Made In Japan: 20 Japanese Comodities

1) Toyota

2) Honda

3) Mitsubishi

4) Nissan

5) Mazda

6) Subaru

7) Acura

8) Lexus

9) MP3 Players

10) Game consoles (eq. Playstation)

11) Golf Balls

12) Kitchen Hardware and utensils

13) Computer Monitors

14) Air conditioning filters

15) Pokemon™ Cards

16) Tuberware™

17) Microscopes

18) Samuraii Swords

19) Fish

20) Computer software

Top 10 Core American Values

1) Hard Work

2) Patriotism

3) Individual Freedom

4) Family

5) Happiness

6) Capitalism

7) Freedom of Speech

8) Freedom to practice religion

9) Democracy

10) Equality

Japan: Aftermath of a Tsunami

In what was the second act of a trilogy of disasters to strike Japan, the island nation felt the effects of a massive tsunami along its eastern coast line on March 11. The tsunami was caused by a sudden 8.9 magnitude tremor, that struck 250 miles northeast of the capital Tokyo, on March 10. The tsunami soon spread out, moving at a rate of 500 mph toward the Japanese coast and also Hawaii and the West Coast of the United States. All three of these areas were hit, but the worst damage, however, has been in Japan. Throughout northern Japan, coastal communities and cities were immediately flooded by tremendous walls of ocean water.

The first reports of casualties were that 350 people were dead, with around 500 people missing. The tsunami has not only destroyed thousands of homes, but caused fires to break out, disrupted the country's rail system, explosions to happen at an oil refinery and petrochemical plant, and, most seriously, damages to nuclear reactors along the eastern coast of Japan.

On Sunday, March 27, the National Police Agency, the central coordinating agency of Japan's police force, reported that 10,804 people are believed to be deceased while 16,244 are still missing or unaccounted for.  The Japanese government has responded to the crisis by authorizing search and rescue operations for those stranded and missing because of the tsunami. There have also been massive relief missions to bring stability to regions that have suffered terrible damage. The international community has also been offered tremendous support to the government to aid in its relief efforts.

Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12709598
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/world/asia/12japan.html
http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/03/27/2681s628828.htm

5 Questions on North Korea

1) How is North Korea experiencing an increase in the standard of living if the country continues to suffer from widespread poverty?

2) Is North Korea still in the midst of a famine? If so, how severe is it?

3) When did North Korea start its nuclear program?

4) How many people defect from North Korea every year?

5) How long is it predicted that North Korea will have a fully functional nuclear weapons program?

North Korea Conducts Nuclear Test

Three years after successfully detonating a nuclear weapon, North Korea once more was able to detonate yet another nuclear device. It was carried out in the northeastern part of the country, where it had performed its first such test, in an underground labratory. The magnitude of the explosion was reportedly a 9.3 nuclear explosion.

Culture of Cuba

Cuban culture has been richly colorful and traditionally diverse, often due to the affect of influences and factors affecting the country.

St. Cristobal Cathedral in Havana

The architecture of Cuba, like most Latin American countries, is directly influenced by Spain, which governed Cuba as a colony before the island's independence. St. Cristobal Cathedral, located in Havana, is modeled off the baroque architecture often found in foundations in Spain. The Spanish influence is known as Cuban Colonial Architecture. Such types of buildings can be found all across Cuba, dating back from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Like it's architecture, Cuba also has foreign influences on its music. A notalble genre of Cuban music is Afro-Cuban, a style that originated from the prescence of African slaves on the island. Combining elements of traditional Cuban music with the style of African tribe chants, the form is one of Cuba's most popular forms of music and entertainment.

As most of Cuban culture seems to be, the islands art is a traditional blend of European, African, and North America artforms. The above painting is by Irene Albalat. It draws from  Impressionistic styles that originated in Europe.

Cuban cigars have long been a cultural icon of Cuba. Since the Communist Revolution in 1959, these cigars have been illegal on the US market due to the economic embargo. However, smuggling of Cuban cigars has been common and a profitable enterprise.

Another favorite cultural apsec of Cuba has always been its food. In particular, its cuisine is especially popular. A mixture of African, European, and Caribbean traditional flavors, the island's cuisine. The ingredients are mostly natural, with the use of scare spice. The way of cooking cuisine in Cuba is by frying.

Sources:
http://www.havanacubatravel.com/architecture.html
http://www.cubaluxuryhotels.com/Cuban-Architecture.htm
http://cubanfoodrecipes.com/

Education in Cuba

Though Cuba's communist regime may face strong criticism for it's failed economic policies and poor human rights record, the one sound accomplishment that they can boast of is the country's educational system. Historically, during the Spanish colonization of the island, the majority of the rural populace, that made up Cuba's working class had no access to education, unlike the urban dwellers. After the US occupied Cuba in 1898, plans were formed to bring education to the island. In 1902, about 40% of the island populace was registered in an educational system. When Fidel Castro overthrew the government in 1959 and installed a Marxist regime, the new government pledged to reconstruct Cuba's educational system. This was done in the aspiration that an educated population would strengthen the country. The result was a successful increase in literacy of over 90%, rivaling many of the world's most powerful country's.
Education in Cuba is controlled and maintained by the Ministry of Education. Nationwide education is compulsory for all children from grades 1 through 6, up until the 9th grade. From there, students can go to a regular high school or a technical school. Especially in rural areas, children go to boarding schools. In addition to schooling, students may be called to perform community service, primarily work in agriculture. About 7% of the populace has graduated from college, with 4% holding a degree.

Sources:
http://library.thinkquest.org/18355/education_in_cuba.html
http://www.cal.org/co/cubans/edu.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Cuba
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cu.html

Fidel & Raoul's Cuba

Flag of Cuba

For nearly half a century, Cuba has been lead by a communist government that was established in 1959 by Fidel Castro and his followers. Under the constitution of Cuba drawn up after the 1959 revolution, the president is chieff of state and commander of the armed forces. The president is also First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party, the only political party allowed to exist by the constitution. The Communist Party dominates every aspect of political, economic, and social apsects of the country. The only way to rise in the political system is by being a member of the party. A National Assembly of People's Power constitutionally yields supreme legislative power over the political system. The National Assembly, however, only meets twice a year, meaning that the executive Council of State, which consists of 31 members, holds true power. A Council of Ministers, working through a nine member executive committe, has control of economic policy in Cuba, save for a small section of private sector allowed by the government. Cuba's highest judicial body is the People's Supreme Court that, despite the title, rarely hears private citizen's cases, especially in areas of political offense. 

Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro gained power in Cuba in 1959 after overthrowin the previous dictator and US ally Fulgenico Batista. Castro promised to popular reforms, including land reform which would benefit Cuba's peasant class. His "reforms" threatened US business's that were dominant in the Cuban economy,   causing isolation from the US, which only increased after the Cuban Missle Crisis in 1962. During the crisis, the US imposed an economic embargo on Cuba. Castro managed to sustain the economy through subsidies by the Soviet Union, which had become a staunch Cuban ally. The fall of the Soviet Union witnessed the economic collapse of Cuba in the 1990s as Cuba had loss its greatest source of international aid. Despite promises of change and reform after the ouster of the Batista regime, Castro's government soon became a complete repressive government, jailing and executing political dissedents. Corruption became widespread in the ruling Communist Party, while the lower classes struggled economically. 

Raul Castro

In 2008, an 81-year old Fidel Castro announced that after having intestinal surgery two years earlier, that he was relinguishing presidential power to his younger brother, 76-year old Raul Castro. Raul had previously been one of Fidel's strongest supporters. Raul's current rule has brought a suprising amount of political reform. Under Raul, the previous ban techonological equipment, including mobil phones and home computers has been lifted. Economically, Raul has lifted the ban off some products, such as DVD players and microwaves. In 2009, Raul dismissed numerous government and party officials. Despite these reforms, the Cuban goverment still holds political dissidents in prison and continues to restrict freedom of speech in the country.

Sources:

http://www.traveldocs.com/cu/govern.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1203299.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/244974.stm

US & China

Chinese President Hu Jintao & US President Barack Obama

The United States and China probably have the most complex relationship between any two nations in the world today. In the past decade, China has risen significantly and substantially to become one of the world's newest superpowers. This rise is greatly due to the country's economic boom, that began in the late 1970s after economic reforms by the Communist government that gave greater entrepreneurship to business leaders and opened up trade with Western nation, thus brining greater financial investment to the country. Of the nations with the highest GDP, China currently ranks second, just behind the United States.

It can be said there is currently a Cold War between the US & China, not in terms of military might or the strength of each of the countries nuclear arsenals, but rather in economic terms. The greatest source of tension between China and the US has been because of economics. Most recently, in a fight that is sill ongoing, the US has condemned China for it's financial policy of deliberately undervaluing its own currency, the Yuan. The weakness of the Yuan, consequentially, hurts US exports and manufacturers, who find it hard to compete with low Chinese prices. While it may seem unfair to the US, the economic relationship is beneficial for both sides, as China serves as a supplier to the demands for Chinese made products in the US, while the US exports have a good area in business and trade in China.

The relationship between the US and China is difficult one to describe, whether is is harmful, beneficial, or enigmatic. I believe that is a combination of all these factors, with a touch of dependability on both sides. China's rise rest on the strength of the US economy just as much as future US economic progress relies on China's. While it is not exactly amiable and is definitely strained, both countries are enjoying the economic profits that are key to this new special relationship.


Sources:
http://www.economywatch.com/economies-in-top/
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/business/chinese-currency-manipulation-us-exports-yuan-dollar-corporate-lawmakers-43353.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5353313

Year of the Rabbit

2011, according to the Chinese Lunisolar Calendar, is actually the year 4078. It is also the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit. Anyone born in the years 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 is destined to be articulate, talented, and ambitious. These are just a few qualities which a person born in that year is comprised of. Last year was the year of the Tiger, who tend to be sensitive and capable of great thinking. Yours truly was born in 1992, the year of the Monkey, meaning whether I like it or not, I am clever, skillful, inventive, original, and all round genius.

The Chinese calendar is among the oldest used to calculate the months in a year. It even predates the Gregorian Calendar, the current global calendar, that was first introduced in the first century. The Chinese New Year is always celebrated on the first month of the year (January). The event is a cause for celebration not just in China but across much of the globe, particularly in countries that have a significant Chinese population. The New Year is marked by festivities, which includes parades and fireworks. Traditionally, families "clean" ill fortune from their homes during this time, in part by decorating the home with red paper-cuts and couplets, which signify happiness, wealth, and longevity. The celebrations go on until the 15th day, when the New Year officially comes to an end.

Sources:
http://www.chinapage.com/newyear.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year
http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/zodiac/Rabbit.html