Franklin Delano Roosevelt~

Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation

I think we need to pay attention to the people who around us. No matter what they say, we shouldn’t believe their words. We should watch their behavior. Although we can prevent and predict anything correctly, we have to try to protect ourselves best. We need to practice some different situation as possible. After we are hurt by someone, and then stat to revenge is the worst way. We should be smart.

Different Eating culture

Author who is Lensey Chao Namioka of the “the all-American slurp” said that she and her family wanted to give a dinner party. They had invited their Chinese friends and Gleason family. Author’s mom prepared lots of delicious food for the customers. While she enjoyed her food, she glanced at Meg Gleason who is her best friend had been taking food from a second dish before she finished eating her helping from the first. She also turned to look at Mrs. Gleason who mixed her everything together, the way you mix sand, gravel, and cement to make concrete. Author couldn’t bear to look any longer. Last one who is Mr. Gleason was chasing a pea around his plate. Finally he put down his chopsticks and pick up the pea with his finger. After the meal, host brought out a platter of fruit. It is Chinese custom; Chinese always eat fruit after meal. But author’s friend she said she feel like dessert. Finally they bought milkshakes to eat.
I think paying bill is a totally different between America and Taiwan. While I first time came to America, we don’t know we need to pay tips after the meal. At the begin of three days of the trip, We went to several restaurant without paying any tips, until fourth day after we finished our lunch, we left the Chinese restaurant, but the owner who ran out the door yelled loudly why don’t you guys pay us tips. Did you have dissatisfied with our service? After his explain, we just realize this country needed to pay tips.

Gas prices latest worry for real estate market

The housing market was serious effected by the Rising gas prices. The prices were falling around 27% in Southern California in May from a year ago.
Some people would like to buy a better house which may needs to accept a burdensome commute. But this time, there are more and more new house buyers are factoring gasoline costs into their purchase decisions, said Dan Griffith, a Rancho Cucamonga-based real estate agent.
The sale price of the median home sank from $505,000 a year earlier to $370,000 in this may in six Southern California counties, according to DataQuick Information Systems.
Because of high gas costs, the value of these so-called suburbs may continue to droop after urban markets begin to recover, said Christopher Leinberger of the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank.
Under the old model of past 50 years, you could drive far away from major working sites until you could afforded for a house because cheap energy costs made it possible, ," Leinberger said. "Now as energy prices go up, the housing prices out there on the fringe take a major hit."
Some new customers of these days are more care about accepting modest homes if it close to their working place or not than past, said by Lynette Williams, a real estate agent in Pasadena. They want to find a house which can economize on their expenses," Williams said. "Compared to two years ago, they are staying in closer proximity to their jobs. They're more focused on the neighborhood they want."
Some people even want to sell their car to get a smaller car with better fuel economy to commute for working. Some of them cannot buy themselves little things because they don’t have extra money to pay.
But home values must fall until what people can afford to pay, said by economist Christopher Thornberg of Beacon Economics. He also pointed out the prices just fell around half of price, and he predicted prices will be down 40% to 50% [from their peak] in Southern California when all is said and done."
This time is the buyer’s market; some buyers are being very aggressive. They think prices are dropping, and if they wait long enough, maybe the seller will reduce the price more.
I think the prices of gas are affecting not only real estate but also everything of the people's livelihood. Everyone has to face these problems, but this time is also a good time to choose a good house. I think the most important point is location. If you choose a right place which include good neighborhood, schools convenient communications, public security, and living functions. It will resist the inflations. I think to invest a correct house can help us not to sink into the crisis.

By Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer June 17, 2008