Return!

Fencer has returned after a very long hiatus! Stand by for more thoughts on a First World

A Nationwide ban on Shark's Fin Soup

When will our government and any other government for that matter draw up the courage to enact a ban on shark's fin soup? We all know the peril to sharks that our insatiable demand for this so called Traditional dish has caused. We know what the ultimate outcome will be should this demand continue. Since individual restaurants, hotels and consumers can't be counted on to eliminate the supply or demand, I believe it is high time that the government and the AVA stepped in and instituted a ban. Does the government have the courage to do this? If its ridiculously easy in this country to enact a ban on the innocous chewing gum, surely its as easy to ban a dish?
Isnt it?

Straits Times 6 Nov 2008: Obama's Day: Historic Win gives America its first Black President

Well Done Sir

America has spoken and it has spoken eloquently. Quite possibly a new age has dawned...perhaps a new age of innovation, contribution, sacrifice and volunteerism in the US and perhaps eventually in the world. Many have been inspired by President-elect Obama's monumental victory. But it will remain to be seen, when the euphoria fades and the hard work really begins whether the people will once again step up to the new President's call. Will greed prevail or will it be banished? It is wonderful to be living in such exciting times, to be living through history being made. I look ahead to a bright future.........

Good Luck Senator Obama!

Tomorrow, while the entire world watches, Americans go to the polls...to quite possibly vote in a new era in American history and politics. It can mean one of two things tomorrow...either history is made and we have a new dawn in the world...and quite possibly the start of some real change in the world...or we see a McCain-Palin Presidency, world disappointment and quite possibly a world that continues to spiral towards its own destruction. Will Americans help bring about the dawn of a new world? I noticed a feature article in The Readers' Digest yesterday in a bookshop. A poll had been done across a number of countries in the world..from European to Asian to African to Latin American nations...on whom they would prefer as the new American President. The results overwhelmingly were for Obama. Overwhelmingly! In Germany for example, it was 85% in favour!
Strikingly though, the lowest percentage of support came from his own country...The United States. This shows how divided America still is in so many issues and on race...one wonders when race will really be a thing of the past for Americans. If Obama is elected, perhaps then the wounds can truly be healed and Americans can make a start in moving on and join the world community.
Let's see.....

Fact Check: The US President's Salary

Salary

The First U.S. Congress voted to pay George Washington a salary of $25,000 a year, about $566,000 in 2008 terms. Washington, already a wealthy man, refused to accept his salary; however, he asked for his living expenses to be covered. Theodore Roosevelt spent his entire $50,000 salary on entertaining guests at the White House.^[13] John F. Kennedy donated his salary to charities.^[14]

Date established	Salary	Salary in 2008 dollars
September 24, 1789	$25,000	$566,000
March 3, 1873	$50,000	$865,000
March 4, 1909	$75,000	$1,714,000
January 19, 1949	$100,000	$875,000
January 20, 1969	$200,000	$1,135,000
January 20, 2001	$400,000	$471,000

Traditionally, the president is the highest-paid public employee. President Bush currently earns $400,000 per year, along with a $50,000 expense account, a $100,000 nontaxable travel account, and $19,000 for entertainment.^[2] The president's salary and total expense account serve as an unofficial cap for all other federal officials' salaries, such as that of the Chief Justice. The most recent raise in salary was approved by Congress and President Bill Clinton in 1999 and came into force in 2001; prior to the change, the president earned $200,000, plus expense accounts. This was needed because other officials who received annual cost-of-living increases had salaries approaching that of the president, and in order to raise their salaries further, his needed to be raised as well. Monetary compensation for the president is minuscule in comparison to the CEOs of most Fortune 500 companies and comparable to that of certain kinds of professionals, such as attorneys and physicians in some parts of the United States.^{[citation needed]} Overall the vast majority of U.S. presidents have been very affluent upon entering office and thus have not been dependent on the salary.

Prior to passage by Congress of the Former Presidents Act (FPA) in 1958, retired presidents did not receive a pension. All living presidents in 1959 began to receive a pension of $25,000 per year, an office, and a staff. The pension has increased numerous times with Congressional approval. Retired presidents now receive a pension based on the salary of the current administration's cabinet secretaries (Executive Level I), which is $191,300 as of 2008.^[18] Some former presidents have also collected congressional pensions.^[19] The FPA, as amended, also provides former presidents with travel funds and mailing privileges.

Obama receives Galactic Endorsement

BREAKING NEWS: Obama Receives Endorsement from ET.

Senator Barack Obama today received his latest endorsement; one of intergalactic proportions, from no other than ET the Extra-Terrestrial!
When interviewed, ET stated that, as a Botanist, he was convinced that a President Obama would lead the world into a clean energy revolution and would end the world's dependence on fossil fuels. He said that he would be happy to return to Earth for a brief visit should the Democratic Presidential nominee win the election on November 4th.