Dreams from My Father – A Revisit

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51FOmnPzYmL._SX326_BO1,204,203,200_  Dreams from My Father

I happened to see this book at the bookshelf corner while looking for the last copy of 2017-01-19 17.54.13Russian Roulette

During President Obama’s last few years in office, his book Dreams of My Father was an all time Bestseller deficting his growing up years in Kenya, Indonesia and Hawaii. It was the same time when then candidate Trump started his campaign about Obama not being an American. The question of citizenship kept popping up from this candidate throughout.

Through his book, Obama explores his heritage as a Black American and what it means to his life up to maintaining his heritage and yet be equal to everyone when he become President in 2008. Obama’s legacy as the first minority non caucasian President was a turning point of history.  Till this day, some people still try to question it happened hence is also part of the contention why America will take a while to even elect a Woman Madame President.

Obama’s journey from happy, race-less boy running barefoot through the muddy back streets of Jakarta to perplexed adolescent and student in Honolulu, Los Angeles and New York, and to eager but ignorant and, eventually, reasonably productive community organiser on Chicago’s South Side depicts life of immigrants who came to the US young or in their teenage years. The ability to adapt to change living in the US while keeping one’s heritage alive is what immigrants depict. The ability to blend with both cultures and lifestyles is really the most important structure to living at present in American society.

Someone who never gained such experience will never undertand the immigrant life in the USA. As such the superficial thinking of the bad criminals are more predominant to associate them with undocumented aliens. The reality is that crime is integrated to society and people who commits any crime can be anyone regardless of rare, culture, gender or identity.

Dreams from My Father tells the story of Obama’s struggle to understand the forces that shaped him as the son of a black African father and white American mother—a struggle that takes him from the American heartland to the ancestral home of his great-aunt in the tiny African village of Alego. This is an example of the same questions and realities of immigrants living in America.

With Russian Roulette, For more than a year now, journalists Michael Isikoff and David Corn have been devoted to covering the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia.   On Trump’s interest in meeting Vladimir Putin during his 2013 trip to Moscow, On how the project to build a Trump Tower in Moscow influenced Trump’s views on Russia. Hence the book mostly talks on connecting the dots between Russian the 2016 Presidential elections.

Both books are bestsellers yet Obama’s book reprintedin 2007 and Russisn Roulette was just published a few weeks ago. I’ll leave it to the reader and book critics the comparison the historical perspectives of both books.

Alex Esguerra

ADLE International

 

Farewell to SF’s First Asian Mayor

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Edwin Lee died at the San Francisco’s Zuckerberg General Hospital at 1:00 Am Pacific Standard Time.

On the few occassions, I’ve had the privilege of meeting Ed Lee, not only was I humbled by his great personality, he carried over both the the typical hardworking, loyalty and hospitalitbility in the Asian culture. He also is different from a any politician having work as a city employee all these years before rising to the position as Mayor.

The Asian Pacific Islander community, the homeless, the aging and  disabled, and low income San Franciscan’s just lost our fighter in San Francisco’s politics. We remember his tremendous fight for people living with HIV’s using the Ryan White Care Act funding. In the recent weeks and days, we saw him reiterate San Francisco as a “Sanctuary” city.

Edwin Mah Lee (李孟賢, born May 5, 1952)[1][2] is an American politician and attorney who is the 43rd and current Mayor of San Francisco, California. He was appointed by the Board of Supervisors on January 11, 2011[3] to serve out the remainder of former mayor Gavin Newsom’s term, after Newsom resigned to take office as Lieutenant Governor of California.[4] Lee won the election on November 8, 2011 to serve a full term as Mayor.[5] He was re-elected in 2015.

Prior to his employment with the City and County of San Francisco, Mayor Lee was the Managing Attorney for the San Francisco Asian Law Caucus, for which he worked from 1979 to 1989.  From 1989 to 1991, Lee worked as a Whistleblower Ordinance Investigator and the Deputy Director of Employment Relations in San Francisco as Wikipedia described his past.

A few years ago, Mayor Lee pushed for the landmark approval of the Housing Trust Fund which invested $1.5 billion in affordable housing production and housing programs until 2042. This also one of the controversial news these last few weeks on the BMR (Below Market Rate) Housing where the news media had an article on so called BMR owners sub leasing the said BMR properties they won through the BMR lottery.

Any part time employee is the City of San Francisco, we remember “In December 2013, Mayor Lee called for a major increase to San Francisco’s minimum wage. In 2014”  This was coincided with the Health Care Ordinance requiring employers operating in San Francisco to make contributions to part time employee’s without no health insurance by making contributions to the SF City Options and Wage Works program. As we know today’s $14.00 miminum wage in San Francisco has done a lot for low income and part time employee’s living in the most expensive city in the Western hemisphere in the United States.

Having live in Seattle, Washington I remember Mayor Lee’s hometown was from Beacon Hill ater his parents settled from China. He graduated from UC Berkeley School of Law which explains his his longtime commitment to bringing together varied special interests and agendas to address the greater needs of the community”

Thus I end with great thanks to San Francisco’s 43rd first likeable and first Asian American Mayor in the City and County of San Francisco.

Thus the Mayor’s Office slogan cites:

We Are a Sanctuary City

Since 1989, San Francisco has proudly been a Sanctuary City. We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our immigrant communities and fight for the progress we’ve achieved in this City. We are a sanctuary city, now, tomorrow and forever.

Alex Esguerra

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Russia’s Tampering – Return of History

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With the recent headlines in mind about Vladimir Putin’s maneuvering of the 2016 US Presidential elections reminds me of the book written by bestselling author, Jennifer Welsh

.  return

 The Return of History

Recalling the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 which I personally witness was very much similar to another political change in 1983 in a country like the Philippines when then Philippine President Marcos ended an era under a Martial Law regime by fleeing out the Malacanang Palace en-route to exile in Honolulu, Hawaii.

As author Welsh quoted American political commentator Francis Fukuyama about his famous essay, “The End of History”. The essay depicts the demise between communism and capitalism towards expanding the West Liberal Democracy towards the ideals of “progress”in history. In both of the above events, the breakdown of the wall during the Reagan years signified one of the greatest achievements of the divide between East and West Germany. Growing up in terms of living a couple of teenage years in Germany I can personally testify the mass disparity of income and inequality prior to that historic wall coming down.  At the same watching the news on the developments on the fall of the Marcos regime was very significant to the impoverished society living right at the wall of the Pacific Ocean in Manila.

The book illustrates the traditional barbaric and aristocratic way of a tyrant in this new millennium age by way of Vladimir Putin. The espionage and treason of course is local in Russia but the new cyber way and hacking which was seen in the recent US Presidential elections is a good example. Back in the cold war era it was of course more exemplified by warfare showing off military might. Today’s new tactics on spying, hacking, adware as well as internet viruses and attacks are just some of the most creative way of advance technology led infiltrations.

As Jennifer Welsh writes, ” Another way in which the West could re-examine its recent history and temper its triumphalism would be to look inward and reassess the health of its own political and economic model in this renewed era of competition with Russia”.

Indeed the  Soviet threat in arms takes a turn on a new form with regards to how the West should assess what goes on today and with the recent analysis on how Russia has played it’s cyber attacks during the recent US Presidential elections.

Alex Esguerra

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Affordable Books Mobile App now live with Google Play

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Can’t believe it’s been 3 weeks since we launched our first Mobile App “Affordable Books” with Apple ITunes.

A day after our 2nd Mobile App “Usedbooksworld” goes live on Apple ITunes, the Android version of “Affordable Books” goes live with Google Play Store.

With years of planning way right after Amazon kindle, the new roadmap of ecommerce with the emerging favorites of Shopify partners and the like just made bookselling finally going to the forefront of mobile ecommerce.

We are also happy to announced that our flagship Affordable Books On Line is finally getting mobile user friendly anytime now.

Books has not been a favorite years back by ecommerce platforms like Channel Advisor etc.  as for them there is no money made in the industry. With the domination of the mega book market places on selling penny books by the U.K. Third party drop shippers  the bookselling industry has been a non profit endeavor for pledging independent small booksellers. Such mega giants profit from their endless selling. Electronic fees and commissions. With that said even the so called antique and out of print next giants marketplaces followed through. Such places even reinforced themselves on controlling inventory and order management using FTP connection and the like where they would charge thousands merely listing 10000 books regardless if you made $25 of sales that month.

With this new mobile technology partnered with the emerging new ecommerce apps I am very optimistic that finally independent online booksellers can finally start to fight back and slowly gain back market share.

Hopefully, I am calling on the advocacy led by the American Bookselers Association to initiate these discussions on the upcoming Book Expo America at the end of this month at the Jacob Javits in New York.

To our fellow small independent booksellers, let’s grab the traction before the mega giants once again think of killing our growth.

Alex Esguerra

There was campaign confusion about Clinton’s first interview. Here’s how it really happened. – CNN

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https://apple.news/Abn9zP0PASfmXf1i5OjRwAw  shattered

Today when “Shattered” hit the bookstores, it almost sold out in a matter of hours from the shelves. This just shows how people are still trying to wake up to the reality that Hillary Clinton lost the November 2016 elections.

Lessons to comparisons from 2008 to 2016 in how Hillary tried to change her image yet still embarked on the same analytic online metrics rather than grassroots level campaigns which after all she and Former President Bill Clinton used to be sublimed experts in reaching out directly to underlying communities.

Having had the experience on seeing and somewhat involved in years of Presidential campaigns from the Reagan, Bush and Clinton years, Obama truly changed a lot of the mechanics of campaigning garnering armies online and social media.

In spite of this fact, the making of First Lady, Senator, Sec. Of State Hillary Clinton are still integrally image attached to the years pre-Obama. What does it mean? It’s simply that although data analytics online where indeed giving the numbers Hillary’s campaign wanted to see, the candidate should have more reach out directly with localism campaigns and direct contact. Hence, this was also trending in 2008 hoping that her concession speech then would have gotten more direction to her staff. So although a lot of us are still trying to decipher why she lost and keeps hovering on the Electoral College, grassroots campaigns electioneering might be a real factor why such a lost being tied to the making then of candidate Clinton.

So far what we know years from now historians will write about the first woman to achieved nomination to a US Presidential campaign and likewise her accomplishments will tie all what Hillary is all about. Yet as we know we haven’t seen the last of Mrs. Clinton.

Washington is confused by Trump’s act. What became of America First? – the guardian

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https://apple.news/AGhXzIHfXR1OR8VS3TZXGIw

Foreign policy as defined is an agreement between 2 nations thus looking after the interest of each one to working policies.

Barely 100 days towards the new administration came the test towards this and diplomacy. Hence the new commander in chief is now slowly recognizing that one’s belief does not necessarily factor the needed actions in performing the job as President.

Where does The “America First” slogan fit in dealing with diplomacy and foreign policy? As of now it may be perceived as we’re still a world power, yet as any past commander in chief would probably know, it’s a worldly cause of action making sure the world is a safe place to live. Thus actions involves policies and careful assessment that would affect the entire region, continent or even the world. It is one of those cases any futile aggression or incorrect move may cause a global effect socially, political and economics.

The next actions and moves will now start writing the chapter in history of this president and administration.

Historical Presidential Realities

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  • Through the years we’ve seen presidents over in different parts of the world rise to power.
  • From the campaigns to inaugurations hence the platforms, promises and goals of governance. Then comes the first 100 days and a year since taking office. History will validate these first year and term as more structured towards what was promised when running as well as repealing their predecessors signature executive orders. It’s a way of gratification to ever achieved from the predecessor showcasing that now they are in command. 

Any presidential candidate always had good visions to make a case of better life of the citizens when they get elected. The only part not a reality is that inherent personality of a person that will play part in their leadership and governance. Hence when these presidents takes the office slowly or even sometimes drastically the personality comes into play.

Hence as they go forward being presidents we all can visualize the type of rule a president will be. Some will say they were right ever since and some will regret the biggest mistake they did electing a president. 

In politics. what’s also true is the role of the media and citizenry. Whatever outcome a new president takes both of these two will play a role in giving the world the stories as well as even give effect towards mobilization of views and inputs as in social media today.

What happens after the first year is also historical as then you would see a more subtle president waking up to the real realities of the world. Hence they start to accept what really goes on and be more relax and conducive that after all they cannot change the whole world.

Yet these are also as mentioned historical as we really never know based on the so called personality a person brings. What’s even worse is dictators and corrupt leaders in the past went opposite in history where they became more harsh over the years in power.

So in closing the message is vigilance and being united to the cause of democracy and remaining the land of the free.

Alex Esguerra
ADLE International

Everything is too fast from Series B to Immigration B”Ban”

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The news is filled with Tech companies statements on the recent Immigration Ban who uses the H-1 B visa program a lot. As this is going on not sure if you have notice the other “B”‘s. Such case is AirBNB who started in 2008 right after the inauguration of the 44th US President Barack Obama whom raised a $112 million Series “B” funding in 2011 side by side with San Francisco based “Uber” at $30 million.

As crunch base announce the growth in 2016 for Series B funds, VR ecosystems and Vehicles predominantly autonomous were led by NextVR and Quanergy System.

Hence so much investments analysis and trending are here these days factored by not just founder ideals, investors but policy executive orders such as the recent immigration ban. Why? Simply as the factors stated above on tech companies hiring a big chunk of their workforce from overseas like “engineers”.

The question lies how these Series B funding growth will take path in 2017. As any investor or venture capitalist looking at especially start-ups, they look at day to day operations and how profits will be affected if such company will be limited in creating the perfect product or service.

As we wait for the next series of not “B” but executive orders, one can just cross their finger and sigh on “what’s next”.

Alex Esguerra

 

My Life, My Love, My Legacy – Loretta Scott King

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My Life, My Love, My Legacy Hardcover by Loretta Scott King and Barbara Reynolds Hardcover hits the stores on January 17, 2017.

ISBN:9781627795982   Publisher:Henry Holt & Co

On Monday, January 16 we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King’s fight for racial equality, justice and freedom for all. This book will be released the next day as we go back from the Martin Luther King M<Monday holiday.

The life story of Coretta Scott King—wife of Martin Luther King Jr., founder of the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, and singular twentieth-century American civil rights activist—as told fully for the first time, toward the end of her life, to one of her closest friends

As a widow and single mother of four, while butting heads with the all-male African American leadership of the times, she championed gay rights and AIDS awareness, founded the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, lobbied for fifteen years to help pass a bill establishing the US national holiday in honor of her slain husband, and was a powerful international presence, serving as a UN ambassador and playing a key role in Nelson Mandela’s election.

Coretta’s is a love story, a family saga, and the memoir of an independent-minded black woman in twentieth-century America, a brave leader who stood committed, proud, forgiving, nonviolent, and hopeful in the face of terrorism and violent hatred every single day of her life.

Born in 1927 to daringly enterprising black parents in the Deep South, Coretta Scott had always felt called to a special purpose. One of the first black scholarship students recruited to Antioch College, a committed pacifist, and a civil rights activist, she was an avowed feminist—a graduate student determined to pursue her own career—when she met Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister insistent that his wife stay home with the children. But in love and devoted to shared Christian beliefs and racial justice goals, she married King, and events promptly thrust her into a maelstrom of history throughout which she was a strategic partner, a standard bearer, a marcher, a negotiator, and a crucial fundraiser in support of world-changing achievements.

The book comes out just in time for the January 20, 2017 Presidential inauguration of the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump. It will be the historical farewell of the first African American President Barack Obama as he officially starts being Citizen Obama. The racial divide in America has still a long way to go yet Obama had set the progressive leadership initiatives following Martin Luther King. Obama while in office showcase racial equality in spite of the detractors he face notwithstanding the question of American citizenship.

Being a minority in the United States has it’s challenges yet the opportunities therein exemplifies that minorities are the best hard working employees and citizens as an asset to the land of the free. As we remember, Dr. King’s fight for racial justice and equality, let us focus as a nation what we have learned for the past 2 elections of 2008 and 2016. There’s so much work still needed in America that entails income equality as well as fighting for the individual rights of people living with disabling illness and pre-existing conditions towards Affordable Health Care. The AID’s initiatives for example way back during Coretta Scott King’s lifetime to this day still has a lot of open opportunities. During Obama’s presidency the National Aids Awareness Initiatives and Council were formed and assembled in Pennsylvania Avenue in response to the growing battle of the AIDS/HIV stigma.

Although today.HIV and AIDS are no longer as life threatening as in the 1980’s when it started, access to preventive, sustaining cure and research are still some of the biggest challenges faced in the health care industry. As we continue on the Washington politicking on the Affordable Care Act, a lot of patients needing access to medical care awaits their plight.

Coretta Scott King was an American civil rights activist, international human rights champion, author, the wife of Martin Luther King Jr., and the mother of four. Born in 1927 in Heiberger, Alabama, she died in 2006 in Rosarito Beach, Mexico.

Alex Esguerra

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The Life and Rise of Barack Obama by David Remnick, A Review

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bridgePulitzer Prize Winning Author, David Remnick writes on the experiences on the first African-American President in 2011, a First Vintage Book Edition by Random House.

This book talks about Obama’s background, his Kenyan roots, the makings of a politico, the presidential campaign, his work as Senator from illinois including his votes during the Bush presidency. It ends in 2009 and beyond after getting elected as President. As we know one of the first things Obama had to work in his transition which eventually pave the way of history writing about one of his best accomplishments was the depth of the economic crisis and recession in modern time. He narrates David Axelrod telling him that “Things was plummeting” and “The skies were darkening” meaning it was a deep, deep recession. History will write what Obama achieved by not allowing the worst case scenario to happen when government stepped in with interventions to the banking, stock market and of course when the automotive industry almost collapsed instantly.

The “Affordable Care Act” which is one of the last signatures of the Obama presidency is currently a long discussion with different groups and the like. Health care and lack of insurance has been a constant issue in the United States and has been a long campaign with the various past administrations and politicians including First Ladies like Clinton. The fact is that there are so many people although still paying a hefty co-pay and dues who benefits from the Affordable Care Act. Hence, trying to read on Obama’s mind, it might be devastating for a signature achievement simply to be abolished after his departure in office. But it is the same reality how it started as there are so many uninsured

It began in March 4, 2007 when then junior senator from Illinois Obama was going to Selma Alabama for a speech. Obama had just launched his bid for the president in a few days enroute to confront his democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.

It was a discovery time for the world as Senator Obama tells about himself, his background, his beliefs and his vision as President. It was a also a time “Race” played a big part being the first African American to run in the highest office. What was interesting was the polls capitulated on the African American community behind the candidacy of then Senator and Former First Lady, Hillary Clinton. A big fact was that a lot of that community was not familiar who Obama was. Hillary’s husband the former President as i remember during my time  with the APEC Youth spotlight had surrounded himself with so many african americans, friends, writers and the like. African Americans showed trust in Clinton’s campaign three times over Obama.

Americans. I believe as any politico does it, the word is “repeal” but the true action is “remake” so it will show credit to the new enactors.

Like Obama and past presidents, on the first days after being sworn as president, you start implementing the programs you promised during the campaign, the other party pushes back very hard. Over the years, the reality on the administration, the US Congress and the other parties pushing back causes a lot of consternation and drama in Washington as David Remnick wrote in the book. As people say, “This is the same mess traditional of Washington politics”.

I ended the blog this way in reference to newly elected President Donald Trump’s swearing to become the 45th American President in January 20, 2017. The promises on the campaign, the repealing of signature policies, enactment of new policies as well as the traditional scenarios and politics in Washington. It is too early to judge an incoming administration but it is also fair to say both an advantage and disadvantage for a non traditional politician and businessman to succeed the presidency of the United States.

In God We Trust, God Bless America.

Alex Esguerra

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