Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Elections

Stop me if you've heard this before
""An election .... is usually a chance for an ordinary voter to make a quick buck, enjoy a free meal and perhaps even grab a souvenir t-shirt at a campaign rally.

For the man in the street, it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between the parties and candidates; they rarely live up to their campaign promises anyway.""
Typical elections in the Philippines? Yes, but it turns out also typical in Bangladesh. Fortunately for Bangladesh, there is something different this year.
""No-one is offering us money or anything else this time," said Abdul Jalil, a rickshaw puller in the capital, Dhaka. "Previously, we would get cash or other gifts during elections."

Bangladesh goes to the polls on December 29 for a parliamentary election the interim government says will be the cleanest in years -- if not the country's history. The election, the ninth since independence in 1971, will end nearly two years of mostly emergency rule and return the country to democracy."
I can only hope for the same thing happening in the Philippines in the next elections.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Nagkalimutan

Kanina, ibinalita ng ABS-CBN na humingi na paumanhin si dating Pangulong Cory Aquino kay dating Pangulong Erap Estrada dahil sumama si Pangulong Aquino sa pagpapatalsik kay Pangulong Estrada.

Kay daling makalimot ni Pangulong Aquino, parang nakalimutan na niya yung mga kabaluktutang nangyari nuong kapanahunan ni Pangulong Estrada. Hindi naman nag-alsa ang mga Pilipino laban kay Pangulong Estrada dahil sa trip lamang nila. May mga dahilan, at malaki ang katunayan na mangurakot nga si Pangulong Estrada, mayroon tayong mga bank account, at meron tayong witness na si pangulopng Estrada ang pumipiram sa bank account na ito.

Mas malaki pa nga ang katibayan sa kabaluktutan ni Pangulong Estrada kaysa sa kabaluktutan ni pangulong Arroyo. Puedeng dahil sa mas matalino at mas pinong mangurako si Pangulong Arroyo, pero huwag naman natin kalimutan na porket kasama ngayon ang mga taga suporta ni Pangulong Estrada sa mga gustong magpatalsik kay Pangulong Arroyo, ibig sabihin wala ng sala si Pangulong Estrada.

Never Again, yan ang naging motto ng mga oposisyon nung panahon ni Pangulong Marcos. Sana maalala ni Pangulong Aquino ito.

Update: Dec 23, 2008

Mukhang di lang ako ang nagulat sa paghingi ng paumanhin ni Pangulong Aquino, merong istorya ang PDI at reaksyon ng ibang tao dito.

Monday, November 17, 2008

God Angrily Clarifies 'Don't Kill' Rule He Made for Humans

Responding to recent events on Earth, God, the omniscient creator-deity worshipped by billions of followers of various faiths for more than 6,000 years, angrily clarified His longtime stance against humans killing each other Monday. (This may just be the most serious Onion story ever written.)

read more | digg story

The 5 Most Retarded Causes People Are Actually Fighting For

For every great cause, there is an equally retarded one. Here are five of them.

read more | digg story

Friday, October 24, 2008

Brotherhood of Thieves

Isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit hindi na ko nakakapag sulat sa blog na ito ay dahilo sa busy ako sa paglalaro ng 9Dragons, isang MMORPG o online game kung saan gagawa ka ng character at mag-aaral ka ng kung-fu. Gustong gusto ko yung mga pelikulang kung-fu ng bata pa ako kaya ako sinubukan at nakawilihan ang larong ito.

Wutang ang una kong character, ngayong medyo mataas na siya gumawa ako ng bagong character at naisipan ko na gawin itong kasapi ng Brotherhood of Thieves. Siyempre ang una kong naisipang ipangalan sa character ko na magnanakaw ay Mando, kaya lang may nauna na sa akin. Sinubukan ko yung Palos, mayroon na ring nakakuha. Yung pangatlo kung naisip na pangalan ay Erap, wala pang kumukuha.

Ngayon tuloy ang pangarap ko ay mag-gawa ng hero band sa 9Dragons na kasapi lang ay Brotherhood of Thieves pero pulos sikat na pangalan ang kasapi, Macoy, Imelda, Gloria :).

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Takuna

"Atheist ako, pero pag nasa bahay, nagro-rosary kami ng nanay ko, eh kung magalit sa kin yun. - Socio 11 Prof."
Wala lang, natawa lang ako. Galing sa isang forwarded e-mail na supposedly quotations from UP teachers.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

LHC Scientist Confuses Star Wars with Star Trek,We're Doomed

The scientific world is shocked today as Michael Zeller—a professor of physics at Yale who has been working at the Large Hadron Collider—reportedly misquoted the Star Trek tagline "Where no man has gone before" and, further shattering the Universe time-space fabric, attributed it to Star Wars.

read more | digg story

AltMed can lead to death

The quackometer has this story where a charlatan exploits South Africa's misinformation on HIV/AIDS to sell vitamin pills as cure, and people died. His conclusion is a harsh one for those who think alternative medicine is a harmless.
"Every supporter of alternative medicine in the UK has a little guilty role to play in this tragedy. By using the same arguments as Rath, such as the evils of drugs and the naturalness of vitamins, you are responsible for the deaths of real live people. Alternative medicine is not just the idle plaything of the middle classes from Islington. It matters. And when our Universities teach it as if it was science, and our hospitals offer it as if it was medicine, then charlatans are able to use this as justification for their own self-interest."

Saturday, September 06, 2008

'I Have All the Books in the World.. All But One' [COMIC]

Mister Bookseller is unsurprisingly about a bookseller, but what's curious is that his shop seems to have a copy of each book ever--- in fact, it has all the books ever. All but one. Touching and beautiful comic. Safe for work.

read more | digg story

Monday, August 04, 2008

Remembering Solzhenitsyn

I probably would not have read Alexander Solzhenitsyn's works if I were not a socialist. His stature as a critic of the Soviet Union and it socialist system made me curious about his works. I remember finding a copy of 'One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch' on sale from National Bookstore. It's back cover was missing but I bought it anyway because I wanted to read it. I was expecting a book full of political polemics, but found a book full of human relations, and this made it a more effective critique of Soviet authoritarianism in particular and authoritarianism in general.

The problem was aside from the back cover, the book was also missing the last page. I had to read the lat page at National Bookstore where I borrowed a copy for a few minutes. 'Ivan Denisovitch and his other books 'Cancer Ward', 'The First Circle', and 'August 1914', strengthened in me, an abhorrence of authoritarianism.

The Soviet Union is now in the dustbin of history, but it's lessons should not be forgotten, so should Alexander Solzhenitsyn's works.

Sobra naman yan

May ginagawang publicity gimik ang Inquirer na tinatawag nilang Rush Hour Commute kung saan mayroon silang 4 na teams na mag uunahang makarating sa isang lugar nag ang sinasakyan ay ang MRT, kotse, bus at taxi. Tapos titingnan nila kung sino ang unang makakarating sa lugar at kung magkano ang nagastos nito.

Maganda sana ang hangarin ng gimik na ito kaya lang masyado namang pabor sa MRT. Tingnan niyo na lang ang unang araw ng karera ang mga teams ay nanggaling Trinoma station tapos pupuntahan ay Taft Avenue sa Pasay, di ba naman, dulot-dulo lang ng MRT iyon. Pag nakasakay ka na sa MRT, dire-diretso ka na, walang traffic, problema mo na lang kung masisiraan yung MRT ng araw na iyon.

At ganito din ang mangyayari sa pangalawa at pangatlong araw. Santolan hanggang Recto ang pupuntahan sa pangalawang araw at Baclaran hanggang Monumento sa ikatlong araw. Santolan in Pasig to C.M. Recto in Manila sobra-sobrang partida naman yan.

Naniniwala ako na pinakamabilis at pinakamurang sasakyan ngayon at gusto ko na gumawa pa ng mas maraming MRT para na rin makatulong sa pagbaba ng konsumo natin sa gasolina, pero wag namang ganito, kadayaan na ang karerang ito.

Kung gusto nila ng parehas na laban, dapat hindi sila sa istasyon ng MRT magsimula, kung ang gagamitin ay ang MRT sa North Edsa at papuntang katimugang Metro Manila sa Fairview siguro sila dapat nagsimula tapos sa Sucat o Bicutan ang destinasyon. Tapos hindi dapat alas otso ang simula ng karera. Alas otso ang simula ng trabaho kaya ang rush hour ay yung mga oras bago mag alas otso, siguro mga alas siyete o alas sais ang simula ng karera para totoong Rush hour.

p.s.

Nakalimutan ko palang ilagay, nandaya pa yung team na sumakay sa MRT
"Team MRT suffered delays due to the large volume of people queuing at the North Avenue Station during Monday morning traffic. People swelled at the MRT ticket booths as passengers started trickling in. The team even had to leave a teammate behind since she did not make it to the starting line in time for the race. In the end, Team MRT still managed to finish first. Each team member spent P15 for the trip."
Hindi ba dapat hinintay muna nila yung team member bago sila nagsimula? Ganun na lang ba yang karera na iyan, puede kang mang-wan? Bakit pa tinawag na team?

Social Darwinism

Reading this post from Pharyngula where Prof. Myers had this beautiful statement:
"What logically follows from Darwin's theory is that fit individuals are those that survive and have offspring. There is no presumption that there is only one possible strategy to accomplish that survival: if we maintain a state that helps the weak and sick live and have children, then we have increased their fitness.

Maybe it's just me, but I read the truth of evolution as saying that we can work to oppose brute nature and make life better for our fellow human beings, or we can surrender and refuse to resist nature's course. We have a choice. You can be an enabler of greater rates of selection (using arbitrary criteria that may not generate enhanced survival for anything but the select occupants of a totalitarian state!) or you can work for a better life for more."
and then saw this comment from Wowbagger and was just struck by it. I really haven't thought about this subject from this perspective.
"Apart from anything else the use of Social Darwinism is automatically flawed because it relies on the assumption that the qualities the selectors are favouring (which, unsurprisingly, tend to be those they happen themselves to possess) are inherently beneficial to fitness.

Just because someone likes tall, blonde people doesn't mean they're going to survive better than short dark people."

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Ebidensiya

Bakit ba ang hilig hilig ng mga senador na mag akusa ng krimen tapos ang kanilang ebidensiya ay sa susunod na kabanata? Mahilig si Sen. Lacson gawin ito. Ngayon si Sen. Madrigal naman itong nagmamadaling ma diyaryo bago magkaroon ng matibay na ebidensiya.

Hindi ako mamamangaha kung nangumisyon nga ang kapatid ni Speaker Nograles, pero hindi ba puedeng kuhanin muna niya ang lahat ng ebidensiya bago siya magsalita para naman pag nag deny ang kanyang inaakusahan puede niyang sabihin "o eto ang ebidensiya ko, isaksak mo sa baga mo". Ngayon ay nagpapalitan sila ng paratang sa mga diyaryo, nagmumukha na gusto lang ni Sen Madrigal na ma diyaryo.

At hindi rin makatarungan ang ganitong gawain sa mga inaakusahan, paano kung legal nga naman pala ang ginawa ng kapatid ni Speaker Nograles, tapos inakusahan mo siya ng paggawa ng ilegal na bagay? Sinira mo na ang kanyang puri, at kahit ano pa ang gawin mo, hindi mo na maibabalik iyon.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Yuck

Ayon dito sa article na ito sa Slate
"That distinctive pool smell usually attributed to chlorine is actually produced by the combination of chlorine and perspiration, body oils, and urine."
So pag amoy pool yung pool mo ibig sabihin may umihi don? :)

Anti-abortion

pro-life,pro-choice,condom,anti-abortion

Pro-life

pro-life,pro-choice,condom,anti-abortion

Friday, July 25, 2008

Let us wait and see

According to the PDI, Senator Francis Escudero said
"The chairman of the Senate ways and means committee proposed that 70 percent of presidential appointments to the 5,000 positions in government agencies and government-owned and -controlled corporations should be limited be given to career officials with the technical expertise and institutional memory to continue existing programs.

"There are agencies that need the confidence of the people, not the confidence of the President. These agencies need technical expertise, not loyalty to the appointing power,” he said.

“These include OWWA, NEDA (National Economic Development Authority), DoE (Department of Energy), the Department of Education, and DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways).""
I invite people to help me monitor Sen. Escudero's subsequent career. If he becomes President, let us monitor whether the majority of his appointments come from career officials with technical expertise and institutional memory. If he falls short, let us see whether he will accept any appointments to any government agency where he has no expertise.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Archaic

Malaysian police are poised to arrest and charge their former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of sodomy. The same charge that got him imprisoned in 1999.

The first conviction was viewed as politically motivated so I cannot understand why they are leveling the same charge again since this would most probably be viewed as politically motivated, unless the ruling party is so convinced of their invulnerability that they do not think they need to make elaborate pretenses when they persecute somebody.

The thing that gets me though is that they are charging him with sodomy. I can only conclude that they believe that Malaysians are so homophobic that the mere mention of the act of sodomy will make them abhor Mr. Anwar.

I can't believe Malaysian's allows this kind of archaic thinking to pervade their society. Malaysia seems to be a very dynamic society and their economy has passed that of the Philippines, yet they persist with this kind of antediluvian thinking?

Of course we in the Philippines have our share of people with this kind of thinking, but at least we do not jail people for a sexual act that that they engage in voluntarily. The operative word here is voluntarily, forcing sex on other people is rape.

I hope Mr. Anwar, beats this charge, become head of government and abolish this law.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Cracked Me Up

Si Mike Defensor nasa Cracked.
















Ang problema, nasa isa siyang article na ang title ay "6 Retarded Gas Saving Schemes (People Are Actually Trying)." At ang sabi nung artikulo tungkol sa hawak niyang bagay ay
"What is it?

This is a device developed back in the 1970s by some dude in the Philippines who felt that America shouldn't have the market cornered on scamming people. Basically, it's a metal valve, with the very impressive words "Super Turbo Charger" nicely engraved on it. As you can see by the picture, unlike some of the products out there, this thing actually looks like it could do something, in the way that most hookers look like they don't have an STD.

What's it supposed to do?

Basically this thing is supposed to put your car on a gasoline diet. Apparently all cars are using way too much gas. The Khaos supposedly changes the mixture of the gas and air so that the car will burn more air and less gas. Up to half as much according to them.

Inside the metal tube is a spring which is supposed to regulate the air/gas mixture, turning your bloated car from a donut-munching couch potato into a lean fuel-efficient triathlete, minus the ridiculous spandex.

Even more amazing though is that the maker claims it will reduce pollution from your car by 100 percent. The inventor also says he has turned down millions of dollars from Western companies for the patent because then Filipinos would not be able to afford it. Oh, and also it doesn't work at all.

What will it really do?

This device will do exactly what it says it will do. It will actually change the fuel/air mixture in your car. Awesome! You know what else can change the fuel/air mixture in your car? Something we like to call, the engine.

In modern cars, the car's computers and sensors will take care of all that for you. Not surprisingly, they will do a much better job of it than this thing. What this actually does is choke off gas from entering the engine, making it knock and ping and generally run like shit.

As for the claim that it reduces pollution? When installed the device actually creates about three times the pollution that a car without the device produces (that's what happens when you fuck up the way the engine was designed to run). We think this means that it doesn't work.

So why do people buy this thing and swear by it? One reason may be that the makers tell you that you need to give your car a tune up before installing the device. So it's like a diet pill where the directions say you should take it with a glass of water and then run five miles. You'll get results, but probably could have skipped the pills. "
Siguro nuong Secretary siya ng DENR itong picture na. Pero maski na, di ba niya naisip na kung talagang may nagagawa ang Super Turbo Charger na ito, matagal ng ginaya ng mga gumagawa ng kotse ito? Minsan yung kagustuhan nating maging bilib sa pinoy ay bumubulag sa atin sa kagaguhan ng ginagawa ng pinoy na iyon.

Arenas in the Philippines

Gilbert Arenas, all star point guard for the Washington Wizards recently visited the Philippines and he had a nice time. So nice in fact that he wrote in his blog that everybody should visit Manila.
"One thing I want to say about Filipinos: they’re very warm people, very good-hearted people. Like, everybody was nice. You know, you meet nice people, but a whole country of nice, genuine, warm-hearted people was unbelievable. These are diehard fans. "
While he was here, he also helped out with Gawad Kalinga and toured some malls.
"You have to look at the Agent Zero posters they had out there. They put me in a cape at one of my last events in Manila. It was at one of their biggest malls and they were predicting it was going to be crowded. I mean, crowded to me is a Saturday afternoon at the mall where you have to wait in line for 10 minutes to pay for your jeans. Their crowded was probably four or five thousand people in the mall. It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and I’ve seen crazy fans all over the world. It was like Golden State against the Dallas Mavericks with Game 3 back in Oakland. It was that type of atmosphere in the mall. "
And of course he watched Ateneo vs. La Salle.
"We actually went to a college basketball game together. Their college game would be like if it was Duke and Maryland playing each other and you split the crowd in half, 50-50. One side of their gym was blue and one side of their gym was green and everybody was just yelling."
via TrueHoops

Lessons from "The Propaganda Movement"

Kung napansin niyo yung kanang bahagi ng blog na ito, isa sa mga binabasa kong libro ngayon ay ang "The Propaganda Movement" ni John N. Schumacher, S.J. Matagal ko na balak magbasa ulit ng mga libro tungkol sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, pero ngayon ko lang inumpisahan. Nasa umpisa pa lang din ako ng Libro ng Fr. Shumacher pero may mga nabasa ako na gusto kong ibahagi.

Ang una ay ang tolerance, sanay na tayo na maski na karamihan sa ating mga kababayan ay mga Katoliko, marami na ring kasapi ng ibang relihiyon. At nasanay na rin tayong respetuhin ang iba't ibang relihiyon ng ating mga kababayan.

Nasanay na tayo sa ganitong sitwasyon, pero ayon sa libro ni Fr. Schumacher, hindi laging ganito ang sitwasyon, noong panahon ng kastila, bawal ang ibang relihiyon, kaya nga
"The new Constitution of 1876...aroused bitter protest from the Vatican and the Spanish bishops, for though it proclaimed Catholicism as the religion of the Spanish nation,...it nevertheless tolerated the private practice of other religions."
Hinayaan lang yung ibang relihiyon, nagalit na sila. Sa ngayon marami ang nagsasabi na ang relihiyon nila ang tunay na relihiyon, pero ikaw ang may kapagyarihan pumili kung anong relihiyon ang para sa iyo. Nasa iyo ang kapangyarihan, huwag nating hayaan bumalik sa nakaraang sitwasyon na isang relihiyon lamang ang nagsasabi kung anong relihiyon ang para sa iyo dahil pag nangyari iyon, sila na ang may kapangyarihan. Sila na ang magsasabi kung paano ka mabubuhay, sino pakakasalan mo, sino iboboto mo, ano ang dapat mong malaman.

Pangalawa, palagay ko ay itinuro sa akin ng lahat ng naging guro ko sa kasaysayan ang naging papel ni Gregorio Sancianco sa Propaganda Movement, ang problema hindi ko siya naaalala. Naaalala ko si Pedro Paterno, pero si Sancianco hindi. At hindi ko maubos maisip bakit hindi ko siya maalala. Si Gregorio Sancianco ay sumulat ng isang libro, ang "El progreso de Filipinas". At ayon kay Fr. Schumacher
"Sancianco's book anticipates most of the principal themes of the later Filipino nationalist campaign: administrative reform , eradication of corruption, in the government, recognition of Filipino rights as loyal Spaniards, extension of Spainish law to the Philippines, curtailment of the excessive power of the friars in the life of the country, and assertion of the dignity of the Filipino."
at nabasa ni Rizal yung libro niya at
"Jose Rizal at least was impressed by it. Writing from Madrid in 1882 to his brother, he mentioned the proximate return of Sancianco "the author of El progreso de Filipinas" implying that the book was known at least to him and his brother"
para siyang si Juan Bautista ng rebolusyon, kinailangan pa na ilang panahon para maging handa ang mga pinoy sa reporma at rebolusyon, at sina Rizal at Bonifacio na ang umani ng kahandaang ito.

Ostia

Isa sa mga paborito kong blogger, si P.Z. Myers, ay ipinagtanggol ang isang estudyante na sa halip na kainin, ay iniuwi ang ostia na binigay sa kanya ng pari para sa komunyon. Nagkaroon ngayon ng malaking kontrobersiya sa isyung ito.

Kung gusto niyong basahin, i-browse niyo lang yung blog ni Prof. Myers. Ang importante sa akin, kailan at bakit ba nauso yung binibigay na lang sa mangungumunion yung ostia at sila na ang bahalang kumain nito? Nung nasa high school pa ako at nagsisimba, inilalagay ng pari yung ostia sa bunganga mo. Hindi sana nagkaroon ng ganitong kontrobersiya kung ganito pa ang palakad ngayon.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Upgrading to Hardy

I have no plans upgrading my desktop to Hardy Heron, especially with what I experienced the last time I tried upgrading my Kubuntu desktop. But I had just replaced a broken hard drive off a Dell Inspiron laptop. My wife insisted that we install Linux on the thing and since I only had my Gutsy cd, that's what I installed. I then tried to upgrade the installation to Hardy figuring that since it's a fresh install, there should be no problems, and there weren't.

So I am now typing this post from the laptop, playing around with it. It seems ok to me. Time will tell if there will be any inconveniences, but I am happy right now. Learned new things again. :)

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Popular Bookstore

I was near Timog these last 2 days so I decide to visit Popular Bookstore.

Popular Bookstore Sticker

I first heard of Popular Bookstore when it was still located in Doroteo Jose St., in Manila. A lot of leftist/activists visited the store to buy hard to find leftist books.

One of the books i was able to buy from Popular Bookstore is the "Freethinker's Reader"

The Freethinker's Reader

The book is a collection of essays by Bertrand Russel, Robert Ingersoll, Carlos Esteban and H.L Mencken about atheism. At a time when the mere mention of the word atheism brands you a a godless anti-government, communist radical, finding this book was liberating. This book was evidence that I was not alone, that there were others who thought as I did.

As I was browsing through the shelves I stumbled upon a book that was written by "nobel prize nominee" E.E. Escultura.

Struggle for Peace

The book is a collection of essays by E.E. Escultura not really about the struggle for peace, as the title suggests, but more on the anti-imperialist movements during the 1980's.

So if your looking for hard to find books or you just want to browse for books you won't normally find at National Bookstore, you should visit Popular Bookstore.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Skepticism

from cectic.com

Diablo III?

"This weekend, Blizzard's 2008 Worldwide Invitational kicks off in Paris, France, and it will host the official unveiling of Diablo III. Why do we state it so confidently? Behold these reasons five...."
Aside from Civilization 2, Diablo II was the first game that I really got addicted to. Before Diablo II, I did not really play PC games. Today, aside from Civilization 4, I do not really play any games, maybe Diablo III can again change my playing habits.

read more | digg story

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

My Place in Civ4 History

civ4, civilization

This is just the second time I got this score and the first time I forgot to take a screen shot. :)

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Ang Kapal Talaga

Myanmar says constitution approved by 92.4 percent - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
"Myanmar's military-backed constitution was approved by 92.4 percent in a widely condemned referendum held everywhere except regions hardest-hit by Cyclone Nargis, state television said Thursday."
Ang kapal, kapal, kapal, kapal, kapal, kapal,talaga ng pagmumukha ng mga diktador sa Burma. Ang sarap pagtitirisin!!!!!

Shit.

Wine and Song

From ‘Some Rolling Stones with your wine, Sir?’ - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

"Heavy rock music like Jimi Hendrix or The Rolling Stones is a good accompaniment to a Cabernet Sauvignon,"
It also blends well with Marijuana.

Beatles music on the other hand goes best with LSD.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Masturbation Cuts Cancer Risk

If you ever needed an excuse to masturbate, you now have one.Researches say it's good for you and could reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer!

read more | digg story

Thursday, April 17, 2008

8 yr-old wife wins divorce

"I am happy that I am divorced now. I will be able to go back to school,'' Nojud Mohammed Ali said, after a public hearing in Sanaa's court of first instance.

read more | digg story

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

He's Alive

Salen-ga the Filipino who discovered that the negative electron is actually positive and my inspiration for the Salen-ga award has been found.

via Random Thoughts

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Number 1

4 days til the end of the Fantasy NBA season, I finally overtook the team who was leading the whole season. I am now convinced that I will win this roto league. In my other leagues, It seems this will be the third year I finish second in my H2H league, and will peak at 7th in my other roto league.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

6 Insane Cults (That Actually Sound Like a Lot of Fun)

The Pope offers people holiday blessings and waves from behind bullet proof glass. One of our cult leaders bangs sex robots from another galaxy. Take your pick.

read more | digg story

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Playboy at Feminismo

Hindi lang pala mga konserbatibo ang umaayaw sa playboy philippines, pati ang Gabriela, isang organisasyon ng mga babae na nagsusulong sa karapatan ng mga kababaihan, ay ayaw dito.

At ang dahilan nila ay isa sa pinakamatandang dahilan sa kasaysayan ng Feminismo,
"Gabriela said the magazine encourages the perception of women as commodities and perpetuates “machismo” views."
Kung ang katwiran ng Gabriela ay itong ni quote sa kanila ng Inquirer, ang masasabi ko lang ay humihina na ang pag-iisip ng mga tao sa Gabriela. Kasi, kung susuriin mo, hindi magandang katwiran ng ginagawang commodity ang mga babae sa playboy, hindi mo naman binibili ang babae, yung mgagazine ang binibili mo.

Ang tamang dahilan, kung teorya ng Feminismo ang pagbabasehan ay nia-objectify playboy ang kababaihan. Ibig sabihin, ang nagiging pagkilala ng mga lalaki sa babae ay bilang isang bagay lamang, at bagay na pang sex. Yung commodification ng babae, ay katwiran para sa prostitusyon. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nalito yung Secretary General ng Gabriela, siguro kailangan lang niyang magbasa ulit.

Eniwi, may punto ang mga Feminista dito, totoo naman na ina-objectify ng playboy, atbp na magazine ang mga babae. Totoo na maraming lalaki ang tumitingin sa mga magazin na ito at nakikita lamang ang mga babaeng naka litrato dito bilang mga sex objects. Pero hindi siya sapat na dahilan para hindi ipalabas ang mga magazine na ito.

Una, nandiyan ang Freedom of Expression, kung hindi naman ilegal ang nasa loob ng magazine, hayaan mo siya. Pangalawa, batay na rin sa prinsipyo ng Feminismo na dapat, kung sino ang may katawan siya ang may kontrol sa kanyang katawan. Ang mga babaeng lumalabas sa mga magazine na ito ay nasa legal na edad at may mga kontrata, buo ang isip nila ng pumayag sila na lumabas sa magazine na ito, at bilang Feminista, kailangan nating suportahan ang desisyon nila, katawan nila iyan, karapatan nilang gamitin kung paano nila gustong gamitin ang katawan nila.

May mga lehitimong katwiran din laban sa pangalawang dahilan sa taas, nandiyan yung, wala naman talagang "choice" ang mga babae sa kanilang ginagawa, sa prostitusyon, kahirapan ang nagtutulak sa mga kababaihan dito, ganito rin sa magazine, gusto ng mga babaing lumalabas dito na mas makilala at ng lumaki ang kanilang mga talent fee.

May simpatiya ako sa katwiran na dahil sa kahirapan ay kapit sa patalim tuloy ang ilang mga babae sa mga trabaho na hindi naman nila gusto. Pero paano naman yung mga nag puta na hindi naman kailangan ang pera? Panano din yung mga lumalabas sa magazine dahil sa gusto nila at hindi dahil sa kailangan ng pera?

Totoo na naaapi pa ang kababaihan sa ating bayan, pero marami ng pagbabago, kumpara sa mga taga Saudi, hamak na mas pantay ang trato ng ating bayan sa lahat ng Pilipino. Totoo na may mga pinoy pa rin na ang tingin sa mga babae sa sex objects, pero marami ng mga babae ang ginigising sila sa kanilang kamalian.

At sana ang playboy sa Pilipinas, gaya ng Playboy sa Amerika. Ito sana ay mag udyok sa isa pang uri ng pag kakapantay-pantay. Na ang babae ay hindi lamang sexual object, kundi sexual subject din. Hindi lamang sila passive na bagay na sinusuyo ng mga lalaki kundi buhay na tao na maari ring manuyo ng lalaki.

Ha Ha, Nagpapatawa

Maliban kay Manoling M., may mga pari din na ayaw sa playboy dito sa Pinas. Ayaw nila sa playboy kasi, ayon kay Bishop Pedro Arigo
"“We are already a lost generation,” pointing out that the proliferation of obscene materials showed the declining moral values of Filipinos."
Dahil kasi diyan sa malalaswang magazine na yan kaya nagkakanda letse-letse ang Pilipinas, kung walang malalaswang magazine na yan, walang mga corrupt na politiko, walang mangongotong na mga pulis, mawawala ng kahirapan sa Pilipinas, mawawalan ng pedophile na pari.

Ayon naman kay Bishop Patricio Alo
"the increase in pre-marital pregnancies, the rising incidence of AIDS, the upsurge in the cases of abortion, divorces, and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases were consequences of the promotion by the media of artificial means of birth control."
Hindi naman pala yung malalaswang magazine ang problema, condom ang problema, kaya madaming nabubuntis ng hindi nagpapakasal, kaya dumadami ang AIDS sa Pinas, kaya dumadami ang abortion, kaya dumadami ang divorce (may divorce na pala sa Pinas?). Kasalanan ng condom, kung walang condom aba, mas madami ang mabubuntis, mas madami ang magkaka AIDS, mas madami ang kailangang ipa-abort. Kasalanan yan ng condom.

Kala ko pinag-aaralan ang logic pag nag-aaral ka ng theology, siguro kailangang gamitin ng mga pari yung napag aralan nila.

Playboy Hits Philippines

Playboy Magazine will debut in the Philippines and in the tradition of Playboy Indonesia, will not feature "frontal" nudity. Playboy magazine will actually be competing with FHM Phils., Maxim Phils., et. al. in featuring "tasteful nudity" for Filipinos.

The magazine that helped create the sexual revolution in the US will not even be breaking new ground in the Philippines, it will be following in the footsteps of FHM Philippines. Even so, there are people like Manoling Morato who object to the publication of Playboy in the Philippines. They have not seen it's content, God knows if they will ever deign to read it, but they deem it morally decadent. The name itself seems to set them off.

All in all, if the only thing Playboy Philippines does is annoy the (de)moralizing, narrow minded, stiff necked, conservative sector our society, then it has done a good thing.

The Life and Writings of Dr. Jose Rizal

The Life and Writings of Dr. Jose Rizal
"This site is dedicated to the life and writings of the premier Filipino hero (Bayani) of the Philippines and the pride of the Malay race, Dr. José Rizal."

Monday, April 07, 2008

Putang Inang...

Hong Gil Dong yan...

major spoiler ahead.


NAMATAY YUNG BIDA

In the Finals

The Fantasy NBA Finals starts next week and my team made it, this is the third year in a row that my H2H team will enter the finals. I haven't won yet, so this year may be the charm, except that two of my players got injured today so another bridegroom finish may be in the offing. :(

In my roto leagues, I'm happy that in my public league, I am now in 7th place, up from 12 just a couple of months ago, I'm happy that my team still got to 7th place even with all the bad luck that plagued it this year, the injury to arenas being the most important one. In the private league, I am now in second place hoping to overtake the leading team next week.

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Comparative Advantage

Filipino kidneys cheapest in world black market, says NGO
"Filipino kidneys are the cheapest priced in the thriving global black market in organ sales, according to a non-profit organization against child trafficking."

"...in the Philippines, kidney vendors get a measly $1,500 or roughly P125,000 -- a price 20 times cheaper than those in the United States.

The asking price in the US starts at $30,000 while kidney vendors get as much as $10,000 to $20,000 in Israel; $7,500 in Turkey, $6,000 in Brazil and $2,700 in Moldova and Romania, said Abueva."
Sa Pinas, mas mahal pa ang bato kaysa buhay ng tao.

Monday, March 31, 2008

Hindi Tayo Nag-iisa

Supplier Under Scrutiny on Arms for Afghans
"...to arm the Afghan forces that it hopes will lead this fight, the American military has relied since early last year on a fledgling company led by a 22-year-old man whose vice president was a licensed masseur.

With the award last January of a federal contract worth as much as nearly $300 million, the company, AEY Inc., which operates out of an unmarked office in Miami Beach, became the main supplier of munitions to Afghanistan’s army and police forces.

Since then, the company has provided ammunition that is more than 40 years old and in decomposing packaging, according to an examination of the munitions by The New York Times and interviews with American and Afghan officials. Much of the ammunition comes from the aging stockpiles of the old Communist bloc, including stockpiles that the State Department and NATO have determined to be unreliable and obsolete, and have spent millions of dollars to have destroyed."
Galing sa Dispatches from the Culture Wars

Nagtatanong lang

Nung isang araw, pinakiusapan ni Senador Pimentel si Agriculture Secretary Yap na patotohanan kung ang kanyang biyenan ay kasama sa mga rice traders. Kung kasama daw ang biyenan ni Sec. Yap, siguro daw dapat umalis ang biyenan nito sa gawaing ito para walang conflict of interest si Sec. Yap.

Na marinig ni Sec. Yap ang pakiusap ni Sen Pimentel, sabi niya na hindi nangangalakal ng bigas ang kanyang biyenan at hiniling ni Sec. Yap kay Sen. Pimentel sana ay kumuha muna siya ng katibayan bago siya magsalita.

Sa huli sabi ni Sen. Pimentel na wala naman daw siyang ginawang masama dahil nagtatanong lang siya.

Sa kontrobersiyang ito, pumapanig ako kay Sen. Pimentel, nagtatanong nga lang naman siya, ano ba naman ang masama doon? Kung tanungin ba kita kung magnanakaw ang tatay mo, ibig bang sabihin noon ay sinasabi ko na magnanakaw ang tatay mo? Hindi naman di ba? Nagtatanong lang. Ganoon din ang ginawa ni Sen Pimentel, wala namang masama sa pagtatanong di ba?

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Censored

I admit it, I'm behind my reading list. I just came across this PDI article about Liveleak hosting a video critical of Islam and the swirling controversy around it. I liked the quote from the Liveleak site
"A person has a simple, clear choice about whether to view this film ... If you click on media simply to be annoyed, it is pointless to blame others for your choice."
Precisely the point. If your a Muslim and do not wish to be offended, then do not watch the film. Unfortunately, there were still people who chose to watch the film and be offended.

Rather than stop watching the film or rebutting the allegations one by one, they preferred no one watches the film altogether. These people threatened the staff of the site so they would remove the offending material. When I tried today to see what the brouhaha was all about, I see this.


Trying to dispel the image of Islam as a violent religion by threatening violence against people seems to me to be counterproductive. But hey, that's just me.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Pity the Skeptic

Nakita ko to sa isang comment sa denialism blog

Skeptic Pitied

The Onion

Skeptic Pitied

FAYETTEVILLE, AR-Craig Schaffner, 46, a Fayetteville-area computer consultant, has earned the pity of friends and acquaintances for his tragic reluctance to embrace the unverifiable, sources reported Monday.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

UNO asks Arroyo: Do a Spitzer

So they want President Arroyo to hire prostitutes?

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Hindi sila nakakita ng Dancing Sun

At least 50 people in Kottayam district have reportedly lost their vision after gazing at the sun looking for an image of Virgin Mary. Though alarmed health authorities have installed a signboard to counter the rumor that a solar image of Virgin Mary appeared to the believers, curious onlookers, including foreign travelers, have been thronging...

read more | digg story

Friday, March 07, 2008

E-books

I forgot to bring my books yesterday so I started to read an e-book sent by TOR books. The book "An Old Man's War" by John Scalzi tells of a future Earth where old people enlists to fight for Earth's colonies in return for being made young again. It's an interesting premise, and Mr. Scalzi's novel entertained me enough that I finished it in two days.

I would not have been able to read the book if not for the fact the TOR books have followed in Baen books footsteps and is giving away free e-books of some if its authors for readers to enjoy. I discovered David Weber and John Ringo from Baen's Free Library and I think I will be looking for Mr. Scalzi's novels from here on.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

140-year-old math problem - finally solved

A problem, the Schwarz-Christoffel formula which has defeated mathematicians for almost 140 years has been solved by a researcher at Imperial College London.

read more | digg story

I will now wait of Ed Escultura to disprove this. :)

Monday, March 03, 2008

My Irony Meter just Exploded

Honasan cautions anti-Arroyo forces on seeking military help

"Sen. Gringo Honasan said: "The most important thing to do is that we should not divide the military. Do not expect the military and the police to abandon entirely the administration. If you do get some faction, you will divide the only legally armed group in our society.''

Honasan was bothered by how leaders of protest rallies had been irresponsibly calling for the military to initiate a third People Power.

"To those inciting the military, are you wiling to take responsibility in case of an armed confrontation? If it becomes bloody, whether we like it or not, are you all going to stand in the front lines for your beliefs at all cost to find for the truth,'' said Honasan.

Honasan said the military factor was the reason why he chose to remain quiet whenever asked to comment on calls for the President to resign. "I'm not hastening to make any decision whether for or against because I am not ready to take responsibility for what I will say. What if they misinterpret me again?" he said."

Thursday, February 28, 2008

5 Books That Can Actually Make You Stupider

If these books are your only options, no one will hold it against you if you watch reality television instead of reading.

read more | digg story

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Valentine's Day Proposal Gone Wrong

Nakita ko sa Slate. May isang lalaki na nag propose sa harap ng maraming tao, tapos tinanggihan siya nung babae sa harap ng maraming tao. Putang ina pare, ang sakit noon.


http://view.break.com/453711 - Watch more free videos

Update:

According to TrueHoop, this was just a prank initiated by the Rocket's mascot.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Moral Revolution???

JDV launches ‘moral revolution’

Ano naman ang k ni JDV na magtawag ng moral revolution? Ang tagal tagal niyang naging lider ng Kongreso wala siyang nagawa para magkaroon ng moralidad ang Kongreso. At ano ang ginagawa ng religious leaders sa konseho ni JDV? Noong kasama pa ni GMA si JDV, kasama si JDV sa sinasabi nilang imoral na gobyerno, ngayong wala na siya sa gobyerno, naging moral na ba siya?

Kung ang basehan lang pala natin sa pagiging moral ay yung pagiging labas sa gobyerno, eh abolish na lang nating ang gobyerno, para lahat tayo eh moral na tao.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Why John Rambo is the Baddest Man Ever Captured on Film

Before we all hit the theater tonight to watch him punch off some heads, we might as well make it official. A tale-of-the-tape style breakdown of Rambo, John McClane and the T-800 for bad-ass supremacy.

read more | digg story

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Buti na lang di namatay

Man saves co-worker’s life then shoots him.

Nung nabasa ko yung titulo una kong naisip, puta naman, kamalas naman ng taong to, nailigtas nga sa buwaya nabaril naman. Buti na lang sa braso lang tinamaan. Sabi nga nung pulis
"He's going to be very sick and sorry and have a very good story to tell,"

Freudian Analysis: Boba Fett v Han Solo (Return of the Jedi)

I think it's funny, so sue me. :)

At face value, the fight between Han and Boba might seem like mindless entertainment – a bit of comic relief, and a way to unceremoniously kill off a tertiary character. Dig deeper, however, and you'll find that this fight actually has a lot to say about sex, heroism, and MANLINESS. Which means a lot of penis symbolism

read more | digg story

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

The Prophet Erap

Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada seems to have given up on his threat to again run for the Presidency of the Philippines to become a prophet of God. God has so far told him that the Philippines is suffering because
"Cardinal Sin did not heed “God’s voice” and, instead, backed the Edsa II People Power revolt, despite a Vatican order to stay away."
He does not tell us why God would punish all Filipinos, including the children who were born after EDSA 2 for the sins of Cardinal Sin. He also does not tell us why God would take the side of an admitted fornicator and adulterer over a man who served God all his adult life.

p.s. (added 1/23/08)

Last September 2007, President Estrada prayed to God that the judges who were then poised to render judgment on his plunder trial should become enlightened and decide the case on it's merits. God, in his wisdom, decided to grant this wish and let the judges convict him. I just wished he prayed that God should give GMA wisdom, maybe GMA would not have pardoned him and the country will be better off today.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Baril-Barilan

Kung meron lang ako nito nung bata pa ko, patay ang mga kalaro ko. :)

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Carrot Juice is Murder

by Arrogant Worms



pareng randee, baka kailangan i-rethink mo ang iyong vegan diet. :)

Help

Save this endangered species.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Pag gusto, may paraan...

...pag ayaw, may dahilan.

Eto yung naisip ko ng mabasa ko itong balita sa Inquirer kung saan sinasabi ni Secretary Sergio Apostol na walang kapangyarihan si Presidente Arroyo na suspindihin ang VAT sa langis. Ang kapangyarihan daw ay nasa Kongreso. Lalabag daw sa Saligang Batas si Presidente Arroyo kung isuspindi niya ang VAT.

Pero sa isyu ng EO 464, sa Calibrated Preemptive Response at sa PP 1017, lahat ay idineklara ng Supreme Court na lumalabag sa Saliganng Batas, hindi nag atubili ang Presidente na ipatupad. Hanggang ngayon nga ay nagtatalo pa rin ang Malakanyang at ang Kongreso sa EO 464.

Mabuti pa sinabi na lang nila na ayaw nilang alisin ang VAT sa langis dahil sa mas makakasama ito sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas kaysa magdahilan sila.

The Beatles - Revolution

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Tiwala

Balak ko sanang mag komento sa isinulat ni Randy David noong isang araw tungkol sa pagsabog sa Glorietta pero nakita ko na nasagot na ni Micketymoc at ni Dean Jorge Bocobo.

Nagulat ako na gumamit ng post-modernist argument si Randy David. Nalungkot ako na maraming Pilipino ang mas gusto pang paniwalaan ang isang Malaysian expert na nagtrabaho para sa mga Ayala kaysa sa mga Pilipinong pulis.

Ganoon na ba kaliit ang tiwala nating mga Pilipino sa ating mga pulis? Ang masama hindi kabobohan o kakulangan sa modernong kasangkapan ang ugat ng kritisismo. Ang ugat ng kritisismo ay ang pagdududa na , kung hindi man mga pulis ay kilala ng mga pulis kung sino ang nagpasabog sa Glorietta at kanila itong pinagtatakpan. Maski walang katibayan, dumikit na ang pagdududang ito sa maraming Pilipino.

Kaya maski na nagbigay ang pulis ng report, kung saan ang konklusyon na aksidente ang naging pagsabog ay sinusuportahan ng FBI at ng Australian Forensic Police, marami pa rin ang nagdududa.

Nakakalungkot na maski walang katibayan ang eksperto ng mga Ayala, maliban sa nakitang RDX, mas gusto pa ng ilan nating mga kababayan na maniwala sa kanya.

Ang Magdalo

Lumang balita na pero ngayon ko lang nakita.

Sa isang artikulo ni Howie Severino, tinanong niya kung bakit ba Magdalo ang itinawag nina Senador Trillanes sa kanilang grupo?

Ayon sa campaign materials ni Senador Trillanes, ang pangalan ay isang pagpupugay sa grupo nina General E.A. Aguinaldo na siyang namuno sa rebolusyon ng mga Pilipino laban sa mga Kastila at giyera laban sa mga Amerikano.
"The name “Magdalo” is homage to Emilio Aguinaldo’s faction of the Katipunan Chapter in Cavite that supported and pushed for a revolutionary government as a replacement for the Katipunan."
Gusto ni Senador Trillanes na maiugnay ang kanyang pangalan sa mga adhikain ng magdalo at ni General Aguinaldo.
"Is Trillanes, then, the Aguinaldo of this time?

He could very well be. Coming from a military family, where his father is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, it is not difficult to deduce the path he’d take, even if he has an Electronics and Communications Engineering degree from De La Salle University"
Ang nakaligtaan lang ni Senador Trillanes, o baka naman hindi niya talaga alam, ay mas kilala ang grupong Magdalo sa pagpatay kay Gat. Andres Bonifacio. Ayon nga kay Howie Severino
"Magdalo was one of the quarreling factions in Cavite that Andres Bonifacio tried to reconcile. But in leaving his bailiwick in the hills around Montalban, the Katipunan's Supremo eventually lost his life. Some history buffs believe that enticing Bonifacio to unfamiliar territory was a Caviteno plot to grab power. "
Ang nakakatawa, at ang hindi ko maubos maisip, ay ang pagsuporta ng ilang kaliwete, na ang inspirasyon ay ang rebolusyon ng maralitang Pilipino sa pamumuno ni Gat Andres, sa isang organisasyon na ipinangalan sa grupo na kumitil sa buhay ni Gat Andres na siyang naging hudyat sa pagkuha ng mga ilustrado ng pamumuno sa rebolusyon.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Bagong Tambayan

Nagbukas ng sarili niyag restobar si Skarlet, kung may oras kayo, baka gusto niyang puntahan.

Ten 02

Binay Confused

Mayor Binay of Makati was quoted saying one of the stupidest statements I've read. The PDI quoted him saying
"The police needs to convince a highly skeptical public and the courts that their gas theory is credible,"
why was the PNP's gas theory not credible? Because
"...the investigation team had revised its "initial findings" several times, first claiming the explosion, which killed 11 persons and injured more than 100, might have been caused by a bomb, then later saying it was triggered by either LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), diesel or methane."
As if theories on the cause of the bombing should not be revised based on the evidence. But wait, later, Mayor Binay says
"They stuck to the gas leak theory even in the face of contrary findings from experts from the academe and the industry. But when Malacañang has already made a public statement, we cannot really expect the subordinates to say otherwise,"
So which is it Mayor. The gas explosion theory is not credible because the PNP revised its theories several times or that they stuck to the gas theory even in the face of contrary findings? Either they are wishy washy or they are too stubborn. They cannot be both.

p.s.

It must be noted that the FBI and the Australian Forensic Police came to the same conclusion as that of the PNP.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Presyo ng Langis

Nitong mga nakaraang araw ng umabot ng 100 dolyar kada bariles ang presyo ng langis, pumotok nanaman ang panawagan na tanggalin ang VAT sa langis o kaya naman ay i-subsidize ng gobyerno at i-nationalize ang industriya ng langis dito sa Pilipinas.

Sa unang tingin, kaaya-aya ang mga mungkahi na ito, bababa o kung hindi man ay hindi gaanong tataas ang presyo ng langis, kaya huhupa rin ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pamasahe at iba pang bilihin.

Subalit kung iyong susuriin, mas makakasama sa Pilipinas at sa mga Pilipino ang panukalang ito. Bakit ika mo?

Kasi sa pag subsidize sa presyo ng langis, mas makikinabang ang mga mayayaman na may kotse kaysa sa ating mga namamasahe lamang. Halimbawa, para madaling sumahin, tumaas ang presyo ng langis ng 10 piso kada litro. Sa Jeep, kung sampuan ito, kailangang magdagdag ng 50 sentimos kada pasahero para mapunan ang itinaas na presyo ng langis samantalang 10 piso ang kailangang idagdag ng isang may kotse.

Kung i-subsidize ng gobyerno ang presyo ng langis para hindi ito tumaas, ibig sabihin, ang pasahero ng jeep ay nakatipid ng 50 sentimos samantalang bawat may ari ng kotse ay nakatipid ng 10 piso. Hindi pa natin binibilang dito mga nakasakay sa bus na mas tipid dahil sa mas madami silang magpaparte sa itinaas ng langis o ang dami ng kotse sa lansangan ng Pinas kumpara sa dami ng bus at jeep at makikita natin na mas makikinabang ang mayayaman kaysa mahihirap kung i-subsidize ng gobyerno ang presyo ng langis.

Kung i-subsidize din ng gobyerno ang presyo ng langis, saan mangagaling ang pera? Sa buwis din na ibinabayad natin? At lagi ng sinasabi na ang buwis na nakokolekta ng gobyerno, karamihan ay galing sa sales taxes at sa income taxes ng middle classes, bakit naman kailangang ibalik pa natin sa mayayaman yung kakarampot na buwis na ibinabayad nila? Kulang na nga yung serbisyong nakukuha natin sa gobyerno babawasan pa natin para lang makatipid sa gasolina yung mga may kotse? Kung kaya nilang bumili ng kotse, kayanin nilang bumili ng langis.

Tingnan natin kung ano ang nangyayari sa mga bansang nag-subsidize ng presyo ng kanilang langis.
  1. Burma - Ang Burma, kagaya ng Pilipinas ay isang mahirap na bansa, kaya pinili ng gobyerno nila na i-subsidize ang presyo ng kanilang langis para makatulong sa kanilang mamamayan. At para na rin hindi mag-protesta ang mga ito. Ang problema, sa bilis ng pagtaas ng presyo ng langis naubos ang kanilang pera kaya napilitan din silang magtaas ng presyo, dinoble po nila ang presyo ng kanilang langis. Dahil dito, nagkaroon ng malawakang protesta at nagkaroon ng malawakang pagkitil ng buhay at karapatan ng mga Burmese

  2. Iran - Ang Iran ay isa sa pinakamalaking exporter ng langis sa buong mundo, siguro naman kaya nilang i-subsidize ang presyo ng kanilang langis. Pero maski Iran ay kinukulangan ng pera sa pag-subsidize ng langis nila kaya inisip nilang mag-rasyon na lamang ng langis.
Kung ang Iran ay nau-ubusan ng pera, isipin niyo na lang kung anong mangyayari sa Pinas. At kung i-subsidize natin ang presyo ng langis, kailangan nating bawasan ang iba pang pinopondohan ng gobyerno. Madaling sabihin na bawasan natin ang ginagastos ng mga Kongresman at Senador sa kanilang pork barrel, o alisin ang korupsyon sa gobyerno. Pero realistikong pagtingin ba iyan? Sa palagay niyo papayag ang mga politikong bawasan ang kanilang pork barrel o ma alis natin ang korupsyon sa gobyerno? Malamang serbisyo sa mga ordinaryong mamamayan ang mawawalan ng pondo sa pag-subsidize ng presyo ng langis.

Isa pa sa mga naging problema ng Iran kung bakit sila naubusan ng pera ay ang smuggling ng gasolina. Hindi katulad ng smuggling dito sa atin kung saan nag-smuggle ng gasolina papasok para hindi magbayad ng buwis. Ang smuggling sa Iran ay palabas, dahil sa mura ang presyo ng langis sa kanila, yung mga tao sa kalapit nilang mga bansa ay bumibili ng langis sa loob ng Iran at ibinebenta sa kanilang mga bansa para kumita. Kaya rin lalong lumalaki ang gastos ng gobyeno ng Iran sa pag subsidize ng presyo ng langis.

Sigro maski na mura ang langis sa Pinas, walang magtangkang mag export ng subsidized na langis dahil sa isla tayo at mas mahal mag transport sa dagat. Tapos ang mga karatig bansa natin, Malaysia, Brunei at Indonesia ay mga exporters ng langis, pero kung sobrang laki ang diprensiya, malay mo rin, malapit lang naman ang Taiwan at Vietnam sa atin.

Ang isa pang naging problema ng Iran at puedeng maging problema sa atin ay dahil sa baba ng presyo ng langis sa kanila, hindi natutuong magtipid ang mga Iranian. Parang hindi sila maubusan ng langis. Ang isa sa epekto ng mataas na presyo ay napipilitan ang mga gumagamit nito na magtipid o kaya naman ay maghanap ng alternatibo. Alam naman natin lahat na walang langi dito sa Pilipinas. Makakatulong sa atin kung mas kokonti ang konsumo natin ng langis at kung makakahanap tayo ng pamalit sa langis. Mas hihirap ang paghahanap ng kapalit ng langis kung i-subsidize ng gobyerno ang presyo nito.

Sa pagtatapos, ang pag-subsidize sa presyo ng langis ay maganda lamang sa malayong pagtingin, layogenic ika nga, pero pag sinuri mo na ng malapitan, suwangit itong panukalang ito para sa Pilipinas at sa maralitang Pilipino.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Sarado na pala ang Narra...

at noong isang taon pa. Tapos nasunog pa ngayon. Ano na mangyayari sa mga Narehan?

Oscarology

"Oscarology is a system of astrology ..., that was revealed to (Greta Christina) in a powerful mystical experience -- based on what movie won the Best Picture Oscar for the year you were born."
I am a Patton
"Pattons have strong personalities. They are keenly intelligent, with an outstanding ability to apply their intelligence in the real world. They have high expectations both of themselves and others, and a great deal of confidence and personal pride. However, they must be careful to avoid arrogance and harshness: they are often right, but not as often as they think they are, and their expectations of others are not always reasonable. They are not afraid to speak their minds, but are not always wise about when to do so or to whom."
Find out your own Oscarology reading.

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Guard your Privacy

Top Gear Host Jeremy Clarkson has lost money after publishing his bank details in his newspaper column.

"The Top Gear host revealed his account numbers after rubbishing the furore over the loss of 25 million people's personal details on two computer discs."

"But Clarkson admitted he was "wrong" after he discovered a reader had used the details to create a £500 direct debit to the charity Diabetes UK."
Maybe it's a good thing that I don't have a lot money in my bank account.

read more | digg story

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Installing a Scanner in Kubuntu

Note: For Linux Newbies like me, who are more familiar with installing drivers in Windows, installing drivers in Linux is difficult, we're not familiar with a lot of the processes involved. This is my personal experience trying to install a scanner driver in Kubuntu Linux.

My wife gave me her old scanner, an Genius Colorpage-Vivid 1200xe, about a month ago. When I got it, I immediately attached the scanner to my old PC to test if I can scan something. It did not work, the program I used, Kooka proclaimed that "no scanner was found" and that "Your system does not provide a SANE (Scanner Access Now Easy) installation, which is required by the KDE scan support."

I did a little research at that time and it seemed to me that if I have to install SANE in my system, I would need to bein a better frame of mind lest i again hose my system.

Today after several weeks I tried again. Did some more research, found out that I needed the SANE gt68xx backend for my particular scanner. Fortuitously, while trying to install libsane-extras using adept-manager, I found out that the gt68xx backend is already present. I did not need to install the damn thing, I just needed to get my scanner program to recognize it.

Searched some more, found some advice to also install sane, sane utils and xsane and xsane-common, which I did. Trying to scan with xsane gave me a different error message, "Failed to open device 'gt68xx..." Which, with another couple of google searches led me to believe that I need to download the scanner's windows driver and place the CCD569.fw file in the /usr/share/sane/gt68xx/ folder.

I was able to download the driver and was able to install the driver in wine to extract the CCD569.fw file. Unfortunately, the gt68xx folder was read only so I had to copy the CCD569.fw using the the command line. My first attempts using the command 'sudo copy /folder/file /folder/' gave me the 'command does not exit' reaction from the PC, apparently Linux does not recognize the 'copy' command, I had to go back and google the copy command for linux. Which was cp.

Using the cp command, I was able to copy the CCD file to the gt68xx folder and was able to scan my first picture in Linux

kscan_0002b

As more people use Linux, the manufacturers will likely include Linux drivers in their cds and installing scanners will be as easy as it is in Windows. But with a little googling around (making sure that the hardware you buy is supported in Linux), most people can already enjoy using their peripherals in Linux