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Happy New Year, but go easy on U.S.-China deals
Gung hee fat choy! Or is it kung hei fat choi? Either way, Happy New Year! This is the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which celebrates the Year of the Sheep. Or is it the Year of the Ram, or the Lamb, or the Goat? Depending on who’s cited, any one of those critters applies.
According to one feng shui master in Beijing interviewed by NBC News, this year casts a financial shadow, so be extra cautious when investing. The forecast is said to be most favorable to those born in the Year of the Snake (1953, 1965, 1977, etc.) — such as China’s President Xi Jinping — but most unfavorable to Year of the Ox folks (1949, 1961, 1973, etc.), such as our President Barack Obama. Hmmm, maybe U.S.-China trade deals should be deferred a year.
It’s a wise move to fund programs like PUEO
A bright spot on the Hawaii education landscape appeared this week with news of a $6 million grant to fund PUEO — Partnerships in Unlimited Educational Opportunities. That’s the Punahou School initiative giving an extra boost to needy public school students who show potential for joining the college-bound track. The program plucks out 40 students annually, kids who commit to a summer session for each of seven years.
The results are impressive, with this cohort far outpacing state graduation rates and other measures. It shows what an educational investment, putting students in an environment promoting academic achievement, can do. The acronym spelling the word "pueo," the wise old owl, is an apt one.