Monthly Archives: May 2011

Global Entry

If an US citizen wishes, he or she may volunteer to give up a lot more personal information than the laws require. In exchange, this citizen can zip through the custom without waiting. In other words, as a democratic country, … Continue reading

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Your Debt-Ridden Neighbors

Your neighbor appears to be doing fine: nice parties, good cars, well-maintained yards, private schooled kids, leisurely vacations, etc. You did not pry much. It is none of your business, until the day he comes over for a loan. It … Continue reading

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Not so random walk down the Wall St.

There are golden rules on investing: Allocate your assets: Divide your investment into piles that have different risk and reward structure: real estate, cash, equity, insurance, etc. Think of their relative proportions and keep them. Diversify: Within each pile, have … Continue reading

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Athens

Lake Vouliagmeni (vol-jia-MEN-i) is “sunken” like a gem that local would hide from tourists. Swimming in it was magical. One side is shallow and bright, you see rays of sunshine piercing toward the deep end, following your every motion, and … Continue reading

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A phrase to remove from my repertoire

Recently, I had to deal with a member of the law enforcement. I did not break any laws; it was simply a mundane approval process that the US government choose to use a uniformed personnel to administer. While waiting for … Continue reading

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My First Baldacci

He seems like a prolific writer and I enjoyed the movie “Absolute Power.” Political thriller is really not my usual genre, but I was on a Kindle binge and in exploration mood. So, with a click and its whisper net, … Continue reading

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Ten Days

Reading requires a certain state of mind. The environment — the proverbial a well-lighted place — is usually a great help. Physical and mental strengths are also critical. That is why I did not even bother to try on this … Continue reading

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Westlake Park

If there is a center of Seattle City, it is probably Westlake park, a triangular park at the corner of 4th Ave and Pine St. On a good day, the artificial waterfall will churn loudly. Somehow, there are always a … Continue reading

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The Man who Terrorized America

Do we get to go back to how we lived? Is everyone safe now? Who won? Ten years ago, Osama bin Laden led the attack on the US soil. The famed 9/11 attack brought down the World Trade Center twin … Continue reading

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