Susan Boyle Showed Us What Human Grace is All About

If you're a news junkie..pop culture or otherwise, chances are you've probably read or seen or heard about Susan Boyle. Already 50 million views on You Tube, she appeared in Britain's Got Talent and made everyone cry and take a long good look at themselves.

From BBC article .. (long one so click the link to read everything)

Last Saturday, viewers saw Boyle, with double chin, unkempt hair, frumpy appearance and eccentric demeanour, step onto the talent show stage and proclaim her dream of being a professional singer.

The judges rolled their eyes and the audience pulled incredulous faces. Onlookers, on set and at home, were rubbing their hands at the prospect of another hopeless, deluded loser being crushed by a withering Simon Cowell insult.

Then she opened her mouth and sang I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables.
Her voice confounded all expectations - the judges' eyes bulged, the crowd went wild and Boyle became an instant star.

Boyle has shattered prejudices about the connection between age, appearance and talent. She has proved that you don't have to be young and glamorous to be talented, and recognised as such

Lisa Schwarzbaum, writer for US celebrity magazine Entertainment Weekly, said the performance was a powerful reality check.

She wrote: "In our pop-minded culture so slavishly obsessed with packaging - the right face, the right clothes, the right attitudes, the right Facebook posts - the unpackaged artistic power of the unstyled, un-hip, un-kissed Ms Boyle let me feel, for the duration of one blazing showstopping ballad, the meaning of human grace.

"She pierced my defences. She reordered the measure of beauty. And I had no idea until tears sprang how desperately I need that corrective."

It is such a fairytale story for a spinster who from the physical appearance outside one would never think that she she would have the beauty and grace from the inside. Her voice carried the inner beauty that the outside look belied.

This is the story where we should all just pause and think why we should never ever think that we are far more better than the others. That we look much superior, that we have that pretty face face, dressed in fancy clothes and no can make fun us. Susan Boyle showed us all that when you have that inner grace and beauty inside, it will show on the outside.

It's painful to lose a wife, it's harder to to lose a mother

Broadcaster Ted Failon's wife passed away at around 8:50 due gun shot wound in the head. The news said there signs of if improvement but she didn't make it. (abs cbn)

What I'm more concerned about is the effect on the younger child. It must be be very hard especially for a 12 year old to learn of what happened to her mom. At a time like this, it's important that she gets surrounded by family and relatives.

This is what they say about Twitter....

Twitter helps you become a better writer. Oh kay. You'd have to be precise because you only have 140 characters or less to tweet. But isn't that the same as sending a text message? (texting doesn't help you become a good writer) or am I wrong? Probably depends on what kind of cell phone you're using. Anyway, I do have twitter. I'm never too wordy. Hehe I am concise and I can get across the blahs I need to in 140 characters or less. Hah!

For longer sentiments, I use WP and this blog and CDX. Lemme tweet now. Ha ha

Whatever comes to mind

I have no idea what Toxic Assets means. I'm not miss- know it- all. I do know the world is feeling the economic crisis. Hell, my pocket feels it too and so I gotta save.

Crap. I want the 70 pesos Halo-Halo. He he.

A Rapist Should Never Get Out of Jail!

Oh no! I just a heard a news from the telly that Romeo Jalosjos maybe release tomorrow! I think I mentioned during my previous entry that rapist, molestors, pedophiles should be forever lock up. If he did it once, 99.9 % he'll do it again! What the hell is happening to justice and principles and convictions?!

Subic Rape Victim Retracts Testimonies Against US Marine

Update: Daniel Smith acquitted by CA. News via INQ.

Looking back I would not have agreed to talk with him and dance with him no less than three times if I did not enjoy his company or what at least attracted me to him since I met him for the first time on the dance floor."

With this statement, "Nicole," the Filipina who caused the conviction of a US serviceman in 2006, changed her testimony against Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, hinting that she was not raped by the American.

You can read more from GMA News and see the pieces of her sworn statement retracting her testimonies that Daniel Smith raped her.

She fooled herself and the people who rallied to her cause!

I somehow knew that this was gonna happen. As early as the beginning of the trial, somewhere at the back of mind, the "victim"would someday recant everything that she had accused Lance Corporal Daniel Smith of raping her.

When I blogged about the court's decision (4 accused, 3 were aquitted while main suspect Smith was sentenced) I said that she looks like she could care less about the decision. And she was insincere and phony for saying a lot of things but then going to the jail to visit Smith because she of felt sorry for him.

According to the mom, Nicole left to start a new life and leave everything behind. And this I found ironic.. ..she left for the US! And there was 2 years ago accusing 4 US servicemen of trying to rape her! How was she able to get a visa? Man, that's puzzling.

According to Justice Gonzales “If she just went to Italy may be that would be more illustrative of her feelings against the US. But she did not go to Italy." I don't like that old fart but I will agree with him just this once on the victim going to the US.

Rape is a serious charge. To be raped is traumatic and one should never ever go through that and the derange perverts, rapist, molestors, pedophiles who commits sick acts should be put away for good! However to accused somebody of rape then lie about it, is just as worse. Imagine, somebody accusing you of something you didn't even do?

This from my 2006 blog when an AP correspondent interviewed him.

"I think it's horrible what I've been accused of"

"This place has taken a year off of my life that I can never get back and I just hope the lies will stop and the people will start to see the truth,"

"My career and my life in general has come to a screeching halt,"

"Even if there was an attempt to settle, I wouldn't want to because this is my life here and I'm being accused of what I feel is the worst thing anybody can be accused of," he said, reacting to allegations by the complainant's mother that prosecutors tried to talk her into agreeing to a settlement. "I would like my name to be cleared," Smith said (link)

And this from the statement of the Victim..retracting

.... "However…I can’t help but entertain doubts on whether the sequence of events in Subic last November of 2005 really occurred the way the court found them to have happened," she said.

She said that she was continuously being bothered by her conscience.

Yay! And so she left for US!

Imagine that. It's kinda like people rallying against the VFA but then maybe finding out that some of those who are demonstrating have US visas or wanting to visit the US.

One can only shake at people convictions and principles.

View more blog related posts:
He said, she said (article and interview)
Accused Marine Daniel Smith speaks out (AP interview)
Interview with the accused (Chad Carpentier)
Subic rape case: four u.s marines charged with rape
Subic rape case may not be a case after all
Military tales, Military woes

The whinings of getting the cold shoulder treatment

I guess all the tartness and money in world cannot get you to meet Thom nor demand to even hang out with the band.

Miley Cyrus wanted to see Radiohead back at the Grammy awards last month but of course.. she was turned down by the band. Snubbed.

I have this smirking laugh right now. Couldn't help it. Heh.

Cyrus promised to “ruin” Radiohead after being snubbed by the band backstage at the Grammys, Interview of Thom Yorke, offer some insight as to why the band would never want to encounter the Disney star. Link via Rolling Stone (click to read full article and see the other video interviews)

More...

So what was Radiohead’s response when offered the chance to meet Miley Cyrus? “We don’t really do that,” the band’s reps told Miley’s manager. From what we know, Yorke is a notoriously shy guy who probably wasn’t in the mood to hang out with a chirpy star-struck teenager who has probably never heard Hail to the Thief, discussing unicorns and Nick Jonas in the hours before his band was set to perform at their very first American awards show. Plus, Yorke had already snubbed Kanye West, so there was no way Miley Cyrus was going to get a meet-and-greet. Read full article again via Rolling Stone..and there is a video of the the tweeny star telling all about the snubbing.

Honestly, I'm thinking... why would Thom Yorke and Company would want to meet her (and even Kanye West for that matter) anyway? He's known to snub other fan celebrities.

The loss of a child is very tragic

Be it a child or many school kids like whats happened in Beslan.. it's gonna be very very sad event. Watching the new and and hearing how 10 year old grade school pupil of Ateneo was hit by moving and died was just painful. No words can comfort sorrow that parents must be feeling as the sudden loss of child. There's shock and hurt and then anger. You will numdb and then questions... why? It's a pity, th whole situation. It's sad for the vicitim's family.. the pain they much be going through losing a their 10 year old boy... but at the same time, I also feel pity for the other side. Pity because.. no mother would ever ever ever try to "kill a child" except maybe if woman is disturbed or an addict or a drunkard. I don't know. The suspect is a mother who also has a son studying in the same schoool. That boywould feel condemnation because he is son of the suspect. It's a a pity for the mom... it's tragedy and pain and sorrow to for the victim. Everybody's suffering.

Prayers are the best answers for guidance, for loss and for the sufferings.

Couch Potato News

In the year 2000....Conan 0' Brien's bid adieu to his show after 16 years. What I'll remember most about his show are never been seen and done sketches (think moving lips and stuff), triumph the insult dog, those bands which we rarely get to see perform... and of course his brand of humor.. self- deprecating one at that. He's going to take over the show which Jay Leno bids farewell too as he will have a new prime time talk show as well,. Basically, Conan still will be second fiddle. Heh

In the year 2000.. it's The Tonight Show with Conan O' Brien...featuring Triumph the insult dog.

Blah blah for tonight

Switched from Outlook to Lotus . I don't like it. Maybe I'm just so used to the old one.

I went on a mini food trip earlier. Bought dulce de leche and minty chocolate gelato from Amici then went to Icings and ate shrimps and sausage pasta with matching Pandan drink. No wonder I'm feeling kinda blimp the rest of of the night. I was trying to be frugal and save money but.. appetite won.

Of Netbooks, Windows 7, IE 8 and others

I'm turning geeky right now. Seriously, I've got too many tabs open with all geeky websites to view their geeky products and absorbing latest gadgets and innovations. This year is the year of smaller laptop. If you're wondering what a Netbook is obviously, it's a scale down version of a laptop. Whatever you call them, they're economical and easy on the budget. Asus probably started it all having that EEE pc. I did say economical, right? .not really just look at price of P series. What's economical about that? Majority are.. of course.


Since I'm still on budget constraint and saving for either x300 or the Mac Book Pro, I've decided I will get me a Netbook for now. I like it! I'm thinking of the Lenovo Ideapad or the the Vaio from Sony. I've been reading the reviews from different sites about the hottest Net books and which would be worth all that hard earned saving I'm gonna spend.

Cnet: HP mini 2140, Sony Series P series, Samsung NC10, HP Mini 1000, Asus N10 J-AI)
Fox tech: Dell Inspiron Mini 9, Asus Eee Pc 900, Lenovo Ideapad s10, MSI Megabook U10)

Best at CES 09 and Gizmodo.

I don't know what to pick. My budget will know though. Ha ha. I went to Sony Square and damn, I love that P series. It's by order basis though. There's a 65,000 pesos ($1400) and ($960) 45,000 pesos. Yikes. I'd just as well buy a MacBook pro.

Well If I'm to get a Netbook... it has to have the new Windows 7 but Windows has so many versions: Starter Edition, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate.

I think for the Netbook it's the starter edition. Arg. I can only blog..no bucks yet to buy any...unless somebody out there wants to give me any I've mentioned here. Heh.

I Dreamnt of Anderson Cooper, haha

I fell asleep last night. Just a quick nap actually and boy, did I had the weirdest dream! Not sure what to make of it. Of all people, why him? Ha ha. I mean, not that it's bad or anything but why can't it be somebody like Jon Hamm!

But Anderson Cooper? He's cool. Mr 360 guy. I have no idea why he was in my dream. In the scene he was like this hotshot guy or the boss and we were working together.. not sure what kind of work. It was break time and coming back from somewhere or going to the pantry or something, we bumped in to each other and kidded around and he lifted me up and I was squeaking, giggling and stuff. Weirdness! and then we sorta hang around and ate snack and we were like comfy with each other he had his arms around me..people kept giving this knowing look. I think He he likes me. Ha ha! then we had to go back to work and then hazy stuff then I woke up. Jeez! I wonder what it means.

I just find it weird. Funny. Sweet and just..silly. I hardly even watch his show on CNN. Well, at least it's not Larry King. The horrors! Ha ha. That'll creep me out!

Brings me to a halt

Last night and for the nth time already, I watched again my favorite movie.

"When I get home and people ask me,'Hey, Hoot, why do you do it, man? What are you? Some kind of war junkie? I won't say a goddamn word. Why? They won't understand. They won't understand why we do it. They won't understand that it's about the men next to you. And that's it. That's all it is" ~Hoot

"No one gets left behind, you know that" ~ Struecker

"I was talking to Blackburn the other day and he asked me what changed, why we are going home, and I said nothing. That's not true ya know, I think every things changed. I know I changed. Ya know a friend of mine asked me before I got here, when we were all shipping out, he asked me why are you going to fight somebody else's war? What, do ya all think your all heroes? I didn't know what to say at the time, but if he asked me again I'd say no. I'd say there's no way in hell. Nobody asks to be a hero, just sometimes turn out that way. I am gonna talk to your ma and pa when I get home ok?" ~Sgt Matt Eversmann

As always, Let There Be Peace On Earth

Happy New Year all you folks out there! It's only the first day of of the year and already peace has been shattered.

Fireworks over now but I guess not in Gaza as Israel continues to wipe out Hamas.If you fire rockets at Israel, you pay the price. News via AP/Yahoo

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It's Jan 1 and I know it's holiday but. I should have gone to serve the monkeyroos but I didn't so now I need to produce a piece of paper. Argh!

Rainy Day Blues Before New Year

It's raining right now and I have headache. Not really doing much just watching some anime show and munching junk food. My tummy hurts.I feel dull, despondent and just damn lazy right now.

Blah..gging my shopping

I went to the mall to look for presents to buy. I wasn't in the mood to fight my way with so many people in Greenhills so I ended up going to Rockwell instead. At least inside Power Plant, I didn't have to jock for position with so many people. I was able to shop for myself. I was frugal for the most part though. Really.

Kinda sleepy now. I'm trying to re code my journal page from CDX cos my xhtml strict 1.0 got messed up. I'm still not done. At least I still have my Word Press. Yay. So I got two online journal and this blog...plus my Twitter. Now you know what I do online. Wait, I have my Flickr too. He he.

The Act of Being a Jounalist

I don't think throwing shoes at the Bush accomplished anything. Well, except for laughter, viral videos, online games, online popularity. So where's the accomplishment in throwing shoes? None.
Sad thing is.. he's a Journalist. Yikes.

If you really wanted to be heard and need to express you outburst against US presence in Iraq, throwing shoes, doesn't really help. Do your job and be nosy and ask hard tough question that would've made the President respond. Instead we're treated to a shoe throwing tantrum. To be a Journalist and do that says a lot about standards of being in the media and how you are as a someone trying to shed light on something or making other see what the real problem is. And isn't it that if you report something you should set a aside feelings because you wouldn't be able to put anything in perspective. Lest you be biased. I'm not sure if I'm right or wrong..but to each his own. I don't think the Journalist should be hailed as a hero. He expressed his feelings, but throwing shoes? In hindsight, sure it's funny, but it's crude to say the least. Missed that target too.

I'm laughing. The whole incident is a laugh trip.

I mean, if the shoes don't' struck, try again. Indeed. Boy, that scene played over and over with the many cable news out there. Blogged about and of course triggering may shoes jokes and what not. Oh yeah, what a day for comedians! Tons of punchlines for them.

No need for Sole...er, soul searching. Freedom is alive! Talk about freedom!

"This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the farewell kiss, you dog!"

That's whats Iraqi Journalist, Muntazer al-Zaidi said while hurdling the shoes at the President.

When Saddam ruled Iraq nobody could even utter a word, nor write, nor do anything against him ('else they'd be tortured 0r worse.. killed), standing up for their beliefs and what they're fighting for. With the show throwing incident, it's just goes to show how freedom has come a long way. In that sense, the US and Bush can take credit for bringing back that liberty to be able to expressed opinions, albeit by throwing shoes.


Newslinks :AFP SF Chronicle DFP GlobeandMail

Pacman Outwit, Outplayed, Outboxed the Golddenboy

Yes! The whole of the archipelago stood still as our man the 'Pacman' outwit, outplayed and outboxed the rusty old 'Goldenboy.'

Woohooo! Manny Pacquiao beat Oscar De La Hoya! So that's what I did over the weekend. I watched. It was sucky though cos they showed it on a delayed telecast and by the time the the fight was to begin, I already knew the result. But I still watched the whole eight rounds just to see how 'Pacman' finished off his opponent. Hooray to the Pacman.

Eh...ha ha! pa cheeseburger ka naman!

News link via Yahoo sports

And So I'm Blah..gging

It's boring now and has been for sometime. The novelty of blogging wore off. Late 90's, early 2000 probably up to 2006 blogging (even having online journal as I have several as well..besides this blog) was the phenomenon that it had become. But now it seems everyone has to have one. Even those social networking sites joined in proliferation of online display of emotions. I used to blog everyday and do my online journal...but now, I guess I don't have much to say anymore. Well, I actually do as I like to write and I gotta have a site to dump my thoughts.

I have to agree with this article from wired

Writing a weblog today isn't the bright idea it was four years ago. The blogosphere, once a freshwater oasis of folksy self-expression and clever thought, has been flooded by a tsunami of paid bilge. Cut-rate journalists and underground marketing campaigns now drown out the authentic voices of amateur wordsmiths. It's almost impossible to get noticed, except by hecklers. And why bother? The time it takes to craft sharp, witty blog prose is better spent expressing yourself on Flickr, Facebook, or Twitter.

I used to blog about things that really requires something witty or something that has to do with current state of social existence. This is more like musings with relevance or lack thereof whereas my online journal...tends to be more of an ebonics of nonsense blahs. I'm crazy. I'm bored. I hardly say anything anymore...unlike before.

I bet if I were in tweendom land, I'd probably enjoy blah-gging (like I used to before). I still enjoy doing so but not as often.
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Obama won the US election. Like Filipinos cares! Well, maybe those who are from Hawaii since there are lots of them out there. We're gonna have our own election in the year 2010...now that's worth caring! 10 years of Arroyo is enough. Change we need..as Obama keeps mentioning.

Not again!

Its like flashback a year ago to Carnoustie, in contention to win first Major of his career and then snap! a swing a hit (on the pin) and missed hole. Just like last year, I stayed all night (2:30 a.m. till 8 am) just to watch and see Sergio try and and win his first Major but alas, an Irishman, Padraig Harrington beat him. I was riveted to the screen. I'm like so damn cheering on Sergio... shot for shot for shot he and Padraig were battling for the hole until an unfortunate swing by the the Spaniard on the 17th landed in the water and had to take a relief (I think) and then to the 18th bunker shot..and he makes it on to the green but couldn't save the par. I knew it. He loses the chance to lift trophy. Pity.

The grass is green he didn't win. Poor Sergio. He loses but shook hands with the champ, deep inside you know he feels bad. He keeps insisting that he isn't He's not gonna admit it though. I mean, the more the press keeps on harping about how he's so close to winning and then choked and all that in your face questions, the more he gets curt. Of course he's disappointed.

I am too. I probably should've slept and just watched the replay but I stayed the whole wee hours of morning only to see and feel for Sergio.

newslinks yahoo/AP golf.com travelgolf worldgolf

I remember back in 99 feeling thesame for Jean Van de Velde. Who could forget that? he choked, losing a play off or something. Collapsing so to speak at the British Open. It was like the saddest day. I swear. You couldn't help sniffle a tear or two.

Well, Sergio (a teen back then) cried actually..well, because he missed the cut. But it's also the year he was like running and jumping and chasing Tiger Woods with a all enthusiasm of young boy during the PGA Championship.

Anyway, a bottle of Corona to console Sergio while Padraig have Guinness to toast.

But I'd rather have these...

I'm thinking..if I were given a choice between cellphone or a D300 hands down I'd choose D300! Although they're different gadgets cos the latter is purely DSLR camera, I figured I could always get a cellphone and it doesn't have to be overrated one. But the camera...man, it's more expensive. If not that, perhaps I'd choose... maybe an X300 or Macbook Pro not MBA. =D

Btw, there is a D700 coming very soon as well.

Links and photos: dcresource dpreview

One of these things is not like the other...

Cos I'm still awake and browsing and I'm thinking of getting a new cellphone. I've been saying that since last year but still haven't really bought anything. I don't think I'll get the S.E. (unless it's cheaper) but what the heck, I'll just blah blah blog.


Sony Ericsson 's C905 with 8.1 MP is coming very soon..like next month, I guess. Although if you go to the store, they already have the 5 MP model.

The camera in its slider body is indeed an 8.1-megapixel one, with xenon flash, auto-focus, face detection and image stabilization. The phone's also pretty full-featured, and is GPS-ready, with a 2.4-inch TFT screen and TV-out capability as we'd heard. So is it a camera with a bolt-on phone or the other way around?

Read more from Gizmodo and see all the full specs of the phone. He he. It's a Sony! Oh but Samsung is coming with an i850 8mp cam phone as well.

I like the MotoRCKR E8 though. I think it's because of the buttonless or haptic or whatever you call it thingie. Many were complaining that T-Mobile ruined it with software apps exlcusive to the cell. Well lucky us, we don't have that service here cos we only have Globe/TM and Smart and Sun.

Store here sell this phone for 14, 000- 15,000 pesos. I think. I think thinks cool except. I've never had Motorola Phone. Not sure if I want to. I kinda want to with this one.

And to complete the cell phone series, here's the latest from mobile leader Nokia.. the supernova 7610, 7510, 7310, and 7210 geared for women. Make me think of bubble gum. Shrugs.

For me though, I've said this a dozen times already that as long as I can call and send sms and save important messages, I'm cool with whatever model type of cellphones available.

I'm just doing this entry because.. I dunno. Nothing. eally. Everybody likes phones. Oops. I almost forgot about the iPhone 3G click the link (do'h) to see all the pics, reviews and apps.

Links and photos courtesy of Gizmodo

Chasing Liberty

Happy Independence Day to all you Americans out there. Bring out the food and light up the sky with fireworks.

So what is America? It's the Freedom and Democracy. The Declaration of Independence. The Bill of Rights; free to do anything without harming anyone or the society. To worship, to assemble, to protect one's self, free speech, freedom to write -you know what I mean. It is Bravery; men and women fighting battles overseas and sacrificing their lives to preserve independence and democracy of other nations.

For immigrants, to the overseas workers, the refugees and others... it's having the green bucks and embracing the culture and making a living out of Uncle Sam's Nation.

It is all that and much more but....it is has lost it's luster. The glimmer and the shine doesn't reflect the struggles most Americans has to deal with. Yes it is still the land of milk and honey, but Supreme court can curtail Bill of rights (can they?). Judges decide. I sometimes think they're more powerful than the President.

To the people outside of the US- those from the developing countries. America is and still will be the land of free and the home of the brave.

Seriously...

I could be wrong... but still, one down one to go. I blogged before how an American once said to me there will never really be a woman US leader nor an African American one. So will it be Mc Cain?

Not if Obama can help it. Perhaps a magic weapon? Oprah? VP? Uh... hah!

I wonder if Americans are excited about their elections. I read somewhere how the race has become a tad boring. Shrugs. So to spice it up I'm thinking wha if Oprah becomes Obama's VP? or The Terminator becomes McCain's VP. Sheesh. Hugo Chaves as the Villain overseas. Bin Laden as the man without the address. They have always been anyhow. And then only Jack Ryan or Jason Bourne can save the US from the evil empire. Maybe the Love Guru has something to say. Hehehee.

Fuck. Hahaha hollywood in Washington. And the the word serious (ness) will have a new meaning.

Yayz. People can and should definitely start singing God Bless America. He he.

Grey sky(e) morning....

It's early morning about past 3. Here comes typhoon Frank. Wind is gusting. Signal number 3 in Manila. Maybe the storm will hit later. Ugh. Floods the problem. Hope it doesn't rain too much. I think the wind is the problem as well.

Update later.

Hostile nature knows no mercy

First the cyclone in Myanmar and now mother earth got mad again as China was struck by a 7.8 magnitude and the toll of human tragedy from both disaster keeps on climbing up. Asia is suffering from too many deaths from these two natural disasters.

The irony of of course is that both countries are so aloof with the Western World. Myanmar should let it's guard down and accept the help that US is offering. Imagine to be able to give aid, they had to negotiate. Help! my Country got struck by disaster... oh wait a minute, we have to negotiate first for aid agencies to come in. Jesus Christ! You don't negotiate for help to victims of disasters. There's an immediate need. A sense of urgency.

Slothful day

Slutful? Heh.

Wasting away time staring and listening. Nothing is new. Well, there is..but it's still thesame. I'm holding on. Think I'll just do feeble shot at Limerick.

Skye is the lark unmask. Damming in vulgarity, Skye gasped. Oh thy brazen.
She starts moanin'. Oh yes, skye is damn fucken' wanting intellectual wanking.

Fuck. Ass attempt. The previous one was slightly better. A different style, that one. Nonsensical but better. Ha ha.

Death penalty for child rapist?

Link via Washington Post. Because Louisiana wants a review of the eight amendment.

There have been interpretations of society's "evolving standards of decency" to remove juvenile and mentally retarded killers from death row. In 1977 the court also concluded that a state could not execute a man who raped an adult woman. But on Wednesday the court will consider whether a person who rapes a child is different.

The state's Supreme Court held that children require special protection from society and that the "the degradation and devastation of child rape, and the permeation of harm resulting to victims of rape in this age category" justify the death penalty.

Read the whole article because it's interesting and I can't really articulate about the law. What do I know anyhow? I'm not American. I do wanna say something about the death penalty.

Here where I'm from, if you rape a child, I believe you deserve to die. Well, no matter where your from. No questions ask. I will [not] agree with death penalty. I'm half and half actually. But I'm pretty sure that raping a child is like killing a child. No mercy. One has to pay for committing a brutal crime.. If death penalty is the answer, then so be it. But if you let that animal rapist rot in jail and slowly watch him deteriorate forever is like killing him slowly. Death penalty all thesame.

Redux

My left arm is sore and I'm pissed. For the second day in a row, I lost my keys. The other day, I couldn't find my damn key chain. I have my house keys and of course the one for the locker and fuck, I must've have dropped them and sure enough, I went back inside the room and noticed it on to the table and I was damn relieved. Yesterday, same thing happened. I didn't even noticed keys were missing until I had to to go home. I'm racking up my brain as to where I might've dropped them or misplaced but I couldn't think and so I didn't stay long enough to search. I'm too damn irritated.

What Easter means

You know that lent is over when folks all over the world celebrate Easter. Well, if you're Catholic, that is. It is perhaps the most important holiday rather the Christmas. This is the day Christ has risen three days after being crucified, was buried and well, you know the rest. After 40 days of observing the Lenten season, we come to celebrate a most joyous occasion...the resurrection of Christ.

Here in the Philippines were almost all are Catholics, we have the traditional Salubong (where Mama Mary and Jesus Christ were reunited..through reenactment) which is probably happening right now(with almost all the churches doing the morning Easter Sunday ritual) as I'm blogging at this very moment.

Happy Easter everyone.

It's only funny when people laugh....

I guess. But nobody did...and so the repercussion.

The"Asians hate us" piece of student and opinion writer Max Karson for the CU campus press If it's war the Asians want.. it's war they'll get ignite furor among Asian Americans and spark protest within the CU community mainly because they say it's discriminating and stereotyping people from the Far East.

But c'mon, it''s a damn opinion of a student. It wasn't a serious take on racism because it did not tackle anything that's worth debating about. It's more like one of those thoughts that someone writes [publicly or not] through online journal or blog and rants whatever bugging the hell out that person when it comes to understanding cultural difference and diversity within the school community or just amongst peers. Reading the piece, it's like an attempt to be funny that didn't succeed. Lame parody, somehow.

Captured Asians will be dragged to my apartment on the Hill and hog-tied.

The Asians' reformation will begin with a 100-round beer pong tournament.

They will listen to "It's a Small World" on repeat while they play. When the tournament is finished, the Asians will then be forced to eat bad sushi from Hapa-with forks. When all the sushi is gone, they will be permitted to sleep for four hours, but the entire time I will shout through a megaphone, over and over, "Why didn't you make enough Wiis?!"

In the morning, the Asians will arrange themselves in rows, if they haven't naturally done so already. I will stand in front of them and hold up a card with the name of an emotion on it such as, "sad," or "surprised." The Asians must then make a facial expression to match the word on the card. Any Asian who remains deadpan or makes the wrong face will be tickled until they pee. When all Asians make the correct face at the same time, the game will end, but then they will be yelled at for being conformists.

The Asians will then be allowed to play "Dance Dance Revolution." However, the game will be rigged so that the Asians will receive no points, regardless of how robotically they dance.

Any Asian who tries to escape will be butterfly-netted and sent back to my apartment for another "Phase 2." Anyone caught speaking any language other than English will be kissed on the lips.

Once the Asian spirit has been broken, "Phase 3" will begin. Before we let the Asians go, we will go to their homes and redecorate them in a traditional American style. We will replace their rice cookers with George Foreman Grills, their green tea mochi with fried Snickers bars, and their rice rockets with Hummers. And booster seats.

When "Phase 3" is complete, the Asians will be released.

I actually felt that it's mostly directed towards the Japanese, Chinese and Koreans students. It's his opinions and whatever he wrote wasn't serious. Not good journalism if the opinions expressed is meant to initiate constructive approach to the problem of racism within the CU community. I don't know. Maybe there's an underlying tone to what he's trying to say. The Editor-in-chief at fault somehow for not checking enough the article before they published it. Author of the opinion column has been suspended though.

Maybe he should have just ranted his opinions via personal blog. Ha.

News links-> Romenesko, Rocky Mountain News

LenovoX300 or MacBook Air?

Which would you pick? Here's the breakdown in comparison. Looks like LenovoX300 is winning.

The price is too way over the top though. Lenovo is about $3,000-full product- MBA, a little less..which roughly translate to more than 100,000 pesos to buy either of these two. Yayz.
By the way, my pick... the LenovoX300 or the MBA. I actually don't care. Heck, even the new Asus is okay.

News link -> AllthingsD Notebook Review

What public display of attention will get you

A YouTube hits of 15,0000 in just two days because some asshole employee of the subway decided to display it online for the world to see.

Chinese couple was caught kissing and hugging on a subway platform and was uploaded via You Tube and other sites. Next time that'll teach couples not to be overtly entwined and clingy to their partner(kissing too...yay) especially public places when you know there a close circuit camera around. There's nothing wrong with holding hands or an arm around the shoulder or a peck on cheeks but kissing ( passionately? liplocking? wonder what kind) is...well.. that's something else though. The couple is planning to sue whoever leaked the video. Rightly so, that's invasion of privacy.




Via yahoo news

Incestual twin attraction

How's this for a very rare occurrence... twins who fell in love and got married without knowing they were siblings. Yikes.

Both were separated at birth, adopted by different families and by leap of fate, they met and fell in love- and you know what happens when two people are attracted to each other. Besides the obvious. You're probably saying to yourself whaaaaat?!?! Yep it's true.

British court annulled the couple's union after they discovered their true relationship.

This story came about during a debate at the House of Lords about the Human Fertility and Embryology Bill in December when Liberal Democrat disclosed the case saying "They met later in life and felt an inevitable attraction, and the judge had to deal with the consequences of the marriage that they entered into and all the issues of their separation"

"And if you don't know you are biologically related to someone, you may become attracted to them and tragedies like this may occur."

Oh man and I'm thinking.. what about those physical moments? That's incest. I wonder how' they're feeling. Of course they have no clue as to their blood relations when they were probably doing the act of passion for each other. And now must be shuddering after finding out.

Yeah, me too. Icky.

But it's also sad for them in way because they fell in love, got married and now it's annulled and they must be separated again this time as husband and wife. I guess they could still love each other but only as siblings now and without the physical desires.

Definitely weird, this case of fraternal twins falling in love oblivious to the fact they're related. Whateverever happened to intution? Especially with twins at that. I bet now all those siblings (brothers and sisters) who were separated during the adoption process are now thinking that it could happen to them as well. Yay.

Well, it's a rare thing. Don't nag your partner about family history or something. Hehe.

My two cents worth of nothing

I have no idea what a Caucus is except it's something to do with the first step of choosing candidate to best represent the Democratic and Republican who will be selected to run against each other in the November US election for President. I don't really care, I'm not American. But somebody who is...once mentioned to me that he doesn't think there will ever be a black (okay.. African American) President nor a Woman who will lead the most powerful country.

So does it mean a Republican will rule the White House again? Hmmm. Heh.

Lethargic

It's past 1 in the morning. I don't even know why I'm doing this. I have nothing else to say. I was pissed earlier. That's about it. I have so much I want to say, but I can't think. I hardly ever say anything anyway. I am the type that usually sits on the back and let others do the conversation. Unless you talk to me, I won't talk to you. Antisocial. I'm the most boring person there is. I bore myself most times. Too bad I don't have vices. I don't drink and smoke. Nothing even carnal. I wish I could have intelligent conversation..even if it's nonsense..with somebody. Anybody. I can only count about two who are able to satiate burning desire for effortless talks, and witty banter. Sadly it's only here, there and nowhere to be found. There is a missing piece.

Well, I guess I had something say after all. Nothing substantial though.

The take over, the break 's over

Another failed coup happened last week. And you wanna know why it failed? First of all it happened on a Thursday morning. People are at work or at school. The public holiday isn't until the next day. It was gloomy. I mean who wants to march along Makati to oust the President while rain is pouring down. It wasn't heavy downpour but still. Thesame rebel (idealist?) soldiers who were charged with the Oakwood mutiny last 2003 were at the helm of the now failed coup attempt. They took over Manila Peninsula hotel for almost the whole day.

Corny. Trillianes gave up easily. Maybe knowing that there was not enough support? Perhaps, he wanted to save people from harms way while stupid government soldiers and police crash their way inside the Peninsula. Armored vehicle went through the big glass door and police started throwing teargas forcing the rebel soldiers to just give up. Click here for news source.

You have to feel sorry though and not for the rebel soldiers mind you, but the Peninsula who suffered the worst. Posh hotel getting trumped like that- well just the front and the lobby.

So now what? Maybe the mutineers ought to just wait for the next Presidential election...well, provided there's no martial law. That would be the day! I don't even wanna think what would happen. After the failed coup, there was curfew in effect from 12 mn up to 5. But what if that's not all.

Politics sucks.

Death through poverty

It's tragedy. A 12 year old girl committed suicide because of extreme poverty. The girl hanged herself and later on they found her diary where she poured out her feelings about being poor, having no money even for fare going to school and perhaps lack of things and food and other factor that eventually drove the girl to end her life.

Being poor really drives one to the brink of depression. One thinks a lot about how to survive. It is hard not having any means to support living conditions. I think this eventually contributed to the girl ending her life. I shouldn't be surprised about the news of a 12 year old committing suicide. I've read book and seen movies wherein children kill themselves. I don't know. It's just maybe I'm shocked or something.

Fuck. This is depressing blog. As always.

You have to think though, what is it the drives people to do things that normally they wouldn't do? Obviously something is not right. Something is not being fed to them. The equilibrium and the status quo between the poor and the rich shows a wide gap of social differences. While others are well-fed and well dressed with big houses and cars and money and time on their hands, the poor and the oppressed wallows in self pity. Wondering when will be the time when they can enjoy life as it is without having to worry about how they can get through for another day. The plight of the poor leaves them feeling like an outcast. Left to fend off for themselves to make ends meet. It can drive someone to have a very repelling and very tormenting and unsatisfactory condition of the brain. Which is why people will do things to be heard. To be given a chance to advocate changes and reform.

A man they say will do whatever it takes even take a life and kill and die for ones belief or what for he is fighting for. Some people are so damn well off that one can't help but feel a spasm of anger towards the disparity of living condition and the opulence of the rich and the scarcity of the poor. The basic necessity of person are food, clothes, and shelter and (of course to be with family) one's lucky if these needs are being met by small amount of what one earns. But what if one works hard? You toil, you trudge up and down on a mountain only to end up on a hill. Wearisome, hungry and all you could think about is propping up your feet and just surrounding ones self to the lap of luxuries. But sometimes, most times it's not to be. One shouldn't even wonder or even be shocked as to why people resort and choose to rebel against the very thing that is making life for them a living hell.

It's such a tedious process of toiling and plodding and not being rewarded or meted whatever's due to them. I think of myself as fortunate for despite my mom being terminated, booted off her job (because of office politics..when she was still alive), I still live comfortably. It's not like before though where I can asked for material and monetary needs and I can have whatever the hell I want. Oh sure I complain. I do a lot. Most times. I sometimes begrudge other people. I get envious if they can have this or that or buy things that normally I would be able to afford (when we still have the money before which we don't anymore). I'm such idiot though for what right do I have to complain about when I have roof and food and shelter and clothes and I even went to a private school. I shouldn't feel any malevolence but instead feel blessed. But what about the others? What about the grievances of majority of people?

One needs to abate poverty to do something to uplift whatever ails the common man. Henry George said, "Poverty is the openmouthed relentless hell which yawns beneath civilized society" and it is hell enough. So yes, got to do something about that. Money is not everything, one will say. It cannot buy you happiness but it sure as hell can make you feel comfortable and makes one's life easier (or not!). But at the end of the day after everything has been said and done all you would really want is to live simple comfortable way with your family.

Enough said. I have a feeling I'm gonna delete this blog entry.

So where do you belong?

The report by AP that ranks jobs by rate of depression is so damn reality.

Of course who wouldn't be depressed taking care of people you don't even know. Wiping their asses, bathing them just to earn a living.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- People who tend to the elderly, change diapers and serve up food and drinks have the highest rates of depression among U.S. workers.
Overall, 7 percent of full-time workers battled depression in the past year, according to a government report available Saturday.

Women were more likely than men to have had a major bout of depression, and younger workers had higher rates of depression than their older colleagues. Almost 11 percent of personal care workers -- which includes child care and helping the elderly and severely disabled with their daily needs -- reported depression lasting two weeks or longer.

Hmm, women are more likely to be depressed? I dunno. I always felt that it's the men who are more liable to to be depressed. Or maybe I'm just associating depression with them. But then again there are more women workers that have jobs as caregivers and nurses. I think. But you know, if you're serving the country and being dispatched to war torn countries, you're bound to have depression one way or the other-- being way from family and all that and then coming back after witnessing horrors of life as the job requires it.

Contiuning with the report.....

Workers who prepare and serve food -- cooks, bartenders, waiters and waitresses -- had the second highest rate of depression among full-time employees at 10.3 percent. In a tie for third were health care workers and social workers at 9.6 percent.

The lowest rate of depression, 4.3 percent, occurred in the job category that covers engineers, architects and surveyors.

Right. And the aforementioned men are the ones who are more in to those line of job. And here I am making a point somehow about men being more depressed.

Actually having no job is depressing unless of course you're skanky socialite. Shit. That's doubly depressing.

Wake up world leaders and help Myanmar!

C'mon it's about time!

If you people have been watching the news or reading blogs or whatever, you would know what's been happening in Burma- now known as Myanmar. Buddhist monks and other pro democracy demonstrators have been killed and hurt after the government crackdown on them.

Clouds of tear gas and smoke from fires hung over streets, and defiant protesters and even bystanders pelted police with bottles and rocks in some places. Onlookers helped monks escape arrest by bundling them into taxis and other vehicles and shouting "Go, go, go, run!

The government said one man was killed when police opened fire during the ninth consecutive day of demonstrations, but dissidents outside Myanmar reported receiving news of up to eight deaths.

Some reports said the dead included monks, who are widely revered in Myanmar, and the emergence of such martyr figures could stoke public anger against the regime and escalate the violence. Read more.

Here where I'm from where 60 percent are Catholics, if priests and nuns were to be killed and hurts during protest, you can bet there would be some kind of uprising to denounce such brutality.

So many world leaders gathering in New York for the U.N. general assembly, it's about time they condemn what's been happening in Myanmar and do something about it. Of course, issue of terrorism, Al Qaeda and Iraq and Iran and nuclear weapon and the Middle East and other pressing matters about world security would be the top priority and whatever else but hey, something radical and shit has been happening to those Buddhist and pro democracy people in Myanmar. Something needs to be done.

The leaders gathering in NY did say something...

The U.N. Security Council met in private to be briefed on developments, and issued a brief statement expressing concern about the violent response to demonstrations.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who was sending a special envoy to the region, urged the junta "to exercise utmost restraint toward the peaceful demonstrations taking place, as such action can only undermine the prospects for peace, prosperity and stability in Myanmar."

But c'mon there must be something else they can do beside words. How about action and help!

It's about time they do something as well to help Aung San Suu Kyi, the detained opposition leader. I mean she has been detained for as long as I can remember.

Yes, somehow

I was a bay tree
Quiet and unseen
I lived in stories but inside I kept a mystery
I was a starling
Nobody’s darling
Flying in perfect circles
Desperate company

And now I’m ready
And now I’m ready
And now I’m ready to be
Extraordinary

A midnight airplane
A window blowing
I know I am another sparkle in the sky
I shine on copper
Still undiscovered
But you must see me in the corner of your eye

And now I’m ready
And now I’m ready
And now I’m ready to be
Extraordinary

Waking up to wake up some day
I am my own prey
Stopping off at a sidewalk cafe
The wind is playing up in the trees
Kicking up confetti leaves
Sings as if it’s all to say

And now I’m ready
And now I’m ready
And now I’m ready to be
Extraordinary

I'm hardly anything..much less extraordinary. And yes, sometimes I patronize pop barrage in my ears.

Sinking in a vortex of oblivion..

Round and round I go and whatelse is there to say. A lot has change but everything still thesame. I don't get it either.

I miss my daily routine doing nothing but stare online and be cynical and sarcastic albeit in a nice way. Just imagine how I do it. Heh

So my life has been one big nothing and Im sinking. Luckily, I know how to swim. This is one crappy blog about nothing.

And the Blahg (still) goes on

About convicted U.S. Marine Daniel Smith... news is that he's in the hospital (either Asian Hospital, St. Lukes or Makati Med) for treament. Uhm, every one has the right to be treated if there's an ailment. Okay. Some folks are complaining. Geez!

Then there's the news about Slain US Peace corp volunteer Julia Campbell. She was killed in Ifugao while hiking alone. They say a wood carver man killed her while buying a refreshment in nearby store. She was possibly bludgeoned to death but she fought back. It's shame. I mean here is good person doing volunteer work in the country, helping poor people and children and Julia Campbell didn't deserved to be killed.

Related news: How did Julia die? , 18 pieces of evidence

Election time here in the country is just 3 weeks aways, as usual we're inundated with campaign crap and other shittiness and promises of everything and nothing. Ha!

And one last blogging bit...

Oh my. Looks like Scientists may have found a new earth like planet that is habitable by humans. Oh yeah, talk about 'Second Life' (maybe I can be Skyedagger- my second life ident), the planet is named 581 C ( sounds like hospital room. Heh) and here are some stats about the potentially new planet:

Five times heavier than Earth. Has a diameter about 1 1/2 times bigger than our planet. Star system is a mere 20.5 light years away, making Gliese 581 one of the 100 closest stars to Earth. Gravity is 1.6 times as strong as Earth's so a 150-pound person would feel like 240 pounds. Anyone sitting on the planet would get heavier quickly, and birthdays would add up fast since it orbits its star every 13 days. Read more.

Okay. I will end my blog here. Adios. And I wish I have a new computer. Anykind hearted people? Ack. Where's fairy godmother Oprah!? Heh.

Blogging off now.

Old lady punched by mugger, caught on video

Sheesh. Imagine attacking an 101 year old lady. How low and desperate can you be?! The old woman was punched three times, suffered fractured cheekbones and lost her $33 to the mugger. NYC police need to catch that scumbag and then have the old lady punch that asshole shithead! View story and video.

Putrid!

Damnit! I'm sleepy and I can't sleep!

WTF! My nostrils suffering the foul smelling odor wafting inside my room. It's making me crazy! Like I'm gagging here! I don't know where the bad odor is coming from but it smells like sewerage shit cologne!

Give decency to those who served

Hartford Courant editorial: Protecting military funerals (click to read in full)

People who lay their lives on the line or are killed while serving in the armed forces deserve dignified military burials; respect for such rituals is the least that is owed their grieving relatives and friends. But, sadly, even such basic rules of civil conduct are under siege.

Regardless of how one feels about God, gays or the war in Iraq, military services for the dead are inappropriate forums for protests. For those who refuse to acknowledge this basic tenet of decency, state Sen. Leonard Fasano, R-North Haven, has crafted legislation that would make it illegal to disrupt a military burial, funeral or memorial service.

Senate Bill 319, "An Act Concerning Disruption of a Military Funeral," is a good piece of legislation. It's clear and it's restrained.

A veteran or a soldier killed in wartime deserves the decency and respect of a dignified burial. Their survivors deserve whatever comforts such a service can provide.

Indeed it is good piece of legislation. Everybody has the right to protest and to be heard but please show some decency to the dead.

Oh but Jesus it's just documentary!

It's all theories.The Lost Tomb of Jesus looks like good informative t.v. special and that's all there is to it.

Jesus having son named Judah and Jesus being buried instead as opposed to what is written in bible. Oh please! It's documentary special. A show on t.v And as much as they people behind the show claims to have found the tomb of Jesus and that he had son named Judah-because they found writings on the tomb? C'mon. Jesus died, resurrected and ascended into heaven. That is how it was and will be. Saying otherwise will refute what's in the bible. It could also question faith in their religion. I don't necessary think that's the aim of the aim. Anyhow, I'm pretty sure religious scholars are skeptical about the tomb and everything else

Let the campaign begin, stop 'Pacman' from running

It's showtime. 'Tis the season to start campaining. Opposition wasted no time and toured Manila (GMA News)

Francis 'Chiz' Escudero gets my vote.

Election fever heating up the states and here in my county it's becoming raging bull of gimmicks, ads, attention grabbing posters and paid advertising of officials running for position to govern. Our national elections is just several months away (May 11) and we're voting for Senators and Congressmen and other local officials. I don't know if I'm gonna see candidates in their sorties and such, I hardly go out anyway. I don't think they will roam around and shake hands and kiss babies in a nice neighborhood. They always go to places where the masses are. However, I keep seeing t.v ads of candidates running mostly for Senators. Political ads proliferating the idiot box. Some are so corny. They, the candidates chose to air their few minutes of ads without much substance.....just stupid ass cornball music and crap.

The one from Ping Lacson was a bit alright. Something about H.O.P.E. I only saw once (earlier) I forgot what the campaign ad was all about. The rest was funny ha ha hah funny. I suspect I'll see more ads. 'Tis the season of election.

Gah. My mind ain't working right now. I must be sleepy. It's early morning.

So Manny Paquiao is really running for.... ah, shit. I forgot what he's running for. Congressman. I think. Or governor. I'm not sure now but whatever position it is.... STOP! whats wrong with that boxer?! Manny should just stick to boxing! No ifs no buts. I am pretty sure many of his politician friends convinced him to run for a seat as house representative. YIKES! of course there's nothing wrong with helping the people and the 'Pacman' has good heart and genuine desire to help his constituent but please, majority of Filipinos thinks he can contribute and help by just sticking it out with boxing.

Manny Paquiao should heed to the request of many. Leave politics and just get on with boxing and do your countrymen proud once more.

Freedom, Justice and theTruth

Maybe it's because I saw an earlier film about injustice to the 4 Irish men falsely accused of being IRA terrorist and languished in jail for 15 years (yes it only a film but it's a true to life account of locking innocent people in jail), but I do firmly believed and I have and I know and it is fact that there are really innocent suspects serving life imprisonment or even death penalty.

Lawyers and those advocating freedom of the innocent need to pursue the case. Keep digging, keep reading, keep going over and over and as many times as possible with all the evidence. You know there's bound to be inconsistencies. There might be loopholes. If one has to prove the innocence of wrongly accused convicted person, keep on going. Decades spent in prison for a crime an innocent person didn't commit should get justice

I didn't even kick the ball

What wacky dream I had yesterday. Imagine David Beckham as main character. Weirdness. Not that it's bad but.. just funny, I guess.

And so the dreamland state that I was in.. the soccer star was hiding (or not) here in Manila and trespassed inside our house because in the dream, he wanted to be left alone. We became friends or something -- 'cos we were holding fingers. Ah yes, not hands but fingers. It's a dream ya know! Neighbors kept looking at our house and eventually recognised him and then the dream shifted to somebody missing or injured and he was the suspect and I was hiding him. And then I woke up and that's that. End of weirdnesss dream.

And I was gonna blog bout election and politics. Ha.

When damage is a remedy

For all you smokers out there. Scientist (or Doctors) has discovered a damage spot in the brain that could somehow help prevent the craving for smoking. That this insula discovery, if it's damaged inside the brain, the urge to quit smoking prompts those smokers whose insula has been damaged to not feel anything like smoking. They lose the feeling of wanting to smoke. Confused?

According to this report

Damage to a silver dollar-sized spot deep in the brain seems to wipe out the urge to smoke, a surprising discovery that may shed important new light on addiction.

Clearly brain damage isn't a treatment option for people struggling to kick the habit.

But the finding, reported in Friday's edition of the journal Science, does point scientists toward new ways to develop anti-smoking aids by targeting this little-known brain region called the insula.

Smokers, if you really want to quit that nicotine habit, don't even wait to have part of your brain to be damaged or get sick.

Thirteen of the insula-damaged patients had quit smoking, 12 of them super-easily: They quit within a day of the brain injury, and reported neither smoking nor even feeling the urge since then.

Well, if there's a brain injury, wouldn't it be natural for that person whose got the injury to not smoke? I mean, are there really people (smokers at that) who still smokes even with brain injury? Or is that silly ignoramus question? Aye. Man, I brain my damage and I don't even smoke! Sheesh.

It is definitely good discovery to expound and worked on for making new ways to stop the dilemma of smoking and the smokers who can't seem to kick that puffing huffing nicotine drive into their lungs. Smoking is foul smelling killer addiction.

Doomed Clockers

All aboard the funnies and satire express....

Yubanet's Andy Borowitz piece about scientists moving the dooms day clock is freaking hilarious. Just read it it.

And this from Pittsburg Tribune

The scientists decided to move the minute hand forward during a high-level meeting near Sbarro at the mall food court while employees at the nearby It's About Time watch kiosk diagnosed the clock's problem.

Heh. Well, clock here says it's early morning. *yawns* I'm blogging off.

War and consequence

I don't even know why I'm blogging about it. I don't even care. But anyhow...

So President Bush made his Iraq speech earlier. He acknowledges failure in Iraq...

He described the situation in Iraq as "unacceptable" to the American people and to himself. "Our troops in Iraq have fought bravely. They have done everything we have asked them to do," he said. "Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me." (Washington Post)

Bush said he would like to send more troops --more than 20,000. Congress which now has Democrats in control doesn't like the idea and are opposed to it. They will block by means of bipartisan legislature (is that the right term?) and it's pretty obvious majority thinks sending more troops only worsens the situation and will only drag the U.S. further in the escalating civil war that Iraq seems to have turned into.

I've seen (from telly and internet news) a lot of polls that Americans don't like what's happening in Iraq and the sending of more military men. But what about the military itself? The soldiers, the Marines, Army...the whole troops. Perhaps I don't really read or watch t.v. that much and I have no idea but... are they willing to be deployed there? I remember reading something about this one soldier who refused to be deployed in Iraq. Is he in the majority, I wonder. Maybe.

Sending more troops will mean more casualties but it will mean also that they will be there to help Iraqis. Rebuilding that country is major herculean task.

If troops are there to help to train to rebuild to reconstruct then they should be supported. Boost the morale of soldier Don't cut funding...or something.

I don't make sense, I know. I'm just blogging my thoughts!

Iraq's success lies in getting helped from Americans. That's what's Bush wanted the people to understand. It's noble thing but at the expense of the troops ..well it doesn't seem be working anymore. American people basically tired of the Iraq war. That's how I see it..from an Asian perspective of course.

Apple iPhone unveiled

Talk of the tech industry right now, the new iPhone that was launch at the Mac Expo. As expected it illicited ooohhs and aahhhs from salivating consumers and the fanatic Apple/Mac/ iPod disciples. So much to enumerate why it looks promising but plenty of reasonswhy it's just like another iPod with cell phone capabilities. Dang 2megapix or gig? Yay!

Owning and having an iPhone (here, anyway) is just like showing status symbol. Just like owning a Mac and having an iPod is still a damn status symbol here!

The way I see it. Apple is first and foremost a computer company. They're not a cell phone one. They don't make phones. They make computers. They don't make mobile devices like Nokia or SE. Then again success of iPod has prompted Steve Jobs to procceed with launching the iPhone which is also now being called smartphone. It can do a lot of computer based stuff (which Nokie and SE and company already integrated to their mobile phones). The thing with iPhone and it's features..one probably has to have a Mac in order for the other features to work. Right. And then there's the price. Ugh. I'd rather have Mac than an iPhone (I'm wishful thinking here. Ha!) because like I said iPhone looks sleek and delicious and so fragile like.. the touchscreen- I have no keypad- type is cool. But.. I like having tactile buttons to touch instead of the screen. You know a lot of people use their phones with one hand especially while walking or on the move or something. The touch screen probably doesn't serve it's purpose. Brilliant interface though. The rest is alright.

I think Sony Ericsson and Nokia is still will lord it over the Cell phone market. But of course I could be wrong. I mean look at what happened with iPod.

Links via Apple and Gizmodo: Everything you need to know about iPhone

Jetson life once again

Computer Electonic Show and Mac Expo on going now in Las Vegas and San Fransico showcasing what life would be like with new electronics and technology living. If you want to know the latest digital life, that's where you need to be. I wonder what new products will emerge as the must haves for the year. Hmm...

Pink Barbie DVD players. Touch-screen HP computers. Software that turns your iPod into a karaoke machine.

Apple's highly anticipated iTV, a set-top box that wirelessly streams movies, television shows and music from the computer to the television. Read more or view the gadgets from Gizmodo

Ah yes, the products of digital lifestyle . I think I'll just go watch Jetsons (I'd rather be at the CES and Mac gathering..but me is poor and hlafways around the word!) now and see the future once more.

It's beginning to look a lot like May

And we're only in the first week of January. First Friday too, today. May is the national elections here and most news now seems to focused on who's running for whom and what postion and which party. I'm not sure exactywhen campaign period will start but this early, the potential hopefuls starting to make noise. It's alright I guess. People will have name recall of who the candidates are and what they can do to make this nation an even better progressive country. How to alleviate poverty should be main focus of campaign. But this early, I know, 'cheese' gets my vote. Hah!

Cellphone video controversy

And no it's not some porny phonecam vid!

That Saddam execution having been viewed on You Tube (and other video sites) was shot using cellphone and showing to the world a hanged lifeless body of his. Many broadcast network chose not to even air the video. But of course..if you don't see it on the telly, there's You Tube. Apparently an Iraqi official filmed the whole thing using cell phone and well, it's been leaked and shown to the web audience at large.

You know what, maybe I have ESP or something, when the news of execution broke, I was like I bet there will be cellphone shot. I'm so fricking right! The minute I saw footage (just the ones shown on t.v.). I was pretty sure because maybe I know it's the easiest thing to use.

Technology is supposed to be good. Innovative in ways that we consumers get to use but for useful purpose, say... in mostly emergency cases. But once we have tech tools in the palm of our hands we can do anything as we so pleases...like film something secretly. Eeek!

By the cold stone she sat down and wept

"I think about him all day, every day," she said. "I'm lucky, though, because I don't think a lot of people get to fall in love the way I did. I'm glad I had him, even if it wasn't for very long."-- Kira, 19

Washington Post article about young Marine's romance and the sad painful reality of love and war

On Aug. 30, as she sat restlessly in class at Radford University, she wrote a poem about the month Colin was to return to her.

"To miss rough hands, stern eyes so much, They knife the heart with thoughts . . . of sweet February."

On the other side of the world, Colin had volunteered for a midday mission in the town of Habbaniya. His Humvee hit a roadside bomb. The blast ignited the gas tank, then the ammunition. He died instantly. Read more

You gotta. It's long article. Tugs the heart. It might be sap for some but I guess even cynics get sappy once in while.

12 months of thoughtful spot

So it's the last day of the year. Here are some of the major blog post I did during the last 12 months of 2006.

Jan-- media bashing because erroneous report about miners trapped.
Feb-- Arroyo declaring national emergency, Ultra stampede, Leyte mudslide.
Mar- blogged about that very gory Hostel movie. Bloody hell !
Apr-June-- Four u.s marines charged and mostly some personal vague crap.
July- war erupted between Israel and Hezbollah..it went on and on and on....
Aug-- planet became pluto..less , terror plot uncovered at Heathrow, Mel Gibson arrested.
Sept-Dec-- mostly random babble.

First 4 months of 2006 was bliss. The rest was disappointing sad months and was spent worrying about things of personal nature. But still I got through the rest of '06 still feeling very blessed and thankful about everything. I hope 2007 will be a better one.

Dead and done

Saddam Hussein executed! He's pffft! No vids or photos released yet. But will there be one?

*edit... Iraqi t.v released video as he was about to be hanged. Photo of Saddam (via AP/Yahoo). I saw the new vid while watching cnn and there's several of them now showing in You Tube.. just search for it.

Gripe. I added labels with my previous post but when I click I thought it would show all post I made with that labels (i.e. all blog entries I made with words Daniel Smith) I added..but now it's a no show. Maybe I'm not understanding how it works. low tech mind I have. Whatever.

Tags are way better. Google should've added tags instead. Something similar to Flickr.

Daniel Smith back now at the U.S embassy

Fresh news. Lance cpl Daniel Smith was transferred from Makati city jail to the embassy just few minutes ago before midnight. Smith, the U.S. Marine convicted of rape. He's been detained at the Makati jail since last month. His stay there created problems between U.S. and Philippine officials. The rape complainant "Nicole" and her lawyer are opposed to it. And now lawyer is seething mad at this sudden transfer.

*edit.. According to this report Smith's lawyers, the U.S. Embassy and the Philippine departments of justice and foreign affairs have agreed that his detention violates the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement, which governs the conduct of U.S. troops in the Philippines.

On this day...

Jesus was born. Of course we call it Christmas day. Have a merry one.

I'm soo full right now. Don't think I could take another bite of anything. I've been eating since earlier. Since yesterday actually.

Christmas eve (also new years) is usually the day we have a feast. If Americans prepare food and have their buffet table full of wonderful dishes during Thanksgiving, here it's this day.

While eating, was watching the telly (again..cos whatelse is there to do) gee, I thought I wouldn't have to endure another Santa Clause movie but turns out I spoke too soon. Part two was shown earlier but watched Polar Express instead. That was earlier. Right nowjust watching Nightmare Before Christmas. Oh yes, Jack and Sally again. Me likes it.

Buttwarming the season

It's past 3 in the afternoon and yes, the ultimate nothingness blog. I'm just blah blah because well, do I have to have reason? Sheesh.

So here I am alone. And what should I do but hey rot in front of the telly and eat. Kinda like yesterday. Cycle repeated it seems. Oh well it's the holiday season.

Christmas just only a day away and it's weekend and okay so here's what happened yesterday. I didn't do anything at all except to buttwarm my bed.I watched whatever the idiot box was showing. Mostly holiday themed movies and specials. I've already endured Tim Allen's Santa movie the other day so luckily he's absent from the screen yesterday. Hooray! So that's it. Ho Hum.

Oh by the way, sis bought ham. Gotta have the ham . It's Christmas after all.

So far, so nothing, so blah blah

Ah yes, the ultimate nothingness blog. I'm doing so because well, do I have to have reason? Sheesh.

So I didn't do anything at all yesterday. And I mean, I really literally didn't do anything....except to buttwarm my bed. I've not been lazy just that there really wasn't anything to do at all. I watched whatever the idiot box was showing. Mostly holiday themed movies and specials. I already endured Tim Allen's Santa movie the other day so luckily he's absent from the screen yesterday. Heh. So that's it. Ho Hum.

Oh by the way, sis bought ham. Gotta have the hams . It's Christmas after all.

Angsty

Early morning and I feel the emptiness stirring once more.

I don't find anything joyful this season and 9 days before Christmas, I'm still without nothing. I am as poor as rat. Hell, even rats have cheese. I only have whine! It sucks. I've never felt the holiday mood. No Christmas tree or holly or any red and green things. Just the house is plain as a fuck. And so am I. Sad really.

I'm hungry.

3 U.S. Marines aquitted, 1 found guilty

Past one in the afternoon when the decision was handed down by the judge.

Verdict is out for the year long Subic rape trial of four United States service men. Lance Corporal Daniel Smith was found guilty while three others; Staff Sargeant Chad Carpentier, Lance corporals Dominic Duplantis and Keith Silkwood were aquitted (read news here, photo of four marines)

Judge said the three couldn't be made accessories to the crime (lack of evidence..it seems) while Smith, who was really the principal accused by the rape victim "Nicole", found strong evidence that he knew the victim was drunk, unconscious and still had sex with her. Lance corporal Smith was also asked to pay 100,000 pesos in compensatory and moral damages

He , Smith, said in the trial (or interview.. I forgot) that it was consensual sex. Obviously the judge didn't believe as evidence the girl was drunk and traces of semen was found. But then again, who knows what really went on inside the van on the night the supposed rape happened.

Lance cpl Daniel Smith from St. Louis, MO, will serve reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment at the Makati jail until there is an appeal by his attorneys and also while U.S. and Philippines review the VFA (visiting forces agreement) because there are provisions there that states or requires that any U.S. servicemen found guilty of crimes in local soil (meaning Phils) could stay in the custody of U.S. official. I think its the embassy in this case. While again appealing decision to the higher court.

Smith is the youngest of the four U.S. marines and he's about 21. If the appeal isn't succesful he could be in jail till he's about 40 or50 or 60.. depending, I guess.

So now what? Hmm. I had the hunch that the verdict would come out that way it did. Of course the judge had to think hard of his decision and I guess he has to please both sides though I think that really wasn't the intention. As a judge, one should be fair an take into account all the evidences presented and just so happens the one against Smith was strong. Probably.

Maybe Smith shouldn't have mentioned the the sexual act was consensual when the victim was fully drunk and unconscious. It didn't helped his side at all.

The victim was happy with the decision of the judge though. Looks like she could care less about the three others who were aquitted and she's satisfied with the one guilty verdict. She was interviewed and when asked if she can now forgive Daniel Smith she replied " I don't know yet..let's see. " Wonder what she meant. But obviously she's rejoicing.

May this case serve her a reminder that she should never go to bars frequented by visiting U.S. servicemen and don't drink too much and dont get so drunk and make sure she knows who she's flirting with.

Actually I don't think that the accused, Lance cpl. Daniel Smith didn't go to the (Nepture) bar with the intention of getting the victim "Nicole" drunk and then raping her. She was already to heavily drunk ( she drank a lot obviously about 6 o 7 drinks, I think) when they met. But the thing is Smith knowing she's drunk already, shouldn't have had sex with her. Her mind wasn't fully straight. Whether she consented to having sex in drunken state or not, still if she was sober, maybe she'd have said no (cos she said she had u.s. serviceman as b/f at that time.) but if she was with her b/f then why drink so much and then be all 'friendly?" And how come the b/f didn't do anything at all? "Nicole" said her u.s. servicemen boyfriend left her. Hmm. Why is the question.

But anyway, you know, it's not like the Smith forced her to drink and then raped her . She came in the van on her own (drunken) volition with the marine(s) and then she claimed rape occured (like I said, nobody really knows what went inside the van). Whether rape occured or not, if foud guilty, one has to serve and suffer the consequences of crime.

So with the guilty verdict, it's kind of sad to see that somebody so young (Smith being 21.. the vicitim is 23) could rot in jail. He looked scared as he was being whisked away by Makati police. He's good looking marine and have whole life ahead him. Perhaps this is his battle. He won't be assigned (anymore) to Iraq or any war torn countries but being soldier, he'd rather be deployed in battle zone and die with princples rather than rot in jail (for the crime he firmly believed he didn't commi..according to him). The young marine is cute. Sweet looking face. And my golly so young. I mean 21 is really just a boy.

I'm sure he's probably saying to himself that he wished he wasnt called to particpate in the military excercise. He would never be in the situation he's dealing right now.

All of the accused were here November of last year via USS essex from Japan for joint military excercise.

*edit... The three Marines who were aquitted went back to Okinawa immediately but I wanted to say, I saw the anger from Chad Carpentier's face as Smith was being led away by the cops. He didn't want to leave him alone as Smith was the baby, being the youngest of the four accused.

"Nicole" said she felt sad seeing Smith in jail. *Snort!* Oh gee now she's feeling sympathetic.

I'm not lawyer, but if I was, I'd represent Smith. Not because he's good looking but perhaps, I believe in him. Okay! Sue me for being unpatriotic to the cause and plight of the complainant.. but perhaps, there's something there that isn't right.

Sources and videos: gma news, inq7 Yahoo/AFP
View more blog related posts:
He said, she said (article and interview)
Accused Marine Daniel Smith speaks out (AP interview)
Interview with the accused (Chad Carpentier)
Subic rape case: four u.s marines charged with rape
Subic rape case may not be a case after all
Military tales, Military woes

These books are made for reading

If reading is pleasure, turn me (on) page by page. Ha.

For you book whores. The 10 best books of 2006, and 100 notable books of 2006. And if you want more.. just click this Man Booker site. Most of my book collections are of authors shortlisted or winners of the prestigious book award.

Okay maybe some aren't to your liking but might find something cool to waste time if stuck at home or you're in bookstore or browsing Amazon. I haven't nothing new to read and I wanna buy some but I have far more pressing urgent needs for money than getting some new reads. Books ain't cheap ya know. Once I get to have money, I'll buy me new ones.

The fiercest calm took it's toll

Storm update....

The whole Bicol region was pummelled (sp?) by super typhoon Reming/Durian that looked more like hurricane. Seen from different news feeds, it unleashed mighty winds and never ending rain and tore up houses and uprooted trees and powerlines and phone towers fell. Mud flow from nearby volcano buried 8 villages along with the families. Almost 400 are feared dead. I even saw dead bodies just lying wrapped in blankets and others on top of one another. It's sad to see the sufferings of the residents of Bicol and other provinces and to think it's going to be Christmas in few weeks time. I'm thankful the storm spared Manila and didnt make landfall here or we'd have suffered the wrath of nature.

News and video via gmanews inq7

*edit.. it's 800 now dead or missing and two foreigners missing: one from Australia and the other from New Zealand.
---

December already and it's holiday season. It's al so the beginning of new month and the last for the year but somehow I don' feel any of the holiday mood. Right now I just feel bare. The giddiness is gone. It's been replaced by empty soul that's been missing the essence of Christmas spirit and the joyous feelings it brings. Not only do I feel the bareness, even the house lacks the trappings of essential holiday mood.

I know 'tis the season to be jolly but hard to enjoy the coming holidays with life being empty and dealing with empty pocket. I want to complain so much but I feel like shit if I do knowing people strucked by that super typhoon are suffering far more worse compared to me.

So in a nutshell happy holidays is more like hollow days. And I *sigh* to that.