Philippine news

Another day, another typhoon... it should stay off the east coast, and just bring us heavy rains. Right now, it is overcast but not raining.

Local article on why the Philippines doesn't use the "international" names for typhoons: Local names are easier for folks to remember, although sometimes the spelling may vary.  This one is "butchoy", or "Buchoy" or "Butsoy", depending who is writing. Most folks who have that name spell it "Buchoy"....

The advantage is that when the monsoon rains come, it means it is not as hot, so I don't have to stay in the room with the aircon on all afternoon.

It is rice planting season, and part of our fields are being used to grow experimental rice hybrids. (We grow only organic rice, and have tenant farmers on our land, and subcontract some of the local independent farmers who own what used to be our land but was given to them with land reform...legally a person can only own a small amount of land, but each person in the family owns a couple hectacres).

The specialists were over yesterday showing the farmers how to plant the seedlings  (yes, the farmers know how to plant, but they wanted the seedling to be planted carefully and in rows: often the farmers just try to plant quickly and might plant too deep or too shallow, which would affect the ability to guage if the new hybrid is growing ok).

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The kerfuffle over the Bradley win continues, but Pacquiao has moved on.

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Connect the dots: Hello Garci, Poll fixing, and thinking you can get away with murder.

In the US, the leftist slant is usually evil capitalist government vs innocent leftists, but the dirty little secret is that this is about who controls the budget and is able to skim funds and receive gifts...

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China continues to intimidate the Philippines 

The radar in the area is limited, so the US is sending stronger radar to help them keep a watch. The left is upset, but not too upset at the US coming back, and the bishops? Let's pray for peace.