WEEKLY BLOG COMMENTS
DATES:
2013/09/01 – 2013/09/08
ANALYST:
Domingo Trassens
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Dear
Friends:
September
2013 began with bad news about the last events in the Syrian civil war. The
suspicion that the Assad regime used chemical weapons against its own
population generated a serious international crisis.
U.S. suggested a severe punishment
against Syria through an air strike and
Secretary of State John Kerry traveled across the world in a strong campaign
looking for the support of other countries.
Debates
and diverse comments from international leaders generated pages of information.
A new possible military campaign in the Middle East was the main subject of the
bloggers in the Internet during this week.
In other
important news, Microsoft announced the acquisition of the mobile phone
business of the Finnish Nokia. This news pushed different speculations about
the future of Microsoft and the designation of a new CEO who will take the
vacancy produced by the retirement of Steve Ballmer.
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
- Crime
-
Education
- Health
- Sport
- Economy,
Business, Technology.
DAT
September 8, 2013
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UNITED
STATES
Subject: U.S, Secretary of State John Kerry meets European leaders
and receives new support for Syria strike.
My Comment: The news
says that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is building a military alliance to
take action in Syria
and the number of countries ready to fight has reached “double digits”.
Two observations:
- Probably, some of the small European allies will only provide small groups of soldiers or technical assistants without equipment and experience in chemical wars.
- The Obama/Kerry’s Campaign resembles the Crusades of the Middle Ages against the Muslims for the control of the Holy Land. History shows that this kind of alliances ends in failure. (2013/09/08)
Two observations:
- Probably, some of the small European allies will only provide small groups of soldiers or technical assistants without equipment and experience in chemical wars.
- The Obama/Kerry’s Campaign resembles the Crusades of the Middle Ages against the Muslims for the control of the Holy Land. History shows that this kind of alliances ends in failure. (2013/09/08)
PBS - Interview:
Rep. Alan Grayson: U.S. Has to Stop Focusing on Sending a Message on
Syria
Subject: PBS-NewsHour talks with different
members of Congress asking for the possible support for a Syria
strike. In one of these
interviews, Rep. Alan Grayson from Florida showed opposition to President Obama
initiative with this statement: "It's not our responsibility to act
unilaterally." Also he said that a strike will be expensive, dangerous and
wouldn't prevent future chemical weapon use.
My Comment: Rep. Alan Grayson – according to the
NewsHour's interview – said that: “It’s not our responsibility to act
unilaterally” attacking Syria to punish it for the chemical weapon use.
We would like to add
that unilateral punishment attacks against other countries normally generate
reprisals.
In brief, we will
not stop the Syrian civil war but probably we will suffer more
“Benghazi-attacks”. (By TWITTER) (2013/09/07) 1 Recommendation
Subject: After the speech of President Obama in the G-20 meeting, 10
nations backed a “strong” response on Syria.
My Comment: Really, the Peace Nobel Prize
winner didn’t receive complete solidarity from his supporters.
According
to previous reports, the UK Parliament said: “No” and the Italian Prime
Minister expressed concerns in public about the attack on Syria. This implies that support is
limited. (2013/09/06) 14 Recommendations
PBS - UPDATE AIR DATE: Sept. 4, 2013 - Arguing World Credibility at Stake, Obama
Seeks Support for Syria Strike Abroad
Subject: President Obama seeks international support
for Syria strike.
My Comment: President Obama
persists in his new goal without caring if the UN or U.S. Congress will support
him. He is not acting as a Peace Nobel Prize winner; he acts as the God of War.
He wants
to punish President al-Assad for the use of gas against his own population, but
probably, a bombing attack against Syrian targets will kill more civilians. (By TWITTER) (2013/09/06)
PBS -
CONVERSATION - AIR DATE: Sept. 4, 2013 - Sen. Deb Fischer: Obama Needs to Make Case
for Strike to 'War-Wise' Americans
Subject: PBS-NewsHour
interviewed Senator Deb Fisher in relation to the Syria strike. The Republican Senator for Nebraska questioned why the
U.S. is choosing to react to chemical
weapon use now when according to some sources the Syrian regime used gas before
in different opportunities.
My Comment: The position of
Senator Deb Fisher, Republican from Nebraska, about the possible attack on Syria is right.
She
wants President Obama to define the framework and goals of the attack. Also she
shows doubts about in what way the Russians will react.
We can determine the
start of war, but it is very difficult to know in advance when it will end and
in what way. (By TWITTER) (2013/09/05) 3 Recommendations
My Comment answering to a
Journal Community member who says that President Putin never cooperates:
NNN: Thank you for perspective about the relationships between Presidents Obama
and Putin.
However, I would like to remark that in diplomacy there are styles that make easier the relationships between rivals or enemies, and sometimes help to reduce big gaps.
However, I would like to remark that in diplomacy there are styles that make easier the relationships between rivals or enemies, and sometimes help to reduce big gaps.
If President Obama didn't schedule a short only "diplomatic Hello" with Mr. Putin in St. Petersburg, it doesn't look well that he will use the Russian territory to have official meetings with Abe, Xi and Hollande.
With difficult personalities like President Putin, you always have to act like a “macho” and use each opportunity you have to say to him: "Here I am!" (2013/09/04) 4 Recommendations
Subject: Before G-20, President Obama didn’t set a meeting with
President Putin, while he appointed personal meetings with Abe, Xi and
Hollande.
My Comment: It
doesn’t look well that President Obama will have bilateral meetings with a
series of guests at the summit meeting in St. Petersburg,
Russia, but he has not
scheduled a personal talk with the host, President Putin.
This attitude of the President Obama reflects fears that no American President has to show in front the observers of the world. (2013/09/04) 9 Recommendations
This attitude of the President Obama reflects fears that no American President has to show in front the observers of the world. (2013/09/04) 9 Recommendations
Subject: Some key Republican lawmakers back President Obama on Syria strike.
My Comment: Irony!
Now President Obama needs House Speaker John Boehner and Senators John McCain
and Lindsey Graham as allies. (2013/09/03) 4 Recommendations
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EUROPE
Subject: President Putin said that he continues giving aid to Syrian
President al-Assad.
My Comment: Russian
President Putin made his case about Syria
in the environment of the G-20 conference showing a different picture from the
John Kerry accusation against al-Assad regime.
Probably, from both sides they are using chemical-weapons. We cannot trust the rebels supported by al-Qaeda militants. And till now, nobody explained if all the gas depots remain under the control of the Syrian military.
Probably, from both sides they are using chemical-weapons. We cannot trust the rebels supported by al-Qaeda militants. And till now, nobody explained if all the gas depots remain under the control of the Syrian military.
Meanwhile, all that we know about the Syrian civil war is very confused. Nobody can guarantee that a bombing attack on special targets will help to stop the use of chemical-weapons in the future. If Russia continues helping President al-Assad, the current Syrian will survive a limited military intervention by foreign countries. (2013/09/06)
Subject: President Putin warns West against attacking Syria without proof it had used chemical weapons against Syrian
civilians.
My Comment: The
possible attack on Syria
will help Mr. Putin to sell more weapons in the Middle East.
(2013/09/05)
Subject: French President presses members of G-20 to denounce
President al-Assad for the use of nerve gas.
My Comment: In the
heart of French President Hollande is growing a new “Napoleon”… (2013/09/05) 1 Recommendation
Subject: Catalan Separatists made a big demonstration to force the
independence of Catalonia.
My Comment: The 400-kilometer human chain
around Catalonia by the Catalan Separatists is another stupid move people
who didn’t learn their History’s lesson.
Instead to create a new independent state with more bureaucracy and inefficient government officials, the Catalans have to work together with the other Spanish regions to recreate Spain as a strong European country with low level of unemployment, solid economy and non-corrupt politicians. (2013/09/05) 1 Recommendation
Subject: French President was the first leader to use G-20 as a
forum against Syrian regime.
My Comment: G-20 is
not a forum about the Syrian war. It is a group of 20 important countries who
meet periodically to discuss finance and economic issues.
For this reason, the observations of the members of G-20 relating to the Syrian war are only opinions without a legal authority to determine actions against the al-Assad regime.
For this reason, the observations of the members of G-20 relating to the Syrian war are only opinions without a legal authority to determine actions against the al-Assad regime.
Subject: In the chancellor debate of the German TV, Angela Merkel
didn’t win the polls of the show.
My Comment: Angela
Merkel has real credentials gained through hard and continuous work as the
German leader during the most difficult European crisis after the Cold War.
From the other side, Peer Steinbrück is a politician with a
complicate personality, critical attitude and a lot of arrogance. In the start
of this political campaign, Mr. Steinbrück said that if he wins, he will
increase his wage. (2013/09/02)
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THE
WORLD (Asia, Africa, Middle East…)
Subject: In Indonesia, thousands of worker demonstrated for better salaries.
My Comment: Indonesia is another state of
slave-workers. We have to hope the current claim in Jakarta avoids tragedies like what we
saw during the last year in Bangladesh. (2013/09/05)
Subject: In Egypt, the Interior Minister survived an assassination attempt.
My Comment: The Egyptian Minister of Interior
was lucky but this bomb attack prevents other attempts of assassination on the
members of the current government.
It looks like the followers of former President Morsi found another way to whip the government and spread panic in the population. (2013/09/05) 1 Recommendation
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LATIN AMERICA
Subject: Brazilian President suspended a planning official visit to U.S. as complaint over NSA spying rift.
My Comment:
President Dilma Rousseff wants to show that she is angry with the United
States.
Her attitude demanding a public apology over NSA spying doesn’t help Brazil in its relationships with the North. (2013/09/05) 1 Recommendations
Her attitude demanding a public apology over NSA spying doesn’t help Brazil in its relationships with the North. (2013/09/05) 1 Recommendations
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CRIME
Subject: Ariel Castro, the rapist who held 3 Women captive for 10
years, was found dead in his cell, in prison.
My Comment: This
story about the suspected suicide of Ariel Castro in jail says that after he
was sentenced to life in prison for his crimes, he said: “I’m not a monster.
I’m sick.”
Personally, I think he was sick and also he was a monster.
We have to hope his victims can recover their life the best way possible distant from the ghost of this monster. (2013/09/04) 11 Recommendations
Personally, I think he was sick and also he was a monster.
We have to hope his victims can recover their life the best way possible distant from the ghost of this monster. (2013/09/04) 11 Recommendations
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EDUCATION
PBS –
CONVERSATION - AIR DATE: Sept. 4, 2013 - Author Argues Colleges Focus More on
Professional Training than Transformation
Subject: PBS-NewsHour interviewed Mark Edmudson,
author of Teach?: In Defense of a Real Education”, about the
transformation of the higher education and the new role of the college.
My Comment: The PBS-NewsHour interview to Mark
Edmundson, author of “Why Teach?: In Defense of a Real Education”, offers an
interesting analysis of the current transformation of the higher education and
the crisis of the University with “U”.
In the past, the
university was a center of studies for the high principles of the sciences and
humanities, where only a select group of students and professors worked
together without a measure of time in the search of the Truth.
Today
the colleges are the “factories” of a new generation of professionals who only
pursue specific knowledge and skills plus a certification to jump fast into the
job market.
The new
criteria applied in the college education are killing the classic university
and the advanced studies of sciences and humanities. But who cares? Only a
small group of educators and their disciples continue walking through the
academic path of higher education. The rest has to run fast looking for
a job that gives them the possibility to pay their educational loan while they
grow in the sphere of the professional world. (By
TWITTER) (2013/09/08) 3 Recommendations
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HEALTH
Subject: IBM announced that it is cutting the special health plan of
the company for the retirees because it cannot afford the high cost of the new
health care plans.
My Comment: Here we see a consequence of the
"shakeup" generated by the Obama Health Care Plan.
Frequently, apparent “good political initiatives” create new problems for the normal people.
Always retirees and elders are the most vulnerable to the cost increases of health care. (2013/09/07) 2 Recommendations
Subject: Special medical research says the nap is healthy for the
human body.
My Comment: A short nap when you feel tired
helps to refresh the mind and gives physical power to continue normal activities.
If the nap is longer than 30 minutes or 1 hour, after that you need time to re-start your activities. (2013/09/07) 1 Recommendation
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SPORT
Subject: After different speculations Tokyo was chosen to Host 2020 Summer Olympics winning to Madrid and Istambul, the other two finalists.
My Comment:
Congratulations Tokyo! I wish you
the best of success as Host 2020 Summer Olympics.
Also, I expect that you use this great world event to apologize for all the horrible crimes that your Imperial Army committed in the past.
The Earth planet needs a new generation of human beings with the willpower to amend the mistakes of their ancestors and the capacity to build peaceful communities for the future. (2013/09/08)
Also, I expect that you use this great world event to apologize for all the horrible crimes that your Imperial Army committed in the past.
The Earth planet needs a new generation of human beings with the willpower to amend the mistakes of their ancestors and the capacity to build peaceful communities for the future. (2013/09/08)
My Comment answering to another
Journal Community member who suggested Kabul as host of the 2020 Olympics: Kabul
is the worse place than any other city because it has no infrastructure, its
government is terribly corrupt, it has religious problems and it is always
threatened by the Taliban.
The Taliban militants don’t understand about the respect for other cultures and human behaviors. (2013/09/07)
Subject: Swimmer Diana Nyad completed swim from Cuba to Florida.
My Comment: Congratulations Diana
Nyad! It is really great that you made history by completing the first
"unprotected" swim from Cuba
to Florida.
With your action you are showing to the world that people older than 60 with resolution can achieve difficult goals. (2013/09/03)
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ECONOMY,
BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY
Subject: The U.S. Job Report from August showed less new jobs than
previous expectations.
My Comment: The Job
Report from August - 169,000 new jobs - shows the economic engine of the
country doesn’t have power to speed up.
The news from Syria, Egypt, Russia and the NSA case maintain the people with their mind on other subjects. For this reason, we don’t hear big complaints. (2013/09/08)
The news from Syria, Egypt, Russia and the NSA case maintain the people with their mind on other subjects. For this reason, we don’t hear big complaints. (2013/09/08)
Subject: German car maker VW tries to reduce costs in the
manufacturing of cars for the American market.
My Comment: Volkswagen
AG is wrong if it is replacing good materials and supplies for cheap plastics
in the American version of its famous Passat sedan with the intention of
reducing costs.
The American car drivers want solid cars. They don’t buy vehicles that fall apart. And when a brand loses customer satisfaction, it is very difficult that it recovers its market share. (2013/09/07) 4 Recommendations
The American car drivers want solid cars. They don’t buy vehicles that fall apart. And when a brand loses customer satisfaction, it is very difficult that it recovers its market share. (2013/09/07) 4 Recommendations
Subject: Korean Samsung unveiled a member of the Galaxy family of
digital gears. It is its first smart-watch.
My Comment: Samsung
tries to take the lead of innovation, but till now we don’t know what will be
the wearable devices that survive the satisfaction test of their electronic consumers.
(2013/09/05)
Subject: Some observers complain that the American telecommunication
carriers are not transparent in the phone-plan pricing to avoid competition
evaluations.
My Comment: This story talks about the
complicated plans of the services offered by the American telecommunication
carriers and ends with a comment of an editor of Consumer Reports who says: “I
don’t think it is their intention of confusing people.”
Personally, I think different. The telecommunication carriers don’t publish transparent plans because they don’t like customers who analyze the “pros and cons” of their services in a mathematical way. They want customers who pay without question. (2013/09/04)
Story: Deal Changes Nokia's Focus
Subject: After the sale of the mobile phone business to Microsoft,
Nokia will remain as a provider of telecommunication equipment.
My Comment: Nokia is
selling the phone business to Microsoft, but this is not the end of its painful
days.
In the network equipment business, Nokia will need to focus its war against Huawei Technologies.
By the way, in the fierce fight of Huawei to climb the hill of this business, the Chinese company knocked Alcatel Lucent and also created a lot of difficulties for Ericsson. (2013/09/03)
In the network equipment business, Nokia will need to focus its war against Huawei Technologies.
By the way, in the fierce fight of Huawei to climb the hill of this business, the Chinese company knocked Alcatel Lucent and also created a lot of difficulties for Ericsson. (2013/09/03)
Subject: Some rumors say that Stephen Elop, Nokia CEO, is a
potential next Microsoft CEO.
My Comment: Stephen
Elop didn’t have success as Chief Executive of Nokia. Practically, he is
returning to Microsoft without the glory of a winner
Who can guarantee that he will reinvent Microsoft? Nobody!
From my humble perspective, an executive like Mr. Elop will be another nail in the coffin of Microsoft’s business. (2013/09/03) 4 Recommendations
From my humble perspective, an executive like Mr. Elop will be another nail in the coffin of Microsoft’s business. (2013/09/03) 4 Recommendations
Subject: Microsoft acquire Nokia cell-phone business in a $7 billion
deal.
My Comment: The
acquisition of the Nokia’s core cell-phone business by Microsoft looks like the
last “stupidity” of Steve Ballmer as the CEO of the software company, but
perhaps it is his “master decision”.
Five years ago, before the strong advance of Android and Apple iPhone, a merger between Microsoft and Nokia could be great.
Today, this acquisition looks like a late decision because Nokia is a “depressed company” a Microsoft never was till now a good “psychiatrist” of enterprises with problems.
We have to see if the Ballmer’s assistants find the way to implement a good merger with benefits for everybody and the Microsoft’s customers put in the trash their Android smart-phones. If all this happens, it will be a big battle between Microsoft and Google. (2013/09/03) 1 Recommendation
Five years ago, before the strong advance of Android and Apple iPhone, a merger between Microsoft and Nokia could be great.
Today, this acquisition looks like a late decision because Nokia is a “depressed company” a Microsoft never was till now a good “psychiatrist” of enterprises with problems.
We have to see if the Ballmer’s assistants find the way to implement a good merger with benefits for everybody and the Microsoft’s customers put in the trash their Android smart-phones. If all this happens, it will be a big battle between Microsoft and Google. (2013/09/03) 1 Recommendation
My Comment: Donald, I like your sarcasm, but
the Finnish people have also special saunas to relax the body and the “brains”.
This could help to dream better ideas and create new software. (2013/09/03)
1 Recommendation
My Comment: Barrie,
you are right. Microsoft has missed the boat a long time ago.
When Bill Gates began his evangelistic campaign of the first generation of Windows, his "apostles" traveled across the world saying that Windows will be the core software of the PC desktops, mobile computers, mainframes, videogames and all the digital devices including smart-phones.
But after that, they had serious problems in the implementation of Windows NT in big servers. And Microsoft never conquered the complete leadership of the niche of small devices due to Windows always has consumed a lot of memory and storage. (2013/09/03) 1 Recommendation
When Bill Gates began his evangelistic campaign of the first generation of Windows, his "apostles" traveled across the world saying that Windows will be the core software of the PC desktops, mobile computers, mainframes, videogames and all the digital devices including smart-phones.
But after that, they had serious problems in the implementation of Windows NT in big servers. And Microsoft never conquered the complete leadership of the niche of small devices due to Windows always has consumed a lot of memory and storage. (2013/09/03) 1 Recommendation
My Comment: Peugeot
continues posting bad news. Its last financial results reflected very poor
figures. (2013/09/02)
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SOURCES:
1)
External Sources: Wall
Street Journal, The New York Times and PBS NewsHour
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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