These couple of items are a very worrying panorama, and what way to turn? Do they need to keep stimulating the economy or do something with the currency (higher rates). You have to remember that Global Gvnts will not permit US to run high deficits either.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Asset Appreciation - Consumer Fasting
Today, June unemployment rate is at 9.5%. People are turning into savers instead of spenders, are we heading to a stagflation. " Government may need to increase investment so spending is created by the government, we don't know "-- PIMCO on CNBC. Another problem is that the "World is growing older." which slows down consumption, new generations will not be able to cope with spending. Obviously, jobs needs to be created to stimulate spending. Consumers have lived in an "Asset Appreciation Economy" given stagflation this is not going to be a viable situation.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Democracy, Honduras, Income
Honduras is living an interesting situation, for the last two or three decades the amount of people living under poverty or in poverty has increased substantially by all means. For instance, today's Honduras minimum salary of Lps 5500 in rural areas Lps 4500 comes, these salaries are due to an increase from an original value set at Lps 3500 by Honduras labor laws. At today's dollar exchange rate, these numbers represent $305/month new salary, vrs $194 the old salary. Still for US standards, these is inhumane and sad. Image how much you pay just for your cell phone service! Just image that in Honduras, all fast food chains also exists and all of them have similar prices as in the US! The question is how do a person manages to survive, specially with a family?
Indeed, all these economic numbers point us to believe that Hondurans have to work hard, and save as much as they possibly can. In fact, statistics indicate that Honduras has more than 600 000 families (not people) living in extreme poverty conditions, which is defined as living under $1.24/day. Many of us here, pay $3.75 for a latte at your local Starbucks, and may even spend $12 just for lunch at your local restaurant.
On the other hand, Honduras has been increasing its exports to the United States. Recently, at an event here in Miami, Pepe Diaz said that Honduras exports account for $4Billion which is 2nd to China. Amazingly, Honduras has only 7 Million people, and China 1.4Billion.
Fortunately, Honduras is a democratic country. People vote to elect their authorities and in general, democratic processes have increased all over the country.
It's not a surprise that if 80% of a population is poor, if there is a candidate or candidates looking after their interest, it's a highly likely opportunity for a that candidate to win. In the past, during election day, political parties both "Liberal" and "Nacional" literally bought people's votes, by offering free food on election day. Obviously, once the election was over and all political promises were in a few rare occasions fulfilled. It's not a secret that corruption and disrespect for Honduras legal system has been rampant, and there is NOT a single authority in prison for any corruption acts in the past three decades!
Sad but true, it seems that this increased in salary has made all poor people excited and support for the president Mel Zelaya has obviously strengthen. This opportunistic situation is being taken advantage by Mel, to call for a referendum to change the constitution. This referendum is being opposed by Honduras political class because it may bring down current structural problems in Honduras society. Mel has not had a clear agenda, and nobody knows if all of these is just a political stunt, however, the situation is there and the likelihood for democracy to work in favor of the "Poder Ciudadano" like Mel's slogan says, are high.
I think that this situation cannot be avoided and with the increasingly deterioration of living conditions in Honduras, while others manage to export $4Billion dollars worth of goods to the United States, is not the right combination for a country.
Indeed, all these economic numbers point us to believe that Hondurans have to work hard, and save as much as they possibly can. In fact, statistics indicate that Honduras has more than 600 000 families (not people) living in extreme poverty conditions, which is defined as living under $1.24/day. Many of us here, pay $3.75 for a latte at your local Starbucks, and may even spend $12 just for lunch at your local restaurant.
On the other hand, Honduras has been increasing its exports to the United States. Recently, at an event here in Miami, Pepe Diaz said that Honduras exports account for $4Billion which is 2nd to China. Amazingly, Honduras has only 7 Million people, and China 1.4Billion.
Fortunately, Honduras is a democratic country. People vote to elect their authorities and in general, democratic processes have increased all over the country.
It's not a surprise that if 80% of a population is poor, if there is a candidate or candidates looking after their interest, it's a highly likely opportunity for a that candidate to win. In the past, during election day, political parties both "Liberal" and "Nacional" literally bought people's votes, by offering free food on election day. Obviously, once the election was over and all political promises were in a few rare occasions fulfilled. It's not a secret that corruption and disrespect for Honduras legal system has been rampant, and there is NOT a single authority in prison for any corruption acts in the past three decades!
Sad but true, it seems that this increased in salary has made all poor people excited and support for the president Mel Zelaya has obviously strengthen. This opportunistic situation is being taken advantage by Mel, to call for a referendum to change the constitution. This referendum is being opposed by Honduras political class because it may bring down current structural problems in Honduras society. Mel has not had a clear agenda, and nobody knows if all of these is just a political stunt, however, the situation is there and the likelihood for democracy to work in favor of the "Poder Ciudadano" like Mel's slogan says, are high.
I think that this situation cannot be avoided and with the increasingly deterioration of living conditions in Honduras, while others manage to export $4Billion dollars worth of goods to the United States, is not the right combination for a country.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Mobile Commerce Miami 2009
I will be presenting today @Mobile Commerce Miami, 2009. also last night, as 1st Monday of the month I went to Coral Gables to particiate in Mobile Mondays Miami. A panel of people from NOKIA, YAHOO Mobile, and VIVO was presented and chat about a few items:
- Nokia discussed how its company had 150 yrs of age, which I did not know. Also, presented their N97 device which is being launched in all latin america, with HTML support w/ Widgets.
- Yahoo Mobile showed their latest iPhone/Android application and portal, it seems everyone is moving away from WAP.
- VIVO discussed how in Brazil, out of 45M customers, 80% are pre-paid, and how customers take advantage of everything FREE offered by the carrier to them.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Facebook Ad Scam!!!
First of all, YOU CANNOT erase your Credit Card Information!!!!!!! I will have to cancel my credit card!
As you may already know, Facebook provides Advertising venues for anyone with a credit card. A small tiny single image paragraph could be displayed as low as 0.27c/1000 impressions, less Cost per Click (if anyone ever clicks on it).
However there is a big FLAW, your credit car is charged indiscriminately, without ways to stop the payments, unless you "PAUSE" the ad. However the remaining balance CANNOT be used. In fact, there is NO WAY you can delete your credit card from their AD server.
********** DO NOT ADVERTISE WITH FACEBOOK *******************
In this figure you can see how each day your ad is charged up to $5, let's say. But your card will be billed with at least $20 for a minimum investment. Once the ad runs any remaining balance belongs to Facebook. THIS IS NOT DISCLOSED clearly in any agreement.
It's impossible to delete your credit card and request the rest of the unused money back to your card.
One thing you may do is to reduce the CPM bid to 0.03c/ which is the minimum balance and simply never your ad will be displayed.
I would suggest NOT using this service because it's a rip off. Out of $40 spent, I received only a few visitors to my site.
Use Adwords and do PRE-PAID it's way better and way more effective!
Monday, June 08, 2009
iPhone Features as of Today (WWDC)
Source CNBC:
2:05 PM/ET: Languages: adding support for Hebrew and Arabic, Greek, Korean and Thai. Support now for 30 languages in OS 3.0. And all have portrait and landscape keyboard.
2:04 PM/ET: Support now for HTML 5 as well within Safari.
2:04 PM/ET: AutoFill remembers user names and passwords.
2:03 PM/ET: New parental controls as well. Tethering, which allows you to share your iPhone net connection with your Mac. No wi-fi? Share your net connection from your phone to your PC or Mac! Bluetooth or USB. Seamless experience, Scott says. AT&T also not named as a carrier supporter of this and the audience erupted in laughter and groans. Seems like AT&T is falling behind. This could become a big competitive issue for Apple if AT&T doesn't get its act together.
2:00 PM/ET: Adding "Spotlight," a single location on your homescreen that lets you search across your phone.
Adwords, Highest paying words
Interesting, I found a couple of words with highest pay from GOOGLE.
$54.33 mesothelioma lawyers
$47.79 what is mesothelioma
$47.72 peritoneal mesothelioma
$47.25 consolidate loans
$47.16 refinancing mortgage
$45.55 tax attorney
$41.22 mesothelioma
$38.86 car accident lawyer
$38.68 ameriquest mortgage
$38.03 mortgage refinance
$47.79 what is mesothelioma
$47.72 peritoneal mesothelioma
$47.25 consolidate loans
$47.16 refinancing mortgage
$45.55 tax attorney
$41.22 mesothelioma
$38.86 car accident lawyer
$38.68 ameriquest mortgage
$38.03 mortgage refinance
Saturday, June 06, 2009
A2F.me Traffic keeps increasing
| General Summary | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Host name | a2f.me |
| 2. | Host URL | http://www.a2f.me |
| 3. | Program start time | Jun 6, 2009 06:01 |
| 4. | Time of first request | Feb 14, 2009 03:16 |
| 5. | Time of last request | Jun 6, 2009 00:00 |
| 6. | Time last 7 days lasts until | Jun 6, 2009 06:01 |
| 7. | Successful server requests | 25,607 Requests |
| 8. | Successful requests in last 7 days | 5,733 Requests |
| 9. | Successful requests for pages | 15,870 Requests for pages |
| 10. | Successful requests for pages in last 7 days | 1,937 Requests for pages |
| 11. | Distinct files requested | 1,760 Files |
| 12. | Distinct files requested in last 7 days | 559 Files |
| 13. | Distinct hosts served | |
Friday, June 05, 2009
Updates in June
A few updates on my life:
- I am now part of the organizing committee for the "Mobile Mondays Miami" (http://momomiami.com)
- I will be presenting in "Mobile Commerce" on Smartphones, here
- I have now created an interface to mobile news/stocks with http://a2f.me/s/
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