Ron's ESL Blogs

Have you ever missed your hometown? Yes, I did, where I was born and raised. I had left Vietnam for three years, but I still remember what I did in Vietnam. The things that I remember most is my friend, the couple days I was away from home and most importantly is my sister.

The first, I remember my friends from high school. We had someday studied at school and after a week of learning, we met each other on Saturday night. We rode bike around the area I lived and sometimes we got some ice cream from someone who sold ice cream on the street. And then we went home and thought what to do tomorrow.

Second, the couple last day in Vietnam might the happiest and also the saddest day, because I had to leave my hometown and closest friends. I almost cried when I left them behind me. It felt uncomfortable I could not turned my face looked at them because I would cry. I kept going and going.

Finally, my sister is so poor, because only shr is living in Vietnam.  She married and had two children one little girl 6 years old and one little prince 1 year old. When I left Vietnam the girl she was 3 years old, she didn’t know everything yet. She just asked her mom Where is grandma? And I had never seen the boy, I just saw him through the picture. He so cute, I wish I would meet him as soon as I can and I would raise him up.

Did you see the picture of how the America poor people live?  Our economy is real bad because we have a problem in our system. That is Federal Reserve. Our money is not a base on a real thing. That is just base on law or thin air. Because of this, that will create a huge inflation.  Second is, no matter how we have much of money. We always have a debt rising because the money supply is based on the debt. After the great desperation, the Federal Reserve recognized that was they did it.

Our money just prints it out by thin air. If our United Stated government want some money, such as it is a one million.  Our Federal Reserve will buy a national bond. Next, Federal Reserve will print one million dollars to the United Stated government. That national bond is just a debt because we need to pay back the one million and the interest to the Federal Reserve.  Where are the one million dollars come from with the Federal Reserve? Nowhere, they just print it, which it just prints it out with thin air. Our constitution said our money only can print it out and manage by the congress, not a private company which it called Federal Reserve. That money can print out very fast and easier, and that is not based on producing the product or any serve.  What happen if our money is not printed out by the producing the product or server? Because we just print it out, the money becomes much less relationship with our product and serves. In 1913‘s the value of one U.S. dollar equals the value of 2007‘s 21.6 U.S. dollar. It is the 97% devalue of its value since the Federal Reserve came in 1913.

As the first paragraph said the fed will buy a nation bond in order to supply or print the money in order to give the money to government. We know that bond is a debt, and the money of the debt come from nowhere. Fed just created it, and because that is a debt. Therefore we need to pay back the money. Therefore the money creates by a debt. That is how money creates or how money supply. The money creates by a debt. And debt is money. Our money supply is based on debt, so if everyone can pay back the debt to the Federal Reserve. There will not have money supply or a circulation. How can we or our nation has a debt free? What happen if we can’t pay back the debt? No, we can’t have a debt free ,and that is how our economic system works.

Many have since agreed with Friedman and Schwartz’s theory, including current Chairman of Federal Reserve Ben S. Bernanke, who said: “Let me end my talk by abusing slightly my status as an official representative of the Federal Reserve. I would like to say to Milton and Anna: Regarding the Great Depression. You’re right, we did it. We’re very sorry. But thanks to you, we won’t do it again.” said by chairman of Federal Reserve. We won’t do it again… How many people suffered a great painful in the great desperation? Between the 1914 to 1919, the fed increased 100% of the money supply. Money is a debt. That made many small bank and people increased the debt. Many bank and people need to pay back the debt which from the Federal Reserve. And at the begin year of the great desperation 1920, the federal lowed a lot of the money supply, so the small bank need the public people to pay back the loan which from the small bank. Public people don’t have that much money to pay back the loan. 5400 small banks bankrupted and crumbled which outside of the fed. “We won’t do it again” said by the chairman of the fed.

How many people don’t have home and enough food in the United States? How many father or mother doesn’t have enough money to feed their children? It is time to shut down the fed. I think the real problem of the fed is the people. Because fed people are people. If our people do anything just base on desire, any system we have just based on the desire, which just like the fed.

     When it comes to making major purchases, such as apartments, cars, computers, appliances, or various expensive gadgets, thoughtless buying never gets the best deals. However, the nerve wracking process of deciding on a certain brand of the thing you want to buy or store where you want to make a purchase can be unbearable. So, it is necessary to strike the happy medium. 
    

     The last major purchase of mine was a portable computer of my dream. I needed it both for home and school use. First of all, I did the research and considered numerous factors like reliability, memory, CD drives, pre-installed software packages, warranty and price of different types of computers. It was a good idea to take a simple step of establishing a baseline. It was rather easy to run a quick Google search and get a rough idea of how much different computers were.  Nobody wants to waste the hard earned money; so, I decided that it was reasonable to keep the eyes out for sales or buy a three-six month older system.

     However, neither a computer nor a laptop was equal to my expectations. I wanted to get the functionality and speed combined with superior design and outstanding technical specs. So, I was inclined to buying a tablet PC. I wanted not to be stuck in the room all the time. It seemed nice to be able to take a computer that easily fitted in my handbag everywhere I went to. I wanted to hang out and get acquainted with new people at numerous wireless coffee shops. What can be more boring than having a long car or train ride; although, if one has a tablet PC, one can watch DVDs, surf the Internet, listen to audio books, or do hundreds of other things instead of wasting time on gazing around.  Moreover, I wanted to get rid of clutter in my house and free up some space not having a special computer area or a desktop. A tablet is not only a serious tool, but a lot of fun as well. It is so interactive that computing is getting more pleasurable than ever. Thus, portability, wide range of the ways to use it and easy-to-use interfaces were the main reasons of my choice. I was also captivated with the light weight and handy characteristics of a tablet PC.

     Every time I decide to make a major purchase, I cringe at the stress and decisions I have to make. However, I assessed what I really needed, got to know much about the available products and options, did my own research, and only then did I go to the store. I planned out my purchase by saving. I set my own budget and was determined to stick to it. Shopping around and comparing prices was the next step I took. It was a major purchase, so I took into consideration not only the price, but also both the service history of the stores and the reliability of the models on sale. I also tried to get recommendations from my family and friends regarding their experiences with the products and different competitors.

     Having bought an expensive tablet PC, I learnt the ins and outs of a smooth implementation of major purchases. So, to make a major purchase you have to pick the product you desire in the affordable price range and get it done without hesitation. It is not a chore, but a real fun of achieving the dream. Planning ahead and saving money result in a great deal. Making major purchases teaches to make decisions and take responsibility.  After I did that, I was debt free and started enjoying my purchase.

 - Huishi Zhang

Decisions are important as they can change your life forever. People must make decisions throughout their lifetime, from birth to death. As for me, my life’s road is flat because most of the time my mom makes decisions for me.

              I was born in an ordinary family. Even though compared to other families in the same town, my family is richer. Since my mom is a doctor and my dad is a mechanic. They both made a good salary.  In the year of 1998, my family moved to a big city near the sea, called Yan Tai. Because my dad’s company decided to choose some good workers to train them to work in the new company in America, my mom had to quit her job and we moved to Yan Tai. Time flew, and with a blink of an eye, it was already the year of 2002, the year my dad had to leave for America. After he was gone, I missed him very much.

             Sometimes I think it’s funny how kids like some things.  When my dad went to America, I was only 14 years old. However, I began to care about all news in America and I am interested some places there, looking forward to being there someday. About my dad, after he went to America, he called us every day. I always had a lot of questions when he talked to me on the phone. For example, I would ask about what time it was, how was the weather there, what did he eat. On top of these, I learned about some important information from my dad, such as how American school teachers never hit their students. That was some good news for a naughty student like me. I wish I had studied in America.  

            Just like my dream, in the year of 2009, my family moved to America. Finally, our family got together.  Just like all I had imagined, everything is fantastic here. The weather is better than China’s weather, and the area is much bigger. I also got excited over all the famous cars that I have never seen in China. I also like the people here because they are very friendly. Most of all, I enjoy America as a free country.

                 My mom chose this for me. She made this important decision for me, and it did change the rest of my life. I love where I’m at now, just like how I love my mom.

I joined in the army right after I graduated from High School. Some people may think I’m crazy, some others may be curious about why did I decide to join in the military. There are three reasons for that. First of all, I can get help from DoD when I try to get in UC. By saying help, I’m not just talking about financial things. You can also get help about other things, too. This makes me less worry about my future after I start my college life.

Secondly, I want to change my destiny in the U.S. as a Chinese. Most Chinese who live in the U.S always work in Chinese industry or shop. This makes Chinese always stay in their own little world. Also somehow makes Chinese people get a lower pay. By joining in the military, I force myself open up and make American friends. This makes me feel comfortable with full English environment. Also, my military experience will help me a lot when I start working in American society.

Third, I believe that pay check Army sent me every month will help me out a little bit. Especially the economy isn’t very good in the States right now. Even it’s not a lot of money as a Reserve, it still gives me a little bit support. These are 3 reasons I decide to join in the military right after graduating from High School. So far I have a lot of fun from my military career. I hope I can have a better life after I get out.