WEEKLY BLOG COMMENTS No. 74
DATES:
2013/07/21 – 2013/07/28
ANALYST:
Domingo Trassens
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Dear
Friends:
The
shout of the last weeks: Corruption! Corruption! Corruption!
In the
last few days, the Bulgarians marched through the streets of Sofia in a series of anticorruption
protests of the former Communist country; while in Brazil, Pope Francis started his first
overseas trip with a strong speech against the corruption of government
institutions and the suffering of millions of people who live in poverty.
These
events came a week after more than 20 children died in an Indian school due to
contaminated food with insecticide and some weeks from the riots of the
Brazilian cities for the money the government expends in stadiums instead
of building schools and hospitals.
In other
news of the week, President Obama called for a long-term economic plan
to help the middle class recovery. His speech was criticized by the opposition
and some political analysts because the message didn’t include initiatives that
can guarantee a significant change of the current panorama of the economy.
During July, the parade of Wall Street companies that posted
their financial reports of the second quarter of the year was dull, without
brilliance.
Among the American companies that publicized results in the
last few days, the figures of Apple Inc. and Amazon.com didn’t satisfy the
investors. In recent quarters, both companies were two of the “stars” of Wall
Street.
Meanwhile, the confrontation between the supporters of the
former President Morsi and Egyptian military leaders threatens to spread more
blood across the Arab countries in between North Africa
and the Middle East. The toll of deaths in different
incidents is growing.
Now I
would like to share with you a series of comments posted by myself in the WSJ
Journal Community and PBS through Twitter during the last seven days about the
top news of the week.
The
comments are organized in the following sections:
- United States
- Europe
- The
World (Asia, Africa, Middle East…)
- Latin America
-
Education
-
Economy, Business, Technology.
DAT
July 28, 2013
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UNITED
STATES
Subject: The White
House fears the new violence in Egypt.
My Comment: The
Obama administration made a mistake when it supported the Muslim Brotherhood
during the beginning of the Morsi presidency. Now, the best is to take a step
to the side.
The White House cannot pretend to be involved directly in
the internal political problems of each country in the world. (2013/07/28)
Subject: For now, President Obama will not change the Federal
Reserve Chairman. Ben Bernanke will continue in his current position according
to sources linked with the current administration.
My Comment: It looks like President Obama fears Congress
will block his candidate in a key area of the government. (2013/07/26)
Subject: This is an opinion column about a new possible candidate
for mayor instead Anthony Wiener.
My Comment: This
column written by the journalist Bari Weiss makes an intriguing question: “Huma
for mayor?”
If Anthony Wiener doesn’t run for New York mayor, somebody suggests the name of Huma Abedin, his wife.
Who is Huma Abedin?
1) Huma Mahmood Abedin is an American citizen born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on July 28, 1976. When she was two years old, her family moved to Saudi Arabia. Her parents were educators.
2) Her father is Syed Zainul Abedin from India.
3) Her mother is Saleha Mahmood Abedin from Pakistan.
4) Her religion is Islam.
5) She is the wife of Anthony Wiener and she has a child with him.
6) She is member of the transition team of the former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
7) She has also a brother that some sources say that is linked with the Muslim Brotherhood. Nobody involves her with the activities of her brother.
All this information is public and you can find more details searching through the Internet.
The constituents from New York have to decide if they prefer Huma Abedin instead of Anthony Wiener or they look for somebody else… (2013/07/26) 7 Recommendations
If Anthony Wiener doesn’t run for New York mayor, somebody suggests the name of Huma Abedin, his wife.
Who is Huma Abedin?
1) Huma Mahmood Abedin is an American citizen born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on July 28, 1976. When she was two years old, her family moved to Saudi Arabia. Her parents were educators.
2) Her father is Syed Zainul Abedin from India.
3) Her mother is Saleha Mahmood Abedin from Pakistan.
4) Her religion is Islam.
5) She is the wife of Anthony Wiener and she has a child with him.
6) She is member of the transition team of the former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
7) She has also a brother that some sources say that is linked with the Muslim Brotherhood. Nobody involves her with the activities of her brother.
All this information is public and you can find more details searching through the Internet.
The constituents from New York have to decide if they prefer Huma Abedin instead of Anthony Wiener or they look for somebody else… (2013/07/26) 7 Recommendations
Subject: The U.S. Attorney General informed his Russian counterpart
that Edward Snowden will not face death penalty.
My Comment: The
letter of the US Attorney General Eric Holder to his Russian counterpart
Alexander Vladimirovich Konovalov is a new attempt to force the return of
Edward Snowden to the United States.
If Russia stops the Snowden’s asylum process, it is because they don't need more information from him. (2013/07/26) 2 Recommendations
If Russia stops the Snowden’s asylum process, it is because they don't need more information from him. (2013/07/26) 2 Recommendations
Story: Anthony Weiner Drops From First After Revelations: Poll
– Part 1
Subject: Anthony Weiner, who is running for New York’s mayor, didn’t stop his practice of sending e-mails with
“private pictures” after he was forced to resign as member of the U.S. House.
My Comment: The
politicians have to learn that the public function demands a serious behavior
and the respect for their constituents.
After the latest revelations nobody can say that Anthony Weiner acts in a respectable way in front the constituents. (2013/07/25) 3 Recommendations
After the latest revelations nobody can say that Anthony Weiner acts in a respectable way in front the constituents. (2013/07/25) 3 Recommendations
Story: Anthony Weiner Drops From First After Revelations: Poll
– Part 2
My Comment answering to another
member who asserted the behavior of Anthony Weiner would be punished if he is a
teacher: Your observation is right: “If he was a teacher, he would
be fired. If he was an officer of a large corporation, he would be fired…”
The people who plan to vote for him are people who don’t have respect for themselves and for their children. Decent parents cannot accept the mayor of the city who makes sexual insinuations to their daughter or son by the Internet. (2013/07/25) 4 Recommendations
The people who plan to vote for him are people who don’t have respect for themselves and for their children. Decent parents cannot accept the mayor of the city who makes sexual insinuations to their daughter or son by the Internet. (2013/07/25) 4 Recommendations
PBS - REPORT- AIR
DATE: July 24, 2013 - News Wrap: Waiting on Asylum, Snowden
Obtains Document to Enter Russia
Subject: Edward Snowden – the former NSA contractor - will
receive documents to leave the Moscow airport and enter Russia.
My Comment: From the beginning, my suspicion was that Russia would give asylum or immigration papers to
Edward Snowden in payment for the information that the former NSA contractor
shares with the Russian intelligence services.
In this case, asylum
is not a humanitarian initiative. It is a deal linked with the spying system of
Russia. (By TWITTER) (2013/07/25) 1 Recommendation
PBS - AIR DATE: July
24, 2013 -
Obama Calls for Long-Term Economic Plan to Help Middle Class Rebound
Subject: President Obama launches a campaign for a
long-term economic plan.
My Comment: Mr. President, since the financial collapse
of 2008/2009, we are waiting for a strong economic recovery for the country.
During the last few
years we saw only cosmetic changes. But the people who continue without job or
working for minimum wages feel tired of the continuous debate of who is guilty.
We don’t need more speeches, we need real solutions. (By TWITTER) (2013/07/25)
PBS- July
24, 2013 at 8:52 AM EDT - Anthony Weiner Comes Clean, Presses On in
Mayoral Bid - By: Christina Bellantoni
Subject: Anthony Weiner tries to make pressure in his
campaign for New
York.
My Comment: The story says that “Anthony Weiner
comes clean”. Is it possible that one politician who distributed porno through
Internet can say he is “clean”?
When a politician
commits this kind of mistake, he has to get out of the politics forever. We as
a nation have to block the political career of those who do not have basic
ethical behaviors.
The position of New York mayor is not a part of the theater world of Hollywood. (By TWITTER) (2013/07/25)
Subject: A Russian lawyer is helping Edward Snowden in the asylum
process.
My Comment: This
story says that the lawyer of the National Security Agency leaker went to the Moscow
airport with fresh shirts and pants for Edward Snowden.
I really don’t care to know how many times Mr. Snowden has changed his underwear since his arrival in Moscow, but yes I care to know how many NSA secret files he has shared with the KGB agents from the moment he arrived at the airport. (2013/07/24) 8 Recommendations
I really don’t care to know how many times Mr. Snowden has changed his underwear since his arrival in Moscow, but yes I care to know how many NSA secret files he has shared with the KGB agents from the moment he arrived at the airport. (2013/07/24) 8 Recommendations
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EUROPE
Subject: After the fatal train accident in the north of Spain, the driver didn’t answer the questions of the
investigators and the police put him in prison.
My Comment: They
don’t know the reason of the accident but they put the motorman in jail. Now,
probably they are torturing him to force a declaration of “guilty”. (2013/07/27)
My Comment: From the
first moment, the information about the train accident in Galicia,
Spain was very
confused. Possible reasons:
- Sabotage?
- Terrorism?
- A motorman with more stress than normal?
- Bad maintenance?
- System faults?
- Other faults?
- …
(2013/07/25)
Subject: The business activities are expanding again in the
euro-zone.
My Comment: It is
good that the euro-zone business activity is expanding again, but this story
only talks about the economic growth of Germany.
The euro-zone bloc is very heterogeneous. We cannot consider Germany as a sample for all the group of countries. (2013/07/24)
The euro-zone bloc is very heterogeneous. We cannot consider Germany as a sample for all the group of countries. (2013/07/24)
Story: Bulgaria Anti-Corruption Protests Turn Violent - Part 1
Subject: Anti-corruption protests against the Bulgarian government
turn violent.
My Comment: The anti-corruption protests in Bulgaria reflect the fatigue of the normal citizens
against bad practices of politicians and authorities in a country that for
decades was part of the Eastern Block associated with Russia.
If we look with a magnifying glass the government procedures
and practices of different nations of the East Europe, surely we will detect
thousands of cases of corruption because the political systems have been
changed, but the officials are the same that during the times when all these
nations were ruled by communist regimes. (2013/07/23) 1 Recommendation
Story: Bulgaria Anti-corruption Protests Turn Violent –
Part 2
My Comment answering to another
member who minimizes the anti-corruption protests of Bulgaria: Thank you for your comment. I agree that we
find cases of corruption everywhere. But
in the countries ruled by totalitarian regimes for decades, the level of
corruption is higher than the others.
Why? In the totalitarian regimes from the right-wing or left-wing, there is not a public forum where you can discuss what is right or wrong. It is not possible that the citizens act against their “leaders”. Everybody has to accept the good or bad behaviors of their bosses and leaders. In this environment, the only way to live better is through "dirty" deals. (And this is one of the rules of the corruption.)
But the problem is that when the citizens were educated by a regime with high levels of corruption, they don’t change their behaviors despite the political regimes change. (2013/07/24)
Subject: The international media follows the birth of the new heir of
the British crown – George Alexander Louis - with important headlines and long
stories.
My Comment: This is
the beginning of a new fairy tale of the United
Kingdom.
Is there nothing more important than the "Royal Baby
Boy" during the last days?
Really when we see the long stories about the birth of the
new heir of the British crown, we realize how cynical that the world is today. (2013/07/23)
3 Recommendations
My Comment answering to another
member of the Journal Community who compares the birth of the Royal Baby Boy
with the birth of Jesus Christ: According to History, Jesus Christ was
not born in a palace... But the press
enjoys talking about "babies" who come to the world with nobility
titles and all the luxury of parents who don't need to count their coins to buy
a cradle. (2013/07/23) 1 Recommendation
Subject: The EU authority acts against the “military wing” of
Hezbollah.
My Comment: The
decision to place Hezbollah’s “military wing” on the list of terrorist
organizations can generate negative reactions of the radical militants against
European targets.
Today, Muslims groups are spreading across Europe and sometimes it is very difficult to know who is who. The current environment makes it easy the infiltration of terrorist groups in a territory without borders among the countries. (2013/07/23) 1 Recommendation
Today, Muslims groups are spreading across Europe and sometimes it is very difficult to know who is who. The current environment makes it easy the infiltration of terrorist groups in a territory without borders among the countries. (2013/07/23) 1 Recommendation
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THE
WORLD (Asia, Africa, Middle East…)
My Comment: This is
the start of a civil war. (2013/07/26) 3 Recommendations
My Comment answering to another
member who feel sorry for the tourist industry related to Egypt: This news is not only bad for the tourist
industry. It is a very bad news for all the Egyptians.
Egypt is a country with rich cultural roots and a great History. Like everywhere, we can find good and bad people. No everybody is a Muslim extremist.
Egypt is a country with rich cultural roots and a great History. Like everywhere, we can find good and bad people. No everybody is a Muslim extremist.
Both groups – Morsi’s supporters and military sympathizers -
have responsibility in the killing of people because they don’t want to stop
the confrontation.
The current situation is only a good business for the terrorism industry and the makers of chaos. (2013/07/28) 3 Recommendations
The current situation is only a good business for the terrorism industry and the makers of chaos. (2013/07/28) 3 Recommendations
Subject: During the last weeks, India was news for a series of incidents that show corruption
and other problems. Now, the information says that in an accident between a bus
and truck, all the passengers of the truck – 18 people - died.
My Comment: This
news shows again the weakness of a country that wants to become one of the
powers of the world: corruption, negligence, bad transportation controls… (2013/07/23)
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LATIN AMERICA
My Comment: The speech of Pope Francis in Brazil was a good start for the new leader of the
Catholic Church.
The Pope put emphasis on social issues with a realistic attitude against corruption, poverty causes and the gap between rich and poor.
Now we have to observe if the Catholic institutions and priests follow his request of helping the millions of Brazilians who live in poverty. (2013/07/28)
My Comment: The
visit of Pope Francis to Rio de Janeiro
– according to the information available – generated a strong demonstration of
faith in the middle of a chaotic environment.
Brazil is a country with organizational and infrastructure problems, but its people are very warm and friendly. (2013/07/27) 4 Recommendations
Brazil is a country with organizational and infrastructure problems, but its people are very warm and friendly. (2013/07/27) 4 Recommendations
My Comment: Pope Francis has already started his campaign
against the Vatican’s corruption. One of the bosses of the
Vatican Bank is in jail for corruption. This was an important step in the right
direction, but of course, we have to hope he continues cleaning the Vatican institutions. (2013/07/25) 5
Recommendations
My Comment: The call
of Pope Francis to build a “more just” society implies less corruption. Could
the Brazilian government institutions understand this message? (2013/07/24) 4
Recommendations
My Comment: The
Venezuelan foreign ministry can make objections against the U.S.
ambassador to Venezuela,
but he has not right to criticize the nominee for U.S.
ambassador to United Nations.
The “United Nations” is not Venezuela.
For this reason, it was not appropriate that the Venezuelan foreign ministry
made this kind of objection
It is evident that the new Venezuelan government looks for
troubles with United States.
(2013/07/21) 1 Recommendations
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EDUCATION
Subject: In Korea – according to the story – children and teenagers go to
the school with smart-phones and generate problems in the classroom.
My Comment: The story written in Seoul about the
addiction of South Korean children and teenagers to using smart-phones is only
one of the thousands or perhaps millions of pictures that reflect the impact of
the technology in the life of the society and the changes in the normal
activities of the people: education, work, family living, vacation, and also
the sleeping habits.
Before smart-phones, the digital music players were another important addiction for the youngsters. Do you remember the revolution that iPod produced approximately ten years ago?
We understand the addition of a phone or another digital device can become a sickness, but technology always has pros and cons.
In the current state of art, the smart-phone could become a great “tool” for youngsters and adults.
Educators have to guide their students in the use of the digital devices in the right moment and in the right way. They also have to implement strict rules related to classrooms to avoid the distraction of the students and the dispersion of the learning process.
But of course, the problem is when the students are the “teachers” of their teachers in the use of technology.
And this happens because a lot of educators walk slower than the society in the adoption of the technology tools. For this reason, the educative institutions and government have the obligation to facilitate the training of teachers and the implementation of new educational plans that include smart-phones and other devices in the educative environment.
Definitively, education cannot walk at a slower step than society in technology adoption. In other case, conflicts emerge... (2013/07/28)
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ECONOMY,
BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY
Story: Dell Founder Vows to Stay On
Subject: Again Michael Dell affirmed that he wants to continue as a
head of the company after the buyout.
My Comment: From the
beginning of the buyout negotiation, Michael Dell expressed his decision to
continue leading the company he founded. And this is one of the factors that
make difficult any deal. (2013/07/28)
Story: Demand Woes Bite Apple
Subject: Apple posted financial results with mixed figures.
My Comment: When a
company comes from glorious times, it is not easy to evaluate its difficulties
to continue growing.
Apple posted the financial results for its fiscal 2013 third quarter ended June 29, 2013 with revenues of $35.3 billion and a net profit of $6.9 billion. A year ago, it posted revenues of 35 billion and a net profit of $8.8 billion. Its revenues grew 1% and its net income declined 21%.
In the last quarter, Apple sold 31.2 million iPhones and 14.6 million iPads. A year ago, it sold 26 million iPhones and 17 million iPads. The iPhone sales were a new record, but it sold 2.4 million less iPads.
In summary, the last quarter was not a brilliant moment for Apple. (2013/07/28)
Apple posted the financial results for its fiscal 2013 third quarter ended June 29, 2013 with revenues of $35.3 billion and a net profit of $6.9 billion. A year ago, it posted revenues of 35 billion and a net profit of $8.8 billion. Its revenues grew 1% and its net income declined 21%.
In the last quarter, Apple sold 31.2 million iPhones and 14.6 million iPads. A year ago, it sold 26 million iPhones and 17 million iPads. The iPhone sales were a new record, but it sold 2.4 million less iPads.
In summary, the last quarter was not a brilliant moment for Apple. (2013/07/28)
Subject: EU authorities want to end the farm subsidization.
My Comment: The news
says that the Breton chicken farmers fear their extinction due to the European
Union will eliminate export subsidies for frozen chickens.
The subsidization of some segments of the economy has to be used as a tool for the development of new business. It never has to support a business that has not the potential to grow because this implies higher taxes for others.
Instead of crying, the French chicken farmers have to find the way to continue growing without government help. (2013/07/26) 1 Recommendation
The subsidization of some segments of the economy has to be used as a tool for the development of new business. It never has to support a business that has not the potential to grow because this implies higher taxes for others.
Instead of crying, the French chicken farmers have to find the way to continue growing without government help. (2013/07/26) 1 Recommendation
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SOURCES:
1)
External Sources: Wall
Street Journal, The New York Times and PBS NewsHour, Apple News Releases about
its financial results.
2)
Own Sources: My
own research for previous publishing projects: TTT of Comlab Corp, Spanish
English Club online.
Website: http://world-rethink.blogspot.de/
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