I thought I would add another segment called Global Fusionist Motivational as short notes of wisdom I wish to impart to everyone. I encounter so many people who feed their minds with jealousy and envy that it thwarts their own progress. With all the hype and negativity the world throws at us, I shall start preaching, as I practice it in my own life, radical honesty.

Most disputes and disagreement could be resolved quickly and easily if only WE take the time to LEARN to COMMUNICATE WITH ANOTHER HUMAN BEING well. We MUST repudiate unnecessary ambiguous gullability and lethargic convictions. Simply, say what you mean and mean what you say. Do not say more than you mean or mean less than what you say. Pay attention on how you use your skills.

Make the most of your skills and your talents. Think about this: People who usually take their time to tear your down directly or indirectly are doing so because they only dream of being able to do the things you can. It is perfectly OK to play to your strengths rather than always concentrating on developing your weaknesses. NAYSAYERS are not stumbling blocks but stepping stones. Use  and build these stones they throw at you as a sturdy leveled strip of smooth ground runway as you propel yourself FORWARD. LIVE a little today. BE DARING. Whenever urge comes to perform and whatever your habit is, REBEL against it gloriously. DO NOT SUCCUMB to desires and  urges of bad habits and mindset that do not contribute to anyone’s growth, especially to yourself. Enjoy your ability and use it to help others too. You will be surprise when you make that choice to BE THE CHANGE.

Corazon C. Aquino (76) of the Philippines, who was swept into office on a wave of “people power” in 1986 and then faced down half a dozen coup attempts in six years as president, died today, Saturday at 3.18 am in Manila.

For many Filipinos, Tita Cory embodied a hope of becoming a better nation and a prouder people.

Four days after the uprising began, Mr. Marcos was flown on an American aircraft to exile in Guam and then to Hawaii, where he died in 1989. Tita Cory became the FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT of the PHILIPPINES (and in Asia). The People Power was a high point in modern Philippine history, and it offered a model for nonviolent uprisings that has been repeated often in other countries. But it also set a difficult precedent in the Philippines, where people nostalgic for their shining moment continue to see mass movements as an acceptable, if unconstitutional, answer to the difficulties of a flawed democratic system.

I am quite sure that many of us remember it well. I know I did. I lived by the Malacanang Palace at the time and had the “privilege” to get teargas in our living room. Somehow, I thought my path would end there. When I lived in Hawaii, I found out that the house I was renting was across and neighbors with where Marcos lived. To top it all, I had the privilege of meeting this great lady in person and spent a few moments with her alone, sitting on a couch like the youngest daughter of a mother being imparted with life´s wisdom.

My only regret of that meeting is that I didn´t have a great camera at the time (and left it in Hawaii too) and I should have bought her painting that she brought from the Philippines. She loved painting flowers. I just didn´t know where to put a pink background and yellow flowers somewhere in my house. (My principled ways of not wanting to buy things that are not of use to me).

I thank you, Tita Cory for your legacy. YOU are the one who woke up my political consciousness. Your legacy taught me that as human beings (and FILIPINOS), we are sovereigns of our right. I will NEVER forget our intimate conversation, woman to woman, in politics and business. I hope I make you proud someday, because your example and your humility in tucked very deep in my heart. I have your wisdom embedded in my life–That yellow ribbon will always be tied in my heart and mind. 

YES, THE FILIPINOS ARE WORTH DYING FOR. I WILL NEVER FORGET. I PROMISE.

Fly, Tita, fly…we will take it from here, don´t worry.

Dr. Howard Lawson from SaharaReporters.com gave a grim prognosis of the current oil and gas war in Nigeria:

1. After the expiration of the 60 cease fire the Niger Delta impasse will not be resolved.

2. The FG will try to attack militants relying on faulty intelligence reports from the inept intelligence agencies.

3. The military will attack more villages and kill innocent civilians in an attempt to dislodge militants. The military will further aggravate the situation by this attack.

4. Those who accepted amnesty will return to the creeks.

5. MEND will carry out more devastating attacks on Oil and Gas installations.

6. Destruction of oil and gas installations can never be stopped by military means because the network of pipes is wide and in difficult terrain.

7. SSS, NIA and DMI will continually offer inept intelligence reports because of the Northernization of these agencies.

8. Militant attacks will be upgraded to the killing of foreign investors in the oil and gas sector because anyone who does business with an unjust government is as guilty as that government.

9. Key Nigerian Military officers of Northern extraction will be assassinated in retaliation for the killing and raping of civilians by the military. Treacherous Niger Delta politicians will also be eliminated by sniper squads.

10. Foreign investors will flee from the country due to security concerns.

11. Revenue for the FG will drop considerably due to persistent attacks and security concerns.

12. Britain we attempt to assist the FG by campaigning for MEND to be classified as a terrorist organization.

13. The UN Security Council will be divided over this issue as China and Russia will veto such a classification.

14. Russia would want to have total control of the gas supply chain hence Russia will assist MEND in other to ensure they are in control of the Gas project linking Nigeria to Europe.

15. Britain will make a u-turn by abandoning the North and trying to assist the Niger Delta. Russia and Western Europe will battle for the Gas supply chain using the Niger Delta as their pivotal focus. When the Niger Delta snobs the overtures of Britain, British intelligence will attempt to sow seeds of disaffection amongst Niger Deltans.

16. The Niger Delta will align with Russia due to Britain’s past role. The seeds of disaffection planted by Britain amongst Niger Deltans will be overcome and the Niger Delta will emerge strong and powerful.

17. Nigeria will disintegrate or transform into a confederation.

Money  embodies an indissoluble bond of both dreams and reality and the abstract distributor of hope; a concrete means of controlling the lives of human beings and nations: From King Croesus in the Near East; Alexander the Great´s a single monetary system implementation in Greece, Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, Babylonia and beyond, which was well organised into three metals (gold, silver and bronze) with coins of identical weight and type for people who were very different from one another, unification of Roman territories´systematic, profound well-organised central power control issuing denarii, aurei and sestertia in every corner of the vast Empire (Europe, Asia and Africa); Constantine´s Byzantine gold coins and under the Carolingian Empire, the European continent relaunch of a high Medieval European “single currency”, as we would label it today: the silver denier.

However, things changed as the geographical discoveries of the 15th century, influx of a large amount of precious metals to Europe, the opening of new mines, and more rational, modern exploitation of ancient metal veins, would soon lead to the radical transformation of the social and political fabric of Europe, whose financial and market centers attempted by all means possible to withstand the weight of competition that was increasingly tougher to face. To counter the lack of coins, existing credit systems were refined. Soon, bills of exchange became a safer instrument for bankers and merchants of the time. 

The world had changed dramatically issuance of the ducats by Italian cities (Florins, Genoese and gold zecchino coins, the undisputed lords of international trade). Charles V, produced a French gold currency, the écu au soleil or “Sun above the crown” during his reign. Consequently, seven nations united in an agreement of sorts which led them to issue “scudo” coins whose weight and alloy were very similar: France, Spain, Genoa, Venice, Florence, Rome and Naples. In essence, this heralded the first single international currency of the modern age. 

More than two centuries later, France again gave birth to a new currency, the Franco-Lira, with a centesimal subdivision, that would radically alter the monetary systems of the countries across Europe. From 1861 on, the Lira (divided into 100 cents) became the single currency of a unified Italy. Just a few years later, at a memorable session held on 23rd December 1865 in Paris, Italy, France, Switzerland and Belgium (later joined by Greece) signed an agreement which foresaw the adoption of a single currency, based on gold and silver divisions, which could circulate freely in the signatory countries, known as the Latin Monetary Union. 

This was considered to be the first step towards simplifying means of payment, something which could be delayed no longer in a world that was bound increasingly by common economic and trade interests. 

In 1871, the Confederation of Germanic States adopted the gold standard for its own monetary system. In 1873, Denmark signed a monetary agreement with Sweden which would later include Norway (in 1875). In 1892, Austria and Hungary also adopted a gold-standard monetary system.

Nonetheless, this too was abandoned in the 1930’s and 1940’s by all signatory countries: France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland and Italy, known as the “gold bar” countries. 

What modern nation states required was a new platform for exchange that respected national sovereignty. For today’s Europe, this platform is the Euro. 

History seems to repeat itself.

During the G8 meeting, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev illustrated his call for a supranational currency to replace the dollar by pulling from his pocket a sample coin of a ‘united future world currency.’ According to the Bloomberg news service

Medvedev has repeatedly called for creating a mix of regional reserve currencies as part of the drive to address the global financial crisis, while questioning the U.S. dollar’s future as a global reserve currency. Russia’s proposals for the G-20 meeting in London in April included the creation of a supranational currency.

Will the utopia of a universal currency become reality? Certainly, the world is much more accepting of this due to its regional cooperation. I still have not formed my opinion on this and while I can see its advantages economically, it also poses a big haul in how we conduct our financial systems. I am not sure if I want a supranatural currency, but I would seriously consider having other global reserve currencies other than the US dollar for global economic stability.

Some of the world’s biggest banks hinted they wanted to repay government money: JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley were reported to have applied to refund up to $45bn of US government funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program. I am crossing my fingers for them. Pay back as soon as possible so I can breathe normal as capitalist again. 

Added to that, reports that the US government’s eagerly awaited ’stress tests’ for banks suggested bank capital shortfalls might be less than previously expected also buoyed the sector. JPMorgan chief executive Jamie Dimon said at a shareholder meeting last month that the bank aimed to repay US government funds imminently after receiving guidelines from the government. Read more…

 

Roland Burris’ net -45% approval/disapproval rating may or may not stop him from running for a full term in 2010, but if does, he will discover that he has quite a bit of company in the Democratic primary. State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is already in and Bobby Kennedy’s son, Chris Kennedy, is now poised to enter as well. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) is mulling a run and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan might jump in, too, although it is more likely she will run for governor. Kennedy has never run for public office before, but the Kennedy name is still revered by many Democrats. Caroline Kennedy wasn’t appointed to Hillary Clinton’s vacant Senate seat in New York, but that has everything to do with the somewhat mercurial nature of Gov. David Paterson (D-NY) and a behind-the-scenes campaign by the state’s formiddable senior senator, Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who strongly championed now-senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). A Kennedy-Giannoulias battle would be a fight of epic proportions, but Burris would be left in the dust were he foolish enough to try. The $845 he raised in the first quarter of 2009 won’t go very far in expensive Illinois.

If elected, Chris Kennedy would follow in the footsteps of his father, Robert, who represented New York in the Senate before being assassinated in 1968.

If he were to win the seat, Chris would not be the only Kennedy on Capitol Hill. His cousin is Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-Rhode Island; his uncle is Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts.

For Americans looking for change, they are about to feel it, after they of course wake up from denial. Debt may actually be the reason for the American Dream demise:America’s debt now exceeds the $50 trillion GDP of all economies in the entire world!

Paul B. Ferrell of Marketwatch laid down an updated list from what he did last year. We all know that whoever gets elected there is a massive debt that will be inherited from Bush. Obama adds another $1.84 Trillion with the current mortgages which is “four times Bush’s record deficit last year, with deficits over $500 billion annually for the next decade.”:

1. Federal budget deficits/debt

Federal debt is now $11.5 trillion. Add $1.4 trillion this year. That’s almost 100% of GDP.

2. Social Security unfunded debt

No longer a political “third rail,” we have no choice: We must raise taxes, or cut benefits.

3. Medicare unfunded obligations

Unfunded after 2016, $65 trillion by 2041, consuming 100% of tax revenues by 2075.

4. Health care insurance liabilities

Costs rising at double the inflation rate, 47 million uninsured. Obama plans universal coverage of this mega-$2.5 trillion business. Can we trust insurers sudden offer to help?

5. Military/defense budget costs

Budget $662 billion. Add veterans affairs, Afghan, Iraq: $1.45 trillion 55% of budget.

6. Homeland insecurity risks

Ports, chemical plants, borders at risk. Black Swans are lurking; with unpredictable mega-buck consequences.

7. Real estate/mortgage losses

Global real estate from $40 trillion to $70 trillion in 5 years. Total global wealth lost since 2007, $50 trillion. U.S. mortgages shot from $7 trillion to $14 trillion in 8 years, now down $6 trillion, with 20% of homes worth less than the mortgage.

8. Peak oil and energy alternatives

Oil’s soon declining. Extraction costs will exceed sale price. Nuclear energy cost: $75 trillion. Coal’s dirty. Wind, biofuels: costly.

9. Cap and trade

Taxing fossil-fuel emissions will increase energy costs. But it won’t change much. China won’t stop. So population grows, with demand and global warming.

Read more…

Recently, President Obama called for strict reform of international tax policies specifically directed towards corporations who have been accused of “shipping US jobs overseas” and curbing tax havens.

The U.S. itself is an Offshore Banking Center

Did you know that foreign investors now hold more than 55% of the publicly-held and-traded U.S. Treasury securities. Are you aware that foreigners investing in the United States earn tax free interest on bank CDs? These assets come to the U.S. for security, tax-free investment and privacy. 

Overseas wealth inflow now plays a critical role in the U.S. economy by bridging the gap between domestic supplies of capital and demand for it. In addition, any effort to share this information with other governments for their own tax purposes is illegal. It is true and by definition that fact makes the United States an offshore tax and banking haven. Isn´t this disingenious?

Highlights

Some of the highlights of Obama’s proposed international tax reform policy include:
•Raising corporate taxes by $210 billion to those companies earning a profit overseas
•Extracting more information from foreign banks on the U.S. customers
•Adding 800 more employees for the IRS to strictly focus on international tax enforcement

The response to this proposal remains to be seen. It is estimated the proposal will face considerable opposition in Congress; there has already been strict opposition from about 200 companies including Microsoft, General Electric and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 

According to Dr. Marty Regalia, Chief Economist at the US Chamber of Commerce, “Deferral has been mischaracterized as a “tax break” but is actually a vital mechanism providing relief for American businesses from double taxation. Regalia continues “Tax increases that hurt US companies’ global competitiveness hurts US workers here at home. A huge tax hike on US employers is not the way to stimulate our economy.” Furthermore:

“The United States is the only major industrialized country which double taxes the overseas earnings of our companies. Since other countries don’t subject their companies to double taxation, U.S. companies need deferral to stay competitive in the global marketplace.
 
“When you limit deferral, you limit the ability of U.S. companies to compete, you impede growth in the U.S. economy, and you cause the loss of jobs – both at the companies directly impacted and companies in their supply chains.

I am not advocating the outsourcing of US business to hurt American workers; however, in a global economy, large corporations must have an international presence to maintain a competitive edge in a capitalism-centered environment. 

As with every issue, there are two sides to this coin. At the end of the day, we pose a simple question: If U.S. companies’ taxes are raised by $210 billion, what is the likelihood they will move operations entirely to more favorable jurisdictions? As an entrepreneur and international company, I certainly will be thinking twice.

The Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak, commonly known as swine flu, continues to intensify globally as the number of confirmed human cases jumped to 257 on Thursday (April 30) from a previous 148 cases on Wednesday (April 29), reports from the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) said. No new deaths were reported today, leaving the worldwide death toll at eight, with seven confirmed in Mexico and one in the US. According to the WHO’s update on Thursday, 11 countries – US (109), Mexico (97), Canada (19), Spain (13), UK (8), Germany (3), New Zealand (3), Israel (2), Austria (1), Netherlands (1) and Switzerland (1) – have reported laboratory confirmed human cases. The Netherlands and Switzerland are the latest countries to confirm swine flu cases. Several media reports have noted Peru confirming its first swine flu case, but it was not among the WHO’s official tally. The UN health agency’s tally of confirmed cases has lagged behind those that individual countries report because it has to wait for formal notification from the affected nation.

In addition to investigating suspected cases in countries already affected by the disease, the WHO is monitoring and awaiting test results in 15 other countries possibly having the virus – Australia, France, Chile, Brazil, Denmark, Colombia, South Korea, Argentina, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, South Africa, Finland, Norway and Serbia. The WHO defines “possible” as cases where the patient tested positive for Influenza A, which is the general category of strains that includes the H1N1 swine virus, and needs additional tests to verify whether they are positive for the specific virus. Dr. Keiji Fukuda, assistant director-general of the WHO said the higher totals does not necessarily mean incidence of the disease is increasing, but rather that health investigators are getting through their backlog of specimens. Several thousand samples are being analyzed. Under pressure from meat industry producers and concerned governments, the WHO has decided to refer to the new virus strain as Influenza A (H1N1), not swine flu.

On Wednesday, the WHO raised its pandemic alert for swine flu to Phase 5 in a six-phase preparedness plan created by the WHO. Phase 5 is the second highest alert level, meaning there is a sustained human-to-human spread in at least two countries. In addition, the alert shows that the WHO believes a global outbreak of the disease is imminent. The increased alert level also signals that efforts to produce a vaccine will be increased. No evidence has surfaced that suggests the WHO should raise its pandemic alert to Phase 6, the highest level, due to the outbreak. To move up to Phase 6 would require confirmation that the virus is spreading from human-to-human in a sustained way in a country in another region besides North America. In the US, the situation continued to escalate as additional human infections were confirmed and more cases were suspected. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of laboratory confirmed cases in the US increased to 109, up from 91 cases on Wednesday. The number of states affected grew to 11 as South Carolina confirmed 10 swine flu infections. Within the previously affected states – New York (50), Texas (26), California (14), Kansas (2), Massachusetts (2), Arizona (1), Indiana (1), Michigan (1), Nevada (1) and Ohio (1) – Texas confirmed 10 more cases, while Michigan and Nevada decreased by one case each. Officials from other states have confirmed cases, but they have yet to be confirmed by the WHO. Due to the threat of a possible pandemic, more than 100 US schools have been closed as a precautionary measure. US President Barack Obama on Wednesday called on schools with confirmed or suspected swine flu cases to “strongly consider temporarily closing” to ensure safety to others. In the event a school has a confirmed case, the CDC recommends the closure of the facility for about seven days. On Thursday, about 30 Marines on a Southern California military base were quarantined after one of them became the first US serviceman to have contracted the virus.

In Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak, the number of confirmed cases increased to 97 from a previously stable 26. The death toll remains at seven, a decrease from 20 after Mexican authorities revised down the number of confirmed swine flu deaths on Tuesday (April 28) following additional testing recommended by the WHO. The other 13 cases have not been confirmed yet. The suspected death toll due to the virus increased to 176 from 159 yesterday. More than 1,300 people were in hospitals out of an estimated total of 2,500 suspected cases. All those suspected to be infected with the swine flu continue to be monitored and treated. Mexican President Felipe Calderon has ordered non-essential government offices and businesses to shut down for five days from Friday (May 1) to try to curb the spread of the virus. Schools nationwide have also been closed until at least May 6.

As of Tuesday, all new confirmed WHO cases had been associated with people who had traveled to Mexico. However, Spain on Wednesday reported the first case of swine flu affecting a person who had not recently visited Mexico, stressing the threat of person-to-person transmission. Another such case of community transmission in Spain could elevate the pandemic alert to its highest level. Ecuador joined Argentina and Cuba in banning travel to or from Mexico, while France continues to seek a European Union ban on flights to Mexico. The US, Canada and the European Union have advised people to avoid non-essential travel to Mexico, but no travel restrictions have been implemented. Additionally, the WHO advised against travel restrictions and border closures, saying such restrictions will not stop the spread of the virus and urging countries to instead boost domestic efforts to contain the spread of the virus. Obama has vowed to do “whatever it takes” to fight the outbreak, but rejected calls to close the US border, saying the move would be pointless with the virus already on US soil.

Meanwhile, Egypt on Thursday began seizing and slaughtering herds of pigs as a precaution against swine flu despite resistance by farmers and UN criticism. Egypt’s plan to cull up to 400,000 pigs is being called “a real mistake” by the UN because the new strain has not been detected in pigs. No cases of the disease have been reported in Egypt. Several countries have established bans on the importing of all pork products, despite the WHO declaring that the virus could not be transmitted by eating pork. The US has increased checks of people entering the country by air, land and sea. The WHO has also recommended that all countries track any suspect cases and ensure medical workers dealing with them guard themselves by wearing protective masks and gloves.

The CDC implemented its emergency response on Wednesday, and on Tuesday issued new interim guidance for clinicians on how to care for children and pregnant women who may become infected with the virus, since they are at high risk of serious complications from seasonal influenza. On Sunday (April 26), US Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano declared it a public health emergency in the US, allowing funding to be released to assist the public health response. The CDC has also been working closely with the WHO and with health officials in areas where the virus has been confirmed, sending staff domestically and internationally to provide guidance and technical support in affected areas. In conjunction with officials worldwide, the CDC’s goals include reducing transmission and illness severity and providing information to assist healthcare providers, public health officials and the public in addressing the challenges posed by the newly identified swine influenza. The CDC’s Division of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is releasing one-quarter of its antiviral drugs, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), personal protective equipment and respiratory protection devices to all 50 states and US territories to help them cope with the escalating outbreak. Laboratory tests have confirmed that influenza A (H1N1) is susceptible to both prescription antiviral drugs, oseltamivir and zanamivir, and they are most effective when taken soon after the onset of symptoms. According to the WHO, Swiss drug maker Roche indicated they were increasing production of Tamiflu to combat the infection. There is no direct vaccine available for the new virus, but the federal government and manufacturers have commenced the process of developing a vaccine against it. However, vaccine makers say it could take months to produce it in large quantities. US President Barack Obama on Tuesday requested US$1.5 billion from Congress to fight the spread of the new virus, help fund a plan to build drug stockpiles and monitor future cases of the disease. In addition, the money will help international efforts to combat the disease. Researchers are also still investigating the origins of the outbreak as it would be key in future prevention. Also, they are trying to understand the virulence of the strain and why it has caused serious illness and deaths in Mexico, but mild symptoms elsewhere.

BACKGROUND

Swine influenza has previously been identified as a contagious respiratory disease that commonly infects pigs and is caused by a type-A influenza. The current strain is a new variation of an H1N1 virus, which is known as a mix of human and animal versions. The dangers of this strain exist when the flu spreads from human to human instead of from animals to humans, as the virus can continue to mutate, making it difficult to treat and combat because people do not have natural immunity. Symptoms are similar to the common flu, causing fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Also like the common flu, the virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes around another person. One can also become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. The CDC recommends taking everyday precautions such as frequent handwashing, covering up coughs and sneezes and staying away from work or school if not feeling well to prevent the disease from spreading. The WHO has recommended all nations “intensify surveillance for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia.” Researchers are working to determine how easily transmissible the virus is from person to person.

Veteran GOP Sen. Arlen Specter of PA will switch parties, confirmed his run for re-election as a Dem in 2010, w/c would increase the number of Senate seats Democrats control to 58, an almost filibuster-resistant majority. Our anti-pork GOP candidate Pat Toomey´s (from Club for Growth) winning numbers in the polls and Arlen´s support of Obama Spending Bill precipitated this. The Rasmussen poll puts Toomey ahead 51% to 30%.

Specter’s real problem started with the Democratic presidential primary in 2008. With the battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama still raging last April, hundreds of thousands of moderate Republicans in Pennsylvania switched registration to vote in the Democratic primary. Most of these people normally voted for Specter. Now they are officially Democrats. With a big primary looming on the Democratic side in 2010, probably most of them will remain Democrats to vote in the Democratic primary. Thus the center of gravity of what is left of the Pennsylvania Republican Party has moved far to the right–towards Toomey and away from Specter. Under far less favorable circumstances, Toomey came within 1.7% of beating Specter in the 2004 senatorial primary. Now with the wind at his back and Specter unpopular with the right wing of the Republican Party for his occasional roll call votes with the Democrats, Toomey has an excellent chance of winning the nomination. Unfortunately, he has almost no chance of winning the general election against any of the numerous Democrats trying for their party’s nomination. He is simply far too conservative for a state Obama carried by 11 points. Thus a Toomey win in the primary means that Pennsylvania will very likely flip and give the Democrats their 60th seat in the Senate (assuming Franken is seated by January 2011). Let us hope that this doesn´t happen and that the Tea Parties are doing smarter strategies.

The move gives Democrats control of 59 votes in the Senate, leaving them one shy of 60 needed for procedural control of the chamber. One senate seat remains unfilled, in Minnesota, where a close recount remains tied up in court. But analysts say Democrat Al Franken is favored to win that legal battle in the coming weeks, giving Democrats the majority they are seeking.

A Republican who is close to Senate GOP leadership said Republican leaders still hold a glimmer of hope to hold off Mr. Specter’s party switch. But it isn’t likely.

Mr. Specter, who provided President Barack Obama the critical vote for his $787 billion stimulus plan, faced a powerful challenge in 2010 from former Rep. Pat Toomey, who hoped to unseat Mr. Specter in a Republican primary. Vice President Joe Biden had been openly courting his old friend and colleague from the Senate Judiciary Committee, making the case that he could breeze to re-election as a Democrat.

Why have Pork loving candidates around, anyway? Time to clean up GOP. Good riddance!

One of our subsidiaries, MJS Commodities specializes in various cash commodities such as sugar. Our current Indian partners within the sugar and basmati rice categories have been struggling with too many fluctuating governmental regulations that the Indian leaders impose. It has been quite difficult to get any business done. Let me shed a little light of what has been going on. According to ISO reports, world sugar production is at 161.527 mln tonnes. The report shows three major supply features of 2008/09: Significant production shortfall in India, a further contraction of production in the EU and a continuing expansion of sugar output in Brazil. The combined effect of output reductions in the EU and India is expected to shave off a massive 7.084 mln tonnes from world sugar supply, despite record high growth in sugar output in Brazil. So far, a lowering in forecasted production in India (from 23.9 mln tonnes projected in August to the current projection of 19.55 mln tonnes) has been neatly matched by a practically identical increase in Brazil (from 33.22 mln tonnes to 37.54 mln tones). Meanwhile, global consumption is forecasted to grow at the rate of 2.19% to 165.801 mln tonnes, raw value. World production is now expected to be 4.274 mln tonnes lower than world consumption as against 3.626 mln tonnes projected in November. Consequently, the statistical outlook for the market till the end of the season in September 2009 remains constructive and supportive to world market values. The ISO puts world export availability for 2008/09 at 49.608 mln tonnes, raw value, as against 46.25 mln tonnes in the previous crop cycle. Smaller output in importing countries and in India, in particular, is expected to trigger additional import demand which is estimated to reach 49.621 mln tonnes, up 3.673 mln tonnes. Indian Sugar output in the current sugar year 2008-09 is likely to plummet substantially as compared with the output in the previous few years. Current year’s estimate is now placed at around 15.5 million tonnes, 42% below the output achieved in the previous year 2007-08 at 26.3 million tonnes. Such a sharp decline in sugar production by 11 million tonnes in one single year, is unprecedented. This has happened mainly because the farmers seem to have lost interest in sugarcane planting in recent past due to lack of orderly disposal thereof. Indian sugar industry suffers from too many interventions by the authorities. Such interventions, lead to wide variations in sugar production. Wide fluctuations in sugarcane and sugar production in Indian condition have become a normal feature, mainly due to man made action. For, as opposed to this, if one looks around, the trends in other sugar producing countries, year to year variations are much too small – say in the range of around 5%, mainly influenced by weather condition. Clearly, Government policies relating to sugarcane, sugar and other competing crops have led to such large variations in India, thereby undermining larger interest of all concerned with the sugar sector – sugarcane farmers, industry as well as the consumers. The most vital factors are those of sugarcane and sugar prices. The Government of India announces the support prices of various crops including sugarcane. On the other hand, policies are framed by the Government to ensure as low a price for sugar as possible, based on very rigid parameters of costing. A look at the compendium of publications brought out by the Indian Sugar Mills Association, would reflect that too many regulations have been created by the authorities to regulate the sugarcane and sugar prices. Clearly, the policies adopted by the Government have failed to ensure a reasonable balance in sugar situation. The most important facet is that of sugarcane pricing. Like other crops, the Government of India notifies the minimum price payable for sugarcane. Fixation of such Statutory Minimum Price for sugarcane is done by the Government of India, many a times overlooking the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, commonly known as CACP. The CACP makes exhaustive study of different crops while making its recommendation to the Government for various crops including sugarcane. While in the past, Government has been generally following the recommendation of the CACP, in recent past this trend has changed. For the year 2008-09, the CACP revised its recommendation for Statutory Minimum Price of sugarcane to Rs. 125/- per qtl. linked to the basic recovery of 9%. The Government, however, rejected this recommendation. For the year 2009-10, the CACP yet again recommended the same price of Rs. 125 per qtl. linked to basic recovery of 9%. No doubt, the increase suggested in the statutory minimum cane price in one go is rather sharp. However, the most important point is that the Government has not yet taken any decision on this important matter. On the other hand, Government have substantially increased the minimum prices for wheat, rice and other food crops. Naturally, in the absence of an appropriate revision of Statutory Minimum Price, a large gap persists with alternate crops. Already, as stated, Indian sugar output has suffered tremendously; so much so that the carry forward stocks from the previous season will be almost fully exhausted during the current year itself, to meet the consumption demand which is commonly assessed at the previous year’s level of say 22/22.5 milllion tonnes. To reverse the negative trends, it is imperative that the Government of India without any further delay notify the Statutory Minimum Price for sugarcane. Closely connected with this issue is the Government’s recent decision to impose stock limit on the sugar trade, though temporarily for a period of four months. Such restrictions lead to artificial decline in sugar prices. We fear that if the inconsistent policies continue, India may have to depend on import invariably, whereas the Government’s declared objective has always been to promote exports. The Government needs to give a fresh look to the sugarcane and sugar sector without delay. If growing demand for sugar in India has to be met, a proper sugar policy has to be implemented. The first and foremost requirement appears to be the withdrawal of the obligation placed by the Government on the sugar industry to supply 10% of its output as levy sugar at prices far below the actual cost of production and the open market prices. The levy sugar is distributed through the Public Distribution System channel to the B.P.L. population. Thus, while the sugar industry is forced to supply levy sugar, there is hardly any realization among the public that the subsidy on levy sugar is funded by the industry and not by the Government, as it happens in all other cases. Sugar is the only exception. If the current policy continues, India may turn into a regular large scale importer of sugar in the long run notwithstanding the sugar industry’s capability to meet adequately the country’s requirement of sugar and generate surpluses for exports.

According to Rasmussen Reports:

53% of American adults believe capitalism is better than socialism,

20% believe socialism is better,

and 27% are undecided.

It is interesting to compare the new results to an earlier survey in which 70% of Americans prefer a free-market economy. The fact that a “free-market economy” attracts substantially more support than “capitalism” may suggest some skepticism about whether capitalism in the United States today relies on free markets.

Other survey data supports that notion. Rather than seeing large corporations as committed to free markets, two-out-of-three Americans believe that big government and big business often work together in ways that hurt consumers and investors.

Fifteen percent (15%) of Americans say they prefer a government-managed economy, similar to the 20% support for socialism. Just 14% believe the federal government would do a better job running auto companies, and even fewer believe government would do a better job running financial firms.

Most Americans today hold views that can generally be defined as populist while only seven percent (7%) share the elitist views of the Political Class.

For a few weeks now, I have been going through personal meditation á la Marcus Aurelius and pondered about this Quarter Life Crisis (QLC). I consider myself a late-bloomer in some aspects of my life that I still feel some of this. It may be nothing, but it certainly always pushes me to assert the true me everytime my birthday comes around. This usually ranges from the early twenties to the early thirties. Again, I am a late bloomer in “some” aspects so don´t crucify me when you read this.

Some people don´t really understand the gist of this since coining of the term is pretty recent (and pointless). The first time I heard of the term was from a John Mayer song. 

Man, I remember getting out of college, it is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself that you didn’t know and may or may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren’t exactly the greatest people you have ever met and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you do not realize is that they are realizing that too and are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and add things to your list of what is acceptable and what is not. You are insecure and then secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you or you lay in bed and wonder why you can’t meet anyone decent enough to get to know better. You love someone but maybe love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you are not a bad person.

One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap and getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. You go through the same emotions and questions over and over and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision.

Wikipedia put it plainly:

Characteristics of quarter-life crisis may include:

feeling “not good enough”

feeling unsuited for current job

feeling that one’s life has no definitive purpose

frustration with relationships, the working world, and finding a suitable job or career

confusion of identity frustrated with peers and/or feeling more mature than peers

insecurity regarding the near future

insecurity concerning long-term plans, life goals

insecurity regarding present accomplishments

re-evaluation of close interpersonal relationships

disappointment with one’s job

nostalgia for university, college, high school or elementary school life

tendency to hold stronger opinions

boredom with social interactions

loss of closeness to high school and college friends

financially-rooted stress (overwhelming college loans, unanticipatedly high cost of living, etc.)

loneliness

desire to have children

a sense that everyone is, somehow, doing better than you

uncontrollable urge to get a tattoo — Ok, I never got this urge at all!

These emotions and insecurities are not uncommon at this age, nor at any age in adult life. In the context of the quarter-life crisis, however, they occur shortly after a young person – usually an educated professional, in this context – enters the “real world”. After entering adult life and coming to terms with its responsibilities, some individuals find themselves experiencing career stagnation or extreme insecurity. The individual often realizes the real world is tougher, more competitive and less forgiving than they imagined. Furthermore, the qualifications they have spent so much time and money earning are not likely to prepare them for this disillusionment. A related problem is simply that many college graduates do not achieve a desirable standard of living after graduation. They often end up living in low-income apartments with roommates instead of having an income high enough to support themselves. Substandard living conditions, combined with menial or repetitive work at their jobs create a great amount of frustration, anxiety and anger. Nobody wants to admit to feeling like a ‘loser’; this secrecy may intensify the problem. As the emotional ups-and-downs of adolescence and college life subside, many affected by quarter-life crisis experience a “graying” of emotion. While emotional interactions may be intense in a high school or college environment – where everyone is roughly the same age and hormones are highly active – these interactions become subtler and more private in adult life[citation needed]. Furthermore, a factor contributing to quarter-life crisis may be the difficulty in adapting to a workplace environment. In college, professors’ expectations are clearly given and students receive frequent feedback on their performance in their courses. One progresses from year to year in the education system. In contrast, within a workplace environment, one may be, for some time, completely unaware of a boss’s displeasure with one’s performance, or of one’s colleagues’ dislike of one’s personality. One does not automatically make progress. Office politics require interpersonal skills that are largely unnecessary for success in an educational setting.

Looking at all the “symptoms”, I know MANY who are past 30+ who feel like this. Why box it in just one age group. Clearly, these issues are prominent in any stage in one´s life…more so than others of course.

The Times of London reported on Tuesday that the International Monetary Fund is considering increasing its forecast of the amount of distressed debt on financial firms’ balance sheets worldwide to $4 trillion:

Toxic debts racked up by banks and insurers could spiral to $4 trillion (£2.7 trillion), new forecasts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are set to suggest.

The IMF said in January that it expected the deterioration in US-originated assets to reach $2.2 trillion by the end of next year, but it is understood to be looking at raising that to $3.1 trillion in its next assessment of the global economy, due to be published on April 21. In addition, it is likely to boost that total by $900 billion for toxic assets originated in Europe and Asia.

Banks and insurers, which so far have owned up to $1.29 trillion in toxic assets, are facing increasing losses as the deepening recession takes a toll, adding to the debts racked up from sub-prime mortgages. The IMF’s new forecast, which could be revised again before the end of the month, will come as a blow to governments that have already pumped billions into the banking system.

The International Monetary Fund, which will be provided with nearly $1 trillion in additional resources under last week’s Group of 20 agreement, has published a fact sheet on its website explaining its quota system, drawing rights and borrowing arrangements.

Pascal Lamy, the director-general of the World Trade Organization, has been warning political leaders around the world to refrain from responding to the global finance crisis by enacting protectionist measures that will only cause trade flows to shrink even further. 

On Jan. 26, Mr. Lamy circulated to the WTO’s 153 member countries a confidential 114-page report that documented unsettling ongoing efforts by various countries to close their borders to imports. While the Europeans (with new farm subsidies for cheese and dairy products) and Americans (with various “Buy American” provisions in the $787 billion economic-stimulus package) were the focus of much of the criticism, the report also singled out such Asian protectionist offenders as India, Indonesia and South Korea. This month, Mr. Lamy sent another “restricted” report to WTO members, which provide further documentations of the spreading global economic nationalism.

Mr. Lamy’s Jan. 26 confidential report noted that “India raised tariffs on some steel products and issued notifications restricting imports of some steel products in November 2008.” And in South Korea the WTO report observed that tariffs will triple on crude-oil imports, to 3% from 1%. Meanwhile Indonesia has issued orders specifying that “only five ports and certain international airports are to serve as entry points for certain imports, such as electronics, garments, toys, footwear, and food and beverages,” Mr. Lamy’s confidential report observed.

Asian officials, like their counterparts in Europe and the United States, all seem to think that protectionism is an evil economic practice that the other guys give in to. When India recently slapped on import curbs to keep Chinese-made toys out of the hands of Indian children, Trade Minister Nath earnestly explained that the “public interest” was at stake, and expressed pain at the suggestion that India would resort to “protectionism.” As for India’s raising tariffs on steel—competition from China is the main target—Mr. Nath claimed that China deserved the increased duties because the Middle Kingdom isn’t a real market economy. Meanwhile, while the Chinese have vigorously protested India’s protectionism, they have also been busy with new subsidies and trade barriers to protect Chinese exporters, including domestic steel producers. The Indonesians are also making moves to protect their domestic steel companies, complaining that Indonesian consumers prefer foreign steel because it is made from more advanced technology and is cheaper. Such assertions might be laughable in respected economic circles, but the top trade officials are skilled in uttering them with straight faces.

One has to marvel at the logic, if not the audacity. South Korea, with an annual per capita GDP of about $27,000 (compared to $1,500 for Bangladesh) is asking the WTO to pretend that Korea is basically a basket case. Mr. Lamy’s retort to this is not a matter of public record, but presumably the WTO head is aware that Korea is a member of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, along with other rich countries like France, Germany and the United States.

But then Japan is also asking that its uncompetitive rice farmers be treated as poor-country peasants in the Doha negotiations. In Tokyo, the definition of a free trader is anyone who would dare to be brave enough to suggest that the proper level for Japanese tariffs on imported rice should be “only” 400% and not twice that.

Another thing that Japan and Korea, along with many others, agree upon is that the “Buy American” provisions that are in U.S. President Barack Obama’s stimulus package are outrageous protectionism. Again, the hypocrisy-meter should be hitting the high decibels at this point. If Washington’s autarkic practices are deplorable, what about their Japanese and Korean copycats? Both Asian nations have also carved out special exemptions in the WTO to restrict foreigners from their governments’ major construction projects—big-ticket items including water, electricity, airports and urban transport. There is also a threshold of $22 million below which the Japanese and Koreans have the right to bar foreigners from contracts altogether. Meanwhile, other countries such as China that are now busy issuing press releases blasting the Buy American laws haven’t even been willing to sign on to the WTO’s government-procurement agreement at all—ensuring that in their own construction projects, it’s quite often a “Buy Chinese” business where foreigners are not welcome.

If there is any country where officials should recognize the vital importance of their assuming leadership by their own sound economic example, that would be the U.S., which is still the strongest economy in the world. But in Washington, the current wave of economic nationalism threatens to become a tsunami. From a free-trade perspective, the atmosphere in Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s House of Representatives is positively poisonous. Consider one “economic idea” that the venerable Rep. Charles Rangel, who chairs the powerful Ways and Means Committee with jurisdiction over trade and taxes, has come up with. Mr. Rangel is pushing a bill called the Trade Enforcement Act of 2009. “America’s trading partners don’t always live up to the commitments they make in trade agreements with the United States—and the Bush administration too often failed to insist that they do,” Mr. Rangel explained when he introduced the legislation. The measure would create an Office of Congressional Trade Enforcer, which would “investigate barriers to U.S. exports, develop complaints against foreign countries,” and pressure the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (an arm of the White House) “to file cases” against the foreign cheaters—singling out China as a high priority for the suspicious U.S. congressional sleuths.

And while on the subject of American-style protectionism that makes no economic sense, consider the political position that the new occupant of the White House has put himself in. During last year’s presidential campaign, Barack Obama took out a radio advertisement in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, home of the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycles, in which the Democratic candidate ridiculed Republican rival John McCain for refusing to say that there ought to be Buy American laws for motorcycles. Sounds good, especially to economically illiterate American voters. But how far would President Obama get if he hopped on one of those famous Fat Boys that didn’t have its Japanese-sourced carburetor in it? Or the tires, brakes, wheels, or the electronics that Harley-Davidson buys at the best prices and highest qualities it can find, whether domestic or foreign? Not to mention that Harley-Davidson makes significant profits from selling its Hogs around the world. Harley executives declined to be interviewed for their feelings on what would happen to their company if, say, the Chinese and Japanese refused to buy American motorcycles, in a tit-for-tat response to a Buy American favor for Harley. But they surely understand that Mr. Obama’s helpful economic advice would be ruinous.

When such absurdities are (painfully) pointed out to them, most trade officials, whether they are in Washington, New Delhi or Jakarta, say that their current protectionist moves are politically necessary and designed to do only “temporary” limited economic harm to global trade flows. The bad old days of 1930s-style rampant global protectionism, they contend, will never come back. But even if that turns out to be true, what’s going on now is very dangerous. In his January report to WTO members, Mr. Lamy cited a recent study that pointed to what would happen if all countries increased their applied tariffs to their highest legally permitted rates. If that happened, the report observed, “the average global rate of duty would double and the value of global trade would be cut by about 8%” That ought to frighten everyone.

This version of the 12 steps is an adaptation from the original 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and is intended for general use with any addictive or dysfunctional liberal behavior. This is only to address a particular addictive or dysfunctional behavior within the way we want to run our daily lives and countries. These steps are meant to be worked sequentially as a process of getting rid of addictive behaviors and growing in freedom and happiness:

Step 1 - We admited we were powerless over our addiction to meddle with other people´s lives and their monies – that our lives had become unmanageable

Step 2 – Came to believe that a Power greater than big government; that We are the ones who should decide how to govern our personal lives which restores us to sanity 

Step 3 - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God–who gave us sovereign right to rule our own lives not other people 

Step 4 - Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves and found that being spineless and pandering does not lead to godliness

Step 5 - Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs: Socialism and Communism is against our sovereign right as human beings and potential.

Step 6 - Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of all the brainwashed character we have acquired from media, liberal professors and bitter idiots.

Step 7 - Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings especially insulting true Conservatives

Step 8 – Made a list of all persons we had harmed, brainwashed, controlled and became willing to make amends to them all

Step 9 – Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others

Step 10 – Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it

Step 11 - Sought through study of true Conservatism, prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying and doing only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out

Step 12 - Having had a spiritual, mental, psychological and ideological awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs

Came across these cartoons from Canadian political cartoonists which is quite sobering to most of us in the world. I hope Americans do too…SOON:

Honeymoon is over by Aislin, The Montreal Gazette

US Debt by Patrick Corrigan, The Toronto Star

Glad the Canadians are sobering up from the hypnotic effects the media served up. Many of us OUTSIDE the USA are not impressed with what is going on with the money splurge. When a “superpower” owes money to Third World country like India, and now their “rival” China, they should really start worrying. Where is Obama getting all the monies from that he is spending? What is being exchanged if the country is practically bankrupt? If he is so smart, why is he not learning from the mistakes of PM Gordon Brown when he bankrupted his own country? Maybe he is not…and people are realizing it…but there are those of us who knew from the start. The mirage was just quite convincing that even the intellectuals are fooled.

I was listening to a music by Unni Wilhelsem and the lyrics struck a deep cord  with me:

Yes, all that you’ve give me, I know/ But all you’ve cost me, you know/ Sums up to nothing much you know, /nothing much at all/ To live from, anyway Hardly to survive/So I won’t come near you again/ You can bet your life I can’t come that close again/ I won’t go near you, I don’t think I even want to see you/Sorry for not being what you needed/ For not possessing what you  think you want/ Don’t know about anyone who does By the way,/ is that why you’re still you? /Still within yourself/ While I am someone else/`Cause the past is stronger than my will to forgive /Why did you need my hand, my hand that night? /What did you mess up my systems for /If you really know me so well/ Tell me which part I loved/ And which one I hate the most?/ Did it get you ready for later/ Did the others fade out, like me?

Something I’ve once said before, that seems fitting to all that surrounds me and made me do some self-inventory: The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are, who you really are. You trade your reality for a role, your sense for an act. You give up your ability to feel and in exchange you put on a mask. There can’t be any large-scale revolution until it’s a personal revolution, on a personal level. It’s got to happen inside first. You can take anyone’s political or personal freedom and you can’t hurt them… unless, you take away their freedom to feel. That can destroy a person. That kind of freedom can not be granted. No one can win it for you. That’s what real love amounts to: Letting a person be who he/she really is. Most people love you for who you pretend to be. To keep their love, you keep pretending or what you may call performing (trying to impress).  That is why you go on these endless dates! You get the chance to love your pretense.  Admit it, we are all locked in an image, an act and the sad thing is, others get so used to their image; they grow attached to their masks. We love our chains. We forget all about who we really are… and if you try to remind us, we hate you for it, we feel like your trying to steal our most precious possession.

People are afraid of themselves, of their own reality; their feelings most of all. Why you think we pay exorbitant amounts of money on image or PR? Why do you think our societies have become “image conscious”?

Relationship-wise, people talk about how great love is, and most times it may be true, others are false. Love hurts, feelings are disturbing.

I am at that place that a ghost from my past came to haunt me again and I hate it. I hate it when people can be so clueless and never be able to put themselves in someone else´s shoes. How do you ever go back from all that pain someone caused, breaking your heart and trust after you gave them your soul? How can one “undo”? Never! How can you even really forgive when the person has not looked you in the eye and asked for forgiveness. Forgiveness for me is DOING. It is ACTION. Why do I have to send a memo WHEN they need to apologize? This ghost of mine, is in this vicious pattern of hurting me and doing the same things. That is not being “Sorry”. It is insincere and false! If you are sorry, then SHOW ME! If I am the one you want, then PROVE IT! Why sit there and “hope” forgiveness and regaining someone´s trust will just fall on your lap? You caused it, then fix it! I am tired of people “telling” me they “care” and yet they turn around and manage to “act” recklessly. How can someone say you are the one they want and yet manage to insult you with getting another whom you know is less “qualified” in that department. I am tired of circles. I am tired of ghosts. I am tired of bullshit. I am tired of lies. I am tired of people throwing “I like you” ,”I care about you”, “I love you”, “I need you”, “I want you” carelessly! Ok, that is enough ranting for the day.

The point is, society taught us that pain is evil and dangerous. How can one deal with love if they are afraid to feel? (That is this ghost´s problem)

Pain is meant to wake us up.

My ghost seems to still be sleeping. I don´t know why they wait so long and ACT on working towards healing and forgiveness. Don´t they realize that there comes a time when it is too late? My hunch is that they are just like anyone who don´t put value on their own words and therefore hurt the people around them because they are shallow. 

Others try to hide their pain (like me), but it is wrong. Pain is something to carry, a part of life. We feel our strength in the experience of pain; it’s all in how we carry it. Believe me, I am learning everyday. That’s what matters (at least from all the people I have observed, who are my heroes tell me this). Pain is a feeling, feeling is a part of us… our own reality. If we feel ashamed of them and hide them, we’re letting society destroy our reality. Don’t do it, we need to stand strong. I am not ashamed of mine anymore. My pain has become my driving force to move forward. I would like to think that I have used it as fuel for productivity and positive motion.

My greatest fear is to be just another statistic (besides mediocrity). Sometimes I still put my mask when needed, but most times, I keep my role, exchange my acts and find my own revolution that creates only the best. It is what keeps me evolving everyday.

Godspeed for the length of our journey…

You can now purchase the single:

Bailout on my Mind. 

Cover

Ringtones will also be available.*

You can click through the following major digital outlets ( other locations are pending*) below: 

Emusic .com

iTunes.com: Type MJ Santos

Amazon.com

Napster.com

Shockhound.com

Please tell all your friends and don´t forget to rate it.

The proverbial “Honesty is the best policy” begs plurium interrogationum (many questions) as it is an implied dilemma. The question “Do honest people exist” is a misleading discourse because something is implied without being said explicitly. Nowadays, this question imposes outcome of a negative response to validate the dilemma, and in which the positive response has an invariant outcome in the concocted dilemma. Of course the common way out of this argument is not to answer the question (e.g. with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’), so allow me to challenge the assumption behind this question (and I am working on my 10th cup of coffee and too much thoughts swirling in my head).

This question in itself is complex because it presupposes something that has not been proven or accepted by all the people involved. This typical fallacy within my short  life experience is often used rhetorically, so I find that the question limits direct replies to those that serve the question’s agenda. Bluntly put, I think it is relative.

It is also a psychological fact that when someone touts “I AM HONEST” or “I DO NOT GOSSIP” usually are the first people who contradict themselves. I would classify this question as cognitive dissonance because it holds two contradictory ideas simultaneously. The “ideas” or “cognitions” in this question includes attitudes and beliefs, and also the awareness, justification and rationalization of one’s (or anyone for that matter) behavior. I guess I am guilty of dissonance because I perceive this as a logical inconsistency among my cognitions (and other people that I know). A powerful cause of this dissonance of course is when this idea conflicts with a fundamental element of the self-concept, such as “I am a good person” or “I made the right decision.” There´s always an anxiety that comes with the possibility of having made a bad decision can lead to rationalization, the tendency to create additional reasons or justifications to support one’s choices. For instance, a person who just spent too much money on a new car might decide that the new vehicle is much less likely to break down than his or her old car. This belief may or may not be true, but it would likely reduce dissonance and make the person feel better. I think we can safely say that this dissonance can also lead to a confirmation bias, the denial of disconfirming evidence, and other ego defense mechanisms.

HONESTY  is a very loaded because the word itself has plenty synonyms that is best described as principles and values: bluntness, candor, confidence, conscientiousness, equity, evenhandedness, fairness, faithfulness, fidelity, frankness, genuineness, goodness, honor, impeccability, incorruptibility, integrity, justness, loyalty, morality, openness, outspokenness, plainness, principle, probity, rectitude, reputability, responsibility, right, scrupulousness, self-respect, sincerity, soundness, straightforwardness, straightness, trustiness, trustworthiness, uprightness, veracity, and virtue. (Notice that the antonyms are few: artifice, cheating, deceit, deception, dishonesty, duplicity, falsehood, fraud, fraudulence, lying and treachery). How many people do you know that actually exhibit these 100%?

My point is this question relies upon context for its effect. Human communication is complex; 90% of it is nonverbal and context is an essential part of it. Communication consists of the words said, tone of voice, body language and also: how these relate to what has been said in the past; what is not said, but is implied; how these are modified by other nonverbal cues such as the environment in which it is said and so forth.For example, if someone says “I love you”, one takes into account who is saying it, their tone of voice and body language, and the context in which it is said. Is it a declaration of passion or a serene reaffirmation; is it public or private; is it insincere and manipulative; does it sound as if they are saying “Please pass the salt” or is it said in a joking tone, when they are annoyed at you?

Conflicts in communication are common and often we ask “What do you mean?” or seek clarification in other ways. This “metacommunication” (i.e. communication about the communication) sometimes, asks for clarification that is impossible. Communication difficulties are common in ordinary life, and often occur when metacommunication and feedback systems are lacking or inadequate or there is not enough time. Some people practice double binds which can be stressful and potentially destructive when one is trapped in a dilemma and punished for finding a way out, but making the effort to find the way out of the trap can lead to emotional growth. For example, when one is commanded to “be spontaneous”. The very command contradicts spontaneity, but it only becomes a double bind when one can neither ignore the command nor comment on the contradiction. Often, the contradiction in communication is not apparent to bystanders unfamiliar with previous communications.Or say, someone says (like Mother to child)”You must love me”. The primary injunction here is the command itself: “you must”; the secondary injunction is the unspoken condition that love is spontaneous, that the child love the mother genuinely, of its own accord.

Or how about “Be genuine” or in this “Be honest”? The idea here is to present your true self to the person. But then the more you try, the phonier you are, and even the “act” of not trying is just another version of trying.

Consider the following psychological theories that affect view of “honesty” among individuals: 

1) Choice-supportive bias is a memory bias that makes past choices seem better than they actually were.

Big Brother is Watching you

2) Doublethink is the act of holding two contradictory beliefs simultaneously and fervently believing both. It is related to, but distinct from, hypocrisy and neutrality. Doublethink is a form of trained, willful intellectual blindness to contradictions in a belief system. Doublethink differs from ordinary hypocrisy in that the “doublethinking” person deliberately had to forget the contradiction between his two opposing beliefs — and then deliberately forget that he had forgotten the contradiction. He then had to forget the forgetting of the forgetting, and so on; this intentional forgetting, once begun, continues indefinitely. George Orwell’s dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, describes it as “controlled insanity”.

3) Self-perception theory is a competing theory of attitude change. It asserts that we develop our attitudes by observing our behavior and concluding what attitudes must have caused them. The theory is counterintuitive in nature, as the conventional wisdom is that attitudes come prior to behaviors. Furthermore, the theory suggests that a person induces attitudes without accessing internal cognition and mood states. He/She reasons his/her own overt behaviors rationally in the same way he/she attempts to explain others’ behaviors.

A parody of Obama´s first 100 days solving U.S. Economic Crisis by lobbying a $900bn (now $787bn) stimulus package penned by Democrats

Writer/Performer/Video: MJ Santos
Musical Arrangement: Glenn Longacre

www.thesantosrepublic.com

Copies can be purchased soon through iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody and Napster–will be available for worldwide distribution before March 23rd.

Watch here if this box doesn´t come up: “Bailout on my Mind by MJ Santos“