Orlando Gas Prices

Its always been known that gas prices in Orlando has always been cheaper, at least when compared to my hometown-Daytona Beach. So one day, I asked myself why is that? I looked into it and found several theories, but no concrete evidence support any of it. I will only list two theories. The first one being competition and the second one as proximity to oil refineries. The first one states that Orlando has more local companies and city ordinances to protect the little guys. By having all these local companies, there is more competition. Instead of having governmentally-owned companies that don’t need to fear being outted. Competition drives prices down.

The second theory is the proximity to oil refineries, by having a local refinery–it would cut down on overhead costs for the people living near it. But I have found that this theory is kind of flawed. Many people commented that proximity doesn’t always mean that it would cost less to the residents in the area.

So there you have it! The best answer for why Orlando always have lower gas prices is because its city laws protects competition, or maybe legislatures don’t really regulate how low gas prices can drop down to. I’m sure that there are many factors. Why price gouging occurs in other cities, and why there are lower prices in others. I hope the government can see that competition can only help us and in that affect would not give handouts to those failing car companies. I see it as that they have had their chance. Other companies should take a lesson out of this economic downfall, maybe to develop a better model. Although it be expensive at the beginning, it would grow 10-20x more effective and profitable later down the road. Going for the cheaper option at the beginning, doesn’t usually benefit in the end. That can be said for a lot of things.

I like these two songs recently:

Lady Gaga- Just Dance

It has a good beat, in a repetitive way. Its the kind of music that makes u want to turn it up and move around in your car. In a none thinking way.

Jason Mraz- I’m yours

I always love traveling videos, plus he seems very carefree.

Learning how to play the noob way

Stairway to Heaven-Missing you

I don’t remember notes, note-reading and such. except of course the very basic cdefg. But not even the way to remember it or anything so. I’m trying to learn how to play a piano song by remember finger placement only. I’ll get back to you in six months on how it goes.

Kanzashi–

Japanese products are the way to go. I’ve always wanted a certain unique style for my headpiece for my future wedding (which won’t be for awhile). Good thing Japan, unlike China has kept its historical artifacts. You can’t even get the phoenix crown, which used to be what was worn in the old days for weddings. But now things like that is considered costumes. Anyways, the Kanzashi is japanese for Hair Ornament. And there are many different kinds of kanzashi. The kind that I have been searching all over the internet for is like Ogi in bira bira style.

Now, all I have to do is get someone to make it for me. Or maybe I can do it? Should of taken jewelry making class in high school!

I tried to upload a picture here, but this site’s retarded. So here’s the link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelchandler/2295095563/

Je ne comprend pas

I’m gradually absorbing more and more French culture into my life.  Still have a long way till I really understand the language when spoken.  French class memories in highschool sometimes kick in–like avec or plus.  But then i forgot what achete means, although it sounds soooo familiar.  Music is the easiest for me cause it is an art form that transcends all languages and you can get jiggy with it–can’t really do that with paintings.  Emilie Simon reminds me of a mix between Ayumi and Bjork–both have eccentric style.

 

I got clothes! yayy, hooray for boyfriends and sales!!  Happy 5 year anniversary! woot woot!!

Another thing…

Before I leave, I have to mention top down vs bottom up approach.  Top down being a the typical French approach.  Since I will be going to Paris in early Spring, I felt I should mention that.  You can get an idea of what it is if you know what trickle down economics is.  It was most widely known throughout the Reagon term.  

Found another bloggers’ insight on this topic.  It kind of helps in explainin a better way what was in my last post.  She used Google vs the necessary evil:Wal-mart.  Here it is: http://www.blogfabulous.com/top-down-v-bottom-up-economics-101/

Knowledge is a powerful tool, use it wisely. hahaaha. =)

Oh yeah, before it escapes my mind the reason why i brought up the mortgage issue is because one caller had said that is what led to our current state, but as we can see poor management, insight, accountability, and just plain corruption are factors to it.  So you can’tblame everything solely on other countries, but be grateful for our interconnectedness while must also deal with the negative effect of globalization, that is most evident through the fluctuation of gas prices.  When one country goes down, it affects us all.  If prices for gas falls or rises, again, it affects us all since we all use it.  America must take the lead.   Realize its mistake before it is too late. I swear this is the end for today…thanks for reading. ^_^

Global Financial Summit-2008

I woke up amazingly early today, probably from hunger pangs.  So I went downstairs to grab a toast, my earl grey, and a tangerine.  Then flipped on the tv and paused at C-Span.  I don’t usually watch this channel cause it mostly covers the U.S. supreme court, which is quite boring well at least to normal, active humans.  But I’m sure they cover a wealth of fun topics as well.  Anyways so as I was watching, they had a gentlemen speaking about the global meeting between 20 other countries about this crisis we’re having.  Though it ended up with only 19 showing up at that “class picture” (..I wonder who that could be….seriously I don’t know).  The gentlemen spoke eloquently, he addressed all the Questions that came through the line.  Some people got upset and even went on a tangent to say he is working in line with the international folks.  At first, the callers seem to know what they are talking about.  The money global issues and how this crisis has spawned.  But it gradually became more misguided.  He kept his cool, which I applaude him for that.  I couldn’t help but say outloud “No, stupid!  They are actually helping us!”  Everyone at first were very polite, thanking cspan for letting them speak, it it soon became less constructive and more revealing of how stupid Americans are.  Some issues that I felt revealed the ignorance of Americans today:  Okay so America is still great….but most Americans believe our plight has to do with China-their surplus on reserves, and mainly the outsourcing to other countries not just China.  Relatively, China is still a poor country.  It is just that they are better at saving, while the US is a consumer society.  We need to have the roles reversed, and that is what is and hopefully come out of the stimulus they gave.  Second, how do we keep our jobs when there are Indians taking out our jobs.  Hon, the Indians aren’t stealing anyone’s job.  It is because the aggregate of the United States needs more education.  We are in a recession, but the need to fill jobs is still there.  However, these jobs need higher education.  And our economy with the technology field expanding, is expanding at a rate that cannot fill up those jobs in relative to the rate people are getting those degrees.  There is actually a drop in college graduates and above.  Third, globalism is the root of all evil.  Truth of the matter, if North Carolina and Tennessee were different countries, or Texas and California are different countries with different banking systems, currency, laws, and basically ways of doing things–the united states would be a lot poorer.  So by having a world market, we can rely on each other to lift us up.  The solution for this crisis is to work with organizations like the World Bank and IMF–so that countries like China who is expanding 9-10x and give help to other countries and in exchange receive more say/influence/clout/power in orgs. like the WB and IMF.  We are seeing another transition in history.  After WWII, America and Britain were literally the G-2, the great powers at the time because all the other countries that were in the war are now poor-drained by the financial burden produced by supplying war funds.  Then it was the G-8 (though i believe cspan said G-7), ill look it up later.  So now we witness a G-20, which is incooperating the world–and I’d like to say more democratic way.  

Most of what I wrote about above was from the second commentator that came up.  I think to myself, wow go back to school or something.  I am 23, a graduated college student, and I know where the problem lies and it is at capitol hill.  But seriously, I think because of people like them-that is why our economy is in the shithole. Excuse my venacular,  but have some decency and do not yell at the truth because it gets you nowhere.  Because of poor planning that pre-dates the clinton presidency for the banks, that’s why gov-owned companies are falling out.  Back then we were giving people homes, which sounds good.  But these people who were given home obviously couldn’t afford on their own, so what makes the government think they can mortgage them.  So then the government tries to help them with the mortgage.  By the way, I get people coming to the church asking help with the mortgage…so these problems do exist!  This is a very complex subject, so I’ll try my best to describe how the Q+A went…The government intervenes and gives them bonds, but because the banks do not make sure they have enough in the reserves to help cover these bonds…companies like fannie mae and others utimately fail so to speak.  I’m sure I have left out something, but that does it for me.  Done with my ranting, I’m out!

All Jokes Aside

Mr. Kovac, our guide, took us around the VA Medical Center to give out gifts to the veterans. The people we met were very grateful, and it was a good experience. I met a lot of cool people. I kind of wish we had more time for each one. But I bet we spent more time with ours compared to the others. The medical center is renamed after the mother of a soldier who selflessly threw himself onto a landmine to protect his whole platoon. The courage that soldier has and what he did–just blew me away. I think I gained a different perspective of war veterans represent. Sure, people can say they are murderers, but they do it to save people like us. It is the work of politicians that are to blame. Although I would like to say crimes committed is not to be excused. I believe that, however, the people I met were indeed very warm and great people. They deserve the nation’s respect, especially on this day made to commemorate all those who have served to defend this country.

Also Bike Ride!

Me and Mike rode around Miami, hosted by Mayor Manny Diaz. It was fun, and was great exercise. This picture was taken by mike’s customer from Moto.

Forever Young

Today I got a record of four people telling me that I look 15 or 16 years old. “You can’t possibly be over 21!” the volunteer specialist at VA Medical center said. I chuckle, “I’m 23, turning 24 soon”. Everybody tells me that I look really young. No I’m not here from a college to volunteer, i’m here to represent my organization. As soon as I get to the office, I quickly pull my hair down from my ponytail, hoping if I change my hairstyle it would make me look older or at least my age. Some people say that it is good to look young, while others only feel that would be a good thing once you hit 40 or so. Well, I hope it doesn’t go all downhill by that time! And I also want people to look at me and take me seriously. Especially later today at the committee meeting, the worst thing is if they look at me and think I am incapable of handling this project.

Sometimes I worry that I am getting older, but than the occasional pimple pops up. I have to remember to speak eloquently, with zero or few umms and like. Anything drawn out is to be avoided at all costs. How long till I get to the right age where I’ll look young yet mature. I’ve decided, that it must be the clothes. I can’t change how I look, but I definitely can change how I dress.

http://www.bcbgmaxazriagroup.com/fall2008/?page=runwaypreview

My favorite brand name. Someday I’ll be able to afford his line.

Cold Celsius

The temperature changes slightly and I’m already sniffling. When taking a shower, I could feel the cold air around me–so I would try to get in the warm water as much as possible. But I remember how it was sooo cold back then getting out of the shower when the heater was off. It was miserable. I think I have been spoiled with the warm weather. The cold air makes me remember many things. Its funny how this is my favorite season and how it can make me recall certain things. Like, for instance, I remember a night when I went to volunteer for a halloween event for kids. It was night, and I was sitting inside a sheet enclosed area. The sheet hung on a string that wrapped around three trees. Kids would come to our stand and throw over the makeshift fishpole, and I would clip candies on it. Then I would pull at the end, pretending its a fish pulling at it. It was cute. Some of them were too little and couldn’t throw it over the sheet, so the parents had to come over and help them. The whole place was in a woody area and lit by candles. Everywhere were kids in halloween costumes. I remember sitting there in the cold, breathing hot air onto my hands to keep it warm. Sometimes I would peek outside to see what kind of kids were out there- and what kind of costumes they had on. It was fun. I would chat with my sisters that were outside, and other times I just sat there and ate candy when there weren’t any kids. Many good memories in Autumn.

I was at my first phone conference. It was nerve racking but I got over it. Everything is coming together, and I am happy. I hope and pray everything will turn out okay. I think I need to take charge of it, and order people around…although I don’t like it…especially telling people who are older than me what to do. I don’t really feel comfortable doing it, but I guess I will have to. So during one of the conferences, this lady said something poignant that I would like to repeat. She also quoted this from someone else. And that is “we work among angels”. She is referring to the fact that people in the same business as us “non-profit, for the people, make a difference, causes” people are caring people…and working with similar people with similar thoughts we would tend to think that other people would do things for purely altruistic reasons. But that isn’t true, most people need another incentive that they can possibly profit from. In other words, they need to know what is in it for me? I realized this working at the church. I was kind of pushed aback when i was asked if the staff would be paid to help with the end of the year celebration. They weren’t willing to give up their saturday for the kids. I was shocked, but now I’ve come to realize not everyone has the same mentality. I have been called an angel before, but I know I am anything but.

Waking up

Every morning when I wake up, I would always have a song in my head, and today was no exception. I heard John Lennon’s Merry Christmas (war is over) song. Although it isn’t even December or even November yet, I feel that winter is coming. Even in South Florida, the nights and mornings are a little chilly. This is very refreshing in the muggy and sticky temperature that is typical of Miami. So I was reading the New York Times, which I stole a copy from UM when I went for a workshop on financial management and budgeting. The article I read was on the economy and how the market is really bad…but the gas prices have gone down dramatically. And on that same day, I received a text message from someone I know that read something like this “There is hope, I just saw gas prices at 2.99! Good job Obama!” When I first read it, I didn’t think too much of it. And then Mike showed me a clip from the Howard Stern show. And already wary about what he was about to show me–and questioning the integrity of anything said. It isn’t like it is CNN or something! Where you can depend on the facts. Anyways, on with the story. This guy goes around and asks Obama voters questions first to confirm he or she is voting for obama and then asks them if they are voting for obama because obama supports staying in the war until there is peace or doesn’t support gay marriage or abortion rights….everything McCain Supports! It was very sad, because you can tell by the voices they were of African American descent and all of them proved ignorant of the policies that Obama supported. But I tried to reason maybe they were in a rush and weren’t really listening to the question being asked. Very sad. I hope people don’t vote for a presidential candidate simply based on his or her race or background. Let’s get educated people! Anyways, maybe this is just a minority, I say this because this was a small sample of people. If it were taken on a national level, then there is definitely something to worry about. Okay, so anyways…I was reading an article on the economy from the NYtimes. It said gas prices dropped, but it was because the economy was doing so bad that it decreased. There is a misconception as to the relationship between politics and gas. The government doesn’t control the gas prices, although it can affect it by diplomacy and its own oil reserves that it can use to lower prices for the country. But because the economy is doing so badly that there was fear that the demand for gas would go down. Obama has nothing to do with the gas prices going lower at all. People put too much hope on him, and in the end they are just gonna be disappointed. He is just like any other democrat. I don’t agree with everything he is for, and that is something that puts me off from voting for him. Although, when the time comes I definitely will.

I am trying out a Banana Diet. It is all the hype right now in Japan, and I read in the news that they actually have a shortage on bananas. Basically all you do is eat a banana or more in the morning with lots of water, then for lunch and dinner you eat what you want, but you have to eat before midnight. And that’s it. Simple, huh? Well, we’ll see how it goes. I think the concept is that the bananas has lots of natural sugar to sustain in the morning and also because it has fiber which can make you poop more, combined with filling yourself with water. And since you don’t eat late in the night, you have a long time to burn calories while you sleep. That’s just my hypothesis.

This almost made me cry. Let the war end soon, and the soldiers come home.

Talking to Myself

The title comes from an album that features a quasi chinese music. It barely resembles any of the old classical chinese music that can be is often heard-using instruments such as the pipa or guzheng. Anyways, lately I think I have come to learn more new things about myself. What makes me sad, my hangups, and what can lift me up from the droughts of depression. I realized that whenever I feel down, it is because i am not happy with myself either physically, my success at life (i.e. achievements), or both. In order words, more often than not I get depressed because I am not happy with myself. However, I came to discover that I need to stop depending on food to cure my sadness. I used to, and admittedly still sort of rely on food to fill the emptiness in me. As if that could fill me up both physically and mentally. It doesn’t always work, moreover, it just furthers my own self-loathing. But when I exercise, it uses my pent up energy and builds my self esteem because I am bettering myself. I think “I am a strong, competent, girl that takes good care of herself”. That thought alone makes me a lot better. Health and happiness is strongly connected. Here’s a funny but interesting exercise that I have been doing. It is very happy!

Mike said I should be in this show. ^o^