As I stated in my holiday message to friends and colleagues, 2020 was certainly a year to remember and, in many respects, one to forget. While there have been some professional silver linings to COVID-19, innovations that we will continue in the post-COVID-19 era, it has been a year of pain and loss for so … Continue reading Wishing Everyone a Happy, Healthy, & Peaceful Solar New Year!
coronavirus
Social Solidarity During a Global Pandemic
Dear Fellow US Americans, Here's an excerpt from a 9-20 article I wrote entitled Balancing Solidarity & Individualism in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond: a View from Vietnam: In contrast, the US, led by an incompetent, cruel, and narcissistic leader who politicized a public health issue and essentially did nothing, hoping and saying repeatedly that COVID-19 would … Continue reading Social Solidarity During a Global Pandemic
USA is #1 in Number of COVID-19 Infections & Deaths
The US set a new record in the number of new COVID-19 cases in one day last Friday, 30 October: 101,461 (!) & 988 deaths. In case you're counting, that's more infections in one day than the total number of cases in 169 out of 218 countries and territories, including China (85,940), where the coronavirus … Continue reading USA is #1 in Number of COVID-19 Infections & Deaths
Is Vietnam the Next ‘Asian Miracle’?
The country is making autocratic capitalism work unusually well. Hang Ma Street in Hanoi, last month. Linh Pham/Getty Images This 13.10.20 New York Times op-ed by Ruchir Sharma, the chief global strategist at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, is a decent analysis for someone who is probably writing about Viet Nam from his perch in New … Continue reading Is Vietnam the Next ‘Asian Miracle’?
A Sign of the Times
Here's a message from someone in the education industry (my italics). Only time will tell whether the new pastures are greener. Dear _______, today is my last day as part of INSERT COMPANY NAME. For the last 3 years I have learned a lot from my mentors and build good relations with our partners. I … Continue reading A Sign of the Times
“We Will Defeat COVID-19 Again.”
Photo by MAA This is the spirit of Viet Nam and its people. Until the third week of July, there had been no cases of community transmission since 16 April and 0 coronavirus-related deaths. Here's the latest: Total confirmed cases: 847 Active cases: 433 Recovered: 399 Deaths: 15 The government reacted quickly to the new … Continue reading “We Will Defeat COVID-19 Again.”
“Why Democracies Do Better at Surviving Pandemics”
The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the debate over whether authoritarian states are gaining the upper hand across the world. In contrast, democracies are showing capacity for innovation and adaptation. Seriously? When I first saw the title, I thought it was satire. It's downright Orwellian along the lines of war is peace and freedom is slavery. … Continue reading “Why Democracies Do Better at Surviving Pandemics”
Post-COVID-19 Viet Nam: Look Who’s HAPPY!
Here's a related article from 15.5.20: Vietnam among most optimistic countries despite pandemic. Vietnam ranked fourth in the world in the first quarter of this year for having the most positive consumers despite adverse coronavirus impacts. Shalom (שלום), MAA
The “Rotten Apple” at JHU
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Matthew 7:3 Tweet first, ask questions and discover the truth of the matter later, ideally. As I posted on LinkedIn about this Tweet from 10 June, "Pure, unadulterated bullshit. Steve Hanke, … Continue reading The “Rotten Apple” at JHU
Consolidation expected after Covid-19 agency business slump
This is a 29.5.20 PIE News article for which I was interviewed. Below are my answers in their entirety. What role will agents play in the recovery from Covid-19? Obviously, because international travel will be limited for quite some time, institutions that partner with education agents will have to rely on them now more than … Continue reading Consolidation expected after Covid-19 agency business slump