Thursday, July 31, 2008

Exxon has record profit again on soaring oil prices

Exxon Mobil said on Thursday soaring oil prices pushed its second-quarter earnings up 14 percent, again breaking its own record for the highest-ever profit by a U.S. company.

Net income in the quarter rose to $11.68 billion, or $2.22 a share, from $10.26 billion, or $1.83 a share, last year.

!!!???

Exxon Mobil posted record profit again and again while American Consumers suffer record high gas price. Does all this make sense?

Make no mistake I love capitalism and I am a strong believer of free market. I am not a fan of big government regulating business and commerce. However, Where is the "magic of free market" in this case? Anybody who has any common sense will detect that something is not right here.

The answer is not to have more regulations. Big corporation love regulations. The more the better. The more complex the better. Why? Because they can use the regulations to keep new competitors from entering into the market. In Econ this is called the "barrier of entry". The big corporations may have all sorts of resources to comply with any regulations, where smaller companies may not.

In conclusion, American consumers are screwed regardless. What a great economy!

Thursday, July 24, 2008

HTC Touch

I finally got my new cell phone. It's a headache to transfer all the contacts in my old phone to the new one. Nevertheless, I can watch the TV and surf the web on my phone now. :)





Tuesday, July 22, 2008

new cell phone

I am suppose to get a new cell phone today - HTC Touch. A cool phone. Actually I am supposed to get that last Saturday, but the fone art sprint store is closed. So I left work early today and went to the fone art store at around 6:30. It's closed already. Isn't there a sign on the window says that it's open from 11am-7pm?!

Anyway, i will go again tomorrow and pick up my new phone. I will call to make sure she doesn't close it early.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

O the joy of having all in Jesus!
What a balm the broken heart to heal!
Never a sin so great, but He'll forgive it,
Nor a sorrow that He does not feel!
(hymn 1079)

broken heart, sin, and sorrow.
You can take care of everything, Lord.

Friday, July 18, 2008

I understand the complexity of the situation and i am also fully aware of the consequences of each approach. It has the potential of producing a lot of confusions and misunderstandings. Your situation is a mess. I didn't say it's gonna be easy. However, I promise i will help you to see the bright light at the end of the dark tunnel.
We had a long conversation yesterday. Thank you for sharing with me the stuff you are going through. I understand it's very difficult to share this with me. I value the tremendous trust you have on me. I can indeed feel the pain you are going through.

(A side note) I didn't realize that the incident in July 2007 still haunts you. You were there and I was there too. You know what happened and I know what happened. It's not your fault. Stop blaming yourself. I can quickly let it go because I don't have stake in that. I don't have much to say about that event. Just let the past be the past. You can't change what happened in the past so don't live in it anymore. Let's forget about the things which are behind. Time is so precious you should focus on the stuff you are facing right now.

For the things that have happened in the last couple weeks, it would have gotten a lot worse. I think both you and I have a clear picture of what's right and what's wrong. We all make mistake in our life. Some make big ones and others make small ones. I am not here to judge you but to help you. I know even though it's a big mess, you still can survive through this.

As mere human beings living on this earth, we rejoice for our silly little gain and grieve for our silly little loss. Taking a journey that is different from what God has for you only results in sorrow and pain. I hope you can see God's purpose for you and His sovereign hand on all these matters. I always had and I alway will pray for you. =)

Anyway, the main point I am writing this blog is to remind you to consider what I told you yesterday. (I don't know if you read my blog. Anyway, I will call you.) There are not that many things I am good at but you know I am good at this kind of stuff. Remember the five steps I told you. Don't "cherry pick" from what I said. You gotta do everything. I know it's tough. There is no better way to do this. I value the virtues of integrity, honesty and loyalty highly. I can keep your secret. I would never hurt you. I always got you back. I am on your side.

Thank you again for trusting me. My job is to make sure you can go through this mess as smooth as possible. In the end, however, human preparation can only take you so far, the rest lies on the hands of God. You do have choices and at least you can choose the right one.

Monday, July 14, 2008

new tennis court

My petition to access the tennis count across the the street is finally approved by the buracratic RSF officials last week!

Hooray!

Now we don't have to go all the way to the beatup/third-world-country Hearst tennis courts. =)

We played there for the first time today and that was awesome. The sunset was around 8:30 so we had a lot of fun.

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

promise and commitment

A loser makes promises and a winner makes commitments.

video training on Luke

We reached the climax of the training - The acceptable year of the Lord, the year of Jubilee!!!

In the year of jubilee there were two main blessings: the returning of every man to his lost possession and the liberation from slavery. =)

Jubilee means having no worry or anxiety, no concern or care, no lack or shortage, no sickness or calamity, and no problem whatsoever, but rather having all benefits; hence, all things are pleasant and satisfying to our hearts, and we are free from anxiety, at ease, excited, and exultant.

Jehovah gives and Jehovah takes away;
Bless be the name of Jehovah.

Friday, July 04, 2008

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Mixt Green Salad

Today I went out with coworkers to have lunch at Mixt Greens at the expense of the company. =) Mixt Greens is the best salad bar in the financial district according to M*******. We can all design our own salads or chose from any other option they have.

It's quite pricey but the food is all organic and the store is environmentally friendly. According to the restaurant they serve organic, sustainable, local food to the take-away containers (made from 100% compostable corn, really?).

I am too lazy to mix my own so I ordered a salad designed by chef Andrew Swallow name "bachelor". It has red leaf lettuce, grilled prime flatiron, herb roasted yukon potatoes (yummy), roasted cherry tomatoes, blue cheese, balsamic vinaigrette, topped with caramelized onions.

I also grab a bag of my favorite Honey Dijon chips on the way out. =)

No doubt is the best salad I had in my life. I felt so refreshed at work after all.