tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10370640436587442522011-04-21T16:53:12.729-07:00Politics, Human Rights, Cultures, NewsT. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.comBlogger181100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-9291278335895662882009-02-21T08:14:00.000-08:002009-02-21T09:03:27.658-08:00

The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) was launched in 2008, by President George W. Bush in response to the alarming slowdown in global capital markets, which was triggered by a housing slump that undermined mortgage-backed bonds carried on the books of major financial institutions.Congress had approved the $700 billion program in 2008, after the then Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson said it

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-64998194510457651242009-02-21T07:38:00.000-08:002009-02-21T08:09:14.342-08:00

The campaign, the election, and the inauguration of President Barack Obama have affected most Americans in personal and unique ways. Each of the following five Americans have taken their time to share their personal thoughts on the Obama Presidency and the economy.It is a privilege for this writer to listen to, and read each of the interviewees' unique responses who have given me permission to

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-14238002687058673022009-01-24T17:36:00.000-08:002009-01-24T17:54:17.202-08:00

The Empire State Building in New York is lit up in red and yellow to usher in the Year of the Ox, the lunar new year that is celebrated by Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean people around the world.The special lighting will run from Friday evening to Monday night, Jan. 23 - 26.It is an Ox-picious year to welcome the new president for Americans.The new year marks the Year of the Ox, a symbol of

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-9353093424390298402009-01-18T08:47:00.000-08:002009-01-18T09:18:33.581-08:00

According to previously released statements issued by the Department of United States Homeland (DHS), the current US Secretary, Michael Chertoff has designated the 2009 Presidential Inauguration a National Special Security Event (NSSE) on Oct. 20, 2008, although cooperative planning for the event has begun as early as July 2008.The Secret Service assumes its mandated role as the lead agency for

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-59627636762264796352008-12-24T17:42:00.000-08:002008-12-24T18:10:42.417-08:00

I'd like to extend warm holiday and Christmas wishes to all who have stopped by for a read.    

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-91027864149867981822008-11-30T14:07:00.000-08:002008-11-30T14:14:10.229-08:00

This is the second installment of the Arctic and Antarctic series, which covered the Gender on Ice conference that was held at Barnard College on Nov. 21.Life in the Arctic and Antarctic is far more complicated and challenging to these contributors, not to mention, the extreme weather condition, yet these photographers, scientists, writers, filmmakers, and artists seem to have been inspired by

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-22688173887958294622008-11-30T13:59:00.000-08:002008-11-30T14:06:26.445-08:00

This article is a two-part series about the Arctic and Antarctic intended to celebrate the US and International Polar year.Barnard College in New York City recently held a two-day interdisciplinary conference on Nov. 20-21, featuring images, literature, films, audio-visual installations, music, and history of the Arctic and Antarctic.The conference used the title of Ms. Lisa Bloom’s book, Gender

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-30220447088553407412008-11-16T14:37:00.000-08:002008-11-19T19:32:41.518-08:00

Nam Le, a Vietnamese refugee who escaped Viet Nam in 1979 by boat with his parents as a three-month-old to Australia has won the prestigious Dylan Thomas Prize on Nov. 10, for his debut collection of short stories, The Boat.The biennial Dylan Thomas prize was launched in 2006, which is part of the Dylan Thomas Festival, to encourage creative talent in writers under the age of 30 whose work has

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-51923388753021969172008-11-07T23:32:00.000-08:002008-11-15T16:36:00.950-08:00

The President-elect Obama gave the world an extraordinary behind-the-scene view of his election night victory by posting 82 pictures on his personal Flickr account. These photographs were intended to reach the public without relying on news wire services, television networks, and newspapers. These photographs were also posted inside the Barack Obama website.The photographs showed the Obama

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-14809630107159829912008-11-03T14:47:00.000-08:002008-11-15T16:42:29.923-08:00

According to the Chicago Tribune, Senator Barack Obama learned of his grandmother's death about 8 a.m. Eastern time and that she passed at her home in Honolulu between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. Eastern time on Nov. 3, 2008.Mrs. Madelyn Payne Dunham had been gravely ill, was a rock of stability for Senator Obama. He credited her for teaching him as a youngster about “accountability and self-reliance.

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-63482637516812222362008-11-01T20:03:00.000-07:002008-11-15T16:15:10.703-08:00

Within 48 hours to go before the November 4 election, undecided voters are finding themselves the center of attention of campaigns looking for a few more important votes in these key states, Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania – rich Electoral College votes. There are also undecided voters in other states, Virginia, Missouri, and Indiana, to name a few. After more than year of nonstop political

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-70412239787694588162008-10-25T12:35:00.000-07:002008-10-29T20:42:03.290-07:00

The nation’s fast-growing Asian American population of nearly 15 millions has been often overlooked and dismissed as a political factor in the past. That is no longer true in this presidential election as Asian Americans are actively engaged in campaigns for Obama and McCain. The Washington Post appears to be one of the few mainstream news that reported on an increasingly significant Asian

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-53082470291040157332008-10-19T12:05:00.000-07:002008-10-25T08:32:41.728-07:00

It is no secret that both presidential candidates, Senators Obama and McCain have been courting for General Colin Powell’s seal of approval. He has the political gravitas of a highly regarded statesman.General Colin Powell is one of the most respected voices from both sides of the aisle, in America and around the world. He is a senior statesman whose vast and long-standing experience in the

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-89462685980527171962008-10-13T09:31:00.000-07:002008-11-15T16:47:32.684-08:00

Senator McCain and Governor Palin had embarked on a dangerous path of using race-baiting and cultural intolerance to stoke hate among their followers. Although the news has dialed down its coverage, average voters are still discussing the angry tone of the Republican rallies.It should be a concern to all Americans as Senator McCain and Governor Palin tout their “country first” message, they are

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-12893919705348152072008-10-05T21:49:00.000-07:002008-11-15T16:19:12.450-08:00

My quick take on the debate of Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin:First of all, Ms. Gwen Ifill was an excellent moderator. She was a model of restraint.The debate reminded me a bit about secondary school when a student had to answer questions based solely on memorization. Ms. Palin’s response to any question was to say everything and anything as fast as possible lest she forgot her

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-80589372123863029342008-10-01T19:38:00.000-07:002008-10-06T11:48:00.115-07:00

The fate of our country depends on each of us to vote for the 44th president of the United States of America on or before 11/4/2008. We are choosing a man who will become the president and caretaker of our nation.The 44th President will inherit a myriad of complicated domestic and economic crises, and complex foreign affairs that are left unresolved by the current administration.Our country must

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-41697026531594706242008-09-17T20:11:00.000-07:002008-11-15T16:18:12.620-08:00

Apparently, Ms. Palin will be adding a new country to her infamous international travel resume next week, New York City. According to Reuters, Senator McCain plans to take Ms. Palin with him to the United Nations in order “to boost the Alaska governor’s foreign policy credentials.”I am pretty sure that the United Nations diplomats and staff are having a good laugh over Senator McCain’s latest

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1037064043658744252.post-33344297248540409452008-09-13T14:18:00.000-07:002008-10-07T14:56:16.558-07:00

Is it me, or do the governor of Alaska and the senator of Arizona appear to believe that if they repeat falsehood often enough and it will become their version of the truth? Don't they realize that in 2008 when all a person has to do is to search online about their assertions and claims? Do they think that their combined personalities will somehow outweigh the facts based on research, public

T. A. Ngoc Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301148001291932992noreply@blogger.com0