Bloomberg: Not Just a Mayor

Michael Bloomberg is not just New York City's widely-loved Mayor, he's a potential economic adviser to the next U.S. President as well. In an open letter published in the October 25th issue of Newsweek, he wrote to the president-elect on how he should tackle the current financial crisis. Some of his key points were:
-Reforming financial institutions and its governance,
-Energizing alternative and clean energy development and construction,
-Strengthening our immigration while allowing competitiveness,
-Investing in better education programs,
-Being tough in their stance and making sure a bipartisan agreement is in place.

The only way we can get out of this recession is by investing in our economy and future. With term limits in NYC extended to three terms recently by the City Council, Bloomberg definitely has what it takes not only to continue as the city's Mayor, but perhaps also as a counsel to the next president of the United States.

Warning: Made in China

You may see that label on products soon. A new "Red Scare," this time on products made from China, is emerging as China's lack of accountability and safety standards of its manufacturing industry causes health concerns and outrage.

It started in 2007 when large batches of cat and dog food made in China and sold into the United States were contaminated with the chemical melamine, which were found in wheat gluten. Outrage from the U.S. led to China's promise of 'better health standards.'

Shortly after, Mattel and other major U.S.-based toy companies issued recalls for numerous toys for kids after it was found to contain lead paint. Where were these toys made in? China. Again, government regulators here urged US companies and the Chinese government to take responsibility and improve safety standards.

Recently, it is of even more personal concern, as our own food supply is being contaminated. In November of 2006, it was reported that some manufacturers used a banned carcinogenic dye in duck feed in order to make their eggs more red. And this past September, Chinese officials acknowledged that some baby formula was tainted with the chemical melamine in order to dilute the milk. Over 40,000 infants in China have been hospitalized and 4 have died as a result of the tainted product vital to babies. Recently, Chinese-produced eggs and meats have been red-flagged in Hong Kong as tests of imported eggs resulted in melamine levels of nearly 2 times the limit. And since the chemical was used in creating milk-based derivatives such as milk powder, whey, etc., food products containing these ingredients are under heavy suspicions.

Forget the current financial crisis. The next "bubble collapse" may come from China's manufacturing industry; but this time it will spread not only to Main St., but right onto our very own dining tables.

Last Laughs for Will as Bush

"A vote for John McCain is a vote for George W. Bush."
So said Will Ferrell, portraying George Bush, on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update Thursday on 10/23. He played Bush attempting to endorse McCain/Palin in a primetime event. Watch the hilarious bit, and the entire episode, at Hulu-SNL:Weekend Update Thursday:10/23

Obama for President

In the final 1.5 weeks before Election Day, the more support there is for the next president of the U.S., the better. In case you may not have noticed by now, I just wanted to make it clear that
I am supporting Barack Obama for President.
His policies and ideals will be a breather from the disgraceful past eight years.

Funny how this comes after my publicized endorsement for Bloomberg...but NYC politics are pretty important too.

(From:BarackObama.com)

What McCain Really Is

With all the recent negative ads and incorrect allegations by the McCain/Palin campaign against Obama and Biden, it is time to point the finger back. McCain and Palin have recently claimed that we should be suspicious of Obama and that we do not really know him. ('Fear' of Obama Rampant in Ohio, Metro, Oct, 10, 2008, New York Edition)

Perhaps this image, taken right after the 3rd Presidential Debate ended, might hint that McCain is not who he really is...and that he is an old, breathless dog underneath.


(From About.com)

2008 Presidential Debate #3 Notes

No, I unfortunately did not transcribe the 2nd presidential debate nor the vice-presidential debate. But here are the notes from the last debate.

2008 Third Presidential Debate Notes

NYC Needs Bloomberg

A special thought for my 50th published post:

New York City as well as New York State requires the current Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, to continue to lead the city, especially through these tough economic times. His decades of leading his seven billion dollar financial services firm and overseeing its international operations as an employer of over 10,000 overwhelmingly qualifies him to stay for a third term.

His leadership in reforming education in New York City in the past seven years as mayor has led to increased graduation rates, lower violence and crime in schools, and the opening of more charter schools for the rapidly increasing student population. Mayor Mike's years of managing his own company led him to make wise and efficient decisions that helped put New York City back on track, especially after the events of 9/11. His unparalleled expertise with people of all types of backgrounds helped him negotiate fair deals with teachers, police, and firefighters. His openness and free-thinking helped revive NYC's reputation as a city that welcomed the arts with the Gates in Central Park and the New York City Waterfalls. Bloomberg's brave thinking and actions which won critics led to the city's nomination as one of the five finalists in the bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, the creation of PlaNYC/2030 which involved ambitious-but-obligatory plans to help the environment and to responsibily plan for the city's growth, and the proposal of congestion pricing, a controversial but proven transportation plan that would have helped the environment by having fewer cars on the road and would have increased funding for the city's mass transit, which is direly in need of funding. Although some of his plans, including congestion pricing, were defeated by out-of-touch state representatives as well as conservative city officials, the ability of a Mayor to continue fighting and championing for what is best for the city (while only taking $1 per year salary as Mayor, as per his request) even though it may jeopardize his political career and legacy, is one of his strengths.

Mayor Bloomberg's professionalism at handling numerous city issues and events concurrently, wealth of experience with daily operations in a rapidly changing environment, and steadfastness on issues that are vital to the city's economy, future growth, and livelihood is something that many leaders in the world lack but makes up the heart and soul of the Mayor. His unselfish character and determined demeanor has helped win the hearts of numerous New Yorkers and has consistently garnered a 70% approval rating. It is of utmost importance to have Bloomberg to continue to steer the city in the right direction and we, as the voters, are obliged to rally our city's constituents to get rid of the term limits law for the mayor and re-elect Mayor Mike.

Therefore,
I wholeheartedly endorse the Honorable Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to continue as the Mayor of New York City for the 2009 mayoral election.

~ecstatice

>>>NY1: NY1 Poll Shows Bloomberg Has High City Approval Ratings (10/18/2008)
>>>Quinnipiac University: August 29, 2007 - Effective, Cold - That's What We Like, Dislike About Mayor, New Yorkers Tell Quinnipiac University Poll; Bloomberg's Approval Tops 70 Percent - Again
>>>The New York Times: Poll Finds Most Support 3rd Term for Bloomberg

Edited 10/20/2008

Some Transportation Math

Wonder how your transportation system is going to be affected with the next U.S. president? (Assuming that the economy is in better shape.) Take a look at this hilarious but true transportation math.

(From Daily Kos)

Project 10 to the 100th & Google's 10th

Google gives, even on its birthday! They're sponsoring a contest where anyone in the world who has an idea to help others less fortunate in the world. You can finally have a chance to change the world personally by submitting your idea for a $10 million seed grant to see it come to life. The idea can be in any of the following categories:

• Community
  
• Opportunity
  
• Energy
  
• Environment
• Health
  
• Education
• Shelter
• Or Everything else:

Simply submit your idea with their suggestion form by October 20th, 2008, to be considered by a panel for public voting!
>>>Project 10¹⁰⁰

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GOOGLE!
Plus, Google turns 10 this year! Google was registered in 1997 and incorporated in 1998, and is now the top search engine used in the world! See what they've been doing all these years in their own interactive timeline. You can also see what the World Wide Web looked like in 2001 as well as how bland and immature the web was then with the indexed websites with Google's 2001 Search!

Youtube Reads You Loud and Clear

Ever wondered how others might read your Youtube comments?
A feature first "suggested" by the folks over at xkcd.com, a web comic mainly for the technologically-interested (geek?, like Ctrl+Alt+Del), has now been introduced by Youtube. The comic, shown below, mentioned how if Youtubers were aware of their posts then they would be inclined to provide better responses. Turns out Google/Youtube was listening. Now, a computerized voice reads comments aloud when the "Audio Preview" button is pressed. Neat! Yet another reason to <3 Google.



Try it out now on Youtube!

>>>xkcd: Youtube Audio Preview

Summaries: Bush Too Hard, Magnifier for Congress, Religulous

Bush Too Hard

Looks like President Bush is a little too desperate for friends.
I could go all sensationalistic on this, but how about you judge for yourself. The following is a picture of Bush with India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi in 2006, from Wikipedia and featured in the article Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement. Look at Bush's left hand-he may be hugging a little too hard...almost like he wants to choke Singh.


Magnifier for Congress
Oh, and I found this while surfing the web - GovTrack.us. Its purpose is to give details of what the US Congress is doing, who's behind it, and just how politically polarized this country is. (Not to mention religious too...

Religulous
...but for religion why not check out Bill Maher's new documentary, Religulous, just released yesterday and directed by Larry Charles (Borat, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Dilbert). It promises to blow your mind on the world's numerous religions and how they're all connected...except for Tom Cruise's Scientology. I'll be sure to catch this movie.
>>>Religulous Movie Official Site
>>>IMDb: Religulous

What's Black and White and Read All Over?

Apparently, Palin doesn't know the answer to that. In an interview with Katie Couric of CBS' Evening News, she could not name a newspaper she read before she was nominated for the vice-presidency. Watch the awkward video here.


>>>National Post: Video: Palin on newspapers she reads: 'Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me'

2008 Presidential Debate #1 Notes

As promised, my notes of the first Presidential debate between Democratic nominee Barack Obama and Republican nominee John McCain held in Mississippi last Friday, September 26th.

2008 First Presidential Debate Notes

Alternate full transcript: http://www.scribd.com/doc/6256195/Presidential-Debate-Transcript