There was a big earthquake in Taiwan, and the Philippines internet is still not working well. I can finally post here, but still can't get to my yahoo private Email. If there is an emergency, family can email thru the googlemail listed on the blog.
They expect the internet to be working by next week.
We are all well and gained weight from all the parties.
FINEST KIND CLINIC AND FISHMARKET.... Discussing medicine, culture, and the joys of cooking Pansit.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Automating advertisements
Like most people, I don't read the ads. But today, this one made me laugh.
Holy ghost
Visiting Holy Ghost? Compare Hotel Prices, Reviews, Maps
travel.Yahoo.com
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Holy ghost
Visiting Holy Ghost? Compare Hotel Prices, Reviews, Maps
travel.Yahoo.com
Ads by Google
Merry Christmas
Sleep, Holy Babe, Upon Thy Mother's breast.
Great Lord of earth and sea and sky,
How sweet it is to see Thee lie
In such a place of rest.
2. Sleep, Holy Babe, Thine angels watch around;
All bending low with folded wings
Before th'Incarnate King of kings,
In rev'rent awe profound.
3. Sleep, Holy Babe, While I with Mary gaze
In joy upon Thy face awhile,
Upon the loving Infant smile,
Which there divinely plays.
Summary for War on Terror from India
Against terrorists, there is only one immutable strategy—not to let them intimidate the State and the civil society, not to give in, not to let them prevail and keep countering them till they wither away. This strategy has to remain constant.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Investment advice
Watch for these consolidations in 2007:
1.) Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush, and W.R.Grace Co. will merge and become: Hale, Mary, Fuller, Grace.
2.) Polygram Records, Warner Bros., and Zesta Crackers will join forces and become:
Poly, Warner Cracker.
3.) 3M will merge with Goodyear and become: MMMGood.
4. Zippo Manufacturing, Audi Motors, Dofasco, and Dakota Mining will merge and become: ZipAudiDoDa.
5. FedEx is expected to join its major competitor, UPS, and become:
FedUP.
6. Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers will become:
Fairwell Honeychild.
7. Grey Poupon and Docker Pants are expected to become:
Poupon Pants.
8. Knotts Berry Farm and the National Organization of Women will become:
Knott NOW!
And finally...
9. Victoria's Secret and Smith &Wesson will merge under the new name:
TittyTitty BangBang
---your email of the day from Col. Updraft.
1.) Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush, and W.R.Grace Co. will merge and become: Hale, Mary, Fuller, Grace.
2.) Polygram Records, Warner Bros., and Zesta Crackers will join forces and become:
Poly, Warner Cracker.
3.) 3M will merge with Goodyear and become: MMMGood.
4. Zippo Manufacturing, Audi Motors, Dofasco, and Dakota Mining will merge and become: ZipAudiDoDa.
5. FedEx is expected to join its major competitor, UPS, and become:
FedUP.
6. Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers will become:
Fairwell Honeychild.
7. Grey Poupon and Docker Pants are expected to become:
Poupon Pants.
8. Knotts Berry Farm and the National Organization of Women will become:
Knott NOW!
And finally...
9. Victoria's Secret and Smith &Wesson will merge under the new name:
TittyTitty BangBang
---your email of the day from Col. Updraft.
Headlines below the field
Taheri reports on Basra the good, the bad and the ugly.
Michelle Malkin is still looking for the AP source Captain Jamail Hussein of the many names, especially since the officer with the similar name cited by Danzinger denies being an AP source.
David Ignatius' opedin the WaPo tells the Washington elite what any geek reading blogs could tell them: The press is not reporting about the soldiers well, and they are angry about it.LINK Smith gets serenaded and US cancels joint exercises with the Philippines. A nasty thing, but I'm old enough to think you don't drink and drive, so to speak.
And, for us "full figured" gals, good news: The Fashion industry will ban skinny models. Instead of being 5 foot 7 /90 lb/ size 2, they will be 5 foot 7/110 lbs/size 6.
Well, I'm dieting...and have lost 40 lbs...only 50 lbs to go!Friday, December 22, 2006
Headlines below the fold
Libya sentences some nurses and a doctor to death for infecting 300 kids with HIV...the problem is that the kids probably got it from dirty needles, not deliberately. The worst news is Gloria just arranged for Libya to hire Pinay nurses...
China is stopping single women and older couples from adopting. Darn. I know several women who adopted babies from China (My kids were from Colombia, which also limited single adoption; I was single when I adopted, but was allowed to adopt older, hard to place children).
Fat? now instead of saying "it's my hormones", you can just say "It's my gut microbes".
And the most important news of the day: Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows is coming...
Thursday, December 21, 2006
History of religion
A flash map that shows 5000 years of history...
Hmmm...they left out zorastrianism...
Hmmm...they left out zorastrianism...
Headlines below the fold
While Michelle Malkin searches Iraq for Captain Jamail Hussein, a witness/source for 60 AP stories, JunkYardBlog shows a map and says the guy sure gets around.
If you aren't onto the story, Blogfather has lots of links.
----------------------------------------
Belmont clubdiscusses virtual Jihad, i.e. the success of the jihadis in manipulating western and Arab media.
-----------------
InFrom TheCold explains to you exactly what and why Bush is increasing the number of troops to Iraq.
----------------------
Indonesia releases the cleric who inspired the Bali bombing...this is bad, because he is associated with the groups helping the J.I. make bombs in Mindanao...and guess where the nearest "infidel" nation is for him to bomb, after they finish killing all the Christians in New Guinea and Sulawesi, and the Hindus in Bali?
-------------------------------
Still need to buy a gift for someone you love? well check out this Bargain...they're having a buy two get one free sale
(headsup OneHandClapping)
-------------
Instapundit suggests THIS
Actually, I always had one of these to teach my women...and once in awhile we had tiny ones to give out to "practice"...
Simbang Gabi
Every morning Lolo wakes me up at 3 am to get ready to go to the Missa de Gallo, (mass of the rooster) or Simbang Gabi (early morning mass). (see LINK2, Headsup Freerepublic)
This old Philippine custom was a pre dawn mass for nine days (novena) before Christmas, and was early in the morning so that the farmers could attend mass before going to work.
So Lolo wakes me up at 3 am and we walk two blocks to the main street to catch a tricycle to get to the church. If we get there too "late", i.e. after 3:30, there are no seats, although since he is elderly people usually move over for him. The aisles are packed, and people sit outside on steps and curbs or stand outside at the many open doors (three side doors) if they can't get a seat.
The mass is like Sunday, full of hymns and singing. There is a procession up to the altar with the Knights of Colombus in their white shirts and then the choir sings.
The mass is "long" because they sing the Gloria and there is a sermon. At the offertory, the little children bring up envelopes with money and a chose family brings up the bread and wine, while the ushers take the collection.
We still kneel for the consecration, but then stand for the great AMEN and the Our Father. Most people here are in various charismatic groups, so they hold their hands "Orante" (hands at shoulder level, palms up) through the prayer, and at the end the hands go up and then hold the hand of the person next to you for the last few lines.
Communion is packed...the helpers give communion out in the front, at the sides, in the middle, and at the back. In cases like the Simbang Gabi, the helpers go to the side and back doors so those standing outside (where lots of the elderly stand when there is no seating inside) can receive.
This is the Philippines, so people, especially children, are sneaking in and out all the time. Outside, the vendors sell baloons, candles, and candy.
What is interesting is that although whole families go, the church is full of young people. Lots of boys. Afterward, the young people all head for the city square to eat and drink and flirt. Well, that's one way to encourage young men to go to church. Of course, most of the congregation goes home but a lot of them head toward the vendors. We went to buy bibinka, but the line was too long, so we went home to our usual fried egg and fried rice.
The link is about the celebration in Los Angeles, where many Pinoys live. LINK is to another Catholic newspaper.
As you can see in the photo, the old city hall is covered with lights, as is the city square and a lot of the businesses.
Hundreds of thousands of Filippinos will head home for the holidays, so the traffic is terrific, and the trains, ferries and planes are all packed. It's a family time for everyone.
In the evening, the kids come around singing off key (they leave after you give them one or two pesos) and also the small bands come around playing hymns for everyone to enjoy.
As the holiday comes closer, the firecrackers will start...so getting a good night's sleep is hard for me (Lolo just removes his hearing aid, and voila, instant silence).
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Boomeritis
“The antidote to aging is activity,” the therapists wrote.
NYTimes assures aging narcisstic yuppies they can stay young if they diet and exercize...
Reminds me of that Haiku:
Ah, I promised
Never Never to grow old
Listen: New Years Bell....
NYTimes assures aging narcisstic yuppies they can stay young if they diet and exercize...
Reminds me of that Haiku:
Ah, I promised
Never Never to grow old
Listen: New Years Bell....
America is losing the information war
a long and thoughtful article from the NewYorker, of all places.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Headlines below the fold
Did you know that Christianity in India...goes back to St Thomas?
Did you know that Iraq's economy is booming? (Headsup Instapundit, and other good news at Winds of Change Blog)
Did you know communist Romania killed an estimated 2 million people, without any left wing protests saying no blood for pork lard?
Did you know that a condom will hold a gallon of water in an emergency? also, USAToday complains most people don't have emergency kits. Well yes. In Oklahoma, I had one in our garage, but if a tornado hit, the supplies would probably blow away with the garage.
Did you know that the Kalihari Bushmen were thrown off their lands because they interfered with animal conservation? they sued and are now allowed back.
Did you know you can buy your dog a $120 pet bed? HERE is an article on pet gifts.
Get a life, fellahs. Give the dog a 20 cent soup bone and send the money to help the 120,000 homeless in Albay instead.
And finally, another day, another typhoon...actually it should miss us and hit Taiwan, but if it turns we're in deep trouble.
And yow is YOUR day?
Did you know that Iraq's economy is booming? (Headsup Instapundit, and other good news at Winds of Change Blog)
Did you know communist Romania killed an estimated 2 million people, without any left wing protests saying no blood for pork lard?
Did you know that a condom will hold a gallon of water in an emergency? also, USAToday complains most people don't have emergency kits. Well yes. In Oklahoma, I had one in our garage, but if a tornado hit, the supplies would probably blow away with the garage.
Did you know that the Kalihari Bushmen were thrown off their lands because they interfered with animal conservation? they sued and are now allowed back.
Did you know you can buy your dog a $120 pet bed? HERE is an article on pet gifts.
Get a life, fellahs. Give the dog a 20 cent soup bone and send the money to help the 120,000 homeless in Albay instead.
And finally, another day, another typhoon...actually it should miss us and hit Taiwan, but if it turns we're in deep trouble.
And yow is YOUR day?
Monday, December 18, 2006
CATS TAKE TWO
CATS LISTENING TO HIP HOP.....
CATS LISTENING TO HEAVY METAL
CATS LISTENING TO TECHNO (ON ECSTACY)
Family news
We went to Manila today to get Lolo's hearing aide adjusted.
It was a long drive, made worse because of heavy traffic (people traveling home and also out shopping).
We are now back and I don't have to shout at him.
I was in bed, but the christmas carolers are outside singing. Oh well.
It was a long drive, made worse because of heavy traffic (people traveling home and also out shopping).
We are now back and I don't have to shout at him.
I was in bed, but the christmas carolers are outside singing. Oh well.
Everyday Heroes
Pat Conrad (Prince of Tides, the Great Santini) writes about one of his classmates a true hero, and then questions his own choice to oppose the war in Viet Nam
The bishop and the ball breaker saint
At a time when the Mafia are romanticized on HBO and "insurgents" are not called by their true name, i.e. murders of the innocent, and at a time when the fight over christmas ignores a tiny child who changed the world, perhaps this story should be told.
"And what if someone did something?"was Puglisi's favorite saying. and the story is of a simple parish priest who took on the Mafia, and how, after he was killed, the bishop took up the fight.
"And what if someone did something?"was Puglisi's favorite saying. and the story is of a simple parish priest who took on the Mafia, and how, after he was killed, the bishop took up the fight.
In the 1960s, Puglisi began his career as pastor in the tiny town of Godrana, in the hills 40 kilometers outside Palermo. When he arrived, there had been 15 murders in this village of scarcely more than 100 people, all related to a feud between two rival clans. Puglisi started going door-to-door, reading the gospel with people and talking about forgiveness. He encouraged small groups to meet together to pray and read the Bible, at first once a month, then every 15 days.
Eventually one of the women who had been hosting a group said to Puglisi that she did not feel she could carry on until she had forgiven the mother of her son’s assassin. After much time, effort and prayer, Puglisi arranged a reconciliation between the two women,...Sunday, December 17, 2006
Millions struggle to read Kareoke lyrics
Your headline of the day.
Did you know we have kareoke channels here in Asia?
Did you know we have kareoke channels here in Asia?
HELLO KITTY The Airline
Holocaust denial
A neo Nazi writer of limricks "read a few books" about why the Holocaust never happened, so he got a free airline ticket to Iran for the Holocaust conference. Well, that's one way to win a free vacation.
Merry Christmas *
*Legal Disclaimer: ‘Merry Christmas’ (hereafter ‘The Greeting’) . . . this announcement is not intended to offend, alienate, foster hate, or be a precursor for any egregious acts (legal or illegal), thoughts, words, or deeds. ‘The Greeting’ is made only in the context in which it may be legally received, if in fact, it is received at all. It is not intended to be nor should it be, in any way, connected to any other type of greeting, real or imagined, past, present or future. No references to any persons, things, or substances, animate or inanimate, real, fictional, or otherwise, should be assumed by the reader or receiver of the greeting (hereafter, ‘the greetee’). The greeting is not being made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) nonbelievers in ‘The Greeting’ in any jurisdiction in which making and/or accepting the greeting would violate that jurisdiction’s laws or feelings (also refer to local statutes and ordinances related to ‘The Greeting’). In any jurisdiction in which perceived ‘greeting’ is not welcomed nor agreed upon by all ‘greetees,’ then the ‘greetor’ of ‘The Greeting’ will be held harmless in this life and the next, including all issuing posterity both now and forever. ‘The Greeting’ may be made by a licensed ‘greetor’ and any liability assumed or created by the ‘greetee’ shall be the sole responsibility of said ‘greetor.’ If you have been aggrieved, offended, waylaid, parlayed, filleted, or delayed in any way, either real, imagined, or perceived by said ‘Greeting’ and/or by ‘greetor’ as the result of receiving said ‘greeting’ you can call toll free 1-800-CHRISTMAS to speak with legal counsel.” (December 2004)
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Peter Boyle Rest in Peace
Most people know him from "Everybody Loves Raymond", but this movie clip is what he will always be remembered for.
Headlines and propaganda
Dr. Krauthammar compares the Baker commission with King Canute, who thinks that by saying something the sea (or in this case Syria and Iran) will obey.
And to see the Middle East turn into a Happy days rerun, all we have to do is abadon Israel.
--------------------
And to see the Middle East turn into a Happy days rerun, all we have to do is abadon Israel.
--------------------
The AP does an editorial against Gitmo as a news story, insisting all those killers released by the US as "non dangerous" are....no longer dangerous. ...of course, none of them did anything wrong. They were merely sightseeing in the Afghan mountains in the middle of winter...
St.Peggywrites that the hype about Obama needs a reality check.
Carolyn Glick ridicules Germany's ability to overlook the Nazi parallels in Iran.
And James Dunnigan gives a one page summary on why various people hated the "plan" against terrorism, and why the plan included invading Iraq...
Too bad Dunnigan wasn't on the Baker panel.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Comet dust
"Whatever it took to get life started, the more variety of molecules you had in the mix and the more they looked like the kinds of molecules that life uses now then the easier it should have been," Dr Scott Sandford from Nasa's Ames Research Center told BBC News.
The twelve healthy days of Christmas
Turn up speakers and enjoy!
Your tax dollars at work. (headsup from Medpundit
Your tax dollars at work. (headsup from Medpundit
Cooking cute
headsup from BoingBoing. How to make boiled eggs pretty using a press.
You can make cubes and stars, and even HELLOKITTY shaped eggs with a mold like this one.
Headlines
Gunmen seize schoolchildren....in Haiti. UN peacekeepers are fighting the gunmen. The article mentions the Brazilians but there are Pinoys there also.
Ralph Peters says screw the Saudis who have been funding Sunni terrorists for the last three years in Iraq, and let the Shiites take over Iraq...but make sure they are OUR Shiites, not Irans'. HMMMM.
Ralph Peters says screw the Saudis who have been funding Sunni terrorists for the last three years in Iraq, and let the Shiites take over Iraq...but make sure they are OUR Shiites, not Irans'. HMMMM.
And the UK has decided to ignore bribes payed to the Saudi Royal Family because they were told if they investigate, the Saudi's won't buy planes form the UK. Hey, what's the big deal about giving "gifts" to friends?
Mugabe, not satisfied with wrecking Zimbabwe and stealing elections by threatening to stop food to famine victims, now wants to be president for life.
We ban transfat and warn against smoking, but why do we allow/encourage promiscuity, asks a doc in the WSJ. No kidding. I used to joke with my smokers that the only "sin" left was smoking. But smokers don't destroy families like drugs, and promiscuity...
Mbeki warns that if Africa exchanges raw materials for cheap Chinese goods, they will never develop their own industries. Well, cheap chinese goods is discouraging Philippine industry, and the bad news is that the undervalued yen is part of the reason. The latest problem here is cheap chinese carrots destroying the local carrot farmers. Globalization, anyone?
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Don't forget to put up your tree
If you listen to the Sanity squad, you will need a joke, so here it is...
The sanity squad
The Sanity squad at pajamasmedia discusses the "There ain't no holocaust" conference.
News below the fold
ABSCBN has an article on people trying to rebuild their lives after the typhoon.
It's a good thing they called off the ASEAN summit in Cebu...turns out that the roof leaked from typhoon damage.
You've probably seen reports saying the US is not prepared for a WMD or ordinary infectious disease disaster?
Well, here is a page with a film about 1918...scary, isn't it?
And, fourty years after a lot of us who were interns were told we were spoiled because we worked every third night instead of every other night, they are still arguing about prolonged hours and lack of sleep causing medical mistakes. Well, duh.
Pres GMA dropped the "people's initiative" on "CHACHA"...her plan to ram charter change down the throats of the people...too many people, including the Catholic bishops, the charismatic leaders, the left, and the Iglesia NiCristo, objected. You can't fight everyone.
Family news:
Joy and chano at a pre trade fair meeting in Manila.
Nanette visiting.
John being sent to Iraq in January.
Lolo has a diaper on one of the dogs so her tubal ligation wound will heal.
The modem still goes on and off...
Nanette visiting.
John being sent to Iraq in January.
Lolo has a diaper on one of the dogs so her tubal ligation wound will heal.
The modem still goes on and off...
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Princess Di Update
Summary: Probably they were spying on one of her many boyfriends, an American.
Bad news: Spying on an American should have required a court order and there is no paper trail. So either it's not true, or warrentless spying was done during the Clinton administration.
Bad news: Spying on an American should have required a court order and there is no paper trail. So either it's not true, or warrentless spying was done during the Clinton administration.
Kids
Fw: The way children see things!
>> >
>> > NUDITY
I was driving with my three young children one warm
summer evening when a Woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling
from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat,
>> > "Mom! That lady isn't wearing a seat belt!
>> > HONESTY
>> >
My son Zachary, 4, came screaming out of the bathroom
to tell me he'd dropped his toothbrush in the toilet. So
I fished it out and threw it in the garbage. Zachary
stood there thinking for a moment, then ran to my bathroom and came out with my toothbrush. He held it up and said with a charming little smile, "We better throw this one out too then, 'cause it fell in the toilet a few days ago.
>> >
OPINIONS
On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a Note from his mother.. The note read, "The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents."
>> > KETCHUP
A woman was rying hard to get the ketchup to come out of the jar.
During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the phone. "It's the minister, Mommy," the child said to her mother. Then
she added, "Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you
right now. She's hitting the bottle."
>> > MORE NUDITY!
A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in
the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, "What's the matter haven't you ever seen a little boy before?"
>> >
ELDERLY
While working for an organization that delivers
lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old
daughter on my after noon rounds.
The various appliances of old age, particularly the canes,walkers and wheelchairs, unfailingly intrigued her.
One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth
soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, "The tooth fairy will never believe this!"
>> >
Your email of the day from Col. Updraft
>> >
>> > NUDITY
I was driving with my three young children one warm
summer evening when a Woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling
from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat,
>> > "Mom! That lady isn't wearing a seat belt!
>> > HONESTY
>> >
My son Zachary, 4, came screaming out of the bathroom
to tell me he'd dropped his toothbrush in the toilet. So
I fished it out and threw it in the garbage. Zachary
stood there thinking for a moment, then ran to my bathroom and came out with my toothbrush. He held it up and said with a charming little smile, "We better throw this one out too then, 'cause it fell in the toilet a few days ago.
>> >
OPINIONS
On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a Note from his mother.. The note read, "The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents."
>> > KETCHUP
A woman was rying hard to get the ketchup to come out of the jar.
During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the phone. "It's the minister, Mommy," the child said to her mother. Then
she added, "Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you
right now. She's hitting the bottle."
>> > MORE NUDITY!
A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in
the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, "What's the matter haven't you ever seen a little boy before?"
>> >
ELDERLY
While working for an organization that delivers
lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old
daughter on my after noon rounds.
The various appliances of old age, particularly the canes,walkers and wheelchairs, unfailingly intrigued her.
One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth
soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, "The tooth fairy will never believe this!"
>> >
Your email of the day from Col. Updraft
Stuff
I had a post this morning but our modem is on the blink. So you will be spared knowing that the President of Iran says Israel is a goner, the BBC says that a Ukrainian hospital is killing babies to get stem cells, and other cheerful news on the internet.
One of the villages where we grow rice is having a fiesta, so we went and ate lunch with our tenants, then to the chapel for prayer. They had a band and lots of traffic. Since Chano was on an errand (they went later) it meant I had to drive. Everyone looks at me, laughs, and helps me with things such as trying to park.
There were two Army checkpoints that we passed (still hunting the NPA who have friends in the farm areas) but they weren't checking cars today.
The rice land is quite productive. We have several "two season" fields, but two other fields on a rise which can't be irrigated in the dry season.
We have a chicken farm on one of these fields, but alas with the cheap imported chickens from Thailand we never make money from it.
With land reform, Lolo's father's land all was "sold" to our tenants. This meant the government gave them mortgages to buy the land, but often we never got paid. Sigh>
Each of our family members got alloted a small field and we have bought some fields back where people's kids moved to Manila and the adults got too old to farm, so we hire tenants again from outside the area.
It's like a circle: Land reform, people get a little money, educate their kids, kids go to Saudi or Manila and don't want to farm, so the parents sell the land, and the rich buy it back.
In the meanwhile, Lolo is still oldfashioned: the pay is bad but lots of gifts and people "borrow" stuff, but Chano is the newfangled businessman: Pays better but expects you to work and if you borrow you get fired.
strangely, Lolo's employees stayed for years, but no locals will work for his "modern" son, since we are a traditional area.
SIGH.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Ignored stories of the day
Clinton bugged Diana...not buggered, bugged...(sorry, couldn't help myself...)
Syria is broadcasting "insurgent TV" on an Egyptian satellite...Attention megaman: Can you and your friends hack them off the air?
Santorum's farewell speech...he's either a nut case or Chruchill in 1935....
Pig tossing...it's not just for rednecks anymore.
Syria is broadcasting "insurgent TV" on an Egyptian satellite...Attention megaman: Can you and your friends hack them off the air?
Santorum's farewell speech...he's either a nut case or Chruchill in 1935....
This guy blasts supporters of Israel, in "the Bible Belt", a place that he claims stretches from (French Catholic)Louisiana to (Mexican Catholic) New Mexico...
Give that man a map....
A thousand students protest the Iranian Holocaust denial conference...no not Colombia or Berkeley, but in Tehran...
Pig tossing...it's not just for rednecks anymore.
Follow the money
The immans weren't terrorists...merely con men.
As one commenter noted: "This ranks right up there with putting a cockroach on your dinner plate to get a free meal."
The other comments are not that charitable...
As one commenter noted: "This ranks right up there with putting a cockroach on your dinner plate to get a free meal."
The other comments are not that charitable...
Headlines
WaPost on the Iraqi study group: the diplomatic part is "untethered to reality" because it repeates cliches about Israel but ignores that the Arab governments refuse to reform their "moribund autocracies".(Repeat after me: The Saudis are our friends)
A Philippine court froze the bank account of a Saudi-based charitable institution, International Islamic Relief Organization, because it found probable cause that the account is being used to bankroll terrorist activities in the Philippines. (repeat after me. The Saudis are our friends).
Fumento observes the WAPOST has now discovered Ramadi is improving..."What gives? You guessed it.The second one was reported from Ramadi.."
Duh...
USA Today on Kofi Annan: "The speech contrasted Truman's support for the United Nations with the Bush administration's unilateral actions."...
Ummm...that's because the UN stopped aggression when Truman asked...Bush's request to enforce the 1991 truce agreement was blocked by countries who accepted "oil for food" bribes...from a program run by Annan.
Afghanistan's Taliban is restarted due to "unlimited" unemployed Pakistani recruits from religious schools...funded by Saudi Arabia...(repeat after me: THE SAUDIS ARE OUR FRIENDS)
In the meanwhile, NATO has lots of troops whose countries refuse to let them fight. Kudoos to Canada, which is bearing more than their share of fighting.
And in Gaza, they are now shooting the children of a Gaza official who actually was trying to stop Hamas' terrorists... Prayers for the guy and his family.
Kersten in the StarTrib notes the immans have links to terrorists...
First the WAPO, now the StarTrib. Who's next ? The NYT?
Well, not Reuters, who reports that "US Academic David Duke" is attending Iran's "The Holocaust never happened" meeting....gee, I didn't know Duke had a PhD from a Ukrainian diploma mill...(headsup LGF)
Zimbabwe continues to slide into chaos. The latest shortage? Passports...since most of those who can have moved elsewhere to work, this is actually bad news.
In the Philippines, the really bad news is that the US may not accept this year's nursing graduates. You see, someone stole the test answers and US officials don't trust the retest either.
Nursing schools here advertise that their graduates can find overseas jobs...and often these nurses support their entire family with their salary. Even Nurses who can't pass the exam work as caretakers or nannies in Hong Kong or Malaysia.
Army survival manual Blogfather has the link...put it on your cellphone for emergencies.
A Philippine court froze the bank account of a Saudi-based charitable institution, International Islamic Relief Organization, because it found probable cause that the account is being used to bankroll terrorist activities in the Philippines. (repeat after me. The Saudis are our friends).
Fumento observes the WAPOST has now discovered Ramadi is improving..."What gives? You guessed it.The second one was reported from Ramadi.."
Duh...
USA Today on Kofi Annan: "The speech contrasted Truman's support for the United Nations with the Bush administration's unilateral actions."...
Ummm...that's because the UN stopped aggression when Truman asked...Bush's request to enforce the 1991 truce agreement was blocked by countries who accepted "oil for food" bribes...from a program run by Annan.
Afghanistan's Taliban is restarted due to "unlimited" unemployed Pakistani recruits from religious schools...funded by Saudi Arabia...(repeat after me: THE SAUDIS ARE OUR FRIENDS)
In the meanwhile, NATO has lots of troops whose countries refuse to let them fight. Kudoos to Canada, which is bearing more than their share of fighting.
And in Gaza, they are now shooting the children of a Gaza official who actually was trying to stop Hamas' terrorists... Prayers for the guy and his family.
Kersten in the StarTrib notes the immans have links to terrorists...
First the WAPO, now the StarTrib. Who's next ? The NYT?
Well, not Reuters, who reports that "US Academic David Duke" is attending Iran's "The Holocaust never happened" meeting....gee, I didn't know Duke had a PhD from a Ukrainian diploma mill...(headsup LGF)
Zimbabwe continues to slide into chaos. The latest shortage? Passports...since most of those who can have moved elsewhere to work, this is actually bad news.
In the Philippines, the really bad news is that the US may not accept this year's nursing graduates. You see, someone stole the test answers and US officials don't trust the retest either.
Nursing schools here advertise that their graduates can find overseas jobs...and often these nurses support their entire family with their salary. Even Nurses who can't pass the exam work as caretakers or nannies in Hong Kong or Malaysia.
Army survival manual Blogfather has the link...put it on your cellphone for emergencies.
Monday, December 11, 2006
King Tut died of a broken leg
I'm listening to Bob Brier's tapes on Egyptian history, which he admits is a popular passtime for many since it is exotic and unrelated to their daily grind.
He had questioned if the X rays shows King Tut had been hit on the head...later scans after his book was released said no, the fracture was antemortum, probably caused when Carter took Tut out of his mummy case.
But now other scans show Tut had a broken leg, a femur fracture, probably an open wound that killed him.
Since it would have been fairly easy to arrange a wreck of his chariot when he was drag racing, like Diana's death, it was probably a homicide; at least that is how it will be spun by conspiracy theorists.
It's all Bush's fault.
He had questioned if the X rays shows King Tut had been hit on the head...later scans after his book was released said no, the fracture was antemortum, probably caused when Carter took Tut out of his mummy case.
But now other scans show Tut had a broken leg, a femur fracture, probably an open wound that killed him.
Since it would have been fairly easy to arrange a wreck of his chariot when he was drag racing, like Diana's death, it was probably a homicide; at least that is how it will be spun by conspiracy theorists.
It's all Bush's fault.
HIV, Malaria link
Hmmm...if your immune system is wasted because of Malaria, you're more likely to die of HIV.
Figures. Another triumph for the Greens, who opposed DDT spraying and therefore helped Malaria reemerge as a major killer.
Next discovery? That HIV is spread by when clinics and traditional helpers don't sterilize their syringes and "muti" knives.
Figures. Another triumph for the Greens, who opposed DDT spraying and therefore helped Malaria reemerge as a major killer.
Next discovery? That HIV is spread by when clinics and traditional helpers don't sterilize their syringes and "muti" knives.
Interesting...
, the link is to an interview with an Aljezerah guy. He sounds reasonable until the end when he blames Israel for all the Arab's problems.
Do you mean to say that if Israel did not exist, there would suddenly be democracy in Egypt, that the schools in Morocco would be better, that the public clinics in Jordan would function better?
I think so.
Can you please explain to me what the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has to do with these problems?
The Palestinian cause is central for Arab thinking.
In the end, is it a matter of feelings of self-esteem?
Exactly. It's because we always lose to Israel. It gnaws at the people in the Middle East that such a small country as Israel, with only about 7 million inhabitants, can defeat the Arab nation with its 350 million. That hurts our collective ego. The Palestinian problem is in the genes of every Arab. The West's problem is that it does not understand this.
-------------\\
He's right. I don't understand it.
Earlier in the essay he also lamented that kids can't learn if a teacher has 70 kids in a class...
Well, sorry buster, but my parochial grade school class averaged 65 until sixth grade, and then classes were 45.
Do you mean to say that if Israel did not exist, there would suddenly be democracy in Egypt, that the schools in Morocco would be better, that the public clinics in Jordan would function better?
I think so.
Can you please explain to me what the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has to do with these problems?
The Palestinian cause is central for Arab thinking.
In the end, is it a matter of feelings of self-esteem?
Exactly. It's because we always lose to Israel. It gnaws at the people in the Middle East that such a small country as Israel, with only about 7 million inhabitants, can defeat the Arab nation with its 350 million. That hurts our collective ego. The Palestinian problem is in the genes of every Arab. The West's problem is that it does not understand this.
-------------\\
He's right. I don't understand it.
Earlier in the essay he also lamented that kids can't learn if a teacher has 70 kids in a class...
Well, sorry buster, but my parochial grade school class averaged 65 until sixth grade, and then classes were 45.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Kreeft on language in Lord of the rings
new mp3 on his webpage.
I love poetry, but too many modern poets write bad prose. Kreeft, a philosopher from Boston, discusses language.
I love poetry, but too many modern poets write bad prose. Kreeft, a philosopher from Boston, discusses language.
Monty Python,Monte Python, Monty Python
Headsup PajamasMedia...link has a whole bunch of links to Python on Youtube..
Family news
Raining on and off all day. Brownout this evening. Typhoon is 100 miles south of here, but we are getting rained on anyway.
Everyone is fine.
Everyone is fine.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Trivia
Attention Hollywood: Casino Royale can now be bought from a street vendor at the Palenke in our rural town for 30 pesos (65 cents). Boy, those chinese pirates are efficient.
--------------------------
Right wing magazine has an update on a muslim woman threatening to sue because she was insulted for praying in a gym...it seems that she was blocking the locker of another patron, and got upset when she was politely asked to move.
------------------
Bill Clinton, when asked about the Baker Report's advice to ask Iran and Syria to help calm things in Iraq, told Dutch TV: "Right now the Iranians don't want to do anything, probably because their policy seems to be, whatever causes America heartburn is good for us,"
The AP reporter, realizing Clinton made a faux pais by speaking the truth, helpfully tried to hide his remarks and instead phrased the headline: "Clinton supports dialogue with Iran".
-----------------------
There seems to be some sniggering about what the "christian" response to Mary Cheyney's pregnancy should be.
Well, it should be a "we wish you well" to her and a quiet prayer that she have a safe delivery.
-------------------
Finally, looking for a house to rent? Complete with goblins? Well here is a deal for you...
Want to own a 16th century fairy tale cottage in England, complete with goblins on the kitchen walls painted by Brian Froud, Alan Lee, Charles Vess and other artists? Here's an extremely rare opportunity to do so. The cottage is located in the middle of a small, bucolic country village at the edge of Dartmoor...perfect for a writer, painter, or dreamer seeking inspiration in the countryside. More information is available on Phillip Fowler's website.
--------------------------
Right wing magazine has an update on a muslim woman threatening to sue because she was insulted for praying in a gym...it seems that she was blocking the locker of another patron, and got upset when she was politely asked to move.
------------------
Bill Clinton, when asked about the Baker Report's advice to ask Iran and Syria to help calm things in Iraq, told Dutch TV: "Right now the Iranians don't want to do anything, probably because their policy seems to be, whatever causes America heartburn is good for us,"
The AP reporter, realizing Clinton made a faux pais by speaking the truth, helpfully tried to hide his remarks and instead phrased the headline: "Clinton supports dialogue with Iran".
-----------------------
There seems to be some sniggering about what the "christian" response to Mary Cheyney's pregnancy should be.
Well, it should be a "we wish you well" to her and a quiet prayer that she have a safe delivery.
-------------------
Finally, looking for a house to rent? Complete with goblins? Well here is a deal for you...
Want to own a 16th century fairy tale cottage in England, complete with goblins on the kitchen walls painted by Brian Froud, Alan Lee, Charles Vess and other artists? Here's an extremely rare opportunity to do so. The cottage is located in the middle of a small, bucolic country village at the edge of Dartmoor...perfect for a writer, painter, or dreamer seeking inspiration in the countryside. More information is available on Phillip Fowler's website.
How to put in a Zipper
a tutorial on sewing.
I like the photos on how to put in a zipper. I never can figure out how to do it right.
I like the photos on how to put in a zipper. I never can figure out how to do it right.
Typhoon shuts down ASEAN summit in Cebu
Gloria was planning to play queen for a scheduled ASEAN summit in Cebu.
Bad news: Typhoon headed straight for that area.
Tropical storm Seniang (international codename Utor)
and, of course, threats of terror attacks on the meeting didn't help matters.
Good news: Will miss us completely.
Bad news: Typhoon headed straight for that area.
Tropical storm Seniang (international codename Utor)
and, of course, threats of terror attacks on the meeting didn't help matters.
Good news: Will miss us completely.
War news and spin
War is hell.
But when the oprafication of America allows self defense against those who use civilians as shields to be spun as atrocities we need to take a second, and third look at what is going on, and why.
But when the oprafication of America allows self defense against those who use civilians as shields to be spun as atrocities we need to take a second, and third look at what is going on, and why.
Everyday heroes
.
Marines save Iraqi baby...
Iraqi police fight Alqaeda...22 local policemen killed, but thanks to crime, Alqaeda outsiders have a lot of money to pay unemployed young men to kill...
(Would someone tell me why there are a million Pinoys and a million and a half Indians in the Middle East working, why are there so many "unemployed young men" in these Arab countries? )
And Jeanne Kirkpatrick, rest in peace...
The more things change the more they stay the same LINK
Marines save Iraqi baby...Iraqi police fight Alqaeda...22 local policemen killed, but thanks to crime, Alqaeda outsiders have a lot of money to pay unemployed young men to kill...
(Would someone tell me why there are a million Pinoys and a million and a half Indians in the Middle East working, why are there so many "unemployed young men" in these Arab countries? )
And Jeanne Kirkpatrick, rest in peace...
The more things change the more they stay the same LINK
Friday, December 08, 2006
Quote of the day
"...Yes, the Maya sacrificed humans to the gods, but these rituals were part of a complex worldview: the Maya believed that their bodies, their blood, were created by the gods and that they occasionally needed to repay this debt with human life..."
Philippine headlines
Another Day, Another typhoon....
The good news: Will probably hit south of here
The Bad news: It's aiming at Cebu, where the ASEAN summit is due to meet.
The Good News: The hurricane might mess up the planned Terrorist attacks on the summit...
The Bad News: The rain might discourage the huge rallies against ChaCha..
The Good News: Erap is going on a hunger strike to discourage Cha Cha..
<-----Headline of the story:
The Pinoy is worth dieting for...
The Bad News: US Labor Lawyer kept out...it's unclear if he was denied entry because he is investigating "judicial killings" here, or if China put him on a black list and doesn't want him near the Cebu meeting.
----------------------------
Good news: Smith's conviction in the Subic Rape trial shows that Pinoys can convict powerful Americans.
Bad news: To do it, they had to change the law of rape to include sex while drunk.
Good news: This will protect innocent women
Bad news: the sweet Subic ladies of the evening will now have to work while sober.
-------------
Terrible stories of families searching for loved ones killed in the mudslides HERE, Aid is coming in from local funds and foreign countries LINK2
---------------------------
The good news: Will probably hit south of here
The Bad news: It's aiming at Cebu, where the ASEAN summit is due to meet.
The Good News: The hurricane might mess up the planned Terrorist attacks on the summit...
The Bad News: The rain might discourage the huge rallies against ChaCha..
The Good News: Erap is going on a hunger strike to discourage Cha Cha..
<-----Headline of the story:
The Pinoy is worth dieting for...
The Bad News: US Labor Lawyer kept out...it's unclear if he was denied entry because he is investigating "judicial killings" here, or if China put him on a black list and doesn't want him near the Cebu meeting.
----------------------------
Good news: Smith's conviction in the Subic Rape trial shows that Pinoys can convict powerful Americans.
Bad news: To do it, they had to change the law of rape to include sex while drunk.
Good news: This will protect innocent women
Bad news: the sweet Subic ladies of the evening will now have to work while sober.
-------------
Terrible stories of families searching for loved ones killed in the mudslides HERE, Aid is coming in from local funds and foreign countries LINK2
---------------------------
Thursday, December 07, 2006
He saved millions but no one knows his name
Dr. Norman E. Borlaug
the founder of the green revolution.
the US Congress just voted him a Congressional medal.
He won the Nobel Peace prize for his work in 1970e
the founder of the green revolution.
the US Congress just voted him a Congressional medal.
He won the Nobel Peace prize for his work in 1970e
How to win in Iraq
a three-step plan to solve the crisis:
1) Bomb the Mosques
2) Seal the Borders
3) Slaughter al-Sadr
Mr. Gates, former director of the CIA, said he would counsel President George Bush to abandon his “stay the course” strategy in favor of what is known, in military terminology, as “find the evil people who hate you and kill them.”
“Civil war is not breaking out in Iraq,” Mr. Gates said, “civil war is breaking in.”
To end the foreign-funded fighting, and to protect the only democracy in the heart of the Muslim world, he said his Pentagon would “nail the evil, murderous ringleaders as well as the foreign governments who supply them with men, money and materiel.”
(alas, it's not real, it's Scrappleface)
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