Indonesian Baby Hooked On 40 Cigarettes A Day

They're getting them younger and younger!

Aquino Won’t Control Pork

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

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MANILA, Philippines—The next president will no longer enjoy the power of the pork that his predecessor did by virtue of a key provision inserted into the General Appropriations Act of 2010, a development that could help determine the leadership and alignments in the incoming 15th Congress.

The hands of presumptive president-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III will be tied by Section 67 of the law, which calls for a “prohibition against impoundment of appropriations,” Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman of Lakas-Kampi-CMD said Thursday.

The provision prevents the president from withholding the release of a budget allocation without the approval of both the Senate and the House of Representatives by a simple majority of the quorum.

Lagman, vice chair of the powerful House appropriations committee, said he introduced the provision during the 2009 budget deliberations to “protect the appropriations” approved by Congress.

The pork barrel, formally known as the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), comes from the national budget and funds legislators’ pet projects like roads, school buildings and day-care centers. It has long been known to be a source of kickbacks and campaign funds for lawmakers.

A senator is entitled to P200 million in PDAF every year and a member of the House, P70 million.

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That's great! That means we will have a President that has totally no control over congress and the senate. GMA has used the pork barrel in the past as a carrot and a stick to get the congressmen and senators in line with her wishes. I find it curious that this provision was passed just before we get a new President. Which now will have no say or even a small amount of control of a corrupt congress.

Isn't it amazing how these things are just coming up now just as GMA is elected into congress? I don't know, but something smells fishy.

Full article here.

Google TV

Google introduces Google TV. It's an Android based device that's either integrated to a new TV or a separate box you can connect to you TV. He's a video explaining it.

Whether this competes directly with Apple TV or Tivo, I don't know. But it would be interesting to see how these companies plan to revolutionize how we watch TV.

More details at Appleinsider.com and TechCrunch.

Simply Red - You Make Me Feel Brand New

I love this version of You Make Me Feel Brand New by Simply Red. I'm amazed on how Mick Hucknall can sing this song solo when the original required two people to sing it because of the high notes.

Here's the original song by The Stylistics.

ABS-CBN STAFF: SINO BA SHA? KUNG ARTISTA NGA DI NAGPAPABAYAD! Then go ahead and ask an artista to analyze the elections!

Reposted from Portia Carlos' notes on Facebook.

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For years now, each time a political situation arises, you can be sure that you'll find ABS-CBN at our house to interview my mom. Sometimes she would even be asked to go to the studio to appear in ANC shows. For these, she would be given a box of doughnuts every now and then as a token. Even so, she would always make an effort to accommodate their requests for interviews. This she does not so she could be seen or heard on TV (she doesn't even fix herself when interviewed! minsan nga naka slippers lang sha), but to give light on political matters.

Recently, my mom was asked by the network to analyze the elections from 4:30am to 12noon. When she asked for a TOR (for being asked to render 7.5 hours of work analyzing the elections), a source said that a network staff exclaimed "Sino ba sha? Kung artista nga di nagpapabayad?". Then go ahead and ask an artista to analyze the elections! No offense to artistas, but my mom is what she is today as a result of decades of studying and honing her craft!

Here is what my mom says about the issue:

"There is , indeed, something wrong with our society which pays the likes of Revillame the huge sum of P1Million a day and could hardly give a glass of water to an academic ( like me and many others) who have toiled all their 45 years of their professional lives writing, teaching, reading and honing their craft as scholars. In the first Gulf War, for instance, the military analyst at CNN names Gen Clark(?) was paid US$330,000 for saying exactly the same things I was saying here in the Philippines. The only difference? I was paid ZILCH and was money out because I paid for my taxi to go to the TV station...ano ba yan??

In another instance, a visiting European scholar was invited here and we tandemned in a lecture/discussion somewhere in Mindanao. Evidently, since I was a local scholar, I had a better handle on our politics so he was not able to answer many questions during open forum. Guess how much he was paid in honoraria? Reportedly. a whopping US$10,000 and me? A tiny P20,000! hello!!!

Of course, the only reason we allow ourselves to be interviewed is not to plaster our unmade-up faces on TV but to correct the many mediocrities and strange stories which so called analysts spin as they try to sound "learned"by interpreting survey numbers, for instance...yikes

It isn't money qua money...it is how much value ( or the lack of it) these networks put on the professional work of academics whom they interview. It's fine if it's just a few minutes of about once a month but to ask you to render 8 hours of work analysing elections and promises to give you a token, like 6 pieces of doughnut...hey, there is something so dreadfully wrong here..."

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And we wonder why the Philippines is in the state it's in.

Here's the link to the article.

Drive - What Motivates Us?

Video animation adapted from the book called "Drive:The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us" by Daniel Pink.

Batibot

Remember the kids show Batibot? I used to hate that show. I grew up with Sesame Street and at the time, most shows were in English. Even the news programs were in English like those news programs with Tina Monson-Palma (I'm aging myself).

For background, Batibot was first called "Sesame!". Batibot was made by the same company that made Sesame Street but for the Philippine market. It started out as Sesame! in 1984 and later renamed as Batibot.

When it came out, It was in Tagalog. I was shocked! Shocked that a show with muppets and a kids show at that was in Tagalog. I was even more shocked when they stopped showing Sesame Street and hated the fact that they changed it to a Tagalog version of Sesame Street.

I used to hate watching Tagalog shows and never watched any of them. That's why I hated Sesame! But as it went on and later renamed to Batibot, it started to grow on me. It was a high quality show and there was no argument on that. It was very child friendly and the cast was great as they were all veteran stage actors. The main muppets, Kiko Matching and Pong Pagong were great. They were based on Sesame Street's Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird. I eventually learned to love the show and was happy that there were quality programs for kids.

Unfortunately, the main muppets were taken off by the Children's Television Workshop in 1994 due to licensing issues and because of that, their audience declined. In 1998, Batibot ceased airing and since then, I haven't seen any other children's programming in the Philippines that can compare. All we see now is Cartoon Network which doesn't really teach a child anything and Disney Channel which is pretty much all a commercial for Disney products. But the main problem is, these shows are all in English and there is no comparable children's show in Filipino.

On March 26, 2010, Batibot returned to TV5. I haven't seen the new show, but if they make it as good as the old ones.

Here is a clip of the opening theme of Batibot that I found.

Bathroom Dance by Gagang Lady

Bitoy's spoof of Lady Gaga's Bad Romance.

Greyson Chance Singing Paparazzi

Greyson Chancewho is 12 years old sing's Lady Gaga's Paparrazi on the piano at his school became a hit on Youtube.


He was featured on Ellen Denegeres. Here's the video. Amazing kid.

What Is iPad?

New ad from Apple for the iPad.

Compare this to the old "What is Newton?" ad.

Octopus Kills Shark

I've never seen this happen before.

Impossible Motion: Magnet-Like Slopes

Did they just invent anti-gravity?

Noynoy and Binay Leads Partial Election Results

Noynoy Aquino and Jejomar Binay are leading the partial count. Surprisingly, Villar is not in second place but Joseph Estrada!

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

Willie Revillame Goes On 'Indefinite Leave'

Willie Revillame goes on indefinite leave. He wants Jobert Sucaldito to be booted out or he will resign from Wowowee. I highly doubt he will leave a show that pays him P1 million per episode.

Dito napikon si Willie Revillame kay Jobert Sucaldito.

What If Bayani Is President?

iPad - Will It Shred?

Some people will do anything to get attention.

Lady Gaga's Telephone - The Afghanistan Remake

Fort Bragg soldiers recreated the music video of a Lady Gaga's Telephone.

Arizona/Cinco de Mayo New Machete Trailer

All star cast!

Bubble Gang - Rich Kids

Oo nga naman!

The Most Interesting Man in the World Montage

These are brilliant and funny commercials for Dos Equis Beer. These commercials are just 15 seconds spots but made Dos Equis very memorable. Stay thirsty my friends.

Wow Philippines, More Than The Usual

Behind all the stupid political brouhaha. This is what the Philippines is truly like.

IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT

I got this from an e-mail. I can't believe a politician would actually say this. But people can take it in two ways. Either be offended by it or actually agree with it.

What is your take on it?

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He's done it again...

He sure isn't backing down on his hard line stance and one has to appreciate his belief in the rights of his native countrymen.

A breath of fresh air to see someone lead. I wish some leaders would step up in Canada & USA.

Australian Prime Minister does it again!!

This man should be appointed King of the World... Truer words have never been spoken.

It took a lot of courage for this man to speak what he had to say for the world to hear. The retribution could be phenomenal, but at least he was willing to take a stand on his and Australia 's beliefs.

Whole world needs a leader like this!


Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - Australia

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

Separately, Rudd angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques.

Quote:

'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT... Take It Or Leave It.

I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.'

'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'

'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society. Learn the language!'

'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'

'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'

'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'

'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'

Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves in Canada & USA , WE will find the courage to start speaking and voicing the same truths.

If you agree please SEND THIS ON and ON, to as many people as you know

I wish some leaders would step up in Canada & USA.
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