Common Sense

Top 10 Accomplishments of 2007

2007-11-03T13:54:00.000-07:00

My 2007 top 10 accomplishments:

1. I got my dream job at Jawonio – a non-profit organization. I am a Document Imaging Specialist helping them start up a new business of digital scanning solutions. As part of my job, I became a DSC certified Consultant of Docuware.
http://www.squidoo.com/jawonio/

2. I became a Squid Angel and later a Giant Squid on Squidoo. This is a web 2.0 application that allows individuals to create lens (websites) on any topic and can make money in the process. I donated 100% of my earnings (over $300 so far) to the Soldiers Angel Fund. I’ve also created over 180 lenses so far.
http://www.squidoo.com/jack_c_Lee_home/

3. I completed a Squidbook on Epee Fencing.
http://www.squidoo.com/epee_fencing_1/

4. I’ve competed in the Empire States Game Master Division in Fencing.
I earned a bronze medal.
http://82.165.228.181/summer/results/sport_results.asp?year=2007&sport=MF&division=M&clean=0
I also earned a C2007 ranking in the USFA after coming in 3rd place in the Yonkers outdoor tournament.

5. I became a member of the Landmark Preservation Commission in Yorktown Heights, NY.
http://www.squidoo.com/landmark_preservation/

6. I continue to volunteer P/T at the Westchester Archives.
http://www.westchestergov.com/wcarchives/

7. We purchased a Coop in Greystone, Yonkers NY with a fantastic Hudson River View. We plan to downsize in 2009.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=s&utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-google-gm&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=google%20map

8. I continued adding to our Family Tree site at Tribal Pages.
www.tribalpages.com/tribes/jackclee

9. I continued to report on the status of the Trump State Park – one year later.
http://www.squidoo.com/Trump_State_Park/

10. I lost 7 pounds on a special tea diet recommended by a colleague. It is Lingzhi tea made from mushroom.

Labor Day 2007

2007-09-03T05:35:00.000-07:00

On this Labor Day, it is worthwhile to reflect on where we have been.
This past year has seen the stock market reached past the 14,000 mark on the Dow.
The unemployment rate is at an all time low of 4.6%.
Housing ownership is at an all time high across all demographics.
The inflation rate is low by historic standards.
Gas prices are falling below $3.00 a gallon.
The federal deficit is trending downwards.
Just announced this morning, North Korea is promising to give up its nuclear program.
Our President, George W. Bush is in Iraq (on the ground) and providing encouragement to our troops. The surge seems to be working after 6 months...
Almost 6 years post 9/11/2001, we have not been attacked again on the homeland.

What does the NYT choose to focus on?
(As 9/11 Draws Near, a Debate Rises: How Much Tribute Is Enough?)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/02/nyregion/02fatigue.html?ei=5065&en=d4bae0c24379ce98&ex=1189310400&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print

Squidooing...

2007-06-13T08:12:00.000-07:00

I have created my 160 lens on Squidoo in about 8 months (that's practically one a day)...
My lensography is here:
Jack C. Lee Home
It seems the sky is the limit.

Contest entry

2007-06-06T21:16:00.000-07:00

I recommend Sedona, AZ as a great place to visit. Here are some photos I took last year on my photo album on webshots.
There are vortex with magnetic energy which may have healing powers.
I’m entering it in to a contest of the best Things You Should Do. It’s a website with Cool Places, Thrilling Adventures and Crazy Events all over the world. I could win an iPhone if they think my suggestion is the best!

Seth Godin's Dip Tour

2007-06-06T08:54:00.000-07:00

June 6, 2007

Last week, May 29, 2007, I took a trip into NYC to attend the Dip tour by Seth Godin.
http://www.squidoo.com/theDipTour

It was great to see and hear Seth in person. As the founder of Squidoo
www.squidoo.com
I am very impressed by his marketing skills.
As a lensmaster on Squidoo, I am interested in what he has to say about the future of Squidoo.

Unfortunately, due to heavy traffic, I was late getting to the seminar.
It was a packed room with 120 attendees. I missed his talk and caught the Q/A at the end. However, I don’t think it was a big loss. I got the gist of his ideas from reading the book on the train ride going home. It was a short 80 pages and small book 7”x4”. I wrote an Amazon review on the book.

Amazon review

Along with the $50 registration fee, I did get the 5 copies of the book and some magazines, and I was able to get Seth to sign 3 copies (one for me and 2 for other lensmasters). I also took a photo with Seth.
You can see my photo with Seth at my biography lens - http://www.squidoo.com/Jack_C_Lee/

The main question for some of us lensmasters was what Seth sees as the future of Squidoo.
His answer was straight forward and clear.
He sees Squidoo growing about 20% per month and very successful.
He has no intention of selling Squidoo and he sees adding incremental improvements and modules to enhance Squidoo and fix some growing pains in the coming months.
I was satisfied with this answer and I take him at his word that no big changes are in the works. He likes to keep it “Small.”

Here are some notes I took at the Q/A.
1. Make sure you market to the “right’ people.
2. Make promises and keep it.
3. Transparency is best but renegotiate if necessary…
4. Luck plays a big role.
5. Take risks…
6. There is no scarcity without dip.
7. Best advice for 16 year old, “do something for themselves”. Accomplish something will give them confidence. Rejecting Harvard is not necessarily a bad thing.
8. For startup business, his advice is threshing early is better than threshing at the end…
9. Don’t use SEO as a crutch. Must have something “good” to market.
10. Be the best at something…

At the end of the book, Seth has a random list of “bests” including the following
Megan Casey, Gil Hildebrand Jr., Leica, Elvis, Amazon.com, Rolex, Coach, Peet’s…

My conclusion:

Seth undoubtedly is a great marketeer. The concept of the Dip tour is also a novel way to publicize his new booklet. I wish I had his wisdom 10 years ago. I don’t regret my career or my many dips. That’s life. It does bring to mind some of the current lensmasters at Squidoo. Lately, some are disillusioned with the future prospect of Squidoo. Some of the latest growing pains seem to cast doubt in some people’s mind. The failure for Squidoo to publish their financials is also a concern on some.
The big question for some is – should they continue with Squiodoo or quit and do something else? Personally, I am sticking with Squidoo. I never expected much coming in and the results so far have been great. I even wrote a squidbook about my experience (How I became a Squidoo Addict?)
I will continue to make suggestions and criticize when necessary pushing Squidoo forward. I hope Squidoo will become a big success for all of us.

My Biography on Squidoo:

http://www.squidoo.com/Jack_C_Lee

My Squidbook:

http://www.squidoo.com/squidoo_addict_1/

-Jack

My Squidbook on Conservatism is finished

2007-05-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

I have finished my squidbook on "Common Sense of a Conservative" - 42 Chapters.
Here is the link to the Table of Contents -
Common Sense of a Conservative

A squidoo lens on the IBM Pension lawsuit

2007-05-10T05:08:00.000-07:00

I've created a new Squidoo lens on the recently settled IBM Pension class action lawsuit.
Class Action Lawsuits

My squidbook on Squidoo is finished

2007-03-25T11:23:00.000-07:00

I have recently completed a squidbook on "How I became a Squidoo addict?". It is 25 chapters(lenses) long.
The link appears here:
My Squidbook

New Commerce Squidoo site

2007-02-28T13:08:00.000-08:00

Some of my commerce lens on Squidoo -

Palm Repair

My Squidoo lens

2007-01-27T03:30:00.000-08:00

In the last few months, I have been busy creating lens on Squidoo. I started with a lens to help publicize the 9/11 Memorial Foundation and just kept adding...
Here is the link to all my lens:
My Squidoo lens
and the one lens that started it all:
911 Information
and the most viewed:
Solutions to the Iraq War

Iraq Study Group - my reaction

2006-12-11T08:14:00.000-08:00

Iraq Study Group

Now that the ISG recommendations have been published, it is time to get real and analyze the whole situation with “Winning” in mind.
The ISG came up with a total of 79 recommendations but the most important one in my mind was not even considered.

The one lesson we need to learn from history, in this case, the Vietnam War experience, is that our enemy is using our media and our own citizens to defeat us. The North Vietnamese General was interviewed years later and he admitted that they could not win the war on the battle field but relied on the war of public opinion to defeat us.

In Iraq today, one of the factors that we have not been more successful is the constant harping by the media and the opposition party that this was a bad war. They highlighted our mistakes and exaggerated the atrocities of Abu Ghraib and Gitmo and distorted the premise of going to war.

Mistakes and abuses will happen in any war. We should not use them to score political points and undermine our foreign policy. We are not playing a game but real lives and national security are at risk.

The one recommendation that I didn’t read is the following – the one that should unify our country behind a just and worthy cause and to “WIN” in Iraq.

Let’s define what “WIN” means in Iraq. A minimum win in Iraq will mean that they have a stable government able to control their own borders and maintain peace and participate in a global dialog as a sovereign nation. If they turn out to be a democracy that would be great. If they choose to be governed by a Theocracy, that is OK too. What is unacceptable is an Iraq, being torn apart with the help of Al Queda and Iran and Syria and becoming a training ground for future terrorists.

What does not help is for example, Frank Rich of the NYT, in his latest editorial, one of many in the past few years, saying “we have already lost Iraq”.
How does he know and what is his agenda in pronouncing this as “fact”?
Is this a self fulfilling prophecy or is this border on treason at a time of war?
Let’s say we are loosing the war in Iraq at the moment. What does Frank Rich suggest we do going forward? Should we apologize and leave and bring Saddam back? Is this a better alternative? What happen over the next few years if we leave? Has Frank Rich thought about the unintended consequences that will surely follow?

I understand the need for analysis and criticism and even “freedom of speech and press” on the part of the media. That is their job.
I often wonder if the reporting of this war would be the same if a Democrat is sitting in the White House instead of GW Bush.

Can you imagine during the height of WWII and our press focused on the atrocities of our soldiers and the tactical mistakes of our generals? Would President Truman make the decision to drop the Atom Bomb on Japan to end the war in the Pacific if NYT has its way? Would we have even won against Hitler and Mussolini if half of the American public and 90% of the American media are against the war?

That is the crossroad we are at. Do we have the national will and unity necessary to win and succeed in Iraq?

The other thing which is not considered is defining our enemy in Iraq. Who are they and what do they want? Where do they get their support? How can we stop them?
Are they watching CNN and reading NYT and quoting our elected officials and repeating it on Al Jazeera- the leading Arab news outlet?
These are all good questions.

If I was an Al Queda leader, I welcome the call by Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney calling for the impeachment of GW Bush. It just gives me more moral ammunition to continue the fight against the “evil” USA”. This is one of many outrageous charges lodged against a sitting president by our own elected officials and elites in Academia.

As difficult as the current war in Iraq is going, I shutter to think what we would be facing if we pull out and let things go their natural way. Our enemy knew very well the lessons of Mogadishu, Somalia. They watched Black Hawk Down and learned. They can defeat us by inflicting enough pain and causing us to loose our will to fight.
That is their only strategy in Iraq, and so far, I agree partly with Frank Rich, they are winning and by default we are loosing. If we continue the national debate and not fully support our mission, we will loose Iraq and probably all future conflicts in that region.
Thanks to the NYT. What a way to go.

My accomplishments in 2006

2006-12-05T09:08:00.000-08:00

Accomplishments of 2006:

Instead of making a New Year resolution each year, I thought it would be more productive to write an end of year accomplishments. This is more meaningful since it shows some actual deeds instead of a list of hopes.
In the beginning of 2006, I read an inspiring book called “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell. It motivated me to do something different but hopefully with more impact.
Here is my list of major accomplishments for 2006.

1. I’ve created a Family Tree website on www.tribalpages.com – It currently includes 115 people and photos of most of our family members and additional photos of interest; some are old photos that I reproduced digitally using my digital camera. Here is the link:
Tribal Pages

2. I’ve created 24 Squidoo lens on various topics including “Solutions to the Iraq War”, “9/11 Resources and Information” and “History of the National Woman’s Party”. The links to my lens are here:
Squidoo

3. I volunteered over 50 hours at the Westchester Archives – scanning old B/W photos of John Gass. We were given an award luncheon and the County Executive Andy Spano presented each of us with a certificate. See the photo here:
My Bio

4. I was called to serve on a Grand Jury for 30 days in NYC. As part of this experience, I learned about the current crisis in our justice system with regard to illegal aliens. I wrote a letter to our elected representatives. It is posted on my blog along with some of the responses I received.
My blog posting

5. I volunteered to assist with the Photo exhibit at the 5th anniversary of 9/11 at Ground Zero. It featured photos by Jonathan Hyman.
Photo Exhibit

6. I wrote a letter to Governor Pataki and the Journal News complaining about the new Trump State Park sign. It was published in the letters section of the Journal News. My letter

7. I wrote 6 guides on eBay and received over 100 positive feedbacks. My two most successful guides are about Repairing the Palm Tungsten E2 and a guide on Digital Photography techniques.
My guides

8. I’ve posted quite a few digital photos on my photo album at Webshots.
My photo album

9. My personal accomplishment includes losing 4 pounds on the Atkins Diet.

10. I also started exercising and training for fencing. I have not touched a weapon for 25 years ever since my college days. I am training at the Fencing Academy of Westchester along with my son Jason.
FAW

My letter to Governor Pataki re: Trump State Park

2006-11-29T08:28:00.000-08:00

November 28, 2006
Dear Governor Pataki:

My name is Jack Lee, a long time resident of Westchester County. Recently, I noticed two new signs appearing on the side of the Taconic Parkway, one northbound and one southbound near the Baldwin Rd. Exit. It has the name “Donald J. Trump State Park”. I realize that this plot of land was donated by Mr. Trump to the State to be used as a public park. I am thankful for Mr. Trump’s generosity however; I am bothered by the tackiness of his name being chosen for the park and the road signs stating the same.
It seems to me there are more appropriate ways to honor Mr. Trump and to show our gratitude without being overbearing. A plaque may be a better tribute than naming the Park which should be chosen by a set of guidelines which I’m sure you are aware of.
Here is one such guideline from Portland: link: http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?a=giajb&c=dghgh
Also, it seems to me that most names given to Parks are meant to honor a deceased person for their contribution to the community or the Country. It is rare that a living person’s name was honored in such a manner.
I hope the NY State Parks department will r-consider this decision and correct this faux pas.

Sincerely,

Jack Lee
Yorktown Hts. NY 10598

Here is the link to story in the Journal News (including photo of sign)-
http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061129/NEWS02/611290349/1018/NEWS02

Reaction to the 2006 election results

2006-11-09T15:28:00.000-08:00

Reaction to the 2006 election results:

I have two reactions to the Democrats taking over control of Congress post the 2006 mid-term election.

One, I was disappointed by the small turnout for such an important election (only 40%) and the fact that some good Republican candidates lost.

Two, I was encouraged by the civility of the loosing party candidates.
There was no calling the election invalid or stolen or fraud or suppression of votes.
There was no drawn out call for recounts in close races.
There was no lawyers ready to pounce.
There was no calling for “power sharing” in light of such close results in the Senate (51-49).
There was no effort to get a senator to switch sides as during the 2001 cycle when Jim Jeffords switch party to keep the majority power in the Democrats hands.

Going forward, I look forward to proposals by the Democratic leadership to solve some of our problems.

The beauty of our system is that every two years, we get to choose. We get the government we deserve (if we voted) else you have no right to complaint.

The bad news is that our President will be weakened in the last two years of his Presidency.
The good news is that the whining and attacks from the Democrats will end and they will have to come up with some ideas.

We still have problems that need solutions.
• Iraq war…
• Broken borders and illegal immigration
• Social Security shortfall
• Energy dependence on foreign oil
• Deficit spending and wasted pork

As a conservative, I’m not sorry that the Republican lost power in Congress. They did not do a good job in my book and deserved to loose. Perhaps some introspection is helpful.
I always believe that a strong two party system works best and provide checks and balances to unbridled power.

My regret is that President G. W. Bush will be hurt. Perhaps, history will be kinder to his legacy. He is a good and honorable man and the personal attacks on him were unjustified.

Solution to the North Korean Crisis

2006-10-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

What the US should do about North Korea?

Jack Lee
Yorktown Hts. NY
Email: jackclee@optonline.net

October 11, 2006

In light of recent development in North Korea, especially the claim that they have detonated a nuclear bomb underground test, what should be our response?
I have study this situation and read up on past policies which has been a failure to say the least.
Let me make it clear, the villian here is North Korea's Kim Jong Il and not anybody else.

I do have a solution and it is a simple one.

I must refer back to my hero President Ronald Reagan for his foresight in dealing with a rogue nation such as North Korea. He provided the resource and the leadership in pursuing SDI as the ultimate defense against MAD (mutual assured destruction).

First, we must complete the SDI(BMDO) goal of being able to shoot a missile out of the sky. We have completed several tests that seem promising. We need to implement the system as quickly as possible.

Second, we should stop all talks with North Korea, bilaterally or within the six party frameworks as proposed by the Bush Administration. It is a waste of time to talk with them.

Third, we will notify their government through back channel that we have no intention of invading them or attack them at this time. We are a peaceful nation but will not be blackmailed. If they continue to pursue nuclear weapons, be forewarned. If any of their technology is sold outside of N. Korea, we will stop them.

Forth, we will assist all our allies in the area, (South Korea, Japan, Taiwan…) with anti-missile defenses. This is strictly a defensive posture.

Fifth, if North Korea tries to launch a missile against any of their neighbors, we will be forced to defend against such aggression and will respond by launching attack on Pyongyang and targeting Kim Jong Il, its current leader.

Sixth, the US and the UN would stop all threats of sanctions against North Korea because as we have seen in the past with Iraq and others, sanctions only hurt the people and not their government. I would work with their economic/business community to help build up their economy and feed their people in a humanitarian way. We should let the people of North Korea know that we are not their enemy. They have been brainwashed by their government.

END

Everyday Activist for the Common Good

2006-10-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

An Everyday Activist for the Common Good

By: Jack C. Lee
Yorktown Hts. NY
Email: jackclee@optonline.net

October 10, 2006

Recently, I’ve been thinking about what we as common citizens can do to help improve the world around us. I am a Conservative and I do not believe that big government is the answer to all our problems. Government has its role as defined by the Constitution. Providing a strong national defense and a system of law and order are some primary functions for our government. We, as citizens can do a lot to make things better. Some are necessary and some are trivial but never the less when done in large numbers can have a positive effect.

The term “activist” has certain connotations. It is usually ascribed to people who are extreme in their beliefs such as political, environmental and humanitarian and uses their power to drive an agenda. There is nothing wrong with having passion regarding an issue and feeling strongly about it to want to do something to bring about change.

My use of the term activist is more mundane. I think all of us can be an “everyday activist” by doing simple things in our daily activities. What it requires is first an awareness and then a conscious act to follow through.

Let me offer a few examples.

Jury duty – Everyone who is a registered voter or a driver is called upon to serve on a jury every few years. It is our civic duty to participate and it is the foundation of our legal and justice system. Yet, many people are either too busy or too selfish to participate. They will use every excuse to get out of serving. That is a shame and a lack of responsibility. In this case, we need to be aware that jury duty is the backbone of our criminal justice system. Without it, our system will not function correctly. The responsible act will be for everyone who is called and who is qualified to serve.

Security watch – Since post 9/11, we are asked to be aware of our surroundings when traveling in our public transportation system. We are asked to be the eyes and ears on the ground. Any suspicious packages left alone, or any suspicious individuals are to be reported to the nearest police. This is a simple act but when practiced by all will help prevent a terrorist act such as the ones perpetrated in London and Madrid.

Vote – Every two years, we are given the opportunity to vote for our government. That is the basic tenet of a Democracy. However, lately, only about 50% of the people who qualify to vote do vote. That is a shame. If we don’t take the time to study the issues and the candidates and vote for the best, then we only have ourselves to blame when the government let us down. An informed electorate is our best chance for a responsive government. But don’t vote just for the sake of voting. Be an informed voter.

Discuss issues – The old adage that one should never talk about Religion or Politics is wrong. We need to discuss issues so that we have a clearer understanding of the problem, get the facts and then make an intelligent decision. That is not to say we should attack those that we disagree with personal insults. We should engage in a discussion of ideas and solutions with our peers. It could also be a teaching moment for our kids.

Teach the children – In today’s environment, it is not enough for kids to learn from school and text books. They need to learn about life’s challenges and that include finance, morality, social interactions in addition to reading, writing and arithmetic. We as adults have a duty to teach our children to be responsible citizens. We can use either current events or TV show or a movie or sporting event to discuss issues that may be of interest to all of us.

Pay it forward - Reuben St. Clair, the teacher and protagonist in the book “Pay It Forward,” starts a movement with this voluntary, extra-credit assignment: THINK OF AN IDEA FOR WORLD CHANGE, AND PUT IT INTO ACTION. Trevor, the 12-year-old hero of “Pay It Forward,” thinks of quite an idea. He describes it to his mother and teacher this way: "You see, I do something real good for three people. And then when they ask how they can pay it back, I say they have to Pay It Forward. To three more people. Each. so nine people get helped. Then those people have to do twenty-seven." He turned on the calculator, punched in a few numbers. "Then it sort of spreads out, see. To eighty-one. Then two hundred forty-three. Then seven hundred twenty-nine. Then two thousand, one hundred eighty-seven. See how big it gets?"

Common sense – Utilize your common sense and don’t take everything from “experts” as the gospel. Challenge people of power when they are wrong. Take a few minutes and send in a feedback or letter in response to something you read that are incorrect or biased.
Hold politicians and media personnel to account for what they say and do.

Use your money wisely – Support groups that try to make a difference. Shop in companies or stores that are responsible in their activities – both with regard to their customers and their employees. Use the power of economics to hold Corporations responsible. There is power in numbers. If all of us will use our purchase power wisely, there will be less Corporate abuses.

Golden Rule – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Volunteer work – We are all busy. There is not enough time in a day. We are all asked to prioritize our workload. Make some time to help others. It is worth while and also therapeutic and rewarding. Give it a try.

I truly believe that small things can make a big difference. In the book “The Tipping Point”, Malcolm Gladwell described many incidences. By recognizing the power each of us has, we can effect change that will bring good to all of us.
I’ve only given a few examples above but I’m sure you can come up with a list of items that are equally compelling. Be an everyday activist!

END

Letter to Secretary Chertoff - post service on Grand Jury

2006-10-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

To: Secretary Michael Chertoff, Department of Homeland Security
Alberto Gonzeles, US Attorney General
Charles Schumer, US Senator NY
Hillary Clinton, US Senator NY
Sue Kelly, US Congressman NY

cc: Grand Jury Coordinator, US Court Southern District of New York
Foreperson of Grand Jury (September 2006)

October 4, 2006

Dear All:

My name is Jack Lee, a private citizen and a resident of Westchester county NY. Recently, I was selected to serve on a grand jury in the Southern District of NY. It was an eye opening experience for me and educational as well. I learned quite a bit about our current legal system and some of its problems. After discussion with the Grand Jury Coordinator, she suggested I make my views known in the form of this letter. My hope is that by bring attention to this problem, you folks, who are in a position of power, can find a solution either with new legislation or revised policy or both.

The problem I am referring to relates to illegal immigrants and more specific to criminal activities committed by illegal immigrants. In the course of a month, my first hand knowledge obtained in the grand jury room exposes a serious flaw in our current legal system. Let me first acknowledge the excellent and hard work of all involved in trying to bring justice and punishment to those involved. However, they are merely part of a larger system that has been broken for quite a while.

As you are well aware, our country is currently debating the larger question of illegal immigration and how to reform a system that is out of control. This is a complex issue and it involves many factors including economic and social. However, the specific area I’m addressing in this letter pertains to the criminal and legal implications.

The problem in a nutshell is that a disproportionate number of illegal aliens are committing crimes and are clogging our criminal justice system. Let me describe a typical case. An alien from the Dominican Republic is arrested in the US for a felony selling illegal drugs. He is arrested, convicted and went to jail for a few years. He is then deported to the DR. After a few years, he is re-arrested for another crime usually under an alias. This time, he is convicted and sent to prison for a longer term. Years later, under a special fugitive task force by the ICE, he is rounded up and charged with violation of code 1326A with illegal reentry to the US. This, we are told, includes almost 300 cases in just the NY District. Each case can span a period of 20 or more years. Do you see what I mean?

Permit me to offer a simple analogy. Suppose there is a large ship with a leaking hull. The captain of the ship decided to organize a bucket brigade to bail out the water. At first, this seems to work. However, instead of putting ashore to repair the leak, he decided it was easier to keep the brigade going. To a newcomer, this seems a strange sight. He decided to inquire what is going on. Each person on the brigade is just doing his assigned task. When asked about what is going on, they can only respond, just following orders, or it’s not my job or it’s too hard to change the system. But the common sense solution is to just patch the leak and all other problems will go away.

The resources that we are burdened to carry this out are enormous. Just from where I’m sitting, there are 23 jurors, 1 prosecuting attorney, 1 stenographer, 1 special agent to testify, 1 expert to analyze finger prints, 1 ICE staff to search database, arresting officers, judges, legal counsel, prison guards, deportation officer, other support staff and incarceration fees…
In addition, they usually have accumulated a long rap sheet with numerous victims of felonies. All this so we can treat one illegal alien with due process and humane treatment. Once deported, he has no problem finding his way back in the USA.

A wise man once told me the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome.

All studies have shown that a large disproportionate number of crimes are committed by a small minority. By focusing our energy and resources to reducing illegal criminals from entering our country, we can do a lot to reduce both crimes and the burden on our justice system. My proposed solutions are the following:

1. We need to plug the holes both at our borders and at the airports. Use the national guards to secure our borders.
2. We need to address the legal rights of illegal aliens vs. American Citizens. We cannot continue to treat them as equals. There must be some differential between an illegal alien and a US citizen or legal resident.
3. We need to work with other countries such as the Dominican Republic to arrange that they incarcerate their own citizens even if they are caught committing crimes in the US. We can help with some financial subsidies to these countries.
4. We need to stop the current practice of “sanctuary cities” where the local police cannot inquire about the immigration status of criminals they arrest.
5. We need to enforce current and existing laws or else rescind obsolete laws.

The problem I’ve described would not be a problem if the number of violators is small. I would not write this letter if we are dealing with only a handful of cases. However, once the number is large, this becomes a serious problem that requires action.

I have tried to highlight a problem in our current justice system. My duty as a grand juror is to provide some common sense and oversight to our legal system in addition to protect the rights of the accused. My training as an engineer teaches me how to identify problems and to come up with viable solutions. I can’t help it, but my instinct is to tackle this problem the same way. I am just a private citizen, retired and enjoying my golden years. Some people are good at listening, some are good at talking and others are good at doing. Once in a while, you can find one person with all 3 qualities and hopefully that individual will be elected to high office where he or she can make a difference.
I hope all of you can follow through and bring the necessary changes to our system so that future grand jurors will not have to labor through these cases anymore.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely,

Jack C. Lee
A concerned citizen and member of Grand Jury (September 2006)

Yorktown Hts. NY
Email: jackclee@optonline.net

PS – You are welcome to contact me by email with questions or details about my ideas.

END of letter

Oct. 20, 2006 (update)

Since I sent the letters, I've received one response from Rep. Sue Kelly.
I am posting here response letter here. Unfortunately, it does not address my specific concerns but only talk of general policies.

Nov. 2, 2006 (update)

I received the following letter from the DHS.
Again, it did not address my specific concerns.

A “Financial” Solution to the Iraq War

2006-09-18T13:48:00.000-07:00

A “Financial” Solution to the Iraq War

I have been contemplating and searching for a solution to the current Iraq war. Amid the 5th year anniversary of 9/11 and the 2006 mid term election, I found my self thinking “outside the box”, looking for a solution that will be acceptable to all parties.

I think I have come up with a good viable plan and it is simple and elegant though not cheap.

Here are the basic elements of my plan:

1. For every registered Iraqi citizen, a monetary compensation of $10,000 US dollars will be given – no strings attached as to how it is to be spent with the following provision. They must sign an agreement to pledge allegiance to the Iraqi elected government and that they will renounce all violence against Coalition forces and not participate in any sectarian violence. If charged and convicted in a court of law, they will forfeit the balance of the funds.
2. The funds will be administered by a third party for example the Swiss banks and the funds will be placed in the person’s named account with the only stipulation that they can only withdraw 1/5 per annum for the total of 5 years.
3. Assume estimate of 12 Million Iraqi citizens, at 10,000 will equal $120 Billion. Divided over 5 years will require $24 Billion per year. This fund will come from approx. 3 equal sources. 1/3 from the Iraqi oil production. 1/3 from private foundations worldwide and individual donations and 1/3 from the International governments as members of the UN and paying the same portion of contribution towards their UN dues. Any shortfall will be covered by a loan from the World Bank.
4. This is a one time only compensation paid to Iraqi citizens in reparation for years of suffering under Saddam and for the failure of the UN “oil for food” program and for the pain and suffering of the current Iraq war. This is not a new concept since we have made similar payments to Japanese internment families to compensate for past wrongs.
5. A promise by the Coalition countries that all foreign troops will be rotated out from Iraq over the next 6 months to 1 year assuming the “plan” will be implemented and “working”. By “working”, I mean specific measurements of reduction of violence, formation of government ministries, training of police and defense troops and rebuilding of infrastructure.
6. No funds will be provided to any illegal foreigners and an added bonus will be provided to any individual that turns in a foreign fighter to the local police.
7. This plan will be reviewed every 6 months and adjustments made as necessary including canceling of plan if deemed unworkable.

This plan will provide both carrot and stick to insure that violence will be reduced and the various factions working together for the “common good”. It is a ”win-win” plan that few people in and out of Iraq will oppose and in fact I believe all would support.
Though the “plan” is not cheap, it is a viable solution to a difficult situation. Continue fighting in Iraq will cost more deaths and destruction and will cost more money in the long run. This is a humane plan that even all pacifists can support. Money will be well spent for food and necessities and for capital improvements and for starting businesses instead of wasted on arms and weapons and bombs and missiles.

I have only suggested a workable amount for illustration purposes. The actual amount should be determined by professionals that understand the local economy of Iraq better than I. It should be sufficiently large to get each family up on their feet but not too large to deter them from working. That should be the only criteria. Once they understand that they have a future and resources to protect, they will less likely join the resistance and commit suicide by blowing themselves up or kill their neighbors.

My inspiration for this plan came while riding on the Metro North train from Westchester to NYC for my service on a jury. With the 5th year anniversary of 9/11, and the current election cycle, and my recent dialogs with a “liberal” friend who is a Quaker, I came upon this proposal. I hope you will give it a serious consideration and provide feedback.

I look forward to any comments or suggestion or any other viable ideas...

Jack C. Lee
Yorktown Hts. NY
Sept 14, 2006

Reflections of 9/11 - 5 years later

2006-08-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

Reflections of 9/11 – 5 years later
by Jack C. Lee
Yorktown Hts. NY
Aug. 29, 2006

Introduction:

The 5th year anniversary of 9/11 is fast approaching. It made me think back to that fateful day. It was just like any other day. I was at work in my Westchester office, 40 miles north of Manhattan. When the news of the first attack on the WTC reached us, we all thought it was an accident. As we watched the news on TV, seeing the smoke and fire, we saw the second plane crash into the 2nd tower. That’s when it hit me. This was no accident. We are under attack. I was in shock and speechless for quite awhile. I called my wife and she was frantic and I tried to calm her. We tried to call our family members in the area and cannot get through. It was panic and confusion all around. When the news of the first tower collapsing reached me, I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was a mistake. I could not believe such a massive structure could be brought down in such a short time. It was only when I saw the images on TV that it sunk in. Thousands of innocent people were snuffed out in just a few seconds. I was sad for them and their families. I said a silent prayer.
The emotions were hard to describe but I do remember it.

Now, five years later, I still remember that day as if it was yesterday. It’s funny how our mind works. I couldn’t remember what happened last week and yet I could remember an event that happened 5 years ago. I remember being angry and wanting justice. I also remember feeling vulnerable. I felt unsure about the future and wondered whether we will be hit again. In fact, if you were to make me a bet that we would not be hit again in 5 years, I would have taken that bet. And, I would have lost that bet.

We are safer today than prior to that fateful day. We are engaged and by the grace of God, we are stopping them. When you think about it, it is almost like a miracle. But I truly believe miracles do happen.

Heroes and Villains:

We should take the time now to thank all those who are working day and night to protect us. They are our heroes.

1. The Bush Administration – for being vigilant and steadfast.
2. The men and women of our armed forces – for fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.
3. The FBI, CIA and various local police, fire and emergency response units and the TSA and homeland security team – for doing their job.
4. Finally, Thank God for blessing us.

When someone ask me how do you know we are safer today and my answer is simple. The proof is right in front of us. WE HAVE NOT BEEN HIT IN 5 YEARS.
I’m not saying we are totally safe. We can never make that claim. We may be hit again.
That is why we must be vigilant and continue to work to stop them using all the tools at our disposal.

I will name some names that have not been with us in this fight.
1. the ACLU
2. France and Germany and the UN
3. President Jimmy Carter
4. George Soros and MoveOn.org
5. Michael Moore and the elite Hollywood crowd
6. The Liberal Democratic party and Howard Dean
7. The New York Times and other main stream media
8. Congressman John Murtha
9. The few soldiers involved with Abu Ghraib and the prisoner abuse and illegal acts on the battle field.
10. Finally, the unnamed leakers in our government who have leaked our national security information to the media and undermining our efforts. They are misguided “traitors” in my opinion.

Newsflash:

The recent London plot that was uncovered and aborted by British Intelligence is a prime example that we are still in jeopardy. Can you imagine if they had succeeded? The devastation of 10 US cities and the blow to our economy and air transportation system would be incalculable.
Don’t these groups and individuals understand that they are after all of us; not just Republicans and Jews? They are against our whole western culture and religion. They are willing to sacrifice their lives and their children’s lives and kill innocent people to achieve their misguided goal.

The Iraq War

The Iraq war controversy has been a sticking point and it has divided our country.
Let’s revisit this problem and put it all in context. I was watching the recent news conference of President Bush on the war in Iraq and I was disgusted by the line of questioning.
So let me explain it for those that haven’t got it.

I will do this by citing some of the Democratic “talking points” against President Bush with regard to the Iraq war.

1. Bush lied, there was no WMD found in Iraq
2. 9/11 was not connected to Iraq
3. Where is OBL?
4. We went to war alone – without the blessing of the UN, rush to war
5. we wanted their oil
6. no plan and no strategy in Iraq
7. Abu Ghraib atrocities and Gitmo Bay incarceration
8. We are creating new terrorists…
9. Valerie Plame leakgate
10. Patriot Act abuse of our rights
11. NSA surveillance questionable and un-Constitutional
12. The neoCon is responsible for this war since day one.

My responses point by point:

1. Bush did not lie about Iraq’s WMDs. He was given the same faulty intelligence by the CIA. Saddam was the deceiver and he created the situation that made it necessary for us to act and we acted in good faith.
2. No one claimed 9/11 was orchestrated by Saddam or that they played any role. However, after 9/11, the Bush Administration adopted the 1% doctrine which in effect said that if there was a 1% chance that Saddam could pass off his WMD to some terrorist groups, we must act and preempt to stop him.
3. OBL is hiding in some cave. He is a figure head for Al Queda. He has no power to execute more attacks. He will be caught and brought to justice.
4. There was no rush to war with Saddam. It was after 12 years of ineffective sanctions, UN oil for food scandals, defying the no-fly zone, and 17 UN resolutions that we acted along with many coalition forces.
5. We did not touch one drop of Iraq’s oil. They are reserved for the Iraqi people.
6. There is a strategy to win in Iraq. See: Iraq Strategy
The tactics are being adapted to changes on the ground constantly.
7. Abu Ghraib atrocities was not torture. It was inappropriate behavior on the part of some soldiers who have been charged, prosecuted and punished.
8. We are fighting the Islamic Fascists on their turf. We may be creating new terrorists but they are being created with or without our actions in Iraq. Did we create any more or less prior to 9/11?
9. Valerie Plame was not a secret agent. She did not qualify to be covered by this law. This incident was the creation of a press bent on attacking Karl Rove. There was no leak and there was no law broken.
10. No one I know has lost any rights because of the Patriot Act.
11. NSA surveillance is necessary and part of an array of tools being used by our intelligence community to protect us.
12. President Bush has put his legacy on the line for this war. He did what he thinks is “right” and he stands by it even when no WMD was found.

Here is the reality check. The Iraq war is part of the global effort to stop Islamic Fascist movement. Saddam was a threat and have been for 12 years. The Bush Administration adopted the 1% Doctrine in dealing with Saddam.

Suppose, they did not go into Iraq, if we were to be hit again, (if traced to Saddam),
the same people who are criticizing the Bush Administration now would be calling for his impeachment for not doing anything about Saddam. Do you see the dilemma?

If you were in charge, what would you do?

Here is what I believe are the 3 objectives in Iraq:
1. Remove a tyrant that has oppressed his own people and has the potential to cause more harm to the rest of the world with his WMD stockpile.
2. Change the status quo in the Middle East so that the people have a chance at democracy and self rule.
3. Keep the Al Queda elements occupied in that arena so that we don’t have to deal with them here.

In the daily reports 24/7 coverage of the Iraq war, I often wonder if this was going on during WWII 60 years ago, will we have won that war? In any war, there are tragedies and mistakes and even abuses. If the media chooses to focus on those elements and not report on the “big picture,” are they doing their job? I’m not saying they can’t question the Administration on policy. We have a democratic government and freedom of the press. They should act responsibly and not undermine our war efforts.

Where do we go now and what should we do with Iraq?

Success in Iraq would be the establishment of a democratic type of government that is responsive to its people and wants to live in harmony with their neighbors and the World.

Recently, I have heard two proposals that warrant some consideration.
One by Bill O’Reilly and one by Congressmen Chris Shays.
Bill O’Reilly - Bill O'Reilly Commentary on August 24, 2006.
Basically, to summarize, he believes that Iraq should be divided into 3 parts, Kurds, Sunnis and Shites. That will stop the sectarian violence currently in progress.

Congressman Shays proposes a scheduled withdraw of our troops out of Iraq.
Congressman Shays plan.
As the Iraqi forces become trained and enabled, we will draw down our troops over the next year or so. That will force the Iraqi government to take over the heavy lifting that they are avoiding right now.

Both are viable solutions going forward and should be debated. Where is the Democratic proposal? I like to know. Don’t tell me we have to be “smarter”. I want specific policy and actionable items. I do believe whether you are for or against this war, right now, we should all agree that losing in Iraq is a bad thing, and that we need to pull together and do what ever it takes to win. That is the best we can do for the 2600 soldiers and their families who have sacrificed their lives in the name of World peace.

The Bush scorecard so far in less than 6 years in power:

Accomplishments:
1. Appointed two excellent Conservative justices to the Supreme Court.
2. Freed and liberated 25 million people in Afghanistan.
3. Removed a tyrant leader Saddam Hussein and killed his two sons.
4. Freed and liberated 25 Million people in Iraq.
5. Put an end to the UN “oil for food” scandal.
6. Convinced, indirectly, Libya’s leader Gaddafi to stop acquiring WMDs.
7. Enacted tax cuts to stimulate our economy and recovered after recession and the adverse effects of 9/11.
8. Enacted the Pension reform bill.
9. Enacted the prescription drug assistance bill.
10. Helped with the Tsunami rescue and recovery efforts in 2004.
11. Appointed qualified leaders to the UN, the Cabinets and various high ranking government positions.
12. Have the most diverse Administration in history including (Gonzales as AG, Rice as Secretary of State, Elaine Chao as Secretary of Labor, Bolton to the UN)
13. Put Al Queda on the run, and killed al-Zarqawi.
14. Presided over the economic boom we are currently experiencing including:
• Highest home ownership and low mortgage rates
• Low unemployment rate of 4.8%
• Dow at near high of 11300
• GDP growth
• Inflation in check despite high oil prices
• Record Corp. earnings report
• Construction boom both commercial and residential

Disappointments:

1. Failure of our intelligence community (CIA,FBI) in the run up to the Iraq war.
2. Failure to reform Social Security.
3. Failure to control our borders and dealing with the growing illegal immigration crisis.
4. Failing top propose and adopt a long term energy policy to free us from imported oil.
5. Failure to hold down deficit spending by Congress.
6. Failure to reform the UN.
7. Response to Katrina.

To be fair, in this one year anniversary of the Katrina natural disaster, we should acknowledge that that was a storm of the century and no amount of preparation was going to be sufficient to deal with the aftermath. Yes, we could have done more at the time but I doubt any human efforts will be able to satisfy any outside critic.
The lesson of Katrina should be – Don’t put your family’s security solely at the door of your government. There are times when they cannot help and you must rely on your own preparations and use some common sense. Don’t ignore Mother Nature.

Final Scores (my assessment):

Bush Team: B+
Congress: C- (House of Rep.: C, Senate: D)
Supreme Court: B-

Democratic Team (DNC): F
United Nations: F
FEMA: F
Homeland Security: B

The reason I gave the Democratic team a failing grade is that they have not offered any solutions to our current problems. They have been engaged in name calling and criticism but offer very little substance. I guess I see them as small kids throwing a temper tantrum. When they don’t get their way, they try to scream and yell and acting irresponsibly.
The Administration, whether you agree with them or not, at least are acting as adults and doing what they perceived as the “right” and “necessary” thing however unpopular. Another word, they are not governing by polls. That is the true sign of leadership as demonstrated by Ronald Reagan back in the 1980s. He succeeded in bringing down the Soviet Empire and ended the cold war without firing a shot. It was unpopular at the time but he triumphed on basic principle.

Conclusion:

The bottom line is - who do you trust to be in control at the White House?
For me, the answer is clear as night and day.
I trust the Bush Administration to do the “right” thing.

If you think we are on the wrong track and the world is against us, ask yourself this. Why are millions of people around the world trying to get here legally and illegally?
Could it be that the media is doing some wishful thinking?

My personal response to 9/11 has been, in recent months, trying to help the WTC memorial foundation achieve their goals.
I have been in communications with them and trying to get them to step up the pace.
The delay associated with this project has been enormous and political in nature.
I hope the controversy has ended and the construction begun.
Please help in anyway you can and visit the site:
WTC Memorial Foundation.
They need our financial support. We need the memorial to help us heal.

As I look back these 5 years, I see tragedy and I see heroism. I see sadness and I see hope.
I see a bright future for our country after surviving such a devastating attack and coming back stronger and better.
We must never forget.
I am a student of History. I’m reminded of the quote by
George Santayana. “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
We should all get engaged, get informed, get involved and become part of the solution and not part of the problem.
May God continue to bless the USA.

Final prayer:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.
Courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference.

END

Some useful links...

2006-08-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

Useful Links:

1. Search – google
2. Real estate – zillow
3. News – Drudge
4. Travel directions – mapquest
5. Airline tickets - mobissimo
6. Family tree – tribalpages
7. Books – amazon
8. Auctions – eBay
9. Photo Album – webshots
10. Photo Print service – snapfish
11. Financial – yahoo fanance
12. Banking - ING
13. Art and Museum - global Museum
14. Blog - blogger
15. Magazine - Smithsonian
16. Movies - IMDB
17. Browser - mozilla
18. College Financial Aid - FAFSA
19. US Economy - US Economy
20. Religious link - Joel Osteen
21. Debt relief - Dave Ramsey
22. Investing advice - magicformula
23. Investing info - Bob Brinker
24. Online books search - google books
25. Financial news - Financial Sense
26. Polling report - polling report
27. Inspirational - A life that matters
28. Food and restaurants reviews - chow hound
29. Charities - Catholic charities
30. Computers help - cnet
31. Product reviews - Consumer Union
32. Retirement info - AARP
33. References - REFDESK
34. Conservative commentator - Rush Limbaugh
35. Good weekly column - Bill O’Reilly
36. Tech. job site - DICE
37. Media watch dog - Media Research
38. Government spending watch dog - CAGW
39. Medical info - WebMD
40. Music download - limewire

END

My Family Tree

2006-08-29T07:04:00.000-07:00

My family tree site:
Lee_Ma Family tree

Da Vinci Code and State of Fear – What do they have in common?

2006-05-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

Da Vinci Code and State of Fear – What do they have in common?

The recent controversy over Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code book and movie brings to mind another recent book by Michael Crichton’s State of Fear. Both are promoted as fictional stories based on “facts”. What else is eerily similar about the two?

Just to summarize, The Da Vinci Code is about Christ and Mary Magdelene who, Dan Brown writes, were married and had a child who escaped to the south of France and it is this “holy grail” that is in reality the blood line of Christ that is being hidden from the public and guarded by a secret society down through the ages. The Catholic Church has been paying large sums of money to keep this quiet and to preserve their power and influence. The list of secret grandmasters includes Da Vinci and numerous other famous artists and scientists and intellectuals who have left various enigmatic clues in their works to enlighten the curious. A murder mystery provides the backdrop for this story.

In the case of State of Fear, Michael Crichton has created a fictional account of a non-profit organization using deception on a grand scale to convince the public the dangers of Global warming and in the process raising tons of money for research that is never ending. They exaggerate the data to support their theory and ignore others that contradict them. They are even willing to kill mass innocent people to achieve their goals. The end justifies the means philosophy not unlike Marxist tactics in the past.

At first, these seem like two very different stories and both highly successful fictions that were on the New York Times bestsellers list for a very long time.
On a closer examination, there are strange similarities that are hard to ignore.
Both subjects are dealing with ideologies that are based mostly on faith. The Resurrection of Christ and human caused Global warming are both based more on faith than facts.
I must make a distinction here about “global warming” the phenomenon and “global warming” the theory. It is true that we are experiencing a period of temperature raising around the globe in recent years however that does not translate automatically to the fact that human activities in the late 20th century is the cause. The theory that global warming is caused by fossil fuel and CO2 emissions is the article of faith that we are asked to accept. The Earth has gone through numerous periods of warming and cooling cycles in the past. What portion of that is due to human activity is the big question.
It is almost like “religion” that the mass majority of students are taught that humans harm the environment and that human activities cause global warming. Ask any elementary school children and they will give you this matter of fact response. The same can be said of Christ if you ask any Christian about their belief in the resurrection.

I have strong personal opinions on both and I will state them right now. I am a Roman Catholic by conversion. I do belief in Christ and the Word of God – the Bible. I also believe there is evil in this world and the devil is behind the evil doers. Therefore to me, the Da Vinci Code is a provocative fictional story that tries to attack my faith and undermine the teachings of my Church though in a subtle way. It is a fast paced action filled story with twist and turns which includes puzzles that are fascinating to solve. It is a work of fiction. It also contains some innuendos and falsehoods that harm a real organization called Opus Dei. That is unacceptable for a fictional story to implicate a real organization. There should have been a disclaimer at the front of the book and the movie.

On Global warming, I also have a strong opinion that is contrary to conventional wisdom.
My belief is based on my training as an engineer and scientist and on my common sense. It is hard to explain away the past history of our planet which consisted of numerous warm and cold cycles in the absence of fossil fuel which only came into existence in the last 100 years or so. It is naïve for us to believe that we can affect the global climate when we are so small in the grand scheme of things. We have done a lot in science to help predict the weather in short periods but we are no way close to changing or controlling our climate. Especially in the face of other natural disasters such as earth quakes, volcanic activities and even extra terrestrial meteorites, it is hard to imagine that we can do much to affect our Earth’s climate.

As far as the claim of a hoax by the Catholic Church regarding the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ, I have a strong argument to counter. If the whole thing is a hoax, how do you explain the Apostles who were witness to many of the workings and teachings of Christ, who were persecuted for their beliefs and who died defending their faith? Would you or any sane person do so to perpetrate a hoax?
Also, a more revealing question should be asked and not addressed by Dan Brown, is why would the descendants of Christ want to participate in this hoax down the years?
What do they have to gain by going through all this secrecy and treachery? Wouldn’t you want to clear your family name if you are a true descendant of Christ? The bottom line is conspiracy theories are abundant but very few stand the test of time. Knowing human nature, at some time and some point, the falsehood comes to light and the whole thing falls apart at the seams. On the other hand, who can make predictions that comes true 100% of the time? Who has made such impact on our civilization 2000 years later after His death? Who is worshiped around the world without coercion but by their own will?
Who gave the most precious gift of all – his own life to save a friend? Who has lived by the Golden rule and is without sin? I can go on and on but I don’t have to. I’m convinced that Jesus is the Lord and Savior and his Kingdom will never end. He lives in our hearts.

The big question for global warming activists is what part of global warming is due to human activity? If the contribution is 2%, then the argument is moot. If however, they claim it is 25% or more, then that’s a different ballgame. I read an account of the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883. It describes the following:
Here are some highlights from their summary of effects:
1. The explosions were heard on Rodriguez Island, 4653 km distant across the Indian Ocean, and over 1/13th of the earth's surface.
2. Ash fell on Singapore 840 km to the N, Cocos (Keeling) Island 1155 km to the SW, and ships as far as 6076 km WNW. Darkness covered the Sunda Straits from 11 a.m. on the 27th until dawn the next day.
3. Giant waves reached heights of 40 m above sea level, devastating everything in their path and hurling ashore coral blocks weighing as much as 600 tons.
4. At least 36,417 people were killed, most by the giant sea waves, and 165 coastal villages were destroyed.
5. When the eruption ended only 1/3 of Krakatoa, formerly 5x9 km, remained above sea level, and new islands of steaming pumice and ash lay to the north where the sea had been 36 m deep.
6. Every recording barograph in the world documented the passage of the airwave, some as many as 7 times as the wave bounced back and forth between the eruption site and its antipodes for 5 days after the explosion.
7. Tide gauges also recorded the sea wave's passage far from Krakatoa. The wave "reached Aden in 12 hours, a distance of 3800 nautical miles, usually traversed by a good steamer in 12 days".
8. Blue and green suns were observed as fine ash and aerosol, erupted perhaps 50 km into the stratosphere, circled the equator in 13 days.
9. Three months after the eruption these products had spread to higher latitudes causing such vivid red sunset afterglows those fire engines were called out in New York, Poughkeepsie, and New Haven to quench the apparent conflagration. Unusual sunsets continued for 3 years.
10. Rafts of floating pumice-locally thick enough to support men, trees, and no doubt other biological passengers-crossed the Indian Ocean in 10 months. Others reached Melanesia, and were still afloat two years after the eruption.
11. The volcanic dust veil that created such spectacular atmospheric effects also acted as a solar radiation filter, lowering global temperatures as much as 1.2 degree C in the year after the eruption. Temperatures did not return to normal until 1888.
Does this sound like anything remotely close to what we humans can do today or any period in our history? How can we be the cause of global warming when a volcanic eruption can affect Earth’s weather over 3 years period?
For those who are spiritual and yet anti-established religion, I have a few comments which you might want to consider. Don’t focus on the 5% bad that the Church is involved in to justify your conviction. Don’t forget the other 95% good that the Church performs everyday. The Church is made up of humans and as we all know, humans have flaws. We should all have faith in God but not in man or his institutions. The Church is necessary as an organization to promote and spread the Good News. It is not perfect. It is unfair to criticize the Church and hold it responsible for the evil that is in some man. The Priest sex scandal is not an indictment of all Catholics and the Roman Catholic Church. Catholic Charities does a lot of good all over the world.

One final observation, both of these “theories” are due for a showdown in not too distant future. If you belief in the claims of the global warming alarmist, in a few short decades, our climate changes will have devastating effect on our planet including coastal flooding, mass species extinctions and natural disasters. If you belief the religious fundamentalist, they claim that we are living in the last days. This generation will not pass when Christ’s second coming will be preceded by various global catastrophes and leading to Armageddon, where good will triumph over evil.

Jack C. Lee
May 29, 2006

How to repair Palm Tungsten E2 (replace battery)

2006-05-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

How to replace the rechargeable battery on a Palm Tungsten E2:

Tools required:

1. TORX T5 screw driver (gotten from web or included as part of the battery order)
2. Small flat tipped screw driver (i.e. for repair of glasses)
3. glue

Part required:
Replacement battery (Palm Tungsten E2 Replacement Battery 1050mAh GA1Y41551) – approx. cost $20 on eBay.
Directions:
1. Turn over the Palm PDA on the backside and place on a flat surface.
2. Use the TORX screw driver and remove the 4 screws at the corners.
3. Use the small flat screwdriver and separate the bottom half of the case from the body. Be careful not to probe too deep into the device. Work slowly around all the edges and slowly rock the 2 parts apart. There are 4 slots on the sides that hold the 2 parts together. There is not too much room for the 2 pieces to be separated due to the wire connection between the battery and the mother board.
4. Once apart, the battery is located on the back side of the case with a small wire connected to a connector that is plugged on the mother board.
5. Use the small flat screw driver to separate the connector and the two parts should be free.
6. Again use the small flat driver and pry off the battery from the back of the case.
7. Replace the new battery in the same position and orientation using a small amount of glue to hold it in place.
8. Plug the wire onto the mother board, the plug is keyed and will only go in one way. Push to snap in place.
9. Replace the back by aligning the four screws and carefully snap into place.
10. Replace the four screws using the TORX screw driver. Do not over tighten.

Done
Recharge fully and perform "reset". Good as new!!!

Jack Lee
May12, 2006
jackclee@optonline.net

Personal Finance 101

2006-05-08T07:38:00.000-07:00

Personal Finance 101

1. Credit cards - Never use a debit card. They can incur fees and also
if lost can cause losses to your account. Obtain a credit card that gives
rebates. Some card will give you 1% back on all your purchases each month.
Always pay off your monthly balance - on time. Never let the revolving
credit kick in. They can charge you as high as 18% interest or more on your
balance month after month.

2. Banking - Select a bank that will provide free-checking and have low
minimum balance requirements. Always maintain the minimum balance in the
account or they will charge you fees every time you go below the balance.
Pick an on-line bank such as ING which currently pays (4.15% interests as of
4/2006) which is much higher than any commercial bank. They will allow you
to link the account to any checking account from another bank so that you
can transfer money back and forth within a day.

3. Retirement saving - If your company has a 401K plan, you should take
advantage of it. They usually have a match percent as incentive to enroll.
If you can, put away the maximum percent allowed. This will give you "free"
money and will compound tax free until you retire. It is the best saving for
your retirement. The earlier you enroll, the most you will get out of it.

4. Compounding formula - the Rule of 72. The rule says that to find the
number of years required to double your money at a given interest rate, you
just divide the interest rate into 72. For example, if you want to know how
long it will take to double your money at eight percent interest, divide 8
into 72 and get 9 years. If you at age 22, put away $5000 per year, for 43
years with 6% interest compounded monthly, you will have over $1 Million
dollars by age 65. Never underestimate the power of compounding - Time is on
your side.

5. Taxes - You should always try to minimize your income taxes by legal
means. By itemizing your deductions, you can reduce your taxes. Keep good
records, and save your receipts.

6. The best deduction is your home mortgage. Your house is usually your
most valued possession. When you are young, save for the down payment,
usually 20% of the sale price. Once you have it, buy a starter home. Once
you have a house, you can use "leverage" to work for you and also get the
mortgage tax deduction. It's like getting a double bonus. Leverage comes
when you buy something of value with borrowed money. When the value of the
house goes up, you are making a huge return on your small investment. When
you are ready to trade up, you will have enough equity built in so that it
won't be so painful.

7. Credit Score - It is very important to maintain a good credit score.
This will allow you to obtain a lower rate loan. To get a good credit score,
make sure you pay all your bills on-time. You can get a free copy of your
credit report once a year. Checkout www.freecreditreport.com

8. Passive Investments - (Mutual Funds) - If you don't want to actively
manage your investments, select a no fee (no load) mutual fund such as
Vanguard family of funds. Put your extra funds (savings) into the fund on a
regular basis (monthly or every pay period). This will automatically "dollar
cost average" your investments. Check the statements once or twice a year to
see how well your fund is doing compared to others and if necessary move it
around to get the better returns.

9. Active investments - (Stocks) - If you want to actively trade
stocks, you need to do your homework. You will need to monitor your stocks
on a daily or weekly basis. You should only buy stocks you know (companies
you understand) and buy through a discount broker that charge low fees ($7
per trade). Buy stocks using limits. Don't over pay for a stock. Once you
buy it, put an automatic "stop loss order" on it so that if the value of the
stock drop below 10% of your purchase price, it will automatically sell and
thereby minimizing your total loss. You also need to diversify your
holdings. Don't put more than 5% of your total investments in any given
stock. Try to pick companies from different business sectors. Recently, the
energy sector and the precious metals sector have done extremely well. Don't
be too greedy. Once you make 25% gain, you should cash out some to preserve
your winnings.

10. Budgeting - You need to setup a simple budget that tracks all your
expenses, on a monthly basis. Make sure you include items that you pay
annually such as insurance, taxes.Check this against your income and see
what the delta is. Any extra money left should be put into your savings
account. You will need about 6 months of funds for your emergency - such as
if you loose your job. You must adjust your spending to within your income
level. Don't forget, even millionaires can go broke. If you spend more than
you make - you will go broke. That is true with income of $1 Million or
$20,000 per year. You must live within your means.

11. Charity - You should always count your blessings and donate a small
percentage of your income to Charity. It is tax deductible.

12. Debts - Avoid any debt, personal or business. Debts should only be
incurred for a house or a car or emergencies. When ever possible, pay off
your debts. You will sleep better and have less stress. You will feel "free".

-Jack C. Lee

jackclee@optonline.net

May 7, 2006

Two views of America in 2006

2006-05-04T09:28:00.000-07:00

Two views of America in 2006

Depending on whether you are a “half full” or “half empty” kind of person when it comes to current view of our country, here is the run down as I see it.

Economy –
It is running on all cylinders, unemployment is low, corp. earnings is high, stock market near 6 years high, inflation is in check, home ownership all time high, construction booming all around, foreign trade is up and GDP is at a healthy pace…

Wages are stagnant, saving rate low, more jobs are outsourced overseas, record trade deficit, record national debt, fraud common on wall street, CEO compensation through the roof, unions are toothless and minimum wage have not increased in 6 years, inflation on the rise, millions of illegal workers are living in the shadows, more people are in debt and not saving enough for their retirement…

Iraq War / war on terror –
We have liberated 25 Million Iraqis from a brutal dictator. They have experienced democracy first hand and have had free elections and have created a government. The Iraqi army and police are being trained to take over and they are dealing with an insurgency. Al Qaeda is on the run and we are defeating them slowly but surely.

We went to war in Iraq under false pretenses. The country is on the brink of civil war. US soldiers are dying for no good reason. We are making enemies worldwide. We are one attack away from another 9/11 or worse. The UN is doing what it can to bring peace and we are mucking it up. Bin Laden is still on the loose and releasing tapes and calling for our destruction. We are less safe than before 9/11.

Energy Crisis –
We are having a temporary logistic problem and therefore causing local supply shortages which lead to increase prices at the pump. We are still paying much less for gas compared to the Europeans. The global economy and China and India are what’s driving the extra consumption of fuel which is a good sign for the global economy. The high prices are just a normal supply/demand issue and not a sign of inflation.

The large oil companies are working in conjunction with the Administration to gouge the American consumer. They are destroying our environment and causing global warming. We are in an unjust war in Iraq because of our desire for cheap oil. We are driving our SUV’s back to the stone age.

Homeland Security / Illegal Immigration/FEMA –
We are making progress in securing our homeland. We learned some deficiencies in the after math of Katrina and we are making adjustments. However, the lesson should be that we can not rely completely on government for keeping us safe. We need to be proactive in trying to protect our family and our homeland.

Our borders are not secure. Illegal immigration is rampant. FEMA is broken and un-fixable. The government is totally ineffective in protecting the most vulnerable. It is wasting our tax dollars and we are less safe today than pre-9/11.

Cultural War –
We are winning and the best example is the latest 2 appointments to the Supreme Court by President Bush. Faith is on the rise in America and we are a compassionate and tolerating people. People are not afraid to say “Merry Christmas” and challenge the ACLU on a host of issues relating to religious symbols in the public square.

There is no war on Christmas. It is only in the imagination of the far right. We are in danger of losing abortion rights. Roe v. Wade is near to be overturned. We are losing our privacy and the protection of the Bill of Rights. We are being spied upon without a court order. People are being thrown into jail with due process as in Guantanamo Bay. The Christian right have taken over our government and pushing to ban gay marriage.

The truth lies somewhere in between. The question is - Which view do you want to take and which view do you want to cheer for?

END

Official response from Exxon Corp.

2006-05-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

This is the official letter from Exxon in response to my letter regarding the $400 Million compensation package given to retired CEO Lee Raymond.
It is a pre-canned letter from the Chairman of their Compensation Committee.
It did not address any specifics but does DEFENDS the compensation as just and claims his compensation as standard practice available to all Exxon employees...
The letter speaks for itself.

Exxon Mobil Corporation
5959 Las Colinas Boulevard
Irving, TX 75039-2298
April 26, 2006
Mr. Jack Lee
Submitted via e-mail: jackclee@optonline.net
Dear Mr. Lee,
I appreciate you taking the time to write me a note. I want to assure you that we carefully
considered all elements of Mr. Raymond's compensation and benefits in the context of his long
career and the very strong performance of the company during his tenure as Chairman and CEO.
During his over 12 years of service as CEO of the company, ExxonMobil achieved industry leading
returns on capital employed and increased total shareholder value five-fold.
As you indicate, there have been a number of recent media reports regarding Mr. Raymond’s
compensation as Chairman and CEO. It is important to note that Mr. Raymond’s 2005
compensation reflected ExxonMobil’s very strong business performance, the long-term nature of
his leadership of the corporation, and a very long and distinguished career with the company. His
pension benefits are based on more than 40 years of service with the company and are calculated
using the same pension formulas that apply to all other U.S. dollar - paid employees in the pension
plans in which he participated.
With the input of an independent consultant, Mr. Raymond's compensation was determined by the
Compensation Committee of the Board, which is comprised of non-employee directors. This
committee determined that Mr. Raymond's compensation is commensurate with his performance,
long experience and the significant expertise that he brought to the company. More detail and
information regarding the compensation strategy of the company and the basis for the
compensation of senior executives is available in the proxy statement, which can be accessed
through the internet at ExxonMobil.com or you can write to Exxon Mobil Corporation, Investor
Relations, 5959 Las Colinas Boulevard, Irving, TX 75039-2298 to obtain a hard copy.
Thank you for your continued loyalty as a shareholder.
Sincerely,
Original signed by:
William R. Howell, Chairman
Compensation Committee

The current oil crisis - 30 years in the making...

2006-04-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

Out Current Energy Crisis – 30 years in the making…

Recently, the price of gasoline has jumped to over $3.00 per gallon. It is not so much the price of gas but the rate of growth that has captured the attention of the public. This price as high as it is, is not the highest in our history when adjusted for inflation. The peak was set back in 1981. http://oregonstate.edu/Dept/pol_sci/fac/sahr/gasol.htm

The problem with our energy industry is 30 years in the making. It is a complex issue and must be understood within our history - where we have been in order to arrive at realistic solutions.

The oil crisis is the culmination of all the following factors:

1. The government (federal, state and local) has created regulations and has overseen consolidations in the oil industry, prevented drilling, prevented construction of refineries and has instituted various taxes that all contributed to the current high costs.
2. The oil companies along with their high priced lobbies have exerted influence on government (Republican and Democrat) to create a constrained environment that discourage competition and reap windfall profits at the expense of the public.
3. The auto companies have been reluctant to create fuel efficient cars and slow to adopt hybrids. You can argue that they are only responding to the market place – the desire of the public to buy large SUVs.
4. The environmentalists have been working through their lobbies and high profile spokesman to convince our politicians and our local governments and the public of the “evil” of fossil fuel and the effect on global warming and the harming the environment.
5. OPEC has been an organization that maintains a tight grip on oil production in the Middle East (the largest portion of oil production in the world). They engage in price/supply control on this commodity strictly for their own gain. In our desire and need for their oil, we have engaged in foreign policy that have not always been fair to the people of Middle East region – especially the Arabs.
6. The Global community that has a growing appetite for oil energy. This is not necessary a bad thing. It is a sign that our global economy is growing and thriving. More people around the world is working and improving their lives. Unfortunately, this puts greater pressure on our energy supply.
7. The American public has been made addicted to cheap oil and gas. Our way of life has been shaped by our housing, driving, commuting and recreational habits – all related to cheap oil. When the price of gas change suddenly, it is difficult to adjust. By contrast, in Europe, the current price of gasoline is approx. $6 per gallon.

The solution to our problem requires some short term and long term actions. These are not easy steps but necessary in order for our long term security and energy independence.

Short term actions:

1. The public must treat this as a “wake up” call. We need to conserve and cut back our energy consumption by (5 or 10%). We can combine shopping trips. We can buy more fuel efficient cars and build more energy saving homes. We can choose to use more public transportation. This is a behavior change that will have the most impact on prices. By reducing the “demand”, we can affect the “prices”.

2. The President can issue an executive order to suspend some fuel regulation having to do with seasonal fuel mix blends to reduce pollution. This would be a temporary measure to relieve the current spot shortages of refined gasoline. We do not have a shortage of crude oil at this time.

3. Our local governments can suspend or put caps on their tax collection on the sale of gasoline. There is no good reason why a State should collect more sales tax on gasoline. It was only put in place as an easy accounting/collection mechanism that assumed the relative stable prices of a commodity. When the prices of gas increase by 10-20 percent in a month, there is no reason why the State should benefit from this windfall.

4. Boycott any oil company that engage in price gouging or aggressive pricing or abuse of share holders. Companies such as Exxon, who consistently charge higher prices on gas and give exorbitant compensation to their executives need to be sent a message from their consumers and customers. A good site for check for lowest prices in your area - http://www.gasbuddy.com/
I am not naïve enough to believe that “boycott” alone will reduce prices. However, it will send a clear message to the oil executives that we are watching them. Don’t think we are helpless. There is real power in numbers.
Exxon’s CEO pension is the last straw -
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1841989&page=1&gma=true&gma=true

5. Local governments must crack down on any signs of price gouging by local dealers.

6. Finally, Don’t panic. You don’t need to top off your tank.

Long term actions:

1. Invest in alternative fuel technology such as fuel cell.
2. Allow for oil exploration in a responsible manner.
3. Government can provide land for construction of refineries in remote areas away from population centers and away from hurricane or earthquakes prone areas.
4. Government can pass reasonable MPG limits on new production of auto and SUV and trucks.
5. We the people can hold our elected officials responsible for action or inaction. The same politicians that get re-elected year after year are the ones that created this mess. We need to vote them out of office and get some new talent and new ideas into Washington. This is a non partisan issue.

To answer the “experts” and pendants who claim that this is merely a “supply” and “demand” issue. The price of gas is what it is due to “free market” forces. I say they are wrong on all counts. Because of all the conditions in play today, we “do not” have a “free market” condition in play. If we did, I would not be complaining. I believe strongly in the capital system. I am from the Milton Friedman School of economics. However, in order to have “free market” forces to work, there must be a level playing field. I believe greed and lobbies and the elites and the environmental extremists and self serving politicians have all contributed to the climate of “status quo”. The government and oil companies are making huge windfall profits at the expense of the public consumer and there is little incentive for them to change.
There is one silver lining in this whole crisis. It has put the spot light on a real problem. Let’s hope it won’t take 30 more years before it is addressed.

Illegal immigration solution

2006-03-27T10:29:00.000-08:00

Illegal immigration and illegal drugs – similarities and solutions

The current debate over illegal immigration is a very emotional issue. That is why it is often hard to have an honest debate and cut through the noise. I have found it is often helpful to analyze a problem by looking at something else similar with the same attributes and hopefully reach a conclusion or solution that is devoid of the emotional aspects.

How is the illegal drug problem similar to the illegal immigration issue?
Let look at some facts. They are both “illegal” activities. They share the same avenue where most of the traffic comes into our country – the Mexican border.
There is high profit for the people engaged in these activities. There are many victims from the teenagers who are hooked into habitual drug use to the migrant workers who are underpaid exploited. There are violent criminal elements in both activities from drug lords to ethnic gangs. They are both growing problems that challenge the government’s efforts to combat them. In a way, I think the government is ineffective because there is no will to follow through with the tough actions necessary to stop these activities. There are people in power who want the status quo because they are making a huge profit from these illegal activities.

Lets exam the most compelling reason that people often give for having illegal immigrants in our country. They say “we need these workers to do the work that American workers don’t want to do and they provide the cheap labor that drives our economy”.

A comparable argument in the illegal drug trade is that we “the American public” desire the drugs and create the demand so that the illegal activities are providing a service and feeding our habits. If we remove the demand, the problem will go away”. In a matter of speaking, our cravings are the basic cause for the illegal drug trade.

Just as I believe the second argument is totally bogus, I also believe the first premise to be false. It is true that we like cheap labor and we are relying on them in our homes, our restaurants and our fruit and vegetable fields. In fact, I would go as far to say we are “addicted” to them. That is not to say we “need” them or that they are good for our economy. The same can be said for illegal drugs. We can say that some of us are “addicted” to them and they will do almost anything to get them legally or illegally. They are not necessary for our well being. In fact, just the opposite is true.
In the long run, both are bad for our country. Illegal immigration will create a perpetual underclass in our society. Illegal drugs will enslave a portion of our youth to crime and addiction that will have devastating effect on their lives.

Once we recognize the similarities between the two problems, perhaps we can deal with the realities and move towards an honest solution to both problems. They do also share some overlapping solutions. That’s a very good thing.

There are many sides to both issues. There are some who claims that the law is the problem. If we make them legal, then all problems will go away. In the illegal drug case, the claim is that the law makes the cost of drug too high which encourages illegal traffic and induce criminal activities upon the addicts. In the case of illegal immigrants, if they are allowed to come without restrictions “open borders” or they come with a “guest worker” program or we expand legal immigration, then all problems will go away. Is this true?

In my opinion, this is insane. Will you want to allow anyone to use cocaine or crack or LSD or any of the variety of designer drugs without any checks? In the same vain, will you want to open our borders so that anyone who wants to can come here and live?

Once we reach consensus on the problem, we can work towards a real solution without the emotions and the false charges of racism or xenophobia.

In 2006, the illegal drugs have several components – the traffic into the country, the illegal dealings on the streets and the illegal profits by banks and money laundering and the millions of people who are already addicted to these drugs.
In the same token, the illegal immigration has several components – the illegal crossing into our borders, the illegal hiring of un-documented workers and the abuses and burden of our public facilities such as hospitals, and schools and welfare agencies and the estimated 11 million illegal and their families that are already here.

Here is one solution that will help us win the war on drugs and at the time win our country back from illegal aliens and immigration.

1. Secure our borders with the help of our National Guards. This will stop most of the traffic of drugs and illegal immigrants crossing our Southern borders.
2. Deport the illegals and criminals caught and staying in our prisons. Stop the current catch and release policy.
3. Target the institutions that help the current law breakers including the banks and the organized crime businesses that engage in human trafficking and illegal drug activities. They will be fined heavily for breaking existing law.
4. Offer a national registration program that will give current illegals a way to get registered and provide them with legal documentation for both identification and driving privileges. They will need to provide documentation of work and residence and pay a fine for breaking our laws and be placed in the back of the line for application to be permanent residence. In the meantime, they will be issued legal working papers that give them temporary working status. They will be required to pay taxes (FICA and income) instead of being part of the underground economy.
5. Anyone caught without these ids will be given the choice to register or be deported.
6. There must be distinct privileges and legal status enumerated for being a citizen of the US, a permanent resident, a temporary worker and all others. One of the problems with the current system is that there is a blur between a citizen and an alien. It must “mean something” to be a citizen of the US with privileges and civic responsibilities.
7. The government may provide a special incentive for small businesses and farmers who hire registered aliens instead of illegals with false papers. A national clearing house could be instituted for businesses to verify the status of any given applicants. We currently do this for people applying for guns and for credit cards; we can do it for this just as easily.

If we adopt these policies, we would have put a giant dent on stopping illegal immigration and illegal drug trafficking. Over time, our business and economy will adjust and adapt to these new working environment. The end results maybe that the wages will have to rise for some of the low paying jobs. That is a good thing. This will be dictated by the marketplace and not by government mandate such as increasing the minimum wage. I don’t believe that we will suffer a recession. A recent example with the price of gasoline is a good indicator. We have experienced some increases in the price of gasoline due to Katrina and to the global appetite for oil and energy. Yet, our economy and our consumers were able to withstand the price increases and adjust their behavior to accommodate. We will do the same with increasing wages for the migrant farmers and other low skilled laborers.

The real bonus will be that we will have secured our borders so that we can have a real “homeland security” as part of the war on terror.
In the long term, it is really a better deal for the current illegal aliens and their families. They should embrace this policy rather than keeping business as usual.

-Jack Lee
Yorktown Hts. NY

Iraq war - 3 years

2006-03-23T08:14:00.000-08:00

War in Iraq – 3 years later

What is missing from the current debate on Iraq is the comparison between the current Iraq situation and what if Saddam is still in power?

The war in Iraq was a preemptive war. It came about due to a dramatic change in US foreign policy post 9/11. President Bush has made it clear that we are in a post 9/11 world view.
Let’s look at the state of Iraq at this moment:

1. They have had free elections for the first time in their long history.
2. They are living free and women are able to attend school and work outside of the home.
3. They are rebuilding their infra structure with the help of the coalition after years of neglect.
4. The world is safer and has one less despot to deal with.
5. Saddam is in jail and under trial for crimes against humanity.
6. We are fighting an insurgency that is willing to kill innocent people.
7. Iraq does not have any WMD to threaten us and won’t be pursuing them for the future.

Compare this to what Iraq would have been if Saddam was left in power.

1. We will probably still be debating at the UN and passing more resolutions to sanction Iraq.
2. The people of Iraq will be continuing to suffer under Saddam and the sanctions by the West. We will be portrayed as the enemy and accused of starving the children and withholding medicine.
3. The UN oil for food program will still be in operations and bring riches to Saddam and his enablers.
4. Saddam will use the money from the oil to pursue more WMD programs and build more palaces.
5. He will grow stronger with each passing day while the UN and the world community debate at infinitum.
6. Once he has developed a nuclear weapon, we will have to deal with that - just as we are struggling with North Korea and Iran at this very moment.
7. Saddam will be emboldened to stick it to the West and continue to support more suicide bombings in Israel and elsewhere destabilizing the mid east region.

The bottom line is what is a better scenario for the world. Are we better off without Saddam or not? Is the price we pay now worth the result?

A third outcome is possible in Iraq and this has little to do with what we are doing. The Iraqi people could decide to break out into civil war where one group will attempt to over power another group and create a theocracy. This is not what we would prefer but it may be a possible outcome. This has happened in the past in other regions of the world. If the Sunni and the Shites cannot live together in harmony, then they will fight. It would not be pretty and it can get violent. Unfortunately, that is how differences are settled sometimes. Whoever wins in the end, it will still be a stable government – unlike the regime of Saddam. That is the worst case outcome scenario in my opinion but still better than letting Saddam stay in power. What say you – all who are opposed to the current war in Iraq? What is your solution or preference?

-Jack Lee
Yorktown Hts. NY

Palm Tungsten E2

2006-01-13T22:10:00.000-08:00

I received a Palm PDA for Christmas. This is my 3rd Palm device and I'm impressed by its functions. Here is a summary of my impressions.

Palm Tungsten E2 (Jan. 2006) Review and Summary

Specifications:

1. 32MB internal memory
2. Color LCD screen (320x320 pixels)
3. Rechargeable battery (internal)
4. USB interface to Computer
5. AC Power charger
6. Stereo audio earphone jack
7. Stylus included
8. Leather protective cover included
9. Add-on slot for MMC or SD memory card (available in various sizes 512MB, 1GB)
10. Touch sensitive screen.
11. 5 way navigation button.
12. Infrared feature to beam and exchange data with other Palm devices
13. Blue tooth capability
14. Wi-Fi add on available
15. Palm OS Version 5
16. Processor speed (200mhz)
17. Price: $200
18. Warranty is 90 days

Review Summary:

1. Excellent quality product overall. – (4 stars out of 5 *****)
2. Good power capacity for up to 30 hours of operation.
3. Excellent display quality for color still images and videos and the screen is sharp and bright and it has adjustments.
4. Square aspect ratio of display may not show full images but allows for scrolling.
5. Power saving option to shut off display for passive listening.
6. Easy to use interface, graffiti option for inputting data.
7. Tech. support is lacking depth. User forums on the web are more helpful in most cases.
8. Install software needs better testing.
9. Warranty is too short, should be at least 1 year.
10. Best new feature is the addition memory slot. It is easy to use, flexible and can be stored and used as backup in addition for multimedia data.
11. Over all, this is a very useful device that packs a lot of functions into such a small package. It is easy to use and better than an Apple ipod in my opinion.

Basic Palm PDA functions –

1. Address book – also allows adding photo of person.
2. Memos – for storing short notes.
3. Calendar – for setting appointments.
4. Notepad – for hand scribbles.
5. To Do list – for tasks.
6. Clock / Alarm – can be used as alarm clock.
7. Calculator – has basic operations.
8. Expense tracker – for keeping track of expenses during a road trip
9. Store and display still images (JPG format) – Photo album
10. Solitaire games

MP3 player – by RealPlayer requires the addition of MMC memory card.
A 512MB card cost approx. $35.
The MP3 files can be down loaded using HotSync.
You can create various playlists and you have the option to shuffle the list randomly.
Typical song will take approx. 3-4MB of storage. A 512MB card can hold approx. 125 songs.
It is possible to listen while doing other tasks. However, some more intensive tasks such as video player can cause glitches and pauses in the music.
The player application is free. There is also a desktop version that can make the sync. easier.
There are also audio books available for purchase.

Video Player – (a free version is available from TCPMP)
It will handle MPEG format. Can show clip at Full screen Mode.

Media Application – from PalmOne will allow display of still images in JPG format.
Also will show a set of images as a slide show with a time delay.
It is preferable to scale down the images to approx. 320 pixels wide so that the whole image can be shown and also reduce the storage size of the image file.

Document Readers - There are various text reader applications available both for purchase and for free. The basic reader provided by Palm is the PalmReader. There is a tool on the computer called Dropbook that can convert any text file to the PalmReader format.

There are various free and for purchase ebooks that are stored in this format.

Other reader applications include Silo and Acrobat reader for Palm. The Acrobat program can read PDF files that have been converted to this Palm format.

This program will remember the position of the page for each Document opened and will return you to the same position when you re-open the document.

Bible Reader – There are various applications that will allow you to read and search text of the Bible. One free one is provided by Olive Tree Bible software called BibleReader.
You can search all occurrences of a word or phrase. You can also navigate easily between the various books.

AvantGo – There is an application that will sync your Palm with various information collected from the web and they can be updated anytime you HotSync. Information such as weather, stocks, and news are some of the data you can get.

Utilities – There are various utilities that can make using the Palm easier. Here are some examples.

1. backup/restore all data to/from the memory card. – by InnerBackup.
2. Information about your Palm. – by Trajectorylabs.

Games – There are numerous freeware games such as solitaire and card games and board games and crosswords are available from various sites.

Other Applications – There are thousands of other applications that can be loaded to the Palm. You can also add a GPS card and use the device as a road navigator.
Checkout www.palmgear.com site and other sites for additional info.

How to?

This Palm is the third Palm Pilot that I owned. There are some things that are intuitive and some that are not. I will list a few items that will guide a new user on how to work with the Palm.

1. How to install the Palm software?

A. You might think this is simple but it turns out it may be a potential source of problem. If you are a brand new user, it should install fine right from the CD. However, if you are a previous owner of another Palm Pilot, you need to un-install the old Palm desktop program and the HotSync program. This will in-effect delete all your old data. So, before you do that, if you want to preserve your old data, it might be a good idea to backup that old data. Here is where Palm technical support falls down. They should have tested this product better and uncover this deficiency. If you try to install this program without deleting the old version, you will encounter some cryptic error message.

2. How to perform a soft reset on the palm?

A. Unfortunately, there are some Palm applications that occasionally may cause the
device to freeze up. This is called a software bug. Since many of the applications are freeware, you have no recourse except to perform a “reset”. You can do this by taking the stylus and unscrewing the top, and using the fine tip and press down on the small button located on the lower back of the Palm device. This will not cause any lost of data. Your Palm should just restart and return you to the Home menu.

3. How to install a software application?

A. There are several ways a new application can be installed on your Palm. The most
basic one is to download the (PRC) file from the web, and then open it with the Quick Install button located on the left side of the Palm Desktop. You have the option to install it on the main Palm or on the extension card. Once selected, the next time the Sync button is pressed, will launch HotSync and the data will be transferred as part of the standard sync operation. Any data entered on the Palm or on the Desktop will be “synchronized” so that the same data exist on both ends. In effect, you Desktop is a backup copy of your Palm data and vice-versa.

4. How to play music?

A. First, you need to get a MMC or SD memory card. It cost approx. $35 for 512MB Version. Insert the card into the slot located at the top. Download the MP3 file from the web onto your computer. Add the file to the Palm using the Quick Install. Perform a HotSync. Open the RealPlayer application and play the music. Plug the earphone into the jack located at the top. Enjoy the music…

Warning, if you want to listen passively, make sure you are in the RealPlayer application and the system will shut off the display to save power after 30 seconds.

If you are working in another application, it is Ok. If you are idling, make sure you return to the Realplayer else, the total system will shut down after 2 minutes.

5. How to create documents in the PalmReader format?

A. You can create a text file using MS Word or Wordpad. Use Dropbook to convert
To Palm PDB format. Install the PDB file to Palm and open with PalmReader.

Wish list:

1. The Palm could use a “lock” switch to disable all buttons and touch screen for the time you want to listen passively.
2. The system should not shut down if the music application is running.

Idiosyncrasies:

1. When listening to music passively, you must leave the screen at the RealPlayer application. The screen will shut off after 30 seconds of non-usage to save power. However, if you go to another application, the music will play in the background. But if you don’t use the device for 2 minutes, the whole device will shut down. This is the system power saving feature. It is a annoyance never the less.

END

Hedge funds

2005-08-02T08:28:00.000-07:00

Aug. 2, 2005
Hedge fund investing –

Here is my personal view about hedge funds. After learning about what it is and mulling over the long term implications of hedge fund investing, my conclusion is that it is not a good idea and does not contribute to the good of capitalistic society.

To understand where I’m coming from, I first have to explain what investing is in general.
To me, investing in stocks and bonds and mutual funds is an integral part of the capitalistic system. In order for things to be build and progress made, we need capital. These companies take risks and raise the capital they need to expand their business. The people invest in these companies also assume the risk. If the company is successful, then we have a win-win situation. The company profits, the individual investor profits and society reap the benefits. Of course, if the company does not do well, it can suffer losses
and eventual bankruptcy. In this case, the company close shop, the investors lost his savings. The difference is that society does not necessarily loose anything. The reason is the power of free enterprise and open competition. When a company looses because of poorer products and miss management, the system penalizes it as a manner of normal process. This way, free competition shapes the activities of all players for maximum profit and efficiency. A company that cannot compete should go out of business.

Therefore, the idea of allowing people to short stocks and buy options of puts and calls is a distortion of this basic investing principle. In my mind, this changes the whole process of investing from technical analysis to a form of gambling. Instead of playing by the rules, working hard, doing the homework and make money the hard way. Some ingenious people on Wall Street have invented a scheme whereby someone can make a fortune by betting against a company or in some cases against a country when dealing with currency trading. What it comes down to is this – a company’s fortunes is taken out of his own control but may be manipulated by a few for their own material gains. Under this scenario, for example, a company who is doing well or just average may be subject to external attacks that can cost both the company and their investors havoc. The winners in this case may be a few that has a lot of money at hand and the losers are the company, their employees, their investors and society as a whole. This is contrary to any sense of justice and fair play. I believe in the basic tenet of capitalism but I do believe there should be some limited amount of government regulation. A good example is laws that prevent monopoly from taking hold. This stifles competition and is not good for all.
In this case, I do believe some amount of regulation should be instituted to take the gambling element out of the equation. Think about it, a company can be destroyed by the basis of a rumor, spread by some individual, causing the stock to tank and the individual profit from shorting that stock. All this happening without any real facts or basis. Is this right? Another basic tenet of capitalism is that it can only survive if the people involved operate under some basic sense of morality and fair play. No among of laws and enforcement can legislate basic morality. If no such rules of behavior exist, then capitalism will fail. The end will justify the means and survival of the fittest and meanest will rule.

Suppose on Sept. 10, 2001, you would acquire some knowledge about the terrorist plot.
You do not have the power or detail to stop it or prevent it from happening.
Would you profit from this information by shorting the stock of the Airlines?
It is a moral dilemma isn’t it? You can rationalize that it was going to happen anyway, and why not make a killing? You can go even further by rationalizing that you can use some of the profits to help the victim’s family. Does that make it OK?
If society does not allow shorting of stocks, then it removes the temptation for some to act in a selfish way. This is the best argument against these types of investments.

On the other hand, if hedge fund was intended to reduce volatility of the stock market, and help stabilize a panic public, then it could be a good thing. For example, in the post 9/11 scenario, if some hedge funds were to buy some companies that were in free fall due to the temporary panic, then it would have made money for their investors and at the same time help stabilize the market. If a company is basically sound and has great balance sheet, there is no reason why a terrorist act should disturb the long term profitability of that company.

In my perfect conservative world of investing, I would not allow shorting of stocks, options trading and trading on margin. I would also aggressively go after inside traders and financial advisors that pump and dump stocks. Day trading should be discouraged. All of these are detrimental to the small investor. I believe in a level playing field. If someone is willing to pay a fee for a fund manager to actively trade in some stocks, that is fine by me. The perspective should clearly state their investment goals and the risks and all fees should be explained up front. It is almost criminal for some funds to charge a fee for getting out of the fund (back loaded funds).

A responsible government should not allow greed to destroy our financial institution and turn investing into a gambling game as it exist today.

-Jack Lee
jackclee@optonline.net

2005-07-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

Jack Lee

What I do on the Web...

2005-07-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

July 14, 2005
My Top 10 uses of the Web and internet:

Email – I use email everyday to communicate to friends and relatives and colleagues. It is quick and instantaneous and free. In addition, I also use Instant Messenger for short communications.
News – The internet is a great source for instant news as it happens. The caveat is knowing which sites are reliable and what their biases are. I follow both Main Stream Media such as the New York Times and CNN as well as new media such as Drudge report… I usually read a few sources about a topic of interest and then make up my own mind. This is the big difference between now and pre-internet. In the old days, I can only rely on what the MSM chooses to report. Now I can pick and choose and also come up with my own conclusion.
Investing – I manage my own IRA portfolio through a discount broker. I usually spend about 30 minutes a day reviewing the market and making adjustments to my portfolio when necessary. The best tool is being able to place buy/sell orders so that they execute automatically when a target price is met. I don’t have to rely on an investment broker to make the trade or give me advice. The internet has provided me with information and tools that allow me to take control of my finances and make intelligent decisions about my investments. I can also make payments online and bank online and monitor my credit expenses.
Job Search – I use the internet to perform job searches. I can setup agents that will notify me automatically when a match is made and then I can submit my application online. I also post my resume on some job sites. So far, I have not found a job yet but I have gotten some interviews. I am hopeful that I will find a dream job soon.
Shopping – I use the internet to either shop online or research an item that I want to buy. In some cases, the easiest way is to order online. I usually receive the item in the mail in a few days. In other case, I use the internet to research an item and find the best brand and then I go to the store to check it out before buying.
Hobby – I am an amateur photographer. I use the web to store my pictures and to share with my friends. I can also order digital prints. I also submit some of my best images to photo contests and post some on photo sites for others to enjoy. It is a great way to develop a hobby with very limited resources and investments. I own a digital camera and have a high speed broadband connection. You can see some of my work at:
http://community.webshots.com/user/jackclee100
Charity work – I have found some volunteer work online and have been able to donate my time and skills to help others less fortunate. I can do this at home with my computer and still get all the satisfaction of giving. Currently, I have registered with charityfocus.org and also volunteered as a digital imaging consultant to Digital Divide Data – a non-profit company trying to bring technology business to Cambodia. Their philosophy of helping is in line with my thinking. Not just give a person fish to eat but to teach that person how to fish so that he will never be hungry…
Political Activist – The internet has provided an avenue for me to participate in the political process. In the past, I have never gotten involved with political rallies or fund raising. I just went to the polls every 4 years and voted. Today, that is not good enough. I found I can be more effective in influencing public policy by joining forces with like minded people. We can educate people about the issues and come up with solutions. We can apply our influence to effect legislation that can have dramatic impact on our lives. The strength is in numbers. Alone, I can’t do much but in a large group, we can bring about positive changes. I have helped in the 2004 re-election of President GW Bush. I am an independent but generally Conservative in most of my views. I usually vote for the right person for the office regardless of political party. Lately, I have leaned more heavily on the Republican Party since I have found that they have the right solutions facing our country at this time. I don’t always agree with everything the current administration is doing but I do support them on the big issues.
Blogs – The web provides us, the common person, an outlet to voice our opinions. The web has numerous blog sites that gives me a perspective on the whole spectrum of ideology. In addition, I have created my own blog site from blogger.com that is free of charge. I can post my opinions and even though if no one is reading them, I feel it is soothing for me to be able to give my personal opinion. It is almost like a diary of my current thinking on the issues of the day. Once in a while, I would submit a response or letter to the Editor on a particular article. Again, this is another way the internet provides an outlet for the average person to voice an opinion. In the old day, I would react to an article I read but most likely not write a letter and mail it. Today, the ease of use makes it second nature to respond to something I read and it takes little effort.
Search/Browse – Finally, I use the web to browse. I can view museums, watch movies, listen to music or talk radio streaming, or research the most obscure topic. The search tools are great and the possibilities are endless.

The Web has definitely changed my life and the way I live it. It is a wonderful tool but it can be miss-used. With freedom comes responsibility.

Jack Lee
Yorktown Hts. NY

What should be the role of Main Stream Media?

2005-07-03T12:59:00.000-07:00

Main Stream Media should do their job –

In this new 24 hour news cycle of cable news and internet blogs, what should be the roll of MSM? I think one important role should be to provide the public with true information about our leaders and officials and more importantly, our potential leaders. This is the one thing that a giant media corporation should be good at. They can take the time to research and conduct interviews and do background checks and then present an honest view of a political candidate or cabinet nominee or judgeship.

When the public knows about the character of a person, we are more likely to make the best choice for our represented government. Currently, we are left with political attacks, personal smears and innuendos conducted by all sides and the public is left in the dark.

Two examples come to mind. First, Ronald Reagan was the 40th president of the US. While he was in office, the public was constantly bombarded with charges that he was a dunce, an actor only reading scripts, an intellectual light weight, and a hands off executive…
Years later, after he left office, we are discovering the real Reagan through his biography, his personal letters, his writings and we see a totally different Reagan that was portrayed by the media, and the late night show hosts. We discovered that he wrote most of his own speeches. He was a brilliant thinker. He had strong religious believes. He had character and a strong sense of right and wrong. In short, he was a great American and one of the best Presidents in the 20th Century. He was given a tremendous State funeral and admired world wide.
It begs the question, why was this not made public before or during his office?
The information was out there. If anything, it would have been easier to dig up all this information. Lucky for us, in spite of the distortions and spin, he was elected and served.

A more recent example is during the 2004 election. Senator Kerry’s personality and records were not made public until after the election. Newsweek publish an article about how he was indecisive. His military records were not completely released and his college grades were also not available until after the election. It turns out he had worse grades than Bush. Why couldn’t all this information be released before the election?
If the MSM was doing their job, there is no question that many of the questions could be answered. We the public would be able to make a more educated decision.

Currently, we have judges being nominated, cabinet and UN posts being debated.
Why not do an in depth interview on every nominee and get to the truth. I would hate to find out after the fact that either we missed out on a great public servant or we put some people of poor character in a position of power due to inaccurate information or spin.

In summary, if the MSM wants to stay relevant in this new media age, they should stick to what they do best. Get the truth out and let the public decide.

-Jack Lee
Yorktown Hts. NY

2005-06-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

June 22, 2005
How to bring civility back to Capitol Hill?

Freedom of speech does not give a blank check to anyone to say what ever he wants.
Words have meaning. Our elected officials must be held accountable for what they say and do. If they are not responsible enough to govern themselves, we need to institute some means where they are made to pay a price both in dollars and in public opinion.

In any group, there are acceptable rules of conduct and guidelines. For example, in professional sports, a player can be fined or censured for bad behavior and the use of bad language.

I think we are at a stage where our elected officials must play by similar rules.

Word do have meaning and sometimes they can even cause damage and harm, to our reputation, our troops in the battle field, our citizens abroad and families at home.

Here is a short list of recommendations for our elected officials.
Don’t make personal attacks on others that you disagree. Argue with the policy and not the person.
Don’t make charges that cannot be backed up by facts. Rumors and innuendos have no place in government.
Curse words are out of line.
Miss statements should be corrected ASAP and genuine apology issued.
Keep down the rhetoric and hyperbole and stick to facts.

If all are officials agree to some basic restraint, it will go a long way to improve civility on Capitol Hill and perhaps lead to better working relations among the various parties.
Precious time and energy will not be wasted on addressing these distractions and perhaps used to debate real policies and important issues and pass bills which is their primary job.

My Solution:

Impose a fine of $1000 per incident on any official that behave or speak badly in any public forum. Private conversations are exempt.
An independent panel can be chosen to rule on the merit of any case.
Recommendation for censure can be made for extreme violations.
A scorecard shold be kept on all infractions and made public. There is much to be said about public shame to maintain civility.

Jack Lee
email: jackclee@optonline.net

Timeline for withdraw from Iraq?

2005-06-20T14:32:00.000-07:00

June 20, 2005
A Timeline to withdraw from Iraq?

A legitimate policy debate can be made regarding the question of whether the Administration should establish a timeline to withdraw our troops from Iraq.

I for one support this policy for several reasons.

Providing a timeline will assure the Iraqi people that we are only there to help them and not occupy them. One of the mistakes after the first Gulf war was that we insisted on placing a sanction on Sadam’s Iraq with indefinite time frame. This ended up hurting not only the Iraqi people but our standing in the Arab world.

As a project manager, I know the positive effect a realistic schedule can have on completing the project on-time, within budget and with complete accountability. By having a timetable with defined milestones, a project manager can periodically assess how things are going and make adjustments to accomplish the task.

A timetable will also provide a verifiable goal and will give all participants a sense of reward for accomplishing something on an incremental basis.

It will also guide the coalition troops and the Iraqi counterparts to set priorities so as to best meet the deadlines. Given infinite time will only invite infinite possibilities.

A timetable is not cast in stone and can be modified when unforeseen circumstances occur and may affect the outcome. When it does happen, there is a cause and effect that can be explained and justified.

It will act also as a measurement tool to see how well is our strategy going and how effective is the outcome. I would also include the cost of the war in dollars and in casualties of our troops as additional tools. We can then say with some certainty that a particular action is worth the cost. This is standard cost vs. benefit analysis that most business perform on a daily basis.

The American people and Congress cannot issue a blank check for any activity without oversight. A timeline will act as a guide and help people in a position of power to make reasonable budgets and projections going forward.

Finally, there is the pride of ownership. It is human nature to want to be in control of ones own destiny. When the Iraqi people are given the ownership of their own future, they are more likely to put their lives on the line. As long as the Coalition troops are there to oversee and protect, there is little incentive for the local people to step forward.

To answer the most obvious counter argument – that is providing a timeline will give the insurgents an upper hand and allow them to just wait us out. However, this may not be such a bad idea given the current semi-chaotic state in Iraq. What is most lacking now in Iraq is stability. Without it, very little progress can happen. If we can attain some temporary stability, and allow training of Iraqi police, rebuilding the infrastructure, productive oil pipeline… to occur, we can go a long way to convince the people of Iraq that hope is on the way. They will reject the efforts of the insurgents some of which are foreign fighters and not Iraq nationals. Any violence perpetrated on Iraqis will be exposed as violence against their own people.

The blunt truth is this, after a reasonable period of time, if the Iraqi government and people cannot secure a working and functioning government, they don’t deserve to win.
The insurgents can only win if enough people support their cause.

There is no guarantee that the insurgents will cut back their activities to wait us out.
What will happen is that they will loose some momentum. Anything that can reduce the daily terrorist bombings in Iraq will help. Besides, just because we state a timeline does not mean we must abide by it. Any increase in insurgency can cause us to re-evaluate our strategy.

Finally, our troops in the field can also benefit from having a timeline to work towards.
They can look forward to the day they can come home and feeling a sense of pride that they will accomplish their mission within stated goals.

The End

Jack Lee
Yorktown Hts. NY
jackclee@optonline.net

An open letter on the Iraq war

2005-06-19T20:52:00.000-07:00

June 19, 2005
Open letter to all who opposes the Iraq war –

I have a simple question for everyone who is against the Iraq war.

Assume everything being the same with the current war except for one fact, suppose WMD was discovered in Iraq and the coalition troops diffused them.
Would you still be against the war? Be very honest with yourself, and think.
This is a trick question.

If your answer is yes; you have just been exposed. The “missing” WMD is just a convenient ruse to use against the war. You are a pacifist at heart and if it wasn’t for the WMD, you would have found some other issue to argue your case…(prison abuse…)

However, if your answer is no, then you are basically in agreement with the Bush administration’s position. That is this war was necessary and just and in the long term best interest of stabilizing the Middle East region.

A third possibility is that you disagree with the prosecution of the war. You have a better way. This is a fair argument if you can offer any specific plan that will help. So far, I haven’t heard any coming from the dissenters. We can debate whether we have enough troops on the ground, or the right equipment…

The real culprit is Sadam Hussein. He deceived the world in believing that he had WMD thinking that will protect him against an all out invasion. I believe he was also re-assured by the French that they will step in at the last moment to veto any military action by the Security Council of the UN. He miss calculated and did not heed the warning – that George W. Bush is a man of his word. He says what he means and he means what he says. How refreshing coming from a politician.

Put your self in the President’s shoes for a moment. Here we are after 911. You are given the following intelligence – though flawed as we now know – that Sadam Hussein has been deceiving the weapon’s inspectors for years. Everyone knows that he had WMD and WMD programs. There was no proof that he had destroyed them. He had used them before against the Iranians and his own people. He has been abusing the oil for food program for years, siphoning off millions to build his palaces and fund WMD research. He has been supporting terrorist groups and providing them with a sanctuary. He has openly been defiant of the no fly zone and he has openly declared the US to be the Great Satan. What do you do? If you do nothing or just maintain the status quo. If another terrorist act happens and it was traced back to Sadam, the very same blow hard like Senator Kennedy and Senator Kerry will be the first to level the charge – why didn’t you do something about this pending threat? Would impeachment be far behind? Given that scenario, any reasonable executive will err on the side of caution and decide to remove this gathering threat. The tough question is when and how? If you wait, Sadam’s power and strength will be increased and any military action may cause additional casualties. So it comes down to a cost vs. benefit analysis. As far as the charge that we rushed to war, that is a miss-representation of the fact. There was no rush – it took 16 months from Nov. 2001 to March 2003. The Congress debated and voted to approve the action. The UN passed resolutions. Sadam was given every opportunity to avert this crisis. He chose to defy and fight. The blame rest primarily on Sadam and secondarily on the French and the UN which were corrupted by the oil for food program and allowed Sadam to be defiant till the very end. 20/20 hindsight is always right. Had we known for sure that Sadam did not possess WMD, then the better approach would have been to contain him through sanctions. Though I’m not sure it would have been the best solution for the Iraqi people.

Even if you disagree with the Bush administration’s handling of Iraq, we should all agree that given the current state of affairs, we need to help them create a stable government and restore peace. So, the question is why are the French, the German and the Russian governments reluctant to help at this stage? Also why are the MSM (main stream media) so pessimistic and biased in their reporting of the Iraq situation? Do they secretly wish that we fail? I wonder…

What about those WMD’s?
Let us revisit the question of WMD. If you are one of those that believe the Bush administration concocted a lie and took us to war with Iraq, let me ask you to consider this. If you believe in the conspiracy, why did the Pentagon prepare for chemical attack in the run up to the war? Why did they not plant WMD in Iraq after the invasion? If they are sinister enough to create a false claim, they must be sinister enough to cover all bases.
My personal believe is that the WMD’s, if existed, were shipped off to Syria and buried.
Remember during the first Gulf war, Sadam sent his entire fighter plane to Iran for cover.
The truth will come out. Sadam is alive and will go on trial soon. Many of my suspicions regarding the French, the Russians, the German’s and the UN will come to light. Even Sadam’s frame of mind leading up to the war will come to light. These issues must be resolved if we are to have closure about what really went down.

What about the fact that Iraq has no connection with 911?
This is another one of those arguments that people use to say we have no business in Iraq.
They cite polls that show a majority of Americans believe that Iraq was involved with the 911 attack and the Administration mislead the public about this non-existing link.
I for one was never in that camp. I follow the news very closely and I heard the speeches.
There was no direct involvement by Iraq in the 911 attack.
However, post 911, our tactic must change in dealing with rogue nations and Iraq was the primary rogue nation. We had a long history with Sadam going back to the first Gulf war.
The new tactic is called preemption. Prior to 911, we could not use this or we would have been condemned by the world and by our own citizens.
Sometimes, a good offense is the best defense.
Let me illustrate with a simple lesson from history. During the 1980’s, President Reagan was faced with numerous terrorist acts perpetrated on Americans. There was no proof that linked Omar Quaddafi of Libya to these crimes. There were suspicions that he was secretly funding the terrorist. Reagan took preemptive action and sent cruise missiles after him. He barely survived and lost some close family members. Soon after, he was quiet. He got the message loud and clear.

What is our exit strategy with Iraq?
The answer lies with the Iraqi people and their newly elected government as it should.
If they want a democratic free Iraq, they must fight for it. Just as with other emerging democracies, freedom comes with a heavy price tag. It is paid with blood, sweat and tears.
It is a long and tedious and trial by error process. We can only do so much to help.
The old saying applies – you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.
The jury is still out as to the final outcome in Iraq. We can only pray that they succeed.
We have already paid a heavy price in terms of our soldier’s lives and limbs(over 1700 dead and 10,000 wounded so far). We have provided billions of tax payer dollars to give them a fresh start. The rest is up to the Iraqi people.

We need to provide them the training to be self protecting.
We can help them rebuilt their infrastructure.
We can help them establish the cornerstones of a free enterprise system.
We can help them with their oil resource to help pay for their future needs.
And then, we must leave them alone.

Scorecard so far:
26 Million Iraqi’s are free. A tyrant is deposed. Women and girls are given new freedom to work and attend schools. A new democratic government was elected by 58% of the population. A constitution being drafted. Not bad.

What else can the US do?
We need to revamp our intelligence community from top to bottom. We can never be in a similar situation again. In dealing with future threats such as North Korea and Iran, we must have solid intelligence so that the President can make a sound decision. Our credibility is on the line and the lives of our troops are at stake.

What can the MSM do?
The media can help by reporting the facts both good and bad and offering differences of opinions but presented in a fair and balanced manner. They can also be a fact checker and keep a score card on those who are in a position to influence policy. They can be the conscience of the nation and maintain civility in our discourse. They should not participate in personal attacks and spreading rumors. If a politician is caught using such antics, they should be called upon it and be held accountable. They should be our eyes and ears in the world stage. Reporting on what is happening and not creating news.

What can the UN do?
The UN must be reformed such that past scandals (sex, oil for food, peace keeping) are fully investigated and addressed. The guilty must be punished. Integrity restored.
The Security Council and the General Assembly must be revamped. We cannot allow equal representation for all. Despots and tyrants cannot have equal voting rights on the UN. The French does not belong in the Security Council as a permanent member.

What can the world community do?
The world needs to understand that we are all in the same boat. We can help each other to counter both natural and man-made disasters. Just as after the tsunami disaster in Indonesia last December, the world responded with kindness, relief and funds. The US military was a force for good and the only force capable of helping on such massive scale.

What can you do?
Be honest with yourself, think and use logic to assess the situation and leave emotions out. Support our troops.

Final wish -
On this Father’s day 2005, let’s all agree to honor our fathers especially those service men that are serving in Iraq and all over the world in defense of freedom.
God bless them all.

Request for feedback –
If you have any comments or criticism of my thesis, please send them to me. I am open to re-assess the situation as more facts come to my attention.
I would also entertain new ideas to help us win the war.
I am approaching this with logic and without emotion and bias. We can debate issues and policy but please don’t make it a personal attack on me. We are all Americans and we all
wish for the best. The discourse should always be on the approach and on policy. Unfortunately, in real life, some problems have no good solutions. We can only make the best of it. Iraq may be one of those situations.

Jack Lee email: jackclee@optonline.net

The End

What is "right" with America?

2005-03-20T11:55:00.000-08:00

What is "right" with America?

Here are some thoughts to counter the Michael Moore, the French and the UN and other world citizens who claim that America and Americans are stupid and the cause of the world’s problems.

1. Most Americans are generous and contribute to many charities. They help the poor, the oppressed and the helpless with their money.
2. Most Americans are volunteers in their schools, hospitals, fire/rescue houses, senior centers, churches …
3. Most Americans are good neighbors and will help people without being asked. If your car breaks down on the road, someone will pull over to offer assistance.
4. Most Americans are law abiding and believe in justice and have a common sense for right and wrong.
5. Most Americans believes in conservation and the protection of wildlife and our environment.
6. Americans are innovators and are making our lives better and easier including new medicines, machines, technology.
7. Americans are champion for freedom and are willing to sacrifice their lives to free the oppressed.
8. Most Americans are religious and believe in a higher being.
9. Most Americans are hard working and work long hours at their jobs.
10. Most Americans are non-judgmental and believes in live and let live philosophy.
11. Americans are caring especially in time of crisis, such as earthquake, hurricanes, famine and other natural disasters.
12. Americans are optimist and believe that they can make a difference and tomorrow will be better than today.

Common Sense

2005-03-18T10:08:00.000-08:00

Here are random thoughts about things that matter...