Hey, it's my own little newspaper!
Having created many websites covering disparate topics, I decided that a newspaper should be just the thing for me to publish. Doing so I venture into a new territory. As far as I know, nobody else has his own newspaper. Websites yes, blogs yes, but a newspaper that mirrors the real thing?
Why do I decide to found my own newspaper? Well, for want of a better reason, I'll borrow a quote from a famous celebrity whose remark appears in Today's Quotable Quote. With Tim's Morning Post, I have an outlet to comment on issues of current interest, my own virtual soapbox in a virtual Hyde Park that doesn't quite fit into any of my existing websites. At the very least, I will be providing you a personal, alternative opinion, which some times can be more rational and reasonable than what you get from the mainstream newspapers.
Creating Tim's Morning Post is enormous fun. (Okay, going to Disney World is enormous fun, writing a newspaper is not.) But despite the grueling work, it is personally rewarding to venture where others haven't. Although I do read printed newspapers on occasion, I don't subscribe to one anymore. It is So Yesterday. Today, we can get so much more from the Internet. And yet, when I create my own online newspaper, I want to imitate a real newspaper, typeface and all. Think of it as Art Imitating Life. The problem with printed newspapers is, once printed, it's more or less carved in stone. With an online newspaper, you have more leeway. A typo? Not there any more. Another thing: you can't click on printed paper. Here, click all you want, and be transported anywhere you want to go.
Let me tell you, I had sooo much fun putting this paper together, I really hope you'd enjoy it. At first I wanted to call it "Tim's Daily", but I cannot bring myself to write something every single day - I've got a life too, y'know! So I decided to call it Tim's Morning Post instead. I know, it's a lazy man's excuse, but I've no choice, I'm lazy. In Tim's Morning Post, in addition to articles of current interest, you also get updates from my many websites, which range from travel to gardening to music to money management. There's something for everybody, and I'm sure you'd enjoy the updates. Rather than receiving an email update for each topic, Tim's Morning Post consolidates all into one online newspaper.
Thank you for reading. Now, if you receive this in your Inbox first thing in the morning, you know the previous night I've been busy writing!
Your Friendly Editor,
Tim's Morning Post
YOUR VIEWS If you have something to express, send your mail to me, addressing it to The Editor. I find the subject appropriate, I will run it under the Letters to the Editor column. Here's the email address to send your letters.
TODAY'S QUOTABLE QUOTE: "Listen, everyone is entitled to my opinion." - Madonna
Mrs Clinton, the President?
by Timothy Tye
I thought things like this only happen in places like Pakistan, India or Sri Lanka, where a head of state, having retired, stepped down, deposed, or just as likely, unceremoniously liquidated, is replaced by another member of his family - a son, a daughter or a wife. Now, before the year is over, we will know whether the same thing will happen in the United States of America. In this case, however, the husband is very much alive and kicking, but having done two full terms in office, is forbidden by law from seeking another. So, bring out the wife please.
But Mrs Clinton is not your regular, run-of-the-mill First Lady. She is a woman of many first's. She was the first American First Lady to run for public office. She was the first female senator for New York State. Dubiously however, she was also the first and only First Lady to have ever been subpoenaed to appear in court (during the Whitewater scandal, which cleared her name). For good or otherwise, Hillary Rodham Clinton has left a mark in US history as a woman of substance and a first of First Ladies.
How will the 2008 US Presidential Election affect the rest of the world? It depends not so much whether the President is a man or a woman, but more likely on whether the President is a Democrat or a Republican. Historically, a Democrat President tends to be more protective of his home market, which might not translate well for international trade. A Republican president, on the other hand, is more likely to meddle with world affairs and send troops to police the world. For non-Americans, it looks like a rock and a hard place situation.
If indeed Hillary Clinton makes it to the Oval Office, she will be chalking up a couple more first's. She will be the first woman to fill the President's pants (no, Monica Lewisky doesn't count). It will also mark the first time that a wife of a US President is elected into office.
For anyone, even a First Lady, it's a tough climb to the top, and along the way, it's not unusual to step on other climbers. As a result, Americans either love her or hate her. She is such a polarizing figure that few regard her with indifference. And this love-hate relationship cost her plenty, as seen in her third placing behind Senator Barack Obama and Senator John Edwards in the Iowa Democratic Caucus of 3 January, 2008, where the voters would rather choose someone they don't really know, than someone they don't really like. (She has since bounced back with a lead in the New Hampshire Democratic primary.)
Most of Hillary's problems, however, issued from her own mouth - when it got the better of her. Of course she never expected what comes out could earn her such negative criticism. Still, it got critics branding her as aloof and demeaning to other women, something she has to work harder than others to shake off.
When Bill Clinton's extramarital affair with Gennifer Flowers was exposed, she remarked in a 60 Minutes interview, "I'm not sitting here as some little women 'standing by my man' like Tammy Wynette..." The seemingly demeaning reference to country music provoked immediate criticism that Hillary was culturally tone-deaf. In response, Tammy Wynette said, among other things, that Hillary had "offended every true country music fan and every person who has 'made it on their own' with no one to take them to the White House." Hillary offered her apology to Wynette two days later, on Prime Time Live. Eventually the two ladies made up, and Wynette even appeared in a Clinton fund raiser later on.
Two months after the Tammy Wynette incident, Hillary put her foot in her mouth again. Asked whether she could avoid possible conflicts of interest between her husband's career and her work at the Rose Law Firm, and she said, "I've done the best I can to lead my life ... You know, I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was to fulfill my profession which I entered before my husband was in public life."
Critics pounced on the "cookies and teas" part to point out Hillary's apparent distaste for women who chose to be homemakers. As damage control, Hillary offered some cookie recipes as a way to make amends, and said with chagrin, "Besides, I've done quite a lot of cookie baking in my life, and tea-pouring too!" So much for eating humble pie. Click here to get the recipe for Hillary Clinton's chocolate chip cookies.
Do you like Mrs Clinton to be the next US President? I love theatrics, and having said that, I would love to see her made President. For anything, I'd love to see a President of the United States that wears evening gown. I wonder what they would call her husband. If the wife of a President is called First Lady, do they make him First Man or something? Certainly we are entering waters that no man - or woman - has ventured before. Perhaps he should check with Prince Philip. That's one gentleman with much experience playing second fiddle to his wife.
It costs a whole lot of money to run for President. The estimation is that the combined cost for the Democratic and Republican campaigns will total $1 billion. All the President's salary in four years at the Oval Office will not be enough to pay for it. Why become the President then? Must be an ego thing.
That said, I wonder whether it is a lot of fun staying at the White House. I suppose it must be, otherwise why would Hillary go through all the trouble to get in there again. She stayed there for eight long years, from 1993 to 2001, so she should know. On 4 November, 2008, we will know whether she'll be getting another four.
TIM'S TOURS: February 2008 Tour: Wonders of Angkor
Interested to join me in exploring the world? I have a whole list of specialty tours planned for 2008, of which the first on the list is the tour to explore the ancient ruins of Angkor. It only costs RM1888, and includes flight by Malaysia Airlines from penang and Kuala Lumpur, 4-star accommodation, tours, meals and cultural performances. If ever you want to experience Angkor from an informed angle, here's your chance - book now! ONLINE ITINERARY HERE PDF ITINERARY HERE
Upcoming March 2008 Tour: Cherry Blossom Season in Japan
Explore the heritage sites of Japan during Cherry Blossom Season. This tour will take place on the final week of March. The itinerary will be announced soon, so stay tuned for it. Meanwhile, take a look at the video below for an idea of what to expect. If you are unable to view it, click here.
WHAT'S PLAYING
Here's Tina Turner's version of Missing You, which I like a lot more than John Waite's. If you can't see it, click here.
TIM'S MORNING POST FEATURES
Optimize Your Webpage for Google to Find it!
If you want Google to find your webpage, you need to ensure what goes into every page of your website is optimized for the search engines to find it. In today's article, we learn how to optimize the content of your webpage for Google.
Gardening The Acacia is a lovely garden tree with yellow flowers. Different species are found in various regions from Australia to the Mediterranean.
Photography The Photography section, we learn Some Techniques in Photography that will help you compose your photographs and get improve your photograhy.
Photo Gallery Members Gallery has been updated with a new batch of shots. Please visit it at Member Gallery. Continue to submit your photos to this email address, and I will add them into the Gallery.
Asia Travel The Kohomba Kankariya is a native cultural dance from Kandy, Sri Lanka. I managed to catch this dance while I was there. Take a look at it!
MY WEBSITES AsiaExplorers: My first and biggest website, on travel destinations in Asia EarthDocumentary: An expanded version of AsiaExplorers to cover tourist attractions around the world WorldGreatestSites: Website on places in the world with outstanding universal value. HappyJoblessGuy: Guide to earning a living without holding a job. Travel Photography Workshop: Free photography tutorial for travel enthusiasts. The Flowering Garden: A virtual garden with buyer's guide on an increasing number of flowering plants and trees Tim's Morning Post Links
Opinion expressed in this online newspaper is that of the editor. Opinion expressed in third-party articles appearing in this newspaper is that of their writers and cannot be regarded as approved, agreed to or sanctioned by Tim's Morning Post.
