Have yourself a merry little Christmas

wikipedia article

The song first appeared in a scene in which a family is distraught by the father's plans to move to New York City for a job promotion, leaving behind their beloved home in St. Louis, Missouri, just before the long-anticipated 1904 World's Fair begins. In a scene set on Christmas Eve, Judy Garland's character, Esther, sings the song to cheer up her despondent five-year-old sister, Tootie, played by Margaret O'Brien.[7],,,

 

Garland's version of the song, which was also released as a single by Decca Records, became popular among United States troops serving in World War II; her performance at the Hollywood Canteen brought many soldiers to tears.

This essay at The Catholic Thing explains why Christmas inspires us to nostalgia: it is a longing for home. And these songs are often sung before Christmas because the Christmas celebration is about the family and our loved ones being with us:

 

...(these) songs and movies are “Christmas movies” or “Christmas songs.” Sure, we call them that, but they’re really all about Advent – about the sense of longing which steadily grows as we approach Christmas...

Notice, too, that each of the songs and films I listed came out within a decade of the Second World War – the greatest collective experience of homesickness and (for the lucky ones) safe return in American history. Many of these make explicit reference to the war. And while thousands of songs and films about Christmas (and Advent) have been made since, and while some have even become immensely popular, the post-War, pop-culture, nostalgia factory which produced the old hits remains the standard against which the more recent additions are measured.,,

 at a time when many pundits insist the family is no longer important, Christmas reminds us that our family is echoed in the family of Jesus: We Filipinos are not big in theology but see God as part of our extended family: So we celebrate Christmas as the day of the birth of Kuya (older brother) Jesus, and we see Mama Mary as our own mother, and God the Father as our father. 

and as The Catholic Thing essay reminds us:

We Christians know that Advent is a season to prepare for the arrival of the Christ child... The God from whom we were separated in the Fall will come among us, and the deepest longing and restlessness will give way before the Prince of Peace. He makes a home among his people so that we may find a home in him.,

hello kitty post of the week

Dog Evolution

splar panels we haz them

f

or the past two years they have been buying/renting valuable farm land here in Luzon to put up solar panels. We even had thugs looking for Kuya to ask him if he wanted to sell our land to them.

 

https://www.pvknowhow.com/news/nueva-ecija-solar-project-impressive-778-mw-milestone/

 

So with all the corrruption in the news, I asked Grok to check about corruption.

Overview of the Nueva Ecija Solar ProjectThe Nueva Ecija solar project refers to MTerra Solar (also known as Terra Solar), a massive renewable energy initiative spanning 3,500 hectares across Nueva Ecija and Bulacan provinces in Central Luzon, Philippines. Developed by a partnership between Solar Philippines (founded by Rep. Leandro Leviste) and Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGen, part of the Manuel V. Pangilinan group), it is set to be the world's largest single-site solar photovoltaic farm paired with battery energy storage.

 

Key details include:Capacity: 3,500 MW solar generation and 4,500 MWh battery storage. Cost:

 

Approximately P200 billion (about $3.5 billion USD).

 

Timeline: Groundbreaking led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on November 21, 2024; first phase (1,000 MW) on track for completion by 2027, with full operations by 2028.>{?..... Impact: Expected to generate over 5 billion kWh annually, powering 2 million households and reducing CO2 emissions by 4 million tons per year. It received Board of Investments (BOI) green-lane certification in August 2024 for fast-tracked incentives.......

 

The project has progressed ahead of schedule, with 54% of first-phase works completed by July 2025, and recent engineering contracts awarded to Chinese firms in October 2025.

emphasis mine. 

 

Investments include $600 million from UK-based Actis in 2024.\

 

Corruption Allegations and Related Incidents

 

No direct corruption, graft, or bribery allegations have been publicly leveled against the MTerra Solar project itself based on available reports.

 

The initiative has faced some operational challenges, such as transmission line delays leading to an earlier consideration of exiting a related site in 2024, but these are logistical rather than corrupt.

 

Environmental and community concerns have been raised by activist groups, citing potential land displacement and ecosystem impacts on 3,500 hectares of farmland, but these do not involve financial misconduct.

 

However, the project's co-developer and Solar Philippines founder, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, has been at the center of a high-profile anti-corruption effort in August 2025. While unrelated to the solar project (focusing instead on public works in his home district), the incident highlights Leviste's "zero-tolerance" stance on graft, which he has emphasized in his dual roles as lawmaker and businessman:

 

The Bribery IncidentDate and Details: On August 22, 2025, Abelardo Calalo, then-DPWH Batangas 1st District Engineer, was arrested in Taal, Batangas, after attempting to bribe Leviste with P3.12 million during a meeting at Leviste's office. The cash was presented in envelopes as a "donation" or "standard practice" commission (3% of contract values totaling P104.2 million). Purpose: Calalo allegedly sought to dissuade Leviste from pursuing a congressional probe into irregularities in three DPWH flood control and road projects awarded earlier in 2025:

 

Road widening in Lian town (P50.18 million). Maintenance of flood mitigation structures and drainage (P39.2 million). Road construction in Lemery town (P14.9 million). Connection to Contractors: The bribe funds reportedly came from TopTech Trading and Construction Co., a firm with 27 DPWH contracts worth P1.45 billion in Batangas. TopTech is owned by the godchild of former Batangas Rep. Ma. Theresa "Maring" Lazaro-Buhain, whom Leviste later tagged as a "big fish" in the scheme.

 

Outcomes:Leviste coordinated with police for an entrapment operation and filed charges against Calalo for direct bribery (Art. 210, Revised Penal Code), corruption of public officials (Art. 212, RPC), and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (R.A. 3019). In September 2025, Leviste amended the complaint to include TopTech. DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan suspended Calalo indefinitely and fired him; Bonoan called the act "deserving of jail time." Calalo denied the allegalllllltions, claiming political entrapment by Leviste, and was offered a chance to become a state witness against higher-ups but refused.llllll The scandal led to broader scrutiny, including Leviste retracting some later claims against a DPWH undersecretary in October 2025 to avoid unfounded accusations

 

Leviste has positioned this as part of a larger fight against "deep-rooted" DPWH corruption, including overpricing and favoritism in contracts. Some online discussions (e.g., on Reddit and Facebook) speculate on larger bribe amounts (up to P360 million in unverified claims), but official reports confirm P3.12 million. Critics, including opinion pieces, question Leviste's motives, suggesting his probes leverage his business interests, but no evidence ties this to MTerra Solar.]\

 

Broader ContextThe Philippines has faced ongoing graft issues in infrastructure, notably a separate 2025 flood control scandal implicating senators and costing billions in taxpayer funds. Leviste's refusal has been praised as a model for public servants, potentially boosting investor confidence in renewables amid global concerns over corruption delaying projects. If you're referring to a specific aspect (e.g., land permits or funding), provide more details for deeper analysis. just posting for me to read later.

Is modernism destroying the family?

 

Are we redefining family or moving beyond it?

Join host Imran Garda on @DohaDebates, alongside guests and students from Qatar Foundation’s Education City and beyond, for a majlis-style debate. pic.twitter.com/9wCbRIlf2k

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 10, 2025

Pearl Harbor

You know, I wonder when all the conspiracy types are going around saying FDR knew there was going to be an attack and he left it happen so the US could enter the war.

These conspiracy theorists seem to thinking Japan only attacked Pearl Harbor, but they ignore the attacks in Malaysia and the Philippines happened at the same time, and even if Japan had not hit Pearl Harbor, the US would still be at war because the Philippines was a US territory.

in the Philippines it was Dec 8. And although a lot of blog posts say MacArthur was not prepared, they forget he was in charge of the Philippine military... and since he anticipated an air attack he asked for the New Mexico Nat Guard for help. 

These units were brought over to man anti aircraft guns, but were not in the Philippines very long before the attack, and often the guns and ammunition were lacking.

And many of them ended up in Bataan and were in the death march, which is why every year they hold a memorial in New Mexico to remember them, and our Catholic church had a Bataan memorial in the back: four local Apache were in the NG there, and the local priest volunteered to go with them.

from the Taos historical society link:

The infamous Bataan Death March was one of the greatest atrocities of World War II.Death March Route. Approximately 1,800 men from the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery Regiment – also known as the “New Mexico Brigade” deployed to the Philippines in September 1941, during World War II.

I should note that most of those in Bataan and who were in the Death march were local Filipinos: Somethning often left out of the American stories. 

 

When the Regiment reached the Philippines they immediately moved to Fort Stotsenberg, 75 miles north of Manila. Over the coming months, they would train under simulated war conditions. By December things would change drastically.

On December 8, 1941 Japanese bombers made their appearance and the war was on. It was the 200th Coast Artillery (Anti-aircraft) — the original full Regiment — who is credited as being the “First to Fire” on December 8, 1941. That night, the 515th Coast Artillery (Anti-aircraft) was formed from the ranks of the 200th. The Japanese landings on Luzon began on December 10, 1941, with more Japanese forces landing on December 12, 1941.

The 200th and later the 515th could not do much damage as their powder train fuses only had a range of 20,000 feet and the bombers were flying at 23,000 feet. The main Japanese invasion forces landed December 22, 1941 and the decision was made to withdraw the forces into Bataan.

The 200th covered the retreat of the Northern Luzon Force into Bataan and the 515th for the South Luzon Force. They were able to hold the Japanese air and ground attacks back, thus saving the bridges – and the North and South Luzon Forces found a clear, safe passage to the Bataan peninsula.

 More here

The 200th Coast Artillery (AA) has a distinguished military legacy. The unit was established in 1939 from elements of the 111th Cavalry, New Mexico National Guard. The 111th Cavalry had its origin in the territorial militias of the 1850s and fought in the U.S. Civil War, in the Spanish-American War as “Rough Riders,” and in World War I.

 

After the 200th was inducted into federal service, recruits joined from all walks of New Mexican life. They enlisted in centers in Albuquerque, Carlsbad, Clovis, Gallup, Santa Fe, Silver City and Taos. Many young men deferred going to college. Many chose to leave their small towns and rural villages for the first time in their lives.

On January 6, 1941, the 200th was sent to the Anti-Aircraft Training Center at Fort Bliss, Texas, where draftees augmented its ranks. At the end of the training, the 200th was cited as the best anti-aircraft unit in the U.S. Armed Forces. In August, General George C. Marshall's action letter ordered the immediate dispatch of the 200th to the Philippines. By the end of the month, the 200th set sail from San Francisco, California.

 One webpage noted they were sent to the Philippines because many spoke Spanish. Another trivia not noted: their ranks included Anglos, Americans of Mexican heritage, and from various AmerIndian tribes. 

The attack on Manila came when people were in church for the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec 8. 

Lolo was at home with his family, and helped his mom and small cousin walk to our nearby farm, about 4 miles north of town, where they stayed until they knew it was safe. His older brother and cousin joined the anti Japanese guerillas... his cousin was captured and died in the notorious Red House, but Lolo was too young to join until the end of the war, when Mac Arthur returned, and then he joined his brother but mainly to patrol to keep the streets safe. 

Killing for human organs

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/purchasers-of-black-market-human-organs-often-complicit-in-murder/ Nat review article 

 I answered the post by saying:

Tulsi Gabbard announced they found a clinic in Mexico that took in pregnant women, and then imprisoned them, delivered their babies to sell to Americans, and killed the moms for their organs. But although it was documented, it got no publicity.

https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/woman-cartel-member-la-diabla-arrested-for-alleged-infant-trafficking-organ-harvesting-federal-bureau-of-investigation-fbi-counterterrorism-narcos 

 But I should note that the part in the NR article about mutilated African bodies might not be for organ donors, but for witchcraft. When I worked in Liberia 40 years ago, nearly every week they would find a mutilated body, usually of a street kid, in Monrovia, and the locals would sigh and say it was witchcraft; You bury body parts under the store so the devil will make you rich.... 

They finally caught one of the gang when one kid escaped. 

 and before you guys start pointing fingers, read James O'Keefe's expose on baby body parts sold in the USA....https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/17/planned-parenthood-video-abortion-gop-medical-research 

 excuse the lousy posting: MY main browser would not work after a windows update two weeks ago, and I am having trouble with my fonts etc.

Fiesta procession

The staff went out to join the procession after the 4 pm mass 

update: The procession was long and ended at midnight after going all around the town. 

This is from 3 years ago:

   

the city patron saint is Mama Mary under the title la Devina Pastora, the holy shepherdess. 

 December 8 is the feast of the Immaculate Conception, which merely means that Mary would be born without the taint of sin. This belief is the Catholic version of a belief of Mary's sinlessness that is found in the Eastern Churches and Islam. If you believe Jesus is God, you can see how his mother who carried him for nine months should be sinless. Or as the Angel called her: Full of Grace. 

 This of course makes my Protestant family full of disdain. They are strict Baptist/Fundamentalists. But Catholics allow all sorts of approaches to God, and here it is family oriented: Mama Mary is seen as our mother, Jesus the older brother, and God the Father the father who runs things. and of course, Catholics remember the marriage feast of Cana where Mama Mary told her son that the wine gave out. So we often see her as the one to ask to go to God for our minor problems that we don't want to bother the creator of the universe with. 

 And of course, Fiestas are how we learn about God and Jesus. Fiestas and parties and gifts for kids.

making peace

All Decorated for CHristmas

 fast forward to five minutes:

Killer compost

 in last week's episode of Landman, we saw hunter fall over dead and then oil field repair men get sick and identify the problem but are rescued in time.

So what caused this?

more HERE:

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a highly toxic gas common in oil-producing regions like West Texas. Sometimes, this gas can be leaked due to aging or improperly sealed storage tanks into air during the process of oil production....

 but it's not just from oil fields:

Six workers, including family members aged 17 to 50, died at a dairy farm in Keensburg, northern Colorado, in October H2S exposure in a confined space near manure piping. Investigation revealed they were handling pipes which were transferring the gas from decomposing manure destined for compost when high concentrations of the gas killed them within a few breaths. One worker collapsed first, which prompted others to enter the area to help, leading to a chain of fatalities in what experts call a tragically common but unusually large-scale event on US dairy farms.

,,,,and don't forget about the sewer problem:

I asked Grok about such deaths in poor countries but it said most deaths are probably not reported. but they did find China was honest enough to report some deaths:

h2s deaths in third world 

Deaths from H2S in Third World Countries Third world means developing or low-income countries. Data on H2S deaths is poor there. Many places do not track it well. This makes exact numbers hard to find.

 

From reports: In India, 3 workers died from H2S on an oil rig in the sea near Bombay High in 2023. They entered a closed space with bad air. Good plans and training could have stopped it.

 

In Africa, high work injury rates happen in places like Ethiopia.

 

 

H2S is a risk in farms, sewers, and oil work. But no exact death count for H2S. In Asia and Africa, oil and gas jobs have H2S risks. No global count, but deaths are likely under-reported. Worldwide,

 

H2S kills about 7 workers a year in the US.

 

In poor countries, it may be more due to weak safety rules. No full stats exist. Poisons like H2S cause many deaths in low-income areas, but details are missing. Why Hard to Track? Poor countries lack good health records. Many deaths happen in remote jobs like mining or farming. Survivors may not get help.

 

...Worldwide, H2S kills workers in oil. In Saudi, it may be like that due to big oil fields. Poor tracking makes numbers low. Why Hard to Track? Records are not good. Many deaths in remote sites. Tests for H2S are rare after death.

 

 so I asked about deaths in China, where there is at least some reporting on such deaths.

 

China has many oil, gas, and chemical jobs. H2S is a big risk there. Data is not full. Many cases are not reported well. Most deaths happen in closed spaces like sewers, tanks, or factories. Known cases: In 2003, a gas well blowout in Chongqing killed 243 people. It spread H2S over 25 km. Over 2,000 got sick. It was the worst H2S accident in China. In 2024, a factory in Shandong killed 7 workers. H2S formed in a closed tank during work. 4 others got hurt. In 2019, a chemical plant in Sichuan killed 3. H2S came from waste in a tank. In 2013, a plant in Liaoning killed 3 during repair. Bad safety let H2S escape. In 2008, a factory in Yunnan killed 6. Too much chemical made H2S gas leak. In 2004, workers in Wuxi died 2 while fixing pipes. Gas from sewage. From 2012 to now, at least 18 big H2S accidents killed 62 people. Many more small ones. Blind rescue makes deaths worse. No exact total. China has thousands of work deaths a year. H2S causes some, but tracking is poor.