Noise and Firecrackers Lights up the Sky

It's only past 6 oclock here and already there are firecrakers popping off one after the other. It'll be even more louder just before clock strikes 12. But it probably wont be as noisy as it was several years ago. It

Filipina among the thousands of dead

Manila times is reporting that Sharleen May Ang Tan was confirmed by her sister to be among the dead in a hospital in Phuket, Thailand. There are other missing Filipinos being monitored also by OWWA.

The scale of devastation is beyond comprehension

Earthquake/Tsunami dead is rising.Jsust several days ago it was 44, 000 now it's staggering 114,000. It's horrfying. It's sad. It's too much overwhelming.

AP reports that the death toll from last weekend's earthquake-tsunami catastrophe rose to more than 114,000 on Thursday as Indonesia uncovered more and more dead from ravaged Sumatra island. Read more

To learn more and view other news related to the terrible disaster click here

At last, an upgrade for PAGASA!

We are every lucky here that our country has been spared from the appalling tsunamis that struck most of the South Asian Counrtries. There weren't any Tsunami warnings they say thats why number of dead is just overwhelming. Here in the Philippines, President Arroyo is now making sure that similar fate wont happen to Filipinos and has authorized the release of 17 million pesos to upgrade the country's weather forecasting system. Buti na man!

The money will be given to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Dapat lang! This should've been done long time so PAGASA can calculate accurate storm system warnings and forecasts how it will affect the Philippines. Plus of course with mordernizing PAGASA one hopes that we can prevent similar kind of destruction that has devastated several Asian nations.

Worst Natural Disaster

AP: Tidal Waves Death Toll Rises to 40,000

It's heart wrenching to see(in the news) so many dead bodies washing up ashore or lying in the streets. All the Aid agencies pooling their efforts together to bring aid to thousands devastated by this horrific tsunami.

Still according to AP... Stories of survival emerged amid the devastation.

A blond-haired 2-year-old found sitting alone on a road in Thailand and taken to a hospital was reunited with his uncle, who saw the boy's picture on the hospital's Web site.

"When I saw Hannes on the Internet, I booked an air ticket to come here in less than five hours," said a man who identified himself only as Jim. Hannes Bergstroem's mother died in the tsunami; his father was in another hospital, the Swedish paper Aftonbladet reported.

In Malaysia, a 20-day-old baby was found floating on a mattress soon after the waves hit Sunday. She and her family were reunited.

Edit/update: Death toll now 44,00 [ link ]

Death and Destruction In Asia

It is horrendous and terrible what happened in South Asian nations as powerful strong 9.0 earthquake devastated Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Phucket in Thailand, India, Maldives and as far South Africa. The pictures from cable news is really tragic and shocking as they showed the tidal wave tsunami wiped away people and cities and cars, houses just everything! The death of thousands of people in those nations are just staggering. One guy interviewed in the news said it was like "nightmare from a hollywood disaster movie." Mother nature's wrath spared no one within it's path. It is the tsunami sea surge brought about by the powerful earthquake that really devastated killed thousands and thousands (death toll rising) of people and properties.

Philippines is lucky it was spared from this horrific earthquake. After all, we couldn't bear any more calamities as we're still dealing with typhoon and landslide victims here.

If I were a Christmas Present this would be me


Engagement Ring

You sure are loved, or are loving! Filled with
romantic giddiness, you radiate love,
affection, and caring. You know how to make
other people's day. Your only problem is that
you risk a chance of being rejected, which is
probably a large fear of yours.


What Type of Christmas Present are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

All true somehow and hmm, I wouldn't mind reciving diamond ring as well. Haha.

Merry Christmas to all

More about "Da King's" death

click this for more

FPJ Funeral March On the Way Now

Im still watching t.v and they're now showing coffin of "D King", Fernando Poe Jr., placing it in a horse drawn carriage and the streets outaide Sto. Domingo Church packed with suppoerters and mourners and friends and people from all walks of life here. Still emotionally charge scenes.

Last Farewell

Watching t.v right now and few minutes ago they were showing Erap's arrival at FPJ's wake. He went over to the casket and remove the glass so he can touch his hand and body and face. It's a very emotional scene actually. Erap's got tears in his eyes. IFernando Poe Jr and Former President Joseph Estrada are best friends cos they' both started in showbizness.

Go to INQ7 to view video feed

Update/Edit: Close friends of FPJ are eulogizing him but mostly of what they're saying and remembering have hints pertaining to him getting cheated in the last election(most people think and okay, maybe so do I). Richard Gomez was like Blah blah blah but the eulogy he gave was well written one. Dolphy also gave an endearing one; sharing funny anecdotes about FPJ and fond memories. And then Erap was the last to deliver eulogy. Wasn't really THAT moving but he was given standing ovation. Yeah, in eulogy.....*shrugs*

Dying Young, Dying Old and the Sorrow It Leaves Behind

Famous personalities here in the Philippines and the heart wrenching loss has been the main news headlines for the pass weeks now. After Actor Fernando Poe Jr, 65, succumb to death last Tuesday (news) another tragedy struck and this time it was the Speaker of the House's daughter, Kristina Casimira "KC" de Venecia , 16 year old, who died due to fire and suffocation inside their house. That is really really so sad. Losing a daughter a week before Christmas. The pain loved ones must be going through losing most precious and treasured part of their lives.

The Philippines right now is suffering from spate of tragedies and sufferings. Not only well known people but the many Filipinos who've been under the mercy of the typhoons that struck the country a few weeks back. It seems it's been only bad news, sad news, grim news thats been invading the papers and the televisions and radios everyday. And to think this is the season to be merry. But how can one rise above these sorrows that has befell us?

One needs to go on living despite woefulness state te nation's been dealing with for weeks now. Anne Frank once said " Think of all the beauty that's still left in and around and be happy. And whoever's happy will make others happy too"

I hope to see goodnews once more. It's rarely happens now but it will lift the spirits up.

A chaotic funeral

I'm watching cable news right now as they're showing the funeral of Yasser Arafat and it's certainly not a very dignified one starting from when the helicopters carrying the coffin got swarmed but throngs of Palestinians wanting to pay their last respects tho their leader. The news anchor are saying keeps saying Arafat would've love the attention because as they say he is "people man." But funerals should be solemn and dignified. At one point they showed that coffin almost falling because of the sea of people wanting to touch it and the Palestinian flag nowhere to be found atop. I was afraid it would burst open and then the body would fall or something like that..ahh the horrors! Not only would be reallbe undignified way to be buried but..really silly. but fortunaely nothing like that happened.

One thing I learned.. people didn't mind the guns as long as they can touch and be near coffin of their leader.

Such chaos for funeral march and burial.

Technology Lifesaver

Wired News: How SMS Could Save Your Life

1 gd thng abt tchnlgy f celfons and sms nt only cn it b use 4 sndng rcycled crny kowts msgs (n smtyms nnsense txt ..he3x ) bt it cn sve lives 2 o( ^_^)o

A bit of sms lingo there.

Now showing..Long face and the Losers

Where are those Hollywood Losers!? Hmm, probably sinking and never wanting to be seen! And I feel like laughing! Not only did Kerry lost, probably Hollywood too and majority of those in the entertainment industry whose fervent endorsement of Kerry failed! Their candidate lost the election!. It's Bush whose gonna run the country for four more years. Accept that! They should have just stick their noses to what they do best: Be fake and phony! They're good at it!

I remember several months back blogging about celebrity fakes and phonies and their anti-Bush campaign..I was right back and I am right now. Look where where are they now?--licking their wounds of defeat along with Kerry.

Now for those handful of Bush supporters in Hollywood....wait for Inagural Ball invitation.

Googling Your Desktop

Here's review of the newly launch Google's Desktop search

Some gripes.. it doesn't search PDF files.

Also coming soon google's to IM chat?

Do you think you need this?

From CyberJournalist: NewsGear 2004 recommended tech tools:

• Toshiba Portege M200 Tablet PC with a full-size keyboard and good battery life, making it a great tool for the multiskilled journalist.
• Apple iSight Video Conferencing system makes desktop video conferencing easy for bureaus and source interviews.
• Sony DCR PC330 Camera?s high quality captures broadcast quality video and still pictures at newspaper quality.
• Archos AV320 Video Recorder is an all-in-one digital media tool used for Web-quality video, print stills and audio compatible to Mac and PC.
• Nokia 6600 Imaging Phone can provide audio and video for breaking news as well as low-resolution streaming video over high speed networks. More here

Gosh, that is waaay too much of a tools for journalist!

Open mouth, insert foot

Washington Post: 2 in 3 Polled Find Kerry's Comment 'Inappropriate'

An overwhelming majority of voters believes it was wrong for John F. Kerry to have mentioned in Wednesday's presidential debate that Vice President Cheney's daughter is a lesbian, according to The Washington Post tracking survey.

Eeeks. My bad! and Greenday sings... don't wanna be an American idiot... la la la.. hehehe

Big Deal?

I'm talking about Newspaper endorsement . NY times and Boston Globe endorsement of Kerry is no surprise. Shouldn't the media play fair and not endorse any candidate but just stay in the middle. But I guess it wouldn't be America if there's no democracy in choosing. It's their perogative but heck, does it really matter? It certainly will give something to ponder on for the voters if their national paper thinks that the best choice is the one their endorsing. It's helps but not really the one that counts though.

And the Polls keeps changing

It's soo tight nobody really leads for long. One minute it's Bush, and thr next it's Kerry. Latest now shows John Kerry having slight edge. The thing is there's so many different polls taken by vairous origanization and tracking pollster offering different results.

What matters really, and I've blogged about it before, is the election itself.

Blahgging!

I'm sleepy. Looking at m blogs the last few times had something to do with entertainment. I guess Politics and Showbiz are one and thesame.

Still leading

Survey polls indicate.. Bush still leading over Kerry

Goodbye Superman

The actor who played Superman three times, Christopher Reeve, died today. After battling for nine years of being weelchair bound and Enduring months of therapy to allow him to breathe for longer and longer periods without a respirator, Reeve emerged to lobby Congress for better insurance protection against catastrophic injury and to move an Academy Award audience to tears with a call for more films about social issues.

How sad. He battled for nine years with his spinal injury and becoming quadruplegic(?) and now he's dead. It somehow reminded me of young poet and frequent and favorite Oprah guest, Mattie Stepanek who was also wheel chair bound because of distrophy who died earlier this year.

The Terminator for President?

Californians not really liking it but according to reuters report..courtesy of yahoo...

The U.S. Constitution bars foreign-born Americans, who include figures such as Schwarzenegger and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, from becoming president. On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the issue, with the committee chairman Orrin Hatch, a Republican, backing a change to the Constitution.

Hmmm....anything's possible and as the famous termnitor Ahhhnuld would always say.. I'll be back! I guess this time as President? Errr... *shrugs* hehehee :)

A Telling Documentary

So I watched Bowling for Columbine (links below) earlier. Michael Moore, the anti Bush film maker, featured a lot of the guns that easily available on the streets, the net, anywhere actually. Of course who could forget the tragedy that Columbine(high school) suffered. It was the place where those gun toting teenagers riddled bullets everywhere killing a lot the students. More than the guns, He also high lighted the fact that whenever there's a crime, whatever level of it maybe, it would always be the black men who gets the blame and is incarcerated. He cited some samples in the film. He also featured, the panicked that people dealth with because of the Y2K scare and he mainly(and I think that it is what he was trying to point out) presented that because of the way the government handled the situation, they somehow created a picture of doom come the Y2K event..which of course nothing happened..duh. But basically, the main focal point of the film is what really ails America's society that really pushes them to brink of social disintegration.

I can't really critique the film. Just saw parts of it and it was good. But I still don't like the film maker!

Moore than you can bargain for

Controversial film by the anti Bush, anti war director Michael Moore, Farenheight 9/11 showing here. I've no idea of what it really is all about except I know it condemns President Bush for going to war in Iraq. I dunno if I should watch it or not I'm curious though.. Gah! I think I just wanna watch shark tales.

Axn Asia will however show Moore's film Bowling for Columbine I'm gonna watch that one even though I really don't like that Moore Guy.

Who's going to win the Debate?

Next week, people will get to see who is more convincing in their answers and approach to problems facing the their nation! Election may hinge debate. Whoever wins or projects self much better with answers and solutions. In fact report says that But while civics teachers, activists and other concerned citizens might not like to hear it, presidential debates are at least as much about style as substance, veterans of the process agree."They call them debates, but they're not debates," said Republican debate coach Sheila Tate. "They're platforms for the two candidates to position themselves" for an audience of undecided voters who, research shows, tend to rely on their gut, Tate said.

So I guess the main blogpoint here is..if Bush wins the debate, he's got a great chance of winning the election...right? Yeah!

Blogtechs: Gizmodos I like!
According to the Nokia's press release , there's new series model again and this time it's the 6670. I notice it's kinda similar to 7610..which I still don't have( no $$$ plus I think I like the 3220) but want to for blogging purposes. The new 6670 could probably like an upgrade of nokia's 7610. Another gadget is the Microtek Portable DVD Player. now, that I wanna have for those boring times when the teachers are not around and I'm just staring at ceiling and don't feel like having sore thumb smsing ancient Nokia phone! Hahaha.

The Art of Sharing

Time for to open the source so says Bill.. and so Microsoft has decided to allow governments and international organizations access to source code for its Office 2003 productivity suite.

Hmm, just for th government? what about geeks of no importance and the everyday people? Most are intoopen source coding now soo Gates opening up too. Heheee.

Biased in the media..

And Bill O'Reilly Got It Right this time

If Fox is for GOP then CNN is for the Democrats.. but the problem with that is journalist, broadcasters losing some credibility in reporting what really is the truth. We are somehow lost in verbal laments and prostrate debates and the biases of media men. Where does one draw the line then? CNN show crossfire has two blabbermouths who works for the Kerry Campaign, Paul Begala and Jame Carville. A for Fox, geesh! the whole network is GOP itself.

The point here according to Frank Rich article in NYTimes is Bill O Reilly attacked CNN for keeping James Carville and Paul Begala as hosts on "Crossfire" after they had joined the Kerry campaign, he fingered yet another symptom of the decline and fall of the American news culture. Mr. Carville have argued that the line wasn't blurred here because the liberal "Crossfire" hosts are unpaid, loosey-goosey Kerry advisers and their show is an opinion-mongering screamfest, not a news program.

No matter how long the overlap between Mr. Carville and Mr. Begala's TV and campaign roles, that brand and CNN itself are now as inextricably bound to the Democrats as Fox is to the Republicans. The network has succeeded in an impossible feat — ceding Mr. O'Reilly the moral high ground. The thing is, The Bush campaign doesn't have to enlist Fox hosts for its staff since they're willing to whore for it without even being asked.

I think individuals who works for election campaign and candidates should be castigated for doing shows which ultimately affects perception and can ulimately change opinions of people especially if all they do is defend their bosse instead of being neutral.

Presenting.. Avant Browser!

Hahaha, yep yep, I downloaded the new browser. It was really toss up between that or Mozilla Firefox I read most of the reviews before finally deciding to try Anderson Che's work. (The pros). It's damn good interface and skins and everything than IE. I can disable sound and music and flash to speed up connectivity and it has the ever popular pop up blocker. It's sight for sore IE soreyes. I love the tabs and all the mulitfunctions it offers.. it's faster too..definitely more than IE though when I go to my journal it's tad slow..ugh! Also (The cons)I can't open another broswer. It still uses the Shell of the IE.. It's not yet my default browser though. I wanna try them all..hehe.

Next up...the Mozilla Firefox!

Update: It turns out, i can open another browser..goodie and I thought it wont let me.

Can I have a car too, Miss Oprah!?

WoW! Ohrah is the modern day FAIRY GODMOTHER! She gives away 276 pontiac cars! Oh man, how lucky an audience can one be! huh!? Sheesh! I'm still drooling with envy. Queen of daytime talk show is really heaven sent to everyone..especially audiences. Imagine, Each car was worth $28,000 retail - meaning the total of the big giveaway was $7.7 million.

All those money, wow!

Tech Blog: New iMAC desktop

Feel like taking a byte? But it's the price, stupid! if it's expensive, who'd want to!

In a related Apple product news... according to Gizmodo for $37 you can be the proud owner of the world's most superfluous iPod shrine!

Couldn't agree more! Wahahaa!

Theme of the day: War is in the way, vote Bush to stop it!

Speakers talked about war and war and war! Alright already. I get it! A Senator and former Mayor showed vote of confidence for President Bush when it comes to fighting global terrorism and they both lauded him as the only one who can have the leadership and and the conviction to continue the fight against war and terror.

Whoa! no mention of economy, jobs, healthcare and other domestic problems or the agenda for the next four years

I was hoping they'd at least tackle those but I guess that will be brought up next couple of days. After all, it's only the first day of the convention. The need to bring back the shining moment and glory of President Bush after the 9/11 tragedy and the toppling of Saddam was the forefront of the the speeches of two famous moderate Republicans.

Bush was popular back in the days when the whole of America was healing from terrorist attacks and and he enjoyed high marks after toppling Hussein..

And so, on the first day of the convention..it's sprucing up the image of the president!

Live from New York, it's GOP CONVENTION!

The city that never sleeps, the state where corporate centers, businesses, class, money, chicness and not to mention the United Nations of cab drivers will be the place to be seen, mingle and trade matters of interest with people in power. NYTimes(reg req'd) says the Convention will be lavish, and certainly more expensive, affair than the Democratic bash in Boston last month.

Big businesses for many restaurants and hotels since most of the Convention goers will be staying for week almost and will be at those parties and cocktails sponsored by big American companies and a just think, a lot of lobbying groups would want to attend and mingle with senators and state representatives.

Heh. Time for them lobbyist to cozy up with commitee chairmans. If you read the whole report you're gonna see the many parties lined up for just about people whose got something to do with the convention and probably socialites wanna be seen with the powers that be. The Republican convention is expected to be a far larger opportunity for special interests than its Democratic counterpart

But it's not gonna be all glitz and hobnobbing, I'm very sure protestors would interrupt just about anything to be heard and express their dislike for Bush.

Gee, I wish I'm there to just to blog any and everything at every aspects of the big affair. Too bad I'm a lowly amateur blogger!

Celebrity phonies and their anti-Bush campaign

Group of hollywood phonies launch an anti-bush ad via this site. Obviously the stars such as Matt Damon and others bashes the President.

Traditionally Hollywood supports Democratic party and so in this election period, they are all out in support of John Kerry. I dont even get it! What is it that they think he can do for them? And why are movie stars and hollywoood personalities wants him to be the one in the White House? I know they keep saying that lives would be better and economy will foster and grow. Wel Duh, as if they're the ones affected! Most if not all of them live a luxurious lifestyle and have power to command anything in their own superstar status so who are they kidding when they mention words and like economy and future of the Americans? Do they really give a damn about those stuff? Do they really know what's going on out there? Don't think so!

No doubt they have the appeal and the clout to pull or sway voters to their cause of unseating the current president and replacing him with their preferred choice which is Democratic nominee, John Kerry. But the reason, uhmm leaves something to american voters. I bet they just want a piece of the action. The star at the moment is the US Election.

If Holden Caulfied is for real, he'd probably have same thoughts--most celebrities are damn phonies!

Uh oh, the rain is pouring down!

Here comes the floods again! MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando should do something with the clogged drianges and garbages otherwise Metro Manila will be flooded again! We still haven't recovered from Yesterday's water world flooding!

This is what I'd call "D Bomb"

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's army has developed a pungent new weapon for driving back Palestinian protesters -- the skunk bomb. Read more

Jeepers! Ewww. I bet Palestinians would rather have the rubber bullets. Hahaha. But hey. the skunk bomb wouldn't really stop protestors I guess it will only make them smell soo stinky and foul.

Here the funny thing, they say it permeates clothes for five years, Uhm, they're probably just gonna throw the clothes away! duh uh!

Here's what I think, we need to have that skunk bomb odor here instead of the tear gas! I guess it's much more leathal in a skunky odory way! Hehehe.

The Metro is flooded!

Rain rain everywhere. Floods everywhere too! I didn't go to school today. Who would when the whole of Manila it seems is submerged in water and garbages swimming! Gross!

MMDA! wake up!

Oh no, Dismantle CIA?

The idea came as shock the Democrats as well as the White house. The report from Washington Post says that Republican chairman of the Senate intelligence committee proposed to remove most of the nation's major intelligence-gathering operations from the CIA and Pentagon and place them directly under the control of a new national intelligence director.

Why remove it? Hmm.. to save money? cold war is over? Maybe because of the flaw with what happened during the course of senate investigation of the 9/11 athe report. CIA wasn't really prepared.

According to the report In outlining the proposal, Roberts said, "No one agency, no matter how distinguished its history, is more important than U.S. national security." The paper also said: "We are not abolishing the CIA. We are reordering and renaming its three major elements." But the senior intelligence official said little would be left at the CIA under the plan. "That's exactly what it would do: demolish the agency," the official said.

White House indicated it would study the proposal, but a senior intelligence official said yesterday the plan "makes no sense" and would cause more problems than it solves.

The Central Intelligence Agency has been around for long and has helped a in terms of information gathering albeit with controversies along the way--lots. Anyway, if it's removal is approved (though I think it won't happen..unless maybe Kerry sits in the oval office).

I'm thinking novel murder mystery politcal writers--Tom Clancy, Fredrick Forsyth, Robert Ludlum, etc- will not be happy lots I guess. No more CIA, no more thriller plots to write about. Most of their stories involves the CIA. Hehehe.

Blahg: Boring Olympics

I used to love watching the games. I would always wait for the gymnastics--which happens to be my favorite and a couple of other events. This time around I'm finding it not exciting. Maybe the coverage of our own local station of the games and events which they're showing aren't really that exciting..except for swmming. Besides it's predictable, USA, China, Russia, Australia..they're always the ones winning medals.

The Kind of Blogger I am

I took the Blogging Personality Quiz at About Web logs and I am...

The Writer
Words captivate me. And, I like to capture words. Blogging enables me to write often. It also provides a place for me to share what I write with a reading public. I can be funny, inspiring, intelligent, cynical, or morbid. It doesn't matter what I write about in my blog. It only matters that I write.

Uh huh okay... I think the answer fits more with the kind of journaler(sp?) or diarist I am

Politically Gay

And you thought it only happens in movies but, New Jersey Governor shocked the world Thursday, first by admitting his homosexuality and an extramarital affair with an unnamed man

Ewww..hehee

Comedians having field day with the story.

Here in the Philippines, I bet there are similar stories like that..err... well, there are political figures with *questionnable sexuality". Haha.

Blahgs: Taxi flat rates way too much!

Omigosh! If you're a tourist here or a regular taxi passenger, the flat rate has risen to 30 pesos. That's too much! No wonder people don't flag down cabs anymore!

The Google IPO coming very soon

Its the tech industry's long awaited event despite having IPO auction problems containing misleading information

Google hopes to sell 25.7 million shares for $108 to $135 per share, but the so-called Dutch auction is designed to set the final price. The Mountain View-based company plans to close the auction sometime next week and distribute the shares to winning bidders before the stock debuts on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol "GOOG."

Well, if I have money I'll invest in stocks too and buy shares and hope to just swmim in cash like those two Google founders. Hehe.

A positive blog. A good news.

SunStar Bcolod: Twins' mother happy at last

Read and be uplited .

Now thats what I call nice piece of blog news

Are you serious?

President Arroyo is re thinking of sending back peacekeeping force to Iraq. And to think she was do adamant in pulling out the Filipino contingent there to save the life of a hostage whom militants had threatened to behead. Tsk tsk. No har in trying to help build Iraq but rememberbut..here she is after ordering troop pullouts, the possiblity of bringing back Filipino peacekeepers under a UN framework looms.

What if something simlar to that of Angelo Dela Cruz hostage case happens ? Will she recall back the Filipinos in Iraq..again? Gee, we'll probably be laughing stock if itever happens

Blahgging Thoughts: Wanted good positive news

Gosh, most news are just depressing. I think I need to Blahg about good jolly features and funny albeit lame silly ones and one with heart. Hehe =)

The terror plot thickens

From Drudge Report the news about Al Qaeda's plans for America.

So maybe the terror alert was justified.

Rot in Hell!
Terry Nichols..the man who helped Timothy Mc Veigh(who was excuted 4 years ago) in commiting the the worst domestic terror act by bombing Federal Building in Oklahoma, has been sentenced a life in prison with no parole. For the victims of the bombing, I think he should suffer same fate as that of Mc Veigh which he deserves! I Remember there was time he tried to hide here cos his' ex wife is a Filipina.... who eventually testified.

Greencard as a prize!

To win a greencard, one must join the reality show "Gana la Verde" ("Win the Green"). It seems Hundreds of contestants willing to eat burritos crammed with live worms, jump off high-speed trucks or wash sky-scraper windows in exchange for a year's legal help in speeding up their visa or green card cases.

Talk about different kind of prize! I be if there was reality show like that here in the Philippines, many would join just to be able to go the states and live and stay there and have a greencard.

According to the shows maker, Mr. Liberman " immigration and legal status is the number one issue ... But I thought, what would be the ultimate prize for someone living in the United States as an immigrant? "

Yeah, a green card naturally, aimed at the Hispanics.

But Alex Nogales, who campaigns for positive Hispanic representation in the U.S. media comments "how humiliating it is, and how desperate do people have to be, to get something that is so necessary to your life and to the future of your children. It is heart-wrenching," Read the whole story here

Of Terror Threat and Warning

I think the question most Americans ask is how reliable and true they are. NYTimes (reg req'd) article about How Severe is the Threat reports that some people wonder whether Bush administration was trying to manipulate the terrorist threat for political advantage. Probably because there was no evidence of it .

I thought about thesame thing too that maybe it is being used as politcal ripple effect of 9/11 but in hindsight, they, meaning Bush and Homeland Security, were right in issuing precautions and alerts even if it's based on some old information of plannedterror activities

The fact of the matter, people complained (after 9/11 had happened) that the Government and it's agencies--FBI,CIA- didn't do enough in advising and warning people about terrorists might've who had infiltrated the US. And so now in the post 9/11 where every minute detail and news and information as to the movements, words of any possible terror suspect is taken as threat, and as a result a a heightened security alert is issued, should not be taken as something that is being used for politcal purposes.

People were caught unaware of the 9/11 attacks because there was no warnings whatsoever. Maybe now even if there's no real big evidence about the threat (so far), Americans would be conscious enough(and be aware) and heed the warning--but not so far as to live in terror and let it get to them.

Eh He He. Blogged as if I'm a Republican!

Updated: Ah, now I get it. The alert was based from report that a man arrested in Pakistan was the basis for the the warnings.

Uhm, what US ban?

From INQ7 site: No travel ban to the US says the DFA. Heck, because of a terror lalert, tendency is to be wary and scared. Geez. nothing would stop Filipinos from going to the US even with a terror threat warning.

When the rain comes so does the floods and traffic!

Too much rain pouring down earlier in the day and into the night and as usual, floods hit the streets of the metro causing traffic. Calling MMDA!

NASA and the M&M'S

Heh. After Mars and the rover landing, it's time for Mercury. The Spacecraft messenger rocketed to the closest planet near the sun-- Mercury

According to report..Scientists have been yearning to study Mercury up-close ever since Mariner 10 zoomed by three times in the mid-1970s. If all goes well, come 2011, Messenger will be the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury.

Mars and Mercury are lucky planets, too bad there aren't any living creatures or aliens there else they'd know the amount of money and time and expertise scientists at the NASA Lab pouring over M&M's exploration.

Oh Mate, I object!

The rift is growing all because of a (Philippines) decision to withdraw troops and when Aussie Foreign Secretary, Alexander Downer said that he blamed the Philippines and Spain for a new threat against Australia by a purported al-Qaida affiliate. And then his boss, Prime Minister John Howard, defended Downer's statements, saying his foreign minister was ``strongly putting the view that you do not give in to terrorists, and I totally support him.''

Philippines did not give into the situation. View it more as saving a life. Not just one but of many overseas workers.

Bloggers at DNC Convention

Dozens of people will be blogging the Democratic Convention, creating an entirely new stream of information from political conventions so says Cyber Journalis.net

And so DNC gave crendentials to a lot of individual bloggers and journalist blogging for news sites. View the list if you're interested. You'd be very familiar with a lot of them if you read other blogs and go their blogsites regularly.

 Lucky bloggers! I think it's mostly the type of blog site one runs and how popular it is that can get a blogger crendtialed.

Aw shucks, I wanna be part of the event and blog too even if I'm an amateur, an unknown and I dont get paid to blog!

Marketing the Un-Britney

How it's done. According to the Washington Post A giggly, bouncy whirlwind of blond ambition, the 16-year-old Duff has been slickly marketed to the 8- to 14-year-old set as the anti-Spears have all succeeded thanks to Duff's flirty, sassy but ultimately G-rated persona. Credit Duff's handlers!

Heh! After all the many politcal newsblogs...a cutie, general patronage article for all you [Hilary] Duff fanatics. Oh and I think it's a good one for her too.

Okay okay, fine. I watch Lizzie McGuire....happy now? Hahahaha

More of what US officials are saying

Stll the harsh criticism continues to emanate from White House.

US Secretary of State Colin Powel: "in effect the kidnappers were rewarded for kidnapping." "We were very disappointed in the actions of the Philippine government," he said.

"A very high price was paid for the policy position that the Philippine government took."

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Wednesday that "weakness is provocative."

"The Philippines is seen as taking orders from terrorists," - US charge d'affaires Joseph Mussomeli

There are consequences to be paid it seems

What they're saying about the Philippines

Newspaper reports and editorials(international papers mostly) about President Arroyo's decision to pull troops out of Iraq is not really being favorable to her.  Most if not have severely criticized her actions.  US is an angry big brother right now and very upset with the move Arroyo made.   NY Times(reg req'd)reports that Groups apparently emboldened by the   Philippine withdrawal issued threats to three other American allies in Iraq - Japan, Poland and Bulgaria - to pull out their soldiers or face attacks.

Because those militant Iraqis "won" the battle of driving out Filipino troops just by threatening(sp) to behead a Filipino Worker if their demands weren't met (which is full withdrawal of troops ) they can do thesame with other  countries.  I guess that's what the US  are trying to point out.   President Arroyo have to defend herself against barrage of criticism from other nations and coalition forces who thinks that her decision is the wrong one. 

Majority of Filipinos approved of what did though.

Filipino Hostage in Iraq Freed by Captors
 
Meanwhile United States and  other  Coalition forces are still seething MAD over Philippines decision to pull out troops from Iraq.
 
President Arroyo is not looking good in their eyes because of her decision-- she did it so that people won't topple her if a headless  Hostage is shown instead of a released one. 
 

iPod, Therefore I am

So says in the Newsweek cover featuring Apple Ceo Steve Jobs as the magazine was the first to see and review   apple's redesigned iPod.

Visit Gizmodo to see more pictures ofthe mini iPods. They're cuties and they say less expnsive. Heck, I still can't afford one! Hehe.

Castigated by Others for Leaving!
 
Ouch! Philippines  at the receiving end of criticism from other nations for leaving Iraq and caving in to the demands of those militants.  Officials from US and the (new) Iraqi government were dismayed and disappointed at our troops pull out from their duties in Iraq. Geez, even Bulgaria, Australia, Italy and others didn't approved of  what the Philippines did (in order to save the life of  Filipino hostage).    
 
 Philippines  has been the main  supporter in the  fight against terrorism and was the first one to  join  Bush in declaring  full support  in the War In Iraq. But now,  looks like Manila and Washington's relations is starting to be little jagged already.  It's souring already.
 
I think that  President Arroyo ordered the pull-out to gain points with the different militant groups here at the risk of US getting mad.  I wonder if she's regretting her decision. 

Blogging  Styles and Phones to Have

Get the Nokia 7610 (which has been available here for quite sometime now) if you're always in a hurry you and don't have time to log online to blog, you can just MoBlog using the phone of course and use the Lifeblog features. I wonder if it'll work with this site. I know it wont probably work with Wordpress or something like Movable Type.

There's also  Sony Ericsson 900-- much too expensive though, but heck it's cool

Now the joke's on us!? Are we Laughing?

And again, Phlippine troop withdrawal gets an opening monalogue jokes from Jay Leno.

Jay: Hey, have you heard about this, there's a new track and field world record. Yeah, The Philippine troops!

And then Jay Leno action's a person running fast.

Yayness me! now because of PGMA decision to withdraw troops-- all 51 of them-were getting the butt of jokes from a late night tv show.

Errr...uhm..*scratches head* say cheeeeese!

On the other hand, news tonight says people are divided against the move of sending home troops earlier than expected. one something's for sure most Filipinos just wants to see Angelo Dela Cruz safe and home.

Defying what The US wants

The news read: Philippines Pulls Troops From Iraq. Looks like the White House is not happy with that development. The move was criticized by US and Ausatralian Government.

Which matters really? Filipino sentiments or American Opinion? Obviously the US was pissed with the decision and says "A decision by the Philippine government to withdraw its 51 troops ahead of schedule would send the wrong signal to terrorists," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters traveling with Bush in Michigan

Well Boo hoo! For crying out loud, It's only 51 contingent not the whole batallion! Soldiers in non-combative mission(Which is good!) For Petes sake! The US shouldn't be upset! So we caved in the to demands of the Militants, but a life is at stake here.

Update: This from a Jay Leno's The Tonight Show monalogue skit:

Jay: How do you feel about Philippines withdrawing it's troops?
(Fake)George Bush: Well Jay, I'm so upset I ban all the use of Manila Folders!

WAHEEEHEE. NYAHAHAAAHAHA! Man, that was funny! Teheeehee. Somebody say cheeeseese! ^_^

Grr. My pc is soo damn slow! s l o w... as in and it's ticking me off! I'm about to burst in annoyance! Maybe it's my browser. I use IE but whenever I use NS it's much more faster! Shouldn't it be the other way around?

What I need is a super computer P4 3.0 256 byte 80 gig and all that pieces necessary to have a much faster pc! Heh. I'll blog off and dream about it!

He who is stupid!

Imagine saying to a little girl her names means "stupid dirty girl". The thing that made it worse was it came from an official. The remark was made by the California Education Secretary, Richard Riordan. He said he was "teasing" whe he made that comment. Yeah right!

According to the article The conversation, videotaped by KEYT-TV, took place Thursday at a promotional event for summer reading at Santa Barbara's central library. The girl, 6-year-old Isis D'Luciano, asked Riordan if he knew that her name meant "Egyptian goddess."

Riordan replied, "It means stupid dirty girl." Read full story here

Geez, he ought to pack his bags now and leave his post!

Look whose talking... speaking!

Apparently Ron Reagan will address the Democratic National Convention in Boston about stem cell research.

You think the Republicans are insulted? It's a Reagan after all. Me thinks John Kerry will give the son of the late President Reagan a good exposure at the Convention. Dont think it will make a huge impact but maybe for the stem cell research issues.

Meanwhile, Streisand will speak at the Republican Convention...NOT! heheee.

Got Mail?
I do! I got Gmail!

The waiting game
72 hours will lapse soon and if President Arroyo wont heed to the demands of the militants, they will behead Angelo dela Cruz. Al jazeera network showed a new video of dela Cruz wearing orange suit and asking to heed the demands of The militants.

The militants in Iraq should just release him, he's not even soldier. He's a civilian contract worker!

Why a Filipino?

Those Iraqi imilitants at it again. This time a Pinoy worker was abducted in Fallujah after his convoy was attacked by a group of insurgents. The insurgents demanded a pullout of the Philippine contingent in Iraq in 72 hours.

Why hostage somebody from a third world country?(whos not even a troop but instead an OFW) Would it really make any difference. I would understand if it's someone from Canada or UK or even from Spain.

Heck, I don't think our contingent is even that big! I'm not sure.

Update-Philippines will pull out troops....next month. They put a ban instead on pinoy workers going to Iraq to work.

I'm baaaack but, But the Godfather's dead!
Yes, it's me back from my shackles of bordomness! I'll bloody go back to my blogging rhythm in the couple of days.I'm savoring staring at the screen and absorbing all that've missed..news and otherwise.

Blogging blah blah

The blogs will be bacK soon. Nobody actually cares I know but still...I'm blogging telling people! Haha. By the time I'm back a new President would've been elected and sworn. Whether it's FPJ or GMA or the other candidates, the country needs to be up and running with the other economic powers of Asia.

Blogging off now!

Happy Easter! Hunting for eggs?

Go hunt for Bin Laden! Eh hehehe.

Recognizing the best

2004 Pulitzer Prize winners were announced and LA Times won most of the awards in the journalism category: National reporting, Feature photography, Editorial writing, Criticism and Breaking news reporting .

Two arts-related Pulitzer Prizes went to historical books on the black experience

Uhm, I also won an award...the BLAHging one. Hahaa.

If you can't deal with media and the people then quit!

Now FPJ's rudeness and annoyance of a GMA-7 reporter-whose "only doing her job" has come under severe criticism

“Ikaw na lang ang magsalita [Why don’t you do the talking]!” Poe told Aguinaldo. Aguinaldo thought at first Poe was joking, it being April Fool’s Day, but when she realized he was dead serious, she broke into tears. And then Sotto and Legarda asked Sandra to apologized to FPJ. Geez, my goodnes! Read this opinion.

So snappish! Heh! I think the rift is over(?) though.

Blue Eagles has landed and they rule. Maroons are missing!

The Philippine 2003 bar exam results were released and Ateneo had most of the top ten. There's one from San Sebastian and one from Bicol Colleges. Whatever happened to (graduates of) UP!?!? How come there's only one in the top ten? Uh oh not a good sign there knowing law is it's specialty. Hmmm?

Too bad my sister didn't took the bar, she would have figured much higher in the list. There's always the nex time.

Lies, Deceit and Deception

Jack Kelly, former USA Today reporter apparently had all that so he's being investigated by commitee of outside journalists cos he was able to insert fabrications and uncredited passages from other publications into his articles. Further more, the report also says that colleagues had approached editors with suspicions about the accuracy of four articles by Mr. Kelley in recent years but their concerns, they said, were often dismissed by editors. .

This type of deception probably happens too with the local newspaper [here and everywhere] just because one wants to be famous and well known or be the favorite of an editor or something like that. Some fabricate stories or exaggerate reporting in order to present something in away that would favor their reporting skills.

As what happened to Mr. Kelly- only USA Today reporter to become a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize since it began in 1982 .

Knowing code of ethics when reporting and should be present at all times when in the media or business or anywhere else...especially with politicians! Haha!

Blah..gging: Blogs about nothing
I should be at my internship in Ortigas but my friends didn't feel like going..soo we're kinda like stick-it-all for one one for all kinda groupie hence I'm home...and blahgging :p No 9 to 7 office stuff. Yey!

Back and Blahgging again
My PC is having problems understanding what FASTER means. It sucks I'm having really slowtime here cos this inept machine I'm using is soo old.I wish have a new one! Nothing much to blog about anyhow, Same usual election news.Politicans who are running for a place to lead the country is soo freaking clueless as to what people really wants- JOBS! Economic growth. No crime and kidnapping! Instead they do the merry go round of stabbing one another in the back! Lest see who wins the May elections. GMA or FPJ or PING or ROCO. Can't I just be the President? Teeehee :p

When do you stop?

Just a blogging this here--I watched Oprah last night(I live in the Philippines so, some show episodes are old..as was in this case) and she had this interview with the Smart Family(who were promotiing their book)and their ordeal of the abduction of their daughter, Elizabeth. Read more?

But it raises questions of does going public and promoting(a book and detailing stuff)and having made for t.v movie a good move? Sure people would want to know what really happend because she had becone a national news and the plight the family had gone through. But (does)it crosses the boundaries of good taste of the the public and media in general!? I mean okay, we've had the details. Stop with that. This article says it all.

When you introduce something new and good you deserve praises

And that's what Brian Lamb has been getting, receiving accolades for his C-SPAN Network (link via Romenesko). Full story here

We used to have C-SPAN in our cable channel but then it was replaced by some nonsense program. C'mon I'd rather watch Washington Journal(or sometimes boring Booknotes) than some silly WINS! Ugh! Hahaha.

Oooh, watch out Microsoft!

Coming pretty soon from HP it's the Linux based PC in Asia.

I think a lot here in Asia will try that one although MSFT's Windows still will probably dominate most of the PC's

Oh it's too much, stop! Hahaha!
If you can't make it as President, why not be an actor! Watch out America for the leading yuck-getter or should it be yack getter! Teheehe.

Maybe Presidentiables wanna be Mr Eddie Gil or Bro. Eddie Villanueva or even Bro. Mike Velarde can take up few pointers(or not) and do thesame! Yayness! Haha.

Update: Eddie Gil has been disqualified by Comelec. Hahaa, he was deemed nuisance candidate ^_^

Blah-ging: Work you printer work!
My printer's sick and it won't spit out anything! Maybe I should replaced HP with Epson or Canon. Grrr! Good thing it's almost the end of the school season.

Big Apple on Guard
With what happened at Madrid's train station, NY security was beefed up at transportation terminals around the city

Terror can strike anywhere so nothing like being preprared for any eventualities.

A terrorist no matter what group is still terrorist
There's train bomb blast in Madrid Spain..looks like ETA's done it..according to Spanish Interior Minister

Update:Spanish officials initially blamed Basque separatists, but they also were studying a claim of responsibility by a shadowy group in the name of al-Qaida.

Uhm.. wondering, would that be Bin Laden's Al Qaeda?

Oops, a moving porno. Tsk tsk

This news says it all.Here In the Philippines, you don't even have to have dvd inside a car, to spot an x-rated thingie..ugh!. Where's the law!

There's a bilboard advertisement of a brandy in a bind because of the double entendre it presents to the public- "Nakatikim ka na ba ng 15 años?" (Have you tasted a 15 year-old) 15 being "kinse" which is refering to Napoleon brandy, became the subject of the controversy. And though not porn, innuendo raises howls from women's groups. Rightly so. Yeah!

A Russian knight in shining armor so it seems

Heh, but of course I'm referring to Vladimir Putin- the most popular Russian politician in decades.

BBC news says Whatever problems people face, they do not seem to blame Mr Putin. And, despite the problems and the poverty - none of which have gone away - life in many parts of this vast land has grown just a little easier under President Putin....Unlike the chaos of the Yeltsin years.

Yeah yeah, okay..he will be re elected and so will President Bush..uhmm..most likeky. But I wonder if it's thesame for President Arroyo.

TV NEWS
HBO says The Sopranos back for a season --Well,the show doesn't really air here. Meanwhile I hope they show new episodes of Six Feet Under..even just the re runs..would be fine. I like that show a lot!

Hmm, I used the word 'show' 3x..geez.

This is (probably) why more Filipino teachers go to the states

Texas begs for teachers - with or without credentials Via CSMonitor and according to the article

While teacher shortages are easing in some areas, they remain a problem elsewhere, especially in the Sun Belt. Texas, for instance, needs 45,000 new teachers annually

Uh huh hence the influx of Filipinos academecians(sp) going abroad to impart more of their profession(al) skills rather than stay here in the Philippines. Not only that, the benefits(salary, housing car, bonuses) the teacher gets is much more than what they can earn here. Further more..

Many states are looking overseas to fill positions.But critics say the program would put untrained teachers into classrooms at a critical time

And I say the Filipino Teachers(sometime, most times)are better than their American counter part. And more highly qualified to do the job. The government should implement more attractive incentives for our teachers so students here can have the best education from teachers instead of the others benfiting from them.

So, you wanna be in the news business or be a good journalist?

A word of advice, caution and guidelines from WPOST

Tech Reviews

Lots of Gadget reviews from Gizmodo.

One particular review is that of the Sony Vaio GRT260G. Hmm, reading the pros and cons ...looks like it is a good oneto have...

Which btw, I added in my wish list... so yeah buy me one! Yayness me! Hehehe.

Not Citizen Kane!

Supreme court decided(finally) that Fernando Poe Jr. is qualified to run for President because he is "natural- born Filipino citizen" according to the SC ruling.

There goes the peso plunging!

A Kerry for all states
And it's final.. John Kerry sealed of and locks Democratic nomination with vicitories at last night super Tuesday primaries.

Bye bye Mr. Edwards. Hello Mr. Kerry. You think you're gonna win over Bush?(Blog to the tune of Bye bye love..hehehe )

Update: Something about the John Kerry traits. Link via Tim blair

Not all dogs go to heaven...they go online!

Watch out world here comes a social networking site for dogs. Apparently a bunch of canine lovers formed a "friendster for the dogs" and named if it Dogster.com.. Arf arf! amazinly there are dogs from far-flung countries including Malaysia, Afghanistan, New Zealand and Croatia.

Dogs are socialing creatures eh? If you're dog lover ir just wannasee different breeds of man;s best friend then go to the site!

News and stuff. Nuisance stuff

What to blog? Hmm..I have a headache and my brain's whacked so for news items and others just go to Drudge Report or anywhere there's news.. I guess

Blah ging: Music in my ears

Listening to Walk away by Epidemic. Hehe a title apt for ousted Haitian President who is no more. Haha.

Oh no! What if it happens here?
Anarchy and chaos descends in Haiti and the rebels calling it the last gasps of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's regime. Part of the Miami Herald report says that

At least a dozen bodies were strewn on the capital's streets, some shot in the head. Armed Aristide loyalists hijacked cars and stripped motorists of valuables. Looters descended on the port, fighting with each other, carrying away food and appliances.

Once again, the international community deplored the disorder in Haiti but took no concrete steps to stop it.

Something similar might arise if and it's a big if Presidential Contender FPJ is disqualified. The many fans of "da king" would protest and there would be anarchy and chaos too. Or there might be coup...again! . Oh no for sure!

Don't wanna see Philippines(come election time or even before that) become Haiti the second

Show me some Passion!

On ash Wednesday(in the US) the most awaited and anticpated film of the year opens and amidst the debate and controversy a lot of people flocked the movie theaters to see what the fuzz is all about.

Yeppers.. blogged about the movie about 2 or 3 times(since last year, search the archives if you must) already and now it's showing. AndI wonder if the board censors here would allow the movie to be shown(owing to the fact that it's violent some say). Being the only Catholic country in Asia, I bet the religious sect here would have something to say about the film!

The truth shall set them (Americans) free

Ralph Nader For President? This comment from BJ in his Pixelforge post: We emphatically do not need a snarky old fart in a bad suit! yeeeouch!..yeah go and read more of the post..hehee

I remember the last time about him running Green Party Movement(or something like that..shrugs) and aiming for the White House too but wasn't successful. Teehee.

Blahgging: Tough one

I answered a 50 points essay question in my exam earlier..yayness! Read more?

Wake up Dude!

Hmm this might be useful. Haha

The Plot to Hunt Al- QAEDA

Oooh of course they're dong something about Bin Laden's Al Qaeda! The article from the Washington Post clearly reports that

In the years before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the CIA carried out a secret but ultimately unsuccessful manhunt for bin Laden. It was based at first on the band of Afghan tribal agents, and later expanded to include other agents and allies, especially the legendary guerrilla leader Ahmed Shah Massoud. But the search became mired in mutual frustrations, near misses and increasingly bitter policy disputes in Washington between the Clinton White House and the CIA. Read More

Well it's been years now, Saddam has been captured already but still no Bin Laden. The plan to
"seize, kidnap " Bin Laden was a failed one I guess cos he still out there in the mountains somewhere along the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Probably being sheltered by tribes. I saw CNN's report of high ranking U.S officials meeting with their Pakistanis counter part. Wonder if it will bear fruits. Gotta capture those terrorists!

Bloggy Murder!
Proof of blogging popularity, You don't need to be a journalist to cover a trial anymore. According to Cyberjournalist.net: Bloggers cover murder trial Uhm right..pretty soon blogs will take over the papers we read..hehe

Dean is done
Former frontrunner for the Demoratic Presidential candidate, Howard Dean decided enough of losing primaries so nothing to do but exit the race. Part of the NYTimes report:

Dr. Dean, whose outspokenness was part of his allure, never learned to watch his words, nor grow into a skilled statesman who could reach beyond his base.

He thought he was gonna win cos of his popularity in the early goings of the campaign. Attacking President's Bush's policy on Iraq and other stuff(like capture of Saddam) made him laughing stock or punch tirades by the other Democratic candidates. I guess though with his ground breaking web campaign style of and lots of supporters and charisma(though it didn't carry him over to the primaries), he'll stay and be a force in American politics

But he's quitting the race..Ehehehe.

Somethings wrong with blogger and my site. Maybe it's just my 'puter argh!

Eat chocolates and be healthy?
Oh yeah did you know that chocolates helps improve circulation, cut blood pressure and might produce other health benefits, according toresearchers.

Life is like box of chocolates eh? Eat some and improve your health. Eat alot you get fat! Yeeesh!

Yikes, I see freaky candidates!
Jeepers creepers, Presidentiables and their campaign materials littered the walls of the metropolis. Since yesterday started the official campaign season for the national elections, it's was like ready get so or ready aim fire sort of a rush to the nearest bare walls and posts and lamps by "paid volunteers" and who can stick and post the most numbers of ads and yucky large faces of the candidates! Ugh. Can't wait for the May 16 elections already so the mad rush to inundate us with who the hell cares jingle and paid ads and big scary looking billboards of the candidates will end.

Asia's Sickness

And this from AP:Bird Flu May Have Passed Between Humans
Now thats a scary thought. The report says:

Limited human-to-human transmission of the virus is not considered a serious danger. What experts fear is that the virus might mutate into a form that passes easily between people

Gee "not a serious danger!"?. People are dead as a result of a possible human to human contact instead of just with the birds! WHO needs to look deeply into the matter. And I think they are.

First the SARS now this Bird Flu. Ack! Vaccinate the whole Continent!

Blah ging

Yey,I made a new theme for my journal. Out of boredom I guess. It's a black and white layout with a light Goth Girl image. It's not tableless though like the other ones in my other themes but still pretty cool.

Teacher on T.V
Gee, somebody's interviewing one of the teacher's in school I didn't realize he's the famous now. Haha.

Uh oh! How scary is this...

An 11 yr old gives birth!

Pity the child! Shucks, I can't imagine a grade school girl being a mom! Why had it reached to the point that the girl whose only 11 years old, got pregnant!? I mean, there maybe circumstances beyond girl's control but damn, can you imagine being a mother at 11 yrs old? Like I said it's scary, sad too, to allow such thing like that to happen? Probably abortion is out of the question but still..tsk tsk..what the hell's happening to society and how children are being raised!?

Poe in pressure

I guess FPJ cannot really be a good guy forever as he lost his temper somewhat when reporters persistenly asked him a lot of questions regarding number of issues. He was attending dinner party and maybe the guy just wants to eat without being pestered with questions. But well, the price one pays for entering the world of politics!

The SIM sequel is here

If you're a SIMS fan. I don't play much but I didn't enjoy the SIMS that I have. Description of new one: The game is goal-oriented as you try to get on a career track and socialize your way to popularity.

Uh huh. Okay then. *Clueless*

Do Weblogs/Journals really help a candidates campaign?

Yes. in some ways it does. It has become an indispensible tool for journalist and candidates. There are increasing number of voters who are net savvy and always online and tend to stay and linger much more when they go to a certain blogsite. Either they read the post and make a comment or just look around. Consider this:

"A blog's not going to have the same reach as a Washington Post or USA Today or an AP article," said Cameron Barrett, a longtime blogger now with Wesley Clark's campaign. "But it does have reach, and people consistently go to online blogs to find information that traditional media ignore."

Case in point is Howard Dean's weblogs. Though the man has skidded in polls (and lost in Iowa caucus) he still remains one of the popular Democratic candidate for President. Thanks in part to his weblogs and internet campaign which gets a lot of hits a day.

Media's web journal and constant blog post have become a viable tool for political junkies who mostly turn to their blogs for news and articles and post we don't normally see with the traditional media.

There's a lot of journalist with web journals! Some news outfit and media company forbids their reporters to have blogsite though.

Journalist and their political contributions

It's not only the business sectors but oh yes even the media outlets and their journalists contribute funds for their own respective choice of candidates. I think that it's wrongs because it casts doubts about their reporting. Washington Post reports that...

Such donations raise difficult questions: Do employees of news organizations give up certain civic rights? Or, in an age when polls show growing public perceptions of media bias, should the appearance of siding with a candidate or party be avoided at all costs?

"A good rule of thumb," said Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism, "is, if this were known publicly, would it cause the audience to have doubt about the credibility of this person's coverage?" That, he said, is often "a judgment call."

Here in the Philippines, it's probably happening too. I mean, with the Lopezes most likely will contribute to either Noli de Castro or Loren Legarda. Mostly though it's the other way around. The politicians are the ones giving money away as sort of encouraging or enticing certain media people to write more favorable news about them. Ethics in journalism should be practiced and getting money or contributing funds to certain politicians should be forbidden.

Books worth blogging

Amazon.com search inside the book is pretty cool, it's like reading some of the pages and quite engrossing too. I have a wishlist and part of the list is the book Disgrace . It's an engaging read. Sorta like Out of Africa..esque, type but probably less focused about romance but more on the post-apartheid South Africa.

Alliances and Partnerships and consumer benifits..
I think. HP and Apple computers have formed an alliance and to deliver an HP-branded music player based on Apple's iPod also HP PCs and notebooks will come preinstalled with iTunes. Link via Gizmodo (see HPod pic) full story from Macminute

So does it mean HPod will be less expensive than iPOD but will have same quality? Oooh nice bargain!?

Another partnership is that of RealNetworks and IBM teaming up and will focus mainly in helping businesses deliver their own music, television programs and video over the Internet.

It's good isn't it? For companies who would more want exposure and have their programms on the net. Maybe we'd see a lot of company commercials..yay! ^_^

Ouch!
Sometimes truth hurts as President Arroyo found out. But some surveys shouldn't really be barometer on how well a candidate does. It is there just to assess and see how well a candidate is with voters and demographics and different sectors of society.

Something's missing in Capitol Hill

It's gone silent.The editorial from Washington Post explains it clearly and why.

Many Republican members profess to be fully content with the Bush administration's handling of the war on terrorism here at home. Many Democrats, meanwhile, are happy to snipe from the sidelines but offer little in the way of constructive alternatives.

Yet in absenting itself from the policymaking process, Congress does not merely fail to protect American liberty. It also fails to aid the executive branch in fighting terrorism.

It's been observed that since the war(in Iraq) started and ended, Capitol Hill has been silent on many legislative issues to tackle --Congress has had nothing to say about how captured enemy combatants ought to be treated, either domestically or abroad.

I think that 2004 being election year, the more there should be a move to pass legislation acts regarding important matters and not just stood by and be content with whatever the administration presents.

Earth to Mars, I've landed!

Saw the news earlier and NASA's scientists at CIT's Jet Propulsion Laboratory were very estatic as the Spirit Rover Exploration landed in Mars! For those guys mission accomplished it would seem.That was cool, seeing the piece of robotic machine finally inside the red planet. It looks like the rover is there to look for geologic evidence that liquid water — a necessary ingredient for life — once persisted on the surface. A direct search for life on Mars is at least a decade away, NASA scientists said.

It's a good tthat there's such an exploration and research for who knows, if it was inhabited eons ago, whos to say that a human can't live there too. We can send those lousy politicians, and freaks and terrorist there. Yep, far from the many goodies from earth!

Finally!
And after many delays due supposed terror threat, the BA flight takes off. Hurrah! I think the plane's one of the safest right now to be on board.

Blah ging!
Yey, I finished making a layout designed for my journal. It renders as xhtml(I hope) and is tableless. Nice. I mean it's much easier to modify and maneouver using css tableless design. I tried doing tables and with frames too but wasn't really satisfied. Most of the layouts I make are just amateur..ish in nature but I try and make it as good and clean as possible.

And they're the go...on the left on the right in the middle.....

Geez, political scene here is nothing short of becoming box office hit as different candidates readies themselves for the coming elections this May. FPJ and Loren Legarda filed their certificates of candidacy amidst their many "FANS". Come Monday, will bePresident Arroyo and her choice of VP, Noli de Castro's turn to File their COC. Meantine Ping Lacson, whose another presidentiable wants Bayani "BF" Fernado as VP. And then there's Raul Roco too with an Aquino(Hermie is the name..shrugs)as his choice for VP.

These politicians are excited. Yeah, much too damn excited about the upcoming elections as the merry go round of whose gonna be where in whose line up(for senators, governors, mayor, etc) is really becoming hilarious albeit in very much "showbiz" way. Looks like politics and showbiz are just one and thesame.

China and the Virus problem

As what happened last year in China, it seems there's a possible SARS victim again The patient, a 32-year-old television worker. Everyone knows what kind of panic the severe acute respiratory syndrome brought to many Asian countries and Canada, which happens to be the only non Asian nation to have been infected with the disease. But there seems to be good news to this cos World Health Organization says "Even if a few cases, or clusters of cases, of SARS were to occur it would be possible to prevent massive spread"

I think doctors and scientist/researchers should look for vaccines for this kind of disease cos it's really dangerous and could kill if severely affected by it. It already left several people dead last year. Recurrence of the disease is happening again and it must be stop.

Not good way to start the New Year
Terrorism is bringing worries to everyone and the homeland security on heightened alert. The BA flight that was cancelled due to "fears of a possible attack appear to be based on suspicious names on passenger lists, and information that specific flights may have been targeted" according to BBC

It's now 2004 and terrorism still the promiment news maker. We're just beginning the year and already this news doesn't really give a very good indication of a calm peaceful year ahead.