S. factories
are producing enormous amounts of dangerous toxic waste and
pollution. Although the Mexican environmental regulations
provide that the hazardous waste generated in Mexico by the
Maquiladora plant must be returned to the raw material's country
of origin, not much is being done about it.

Many of these plants have been illegally dumping the toxic
waste generated by their manufacturing process into the local
communities' waters, but officials in both countries have failed
to track the sources, amount and destination of these
contaminated waters.

Both U.S. and Mexican environmental laws exist, but its
enforcement is still in very primitive stages along the border
area. Tracking shipments of hazardous wastes across the border
poses unique challenges due to the following situations.

(1) The difficulties in coordinating numerous agencies
responsible for the regulation of the transported
waste.
(2) The binational logistics of implementing and
preparing a transboundary report.
(3) Uncertainty of the amount of hazardous waste
generated by the Maquiladoras from U.S. raw materials.
(4) Uncertainty as the amount and type of hazardous
waste transported and the location of the disposal
site.

The disposal of hazardous waste is a problem itself;
however, a related but distinct problem is raised by the
preponderance of abandoned and illegal dump sites. This is a
problem in both countries. These sites may have an effect on
human health and the environment as contaminants migrate through
the soil and into the ground water. By nature, the location of
these illegal sites are unknown to the public. The extent of
contamination resulting from illegal dumping is also unknown.
Nevertheless, there have been reports on health effects on unborn
babies due to the mother's poisoning. These cases are most
evident along the U.S.-Mexican border region.

Often U.S. companies in Mexico have poor sanitation systems,
or they have shallow wells which can easily be contaminated by
inadequate waste disposal. Improper disposal of hazardous waste
has been linked to elevated levels of toxic contaminants in
humans. Illegal dumping of toxic waste on road sides or open
fields has resulted in explosions, fires, contamination of
underlying ground waters and generation of toxic vapors.
Ordinary metals, isotopes, acids, organic compounds and solvents
that can destroy our environment are just a handful of substances
that have been proven to cause leukemia, cancer, and diseases of
the heart, liver and nervous system.

The Border Environmental Cooperation Agreement is the latest
agreement in the long history of the U.S. Mexican attempts to
coordinate on border sanitation and water quality issues. Prior
to this agreement, both states were signatories of the Water
Treaty of 1944, which created the International Boundary Water
Commission (see COLORADO and NEW and TIJUANA cases). This major
treaty quantified each nation's share of the Tijuana, Rio Grande
and Colorado rivers. However, due to the United States superior
bargaining position, it was able to dictate the actual terms of
the treaty. This treaty was the first attempt by both
governments to recognize the importance of the resolution of
border sanitation problems. Specifically, the treaty authorizes
the Commission to plan, build, and manage water works; to enter
into future agreements relating to international waters, and to
settle disputes between the nations involving treaty
interpretation. This treaty, although fairly innovative and
creative, has many flaws; one such flaw is that the treaty only
focuses on waters along the Rio Grande and the Colorado and
Tijuana Rivers' basins.

Related Issues

COLORADO case
NEW case
FLORIDO case
BASMEX case

Keyword Clusters

(1): Trade Product = WASTE
(2): Bio-geography = DRY
(3): Environmental Problem = WATER

Discourse and Status: AGREEment and COMPlete

Since most of the water contaminated by U.S. Maquiladoras in
the Mexican border region stays either in U.S. or Mexican
territories, cooperation is based only on these two countries.

NAFTA and REGION Decision Breadth: (USA, CANADA, MEXICO)

The Border Environmental Cooperation Agreement of 1983 is
the latest U.S.- Mexican agreement to address all forms of
pollution- air, land, and water. It provides a wide mandate for
action on such new and emerging environmental issues implicated
by transport and disposal of hazardous waste, groundwater
contamination and industrial air pollution. The agreement's
comprehensive scope also allows the notions to undertake
conjunctive management of surface and ground waters. The border
plan is organized in four major sections. It's scope is such
that some of the activities specified represent only the
beginning of a series of actions within a ten year program that
will ultimately improve environmental conditions along the U.S.
Mexican border.

Legal Standing: TREATY

This an executive agreement, and not a formal treaty. It is
effected through the actions of the President alone and thus it
does not require the approval and support of Congress as does a
formal treaty. The success of its implementation depends on
continued political goodwill between national governments. The
high level of executive attention given to this agreement
reflects the sense of urgency and priority that both nations
place on resolution of border pollution issues and may mobilize
other levels of government to address these issues substantively.

The Border Environmental Cooperation Agreement is basically
a structural framework for regular bilateral deliberation on more
substantive environmental problems. However it does not provide
a solution to these disputes, but rather, engenders subsidiary
agreements in all the fields of environmental concern. This was
the beginning of formal efforts by both governments to protect
and improve the environment in the border area. Moreover, this
agreement has not remained in its original form. It has suffered
many alterations and amendments, and is currently in its
definitive form as amended in 1992, and based on the original
border plan of 1983.

Geographic Locations

The Plan expands the geographic scope of future trans-
boundary cooperation, and authorizes the nations to focus on
pollution sources outside the border area of the country if the
sources affect the border area of the other. In general, the
parties are committed to proceed on two separate levels to reduce
or avoid potential adverse environmental impacts of the treaty.

a. Geographic Domain : North America [NAMER]
b. Geographic Site : Western North America [WNAMER]
c. Geographic Impact : NAFTA

Sub-National Factors: NO

Type of Habitat: DRY

TRADE Cluster

Type of measure: Regulatory Standard [REGSTD]

Direct vs. Indirect Impacts: INDirect

In the case of the Maquiladora industry, regulations are
suppose to directly limit the manufacturing output of each
industry. However, because the lack of enforcement by the
authorities it may be argued that regulations do not have an
impact on the industry.

Relation of Trade Measure to Resource Impact

a. Directly Related : YES MANUFactures
b. Indirectly Related : NO
c. Not Related: : NO
d. Process Related : YES Pollution Land [POLL]

Trade Product Identification: MANY

Product Type: chemical waste, carcinogens, computer solvent
products.

Economic Data

Information on how much toxic dumping goes on in the border
region is limited. The economic impact is unknown because the
dumping is done illegally. In addition, not until recently did
the Mexican government begin to track and collect data on this
issue.

Impact of Measure on Trade Competitiveness: MEDium

The impact of trade restriction is limited. The Mexican
government does not implement trade restrictions on products that
are manufactured in the Maquiladora plants. There are no
restrictions on trade that are applied on the basis of how much
toxic waste a company may be dumping into the environment. In
addition, one of the basic rules of a Maquiladora is that it is
allowed to import intermediate materials duty free as long as a
percentage of the final product is exported. The Maquiladora
program permits 100 percent foreign investment and allows the
temporary importation of equipment, components and inputs into
Mexico on a duty free basis. It would be contradictory to these
policies to impose trade restrictions based on toxic dumping.

Industry Sector: MANUFactures

Toxic waste is not the main product but a by-product of an
industry. In the case of the Maquiladora industry is will entail
the manufacture of parts for durable goods.

Exporters and Importers: USA and MEXICO

This is a bilateral issue where there is not really an
importer and an exporter but both parties play a major role.

ENVIRONMENTAL Cluster

Environmental Problem Type: WATER

Name, Type, and Diversity of Species

Name: Many
Type: Many
Diversity: 4,569 higher plants per
10,000 km/sq (Mexico)

A number of cases along the border have been reported to
both the Mexican and U.S. governments regarding birth defects
along this area. Although not directly proven, it is believed
that pregnant women are poisoned through drinking local water
thus their blood stream will have a serious effect on the born
child.

Resource Impact and Effect: HIGH and REGULator

Urgency of Problem: HIGH

Substitutes: RECYCling

OTHER Factors

Culture: NO

Trans-Boundary Issues: YES

The major trans-boundary issue is the shortage and poor
quality of both underground and surface water. Moreover, the
increasing level of pollution on both sides of the U.S. - Mexico
Border.

Human Rights: YES

One of the most fundamental rights of a human being is to be
able to live in a healthy environment. The conditions under
which these individuals along the border are live, are by any
standards violating this basic human right. Unfortunately, these
people are of a low economic background and do not have political
power are sometimes seen as indispensable. Moreover, since
there is little scientific documented data attributing health
hazards with the Maquiladora projects and emissions, we hear
little about this controversial topic.

Relevant Literature

Baker, Mark A. "Debt-Equity Swaps and Mexican Law: The Interplay
Between Law and Regulation." Northwestern Journal of
International Law and Business, Fall, 1988.
Burton, Eve. "Debt for Development: A New Opportunity for Non-
Profit, Commercial Banks and Developing States." Harvard
International Law Journal, Winter, 1990.
McKeith, Melissa Hathaway. Environmental Provisions Affecting
Business on the U.S.- Mexican Border; The Bureau of
National Affairs, Inc., International Environment
Reporter Current Report; Vol. 15, No. 8, pg. 245, April
22, 1992.
Our Common Future, Towards Sustainable Development, World
Commission on Environment and Development. Oxford
Press, 1990.
Sinclair., Mark A., "The Environment Cooperation Agreement
between Mexico and the United States: A Response to the
Pollution Problems of the Borderlands." Cornell
International Law Journal, Winter, 1986.

Healthcare Reform VS the Obama Administration and the US Economic Reality

2008-11-28T22:43:00.000-08:00

What will the historic presidential election mean for US healthcare reform prospects?
Now that the 2008 US presidential election is over we can all breath a collective sign of relief. Just for a second. With selecting the smartest and the most divest people to be in his cabinet we can easy say that the real action is about to start.
While I am a registered Democrat, who obtained a MBA in the Healthcare industry in 2007, my congratulations and kind wishes go to President-Elect Obama.
He is a historic figure but my fear is he is going to get tested by some of the most challenging circumstances both internationally and nationally. The Mumbai Deadly Attack this week showed that there will be a catastrophe that will test Obama's national security experience, so let hope he doesn’t experience a terrorist attack in his first term. As an American citizen and a black young man I want him to do well.

Now what he could should and would actually do about healthcare?
Of course, Obama transition and priorities are just being defined. There are many people lining up to give him advice or get a job in his Administration. The Congressional honchos have been preparing their long wishlists for years. Finally, the economic malaise is the biggest and baddest elephant in the room. How far on the list of priorities can healthcare get and how much can be done?

What COULD Obama Administration do about healthcare?
Theoretically speaking, anything is possible. The new Congress could go ahead and pass Ted Kennedy's plan in the first months. I have no doubt John Conyers will introduce his single payor bill yet again. Individual mandate is the likeliest approach to garner most attention, though the myriad of implementation details could slow it down. One thing is sure, all this stuff will cost a lot of money.

What SHOULD Obama Administration do about healthcare?
My opinion is that Obama needs to confront the REAL problem that links healthcare with the rest of the economy. I am talking about the ticking time bomb called Medicare, which I think should be bailout also. The current financial crisis might seem scary, but we have not seen nothing yet if the deficits end up emptying the US Treasury and bankrupting the US Government. This may sound doubtful, but so did Lehman failure till the very last moment.

What WOULD Obama Administration do about healthcare?
This is another $800 billion Dollar Question! Tackling the deficit issue head on will not be popular but is the right thing to do. In the context of healthcare reform this would mean telling people that they cannot have some of the things they want. Healthcare rationing has, is and will keep happening, whether administered by the government or private insurers. What is missing is an honest discussion about it.

Doing what is right vs. what is expedient
While I am not an economist, I pay close attention to market analysis and do my best to look through hype and spin, that we have come to expect from financial advice industry. Read my previous post. You will find that the ratio of US debt to GDP is nearly twice that we had in Great Depression. The process of debt unwinding already started on Wall Street and with foreclosed homeowners and the fallout of the big 3. But this is just the tip of the iceberg when we consider other forms of debt in our economy - and the healthcare debts that are coming up due. As an American citizen, I hope Obama will have the wisdom and the strength to not let short term fixes cause long term ruin of this great country.

Thanks for reading my blog.....
Rony Delgarde

The historic election of 2008 , his storied moment, the 44th president of the USA, Barack Obama

2008-11-05T12:27:00.000-08:00

His storied election behind him and weighty problems in his face, Barack Obama turned Wednesday to the task of building an administration in times of crisis as Americans and the world absorbed his history-shattering achievement as the first black leader ascending to the presidency.

Obama enjoyed an everyman day after in his hometown of Chicago on Wednesday after an electric night of celebration, anchored by his victory rally of 125,000 in Chicago and joyful outpourings of his supporters across the country. The president-elect saw his two young daughters off to school, a simple pleasure he's missed during nearly two years of virtually nonstop travel, then had a gym workout.

Pressing business came at him fast, with just 76 days until his inauguration as the 44th president.

The nation's top intelligence officials planned to give him top-secret daily briefings starting Thursday, sharing with him the most critical overnight intelligence as well as other information he has not been allowed to see as a senator or candidate. And Obama planned to give the first of his daily briefings to the media on Thursday as he moves quickly to begin assembling a White House staff and selecting Cabinet nominees.

Obama was asking Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel, former political and policy adviser to President Clinton, to be his White House chief of staff, Democratic officials said. John Podesta, who served as Clinton's chief of staff, was expected to join Obama Senate aide Pete Rouse and campaign adviser Valerie Jarrett in leading the transition team.

President Bush pledged "complete cooperation" in the transition and called Obama's victory a "triumph of the American story."

Naming the staggering list of problems he inherits in his decisive defeat of Republican John McCain- two wars and "the worst financial crisis in a century," among them- Obama sought to restrain the soaring expectations of his supporters late Tuesday night even as he stoked them with impassioned calls for national unity and partisan healing.

"We may not get there in one year or even in one term," he said. "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."

Helping him to get there will be a strengthened Democratic majority in both houses of Congress. When Obama becomes the president on Jan. 20, with Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as his vice president, Democrats will control both the White House and Congress for the first time since 1994.

A tide of international goodwill came Obama's way on Wednesday morning, even as developments made clear how heavy a weight will soon be on his shoulders.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issued a congratulatory telegram saying there is "solid positive potential" for the election to improve strained relations between Washington and Moscow, if Obama engages in constructive dialogue.

Yet he appeared to be deliberately provocative hours after the election with sharp criticism of the U.S. and his announcement that Russia will deploy missiles near NATO member Poland in response to U.S. missile defense plans.

In Afghanistan, where villagers said the U.S. bombed a wedding party and killed 37 people, President Hamid Karzai said: "This is my first demand of the new president of the United States to put an end to civilian casualties."

Young and charismatic but with little experience on the national level or as an executive, Obama easily defeated McCain, smashing records and remaking history along the way.

Ending an improbable journey that started for Obama a long 21 months ago, he drew a record-breaking $700 million to his campaign account alone. The first African-American destined to sit in the Oval Office, he also was the first Democrat to receive more than 50 percent of the popular vote since Jimmy Carter in 1976. He is the first senator elected to the White House since John F. Kennedy in 1960.

And Obama scored an Electoral College landslide that redrew America's political dynamics. He won states that reliably voted Republican in presidential elections, such as Indiana and Virginia, which hadn't supported a Democratic candidate in 44 years. Ohio and Florida, key to President Bush's twin victories, also went for Obama, as did Pennsylvania, which McCain had deemed crucial for his election hopes.

With most U.S. precincts tallied, the popular vote was 52.3 percent for Obama and 46.4 percent for McCain. But the count in the Electoral College was much more lopsided, 349 to 147 in Obama's favor as of early Wednesday, with three states still to be decided. Those were North Carolina, Georgia and Missouri.

The nation awakened to the new reality at daybreak, a short night after millions witnessed Obama's election, an event so rare it could not be called a once in a century happening. Prominent black leaders wept unabashedly in public, rejoicing in the elevation of one of their own, at long last.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who had made two White House bids himself, said on ABC's "Good Morning America" that the tears streaming down his face upon Obama's victory were about his father and grandmother and "those who paved the fights. And then that Barack's so majestic."

Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and leading player in the civil rights movement with Jackson, said on NBC's "Today" show: "He's going to call on us, I believe, to sacrifice. We all must give up something."

Speaking from Hong Kong, retired Gen. Colin Powell, the black Republican whose endorsement of Obama symbolized the candidate's bipartisan reach and bolstered him against charges of inexperience, called the senator's victory "a very very historic occasion." But he also predicted that Obama would be "a president for all America."

On Capitol Hill, Democrats ousted incumbent GOP Sens. Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina and John Sununu of New Hampshire and captured seats held by retiring Republican senators in Virginia, New Mexico and Colorado. Still, the GOP blocked a complete rout, holding the Kentucky seat of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and a Mississippi seat once held by Trent Lott.

The Associated Press prematurely declared incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman the winner in a race against Democratic former comedian Al Franken that by state law is subject to a recount based on the 571-vote margin. The party also held onto a Mississippi seat once held by Trent Lott.

In the House, with fewer than a dozen races still undecided, Democrats captured Republican-held seats in the Northeast, South and West and were on a path to pick up as many as 20 seats.

"It is not a mandate for a party or ideology but a mandate for change," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

After the longest and costliest campaign in U.S. history, Obama was propelled to victory by voters dismayed by eight years of Bush's presidency and deeply anxious about rising unemployment and home foreclosures and a battered stock market that has erased trillions of dollars of savings for Americans.

Six in 10 voters picked the economy as the most important issue facing the nation in an Associated Press exit poll. None of the other top issues energy, Iraq, terrorism and health care was selected by more than one in 10. Obama has promised to cut taxes for most Americans, get the United States out of Iraq and expand health care, including mandatory coverage for children.

McCain conceded defeat shortly after 11 p.m. EST, telling supporters outside the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, "The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly."

"This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and the special pride that must be theirs tonight," McCain said. "These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face."

The son of a Kenyan father and a white mother from Kansas, the 47-year-old Obama has had a startlingly rapid rise, from lawyer and community organizer to state legislator and U.S. senator, now not even four years into his first term.

Almost six in 10 women supported Obama nationwide, while men leaned his way by a narrow margin, according to interviews with voters. Just over half of whites supported McCain, giving him a slim advantage in a group that Bush carried overwhelmingly in 2004.

The results of the AP survey were based on a preliminary partial sample of nearly 10,000 voters in Election Day polls and in telephone interviews over the past week for early voters.

In terms of turnout, America voted in record numbers. It looks like 136.6 million Americans will have voted for president this election, based on 88 percent of the country's precincts tallied and projections for absentee ballots, said Michael McDonald of George Mason University. Using his methods, that would give 2008 a 64.1 percent turnout rate, the highest since 65.7 percent in 1908, he said.

Rony Delgarde

The Next President!!!

2008-11-03T10:53:00.000-08:00

So this is the eve of our presidential election 2008, I just like to say a few words.....

Many of us will never know what goes on behind the closed doors of the White House, but we will always be the indirect victim of lousy decision making in our nation's capitol. It is not only the President that makes these crucial decisions but our whole political system that is appointed with the relative party.

We've all had the opportunity to hear from both candidates on many different issues and how they plan to make everything better for our government and for our nation. We all have seen the ridiculous amount of money spent on negative campaigning against one another. What we've yet to see is how tomorrows vote will actually save us from ourselves as a country.

Some of our BIGGER ISSUES

RIGHT TO LIFE/ABORTION (Don't be caught in that position!!)

HOMELESS AMERICANS (we have a better effort finding pets a new home)

ECONOMY (smiling because gas is under 3.
00, REALLY?)

WARTIME (who are we really fighting?)

EDUCATION (Lack of)

HEALTHCARE (47 million w/o health insurance)

DEFICIT (Our liabilities shouldn't be left for our children)

TAXES (600 Dollars is considered a tax break?WHAT?)

Although the President is a huge part of which direction our country's political views follow.......WE as a nation have the responsibility to speak up and continue to VOICE our opinions well after the BALLOTS have been counted.....No matter who we decide to elect as President should not change our drive to make this country a better place to be............

BE WISE AND BE HUMBLE......Put your trust in God and all things will have a much happier ending!!!!

Rony Delgarde

Is the U.S. economy in ship shape?

2008-09-07T10:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the market capitalization of Chinese state-owned oil company, PetroChina, hit $1 trillion eclipsing U.S. based rival Exxon as the world's most valuable company. Last night, at a lecture in Manhattan, I heard George Soros predict (yet again) that the unraveling of the U.S. economy had finally begun. Last week, a London-based financial newsletter called the United States "the next Argentina"suggesting that the U.S. economy's destiny was to echo the fate of Argentina a formerly prosperous nation that descended into poverty and economic chaos. It seems that anytime financial markets have a bad week or two, the global financial press readily hitches itself to the doomsday bandwagon by cheerfully predicting the demise of the U.S. economy. At times like this, it's worth reminding ourselves that we've been here before. In the 1970s, Americans grew up with two myths. First, that the Soviet Union would dominate the U.S. militarily; second, that the Japanese would dominate the U.S. economically. With the Soviet Union erased from the map, and the Japanese stock market below levels it traded at 17 years ago, both fears seem almost quaint. Yet today, the conventional wisdom that Brazil, Russia, India, and China the BRIC countries are set to dominate the United States is just as prevalent.

The U.S. Economic Gap: Sate by State vs The World Economy
In the midst of a housing collapse and credit crunch, the impending doom of the U.S. economy is taken as gospel. But look behind the headlines, and the numbers tell a different story. The U.S. economy grew by 3.9% in the credit turmoil-ridden third quarter following a 3.1% jump in the second quarter. That means that the United States added the equivalent of a new Saudi Arabia to its economy just since the beginning of April. And the fact that the World Economic Forum ranked the U.S. economy the most competitive economy in the world last week got little press. And even when it did, the #1 ranking of the United States was explained away as a statistical mirage.
This is not to say that the U.S. economy is in ship shape. But with all of the talk about China and India dominating our economic futures, it's worth reminding ourselves where these new economic challengers stand in comparison to the United States today. Despite the high economic growth rates of developing nations, the United States is by far the world's wealthiest nation as measured by GDP the broadest measure of economic wealth. And the rest of the world isn't even close. This year, U.S. GDP is projected to be $13.22 trillion. That means that the U.S. economy is as large as the next four largest economies in the world Japan, Germany, China, and the United Kingdom combined.
Standing alone as a country, California would be the eighth largest economy in the world and approximately the size of France. Texas' economy is half the size of California's and its GSP compares to that of Canada. Florida's GSP is approximately the size of Asian tiger South Korea. Illinois' economy is approximately the size of Mexico. Ohio's economy is roughly the size of Australia's. Tennessee's GSP is the size of Saudi Arabia; Nevada, the size of Ireland; Alabama's economy is the size of Iran. Arkansas, one of the poorest states in the United States, is approximately the size of Pakistan's economy. And what about the United States' nearest rivals? Germany and China #3 and #4 on the list of the world's largest economies are smaller than the economies of Texas and California combined. India's $800 billion economy is on par with Florida. Brazil is comparable to New York. Russia's economy is about the size of New Jersey (or Texas).
The first criticism is that the US economy is based on nominal GDP how much wealth is generated in dollar terms and not how many goods and services those dollars buy. Economists sometimes use "purchasing power parity" (PPP) when comparing the size of global economies. Because prices for goods tend to be lower in developing countries, this measure makes poorer countries appear wealthier than they really are. But in taking a birds-eye view of wealth generation in the global economy, that approach makes little sense. Think of PPP as similar to a "cost of living adjustment" on a country level. Within the United States, $50,000 in Georgia buys you a lot more than it does in Manhattan. But as a measure of wealth in absolute terms, having $50,000 in your bank account is the same no matter where you live in Georgia or Calcutta (Kolkata).
Second, the US economy gap does not adjust for population. California and Texas have a combined population of 60 million, while China's population is 1.3 billion. This has huge implications. Let's say China does become the largest economy in the world in 20 years time. Yet, because of its large population, even if it continues growing at its current pace (a huge assumption), by 2050 it will only be as wealthy as former Communist Hungary is in 2008.

The U.S. Economic Gap: The Past and the Future
In 1790, the United States was a new, tiny nation of 4 million, about the size of Ireland today. Europe's population was 180 million, while India's was 190 million and China's was 320 million. Only seven cities had a population of 5,000 or more; just 12 had a population above 2,500. The United States had an agricultural economy with practically no factories. By 1885, the United States was #1 in the world in manufacturing. It produced almost 30% of the world's manufactured goods to outpace both the British Empire and the spanking new Germany. Into the 21st century, the cutting edge of global industries whether Silicon Valley, Hollywood, or Wall Street are still products of the U.S economic experiment. Underestimating the U.S. economy has become the new global financial sport. Yet the Japanese economy has not matched U.S. growth rates for at least the last decade. Europe celebrates triumphantly when its growth rate hits 2.5%. And for all the press they generate, China and India rank 34th and 48th, respectively in the World Economic Forum's global competitiveness index. As a young man, the world has been counting out the United States as far as I can remember. The U.S. economic gap provides a vivid reminder of just where the U.S. stands.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Rony DelGarde

The United States Economic versus the World

2008-06-15T12:50:00.000-07:00

Productivity growth is not the same as GDP growth. Have you read that the European and American treasury officials have been telling the Chinese they need to raise interest rates? It's because they're keeping the currency artificially low--the Chinese economy is booming, which means their currency should be rapidly accelerating. But it isn't, because the Chinese central bank is keeping interest rates artificially low. That will lead, sooner rather than later, to skyrocketing inflation, and the boom will end. So why should the Americans and Euros give a damn? Because of all their capital investments in China, which will collapse in value, and because of the destabilization in the world economy as China would then attempt to export their inflation through higher finished goods prices.

Relative economic growth is what matters. And the US is gaining again, which is why the dollar is strengthening. The ECB is looking to raise rates, which is the opposite of what they need, and will result in a collapse of economic growth in Germany and France, which are the only EU countries that really matter anymore.No, long term every account will be in balance. When America runs a trade deficit, it's because more foreigners are investing in the United States than we do abroad. That means that America has to spend the excess capital on foreign goods and services. The trade account has been in deficit since 1980 in every quarter except for one, therefore the capital account has been in surplus in every quarter, except for the same one exception.

The only concern vis a vis the deficits are, what is the money being spent on? If it's for discretionary spending, then that is problem, like putting your grocery bill and vacations on credit cards you only make the minimum payment on. But what if the spending is on legitimate, long-term assets? Like bridges and highways and colleges and airports and dams and aircraft carriers?--then it's fine. You want to match long-term assets to long-term debts, and that's why the credit markets exist in the first place. The US government has at least $12 trillion in long-term assets, against only $9 trillion in debt. The spending still drives me crazy, but were the US government a household, it would have the highest credit score in the world.

Rony Delgarde