themeltingpot

Whenever I was on the supermarket waiting for checkout, I always come across the tabloid or magazine that reports a certain number of celebrities in depression, or he/she was arrested for something that shouldn’t be expected them to do. What is going on with all these camera - focused celebrities? Although they got all these fame and popularity, they still trashed themselves. What a shame on them.

A few years ago, the notorious Britney Spears, who were crowned as Pop princess, were married to a backup dancer, Kevin Federline. Their marriage surprised everyone, and this Kevin guy suddenly became famous overnight. They seems happy, and they will have a future together as a most admirable couple in the whole world. A few years later, they have 2 children together, and the crevice begin to open a gap. She was never got the love she deserved, and he was using her to make him famous. Even worse, he never love her, he taking her money, and using her to get him popular, and taking the attention from her from the public. She was depressed. Over the tabloid, she shaved her head; she spend 10s to 100s thousands dollars to make over herself through plastic surgery. She was no longer the innocent girl that we always see in big screen TV. Her popularity suddenly slump to the bottom.

This vivid example, it is known to the public. The question remains why they act like that after problem occurred. They were expected to be a role model to teenagers. What they did was totally opposite. They got fame, and they got money. She should go over therapy, or trying to rethink over their future over the past. Somehow, it is hard to be a public figure. But you still have a golden opportunity that nobody has. Cherish the chance you have now, instead of waste it. Be responsible for what you create, and find a solution to resolve the issues. We all expect our favorite idols to be well.

We, America, is the No. 1 nation that really care about our children. We do our best to shelter them, cherish them, gift them on any major holidays, their birthdays. So basically, we love our children so much. As you all know, children are our future hope, the intelligent individuals that will develop our nation to a better era. We nurture them with the best environment that we can provide, and the best condition that they should stay in.

Some people argued that, it is not wrong to provide as much as we can to our children, and it is not wrong for us to love them that much. But what did right now, much spoil them in a wrong direction. Some middle - income, and wealthy - income family usually spend a lot of money for their children in the early ages. Almost anything they ask for, they would fulfill their wishes. Such as in Christmas, they would spend over several hundred dollars on gifts. Their birthdays, maybe $160 for tennis shoe, or $200 for the new style jordan Sports shoes. On average, these children are living in extravaganza. They were never experience any hardship; they can get whatever they asked for. In another term, they are too spoiled. What if the parents suddenly experience financial discomfort at the moment. For instance, the recent economic crisis global wide. Many people were worrying about the employment situation, and their future financial aspect. Most families are tending to spend less, and tighten their belt. They probably won’t able to provide that much as before for their children on the special holidays or birthdays. Will they understand this circumstance, and compliance with the parents?

My cousins, who were nurtured under the best conditions, weren’t be able to realized how hard their parents work for these money. Even under the economic hardship. They were asking even more, and won’t understand the situations. They were too spoiled, and should be educated in the early age. While some children, who didn’t get much from their early age, they will cherish everything they got currently. They won’t overspend, or over ask for what shouldn’t. Education on thrifty somehow is beneficial to our children. We should take regard of it.

A good friend of mine, also got divorce recently. What a sad news again, what in the world, is wrong with those women. He was one of my friends that grow up with me. We went to middle school together, and we been good friends ever since, and we kept in contact, calling each other. I still remember when he got married, his wife was pregnant. The rumor spread out fast, and I guess it is a mandatory option for him to marry her.

After a few months, he told me that he has baby girl. He invited me to join his baby shower party, I didn’t go, because so many people there I didn’t know them. It would be a boring party to me. Afterward, I guess that we were both busy, and we seldomly contacted each other. 3 years later, one day, he called me that his wife just left him. I was shocked, and feel horrible for him. I asked him why, he told me that he didn’t even know. So, me and my another friend invited him over my area, we were trying to cheer him up.

He told me that he couldn’t sleep, eat and work. He felt hurt and confused. He described that to me, he was on vacation with his friends to Vietnam for 2 months. After he came back, his wife, one day, told him that she won’t love him anymore. She took their daughter with her, and her belongings out of the door. He tried to convince her, and want her to stay, her only answer is that she won’t come back. We were speechless, and couldn’t find the right word to comfort him. Hopefully he will get over it someday.

Later on, he found out that she has another man, so she was in an affair. He shouldn’t be sad for her for her unfaithfulness. Sometimes I just couldn’t understand, what women really need in reality. A fancy life, and a comfortable home never been enough. There is always more and more. There is always comparison between your man and somebody else’s man. Life isn’t easy enough, and all we can do is to do the best we can to provide. Sometimes, love is mysterious. Can we really find the love one in our lifetime? The one you will never betray, the one you will love for the rest of your life. Nothing more, she sees you and love you that moment. No regret, she loves you the way who you are. Our civilization was filled with too much materialism and deceit. We were changed forever.

A friend of mine, just told me a story about this girl he met. He fell in love with her for almost 3 years, and recently found out, she never has the same feeling toward him, as he does for her. He was heartbroken, and he ask my advice on what he should do about it. I felt sympathy, and the same time, I felt angry for him being used.

Three years ago, he went with a couple of his friends to a Mexican Night Club, Where you have to pay $5 for the girl dancing with you. He was amateur and curious. Once he saw this girl stand alone on the floor, he braved himself, and ask the girl to dance with him for $5. Afterward, he begged his friends to bring him to that night club every Saturday night. He was attempting to see the girl, and find an opportunity to get to know her. After many months, they get to know each other pretty well, but everything is base on money, I guess.

One day, she called him, and ask him if he interested in going to see movie with her. He was jumping up and down. They met, but they didn’t watch movie, instead, they went to the mall and doing the shopping. He voluntarily pay for her every item, because he thought that it will show his generosity. He was wrong. That was his first date. Afterward, she contact him again. Most of the time, they agree to go shopping, and he paid most of the time. Sometimes, she brought along her sisters and her friends. Although they develop a bond on this fake relationship, he still willing to spend money on her. What a shame. Sometimes, he even lend her money, which she never pay him back.

Once her friend asked him, whether you have a girlfriend or not. He was confused, she suppose told her that he is her boyfriend, why her friend still asking this type of question? Things gone wrong on this phase. Later, she asked him if he can married her, and she agreed to pay him some money for the Green Card. Things gone wrong on second phase. He was convinced that he can melt her heart, and someday she will fell in love with him. He was a fool, I guess.

Until 2 days ago, he helped her to search a new auto insurance. She asked him again, if she can pay him some money to marry her. He told her that he won’t do it for money, he rather do it for love. She asked him again, if he has any friend will agree to do that. Then he realized that she never love him, ever once. He was totally waking up. He wasted all his time and money for her, just for nothing.

As a friend, I told him. Leave her, and never contact her again. She was using you the whole time, the money you spend on her, you can get yourself a nice car. Why still falling yourself to a trap? See it yourself, and wake up.

Now is year 2008, exactly what we call it 21st century. Should most of us accepted love is among both 2 persons, but a business deal, or a handshake deal from parents who dictate your whole life. Recently, on a chat forum, I met this lady who told us about her story. Her marriage was based on arrangement by both side parents, she didn’t have the say. After number of years, they have a daughter, and she doesn’t want her daughter follow her footstep. She has to let her choose the love of her life, not like her mother, who was weak, and regret her whole life for to be obedience.

After I heard her story, I was sympathetic to her situation. I believe that some of Asian countries, still today, they practice fixed marriage for their children. It was a tradition pass on from generation to generation. Even a person found his/her own love, they couldn’t be rebellion to their parents’ decision. From some Indian movies, I can see their culture was also involve with arrangement marriage. Woman’s destiny was totally controlled under their parents. The parents seek a matching family, and they agree on a time to meet. The matching family bring their girl / boy to meet the agreed family. The total conversation was holding under both side parents discussing. If the conditions were matched, the marriage will strike a deal. Both of the girl and boy were silently agree to it. What a comedy. Can’t they have their own saying to this deal? Shouldn’t they choose their own fate instead of their parent’s make it for them?

Recently, my female cousin met this guy. They were together for 1 year and half. My cousin is totally fall in love with him, and he just proposed to my cousin. But my cousin need her boyfriend to have stable home first, he must has his own house as primary condition. On several occasions, my cousin was fighting her own right, and against my aunt. I agree with her decision, she should choose my own life, instead of a stringed puppet, control by others. I hope that she will convince her parents, but it probably take some time and persistent.

I hope that everyone here, who is on our generation, should stand up and hold their destiny on their hands, instead of letting someone choose it for you. Arrangement marriage and fixed marriage should be banned. We all should have own choice to pick the one we love.

While ago, I just got my first full-time job with full benefit, such as 401k, health insurance, and dental care. I was happy with all that, and since I haven’t cleansed my teeth for long time. I decided that I need to make an appointment with one of the dentist that my father recommended. The doctor office was located around the Chinatown area along the Buford Highway, and my father told me that he was doing dental care for him recently. I got my first appointment, and have my teeth checked. The dentist recommended me to do a deep - tissue cleansing on my teeth, since my teeth has many food leftover in it. It needed to be removed all those food leftover. The total charge for it was $240, and my insurance only pay for 80% out of it, and the rest I have to pay out of my pocket. I was happy to pay for the rest without questioning. Later on my other visits, he also charged over $100 above on every visit, just for cleaning only. I didn’t question it about the price, since my dental care pay for everything, and I won’t need to worry about anything.

There were several employees in my work place who isn’t full - time, so they were without dental care. They told me that it only cost $60 to get their teeth clean. So I told other full - time employees about this matter of overcharged from my dentist. They told me the exact situation that they have occurred. With the dental care, the dentist usually charge a little extra more on everything. Because you won’t need to pay, the insurance paying for you. Those people who without a insurance, doesn’t have that much money pay for their dental visits, so they will be charged less. From what I heard, this situation is unethical. Why they have to charged on people who has insurance coverage, and people who doesn’t. That is cheating on insurance money. Shame on those doctors.

One time, a friend of mine called for appointment on a dentist office around that area again. He wanted to check on the price before to make a visit. The receptionist told him that the price will be $120 for cleaning. He declined it, because they shouldn’t charge that much. She told my friend, you needn’t to worry, anyway, the insurance will pay for you. But still, that’s unethical, you shouldn’t cheating on insurance money.

I recommend that our federal government should check on these unethical dentists on the practice of charge fees on their customers. Especially those Asian dentists around the chinatown area, most of them are charging over the roof price on insurance carrier.

Once I work at the restaurant. There were a couple of Mexican employees work with me then. I mainly work at the weekend, Friday and Saturday afternoon. We were bonding pretty well, even though we speak different languages. They are pretty nice, and friendly. We can joke together, and work cooperatively. Sometimes, they may teach me some Spanish, and I was impressed my learning speed. After a couple of months, I can communicate with them; but with broken Spanish to be honest. Thanks to their help, and my long - purchase Spanish - English dictionary. On one Saturday night, before we took off from work, we were discussing places to go to have fun, except escort services. They suggested me that if I was interested in going to Latino night clubs, where you can drink especially their favorite. You can dance with girls, they didn’t tell me much about this part before I agreed to go. So, we agree to go after work. The reason we opted to go to Latino club because they couldn’t speak much of English, and we prefer to go to a venue that speak Spanish mostly.

I drove then. I was nervous when we arrived, because at the front door, there were a line of people lining up to be body - check by the security. I realized that I am the only one who is not Latino, and some of them stared at me, which makes me little bit of more nervous, won’t I be picked on a fight later? I also saw that most people went there don’t have valid driver’s license. Most of them have a Mexican forged license of some sort. But they were passed by the Security guard. The entrance fee was $10 per person, and another ticket person collected the money, and take a look at me with strange look. We went in there, there were a huge crowd of people, and most tables were seated. There were a center floor for people to dance. My friends ordered a bottle of Corona for each one of us, I was relief a little, while everyone was busy at chatting and talking to girls.

We were luckily found a table sitting at the back, and we could pull some chairs from other tables. There were nice good looking waitress came over from time to time to check on us, if we need anything else. I told my friend that she is nice. And my friend told me that I can ask her to dance, and she will agree. I didn’t know what he really meant, and I just say “no”, because I shouldn’t ask anyone to dancer since she is working now. Later, a friend of mine demonstrate how it can. There were over 20 girls standing on the walkway, all with nice dress. All I saw was my friend came over, and talk to her, she then extended her hand and they went to floor and dancing. The Latino music was not familiar to me, and I won’t understand any of these. After a couple of songs, they return, and my friend hand over some money to her. I asked why, they told me then, if we want to dance with a girl here, we have to pay $5 for exchange per song. And then, I was “wow”, that’s how it works out here. Because most of these girls weren’t legal, even they have day time job, it won’t help much to pay the living. So, they opted to dance with men at night, to make extra cash. And this business is pretty flourished, there were thousands of men willing to pay the fee to get a dance from these lovely ladies. Some girl might even make $300 to $500 a night. The trade - off is you couldn’t prevent the perverts and the drunk. I was encouraged by my friends to ask the waitress to dance. I was horrible, since I got here, I have to try something new. So I agree, pay $5 to dance with the waitress who doesn’t even speak English at all. It was a weird night.

I went to a couple of these clubs later on, but I won’t go again, because too much violence going in these clubs. Most of these Mexicans couldn’t control their drinking habits, and they were easily got drunk and start the fighting. Some fight for the girls, some fight because too drunk. Whatever reason, it wasn’t safe to go in there. And I felt sorry for these ladies. they might make a lot of money from these venues, but they were taken advantage by these drunk men most the time, and they can endure such shames.

I guess it is harder to find a job without a valid ID, and the only quick way to make cash is from here.

Victoria Secrets, Gucci, Prada, Abercrombie, Holister, Armani, etc….. big brand name, invest millions after millions of dollars on advertisements. They are giant chain stores, no doubt. Their target will be on wealthy, middle class, female, and teenagers. All these brand names make billions of dollars from customers with their success of prominent brands. Thanks to television, those nice, good looking supermodels, to create an image of unbeatable marketing trend.

From a radio station, I heard a live survey from the host. He asked a couple of 8 graders students, who has a pair of brand - new tennis shoes, which cost at least $150 to $130. They were all purchased from brand name stores. The host asked them, “would you rather keep $100 in your pocker, and spend $50 on your shoes? or you rather spend all $150 on the shoes only?” They were hesitated, and they seems don’t know the answer. Peers influence plays the biggest part on this marketing strategy. Most teenagers, such as high school students are easily influenced by their friends and schoolmates. They would follow the “hottest” fashion as their peers at school.

Victoria Secrets, for example, has targeted on women market majorly. Sexy underwears and swimwears are the best sales. Their main weapon will be on advertisement on television, catalog and magazines. Expose their products to as many women as possible. They have all these sexy, exotic supermodels for their cover faces. It gave a feeling of to be sexy in their advertisement. If you wear it, it will attracts your men kind of feeling.

As some expert explains. brand names have nothing to do with quality. Branding is purely an image, to market the image of the product that will bring. The costly products weren’t so much different from the low - profile brand name from walmart, department stores in quality. Some might be in exception.

Today, I have to take a day off to take my mom the renew her green card. We have already sent the application attached with a $370 personal check to the INS office. We got a notification a few days ago, which notifies us to meet our appointment on 10:00 A.M. this morning. I got up really early in the morning, and me and my mom ready to go. We arrived there pretty early in the morning, around 9:40 A.M. I parked my car, and re - check all the credentials were ready. There was a guard out there, checking each one of us at the parking lot area. He notified us that we can bring our appointment letter and a Picture ID, which is the green card, and leave everything else in the car. No cell phone, not purse, and no other personal items can be bring in the building.

When we entered the building, another guard check our credentials and guided us to fill out the form. Once we filled it out, we get in line to present it to the receptionist person. Then we be seat with a assigned number and waited to be called. There were at least 10 persons working in that facility, excluding the security guards. There weren’t many applicants in the waiting list as I can see. But the process is taking forever it seems. We were sent to other section, I- 90, we were number 17, and the number machine was blinking at 15. We thought that it won’t long since only 1 person ahead of us. Ironically, it took us to wait at least 2 hours there. There were 2 black ladies working at the cubicle, typing, writing. Once while, one lady roam to to another one’s cubicle chitchatting a little, and back to her cubicle. Later they both go to bathroom; in the hallway, they met someone, and chat little bit. How convenience of 8 hours a day.

Once, a friend of mine told me that I should work for the government branch. Relaxing is the number one condition if I work for the government. I don’t need to be hurried, and I still got good benefit, all I need is to be a U.S. citizen. Now, I realized his meanings. It was the same on DMV, when I help renew my parents’ driver’s license. It would take a while to process the new application. and I was committed a crime if I dare step forward to ask a simple question. He/she will stare with a unfriendly look.

But don’t forget, we are the taxpayers, we pay them to help us. we provide them the benefit on health, dental and 401k. They should expedite the process instead of socializing in the scene. And they should respect us even more.

religion is part of every human race culture. They establish the value of belief on every culture, and they expect their counterpart to follow the exactly same pattern, and share with as many as possible. So, what exactly is religion? Does people find guidance from the belief of certain religion? or did people find real comfort from it? So many claimed that in believing in certain religion, they will be free of suffering, and free of their troubling soul, is it a truth or a mystical speech?

Around our world, Christianity, Protestant, Buddhism, Muslim etc….. thousands of religion spread around this world. They all have their own Gods, or a symbol for people to worship. From the symbol, they depicted its appearance, its story, its origin. There were always manual, books to trace its originality, and its missions for people to follow. For celebration, they establish a certain date for people to gather together and worship its being. So, religion is one big powerful force to bring a large group of people together, and instill its instructions and knowledge.

I believe that some religions did spread out the good thoughts to people. From history, Christianity was widely spread to the world. Missionaries from the Western risked their lives to travel to Africa, Eastern to spread its belief and thoughts. In hope more people from different culture to join this force, and spread it out to more people. They do charities to others, especially the third world country. They upheld humanity, freedom of teaching, and freedom of religion. They even help build schools for the poor who couldn’t afford to go to school. They built clinic and hospitals to help the sicks. These good deeds should be spread out further more.

Some people can even use religion as a brain wash weapon to instruct its people do malicious deeds. They use religion to recruit people to do destructive work, to kill, to sacrifice in the name of their Gods. They make them truly believe that even sacrifice their lives, they will be reborn to be a greater being again. People who believe into these instructions are becoming terrorists. They do what they were told in the name of their Gods.

So religion can be a powerful force to be used by people on different purpose. It can be used to do good things to people who believe it, and spread out the good deeds everywhere else. Or it can be used a destructive force, to recruit people to do bad things. Religion is a comforting belief for people to seek guidance when they lost. How we are going to promote it, and what we are going to preach?