NO WHERE TO HIDE

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BREAKING NEWS Thursday, September 5, 2013 3:05 PM EDT

N.S.A. Foils Much Internet Encryption The National Security Agency is winning its long-running secret war on encryption, using supercomputers, technical trickery, court orders and behind-the-scenes persuasion to undermine the major tools protecting the privacy of everyday communications in the Internet age, according to newly disclosed documents. The agency has circumvented or cracked much of the encryption, or digital scrambling, that guards global commerce and banking systems, protects sensitive data like trade secrets and medical records, and automatically secures the e-mails, Web searches, Internet chats and phone calls of Americans and others around the world, the documents show. Many users assume — or have been assured by Internet companies — that their data is safe from prying eyes, including those of the government, and the N.S.A. wants to keep it that way. The agency treats its recent successes in deciphering protected information as among its most closely guarded secrets, restricted to those cleared for a highly classified program code-named Bullrun, according to the documents, provided by Edward J. Snowden, the former N.S.A. contractor. READ MORE » http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/us/nsa-foils-much-internet-encryption.html?emc=edit_na_20130905

The Universe - The Milky Way - History Channel

The Universe in 3D: Planet & Star Size Comparison

Career Goals

I haven’t thought of my career goal until when this question hit me in the face. I do have plans to be successful in life, but I still don’t know how. I have been a good student, hardworking, motivated and humble. In life we are always learning something new. I believe education is the key to be successful. The only problem is that most of the successful people we know so far haven’t really completed their education. Good examples are Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs who are school dropped outs. Career goal is always a journey which people need to go through step by step to reach the level of their satisfaction.

My career goal is to be an Actuary. I have been working towards that goal, and by majoring my bachelor degree in Actuarial Science here at Baruch college. The career requires intensive math and finance courses that will lead to careers into insurance field / Stock and bond markets or to financial institutions. I do love math and I enjoy struggling with such a career.

Everybody has expectations of what their life will consist of in the future. My career is very important to me. I hope to set my occupational and educational goals and not have to ever look back or think of starting over. A dream job is something that I want to strive for and put all my time and energy into. I would hate to begin an occupation and then five years down the road decide that it’s not right for me. I approach life now, after a year has gone by, with a new outlook. There is a time and place in life for everything.

Academically, I will continue to strive to put forth all of my effort into my classes. I will challenge myself, and work hard at what does not come easy. My goal is to do the best I can and to have fun as I do it. I will focus more on my career decisions than my drives and passions. Gaining support from my wonderful family has helped a lot. Their encouragement has kept me strong through the hard times and good times. I do remember times when I almost reached a point of giving up, or thinking why am I in school; while there are people who are working without a degree. It was stressful and depressing sometimes. Then over time I learned that even those who are in Management/ CEO ladder had to go through that. It is all about dedication and determinations to fight through until reach that goal.

Goals are meant to be worth fighting for. Just like basketball players, wrestlers, football players, or soccer players fight to win for their team and themselves. A career goal is meant to be worth fighting for one self, a team, or a cause. Each of us has priorities of how our careers should be defined to us. Some want a career for financial security, others want a career for titles, and we have others who go for a career out of choose not having any other options to run to. Therefore, career goals can be ones destiny and is not easily to be discussed in certainty.

My career Goal will be well defined when I am done with my highest level of education.  I will focus on what I love and invest all my efforts in it by planning, organizing myself and putting in place execution roadmap.  In doing so I will definitely succeed because I believe all successful people do what they love and invest all efforts in it.  Those who have great education they become world leaders or global business leaders.  It is about having adequate knowledge and doing what you love while keeping your focus until it is done.  I came to realize that even Bill Gates and late Steve had private tuition to improve their understanding on what they love to do.  The history shows that both of them believed in themselves that they will succeed, win and kept on trying harder even when they failed in the process they never gave up.  They found out the cause of their failure and corrected it.  Such characters are rare and that is why they are global leaders no one can dispute them.  The same apply to Braxton of Virgin Atlantic Airways, and Warren Buffet etc.  They employ the best brains in the world, compensate them properly, and focus on what they want to achieve to be of a high standard in the market.

Would you be a person of this character? It is based on how consistent and resilient you can be.  Money is an outcome of ones efforts and not the key driver.

Sandy got Real!!!

HARRICANE SANDY EXPERIENCE

Is either one was opening the eyes to blind men. Sandy news was ignored by majority after Irene not bringing any large effect.  I heard the news about the coming hurricane Sandy since Friday October 19^th, but I paid no attention like everybody else. The last time I remembered we were told about Hurricane Irene which did very little damage.

 In my experience, living in Roosevelt Island, on Tuesday, the day of the Hurricane, I started getting scared. Over a suddenly everything got real. We are living on a top floor apartment building, 15th floor so at least that was not so scary. But by Wednesday 4:30 pm evening of October 24^th the water of the East River were flooded and passed the fence on the river walk side. Nearly 1/3 of the Island tip was already under water seen in a video taken by some stubborn people who were still outside try to make sure that Hurricane Sandy was real. In Roosevelt Island we have only 3 ways to exit the Island: if one is driving there is only one Way Bridge leading to Queens Borough which got closed, or by taking the F train, and by using the Tram (an airbus). Now keep in mind I told you we are living in an Island, so my biggest fear was to be stuck in it and not finding any route of escape. Trains got closed by 7pm and the tram too, the bridge was already closed earlier that day.

Thanks lord our electricity didn't get shut down, but all our elevators were shut down. It prevented curious people like me to go out and try to swim in the flooded water as if I am swimming in a river in Africa.
            My family didn't worry much. We were already told we are on the safe zone, so it was more of hearing the wind noise and trees branches falling outside and listening to any popping emergency news from the TV.
          That night we couldn't sleep at all. We prayed that God protect his people, because we knew power of nature sometimes is stronger than any human intelligence.
         News was getting scarier; people living in Far Rocker way, and New Jersey were highly affected by Sandy. My dad started making calling to friends and coworkers to make sure they are safe. My mom did the same, and as you know I wouldn't get to call my entire bunch of friends, so I was constantly on my Facebook and texting people.  
          The next morning transportation system was still closed due to the damage of Sandy, so people got to stay home from work and school. Yes it was a happy day for us. My family and I got to create our own vacation at home. Well I don't remember the last weekday like Wednesday having my dad, mom and everybody home for lunch if it wasn't a big holiday like Christmas. We used those days of to watch movies on Netflix, catch up with some school work, and basically chill indoor.
           After such experience I believe we have learned a lesson. My suggestion is to improve the underground transportation system so that we don't face such damage again that costed NYC MTA a lot of money to remove the flooded water. Also the city should build a better drainage system that allows water to go underground that being flooded on the streets or to people's house.
I would say Mayor Bloomberg and his team did a lot of work during and after the Sandy, so I will not question much about their effort as the city government.
           To conclude, as I said before, "nature is stronger than human intelligence." therefore is the responsibility of us all to cooperate and work together to save and help others during such natural disasters.

The Tip of Roosevelt Island all underwater. For those who have been at the Light house you will understand how deep this water could be.

TANZANIA ECONOMIC REPORT

United Republic of Tanzania has main capital in Dodoma, which is the middle state in Tanzania. The currency used in Tanzania is called Tanzanian shillings, and the main language is Kiswahili, and English. The population of Tanzania is 37,849,133 within 945,087 km² which can be approximated as the size of Texas State in US. The GDP per capita is 723 in terms of PPP of US$, and a labor force of 24.06 million ranking it 27th highest labor force in the world.

The economy in Tanzania depends highly on agriculture which in other words they call it “kilimo uti wa mgongo” the Swahili phrase for “Agriculture is the backbone of the economy”. In Tanzania agriculture counts more than 25% of the GPD, provides 85% of exports, and employs 80% of the work force. The government has also increased its spending to 7% of its budget to agriculture. Despite the fact that Tanzania is located just south below the equatorial 0⁰latitude below Kenya where the heat of the sun is to the extreme, but the best arable land around the Kilimanjaro mountain is best for coffee and sisal. The topography and climate condition however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the plantation areas.

It is obvious that Tanzanian major exports will be based on agriculture which is tobacco, coffee, cotton, cashewnuts, tea, and cloves. Other exports include gold, diamond, Tanzanite, (the only mineral mined in Tanzania and not found anywhere else in the world), and manufacture goods. In 2011 there was a total of $7 billion external income on export. Tanzanian main export partners are China 14.2%,  India 9.1%, Japan 7.7%, United Arab Emirates 5.7%, Netherlands 5.5%, Germany 5.1%, and Pakistan 3.1% data from 2011. In this partnership one would see an influence on payment due to technological degrade in Tanzania, most of these partner countries have a huge influence in Tanzanian industries, which deprive the amount of money earned within the exporting sector.

Tanzania is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa such that GDP growth in 2009 to 2011 was a suitable 6% per year due to high gold prices and increased production. It is a promising economy among other African countries, and being ranked number 43 in the world fact book. The industry sector is counting 22.6% of the country GDP.  The industry has mainly establish itself on agricultural processing such as sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine; mining diamonds, gold, and iron, salt, soda ash; cement, oil refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer. The industrial growth rate in 2012 is 7%

The exchange rate in Tanzania is 1571.1 T-shilling to a dollar from 2011. During 2011 also Tanzania experienced a shock on the supply side from higher global price of fuel and regional draught. GDP growth of the first half 2011/2012 was unchanged from 2010/2011 of 6.5%.

Thus, Tanzania as any other blessed country with tremendous natural resources could have been doing better in its GDP, if there were no double standards. “We both knew that the U.S. Treasury and state departments, in collaboration with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund purport to help Third World countries pull out of recession however, they actually accomplish the reverse.” One might wonder how is that even possible, if countries in Africa, East Asia, and South America receiving all those aid, and funds from these big UN organizations which meant to revive them from poverty; instead  those massive loans invested into heavily capitalized infrastructure projects, combined with privatization, do alleviate poverty. But, while those loans and projects appeared good on paper, showing that these countries receiving them enjoyed economic growth, the part that was not disclosed was that paying off the interest meant diverting funds from education, health care, and other social services. Sad news is the heavy debts drove more and more people of these third world countries into poverty and widening the gap between rich and poor.

Great news is the government has woke up to educate its citizens especially women and orphans who most of the time live in high dependency due to illiteracy. The literacy percentage has been curving up since 2002 and even government has been accepting donations, sponsors or scholarship for the best performing students to go study abroad. As of 2012, Tanzania has a great percentage of students studying in India medicine, Malaysia and in UK.

Countries with high population growth rate tend to be poor. It is a great relieve to find out that Tanzania has been working hard to the declining of its population growth rate since 2000 and it is only working out to help reduce the economic burden through decline in birth rate from 40.17% in 2000 to 31.81% in 2012. Tanzania average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country  has been mainly affected by the neighbor countries such as Congo, Rwanda and Burundi immigrants who seek refuge.

Therefore, I would like to conclude by saying that Tanzania has higher chances and I am very positive it will be among the highly developed countries 50 years to come. This country is on the escalator of developing, and is doing this through decreasing it’s population growth rate such that since  year 2000 which was 2.56% to 2% in 2011 and  now being 1.96% in 2012. It is also improving in terms of the Real GDP growth rate from 5.2% year 2000 to 6.7% in 2012. The government has emphasized education and we can see improvement in the literacy level. The biggest obstacle in Tanzania is luck of energy and the government has decided to invest on coal and gas which have been found with in the country to ensure availability of electricity and help improve the country in the sector of the industrialization. Tanzania also has much to be proud of due to its great geographical location which attracts a lot of tourists to the Kilimanjaro mountain, the safaris like to Serengeti creator, we have the lake Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa, but most importantly we are the country of that has the Zanzibar Island which is just opposite to Madagascar. The Minister of Tourism has stepped higher standard to all these natural resources and making sure all the revenue to the tourism goes straight to the government and not being used illegally by local leaders through corruptions or other means.

TANZANIA REPORT

POPULATION SIZE	37,849,133	within 945,087 km2
GDP	$ 723	measured in terms of purchasing power parity during 2011
GDP per capita size	$1500	“  “
Population growth rate per year	Year 2012=1.96%	Year 2011=2%	Year 2000=2.56%
Real GDP growth rate	2011= 6.7%	2010= 6.5%	2000= 5.2%
Rate of investment of  GDP	2011 = 26.1%	2008=22.6%	2004=16.2%
Rate of saving (in percentage of GDP)	2012= 16.55%	2007 = 12.79%	2004 =16.16%
Government deficit (in percentage GDP)	2011/2012 = 34%
Government (Public) Debt Ratio	2011= 36.1%	2008=23.6%
Exports	2011=5.43%	2008=2.48%	1999=0.83%
Imports	2011= 8.65%	2008=6.26%	1999= 1.44%
Manufacturing / industrial	2010 = 7%	2008= 9.1%	1999= 8.4%
Rate of Inflation	2011= 12.7%	2008=10.3%	1999= 8.8%
Literacy rate	2003= 78.2%	2002=69.4	2003= 78.2%
GDP spent on education	2010=6.8%
Dependency ratio ( the young age 15-24 unemployed)	By 2005 =8.8% And never change
Age dependencies ration (the old)	2010 = 6.01% maximum	1960 = 4.58% minimum

Children Voice on Politics

Children voices on politics

Children were wondering how a country can have internal conflicts. Conventionally children believe a country needs another country to have a conflict and not otherwise.

These voices of children shows how we are losing our wisdom, because children think with simple and innocents minds which explain why a lot of things happening in this world don't make sense and they are complicated with unwise chooses. It will reach a point even a newly born baby will laugh at us.

Take a good example of Libya. Watching CNN and seeing all those news about locals fighting their 42years reigning president didn't make any sense to them. By being a ruler for 42years he must be a great person, or they might be so dummy to try fighting him now, "why now dad?"

That was a question which any grown up will have a problem trying to explain to a child. Yes! Why now

The question went like this, "Dad! They are fighting their president in a country with a war?", "Why now dad?"

Well can you tell them, well I believe there are external forces, because obviously the next question will be, "what is external forces dad?"

Can he say: well children is a long story, "During his 42-year reign, Gaddafi championed Pan-Africanism and African multiculturalism both at home and abroad. He embraced all the black Libyans who make up a quarter of the population together with the one million African migrant workers into Libya without prejudice.", but he had his bad leadership too. 

Will they buy such explanations?

 Maybe, Can you explain why there is involvement of USA in Syria, what about Somalia, Congo, Iran etc?

Can any grown up really answer a reasonable answer to these children which will make any sense and won't lead to further questions of why?

Why Women Like to be Skinny

       
 There are many questions which rise while thinking of being skinny.  Some of those question which can rise, is when was the last time a woman looked herself in the mirror? Did she accept her self or she thought she is chubby and she needs to lose weight?

Scientific studies indicate that this dissatisfaction and preoccupation with one's body size and shape has increased dramatically over the past several decades. "People today are far more critical of themselves for not attaining the right weight and look ... appearance, good looks, and fitness are now the meaning of one's social worth," says psychologist Judith Rodin in her book Breaking the Body Trap. In addition, a Psychology Today survey found that not liking one's body depends largely on weight. Fifty-four percent of young women ages 13 to 19 and 41 percent of young men in the same age group say they do not like their bodies because of what hey weigh.

Nearly two thirds of Americans are overweight and nearly one in six worldwide carries excess weight, our weight-obsessed western culture has very little tolerance for plus size people.  Regardless of their education, credentials, or personality, overweight men and women are treated with less respect, date less frequently, and are often paid less than their smaller-sized counterparts – and it can all take a big toll on their self-confidence. (http://www.fashionforrealwomen.com/plussize/: Diana Pemberton.)

Should people mind their body size in order to fit on their out fit? This is the question which many people get confused but the result comes depend on the society and the way it interpret things. One of the good examples is a girl who went to school, and since she was plump. She experienced hard times and so she hard to try her best to lose weight and become skinny like other girls. Jill Persia said, ‘’ I was convinced that if only I were skinner, magical things would happen my brother would stop calling me ‘’cow’’, and I would get a boyfriend.’’

People try to loose weight because societies force them into not accepting themselves. It's getting harder and harder to find clothes that recognize the fact that one has a waistline. And I do think most women do, as much as our weight-obsessed culture might suggest otherwise. When one got Ethics Girl's problem she has a hard time gaining weight but an easy time losing it. What's strange is the resentment she often comes across from other women and girls. I don't think one has led a charmed life simply because she is a size 0. Dressing is one of the important in people’s life. Nearly everybody in the world care what kind of clothes they put on and how they present themselves in the public.

Being in a society which makes being slim is the way women should look has lead to wrong impression to women who are healthy or chubby. Different kind of actions are being taken by people to be in shape, much more women take even plastic surgery in order to maintain their body shape, like breast surgery was taken by Beyonce so that she could revel her body features while performing on stage.
Women also tend to loose their slim body features after give birth and having kids. Some women who are mothers do not recover back and end up with big belly and chubby even after delivery

Does anyone ever think about how the overload of these images in the media affects the average woman? Well, for most women it doesn't exactly have a positive effect. In fact, the idea of the media's (and consequently, everybody else's) "ideal" woman often makes "normal" woman self-conscious -- even if they have nothing to be self-conscious about. (http://www.hilary.com/fashion/bikini.htmlHilary fashion by Hilary Rowland)

Part of the beauty of humanity is the variance: the fact that we are not all one size, one color, one height, one weight, one shape, one ethnicity, one religion, one set of abilities, one opinion, one set of tastes, one style, one outlook. To really see our value as people, we have to value other people, whether or not they are the same as we are in any of these categories. It is our diversity that makes us amazing. (Brilliant mind broken body; by Danlos Syndrome).

Tips about losing weight is everywhere around the net and make women go crazy in America. Every single day the advertisements talks about slim fast, losing weight, and even many shows try to impress people losing weight as party of being accepted in the society. Gyms are everywhere country wide and people are willing to pay for gym or buying their own working =out machine at home. It doesn’t mean that people should not be healthy but the idea it self of making people losing weight is not right because their people who look good when they are little bit chubby and not good when they are skinny.

Women spent more than their time talking and discussing about their body features in the salon at the mall since even the percentage of  time spent by America shopping is more that 50%. Looking good is one of the common behavior to any ideal woman who want to look strong and beautiful. Cathy Lu once said, ‘’ you are at the mall when you spot the perfect dress in a store window. But does it look good on you? You don’t even have to shimmy out of what you are wearing. A full size of the dress flashes on an especial mirror.
Living healthy is a decision which one can make, time after time. It might be hard at the beginning but it gets simple day after day if one keeps on making better decisions. Good nutrition is important for everyone-especially active women.  The time has come for women to stop judging and begin appreciating their bodies in order to rise a new generation of women who can focus on becoming healthy rather than losing weight at any cost.

So it stands to reason that if you move beyond your weight, so will everyone else.  If you wear clothes that flatter your body and draw attention your face, that’s where people will look.  If you use some sleight-of-hand tricks that make you look taller and trimmer, people will think you are taller and trimmer.  If your apparel fits well and is perfectly acceptable for the situation, people will find you perfectly acceptable, and get right down to business. A small size is no guarantee of success and happiness in life; good skills, self-confidence, and a polished appearance can often take you much further.

Everywhere when one looks in the media the women that symbolize beauty are small. Does being beautiful in America mean one have to wear a size 0? In the 1950’s beauty was about being healthy and looking healthy. Marilyn Monroe was between a size 12 and 14 ( www.womanisme.com: by Bridgette Jean) Today the media is teaching young girls that one looks best at a size 0 and that  starving oneself to become thin is ok. It has been made within society that if you are anything over a size 6 you are fat.  Some time ago, Star magazine published a story about Beyonce being a size 12. The media went ballistic. People were saying everything from, “I couldn’t believe Beyonce was that big!” or “That is just an outright lie!” This is why there have been reports of young runway models that have died, because they starved themselves in order to look perfect for a fashion show. A question come when one think, why can’t Americans just be happy with their bodies that were given? The average American woman actually wears a size 12. Being healthy should always be a woman’s main goal in maintaining her weight. This means people should learn to love their bodies which were given and focus on weight loss as a goal to being healthy not skinny.

What a lot of the world does not seem to realize is that thin people get picked on just as much as people who are overweight get picked on. Thin people are being discriminated against more and more and the people doing it are thinking it is okay. Thin people get name such as being called anorexic thin. Some of the thin people tends to get annoyed of having comments made about them if they go to the bathroom after eating a meal. Many thin people are tired of being told to eat more after they just finished off a huge meal. The world is making such a huge effort to make over weight people feel more accepted and appreciated by society, that in doing so they're making the skinny people feel abnormal. (www.helium.com)
Being skinny is not easy, and sometimes it can be downright irritating. So next time one see a particularly thin person munching or eating on a hamburger, please refrain from asking them why they have that body type. Let's stop working on making just one type of person feel appreciated, and instead embrace all the sizes and shapes people come in.
                 
 By saying American women we are not only talking about Caucasian women but also all the other women of different cultures who are in this country. Unlike the old United States, the new one has people from almost all origins of the world. The unfortunate thing is that all these people including women when they come to this country; they are all under the pressure to fit in their new communities. Sadly enough this pressure is sometimes more for women than for men. Being that the country was first dominated by white people, with their women being built in slimmer structures, it was hard for the new African women with fuller shapes or the Latino women with heavy bodies and so on to adjust themselves to this new culture they were coming to.

Women from different ethnic backgrounds found themselves having to change how they looked to fit into clothes that were tailored to white women’s shapes and not for the fuller heavier Brazilian, African, Indian or Latino woman. These women being mother and teachers made sure to teach their girls to be slimmer from when they were young so that the do not go through what they went through when they were coming into the country; also because these parents do not want their children to be teased of being fat. Therefore without knowing it we have a nation of women who are already too skinny or trying to be skinny, and those who are not are busy hating themselves because they think they ugly. Apparently anything above a size 2 is being Fat.

Another major issue that makes American women to want to be skinny would be gender issues. We have long known how the male and female genders influence each other. Just like the way we know generic things like a man needs to be masculine, ready to go to war at any point or to lift things because that is what a man is, and they are supposed to be the stronger ones physically among the two genders. The same way we know that women are supposed to be the weaker ones, always needing help from men, and generally just smaller.

Therefore gender constructions in our country have made the man to want to be and look bigger and bigger and consequently the woman to want to be smaller and smaller in order for her to be more feminine. Forgetting the most important thing that people are what they are and not what they look.

By: Leiat Lovell 

Modified by Lulu Mero

Adversity in Life

People who are facing adversity and even some people who are poor are often considered as being disadvantaged in life. To be known in the society the poor need to prove themselves as capable beings in order to face the world of opportunities. In the process of proving their abilities extra effort is needed in most cases especially if they are facing a challenging life of poverty. However, the society takes time to recognize efforts of poor people, and since they are poor, extraordinary efforts could help them to catch up with wealthy people. 

There are many cases of successful people who came from unrecognized societies or even poor backgrounds, but persistence and hard work have managed to pull them through. Sometimes it takes poor people to have the right attitudes so that friends or family can support and make it easier to achieve goals. In most cases I do agree that facing adversity, being poor or an outsider can actually be a key to success.

According to the article, ‘‘The Use of Adversity’’ by Malcolm Gladwell, readers can learn that life can be always much harder for poor people, but there is often a way for them to succeed. In the same article Weinberg was explained that as a poor person born in Brooklyn who made it through to be ‘‘Mr. Wall Street’’ working from a janitor to a company where he got opportunity to express his point of view without being discouraged since he was not sharing a background similar to other workers.. Such an example explains how poor people can use their outsiderness to make it through life. Malcolm also added that outsiderness gives the rich class of people or middle class people a contrary understanding of poor people by exaggerating their otherness while poor people can end up benefiting since they are already considered differently.

Eagerness and willingness to prove that poor people can do something contrary to their unfavorable life conditions can also contribute to their success. Today, it is real hard to be recognized if poor people do not have the power or resources. Resources can be anything such as money which we consider as wealth.  Sometimes human being tends to count Intelligence as a resource which people can attain. As written in New York Times the article “A hired Gun for Microsoft, In pursuit of Google,” by Miguel Helft, the story contains a good example of how poor people can archive success through eagerness and willingness or self discipline. Lu, who is from China facing poor life was well explained in person and helped to us readers have an understanding of how personal discipline of doing work and give a try can actual be a key to success. A hardworking man, Lu who receives $10 per month salary in China to a Microsoft engineering executive, has proved to readers that poor people can improve their lives in into better life or even change it to wealthy life.

Persistence in life is one of the most important aspect I believe poor people can use to become successful. There is no one is perfect and since even the poor people have their own ways to follow their dreams. Based on a blog, ‘‘7 Sure Fire Ways to develop Persistence’’ by Donald Latumahina, I was very impressed with the way he categorized seven ways to develop life persistence. Latumahina listed the seven ways to develop persistence as follows: learning the life of successful people, expecting a hard way not an easy one, don’t underestimate the amount of time required, having a big why, knowing how to handle failures, finding partners, and minimizing of stress. A good example of a person known worldwide is Oprah Winfrey whom in the past has passed through a number of challenges, yet made it to the top among the billionaires in the world. A short history of Oprah as written by Janet Mock, ‘‘Oprah Biography’’ states what kind of life Oprah has experienced in the past, and make the readers and the fans get to know her childhood which she had a lot of troubles including being sexually abused and even movements of settlement between living with her mother, father or grandmother due to family status. 

Oprah took those obstacles as challenges in one way or another she learnt how to handle her failures such as giving herself one more chance to go for her dreams to success. Oprah is such an encouragement to the poor people especially black people who are facing adversity life that now look on her as an icon to success and even sometimes using her guidance through her media shows.

To conclude, I do believe that facing adversity, being poor, or being an outsider can actually be the key to success. Examples of some of famous people who show readers that they started with struggling poor life from their some point in life, but they managed to make it through life; encourage readers and even some poor people to use their good examples as their icon towards changing struggles towards success. 

Who should be responsible for reducing obesity? How?

Does being obese mean being fat? I don’t think so. Obesity does not stand for being fat; it is a health problem that occurs after an individual gains weight and accumulates excess fat in the body. Being obese has an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and increased health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and breathing difficulties.  Since obesity is a health problem, considerations for reducing the effects of being obese should be taken seriously. But there are still questions such as: who is responsible for people being obese and how can they help to reduce it?

Today, complaints about obesity are directed everywhere. Some believe that the government is responsible, others believe it is the food industries, while some believe it is an individual’s responsibility to take care of his or her health. Personally, I don’t have any one to blame, but I believe all these groups mentioned are responsible in one way or another for allowing obesity to increase and reducing obesity.

Regardless, the way people handle their lives have great impact on their health in general, which can be seen even in the case of obesity. When an individual becomes overweight, it is mainly caused by poor eating habits and lack physical activities. Secondary factors for obesity include medical problems, genetics problems, and physiological problems, such as not being able to digest any food consumed. Individuals can also be overweight by relying on machines and cars that prohibit movements of the body, which prevents burning food consumed. In the article, “Are you responsible for your own weight? Pro” by Radley Balko, the author explains that the problem of obesity is personal and shouldn’t be taken seriously as a public matter.  Balko suggests measures “Give Americans moral, financial, and personal responsibility for their own health, and obesity is no longer a public matter but a private one- with the costs, concerns and worries of being overweight borne only by those who are actually overweight.” In that case Balko discusses the matter more lively as a libertarian who believes that individuals have freedom to choose in life and if they take responsibility for their actions, they will make better decisions.

People should have the right to eat food of their choice without limitations, since eating is a pleasure and expresses a human fundamental health need. If eating is only about fuel for energy without considerations of taste, then people could end up consuming supplements such as vitamin tablets that will not force them to burn excess fat from food. But food is crucial to life and enjoyment, and they should be free to choose what they eat. Thus, it makes individuals responsible for their health and how they work or handle their life styles to maintain good healthy with prevention of fat.

The food industry is always blamed for supplying food that is unhealthy and lead to obesity. A good example is when I once asked a man eating at McDonald’s the reason why many Americans are overweight and he told me that from what he saw in New York people are chubby mainly because of the convenience of cooking or to preparing healthy food, so they end up buying fast food because they are fast, affordable and convenient. He also told me that surveys show that the US has a great number of people who are obese compared to other countries because America is the busiest country and there are many fast food industries that people depend on, although they definitely blame the industries for their obesity. The question is still why these industries are blamed while they are part of a business, and people are not compelled to buy their product? Kelly Brownell and Marion Nestle are professors who specialize in health, discuss the topic obesity as they analyze who is responsible and some measure which can be taken to reduce obesity. In the article “Analyzing a visual: Obesity” by Brownell and Nestle, we learn that food industries spend more money on to their advertisements in comparison to the government’s budget in nutrition-education program. In that case food industries such as McDonald have increased its number of customers worldwide, while its food is not all healthy.

The government is responsible for people’s health since it is created by the people for the people. When government makes laws for the food industry, such as to forcing restaurants to list calories on the menu for consumers to be aware of, it will help reduce the amount of high caloric consumption by people. Nestle suggested that “government should be doing everything it can to create conditions that lead to healthy eating, support parents in raising healthy children, and make decisions in the interests of public health rather than private profit.”  According to Nestle, the government is the last group which is responsible for controlling or reducing obesity and it needs to use power in combating or helping to reduce obesity. A good example of government powers to reduce obesity is found in New York, the state has been one of the first to pass the law requiring restaurants to post calories on their menu, and so far the news has shown improvements in people who buy food in any of the restaurants that shows the number of calories in the food they buy. Children obesity is more serious than adult obesity. It should be taken care of by the government. Children are the future of the society. So, we need to educate them about healthy eating habits and exercise.  Since the government is in control with public school it is easier for it to make sure that those students get healthier food provided by the school.

Therefore, individual and group awareness about healthy life habits will help reduce obesity; only if one and all do their part will the reduction of obesity become possible. When people have healthy bodies, there is also a healthy society.

By: Prof. Dr. Lulu Mero

S-U-C-C-E-S-S

What is Success?

We always wonder what success is.  In my mind I see success in with an open mind.  Let’s take an example of a typical day to day life.  One wakes up early in the morning, with great vigor on his or her mind trying to plan for the day activities. It is the anticipation of each one of us that the day will be great.  Just to think positively of your day is one step towards success. The first step starts with going to a bathroom to freshen up.  The next is to observe oneself in the mirror realizing how blessed he or she is.

The next one is to energize the body and mind by taking a breakfast in order to nourish the body for the whole day.  Thereafter, we go straight to work, on the way checking some emails and make some few notes of to do list. If the day started well we reach at work place with smile on the face, greeting everyone we meet all along and the work place.  The next step is to report to the supervisor ready for the day's responsibilities.  We work with colleagues, friends and peers in a team within the office and beyond.  Usually, success in a working place happens if one’s interaction the whole day was excellent.  At the end of the business day, we leave the workplace to our homestead, tired, and preparing for a dinner and evening rest.  It is a great and blessed day of success.  The narration is just one day of success, but, there are many other ways of making the same day full of success. These ways depend on typical activities in a day of everyone regardless a standard activity for employees or non-employees.  Some individuals measure success from material acquisition such as vehicles, monetary, residential properties and valuables.  Others are beyond materials focusing on family success and fame.

In broad terms, success is an individual's goals which are organized into plans followed by actions that result into fulfillment.   If an individual goals are fulfilled it is always seen as success.

Success can have different angle of explanations and arguments thus depending on one’s perspectives. For example, a firm success can be measured by its ability to provide services, manage the company to remain a going concern and earn profit for the shareholders.  The success of a firm can also be measured in a way the firm can remain competitive in the market place and its  ability to innovate new products and services for the market in order to meet consumer taste and demand.  For a financial institution or Bank, success is seen in the context risk of management and customer loyalty. 

There are some inspirational people in life who reveal definition of success such as Oprah, Steve Jobs, Michael Jackson, Bill Gates, Tara Banks and many more. All of these people have one thing in common; they all had to go through certain type of struggles to reach high level of success.  From their legacy, we learn that they had clear goals in life; worked hard to achieve their objectives, without desperation while surmounting all obstacles that goes along with their aims.

In general, success happens all the time, but some people never recognize it.  Ironically, once one goal is accomplished, another goal is in the process. Some people die without knowing their success, because they never had time to reflect on their life patterns and see how far they have succeeded from one challenge to another.  It might sound like some type of self-discovery thesis, but the truth is even a beggar or a hobo you see in the street has achieved success at a certain point of his or her life. How?  A great example is that, a day when he receive those spare dollars change from good Samaritans in a street or subway, and being able to purchase what he or she wished to possess then that is seen as a success. A student success is to be able to graduate, while for a worker success can be to secure a better job or a raise of his or her salary.

Therefore, success can be that good feeling which one, a group or firm feels after fulfilling certain goal(s). Sometimes the feelings are revealed to public and can inspire more goals for further accomplishment. When success is enormous, more goals are on the way or sometimes there is no more effort to struggle for further success.  However, success is always there and it just needs to be recognized.

Finally, success is a beautiful thing, and it is that beauty which leads to a good feeling after accomplishment. It is therefore one’s responsibility to define this notion which makes them feel good after accomplishment of goal(s).

“Stay hungry stay foolish” – Steve Jobs

“Me today is not me tomorrow, people evolve and change”   - Lulu Mero

New Novel "MAISHA"

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MAISHA

By lulu mero

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3 mini stories combined into 1 great short novel of all times. Life full of drams. Then enjoy the drams, created by no one, but only the Floating Master..

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