How are you! I’m Zhao Li from year 12. I’m very happy to be able to introduce you all to the Chinese New Year.

The Spring Festival is one of the traditional festivals of China. Every year, it is celebrated from the 23rd day of the 12th month to the 15th of the first month of the lunar year, making it the longest spanning celebration with the most celebratory activities.

The Spring Festival is also called Year. This has to do with legends about Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year has many customs. Before the first day of the first month, people will clean their house, buy special New Year products, worship, hang red lanterns, paste couplets, etc. young children will also buy firecrackers and new clothes. These customs are kept in hopes of having good luck in the Next Year.

New Year’s Eve, the 30th day of the 12th month, is the last day of the lunar year. On New Year’s Eve, people will stay up the whole night. The family will eat a reunion dinner, also called a New Year’s Dinner. Fish and New Year’s cake are foods that must be eaten during the New Year’s Dinner. This is because eating fish represents having a prosperous year and New Year’s cake represents one year being better than the year before. Firecrackers, thought to be able to scare away bad spirits, will also go off, bringing peace to the family in the New Year.

After the first day of the first month, people will pay each other New Year calls. Parents usually give children New Year’s money. Celebratory activities will continue on through to the Lantern Festival, which is the 15th day of the first month. This day marks the true end to the Spring Festival.

Students, don’t you think the Chinese Spring Festival is interesting? This concludes my speech, thank you everyone.

The F.D.I.C. has reported that many banks are showing signs of impending bank failures.  The number of banks that are at risk has grown from 829 to 860.  This has caused a strain on the deposit insurance fund that as of the third quarter in 2010 was operating at a negative balance of $8 million.  While banks that are not at risk are reporting increases in earnings, losses due to failed banks are expected to be about $100 billion by 2013.

While the United States is the most prosperous nation, it has the more people who are experiencing long-tern unemployment totaling six months or longer.  The longer these unemployed people stay out of work, the harder it will be for them to eventually find work.  Some have missed out on opportunities to increase their skills, some are discouraged and some are not getting hired because of the length of time they have been out of work.

President Obama is considering instituting community college retraining programs in an effort to reduce the unemployment rate.  In view of Obama’s record for bringing this country out of the recession, this may be a program which could help many of the displaced workers.  Even with the retraining programs, many of the unemployed workers may remain out of the job market permanently and seek permanent disability benefits.

There is some speculation that there may be signs of another Silicon Valley Bubble.  The problem seems to be with social networking and mobile apps start-ups which are asking for venture capital and venture capital companies are granting the money without sufficient explanation from the entrepreneurs about their plans to build a successful business.  Additionally, private investors are now trading derivatives of Facebook shares, which are very risky.

Since 95% of all businesses fail within the first year, this should be an area to keep under close observation.  Financers are expressing widespread views on the situation.  Ron Conway of San Franciscodoes not see a problem because the start-ups have business models, while Jeff Clavier, managing partner at Soft Tech VC, feels there may be a problem down the road with many of these start-ups.

While the economic crisis of 2008 was the most devastating recession for the United States, many people seem not to have learned from the experience and are continuing to engage in the behavior that caused the economic crisis.   

In conclusion, there are still some problem areas in the economy and how the current administration handles them could help or hurt the economy.

Image by TC50 via CrunchBase

Happy New Year

As another new year draws to a close,

I would like to pause and reflect on the

Eventful journey I embarked upon years ago.

It all began with my cries and my mom’s smiles,

And with every passing year, she saw it taking shape

With her care and focused efforts.

Soon, I noticed something humbling.

Year after year, I had not only gathered wisdom,

But had also won the trust of every one related to me.

I realized that every thing I had achieved

Over the years, was possible because of her.

So, as I enter another year of my life,

I would like to begin with thinking about you

For your caring love, you gave me.

I hope mom that 2011 is the beginning,

Of a new chapter of my life that

I have to spend without you. 

My special thanks to all my friends here at Triond and whosoever is reading it. Wish you a happy and prosperous new year. 

“I dedicate year 2010- “To the memories of my loving mother”.

Image via CrunchBase

These are self-defined thoughts that provide concrete motivations on personal development. These are definitions honed for two years and three months of working here at IPI. It has been and becoming more fruitful and prosperous as day goes by. It equips and broadens my skills towards creative mindset. This prepares me to inspire employees at their respective placements.

Work beyond the boundaries of intelligence. Meeting the requirements of the job and targets of the project is a routine. This is the so-called typical way of working. Many of unsuccessful workers are into it. They worked not on the extent of their knowledge, but on the limits of compensation. Working has to be sustained, for it is an enduring encouragement. It is beyond profession and education. It must be perceived as devotion. Most importantly, a good worker sets aside his/her personal intentions. This draws good working environment.

Maximize the resources you have. Make each item oozing productive. However, don’t spend much of your time working. Have your breaks. Make it a habit. Utilize your privilege, but never abuse it.

Gossips and suspicions are flavors of the month. Don’t be anxious about others perspective on early consciousness. Don’t be alarmed with shortcomings of your superiors. Instead, burden them with your outstanding performances.

Don’t be immune by closeness you gained from your boss. It only makes you myopic. Instead, be sensitive with your environment. Your presence and support has to be abreast.

Endearing promotion of others should not hamper you to outshine them all. Let your heart promote yourself. You are on your own; you own you. You have to build your own reputation. This is not a mock business; it is an institution that requires excellent acts.

Pride has to balance its own measures. Focus on your goals and ambitions never on achievements of others. Aim higher not just by praying harder, but through striving smarter. Be intellectually elite. Begin it to yourself! Begin it today, have excellent jobs at your respective desks…

Not everyone can be a doctor, lawyer, teacher, preacher, actor etc. If your talent is to be a housewife, plumber, secretary, etc and this is what makes you happy, you will be successful. We cannot choose a career based on what society’s expectations because we will put ourselves in a position to fail. We need to choose our path, based on what makes us happy then with training; schooling and practice make that talent the best it can be.

Look around you. The people who are successful and have continued success and profits are those who are doing exactly what they were intended to do. Don’t follow the money, follow your heart and be the best that you can be.