Arroyo bid sparks outrage

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

======================
MANILA, Philippines—Within hours of her declaration that she was running for Congress
in May, a firestorm of criticism swirled around President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, with one critic accusing her of being drunk with power and others saying her aim was to shield herself from “a landslide of lawsuits.”

The criticisms, as well as concerns, came both from her well-known political enemies and from some Church leaders.

The biggest worry of Ms Arroyo’s political foes appeared to be that she might use a seat in Congress as a launching pad to become prime minister, in case of a shift to a parliamentary government.

Roman Catholic Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, for so long a vocal critic of Ms Arroyo, said the framers of the Constitution did not think of imposing a ban on an outgoing president running for a lower office simply because it was unthinkable.

“There appears to be no reasonable cause for such a constitutional prohibition as really there is no person in his or her sound mind who will do such a funny and demeaning political circus,” Cruz said.

Cruz denounced Ms Arroyo’s “addiction to power.”

======================

Really? Was there any indication she was planning to run for Congress?

Read the full story at the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Beer Belly

Now that is what you call a beer belly!

13 Days After Pacquiao Fights

Got this from a friend that 13 days after a Pacquiao fight, there will be a national disaster. I wonder if it's true.

Witness: We just followed orders

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

=====================
(Editors note: This story appeared Thursday on the website of the Qatar-based Arab news organization Al-Jazeera)

A man who says he was a witness to Monday’s massacre in the southern Philippines has told Al-Jazeera how he was ordered to kill members of a rival political clan—including women and children—and to make sure no evidence was left behind.

The witness, who identified himself only as “Boy,” said he was among more than 100 armed men who held up a convoy of political campaigners and journalists before taking them to a remote mountainous area where they were then killed.

Speaking to Al-Jazeera’s correspondent Marga Ortigas, “Boy” said the orders had come directly from Andal Ampatuan Jr., a local mayor and a member of a politically powerful clan with close ties to the Philippines president.

“Datu Andal himself said, he said to us: Anyone from the Mangudadatu clan—women or children—should be killed … We don’t ask why, we just followed orders.”

At least 57 people died in the massacre, believed to be the worst ever politically related killings in the Philippines.

Fear for his life

“Boy,” who is now in hiding fearing his life is in danger, said all of the women in the group had been raped before being killed.

Their bodies were then dumped in mass graves that had already been dug out in advance using an excavator.

He said that Ampatuan Jr. had also ordered that the reporters accompanying the convoy should also be killed to cover-up what had happened.

Soldiers coming

“That too was ordered by Datu Andal … because they didn’t want any evidence left behind,” he said.

“Boy” said the whole process had lasted little more than an hour before the gunmen had to abruptly abandon the scene following a warning that members of the military were nearby.

“We didn’t get to finish, which is why the excavator was left there,” he said.

“Someone called and said soldiers were on their way. I feel they have connections among the soldiers.”

‘Up to my conscience’

Speaking with his face covered to conceal his identity, “Boy” said he was supposed to have been an active participant in the massacre but did not actually kill any of the victims.

He said he would have been shot if he had tried to intervene.

“I was just standing there,” he said “I was all alone… I could only leave it up to my conscience.”
=====================

The thing is, this is not an unusual occurrence in the Philippines. It is just rare to have so many people killed.

What made this news is that a lot of journalist was killed as well.

400 Ampatuan bodyguards under probe -- PNP

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

======================
MANILA, Philippines -- Now that Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. has been taken into custody, the Philippine National Police faces the daunting task of building up cases against close to 400 armed bodyguards of his father, Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr.

The authorities led by the military have disarmed 347 members of the Special Active Auxiliary (SCAA) of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) under the employ of the Maguindanao provincial government, and seized their government-issued firearms.
======================

Holy crap! 400 bodyguards!?! That's not a bodyguard, that's a small army!

Ampatuan cousin asks gov’t to respect due process

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

====================
MANILA, Philippines—Energy Undersecretary Datu Zamzamin L. Ampatuan has appealed to the public to respect the due process of the law as Andal Ampatuan Jr. has voluntarily submitted himself to the government.

"This is the most important thing that happened today—that Ampatuan Jr. had submitted himself to a voluntary investigation," the Energy official said via phone.

His second cousin, Ampatuan Jr., has already submitted himself to presidential adviser Jesus Dureza in General Santos City Thursday.

"From the understanding of the Ampatuan family, this (submission) is voluntary, just to clarify the allegations on (Ampatuan Jr.'s) participation. We're still not sure, not clear on what the Department of Justice will do. The lawyers are already discussing how they're going to handle this situation," Zamzamin Ampatuan explained.

The energy official said he could not provide more details.

"The most important thing is that justice should be pursued, and whoever the culprit is, should be pinpointed. Credible investigation should be pursued so a clear direction could be achieved. This is a call for justice," Ampatuan stressed.
====================

Now I don't know whether Ampatuan is guilty or not. The government should respect due process. But is anyone ever going to believe that there will be due process?

If Ampatuan was guilty, does anyone even believe that there will be evidence linking him to the killing? If he was found not guilty, the government will be deemed as coddling with the Ampatuans since they are GMA's politcal ally.

If Amtpatuan was found guilty, the Ampatuan clan will claim they were whitewash and the government was pressured by the media to find them guilty.

It's a no win situation.

Ampatuan Jr. held at NBI

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

====================
GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Andal Ampatuan Jr. was in denial and even tried to hide his face behind a scarf under a barrage of questions from reporters asking if he masterminded Monday’s massacre of 57 people.

“There is no truth to that,” said Ampatuan, mayor of Datu Unsay town in Maguindanao, ruled by his family that is a close ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “The reason I came out is to prove that I am not hiding and that I am not guilty.”

Ampatuan was placed in government custody after his brother, Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, turned him over to Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza Thursday morning.

But as Mayor Ampatuan stepped out of the helicopter that transported him from Shariff Aguak town to the airport here, the scarf was gone. He was sporting a red and blue putong, a headband usually used by Moro warriors.

Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera waited two hours for the arrival of Ampatuan, accompanied by Dureza. The mayor was then led to the airport’s VIP lounge for a summary inquest at mid-afternoon after his lawyer, Seigfred Fortun, arrived.

Esmael Mangudadatu, the vice mayor of Buluan town whose wife, two sisters and two lawyers were among the 57 killed while en route to file his certificate of candidacy for governor of Maguindanao in the May elections, was visibly enraged.

He tried to raise his fist toward Ampatuan, who was just a meter away, sitting. But agents of the National Bureau of Investigation intervened.

Mangudadatu later told reporters he was enraged but that he had to contain his anger. “I don’t know what I could do, but truth will come out. Whatever the court decides, should be accepted,” he said in Filipino.
====================

Ah...Philippines my Philippines, when will you ever change and dismantle all these political dynasties and political killings.

Full story at the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

World's Longest Basketball Shot

Real or fake?

Here's the video from several angles.

Here's a compilation of what Dude Perfect calls "Summer Camp Edition".

Folding Bike

You've probably seen a folding bike. But this concept bike folds down to the size of one wheel and a handle to pull the bike along with you.

Currently it's a prototype. It might go into production in the near future.

Neil Young Sings "Fresh Prince" Theme

Neil Young can make any song sound mournful.

Court Hears Fil-Can Boy's Discrimination Case

The Filipino-Canadian boy who became a victim of racial discrimination in Canada for using spoon and fork while eating in school will finally have his day in court.

The Quebec Human Rights Tribunal will hear the case of Luc Cagadoc on Nov. 23 and 24 against the Marguerite Bougeoys School Board and two other school staff members, according to Fo Niemi, executive director of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations, a Montreal-based human rights advocate group.

The hearing, which is open to the public, will be heard at the Quebec Human Rights Tribunal at the Montreal courthouse (Palais de Justice) at 1 Notre Dame East, Montreal.

Full story at GMA News.

Adam Lambert's Performance on AMA

Here's the controversial performance of Adam Lambert on the 2009 American Music Awards.

Lambert shocked viewers with his sexually suggestive dance sequence that included simulated oral sex as well as Lambert kissing his male keyboardist.

If you recall, Adam Lambert was the second place finisher at last season's "American Idol.

Here's the video.

Japanese Man Weds His Anime Video Game Character Girlfriend

A Japanese man known as "Sal9000" and Nene Anegasaki, a character in the Nintendo DS dating simulation game "Love Plus" was married last Sunday.

The wedding took place during a Make: Japan meet-up held at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. In attendance were a live audience, an MC, the bride's virtual video game girlfriend — who made a speech — and a real human priest.

The event was livecast on Nico Nico Douga, a popular video sharing web site. Nico Nico Douga is home to thousands of video projects by anonymous users — mashups of original art, pop music, anime, and web memes that only an insider to Japanese web geek culture can completely decipher.

I guess the advantage is, if you don't want to hear your wife nag, you can just shut her off.

Here's the video of the wedding.

Full story at http://www.boingboing.net

Cute Asians

Several Thankq commercials compiled by someone who's into cute Asians. You know this because the person put in the vital stats of the women in the commercials.

The women are Hwang Mi Hee (황미희), Lee Ji Woo (이지우), and Gu Ji Sung (구지성).

Pocky Commercial

Nice commercial by Pocky. If you don't know Pocky, it's those long thin biscuits flavored with strawberry, chocolate, etc.

Men Are Born With Autofocus

How true...

When Chefs Get Creative

Real or Photoshopped?

2009 CNN Hero Of The Year - Filipino Efren Penaflorida

Efren Peñaflorida of the Philippines, who started a "pushcart classroom" in the Philippines to bring education to poor children as an alternative to gang membership, has been named the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year.

For the past 12 years, Peñaflorida and his team of teen volunteers have taught basic reading and writing to children living on the streets. Their main tool: A pushcart classroom.

Stocked with books, pens, tables and chairs, his Dynamic Teen Company recreates a school setting in unconventional locations such as the cemetery and municipal trash dump.

Peñaflorida knows firsthand the adversity faced by these children. Born into a poor family, he lived in a shanty near the city dump site. But he says he refused to allow his circumstances to define his future.

"Instead of being discouraged, I promised myself that I would pursue education," he recalls. "I will strive hard; I will do my best."

In high school, Peñaflorida faced a new set of challenges. Gang activity was rampant; they terrorized the student body, vandalized the school and inducted members by forcing them to rape young girls, he says.

"I felt the social discrimination. I was afraid to walk down the street."

Peñaflorida remembers standing up to a gang leader, refusing to join his gang. That confrontation proved fateful. At 16, he and his friends "got the idea to divert teenagers like us to be productive," he says.

He created the Dynamic Teen Company to offer his classmates an outlet to lift up themselves and their community. For Peñaflorida, that meant returning to the slums of his childhood to give kids the education he felt they deserved.

"They need education to be successful in life. It's just giving them what others gave to me," he says.

Today, children ranging from ages 2 to 14 flock to the pushcart every Saturday to learn reading, writing, arithmetic and English from Peñaflorida and his trained teen volunteers.

"Our volunteers serve as an inspiration to other children," he says.

The group also runs a hygiene clinic, where children can get a bath and learn how to brush their teeth.

Since 1997, an estimated 10,000 members have helped teach more than 1,500 children living in the slums. The organization supports its efforts by making and selling crafts and collecting items to recycle.

Peñaflorida hopes to expand the pushcart to other areas, giving more children the chance to learn and stay out of gangs.

Watch the announcement of the 2009 CNN Heroes.

Full story at CNN.com.

Kobe Bryant Over The Backboard Shot

Kobe Bryant baby!

Manny Pacquiao Song "Pound For Pound" by The Trackrunners

Manny Pacquiao even has a music video made about him!

Pitong Panalo Ni Manny Pacquiao

Here's the homecoming concert of Manny Pacquiao at SM Mall of Asia called "Pitong Panalo ni Manny Pacquiao" after he defeated Cotto.

The man can do no wrong.

How To Eat Sushi In Japan

This is how you go to a sushi restaurant and eat sushi in Japan.

Who Is Krista Ranillo

I've been reading some news stories about Manny Pacquiao and one name always seems to come up lately, Krista Ranillo.

So who is Krista Ranillo? Turns out she was a was the cover girl of the March 2009 issue and was chosen as the resident sex columnist of the magazine.

A simple Google search came up with these photos.

Gay-bashing by Comelec Bullies

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

=================
By Raul Pangalangan

THE ELECTION commissioners belong to homo sapiens, yet they are so homogeneous in their homophobia that they might think I have actually insulted them by using any word that can pass for a homonym. By the Comelec’s backward logic, anything homo can’t be good.

What amazes me is the gall of Nicodemo Ferrer, Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusuph in citing the Bible and the Koran to curtail a right of political participation guaranteed by the Constitution. What was going on inside their heads? Were they brown-nosing the fundamentalist clergy of both religions? Were they pandering to the hardy machos in the gallery? Or could they actually have been serious in rejecting the gay and lesbian rights party-list group Ang Ladlad?

The Constitution says it loud and clear. “The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.” “No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.” Yet the Comelec cites the Bible where it condemns “vile affections” which, this time citing the Koran, are punished with a “shower of brimstone.” These constitute precisely the “religious test” barred by the Constitution.

What is appalling is these were completely superfluous to the Comelec’s logic, which, in the end, actually relied on secular morality. The Comelec said that Ang Ladlad “serve[d] no other purpose but to satisfy the market for … lust or pornography … offend[s a] race or religion” and are “offensive to morals.” They took one look at Ang Ladlad’s openness to “intimate and sexual relations [among] individuals of a different gender, of the same gender, or more than one gender” and concluded that Ang Ladlad “advocate[s] immoral doctrines.” But where does it say that the Comelec commissioners can use the law to carry out their private prejudices?

The Comelec concluded that Ang Ladlad lied when it said that none of its supposedly gay nominees “have [not] violated … laws, rules or regulations relating to elections.” I wonder: Since when has the “Kamasutra” been an election-related manual? Philippine elections are so lewd that the “Kamasutra” can only be so profaned. But seriously now. What laws did Ang Ladlad breach? What was the charge? Who was the complainant? What court rendered judgment? Can the Comelec so blithely arrogate unto itself the role of accuser, judge and executioner?

When the Comelec hears an application for party-list accreditation, it is limited to specific legal tests and nothing more. Is the group genuinely not part of the government? Is the group a mere front of religious groups otherwise excluded from forming political parties? Does a Forbes Park matron belong to the purportedly marginalized minority of homeowners’ associations? Does the group represent a bona fide “marginalized and under-represented group”? Indeed, for the 2007 elections, the Comelec disqualified Ang Ladlad because it couldn’t show that it had enough muscle as a nationwide party. Now that Ang Ladlad has apparently shown some political bicep, why does the Comelec suddenly want to poke into its other parts?

Granting that the Comelec truly has a “roving commission” as our moral guardian, why did they discover it only now that the gay and lesbians stand before them? For instance, shouldn’t they have first disqualified Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from public office because she immorally spoke to a Comelec commissioner during the 2004 elections? Shouldn’t they disqualify that Comelec commissioner who immorally answered when Ms Arroyo said, “Hello, Garci”? Shouldn’t they disqualify retired Maj. Gen. (now party-list congressman) Jovito Palparan? After all the Supreme Court no less, speaking through the Chief Justice in a writ of amparo decision, documented Palparan’s interrogating two torture victims who were almost “disappeared”? Did the Comelec even bother to investigate the Court’s finding that its Mega-Pacific computerization deal had violated its own bidding rules?

Why the selective application of rules? One set of rules but two ways to apply them: liberal in favor of the politically well connected, strict against the political outsiders? The Constitution frowns upon unequal treatment, especially when it burdens constitutionally protected rights of political participation, of speech, of assembly, or of privacy.

The Comelec cannot push Ang Ladlad around. But gays and lesbians have lived a whole lifetime of standing up to bullies, of fighting off the daily insults, the deprecating attitudes, the nasty jokes. They are veterans of a different kind of war, and for them, the commissioners are, metaphorically, small nuts to chew.

The US Supreme Court called for exacting judicial scrutiny when “prejudice against discrete and insular minorities [curtail] those political processes ordinarily to be relied upon to protect minorities.” The Comelec gay exclusion fits that description to a T.

The US high court reasoned: “Only the most willful blindness could obscure the fact that sexual intimacy is a sensitive, key relationship of human existence [and that we] define themselves in a significant way through [our] intimate sexual relationships … [M]uch of the richness of a relationship will come from the freedom of an individual to choose the form and nature of these intensely personal bonds.” Ferrer has threatened to out the closet gays in Congress, but he merely succeeded in outing himself as a closet fascist.

It is no surprise when weak political institutions like the Comelec ally themselves with powerful religious orthodoxies. That is the way of bullies, typical of the authoritarian impulse to kowtow before the powerful while riding roughshod over the weak. The “kiss-ass, kick-ass” syndrome is especially ridiculous here since the only behind the Comelec must cover is its own.
=================

This is probably the best article I've read about this issue and I can't think of anything to add to this.

The Top Five Cancer-causing Foods

1. Hot dogs - Because they are high in nitrates,the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.

2. Processed meats and bacon - Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.

3. Doughnuts - Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.

4. French fries - Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acrylamides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .

5. Chips, crackers, and cookies - All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.

12 Food Additives to Remove From Your Diet

Many food additives have been studied and linked to various diseases. Becoming informed about the additives in everyday food items can make for an easier shopping experience and healthier food for everyone.

Here’s a list of some of the most medically questionable and harmful additives in everyday foods:

1. Sodium nitrite
2. BHA & BHT
3. Propyl gallate
4. Monosodium glutamate
5. Trans fats
6. Aspartame
7. Acesulfame-K
8. Food colorings (Blue, Red, Green, Yellow)
9. Olestra
10. Potassium bromate
11. White sugar
12. Sodium chloride (salt)
    

Since some of these may not be familiar to you, sodium nitrite is a preservative added most commonly to bacon, ham, hot dogs, sandwich meats, and smoked fish.

BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are other preservatives added to foods like cereal, gum, potato chips, and vegetable oils.

Propyl gallate is found in meats, chicken soup base, and gum. All of these preservatives have been linked to cancer.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) can cause migraines and other adverse effects.

Trans fats are being eliminated from most foods, as the studies linking them to heart disease, strokes, and kidney problems are widely accepted.

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener found in products like NutraSweet and Equal as well as diet foods and soft drinks. And acesulfame-K is a newer sweetener used in soft drinks and some baked goods.

Many food colorings have been banned by the FDA, but some can still be found in foods that require a particular color.

Olestra was common for a time in potato chips as an additive that prevented fat from being absorbed in your digestive system. Food colorings have been tied to cancer and Olestra also blocks vitamins from being processed.

Potassium bromate is sometimes added to white flour, breads, and rolls to increase the volume of the products, but it has cancer-causing properties that have prompted some states in America to actually require a label to that effect.

Finally, white sugar and sodium chloride (salt) can be dangerous if not kept to a minimum.

R2-D2 on Star Trek Movie?

Is the rumor true that R2-D2 was in the new Star Trek movie? It turns out the rumor might be true.

Someone posted a movie still from the DVD release of Star Trek. R2-D2 apparently appeared for only 1 microsecond in a battle scene. Where the photo is real or Photoshopped, I leave that up to you to decide.

More details at http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/buzz-log-r2-d2-star-trek.html

Would You Eat This?

Fish was fried, but it's still alive. Undercooked?

Maths Pig

I found this awesome blog for math lovers. Lots of fun ways to use math and science.

The blog was created by Kerry Cue who studied Science/Engineering at Melbourne University and taught maths and science for 10 demanding years before becoming a best selling author of 18 humorous and thought provoking books including Life On a G-String, Australia Unbuttoned, I Left My Heart in Chinkapook and my knickers in New York and her most recent book, Forgotten Wisdom. Kerry’s columns have appeared in newspapers across Australia including The Australian, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The West Australia, The Advertiser (SA), the Herald Sun(Vic), The Courier Mail (Qld) and The Canberra Times (ACT) and more.

She says this about Maths Pig.

"This blog is about maths. It’s about FUN maths, MEDIA maths and especially DUMB maths. Anyone can tackle these problems. You don’t have to understand squiggly, complex equations scribbled all over a black or a whiteboard. This blog simply encourages clear thinking with numbers.

As someone who has written for newspapers for over 25 years I feel there has been a tragic decline in mathematical thinking. In other words, when articles are published or facts quoted in the media very few people ask ‘DO THESE NUMBERS MAKE SENSE?’. These days mathematicians produce figures using such complex, computer-driven models that many commentators, journalists and readers, young and old, just accept the results as facts, when they are so often a load of rubbish.

It is mathspig objective to stick a snout in the media trough and sniff out the maths rubbish. And have some fun too!!!!!!"

Here's a sample of what she blogs about.

Movie cliche's debunked with maths.

1. You can duck a bullet.

When creeping around looking for a baddie in a house/apartment/disused factory our hero can duck a bullet. Especially good at ducking bullets are spy heroes James Bond and Jason Bourne.

Speed of a bullet stats: The Physics Fact Book


Other interesting post are "10 Biggest Mathematical Disasters in the World" and "How Maths Solved a Real Murder!"

Where was this when I was in school?

Check it out.

http://mathspig.wordpress.com/

The Brothel

A madam opened the brothel door in Winnipeg and saw a rather dignified, well-dressed, good-looking man in his late forties or early fifties 'May I help you sir? she asked. 'I want to see Valerie,' the man replied.

'Sir, Valerie is one of our most expensive ladies. Perhaps you would prefer someone else', said the madam.

'No, I must see Valerie,' he replied. Just then, Valerie appeared and announced to the man she charged $5000 a visit. Without hesitation, the man pulled out five thousand dollars and gave it to Valerie, and they went upstairs.

After an hour, the man calmly left.

The next night, the man appeared again, once more demanding to see Valerie.

Valerie explained that no one had ever come back two nights in a row as she was too expensive. But there were no discounts. The price was still $5000.

Again, the man pulled out the money, gave it to Valerie, and they went upstairs. After an hour, he left.

The following night the man was there yet again. Everyone was astounded that he had come for a third consecutive night, but he paid Valerie and they went upstairs.

After their session, Valerie said to the man, 'No one has ever been with me three nights in a row. Where are you from?' The man replied, ' Ontario '.

'Really', she said. 'I have family in Ontario .'

'I know.' the man said. 'Your sister died, and I am her attorney. She asked me to give you your $15,000 inheritance.'

The moral of the story is

THAT THREE THINGS IN LIFE ARE CERTAIN... & THEY ARE......

1. Death

2. Taxes... &

3. Being screwed by a lawyer.

"Where Are Your Keys?" a language fluency game

This is an interesting game, it's called "Where Are Your Keys". It's an open source game of high-speed language learning using sign language as a bridge to learn any spoken language.

Watch.

A Brief Introduction to the "Where Are Your Keys?" Fluency Game from Willem Larsen on Vimeo.

Here's the website at http://whereareyourkeys.wordpress.com/

Here are some more videos about the game http://vimeo.com/7296431#embed

The Economy Is So Bad

The economy is so bad that I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.
The economy is so bad I ordered a burger at McDonald's and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that?"
The economy is so bad that CEO's are now playing miniature golf.
The economy is so bad if the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you call them and ask if they meant you or them.
The economy is so bad Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM.
The economy is so bad McDonald's is selling the 1/4 ouncer.
The economy is so bad parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children's names.
The economy is so bad a truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico.
The economy is so bad Motel Six won't leave the light on anymore.
The economy is so bad Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen .

Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

This is an inspirational speech by Laz Buhrmann to a graduating class of 97.

Matt Iseman Interviews Manny Pacquiao

Hilarious interview of Manny Pacquiao.

Visualizing Empires Decline

Interesting way to learn about history and decline of empires made by Pedro M Cruz. He should have added the US to this.

Visualizing empires decline from Pedro M Cruz on Vimeo.

Street Fight

It's like watching UFC in slow mo.

Assassin's Creed Lineage - Complete series

When the Duke of Milan is brutally murdered, Giovanni Auditore an Assassin - is dispatched to investigate the crime. His mission: determine who is responsible and why. The answers he uncovers implicate Italys most powerful families reaching all the way back to the Vatican itself. As Giovanni draws closer to the truth, he becomes hunted himself. He must expose the conspirators before he joins their ever growing list of victims This is the Prequel to the Assassins Creed 2 Story.

GOOD Transparency Cities: Emerging City Innovation

I find it depressing that countries like Columbia, Rio de Janeiro and Brazil comes up with new innovations almost every year that makes it better for their citizens to live in their cities such as having a better environment and alternative energy resources.

While these countries move forward, the Philippines seems to be moving backward in innovation and environment.

So when is the Philippines ever going to have someone who is forward looking enough to do something like this?

Best Of The 2000s Commercial

Saw this list of best commercials in the 2000s. List includes several from Budweiser, Nike and Levi's

These are my favorites

Watch the rest and vote at http://www.bestofthe2000s.com/creative1.html

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Talks About Manny Pacquiao After Cotto Fight

Watch the video of Floyd Mayweather talking about Manny Pacquiao. So are we going to see a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.?

Pacquiao vs Cotto Fight Photos

Here are some photos of Pacquiao vs Cotto. Photo credits Francis Malabanan and Efren Penaflorida Jr.

Pacquiao vs Cotto

I'm sure by now you've all seen the fight between Pacquiao and Cotto. It was an amazing fight and this is the first time I've actually seen a fight from start to finish for Pacquiao.

I thought the first round was kind of iffy for Pacquiao where he was hit by Cotto a lot. At the end of the fight though, Pacquiao said he purposely let Cotto hit him to test how hard he punches. Pacquiao is one crazy guy.

First, the Philippine National Anthem by sung by La Diva.

Here's the punches Manny Pacquiao took from Miguel Cotto.

See those punches to Manny's body and face? He just wanted to test Cotto's punches.

Of course, who can forget the 3rd round fall of Cotto.

When Cotto fell on the 4th round, it was all downhill for Cotto from there. He pretty just avoided Pacquiao's punches as long as he could.

Here's the post fight interview.


And here's the report from GMA TV.


For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
So are we going to see Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Jr. next?

By the way, Manny Pacquiao had a concert after the fight. That's how crazy he is. Oh, and he gave a sample of one of his songs, it's "samtayms wen we tats".

Using Flies For Banner Ads

Here's another great ad. To promote their exhibition stand at the Franfurt Book Fair, Eichborn the publisher with the fly prepared 200 flies with an ultra light banner. The banner was attached with natural wax. After a short time the banner dropped off by itself. And the flies were not harmed.

Credit: Likecool.com

Vegetable Ad

Look at this great ad by the International Vegetarian Union using vegetables as your internal organs.

Oil overpriced, Recto maintains

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

====================

Former socio-economic planning secretary Ralph Recto reasserted that fuel pump prices early this year were overpriced by as much as P8 per liter.

Recto issued the statement Friday in response to claims by his successor, National Economic Development Authority (Neda) Director General Augusto Santos, and Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes that his claim of an overprice in fuel prices was without basis.

Recto said it was the technical staff of Neda itself that had formulated the method of approximating at least a benchmark in the cost of fuel to compute the overprice to about P8 in April of this year.

At the time, oil companies were charging as much as P40.85 per liter of premium plus unleaded gasoline,
P39.71 per liter of premium unleaded gasoline and
P39.07 per liter of unleaded gasoline, said Recto.

This was about P8 more than the estimated gasoline price of P32 based on Neda computations, he said.

“My contention is not without basis. The Neda technical staff utilized a method of comparison and computation in order to arrive at an estimate of how much fuel prices should be in April of this year.

“Comparing it to the prevailing cost at that time, there was reason to believe we are being overcharged by oil companies,” said Recto.

====================

Does it still surprise anyone that we are being overcharged by the oil companies? They know that they have the Filipino people by the neck. This is what happens when you build an economy based on one commodity, that commodity being oil.

The Philippines is too dependent on oil for power and transportation. We should start building alternative sources of fuel and energy. Because the oil companies have no competition for energy sources, they can charge anyone what they want.

If we start using electric vehicles or even just starting with fuel efficient vehicles, then moving to hybrid and pure electric vehicles, that will start lowering consumption of fuel.

For electricity, we should start moving to wind, solar and geothermal. Reduce the oil and coal power plant usage. Start teaching the population to save energy and changing to energy efficient lights. That's the way to beat these high prices.

When there is no demand, prices go down.

An Engineer's Guide to Dating, by "An Engineering Mind"

Very true.

Comelec bars gays in House on grounds of ‘immorality’

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

===============

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has dismissed a petition of Ang Ladlad, a gay organization seeking congressional representation in the May elections as a party-list group, saying it “tolerates immorality.”

In an eight-page resolution dated Nov. 11, the Comelec’s Second Division said Ang Ladlad’s petition “must fail” despite the group’s fulfillment of poll requirements, because the practice of homosexuality offends morals.

Homosexuality is also against Christian and Muslim faiths, it said.

Citing the teachings of Lehman Strauss, an American Bible teacher, the Comelec said the principles of Ang Ladlad were a threat to young Filipinos.

“Should this commission grant the petition, we will be exposing our youth to an environment that does not conform to the teachings of our faith,” the resolution said.

“As an agency of the government, ours too is the state’s avowed duty under Section 13, Article II of the Constitution, to protect our youth from moral and spiritual degradation,” it added.

Ang Ladlad leader Danton Remoto, a professor at Ateneo de Manila University, slammed the ruling for being “intellectually bankrupt.”

“The decision of the very old men showed painfully obsolete ideas about homosexuality,” Remoto said. “This is the 21st century and there should be human rights for all.”

Remoto said his group, which has 22,000 members nationwide, would file a motion for reconsideration. If it is rejected, he said he would go to the Supreme Court.

===============

Hmm...I don't think the Comelec is the right group to judge whether someone is immoral or not. Considering what happened in the last election and "Hello Garci", I would think that the Comelec is the last group to be judging someone as immoral.

They may say the gay party list is immoral because it means "exposing our youth to an environment that does not conform to the teachings of our faith". The youth is not ignorant to the fact that there are gays in society. Just look at the TV shows.

I would think that would be a lesser offense than the Comelec's immoral handling of elections which sows deceit, cheating and corruption of the moral soul. Being gay doesn't make one immoral. It's only immoral based on the Bible and not to anything else.

But being deceitful, cheating and lying is immoral to both the Bible and man's moral code.

So to the Comelec officials, get off your high horse. You have no moral grounds to judge someone as immoral. If they can vote, they can run for office.

The Best Manny Pacquiao Video Ever!

Highlights from Manny Pacquiao's fight so far. Great editing!

Bird Sings Through Feathers

The male club-winged manakin—a tiny bird of the Andean cloud forest—was vibrating a club-shaped wing feather against a neighboring, ridged feather to "sing" when trying to attract females.

Nature is just amazing isn't it? Watch the video.

How about this moonwalking bird?

To All The Kids Who Were Born In The 1950's, 60's and 70's

First, some of us survived being born to mothers who did not have an OB-Gyne and drank San Miguel Beer while they carried us.

While pregnant, they took cold or cough medicine, a te isaw, and didn't worry about diabetes.

Then after all that trauma, our baby cribs were made of hard wood covered with lead-based paints, pati na yung walker natin, matigas na kahoy din at wala pang gulong.

We had no soft cushy cribs that play music, no disposable diapers (lampin lang), and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, no knee pads , sometimes wala pang preno yung bisikleta.

As children, we would ride in hot un-airconditioned buses with wooden seats (yung JD bus na pula), or cars with no air conditioning & no seat belts (ngayon lahat may aircon na)

Riding on the back of a carabao on a breezy summer day was considered a treat. (ngayon hindi na nakakakita ng kalabaw ang mga bata).

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle purchased from 7-11 (minsan straight from the faucet or poso).

We shared one soft drink bottle with four of our friends, and NO ONE actually died from this or contacted hepatitis.

We ate rice with star margarine, drank raw eggs straight from the shell, and drank softdrinks with real sugar in it (hindi diet coke), but we weren't sick or overweight kasi nga......

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, and get back when the streetlights came on. Sarap mag patintero, tumbang preso , habulan at taguan.

No one was able to reach us all day (di uso ang cellphone , walang beepers) . And yes, we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our wooden trolleys (yung bearing ang gulong) or plywood slides out of scraps and then ride down the street , only to find out we forgot the brakes! After hitting the sidewalk or falling into a canal (seweage channel) a few times, we learned to solve the problem ourselves with our bare & dirty hands .

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 100 channels on cable, no DVD movies, no surround stereo, no iPOD's, no cell phones, no computers, no Internet, no chat rooms, and no Friendsters....... ...WE HAD REAL FRIENDS and we went outside to actually talk and play with them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no stupid lawsuits from these accidents. The only rubbing we get is from our friends with the words..masakit ba? Pero pag galit yung kalaro mo, ang sasabihin sa iyo..beh buti nga!

We played marbles (jolens) in the dirt , washed our hands just a little and ate dirty ice cream & fish balls. we were not afraid of getting germs in our stomachs.

We had to live with homemade guns " gawa sa kahoy, tinali ng rubberband , sumpit , tirador at kung ano ano pa na puedeng makasakitan...pero masaya pa rin ang lahat.

We made up games with sticks (syatong ), and cans ( tumbang preso)and although we were told they were dangerous, wala naman tayong binulag o napatay, paminsan minsan may nabubukulan lang.

We walked, rode bikes, or took tricycles to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them to jump out the window!

Mini basketball teams had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't pass had to learn to deal with the disappointment. Wala yang mga childhood depression at damaged self-esteem ek-ek na yan. Ang pikon, talo.

Ang magulang ay nandoon lang para tignan kung ayos lang ang mga bata, hindi para makialam at makipag-away sa ibang parents.

That generation of ours has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, creative thinkers and successful professionals ever! They are the CEO's, Engineers, Doctors and Military Generals of today.

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had failure, success, and responsibility. We learned from our mistakes the hard way.

You might want to share this with others who've had the luck to grow up as real kids. We were lucky indeed.

And if you like, forward it to your kids too, so they will know how brave their parents were.

It kind of makes you wanna go out and climb a tree, doesn't it?!

PS - The big letters are because your eyes may not be able to read this if they were typed any smaller (at your age).

Eye Test

Have you noticed the girl in the background?

Noticed her bum?

Well look at the picture carefully!

If your answer is YES then go and see an OPTICIAN!

What you see is the shoulder of the girl taking the picture!

How To Stay Young

How To Stay Young

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them'.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever.. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Arthur Benjamin: Lightning calculation and other "Mathemagic"

Mathemagician Arthur Benjamin races calculators to figure out 3 digit squares.

Watch his amazing show from TED.

How to Poop at Work

We've all been there but don't like to admit it...
We've all kicked back in our cubicles and suddenly felt something brewing down below. As much as we try to convince ourselves otherwise, the *WORK POOP* is inevitable. For those who hate pooping at work, following is the Survival Guide for taking a dump at work.

*CROP DUSTING* When farting, you walk really fast around the office so the smell is not in your area and everyone else gets a whiff, but doesn't know where it came from. Be careful when you do this. Do not stop until the full fart has been expelled. Walk an extra 30 feet to make sure the smell has left your pants.

*FLY BY* The act of scouting out a bathroom before pooping.
Walk in and check for other poopers. If there are others in the bathroom, leave and come back again. Be careful not to become a *FREQUENT FLYER*. People may become suspicious if they catch you constantly going into the bathroom.

*ESCAPEE* A fart that slips out while taking a pee or forcing a poop in a stall. This is usually accompanied by a sudden wave of embarrassment. If you release an escapee, do not acknowledge it. Pretend it did not happen. If you are a man and are standing next to the farter in the urinal,
pretend you did not hear it. No one likes an escapee. It is uncomfortable for all involved. Making a joke or laughing makes both parties feel uneasy.

*JAILBREAK* When forcing a poop, several farts slip out at a machine gun pace. This is usually a side effect of diarrhea or a hangover. If this should happen, do not panic. Remain in the stall until everyone has left the bathroom to spare everyone the awkwardness of what just occurred.

*COURTESY FLUSH* The act of flushing the toilet the instant the poop hits the water. This reduces the amount of air time the poop has to stink up the bathroom. This can help you avoid being caught doing the *WALK OF SHAME*.

*WALK OF SHAME* Walking from the stall, to the sink, to the door after you have just stunk up the bath room.. This can be a very uncomfortable moment if someone walks in and busts you. As with farts, it is best to pretend that the smell does not exist. Can be avoided with the use of the *COURTESY FLUSH*.

*OUT OF THE CLOSET POOPER* A colleague who poops at work and is Doggone proud of it. You will often see an Out Of The Closet Pooper enter the bathroom with a newspaper or magazine under their arm. Always look around the office for the Out Of The Closet Pooper before entering the bathroom.(hehehe this is you!)

*SAFE HAVENS* A seldom used bathroom somewhere in the building where you can least expect visitors. Try floors that are predominantly of the opposite sex. This will reduce the odds of a pooper of your sex entering the bathroom.

*TURD BURGLAR* Someone who does not realize that you are in the stall and tries to force the door open. This is one of the most shocking and vulnerable moments that can occur when taking a poop at work. If this occurs, remain in the stall until the *Turd Burglar* leaves. This way you will avoid all uncomfortable eye contact.

*CAMO-COUGH* A phony cough that alerts all new entrants into the bathroom that you are in a stall. This can be used to cover-up a *WATERMELON*, or to alert potential *TURDBURGLAR*. Very effective when used in conjunction with a *SHIRLEY TEMPLE*.

*SHIRLEY TEMPLE* A subtle toe-tapping that is used to alert potential *TURD BURGLARS*that you are occupying a stall. This will remove all doubt that the stall is occupied. If you hear a *SHIRLEY TEMPLE*, leave the bathroom immediately so the pooper can poop in peace.

*WATERMELON* A poop that creates a loud splash when hitting the toilet water. This is also an arrassing incident. If you feel a Watermelon coming on, create a diversion. See *CAMO-COUGH*.

SOME VARIETIES OF POOP YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF:

*The King Poop* = This kind is the kind of poop that killed Elvis. It doesn't come until you're all sweaty, trembling and purple from straining so hard.

* Bali Belly Poop* = You poop so much you lose 5 lbs.

*Cement Block* =You wish you'd gotten a spinal block before you poop.

*Cork Poop* = Even after the third flush, it's still floating in there. How do I get rid of it? This poop usually happens at someone else's house.

*The Bungee Poop* = The kind of poop that just hangs off your rear before it falls into the water.

*The Crippler* = The kind of poop where you have to sit on the toilet so long your legs go numb from the waist down.

*The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang* = The kind of poop that hits you when you're trapped in your car in a traffic jam.

*The Party Pooper* = The giant poop you take at a party. And when you flush the toilet, you watch in horror as the water starts to rise...

NOW EVERYONE TRY TO GO POOP IN PEACE

QUIT LAUGHING... POOPING IS A NATURAL PROCESS

The Man With 60 Voices

A few sample of the 60 voices of Mark M on Wowowee.

Here's more.

Don't Forget Colgate

Brilliant ad by Colgate reminds you to brush after you eat.

More details at Ads of the World.

Pigeon: Impossible

This is an amazing piece of 3D animation work. Hilarious!

Joker Arroyo: Ask Clinton about rights rap

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

==================

MANILA, Philippines—Angered by a bill in the United States Congress seeking to strip the Philippines of $2 million in US military assistance due purportedly to the country’s dismal human rights record, Sen. Joker Arroyo wants the issue taken up by Filipino officials during the two-day visit to Manila this week of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“We should ask her (Clinton) directly, why is it that you’re removing the military assistance that is not even a big amount—because you say that the Philippines is a human rights violator,” Arroyo said in an interview over dzBB radio.

Arroyo said America had a worse human rights record than the Philippines.

“If you look at yourselves in the mirror, you will see that you are even a worse violator, because it’s a state policy sanctioned by the (US) government,” he said.

Arroyo said that in the case of the Philippines, it was possible that human rights violations were being committed by members of the military and the police but this was not a state policy.

Clinton is due in the country on Friday. She has said that her visit had to do with America showing its solidarity with Filipinos who were badly battered by recent calamities.

He's one to talk. Why should he criticize the US government for their human rights violation? The $2 million is for "military assistance". It's called assistance because it's voluntarily given and it is the right of the country doing the giving to decide what to do with the money. Beggars can't complain if people don't give them money. That's just a pathetic retort by Sen. Joker Arroyo.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño said in Baguio City on Saturday that aside from military aid, rights groups also called on the US government to stop releasing official development assistance.

Casiño said they hoped Raymond Richhart, deputy director of the US state department’s Office of Maritime Southeast Asian Affairs, would honor his word that US military aid would not be released until the issue on human rights abuses in the country was resolved.

Casiño said they had yet to receive an official statement from the state department stipulating the non-release of the aid.

“But there is no need for a black and white; we take the information at face value. The information was from an official who was knowledgeable of the US Congress. The fact that the aid was withheld, it should send a message to the government that it should address the rights abuses in the country,” he said.

American legislators have expressed concern about persistent reports of human rights violations by the Philippine military and police.

At Fort Del Pilar, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said there was no need for the government to lobby to get the aid.

Rep. Teodoro Casiño is correct that the US should stop giving aid to the Philippines. These aids just ends up in the wrong hands and teaches the Filipinos nothing in terms of being self sufficient.

As the Bible says, give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for life.

Wonderful Definitions

School: A place where Papa pays and Son plays.

Life Insurance: A contract that keeps you poor all your life so that you can die Rich.

Nurse: A person who wakes you up to give you sleeping pills.


Marriage: It's an agreement in which a man loses his bachelor degree and a woman gains her masters.

Tears: The hydraulic force by which masculine willpower is defeated by feminine waterpower.

Lecture: An art of transferring information from the notes of the Lecturer to the notes of the students without passing through "the minds of either"

Conference: The confusion of one man multiplied by the number present.

Compromise: The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes he got the biggest piece.

Dictionary: A place where success comes before work.

Conference Room: A place where everybody talks, nobody listens and everybody disagrees later on.

Father: A banker provided by nature.

Boss: Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early.

Politician: One who shakes your hand before elections and your Confidence after.

Doctor: A person who kills your ills by pills, and kills you by bills.

Classics: Books, which people praise, but do not read.

Smile: A curve that can set a lot of things straight.

Office: A place where you can relax after your strenuous home life.

Yawn: The only time some married men ever get to open their mouths.

Etc.: A sign to make others believe that you know more than you actually do.

Committee: Individuals who can do nothing individually and sit to decide that nothing can be done together.

Experience: The name men give to their mistakes.

Philosopher: A fool who torments himself during life, to be wise.

A Flu Article

I wonder if this is true.

==================

In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu. Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it and many died.

The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different the wife replied that she had placed anunpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.

Now, I heard this story from my hairdresser in AZ. She said that several years ago many of her employees were coming down with the flu and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick. It must work.. (And no, she is not in the onion business.)

The moral of the story is, buy some onions and place them in bowls around your home. If you work at a desk, place one or two in your office or under your desk or even on top somewhere. Try it and see what happens. We did it last year and we never got the flu.

If this helps you and your loved ones from getting sick, all the better. If you do get the flu, it just might be a mild case..

Whatever, what have you to lose? Just a few bucks on onions!