Want to save the Earth?
Buy a REALLY green car
FINEST KIND CLINIC AND FISHMARKET.... Discussing medicine, culture, and the joys of cooking Pansit.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Rabbit-kun
PinkTentacleBlog says that a local Japanese company is selling decorated trash bags.
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Saturday, August 30, 2008
Cat photo of the day
I promised Madeline I'd post our cat's photo...but the dog killed the kitty when Lolo was in the hospital...
So I prayed for a replacement, and sure enough, this one walked into our garden.
We also have two larger cats,one male and one female. The female is the mother of the dead kitty, and doesn't like the newcomer..
But anyway, I named her Tiger, after one of my cats that I left behind in the US who looked just like her...
Sandal Festival
One of the clubs dressed in traditional costumes.
Ruby and the other kids in her art class were on a float...with their drawings on the side of the truck.
Alas, it was pouring rain so most of the photos didn't turn out.
Podcast of the week
learn French via podcast at the BBC website.
For those who prefer Spanish, go HERE.
(headsup StingyScholar).
f
Cassaroles to make ahead of time
Here in the Philippines, we have a full time cook who makes everything from scratch and shops every day for veggies and meat.
But when I was a working mom, I often used cassaroles which I could freeze and microwave.
Tipnut has links for recipes HERE.
And for the really organized, check out this once a month cooking list. of links.
Of course with teenagers, often I'd go to heat them and find that my boys and their friends had eaten it already.
But when I was a working mom, I often used cassaroles which I could freeze and microwave.
Tipnut has links for recipes HERE.
And for the really organized, check out this once a month cooking list. of links.
Of course with teenagers, often I'd go to heat them and find that my boys and their friends had eaten it already.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Tolkien and the Somme
go to link for an essay by historian Martin Gilbert...
Tolkien was more reticent, yet when he did open up, full of terrible tales. There was never any boasting. The war's scars were too many, its reality too grim, to lead to self-glorification, or even to embellishment.
Tolkien was more reticent, yet when he did open up, full of terrible tales. There was never any boasting. The war's scars were too many, its reality too grim, to lead to self-glorification, or even to embellishment.
In 1916, the twenty-four-year-old Tolkien was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers. On the evening of July 14 — two weeks after the start of the Battle of the Somme — his battalion went into the line. He had never seen action before. What he later called the "animal horror" of the trenches was as yet unknown to him. But he already knew that one of his closest friends, Robert Gilson, had been killed on the first day....
(headsup TORN)
lost cities of the Amazon?
LInk2
Heckenberger and colleagues first reported evidence of the culture — which he calls Xingu after the local river — in 2003 and now have unearthed details of the ancient communities.
The researchers found evidence of 28 prehistoric residential sites. Initial colonization began about 1,500 years ago, and the villages they studied were dated to between 750 and 450 years ago. The local population declined sharply after Europeans arrived.
(note: probably from European smallpox and other illnesses spread along trading routes)
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In a related lecture, Charles Mann discusses pre Colombian America MP3HERE
Making cells regrow
First they thought only Embryo cells would work.
Then they found stem cells from embryos could be changed into new cells.
Then they found stem cells from umbilical cords and fetal blood would work.
Then they found adult stem cells from other organs would work.
Then they found how to make adult stem cells act like embryonic stem cells.
The latest?
Just reprograming adult cells to change:
Illustration from Nature via AP
Family news and rants
Lolo is better, but was so busy watching TV that he overslept and didn't jog this morning. My post flu asthma is getting better too. Chano still has his back ache so Joy is doing the tradefairs etc. Another delivery of rice to Manila today.
Brownouts off and on, which means generator and messes the internet, so I am blogging off and on...
My latest rants are at Blogger news...might as well get paid (a pittance) for ranting:
Brownouts off and on, which means generator and messes the internet, so I am blogging off and on...
My latest rants are at Blogger news...might as well get paid (a pittance) for ranting:
- War, fear, and Double Jeapardy, 28 Aug 2008
- Philippine ethnic war brewing, 28 Aug 2008
- Man made famine looms in Zimbabwe, 25 Aug 2008
- Knowing History Puts It All Into Perspective, 25 Aug 2008
- Measles Epidemic: Another Result of A Bad News Media, 22 Aug 2008
If my body were a car
If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model. I've got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish and my paint job is getting a little dull ... But that's not the worst of it.
My headlights are out of focus and it's especially hard to see things up close
My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather.
My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins.
It takes me hours to re ach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently.
But here's the worst of it --
Almost every time I sneeze, cough or sputter ..either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires!
Your email of the day from tiamaria
My headlights are out of focus and it's especially hard to see things up close
My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather.
My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins.
It takes me hours to re ach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently.
But here's the worst of it --
Almost every time I sneeze, cough or sputter ..either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires!
Your email of the day from tiamaria
Thursday, August 28, 2008
How to cut onions without crying
Epicuriousblog has ten ways to do it.
Me, I just kept a few onions in the refrigerator to use; and I'd cut them up under running water when possible.
and check out their video HERE.
Here in the Philippines, the onions we use are the local red skinned kind.
Me, I just kept a few onions in the refrigerator to use; and I'd cut them up under running water when possible.
and check out their video HERE.
Here in the Philippines, the onions we use are the local red skinned kind.
Stuff below the fold
First they reprogramed adult stem cells into new cells, now they are using adult cells and reprogramming them to grow into different cells...LINK
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Will NOLA have to evacuate again? Well, at least this time they are starting plans on time without the president having to telephone them to say get moving...
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A Wallet phone, coming to a pocket near you.
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Herbal medicines, comtaminated with arsenic and other heavy metals?
--------------------------
Latest fad: teaching baby to sign.
Actually, my granddauther loved it when I signed to her...
And children with Down's syndrome, where the large tongue makes talking difficult, often do well if they learn to sign to communicate.
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Lecture of the day: Annie Sullivan in her own words.
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Will NOLA have to evacuate again? Well, at least this time they are starting plans on time without the president having to telephone them to say get moving...
-------------------------
A Wallet phone, coming to a pocket near you.
-----------------
Herbal medicines, comtaminated with arsenic and other heavy metals?
--------------------------
Latest fad: teaching baby to sign.
Actually, my granddauther loved it when I signed to her...
And children with Down's syndrome, where the large tongue makes talking difficult, often do well if they learn to sign to communicate.
-----------------
Lecture of the day: Annie Sullivan in her own words.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
cat photo of the day
looks like when lolo gives the cats a fleabath...
Oh, blogging will be slow: typhoon to the west means we have lots of rain and I'm feeling lousy.
Convention update
Dave Barry reports everyone is for CHANGE...latest update HERE. and HERE.
He's covering it so you don't have to watch it.
alas for me, it's still on CNN in the morning when Lolo watches the news...the good news is he puts it on mute. I mean, what's the use of living abroad if you have to watch days of speeches on end?
He's covering it so you don't have to watch it.
alas for me, it's still on CNN in the morning when Lolo watches the news...the good news is he puts it on mute. I mean, what's the use of living abroad if you have to watch days of speeches on end?
AudioBook of the day
Three classics at LibriVox to download and listen to in your car or to put you asleep at night:
Anne of Green Gables: this time entirely read by AnnieColeman Rothenburg (yup she's married: she has a knit page I sometimes link to).
LeMorte D'Arthur is there too,
as is Vol one of Boswell's The Life of Samuel Johnson...
Few people read this last one, but it contains many of the classic quips in English.
Anne of Green Gables: this time entirely read by AnnieColeman Rothenburg (yup she's married: she has a knit page I sometimes link to).
LeMorte D'Arthur is there too,
as is Vol one of Boswell's The Life of Samuel Johnson...
Few people read this last one, but it contains many of the classic quips in English.
- Patriotism having become one of our topicks, Johnson suddenly uttered, in a strong determined tone, an apophthegm, at which many will start: "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." But let it be considered that he did not mean a real and generous love of our country, but that pretended patriotism which so many, in all ages and countries, have made a cloak of self- interest.
- Samuel Johnson, quoted in Boswell's Life of Johnson
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Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Elephant logistics
A couple weeks ago, I mentioned that I had downloaded a podcast about Hannibal from Stanford to supplement the podcasts on Roman history from Berkeley...
Elephants were used by Hannibal and other conquerors: They were great for inducing terror and panic among ancient armies, but had some problems. They don't tolerate cold, for example (when I was in Africa, a local zoo lost two in a cold spell...at 40F).
Most of Hannibal's fabled elephants died of the cold, but in a later Punic war, he again used them against the Roman army near Carthage, but they got wiped out by the Romans: why? Because the Roman general trained his men not to panic, and so when the elephants charged, the Romans got into tight groups with spears outward, and let the elephants run straight through their lines without harm...
Strategy Page has a short essay about the logistics of elephants, if you are interested in trivia:
Elephants were used by Hannibal and other conquerors: They were great for inducing terror and panic among ancient armies, but had some problems. They don't tolerate cold, for example (when I was in Africa, a local zoo lost two in a cold spell...at 40F).
Most of Hannibal's fabled elephants died of the cold, but in a later Punic war, he again used them against the Roman army near Carthage, but they got wiped out by the Romans: why? Because the Roman general trained his men not to panic, and so when the elephants charged, the Romans got into tight groups with spears outward, and let the elephants run straight through their lines without harm...
Strategy Page has a short essay about the logistics of elephants, if you are interested in trivia:
Depending upon size, elephants require 200 to 300 pounds of fodder a day, and typically will eat lots of fruit, grain, and leaves as well. They also drink 20 to 40 gallons of water a day. As a result of an inefficient digestive system (they only get about half the food value out of their rations that cows do), elephants “go” rather often. On average, an elephant will defecate about every 90 minutes and urinate about every two hours, and in prodigious amounts. Daily “productivity” can easily reach about 250 pounds of feces and about 15-30 gallons of urine....
Wikipedia article about war elephants HERE.
I hate politicized movies
Too many political movies are self righteous and done by one side...(and too many non political movies seem to be "drug dealer/making money heroes with car chases).
But I'm not sure if this will be a hit or a flop:
we report, you decide...
Actually, if I were McCain (a wrinkled white hair guy) I'd just use this classic movie opening as my campaign commercial:
But I'm not sure if this will be a hit or a flop:
we report, you decide...
Actually, if I were McCain (a wrinkled white hair guy) I'd just use this classic movie opening as my campaign commercial:
The Steel Cross
WJAC reports:Firefighters said it was one of the largest fire companies in the country meeting one of the smallest Saturday night, when 1,000 motorcycles from New York City rolled into the Alleghenies with a steel beam from the World Trade Center in tow.
New York firefighters made the 311-mile trek to Shanksville by bike to give the 2-ton 14-foot long beam to the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Company.
The piece is from the north tower and is in the shape of a cross. It will sit on a base shaped like the Pentagon, next to the fire house where a new memorial is being built. The firefighters said they wanted to make sure the steel was put in an honorable place and they have a special connection with Shanksville.
A ceremony is scheduled for Sunday morning at 10 a.m. to dedicate the cross and remember the people who died on Flight 93.
more photos here.
Womanly wisdom
Tia Maria writes:
Women over 50 don't have babies because they would put them down and forget where they left them.
A friend of mine confused her Valium with her birth control pills.. she has 14 kids but doesn't really care.
One of life's mysteries is how a 2-pound box of chocolates can make a woman gain 5 lbs.
My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.
The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you are doing, someone else does.
The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.
Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.
I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting fire to my knicker's.
Amazing! You hang something in your closet for a while and it shrinks 2 sizes!
The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing and then they marry him.
I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast. Are they kidding? That's my idea of a perfect day!
your email of the day from Tiamaria
Women over 50 don't have babies because they would put them down and forget where they left them.
A friend of mine confused her Valium with her birth control pills.. she has 14 kids but doesn't really care.
One of life's mysteries is how a 2-pound box of chocolates can make a woman gain 5 lbs.
My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.
The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you are doing, someone else does.
The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.
Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.
I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting fire to my knicker's.
Amazing! You hang something in your closet for a while and it shrinks 2 sizes!
The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing and then they marry him.
I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast. Are they kidding? That's my idea of a perfect day!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Family news
Sandles fiesta parade was today...Ruby and her fellow art students were on our truck as a float...I am still wheezing after the flu and it was raining off and on so I stayed home but Lolo went and watched.
Tonite, street dances and fireworks...
I took photos and gave my camera to Joy...will post when i get the camera back.
Tonite, street dances and fireworks...
I took photos and gave my camera to Joy...will post when i get the camera back.
Gift item of the day
actually, it's a cross with a connected HelloKitty charm on the same jumplink...But whoever designed it needs to get a history lesson....
(headsup hellokittyhell)
Oh no, not my oreos
Hydrogenated oils caused high cholesterol, so snack food makers switched to palm oil...
But the environmental wackos now want us to stop eating snack foods like Oreos, so that we can save the rain forest....
except of course the palm plantiontions have been around for decades, and if you stop using the oil, a lot of poor people will be out of work.
But the environmental wackos now want us to stop eating snack foods like Oreos, so that we can save the rain forest....
except of course the palm plantiontions have been around for decades, and if you stop using the oil, a lot of poor people will be out of work.
Headlines below the fold
Oil from algae, or maybe EColi. LINK
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Somebody's granddad chose the wrong role model for his sensitive grandkid...LINK.
the good news: he was a heterosexual pedophile.
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Traveling faster than light using dark energy LINK...
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WETA has a podcast LINK
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French soldiers: Poor leadership? LINK...
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And the molecule of the day Hexanoic acid:
IT's why goats smell so sweet...
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Somebody's granddad chose the wrong role model for his sensitive grandkid...LINK.
the good news: he was a heterosexual pedophile.
------------------------------
Traveling faster than light using dark energy LINK...
----------------
WETA has a podcast LINK
--------------------------
French soldiers: Poor leadership? LINK...
---------------------
And the molecule of the day Hexanoic acid:
IT's why goats smell so sweet...
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Did you miss the annual Elvis Mass?
Yes, August 15 is not only VJ day but it is the feast of Mary's assumption/dormition. Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe she was taken to heaven (a la Elijah or Enoch).... I figure it couldn't happen to a nicer lady...
But in the US, one local Catholic church in Memphis combines the mass obligation for Catholics with an Elvis anniversary mass, to pray for his soul...so that visitors (?Pilgrims) to Graceland won't miss Mass.
August 15 is always a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics in the United States. Here at St. Paul, the mass intention for our 3:00 PM Mass is for Elvis Presley. Visitors from around the world join St. Paul's parishioners in a very moving and spirit-filled liturgy. With music led by the St. Paul Choir, we gather together a great mix of languages, cultures, and religious backgrounds to remember, give thanks, and pray. This mass celebrates Our Lady and pays our respects to our former Whitehaven neighbor, Elvis.
Well, in contrast to the clown masses or the "liturgical dancing by overweight women" masses, at least Elvis sang a good gospel song...
But in the US, one local Catholic church in Memphis combines the mass obligation for Catholics with an Elvis anniversary mass, to pray for his soul...so that visitors (?Pilgrims) to Graceland won't miss Mass.
August 15 is always a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics in the United States. Here at St. Paul, the mass intention for our 3:00 PM Mass is for Elvis Presley. Visitors from around the world join St. Paul's parishioners in a very moving and spirit-filled liturgy. With music led by the St. Paul Choir, we gather together a great mix of languages, cultures, and religious backgrounds to remember, give thanks, and pray. This mass celebrates Our Lady and pays our respects to our former Whitehaven neighbor, Elvis.
Well, in contrast to the clown masses or the "liturgical dancing by overweight women" masses, at least Elvis sang a good gospel song...
Investment tip of the day
what do you do with all those feet left over after cutting up chickens?
Sell them to China....
The US was the major supplier of poultry meat to China in the first six months of 2008 shipping in 300,000 t, which is an increase of over 50,000 tonnes. Argentina, which is a country renowned for its beef, saw exports soar from 18,700 t to 112,600 t.
From January to the end of June 2008, over 50% of poultry imports were in the form of chicken feet.
LINK is to a recipe to make chicken soup from the feet, and then prepare them as dimsum...
Alternate recipe HERE...of course, it sounds better if you tell people it is "Golden Phoenix Claws".
DimSum is fingerfood, by the way...usually a snack. Millions of different varieties.
Sell them to China....
The US was the major supplier of poultry meat to China in the first six months of 2008 shipping in 300,000 t, which is an increase of over 50,000 tonnes. Argentina, which is a country renowned for its beef, saw exports soar from 18,700 t to 112,600 t.
From January to the end of June 2008, over 50% of poultry imports were in the form of chicken feet.
LINK is to a recipe to make chicken soup from the feet, and then prepare them as dimsum...
Alternate recipe HERE...of course, it sounds better if you tell people it is "Golden Phoenix Claws".
DimSum is fingerfood, by the way...usually a snack. Millions of different varieties.
Science headline of the day
Black Holes May Make Good Mommies
black holes are famous for eating everything in sight, but now scientists find:
Black holes might have a nurturing side. Scottish researchers have created a computer simulation that explains how supermassive black holes, such as the one at the center of the Milky Way, could promote the birth of nearby stars. The findings expand the possible scenarios for star formation and could help astronomers determine how stars emerged in the very young universe.
black holes are famous for eating everything in sight, but now scientists find:
Black holes might have a nurturing side. Scottish researchers have created a computer simulation that explains how supermassive black holes, such as the one at the center of the Milky Way, could promote the birth of nearby stars. The findings expand the possible scenarios for star formation and could help astronomers determine how stars emerged in the very young universe.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Oetzi was a shepherd?
his shoes were cattle leather, and his pants were woolen.
Another story suggested the grass cape he wore was similar to the rain repellant capes worn by local shepherds/herdsmen up to 100 years ago...
dog story of the day
teenaged mom throws out baby....dog saves baby, who is found warm right next to her puppies.
Family news update
Florinda and Angie were supposed to have flown out to Chicago last night...
Lolo and I are back to jogging each morning. We have to go early, since the one hour "TaiBao" exercize class starts at five, and the plaza is full of kicking young ladies (and a few young men).
It is the Tsineles feista again...so lots of six foot shoes all over town, and the plaza was still full of teenagers who had been to the dance/party last night in the plaza.
I should note for non family readers that there is a "one town/one product" idea of craft industry here, and our town's industry is sandals, usually made of high quality plastics, and quite pretty.
Poor people usually wear the cheap "flip flops" for everyday, but the sandals are a nice alternative for school and church.
Alas, my feet are too big, so I usually have to buy shes and clothing in the department stores. Right now I am wearing my former dressup leather soft sandals for every day...after three years, I figure it's time to put them to daily use. I also have Birkenstocks, of course, but they are hard to walk quickly in, so I save them for around the house. For jogging, I wear sneakers. Lolo and I are the same size...
Friday, August 22, 2008
lol cat of the day
more animalslol cat of the day
We lost our golden kitty when Lolo was in the hospital
yesterday a grey kitty walked into our garden
Craft item of the day
The old fashioned way to make a silhouette was to get in front of a lamp and trace your shadow.
Now they use photoshop...moreWaysToWasteTimeBlog has details
Now they use photoshop...moreWaysToWasteTimeBlog has details
Headlines below the foldT
the conflict in Georgia is outside my expertise, but Michael Totten has an excellent article HERE....
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Dr. Tom Coburn to give a speech to the Republicans? That'll upset a lot of the rich and crooked Republican establishment...he's known as "Dr NO" for frustrating pork barrel spending...
----------------------
Guess who didn't wear a flac jacket in Iraq?
The dog that didn't bark,
-----------------------------------
Here in the south, after the Supreme Court nixed a treaty requiring more input, the MILF went on a terror spree, ethnically cleansing a provence not in their "ancestral lands"...
so now the threat of bombs etc is up, the marines have been sent in, and the locals given shotguns to defend themselves.
We're in a different area, and things are quiet...
-------------------------------
Dr. Tom Coburn to give a speech to the Republicans? That'll upset a lot of the rich and crooked Republican establishment...he's known as "Dr NO" for frustrating pork barrel spending...
----------------------
Guess who didn't wear a flac jacket in Iraq?
The dog that didn't bark,
-----------------------------------
Here in the south, after the Supreme Court nixed a treaty requiring more input, the MILF went on a terror spree, ethnically cleansing a provence not in their "ancestral lands"...
so now the threat of bombs etc is up, the marines have been sent in, and the locals given shotguns to defend themselves.
We're in a different area, and things are quiet...
Ebert's overlooked DVD of the week
I'm not big into intellectual films, but I do enjoy those of John Sayles..
One of his best and most lyrical is a child's movie, the Secret of Roan Inish, which is Roger Ebert's overlooked DVD of the week. It is about a little girl's quest to find her brother, and a family's return to their roots.
Great music too.
Biogas from garbage
most small biogas projects process manure. But what about those in the city?
The link is a site in India that uses left over fruit and grain (aka garbage) to generate biogas, a project that would allow poor/middle class people to do the same.
LINK is another example, where the local Rotary club is establishing one that will help support orphans being raised at a local ashram.
Here, in QC, they are also setting up a garbage biogas program. LINK
The link is a site in India that uses left over fruit and grain (aka garbage) to generate biogas, a project that would allow poor/middle class people to do the same.
LINK is another example, where the local Rotary club is establishing one that will help support orphans being raised at a local ashram.
Here, in QC, they are also setting up a garbage biogas program. LINK
Thursday, August 21, 2008
SADC slammed for ignoring humanitarian crisis
from swradioafrica:
The Southern African Development Community has been slammed by activists, trade unionists and other human rights organisations for ignoring the global demands to have the ban on humanitarian food aid in Zimbabwe lifted.
Zimbabwean Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche banned field work by NGOs during the campaign for the June 27 run off election and accused the organisations of providing campaign support for the MDC during the first round of elections in March – which the MDC won. The ban has remained in place since then and has left millions of desperate Zimbabweans, heavily reliant on food aid to survive, facing starvation.
Stuff below the fold
Not much in the news.
we didn't get the debate last weekend (one happy reason to live in the Philippines: except for CNN you can ignore American politics). But most of the stories seem to be missing the point, and not just because they were Democrat talking points.
The cone of silence dispute ignores that five minutes warning is meaningless: Obama's poor performance was because his staff didn't prepare him for the interview.
And the "cross in the sand" was not a made up story: but unless you know how that small cross helped McCain later to forgive his captors you are missing a pretty big story.
we didn't get the debate last weekend (one happy reason to live in the Philippines: except for CNN you can ignore American politics). But most of the stories seem to be missing the point, and not just because they were Democrat talking points.
The cone of silence dispute ignores that five minutes warning is meaningless: Obama's poor performance was because his staff didn't prepare him for the interview.
And the "cross in the sand" was not a made up story: but unless you know how that small cross helped McCain later to forgive his captors you are missing a pretty big story.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Family news
Rain and brown out from nearby typhoon...I'm finally back on line but it's now late.
We are all well and Lolo is feeling stronger. We may resume jogging tomorrow if it doesn't start to rain again.
Blog will resume tomorrow.
We are all well and Lolo is feeling stronger. We may resume jogging tomorrow if it doesn't start to rain again.
Blog will resume tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Bigfoot alert
Bigfoot results back....one DNA specimen was human, but the other one was...possum.
He must be a redneck...
He must be a redneck...
Heartwarming story of the day
while filming "The Last King of Scotland", the film crew met a young boy while filming at a local hospital.
They arranged for his facial tumor to be removed in the UK...
he now wants to be a doctor.
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A sadder story: The collapse of basic medical care (plus basic things like clean water and hygiene) in central Africa LINK
Monday, August 18, 2008
Recipe of the day
At link: Corn cakes, fried chicken, and Fried Green Tomatoes...all dripping in fat and fried in one dish.
I posted it because we had souther fried barbecue style chicken for supper...
Actually, Lolo taught our cook how to mix the flour and spices to make the deep fry barbecue chicken, and we had that with rice...we have rice at every meal (remember, we grow and sell organically grown brown rice). As for corn, it is corn on the cob season (but again for the last five days I can't swallow it...sigh). I'm still with a sore throat so the cook made me some chicken Mami soup (that's what they call Ramen noodeles here, aka "oodles of noodles" or sphaghetti soup in the US, served with an egg mixed in).
Our local tomatoes are tiny Roma tomatoes: but they are sweet (like those you grow, not the tasteless ones in the supermarket).
And did you know we have banana catsup here? It's a lot cheaper than Heinz...which they also sell here...
I posted it because we had souther fried barbecue style chicken for supper...
Actually, Lolo taught our cook how to mix the flour and spices to make the deep fry barbecue chicken, and we had that with rice...we have rice at every meal (remember, we grow and sell organically grown brown rice). As for corn, it is corn on the cob season (but again for the last five days I can't swallow it...sigh). I'm still with a sore throat so the cook made me some chicken Mami soup (that's what they call Ramen noodeles here, aka "oodles of noodles" or sphaghetti soup in the US, served with an egg mixed in).
Our local tomatoes are tiny Roma tomatoes: but they are sweet (like those you grow, not the tasteless ones in the supermarket).
And did you know we have banana catsup here? It's a lot cheaper than Heinz...which they also sell here...
Headlines below the fold
Supai area evacuated due to a small dam collapse...
Since it affected tourists to the Grand Canyon it got in the news...There is a small IHS clinic run by a PA for the Havasupai Indians there...a PA friend once worked there.
-----------------------
Will the Russia's "victories" in Georgia lead to Europe waking up?
one doubts it... note the lack of anti war protests in old Europe against the aggression...
and the non judgementalYahoo news has a slideshow "Georgian Unrest"....
Was it about Russia trying to stop a pipeline that they didn't control? LINK So they would have a chokehold on Europe's oil and gas?
But "new Europe" and others may have noticed ...
but the big story is the cyberwarfare...ZDNET has details....did you know Estonia has a Cyberwar response team? THIS is why....
and Blogger to the rescue!
-------------------------------------
Mugabe seeking to stay in power by various schemes...resembles how he cowed Nkomo in the 1980's...but Tsvangirai isn't buying...
-----------------------------
Ever wonder how those guards work long hours without a break? Nappies.
Since it affected tourists to the Grand Canyon it got in the news...There is a small IHS clinic run by a PA for the Havasupai Indians there...a PA friend once worked there.
-----------------------
Will the Russia's "victories" in Georgia lead to Europe waking up?
one doubts it... note the lack of anti war protests in old Europe against the aggression...
and the non judgementalYahoo news has a slideshow "Georgian Unrest"....
Was it about Russia trying to stop a pipeline that they didn't control? LINK So they would have a chokehold on Europe's oil and gas?
But "new Europe" and others may have noticed ...
but the big story is the cyberwarfare...ZDNET has details....did you know Estonia has a Cyberwar response team? THIS is why....
and Blogger to the rescue!
-------------------------------------
Mugabe seeking to stay in power by various schemes...resembles how he cowed Nkomo in the 1980's...but Tsvangirai isn't buying...
-----------------------------
Ever wonder how those guards work long hours without a break? Nappies.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Classic literature and PTSD
The President's council of bioethics produced a book which used classic literature to teach about medicine and being a human being.
Many of the questions and dilemmas that doctors face are not new, but timeless...
RogueClassicism blog tells about using Greek Plays to enable soldiers to understand and discuss handle post traumatic stress:
In Sophocles' "Ajax," the play follows the story of a combat veteran who slips into depression and attempts to kill his commanding officer only to be shamed by his actions and later have his wife and comrade try to talk him out of suicide.
"Philoctetes" tells the story of a wounded soldier left behind by his army, which then returns for him in the last year of the Trojan War. But Philoctetes struggles with the emotional trauma of accepting medical care from an army he longer trusts.
Many of the questions and dilemmas that doctors face are not new, but timeless...
RogueClassicism blog tells about using Greek Plays to enable soldiers to understand and discuss handle post traumatic stress:
In Sophocles' "Ajax," the play follows the story of a combat veteran who slips into depression and attempts to kill his commanding officer only to be shamed by his actions and later have his wife and comrade try to talk him out of suicide.
"Philoctetes" tells the story of a wounded soldier left behind by his army, which then returns for him in the last year of the Trojan War. But Philoctetes struggles with the emotional trauma of accepting medical care from an army he longer trusts.
Snow White, Cinderella Arrested
(AP) Cinderella, Snow White, Tinkerbell and other fictional fixtures of modern-day childhood were handcuffed, frisked and loaded into police vans Thursday at the culmination of a labor protest that brought a touch of reality to the Happiest Place on Earth....
Saturday, August 16, 2008
News below the fold
Harry Potter film release delayed until July2009
First there came Crockadile Dundee, then came Alligator Nettie..
and she has a really big knife...
The Lost tribes of the Green Sahara...
The background of the displaced refugees in North Cabatao: It was a MILF land grab...
And why the Taliban kills women just trying to help: They are trying to destroy the infrastructure so they can be the ones who supply everything.
Military donates six times more to Obama than McCain...my analysis of lying with statistics on BNN...
The Lost Ark of the Covenant goes home to Ethiopia....probably a copy of the original...
First there came Crockadile Dundee, then came Alligator Nettie..
and she has a really big knife...
The Lost tribes of the Green Sahara...
The background of the displaced refugees in North Cabatao: It was a MILF land grab...
And why the Taliban kills women just trying to help: They are trying to destroy the infrastructure so they can be the ones who supply everything.
Military donates six times more to Obama than McCain...my analysis of lying with statistics on BNN...
The Lost Ark of the Covenant goes home to Ethiopia....probably a copy of the original...
Sir Penguin
A penguin who was previously made a Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian Army has been knighted at Edinburgh Zoo.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Terrible Stuff below the fold
Sorry, I have the flu and the internet is going on and off...
I did post an article on BNN...GetReligion
You know those terrible "body parts" museum exhibits? Human Rights activist Harry Wu says they are executed prisoners from China...
yesterday I posted an article on Zimbabwe...Mugabe is pulling a fast one... he did the same thing thirty years ago with Nkomo...
On CNN, Larry King guest essentially says if white people don't vote for Obama they are racist...nope, issues have nothing to do with it...guess he's trying to court Hillary voters by making fun of them...
But I worry if Obama loses, there will be race riots...
And the latest way to get organs: Take them out when the heart stops, but while the brain is still alive...
And GetReligion links to the story of a son of a Hamas leader who is now a Christian...something that takes guts...
I did post an article on BNN...GetReligion
You know those terrible "body parts" museum exhibits? Human Rights activist Harry Wu says they are executed prisoners from China...
yesterday I posted an article on Zimbabwe...Mugabe is pulling a fast one... he did the same thing thirty years ago with Nkomo...
On CNN, Larry King guest essentially says if white people don't vote for Obama they are racist...nope, issues have nothing to do with it...guess he's trying to court Hillary voters by making fun of them...
But I worry if Obama loses, there will be race riots...
And the latest way to get organs: Take them out when the heart stops, but while the brain is still alive...
And GetReligion links to the story of a son of a Hamas leader who is now a Christian...something that takes guts...
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Headlines below the fold
Man with strange name and no passport found dead in a hotel in Denver...the week before the big convention...with a bottle of cyanide in the room.
No, folks, no terrorism here...
-----------------------------
If it costs too much to save your life, the UK NHS won't pay for your treatment...according to "NICE"...
No it's not a joke. It's according to an ethical paper from The National Institute for Clinical Excellence
Trivia Note: In CSLewis' book That Hideous Strength, the fascist organization that reprograms human beings is called NICE too...
--------
It's nice to be sarcastic about the UK, but a more worrisome example is Oregon, where a woman was denied a life prolonging drug to treat her cancer but told that the state insurance will cover "assisted suicide".
--------------------------------
The good news...the Vatican agrees with the Jews that the Lord's name isn't to be bandied about.
So Yahweh, Jahweh and Yehovah are out...presumably the alternative translation "Yahoo" will still be allowed....but only for internet searches and emails.
--------------------
Could the carbonized scrolls of Herculeneum be restored and read? this could be a big find for scholars.
---------------------------------
And your headlines of the day:
Startup Has E. Coli Pooping Black Gold
No, folks, no terrorism here...
-----------------------------
If it costs too much to save your life, the UK NHS won't pay for your treatment...according to "NICE"...
No it's not a joke. It's according to an ethical paper from The National Institute for Clinical Excellence
Trivia Note: In CSLewis' book That Hideous Strength, the fascist organization that reprograms human beings is called NICE too...
--------
It's nice to be sarcastic about the UK, but a more worrisome example is Oregon, where a woman was denied a life prolonging drug to treat her cancer but told that the state insurance will cover "assisted suicide".
--------------------------------
The good news...the Vatican agrees with the Jews that the Lord's name isn't to be bandied about.
So Yahweh, Jahweh and Yehovah are out...presumably the alternative translation "Yahoo" will still be allowed....but only for internet searches and emails.
--------------------
Could the carbonized scrolls of Herculeneum be restored and read? this could be a big find for scholars.
---------------------------------
And your headlines of the day:
Startup Has E. Coli Pooping Black Gold
Photo of the day
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dog photo of the day from Col Updraft...actually, one of our neighbors has a Dalmation...he came courting our female dog a couple months ago...and I had to save his life because Puti our watch dog got angry at the competition...
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Family news
 |
| 6-11-2008 part one |
But if you hit the photo, it links to the album of Chano's farm project with lots of photos of Ruby and all.
Did you know Ruby has a blog? LINK
Oh yes: Lolo is much better now after his surgery
Chicken Photo of the day
photo of the day from Eng. HamidI think they are his grandkids but my Farsi is worse than my Tagalog...
-------------------
update: Eng Hamid says these are Afghan kids staying with his father, not grandkids.
Science headline of the day
Geneva, Switzerland - As the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) nears completion, many people have worried about the implications of colliding subatomic particles at high velocities. Some have suggested that the device could destroy the Earth by creating black holes or dangerous subatomic particles, but a new group calling themselves People for the Ethical Treatment of Hadrons (PETH) are worried about the health of the subatomic particles...
Heartwarming story of the day
A grandmother's garden gnome has been returned to her after seven months - together with a photo album showing he has been on a world-wide tour.
Headlines below the fold
Iowahawk satirizes the progressive group that plans to "out" Republicans. LINK.
----------------------------------
BBC green guy thinks we waste too much energy putting food into supermarkets and thinks the future of Africa is eating cassava....and shows a photo of a very poor person trying to cook.
The problem with cassava: lousy nutritional source, and danger of cyanide poisoning...GM might be the answer, but the greens have brainwashed a lot of African countries to keep GM food out....
------------------------------------
Speaking of Africa, Zim swimmer breaks a record...and is hoping to win a medal in the Olympics.
--------------------------
The war in Georgia? Don't know a thing about it, but it's been going on for a milleneum or so...
------------------------------
Invention of the day: Nanoskins...
----------------------------
And the question that no body is asking: If the press had bothered to investigated the John Edwards rumors and he had dropped out of the race, would Hillary have won the nomination?
----------------------------------
BBC green guy thinks we waste too much energy putting food into supermarkets and thinks the future of Africa is eating cassava....and shows a photo of a very poor person trying to cook.
The problem with cassava: lousy nutritional source, and danger of cyanide poisoning...GM might be the answer, but the greens have brainwashed a lot of African countries to keep GM food out....
------------------------------------
Speaking of Africa, Zim swimmer breaks a record...and is hoping to win a medal in the Olympics.
--------------------------
The war in Georgia? Don't know a thing about it, but it's been going on for a milleneum or so...
------------------------------
Invention of the day: Nanoskins...
----------------------------
And the question that no body is asking: If the press had bothered to investigated the John Edwards rumors and he had dropped out of the race, would Hillary have won the nomination?
Monday, August 11, 2008
History lessons
Beef tongue...it's what's for dessert
Beef Tongue Ice Cream was a hit in the Yokohama Ice Cream festival...
Other flavors were prawn, garlic, and beer...
Other flavors were prawn, garlic, and beer...
Sunday, August 10, 2008
health news of the day
Good news: broccoli may help cut diabetes damage.
Bad news of the day: You have to eat it.
good news: at least it's not brussel sprouts...
I'm trying to figure out how to use twitter and skype.
If col updraft or Luke want to email me how let me know
If col updraft or Luke want to email me how let me know
Dave Barry is covering the Olympics
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Headline of the day
Are Couch Potatoes more Creative?
Darren Lipnicki from the school of psychology at the Australian National University (ANU) found that people solve anagrams more quickly when they are on their backs than on their feet.
CAT PHOTO OF THE DAY
from Col Updraft
and yes, the stupid cat sleeps on the bed...because the dogs have the floor and the easy chair occupied.
History lesson of the day
Marmot's hole blog has a long photo rich discussion of the Japanese occupation in Japan.
Headlines below the fold
Reporters hack computer at the black hat conference.
Turn around is a bitch, ain't it?
----------------------------------
Hillary's long term strategy?....hmmm...we report, you decide.
--------------------------------
Saint Peggy: a bridge too far and let's hear it for the bikers.
Two months ago, she thought Obama would win...now she's not sure.
----------------------------------
This is scary....and will backfire of course.
----------------------------------------------
Sad: Bus accident kills Vietmamese pilgrims going to Marian festival in Missouri..
------------------------------------------
Solzhenitsyn's Harvard speech HERE....(headsup from learnoutloud)
------------------------
And the really big news of the day: Bill Clinton supports...monogamy.....
does Hillary know this?
Turn around is a bitch, ain't it?
----------------------------------
Hillary's long term strategy?....hmmm...we report, you decide.
--------------------------------
Saint Peggy: a bridge too far and let's hear it for the bikers.
Two months ago, she thought Obama would win...now she's not sure.
----------------------------------
This is scary....and will backfire of course.
----------------------------------------------
Sad: Bus accident kills Vietmamese pilgrims going to Marian festival in Missouri..
------------------------------------------
Solzhenitsyn's Harvard speech HERE....(headsup from learnoutloud)
------------------------
And the really big news of the day: Bill Clinton supports...monogamy.....
does Hillary know this?
Husband 2.0
Dear Tech Support:
Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slow down in overall system performance, particularly in the flower and jewelry applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0
In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as: Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5, and then installed undesirable programs such as :
· NBA 5.0,
· NFL 3.0 and
· Golf Clubs 4.1
Also Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2. 6 simply crashes the system.
· Please note that I have tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail.
What can I do?
Signed,
Desperate.
DEAR DESPERATE,
First, keep in mind,
· Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while
· Husband 1.0 is an operating system.
Please enter command: ithoughtyoulovedme.html and try to download Tears 6.2 and do not forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update.
· If that application works as designed, Husband 1.0 should then automatically run the applications Jewelry 2.0 and Flowers 3.5.
However, remember, overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5 , Happy Hour 7.0 or Beer 6.1 .
· Please note that Beer 6. 1 is a very bad program that will download the Farting and Snoring Loudly Beta.
Whatever you do, DO NOT under any circumstances install Mother-In-Law 1.0 (it runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize control of all your system resources.)
In addition, please do not attempt to reinstall the Boyfriend 5.0 -program These are unsupported applications and will crash Husband 1.0 .
In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance. We recommend:
· Cooking 3.0 and
· Hot Lingerie 7.7.
Good Luck!
Tech Support
your email of the day from TiaMaria
Friday, August 08, 2008
Personal rants
Just placing links to my rants at BNN...
it ups their technorati ratings and lets you know I'm still as opinionated as ever...
All the medical posts are eventually cross posted to my Xanga blog LINK.
it ups their technorati ratings and lets you know I'm still as opinionated as ever...
- The Humor factor in the campaign, 07 Aug 2008
- Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Cancer survivor, 07 Aug 2008
- Child abuse and HIV, 01 Aug 2008
All the medical posts are eventually cross posted to my Xanga blog LINK.
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