The United States of America dominate almost all international markets because their Companies (GM, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Yahoo, Wal-Mart, IBM, GE, Citigroup, McDonald's, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley...) that raise funds and use them as large investments from individuals and institutions from around the world and that generate significant amounts of jobs, grew and spread their roots all through out the world becoming absolute giants. This is the reason why the economy of most countries does well when the American economy does well. And if any of those Companies goes Bankrupt the consequences are naturally devastating for a lot of people (investors, employees...).
During the past two decades, people, specially in USA, Canada, Japan and Europe had this consumption illusion that they could spend, spend and spend, thinking that they actually had any money available, when all the consumption was mostly done by using credit cards and/or loans facilitated by financial institutions.
Obviously that in reality, people never had as much money as they thought, but believed that they'd be able to pay off their debts in a near future or make the minimum payments, forgetting though that jobs are not a permanent or guaranteed thing. This is the reason (among others), why many Americans are losing their homes and other goods.
At the same time, many Companies of all industries were closing their doors (leaving thousands unemployed) and gradually moving part or all the production to countries in East Europe (Russia, Hungary, Poland, Check Republic...etc) and developing countries, particularly China and India (Mexico, Brazil, Vietnam, Bangladesh...) where the production costs are much more attractive. Which means that the salaries are much less, although the workers are as educated and qualified, taxes, benefits and Unions are almost nonexistent and consequently the profits are much larger.
Therefore, the money that used to be in the hands of the financial institutions of the industrialized countries was little by little being transferred to other countries. Today the markets of the industrialized countries are completely inundated (naturally) with goods and products made in China, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Vietnam, Taiwan, Bangladesh and others and the profits of the sales, obviously end up in the safes of the financial institutions of those countries.
So in order to survive, the financial institutions in the USA (Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Citigroup...) had to receive over 250 billion dollars from the Federal Government because there was no liquidity for credit, loans, lines of credit that many companies and individuals need for their day-to-day business activities.
The interesting part is that all the money that the American Federal Government provided was borrowed from China because the USA carry a debt load of more thanb 10.6 Trillion (also due to expenses incurred with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan). This situation means that each US citizen is currently in debt in more than $37 thousand.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Radio Talk-Shows - Great Social Value
One of the best tools you can use to help yourself to faster integrate a new environment (society) and improve your communication skills is to listen to Radio Talk-Shows. Specially when you are a newcomer. There is a tremendous flow of useful information and the conversations are fun, very dynamic, alive and helpfull. I mention the Radio, not the TV, because the Radio demands more concentration, focus, attention from the listener. Consequently, the listener retains and learns more of what is being discussed. The TV is less effective because there's too many distractions. You hear the music, background sound, you see the faces of the people, how they smile, how they dress, etc.
My preferred Radio Stations in Toronto are AM 640 and CFRB 1010 which are available online as well. It's almost 24 hours of discussions. One day doesn't pass by without me listening to one of this or both. And often I find myself yelling at the Radio.
Integrate New Environment
With the Radio Talk Shows, you learn about what are the most important issues the community, or the different members of the different communities face in their day-to-day life and what worries them about the present and the future. In general the host and participants provide real situations and solutions based on their own life experiences. Many of the stories that are discussed in the air waves are picked up from the newspapers. So listening to these shows, will definitely put us in touch with the surrounding reality, and who knows, you can actually use other people's ideas and experiences and apply them or adjust them to your life.
You realize there are people out there who share the same problems as you, but who have different opinions from yours regarding the solutions for those same problems, usually due to particular circumstances, experiences or environments. And you start to understand that you are not the owner of the true.
In life, I realized that if we want to live together, in peace and progress, we all have to compromise because we are all different from each other. My freedom ends where yours starts.
Communication Skills
You learn about how people think and how people express themselves. You learn lots of new words and expressions. Your ears start to get used to how people pronounce the words and build sentences.
My preferred Radio Stations in Toronto are AM 640 and CFRB 1010 which are available online as well. It's almost 24 hours of discussions. One day doesn't pass by without me listening to one of this or both. And often I find myself yelling at the Radio.
Integrate New Environment
With the Radio Talk Shows, you learn about what are the most important issues the community, or the different members of the different communities face in their day-to-day life and what worries them about the present and the future. In general the host and participants provide real situations and solutions based on their own life experiences. Many of the stories that are discussed in the air waves are picked up from the newspapers. So listening to these shows, will definitely put us in touch with the surrounding reality, and who knows, you can actually use other people's ideas and experiences and apply them or adjust them to your life.
You realize there are people out there who share the same problems as you, but who have different opinions from yours regarding the solutions for those same problems, usually due to particular circumstances, experiences or environments. And you start to understand that you are not the owner of the true.
In life, I realized that if we want to live together, in peace and progress, we all have to compromise because we are all different from each other. My freedom ends where yours starts.
Communication Skills
You learn about how people think and how people express themselves. You learn lots of new words and expressions. Your ears start to get used to how people pronounce the words and build sentences.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Toronto, The City I Love
If you've never been to Toronto, I must tell you that this place rocks. I love it so much. I have all the reasons to say and feel this way, because Toronto gave me everything and more that I ever wanted and dreamed about.
There is nothing strange or complicated about Toronto, but none of what I got and/or achieved came easy. Specially when you're a newcomer, you must understand that no matter how well educated you are, you are going to close you mouth, open your eyes and ears and pay lots of attention to what people talk about, how they behave, how things work and are done, etc. Toronto is a different place like any other place in the world and consequently, we must learn a couple of things here and there that will actually help us integrate and understand the society better. Once you've learned how to live here, you probably won't be able to leave this place for ever.
The last 11 years of my life taught me so much about so many things. I grew and matured faster than ever before. Specially, because I (and my family) never count on anybody to solve our problems and never procrastinated facing them head on in order to be able to move on. We became very resourceful and developed great problem solving skills. The more you know the more you grow, they say.
Although I already was a Journalist, after arriving in Toronto, I had the opportunity to go back to School and learn about Computers, Business and Investments (Real Estate). I worked for different companies and was laid-off several times, until one day my wife and I decided to start our own little thing and be the owners of our jobs. Basically we decided to take control of our lives and make our own decisions.
We never thought or planned to go on vacation anywhere in the world before nine years of hard work. Both my wife and I had to build some financial stability. After that we were finally able to take our kids and enjoy some time in places such as Cuba, Mexico, Florida, Buffalo, Boston, Atlanta (Georgia). As we learned here in Toronto "No pain, No gain" or "Hardwork pays off".
There's all kinds of people here, what makes it a very Cosmopolitan society, very dynamic and modern. You can have a tremendous amount of fun if you are an open mind person and want to experience new and different things, peacefully. Toronto is a gorgeous City during Christmas time. Christmas decorations are literally everywhere you go. Learn and skate on ice is great fun. I did it after being an adult already and I don't regret a bit. Places like Canada's Wonderland, Niagara Falls, Toronto Zoo, Centre Island, African Lion Safari, Ontario Royal Museum, Art Gallery of Ontario, Centre Island among other places are a must see and experience if you come to Toronto. If you don't like Chinese, Arabs, Blacks, Latinos, Gays, Lesbians, atheists, Muslims, etc, etc, than Toronto is not a place you'd like to enjoy or live because we have all that and more. You might not like to be working for a Boss who you hate. Toronto is a City of 2.5 million people, the largest and most economically developed among all Canadian cities. The crime rate is very low, when compared to other large cities in the USA so in general we feel very safe. One of the reasons is that is illegal to manufacture and sell guns in the stores. There's lots of opportunities for everyone, who wants to work hard and is serious about succeed in life. Now, make sure your definition of success doesn't go against the laws, like becoming a Pimp, Drug Dealer, Rapist, Child Molester. We have those too. But the bottom line is as they say "hard work pays off".
There is nothing strange or complicated about Toronto, but none of what I got and/or achieved came easy. Specially when you're a newcomer, you must understand that no matter how well educated you are, you are going to close you mouth, open your eyes and ears and pay lots of attention to what people talk about, how they behave, how things work and are done, etc. Toronto is a different place like any other place in the world and consequently, we must learn a couple of things here and there that will actually help us integrate and understand the society better. Once you've learned how to live here, you probably won't be able to leave this place for ever.
The last 11 years of my life taught me so much about so many things. I grew and matured faster than ever before. Specially, because I (and my family) never count on anybody to solve our problems and never procrastinated facing them head on in order to be able to move on. We became very resourceful and developed great problem solving skills. The more you know the more you grow, they say.
Although I already was a Journalist, after arriving in Toronto, I had the opportunity to go back to School and learn about Computers, Business and Investments (Real Estate). I worked for different companies and was laid-off several times, until one day my wife and I decided to start our own little thing and be the owners of our jobs. Basically we decided to take control of our lives and make our own decisions.
We never thought or planned to go on vacation anywhere in the world before nine years of hard work. Both my wife and I had to build some financial stability. After that we were finally able to take our kids and enjoy some time in places such as Cuba, Mexico, Florida, Buffalo, Boston, Atlanta (Georgia). As we learned here in Toronto "No pain, No gain" or "Hardwork pays off".
There's all kinds of people here, what makes it a very Cosmopolitan society, very dynamic and modern. You can have a tremendous amount of fun if you are an open mind person and want to experience new and different things, peacefully. Toronto is a gorgeous City during Christmas time. Christmas decorations are literally everywhere you go. Learn and skate on ice is great fun. I did it after being an adult already and I don't regret a bit. Places like Canada's Wonderland, Niagara Falls, Toronto Zoo, Centre Island, African Lion Safari, Ontario Royal Museum, Art Gallery of Ontario, Centre Island among other places are a must see and experience if you come to Toronto. If you don't like Chinese, Arabs, Blacks, Latinos, Gays, Lesbians, atheists, Muslims, etc, etc, than Toronto is not a place you'd like to enjoy or live because we have all that and more. You might not like to be working for a Boss who you hate. Toronto is a City of 2.5 million people, the largest and most economically developed among all Canadian cities. The crime rate is very low, when compared to other large cities in the USA so in general we feel very safe. One of the reasons is that is illegal to manufacture and sell guns in the stores. There's lots of opportunities for everyone, who wants to work hard and is serious about succeed in life. Now, make sure your definition of success doesn't go against the laws, like becoming a Pimp, Drug Dealer, Rapist, Child Molester. We have those too. But the bottom line is as they say "hard work pays off".
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