This blog's a bitch!

Haha. Sarcasm saves you from telling someone what you really think about them! I can't help but be a meanie. Plus the movie Jarhead was corny!

It's so like valley girl talk English. Ugh.

According to this report

"Valley Girl has gone beyond a fad and is now rooted in different forms of English around the world," Ms Tagliamonte said. "Girls are the single most powerful force in the English language today." The research was among work discussed at the annual meeting of the American Dialect Society in New Mexico over the weekend.

Sali Tagliamonte, associate professor of linguistics at the University of Toronto, believes the strongest recent shift has been the spread of Californian "Valley Girl" style, promoted around the globe by television shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The OC (which I don't watch..just cos it's not my type of show..thank you very much).

This style of speech is characterised by inserting drawled words such as "like" and "so" to add emphasis to a sentence, which rises in pitch at the end.

Damn. It's so like annoying. Like it's so duh and so irritating. Ugh. Just shut the fuck up!

What one gets for being honest

Cristina Bugayon, the 12 year old girl who found a bagful of money amounting to more than $3000 (140,000 pesos) and returning it to it's rightful owner, continues to get more rewards from different sectors of society for her honesty. The company who owned the money, Techpoint computer, gave her..whatelse.. a computer! Geez. She should at least get some monetary reward. I think when the news broke out and she was interviewed, she and the mother as well was hoping for a reward..a cash reward! Well, a councilor gave her close to $100 (5000 pesos). She should get more just to compensate for her honesty.

Man, if it was me who had found that huge amount..hmm..haha! I dunno. I would've gotten some bills! haha but..I do have conscience though so go figure!

In the defense of the media

From Editor and Publisher.com

In perspective, the media did not create the rumor that the miners were safe. Miscommunication, misheard phone exchanges, and optimistic gossip probably lay at the root of the bad information. Officials, too, were at fault for not immediately clarifying what they knew and what they did not. But the fact is, most Americans, including probably people who knew the miners, believed the three hours of saturation news reports on television and the Internet that the miners were "rescued.It's not really their fault. They just wanted to tell the story as it is.

I dont think the media should get all the blame from the erroneous reporting. I know they should've at least check and re check and confirm the accuracy of the reports and hearsay that indeed miners are alive. The mining officials should share the blame for not really saying anything...not until all the erroneous reporting came about.. and yeah after 3 hours at that. It's their job to give information. Correct one.

Media bashing

So now most media outlets like wire services, network television and most especially newspaper are under the radar of scrutiny because of the false and erroneous report saying 12 miners alive and survived the blast there by giving false hope to many of the miners relatives when in reality they were dead already! Whose to blame of all these bad reporting?

Mike Fetters, a spokesman for The Newseum, a Washington, D.C.-based museum about the media, says that slightly more than half of the 250 U.S. newspapers examined Wednesday by the staff at the museum published front-page stories that said the miners were alive.

Few of those stories raised doubts about the report's credibility. Most did not make clear to readers, for instance, that the news was based on secondhand accounts from family members of the trapped miners just before midnight ET Tuesday. Officials from the company that owned the mine had not confirmed that the men were alive.

Greg Mitchell, editor of the trade magazine Editor & Publisher, called the media's performance "disturbing and disgraceful" in an online column Wednesday morning.

"The job of reporters and editors is to stop and say 'we've got some possible good news, but it's not confirmed yet,' " Mitchell said later Wednesday in an interview. "That really didn't happen."

Read complete article here

Changing lanes

More like changing networks. Ted Koppel has joined Discovery Channel and left ABC network and his long running Nightline show. I used to watch that show back when cable here was still cable with good channels. Hehe. One of the best documentaries I've seen was from Nightline and it was about Sarajevo after the war.

I wonder why he left the network though. Shrugs.. just blogging some media news

Erroneous report turned joy into to sorrow for miners relatives

Miscommunication!

It's sad for those relatives of the miners hearing that only 1 has survived that mining tragedy instead of the reported 12. Erroneous reporting is blamed for the confusion.

Ben Hatfield, president of the International Coal Group said the erroneous information spread rapidly when people overheard cell phone calls between rescuers and the rescue command center.

Several relatives fainted when they were informed of the miner's death by company officials and West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin during an early evening briefing inside the Sago Baptist Church. Others rushed ashen-faced from the scene, uncertain of the identity of the dead miner, each fearing he was a loved one.

Link via LATimes

The erroneous report only added to the rage felt by tired, angry and devastated relatives of those miners who are now feared dead.

Bashing big hairy creature

Watched King Kong last night. Upon the demise of Kong, one of the caharacters(played by Jack Black) said it's beauty who killed the beast.. I say...it's more of the sappy love scenes by the gorilla and the lengthy slow pace that killed the movie! Hehe. Read more

See evil, hear evil, stop evil AKA spying!

President Bush in a controversy again about domestic spying. He admitted such spying had taken place. From USA Today report

In this latest case, the administration authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on international phone calls and e-mails of people within the USA without court approval. It defends the practice by saying post-9/11 plots have been broken up

Yikes..I wouldn't want my calls screened! Don't want snoop dogs out there listening to my conversations and screening my emails.. that's privacy violation. It's kinda like wiretapping..American way. Ugh.

While it is essential that the government take action to stop such attacks before they happen, the administration has yet to explain why it needs to act without a warrant to accomplish this

Sure, it's nice to capture and know what the heck terrorists are up to...but may be they need to do something pratical and important like.. don't let anybody enter airports with guns! Check thoroughly for weapons of hijackand terrorists destructions.

Just incase one flew over the White House nest

Well, it's not yet there but just incase it hits the U.S., a flu pandemic readiness test was done at the White House..minus the President and the Vice. Bush went for a bike ride in suburban Maryland on a cold winter morning. Vice President Dick Cheney also stayed away. I think they should've at least been there. According to the news report

Fears of a pandemic have increased in recent months as a virus infecting millions of birds has spread throughout Asia and parts of Europe. While the virus has not yet appeared in the United States, or spread from person to person, officials worry the bird flu could eventually mutate and become as contagious globally as the annual flu.

The administration is working under the worst-case assumption that as many as 90 million Americans would become sick and 2 million would die during a worldwide flu pandemic.

Scary to to think. Is it exaggerated? I dunno. There's no bird flu case there but yet. but better be prepared than sorry.

If you're tired and owerworked....

Listen up read and click 6 signs you're boss is killing you- and 6 ways to fight back

Haha..revenge.

All about chocolates

Chocolate has been linked to chemicals which cause happiness in humans, as well as with making children smile--Happy news

Who can't resist a good heavenly chocolates huh? I have sweet tooth.I love chocolates and the sinful guilty pleasures it brings whenever I put one in my mouth, swirl and bite it. Happynews happy living section has many articles on just about anything to do with chocolates like recipes for hot choco or all about Ghirardelli chocolates (which is one of my favorite! So yummy!) or about Lindt chocolates. If you're a chocoholic...go to site and enjoy!

I'm craving for chcolate right now. Waah...no more Hersheys symphony!

Boob-tube booboos

Courtesy of Nestor Torre's Viewfinder.

HOST: WERE YOU AT THE SCENE of the shootout when it happened?

Guest: No, we arrived right after, in time to see the died persons all over the place!

(Ay, the died persons!)

* * *
Host: So, you did not see the exchange of fire between the police and the (criminals?)

Guest: No, but one of our group says he saw one of the coup disgrace.

(Coup disgrace?—Oh, coup de grâce!)

* * *
Quizmaster: If red wine is made from grapes, what is white wine made from?

Contestant: Coconut!

(Wrong! The answer is still grapes.)

* * *

Host: What’s the secret of a long and happy marriage?

Guest: You have to agree first in the beginning, dapat it’s a give in take relationship!

(Ay, give in take relationship!)

* * *
Host: What about the raid do you object to?

Guest: Before you raid, you have to get a church warrant. They did not have a church warrant, so they should not have raided.

(Church warrant?—Oh, search warrant!)

Hahahahaaa..I wanna laugh... hahahaa

Military tales, military woes

6 US servicemen charged with rape as US military investigates the case

THE United States military is conducting a parallel investigation into the alleged rape of a 22-year-old Filipina by its servicemen last week at the Subic Bay Freeport

Hard to be in the military.....you either get killed by roadside bombing, suicide attack or by accident.. and to think, they're just doing they're jobs or you go to court. Not all are rapist.

Lets hope there's good news for them like troops coming home for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

There are good guys and heroes. Of course the ones that are bad needs to be punished.

Catcher in the Rye moment

Today is All Souls Day (or Saints day.. I'm not really sure..but it's a holiday) and people go to cemeteries to visit grave of loved ones. Remember their dead and bring flowers and all that.

According to Holden Caulfied....

Boy, when you're dead, they really fix you up. I hope to hell when I do die somebody has sense enough to just dump me in the river or something. Anything except sticking me in a goddam cemetery. People coming and putting a bunch of flowers on your stomach on Sunday, and all that crap. Who wants flowers when you're dead? Nobody. - The Catcher in the Rye, 1945

Since it's been raining the past few days and for two days people will flock to the cemeteries to bring flowers, this line from the JD Salinger book came into my blogging mind.

High end technology fashion

If you want to be hip and be a fashionista geek you gotta spend big bucks.

Louis Vuitton sells a $305 "international telephone case." Dior sells a $315 case for iPod Minis, as well as a $295 travel case for all of iPod's accessories.

Geesh, I can't even afford a new phone!

Link via Washington Post

Happy News

Browsing Cyber Journalist and I saw news item about a site that features good news. If you're tired of reading and seeing negative news why not try Happy News.com. This site brings all the good news. The positive ones. Finally a wesbite that lets us know all the good things that are happening ins tead of the bad ones.

If you want to start your day right....read some positive news.

Slippery opinion, it's the slippers stupid!

Oh man, here's a question. Why do people wear slippers inside the malls and practically eveywhere?

Ugh, I think it's stupid! Here's an observation. Some people are just so "Slippered!" Dunno if there's such a word but I've noticed everywhere I go, the malls especially, people everywhere are wearing damn slippers! I mean most girls I see wear them. Seems to be the trend right now. But sheehs, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing a damn slippers inside a mall! Christ! I mean, I see them girls, wearing good clothes then when it comes to the their feet, they're wearing spartan like slippers. Heck, it doesn't matter wether you're wearing Havaianas or whatever kind of flip flops it's still a damn fucking slippers! Hehehe. I don't mean to sound like some damn elitist( cos I'm not!). Ugh. People! Fashion emergency please! Read more?

Easy does it

Pride of the Philippines Manny Paquiao recorded TKO on the sixth round earlier (Saturday night, LA time). I was waching the fight and it was exciting although the news that he had won was broadcast by ANC prior to seeing the bout. Solar Sports aired it on delayed basis hence the news of "Pacman's" win had been announced already. I'm no boxing fan. I don' like the sport but it's cool when one of your own brings pride to the country

Btw, There were so many commercials of the broadcast that it was soo annoying!

Well, doggone me!

I'll be damned! A stuffed dog webcam!

New design to put something different on top of your PC/notebook. The Look 312P is in the shape of a stuffed animal but has all the features you normally find in a web cam. We put the web camera in the nose because we believe that “high technology” should be more than just a product. You still get the same results.

Arf arf!! Talk about voyerism! Yikes.

And to quote gizmodo... "pay no attention to the vast collection of plush stuffed dogs scattered around my apartment." He he.

No wonder I don't like dogs oh and stuffed toys. Ha ha ha. Btw, now you know why it's called stuffed toys! Nyahahaha.

Hooray For Andre

This good news from AP via yahoo.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Andre Agassi bounded onto the court with the joyful grin of a child, his eyes wide as he soaked in the adoring cheers of the U.S. Open crowd.

At 35, he is ageless, his tennis a timeless classic.

When the match finally ended at 1:09 Thursday morning, Arthur Ashe Stadium was still full and fans at home were mesmerized, knowing they'd been treated to something rare.

Andre Agassi won his match against James Blake at the US open. He still has the magic and just the sheer energy to come up with unbelievable shots and like everyone was cheering for him. Classic Andre. Vintage moves. Man, I hope he wins the open.

Cheese for President!

Cheese is the name politics is his game. Seeking the truth is his mission and people are supporting that vision! Ha ha. I'm soooooo "cheese..y." Hehe. What a speech, what a mind! Aye!

Eloquence of his speech last nigh at the congress just emphasized how smart he is. I'm talking about, Minority Floor Leader Francis "cheese" Escudero. He spoke with candor and passion and the truth about impeachment and the consequence for everyone involved. His speech done in Tagalog and English was just so stately, dignified. Firm yet ably understood in explaining to everyone, to the majority members of the house, why there's an impeachment. Why the need for it to proceed. Uhmm, cos Arroyo cheated.. that's why. But Minority failed to gather 79 signatures for the impeachment to proceed.

And as I blog right now, congress still in session this wee hours of the morning interpellating (?) Justice Committee report.

Reporters plea

Judith Miller, the NYT jailed reporter wants federal shield law for journalists.

Former Senator Bob Dole, who said he had visited Miller in jail, commented, "For the life of me, I don't know why she is there," he said. "She never published anything."

Most Powerful Richest Country Suffering

Just to see those images on the net, tv, different photo blogs of what's actually happening in New Orleans. Looting, rape, fire, explsions, lawlessness. Man, it's a terrible tragedy and just imagine it's in the US not Sri Lanka nor any other 3rd world country hit by tsunamis last year. And also, the Americans are now being called "refugees." right in their very own backyard.

They've been concerned with other nations but looks at the US now reduced to anarchy. Well, just in one state. NOT the whole country.

And with this horrible natural disaster, a lot of other major news in the world has been left back pages of the paper and broadcast. Iraq..well, not in the headlines anymore.

Hurricane news source via WashPost Yahoo news

US planes in Zamboanga

Here they come..hunting down the Abusayyaf!

US Globemaster military transport plane unload soldiers and equipment inside the tightly guarded Edwin Andrews Air Base (EAAB). The second plane was smaller and believed to have also come from the US Air Force.

Link via Sunstar

Edit-- Ugh. 6 comments came from a comment spam.. From now on comment verification is on!

People have no mercy..esp..looters!

Americans are experiencing their own kind of tsunami and it's disheartening to see the distraught faces of people affected by the hurricane. But what's sickening is to see some jack ass people taking advantage of others miseries and tragedies by looting and stealing other peoples belongings.

Right now New Orleans is a city gripped by chaos as looters ran wild, food and water supplies dwindled, and bodies floated in the flood waters.

Looters brazenly ripped open gates and ransacked stores for food, clothing, television sets, computers, jewelry and guns, often in full view of helpless law-enforcement officials. Dozens of carjackings, apparently by survivors desperate to escape, were reported, as were a number of shootings.

People are mad, people have nowhere to go, the streets flooded, no electricity,some lay dead on the streets... inside the hotels, underneath collapsed house. It's chaos.. and Those looters have no fucking mercy at all. How sad the situation is.

News source via NYT

Looks similar but it's not thesame

Hah. No doubt hurricane Katrina devastated Lousiana, New Orleans, Mississippi and Alabama and left utter destruction (duh!). I was gonna compare it to Asian tsunamis but after seeing quite bit of the news videos of the hurricane, I changed my mind. What happened here in Asia with the tsunamis back in December brought a much catastrophic effect to lives of people.

But tragedy is tragedy not matter which part of the world you are, people are the ones who suffer. Oh, and also the reporters. I noticed, watching CNN couple of their reporters were crying and voices breaking while trying t to report. Well, they're only human. Seeing utter loss of others can get to them and their emotions. Just like it gets to me.

By the way, here in the Philippines, we don't really have any hurricanes. The worst would be a storm signal number 4 (a sort of category 1 or 2 hurrincane, I think). We have severe flooding though because people dump trashes everywhere and loggers kill trees!

What exactly is an American Accent?

People who can't get a job of their choice mostly end up in "sunshine industry" meaning call center. Outsourcing has become the "in" thing for the past several years and working for a call center seems to be the option to take when one can't really find a work. It's a highpaying job which requires long hours of sitting infront of the computer and blah blah to whatever the customer needs. They said one has to have an "American accent" but what is exactly an "American accent?." I heard somebody talking and it is audible in my bionic ears but the person speaking was veryirritating and doing it a garbled messed up accent, I wonder how the hell could someone understand him? Cos I didn't.

"American accent" shouldn't be slang. Not all Americans speak with a twang. In each state, they talk and enunciate words different from that of another state.

Okay enough said. I'm just doing some blahgging time.

ABC News Anchor Peter Jennings passes away.

Peter Jennings died of lung cancer. From the New York Times ...

Mr. Jennings had disclosed that he was suffering from lung cancer on April 5, first in a written statement released by ABC and later that night on "World News Tonight," the evening news broadcast that he had led since September 1983. In brief remarks at the end of that night's program, Mr. Jennings, his voice scratchy, told viewers that he hoped to return to the anchor desk as his health and strength permitted. But he never did. As an anchor, Mr. Jennings presented himself as a worldly alternative to Mr. Brokaw's plain-spoken Midwestern manner and Mr. Rather's folksy, if at times offbeat, Southern charm. Read more about Peter Jennings death and his life via this NYTimes article

I remember how my mom (bless her soul) used to tell me that she had a crush (fondness I should say) on Peter Jennings and thinks that he's soo good looking. Yeah, hes's dapper and suave alright. Add to the fact he's one the best anchor and journalist. I remember watching a documentary special about Sarajevo(or Bosnia) after the war and genocide and it was one of the best I've seen.

Read tributes, remembrance and perspective

Finally, Deep Throat Revealed

No. 2 official at the FBI was Watergate's "Deep Throat" and that is former deputy FBI Director Mark Felt.

President Bush is anxious to learn more about deep Throat...err, the identity that is.

The Star Wars Experience

Wow. The galaxy far far away left me wanting more of the same. Watched Star Wars Episode III earlier in the wee hours of the morning. All the screening times were full last night so had to watch the 12:45 instead. There was even a 1:120 a.m as well just to acommodate the many who weren't able to reserved a ticket because cos the seatings were all full. Left past 3 in the morning wanting a lightsaber sword. I loved the movie. Light saber battles and galaxy shots were all fantastic. The reviews were right, this Star Wars probably the best of them all. I guess. I can't remember the previous ones though so maybe that's why. I wanna see the movie again.

Btw, I still dunno what Sith is..maybe the Chancellor. Hehe.

Thumbs Up (reviews) For The Galaxy Far Far Away

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith got a very good review from NYTimes.

"Revenge of the Sith," which had its premiere here yesterday at the Cannes International Film Festival, ranks with The Empire Strikes Back (1980) as the richest and most challenging movie in the cycle.

Anyway, nobody ever went to a "Star Wars" picture for the acting. Even as he has pushed back into the Jedi past, Mr. Lucas has been inventing the cinematic future, and the sheer beauty, energy and visual coherence of "Revenge of the Sith" is nothing short of breathtaking. Some of the most arresting moments are among the quietest - an evening at home with the Skywalkers, for example, as they brood and argue in their spacious penthouse overlooking a city skyline set aglow by the rays of the setting sun, or a descent into the steep, terraced jungle landscape of the Wookiee planet. Read more

The Washington Post Review: Sith: A Promise Fulfilled, echoes the same sentiments as well.

I'm hoping to see the film this weekend. Opening day tomorrow or tonight. I'm not sure but it's this week. Hmm, I wonder are the Siths. I wanna know. Yeah, gotta watch the movie.

Surviving Idol

I''m watching the American Idol now I don't really care who wins but maybe I'll root for Carrie or Vonzell or Bo. Waah! no Constantine!

Newsweeek Apologizes

If you erred, you must acknowledge.

Newsweek magazine has apologized for errors in a story alleging that interrogators at the U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay desecrated the Quran

Newsweek Washington Bureau Chief Daniel Klaidman said the magazine believes it erred in reporting the allegation that a prison guard tried to flush the Koran down a toilet and that military investigators had confirmed the accusation.

When reporting, gotta checked re checked and checked again. I'd be outrage too if I hear or read about somebody flushing a Bible down the toilet. Not that I read the Bible everyday just that I'm a Catholic and no one should desecrate my religion by flushing something that symbolizes faith.

Converting to Wordpress

I downloaded the zip file already and I'm having hard time! I'm trying to and would like to import files from blogger into Wordpress and I can't seem to get it. It sucks. Well alright, I do get it. I gotta have a server and the rest is easy. Bah! Somebody host me! err, my site

The Most Dangerous Places

The countries listed have several things in common. War or civil strife has shredded their economies, their police forces are corrupt or non-existent and some even harbor elements of terrorist regimes such as Al Qaeda or the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. According to Stratton, "the most dangerous environments are found in failed states where there has been a total or partial breakdown in governance and, therefore, in law and order. Criminals and terrorists can operate with virtual impunity, and the state affords no protection to Western companies and their personnel.

Most dangerous destinations for travellers (Employees of high-profile companies in the security-consulting or defense sectors expect to put their lives at risk on a regular basis).

My Country not part of it! (Thank God). But the thing is, Philippines most dangerous country for journalist. Not good at all for country's image. Just recently journalist Klein Cantoneros was gunned down

It's tough to be in place (plague with war and terror[ist]) doing business or just trying to earn your keep because your life could end by just trigger of a gun or worse a rocket propelled grenade.

Shattered Lies

Just finished watching the film Shattered Glass and I enjoyed the movie. (yeah, after two years they finally showed it here in the Philippines). The film is based on the life Stephen Glass (played by Hayden Christensen) and his fabricated articles for The New Republic .

I somehow could relate to the office politics and the everyday going ons of running a newspaper. Not that I'm working for one but that my mom had been a journalist and in the media even before I was born. During the many years o of her career as a columnist/reporter and eventually becoming editor, I've seen some dirty politicking by the company she worked for and the people appointed by the government (newspaper was a sequestered one). My mom stayed true loyal until office politics drove her out of her position. She's one of the best well respected by her peers in the media business. Greed and jealousy by some of the higher ups in the paper she worked pushed her out of her job but she recovered and eventually worked for one of the Metro's popular broadsheet until her death

But anyway, read more about the work(fabricated ones..or most of it) by former New Republic associate editor Stephen Glass

http://www.rickmcginnis.com/articles/Glassindex.htm

Hello? Your Phone is Calling your Car!

Hop in your car, turn the key and your phone book stares up at you from the liquid crystal display screen in your dashboard. Scroll through a list of missed calls or recently dialed numbers. Find the name you're looking for, press a button and the call rings through the car's sound system, all while your phone remains untouched in your jacket pocket. At the moment, you can find it only in 2005 Audi A6 and A8 models, and only if you use certain phones, including Palm One's popular Treo 650 P.D.A. phone.

Link via NYTimes Tech page (reg req'd)

Nice technology..if you're rich, lazy or forgetful :0) Oh and I don't have the car nor the phone.

Fingering the lazy male

A Spanish designer has come up with what could be the perfect solution for the woman who feels frustrated that she has to do all the house chores.

It is a washing machine called "Your Turn", which will not let the same person use it twice in a row. It uses fingerprint recognition technology to ensure the job of loading is not dumped on just one individual. "It's an invention that has a philosophy behind it and I hope both women and men will think it's time for the men to do more around the house." Your Turn requires both partners to register their fingerprints on the sensor while it is hooked up to their home computer. When the sensor is then plugged into the washing machine, the software will only allow the wash programme to start if a different finger is placed on it each time.

Link via BBC News

I didn't ask, but thanks

I received a Flickr Pro Account from contact Mark Adams. Now I feel as if I'm obliged to post more. Heck, if it's only cos he wants me to post some more (decent!) photos then why the hell not.

Blahgging in a foul mood!

Yeah you can bet your bottom dollar on it! Vexing again because of an ever changing mood swings and I'm trying to blot it out of my system so here I am blogging about nothing. Music always cheers me up so I'm gonna listen to the sounds I downloaded. Yeah, The Remedy!

Author Mitch Albom, disciplined

Several days ago I blogged about Mitch Albom's Flap and it looks like disciplinary action has been taken against five employees, including Mitch Albom, for their roles in putting Albom's April 3 coulnm into the paper

Link via Romenesko

New Pope for us Catholics

The announcement was made official the other day that German born Cardinal has been elected as the one who will lead the almost one billion Catholics worldwide. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI will be installed formally and have mass mass this Sunday.

How exciting to witness the great announcement. Well, even though it was just through television screen. Basing from the news, it seemed like Pope Benedict will continue what the late Pope John Paul started- Catholic doctrines of no divorce, no to abortion, no to gays and same sex marriage.

While majority are celebrating, the Gays and AIDS activist dismayed about the choice because he is likely to be even more rigid than his predecessor, the late John Paul II, on questions regarding the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS gay rights activists said.

Text messages as evidence in court

SMS admissible says the Supreme Court (here in the Philippines).

A saved text message from a Court of Appeals (CA) employee trying to extort P1 million from a litigant proved to be the court worker's undoing.

In deciding the case of indicted CA employee Elvira Cruz-Apao, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that under the present rules on electronic evidence, the short-messaging system (SMS) or text message sent by the latter to her intended victim is sufficient evidence, which corroborates the other proof held by law enforcers against her.

text messages were properly admitted by the committee since the same are now covered by Section 1(k), Rule 2 of the Rules on Electronic Evidence which provides: "Ephemeral electronic communication" refers to telephone conversations, text messages and other electronic forms of communication the evidence of which is not recorded or retained."

"We have no doubt as to the probative value of the text messages as evidence in determining the guilt or lack thereof of respondent in this case," the SC said. Read full news article via Sunstar Online

Crossing the threshold of Pope

PopeJohn Paul II is now in near death as he lies in his Vatican place with shallow breathing. All the faithful could do now is to just wish him a good trip in heaven. He has served all Catholics with passion, pride, with love for all even those who belongged to different sects. He one of the most influential and revered person the world has known and now Many are weeping for what might be the inevitable.

There is sadness all over the world at the news of his grave ill condition. I for one share the feelings of many. He is and will always be the most beloved pope of all time.

"Pacman's" revenge next time around!

It's been almost days now since Manny Paquiao lost his bout with Eric Morales and still people here in the Philippines are still talking about it. Maybe it was fixed. Who knows really but the thing is I guess if, he, Manny really wanted to, he could've KO'd his opponent. But speculations still on what really happened still going the rounds of manila streets and coffee shops and afficionados.

Anyway, there will be a nex time and by then... he'll win!

Journal entry: Free To Wear Sunscreen

Tomorrow will be Palm Sunday. Officially, the start of Jesus's cavalry to death and back again through resurrection. It also signals a long week of lenten season culminating into Easter Sunday. But with Filipinos along with observing the Holy Week, it's also long holiday, so to speak; Going to the beach, long road trips to the provinces, going out of country and other places bonds the family together and presents an opportunity to get out of the office and enjoy a long weekend but (knowing Filipinos) without negating their Catholic obligations to what Holyweek is really all about. Read more?

The poem Free To Wear Sunscreen they say was an internet chain letter and made to appear to be Kurt Vonnegut's work when infact with was a Chicago Tribune columnist's speech and part of a Baz Lurhmann movie/musical

Minty Chocolate Drink

Yummmy Chocolate Mint Milkshake! Hehe. I saw the recipe while checking out My Yahoo.

What you need to know when blogging

It's been there for some time now but here it is again. The Blogger's Code of Ethics courtesy of Cyber Journalist.

A BLOGGERS' CODE OF ETHICS
Be Honest and Fair
Bloggers should be honest and fair in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Bloggers should:
• Never plagiarize.
• Identify and link to sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
• Make certain that Weblog entries, quotations, headlines, photos and all other content do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.

First one is really important!

And again to the hospital he goes

For the second time in a row, the Pope was rushed to the hospital once more because of the recurrence of the flu.

The whole Catholic entity be filled with void if something grave were to happen to the Pope. For so long he's been at the helm of the Catholicism and morality. Of what is proper and what people of all walks of life need to do in order to be good in the eyes of God. Also he has gone through a lot and seen history made with different nations. Despite some not fully agreeing with his beliefs and teaching, sermons and rules (I think), he has done wonders for the whole Christian community. Get welll soon..again to the Pope

Get well soon Pope

Pope John Paul II was admitted to the hospital.

He's been battling with flu and I hope he recovers prettys soon.

Capturing the day the wave strucked

This is gruesome. But along with that, some heroes emerged saving lives.

Guilty Pleasures, sinful delights

Since I like eating junkfood and such. This site review and rates snack food/ junk foods. Chocolate bars and chips and all the fattening things you can chew one and enjoy. Right now I think I'm craving for something like Aero Mint Bar from nestle and the Reese's milk chocolate dipped cookies. These fattening delicious junkies making me salivate.. Hehehe. I wanna have some too!

Wild, wicked and wanton

I'm cold. This weather we're having right now seems to make my skin all tingly. Normally December up to February would be cold months. I dunno if it's just me or the weather actually. I suppose it's partly due my red hell days and tummy aches. It makes me want to get away from anything that emits cold air. Talk about weirdness! Haha. Read all

The world's richest man speaks out.

Bills Gates granted interview to one of my favorite tech blogs Gizmodo

And from CNET news a perspective of a more kinder, gentler media friendly Bill Gates.

Throughout the '90s--when tech was booming and tech CEOs lined up to wax eloquent about their latest business plans or products and to jab the competition. It was fun to listen. Ellison talked up the Network Computer, Schmidtmapped out his plan to turn around Novell, and Bezos stressed "get big fast." Jobs was a magazine cover boy. Gates, meanwhile, struggled to define his image and endured pies in the face when he showed up in public. While the media was making celebrities out of dot.com CEOs and other "Davids," Goliath Microsoft was portrayed as the "evil empire" and out of touch. Read more

The tech news seems to be all about Firefox, Apple, browser wars and others. At least a Bill Gates interview is different one.

An "Apple" for the Poor!

Apple unveiling cheaper products at the Macworld Expo.

For those seeking to have one but cannot afford. Gee, how thoughtful! And I say that with a hint of sarcasm.

Apple Computer Inc. introduced a cut-rate computer the size of a paperback and a tiny iPod that starts at $99 but holds far fewer songs than the company's hard drive-based music players.

Ah, okay..it holds fewer songs! Like only 120 songs! The iPod shuffle lacks a display.Designed not to play songs purchased from online music stores that compete with Apple's iTunes.

And there's even mac budget desktop! Which I dunno what it can do because smaller than even some standalone external computer drives, they lack a monitor, mouse and keyboard. The 40-gigabyte Mac mini will cost $499, an 80-gigabyte model $599.

Great! cheaper apple, yeah! As if $499 is cheap! It's still big bucks! It lacks feature!...gah! Just buy the expensive ones bcause I know some people wouldn't mind spending if it has all the features and is much better.

The spread of web design influence

From Jefrrry Zeldman: Web design: A decade under the influence

If you're into web designing. Making layouts and such.

Hi tech new year gadgets

Ah, the wonders of technology even comes to clothing! Now you can have any images and convert it to embroidered patters. The Innov-is 4000D will do that for you. Heh. Homemakers out there will like the techie thing . Oh and Gizmodo says it's one "bad ass sewing machine." Hahaha. View product here.

And for gaming how about some Nintendogs. Lets see if it becomes a hit.

The curse of the new year. A Hollywood breakup!

I wasn't gonna blog about it but what the heck. Why not. We've been inundated with tsunami stories anyhow. And so....it's the end for Brad and Jen as they head to splitsville town. Awww. But putting my onw two cents worth of blogging thoughts. I think Gywneth and Brad was a better match and couple! Haha. Yeah I'm very showbiz you know!

Video blogging the tsunami disaster

The power of the internet and blogs proven again. Tsunami video blogs are a hit! Many of videos from the horrible tsunami disaster came from amatuers be it locals or tourists vacationing when disaster struck. ( many news organizations are now paying tons of dollars even for just a few minutes for their videos). It didn't matter if it were captured through cam phone either. It's been quite a success some you could watch for free but others do charge fo them now.

Web blogs and the bloggers proved that it's not just mainstream media who can offer many viewers information and videos and those wants to see for themselves what really transpired that awful day when wave of water crashed down and swallowed up many lives. Many Asian bloggers are recounting their tales nows and [video]Blogging about their ordeal.

This is funny

Better get the Portable Cellular Phone Booth invention for you rude folks out there. Ha! Who knows it just might be the latest gadget craze. It's too squared and bulky though. Yay. Haha.

Link through Gizmodo

On the brink of starvation, a 'Miracle' helicopter flew by

Link via Manila Times thru AFP it's the story of the 'Miracle' helicopter

I think it's good that that happened because most of the Aid Agencies are now in place in the most hardest hit nations and areas by the horrible tsunamis. Donations of money and from government, corpoeration and rich individuals are flowing but it's the logistics that bt the American that needed now. They're the onese whose got the capacity to bring in most of the relief goods with the use of their fleets, cargo planes, and soldiers to distribute immediate needs of the many victims most especially the basic needs such as clean drinking water and food and medicines and medical needs.

Philippines Included in Deadliest Places for Journalists

Still a look look back at 2004 as Iraq was named deadliest place in the world for journalists . Philippines along with India, Brazil, Mexico and Bangladesh.

There were about several journalist that were killed here. It has been deadly place especially in South of the country.

Freebies

I'm sleepy. I downloaded two more extensions for Firefox and signed up with Flickr. I'm blogging off.

Death toll rising

BBC: Tsunami toll 'to exceed 150,000

Hope it stops there cosit's just too much

In their opinion

Got this news link from Google news. Toronto star has been dissecting the Anatomy my of a Disaster. It's quite long and here's part of what they said Okay...

If you happened to be in Toronto — where it was seven seconds before 8 p.m. on Christmas night — that single, brief shiver along the planet's rigid skin was humanly imperceptible, just as it was to people in most parts of the globe.. Read more

Should've been detected

Git this new link from Google news. Toronto star has been dissecting the Anatomy my of a Disaster. It's quite long and here's part of what they said Okay...

If you happened to be in Toronto — where it was seven seconds before 8 p.m. on Christmas night — that single, brief shiver along the planet's rigid skin was humanly imperceptible, just as it was to people in most parts of the globe.. Read more

Philippine News of 2004

Well, we had Presidential election here but unlike in the U.S it took weeks and several hearings and arguments before Supreme Court declared President Arroyo the winner. But some say the late FPJ was cheated hence he lost the elections.

A spate of storms hit the country resulting death and destruction especially in the Quezon province area. Illegal logging is being blamed for contributiting to the deaths of so many. Fernando Poe Jr's sudden heart attack and passing away left a void in the movie industry here. His politcal allies saying the fight will go on.There was good news for us though. Manny Paquiao won a title bout. It was actually te night FPJ had an attack.

I wonder what 2005 headlines will be. Destabilization and coup rumors probably.

News That Made The Headlines Of 2004

Happy New year everyone and while it was a very sober welcoming celebration for 2005, here's a look back at some of the major news of 2004

• President Bush winning a re-election and convincingly too. Apparently there were more red states!
• Beslan Siege in Russia last September the killed hundreds of children and evoke emotions of hatred and anger for those terrorist who stormed the school that ended in bloody rescue.
• Madrid Train Bombing in the early part of the year that killed dozens.
• Iraq Bombings..on and on and on. Soldiers dying almost every week.
• Americans and other Nationalities being abducted and getting killed by radicals.
• Death of PLO leader Yasser Arafat. Left a vaccum of leadership in array.
• December Earthquake that triggered tsunamis all In most South Asian Countries. More than 100,00 deaths.
  

Other major grabbing news in field of Entertainment and Tech Industry

• Mel Gibson created a mega hit with his popular but very controversial movie The Passion Of The Christ. It made Mel go to the back though and count lots of money!
• Michael Moore--either you love him or you hate him. (I never liked the guy if you ask me) Got lambasted by Senator John McCain in the Republican Convention.
• LOTR geting most of the oscar trophies--it was expected

Technology

• Browser Wars! Mozilla Firefox trying to topple IE--succeding actually.
• Search Engine Wars! Yahoo, Microsoft and host wanting to offer stiff competition to leader of the pack Google.
• Cellphones with camera and video recorder, Digicams. PDA's a must have essentials.

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!