This is just a short note as I don’t want to focus too much on New Year’s Eve or I’ll get homesick.

To emphasize the differences in the time zones, it strikes me just a tad odd getting a phone call from my family in the Philippines saying “Happy New Year” at 12:30 AM, January 1, 2009 their time. What was odd about it? My clock read 10:30 AM, December 31, 2008 and I was at work. That just seemed surreal to me. I will say Magic Jack is awesome.

Lastly, here is a brief note on how perspectives on life in this world can clash with reality. According to this website, Dole is one of the top 10 worst companies in the world because they pay their labor in the Philippines $1.85 a day. That comes to $481 a year or so. What those who are so offended by this are not taking into account is the average income in the Phils is $600 a year with $1000 being for the higher skilled labor. Since those making $1.85 a day are common laborers that is about the norm pay in the Philippines. Should they be paid more? Then you won’t be getting $10 massages and 10 cent toothbrushes and prescription eyeglasses under $20.

Perspective, lifestyle, and cost of living have to be factored in before one gets so offended.

From the same website, we can read…

“Cargill: The grain trade giant profiteered from the food price spike early in 2008.” They “profiteered” as if Cargill made the law focusing on using corn to make ethanol spiking up all grain prices as farmers obviously grew more corn to be sold at higher prices for ethanol and decreased growing the less profitable crops. Of course, the business is to blame because of Congress and the President’s interfering in the economy and thinking it was a good idea to shift food into a fuel tank.

I’ve got a feeling I won’t be subscribing to that magazine.

Thanks,

Anah

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