Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

Filipino students bag medals in math tilt in China

Ironically, these Filipinos had typical Chinese names like Yap, Lu Ong, Lau, Dy, Chua, Sy, Ong, Choi, Koa , Cheng, Uy, and Dee.

This reminds me of a quip a friend made about the RP baskeball team. He noticed that the Philippine team's jerseys don't include the players' last names. Why? Because most of them don't sound particularly native like Seigle, Norwood, Williams and Helterbrand.

Trillanes says he’s humbled by poll victory

Really? He actually sounds like the same arrogant louse to me.

Incredible!

The Simpsons Movie is already being shown in Greenbelt 4 while internationally it opens on Friday. How did they do it?

And go visit the movie's site for cool games.

Firearm ballistics

Recipe for disaster

Ingredients:

• 1 part busy national road
• 1 part one-kilometer pipe-laying work of a local water company, reducing the road above from 3 lanes to 2.
• 1 part popular mall
• 1 part popular wet market
• 1 part undisciplined jeepney drivers
• 1 part crowd from a religious gathering
• 1 part busy airport runway

Add all ingredients above while letting them simmer in aviation fuel provided by an aircraft which failed to take-off properly.

Did the Opposition really win?

The events taking place today are making me doubt that. The status quo has largely been preserved with Manny Villar and Jose de Venecia in their old seats as Senate President and House Speaker, respectively. And more importantly, PGMA is still President.

Beautiful. Efficient. Promising

Here's one reason

why I stayed up through out that 9-hour bus ride to Naga


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

In addition to the earlier post...

It could happen.

Well, at least something in me says it could.

Great!

More headaches, traffic james and banal street performances from the Masters and Mistresses of Narcissism.


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

Mister Speaker!

Heeeeee's baaaaack!

The Digs is back.

Verlaine's uncle is making the start of Congres today in the most unusual fashion.

I had a dream:

I found myself in the streets of a city after it was hit by a natural disaster. It was probably a huge flood since the streets were still wet and muddy. I was wandering around that place while grasping a .45 cal pistol. Peeking from a corner of a fence of a church, I witnessed how Muslim militants were taking over in an apparent attempt to keep order in the city. They were marching around with assorted weapons and it was noticeable that they didn't know the basics of weapons safety. Some didn't have slings with their rifles so they held them between their legs while standing up and fixing some stuff about their person. Bottom line, it was a horrendous display of a lack of weapons training. I also saw some Muslim rescue and emergency personnel. From their uniforms, I inferred that there were two groups. While these guys were having some fun, a riot broke out because of a fight between some members of the two groups. Then I heard gun fire and more violence. I decided to flee but I met along the way a bearded guy in a white shirt, firing his pistol randomly. I recognized this being a crazy, Muslim guy and I instinctively aimed the gun I was carrying at him and fired several shots. Noting that the first two shots I made didn't hit him, I immediately adjusted my sights a little bit to the right and pulled the trigger. I knew that I hit him so I ran towards the church which was fortunately open. I ran to the sanctuary and then to the sacristy door and from the sacristy to a door which led to a flight of stairs going to what seems to be an attic. The next scene was that of a friend's living room in another country. She was there with her mom and they were watching on TV the events taking place in that city. I suddenly found myself there. As the TV showed the aftermath of the shooting in front of the Church, I saw white-shirt guy's body lying in the street, along side that of several severely scorched bodies. I tearfully confessed to my friend that I shot the guy. But when I saw the shock in her face, I added, "so how was your day?"

Another reason why I'm skeptical of Naju Apparition

The Western Confucian posts about how obedience to ecclesiastical authority will verify if the Naju Apparition is authentic.

I've always been skeptical of the Naju Apparition and Julia Kim. The primary reason of this is one Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD.

Fr. Orbos reportedly witnessed several Eucharistic miracles when giving communion to the Naju visionary Julia Kim. . My skepticism lies in the fruits of such miracles, or the lack thereof, particularly in Fr. Orbos' manner of celebrating Mass. If the visionary and her visions were indeed authentic, then Fr. Orbos should've been duly impressed and influenced. And yet we see the opposite. Although he would utter statements like

"We must pray the Mass. Jesus is really present there. We must feel Him. Don’t rush the Mass, don’t make it automatic"

He seems unable to actually put it in concrete practice by celebrating reverent Masses free of the usual modern crap that usually introduces into the liturgy.

Ooohh...

Another conspiracy theorist of some sort




The guy and his theories sound like some of the stuff I hear from Lefties, journalists and cranky texters whenever PGMA is mentioned. Oh well, at least he likes Cher. Or is she part of the conspiracies? Hhmmm...

Korea suspends visa applications for OFWs

"Our OFWs are about to be punished for a crime committed by officials of this administration," Estrada, who chairs the Senate committee on labor, said.

Actually it reminds me of the childish and knee-jerk reaction of some Lefties. I'm thankful they don't run the government but are content criticizing it from the sidelines.

Fr. Bossi meets PGMA

Hot Shots Part Duex

Courtesy of Qebiko

Now that's Fr. Bossi's safe and out of harm...

It's time for payback. All out war again. Make no distinctions between Abu Sayaff or MILF. They're the same people swapping names and allegiances to avoid prosecution.

Strange...

There's no news in Catholic news agencies of Fr. Bossi's release. Perhaps they're just verifying the news. Oh well, you read it first here!

Fr. Bossi released

Well a Te Deum is in order. He should also be asked to celebrate Mass for the Marines who died looking for him.

And this little detail explains a lot, including the ambush at Tipo-tipo:

Caringal said earlier on Friday that Bossi was released at about 9 p.m. Thursday in Karumatan town in Lanao del Norte after negotiations with his abductors, led by one Commander Khidi, who was identified as a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

'White Rabbit' manufacturer denies formalin-laced candies

Hmmm... Would little old Philippines be China's economic Achilles heel?

Why didn't I think of that?

A commenter from Jihad Watch pointed out the most obvious: We can easily determine the location of the MILF/ASG people who decapitated our Marines through their cellphones. Smart Telecoms does it all the time with Smart ZED Finder and their anti-carnapping system.

I'd say this is the best opportunity to use the new Anti-Terror Law to its fullest. Or perhaps better yet, transmit the exact coordinates to the Americans for a little cruise missile surprise. We can always claim that the missile was innocently cruising over the Jihadits' lair when it encountered mechanical problems and crashed and exploded.

I just hope the Marine's wife didn't delete the number yet.

Law experts urge Arroyo to end slays

Also calls for God to end suffering.

An Exhibit on the Shroud of Turin's coming

I hope tickets aren't very expensive.

Youtube to the rescue

Since I couldn't find any copies of this movie, youtube provides:

ROBIN HOOD, MEN IN TIGHTS

Chinese products

I've monitored far too many news items lately containing negative treatment of Chinese products. Last year it was about contaminated hot meats. The issue was revived recently with the filing of charges against the Customs officials who had the nerve to steal the confiscated meats. Then there's the issue lately of the Chinese products tainted with formaldehyde and of siopao made of cardboard. I may have missed others but those are some that I can recall at the moment.

I can't help but suspect that there's a concerted effort to blemish the reputation of Chinese products. If there was, I wouldn't mind. Hehehe...

I personally expect little from Chinese products except the fact that they ought to be cheap. And they are cheap quality-wise. Those damn things either break easily or will work properly only once or that their production methods are questionable or that they contain something that you would never feed your dog.

Right now, I'm wary of Chinese-made buses. I've been on board on several lately, as some local bus companies have been upgrading their fleets. If my experience with such a bus in a trip to Bicol 2 weeks ago would be a fair, representative standard of the quality of these Chinese products, then I'm of the opinion that bus companies should quit buying them. I'd prefer Japanese ones.

On the other hand, if a war erupted between China and, let's say, Taiwan, the latter shouldn't bother reacting. There's a high probability that the Chinese fleet will sink as soon as it leaves the harbor.

MILF asking for international body to probe Basilan massacre

This is what I heard over the radio today. I'm sure that this group will be composed of representatives of fair and impartial countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan.

The case for mistrusting Muslims

In my many adventures, I once met a very Westernized Pakistani woman who told me never to trust Arabs. I never asked her if she still practiced Islam, but she was very adamant in saying that Arabs are the most untrustworthy people on earth and she sounded very convincing. It made me wondered that, if knowing that a certain ideology or religion came from such a breed of devious people, one would still count himself/herself with such.

Hey you journalists reading my blog!

Here's a tip for you. Try monitoring the popular Jihad websites and see if there are any videos out there showing our MILF/ASG buddies doing the head-chopping of the Marines in Jolo. I have a feeling there's one circulating out there for PR and "fund raising" purposes.

The NPA ain't so new

It was formed on March 29, 1969. It should be called anything but new. Perhaps Obsolete People's Army, or Irrelevant People's Army, or Terrorist People's Army, or Maoist People's Army, or KSP People's Army. Come up with your own.

Say what?

Mr. Failon's logic is astounding. Must be his superior genes. Anyway, this morning he basically blamed PGMA for all the "extra-judicial" deaths taking place in the country. His premise is either that the President's efforts are not enough to halt them or she herself is responsible, as if she's a being capable of knowing all men and all that is in their hearts.

Somehow, with his logic, I would expect him to blame God for all the deaths in the world. Didn't He after all command "Thou shalt not kill"? And yet this same Deity failed to stop all the murders, genocides and violence in this planet ever since he promulgated the Ten Commandments. Mr. Failon should ask God to resign.

"Who has the motive?"

You guys do, Mr. Igbal.

NPA's almost executed two innocent civilians

Imagine that. But they were found guilty in the NPA's kangaroo court! Where can ordinary Filipinos now get justice?!

Bush govt rapped for putting ideology above science

And these scientists have no ideology of their own to advance? And how sound is their science? Is this the same science we find changing every few months to accomodate the dictates of funding and vain glory? Oh well. I'm sure Mark Shea will do a better job knocking these guys off.

Observers to peace talks: ‘Postpone HSA implementation’

Know what? All these issues with anti-terror laws would've been dealth with if our leaders simply admit that Islam is the underlying current for terrorism. Islam as a violent and deadly force has been known for centuries. Just ask the Somalis, the Russians, the Timorese, the Copts, the Chaldeans, etc, etc.

The first step in finding a solution to a problem is to define the problem. Legislators know this. That's why the issue of the definition of terrorism is haunting each legislation created to deal with it. They're asking the wrong questions anyway. They should be more concerned with the nature of the terrostic acts, i.e., their origins from the principle principle of Jihad enshrined in Islam.

Just random thoughts

So far, here's what I understood about the Tipo-tipo ambush:

• The Marines were sent to verify intelligence reports that Fr. Bossi was spotted. In that scenario, they failed to find any trace of the kidnapped priest.
• They decided to return to base but one of the vehicles in the convoy was got stuck in mud. Thus the entire convoy was stalled, since the ground commander decided to wait for the recovery of the said vehicle.
• The Marines noted the unusual atmosphere in the area and suspected that an ambush was imminent. So they decided to take defensive measures.
• Gun fire erupted between the Marines and what was then unknown elements. And 14 Marines were killed. Later their bodies were found to have been beheaded and mutilated.

Now, if I was on the ground then, I would've put two and two together and conclude that those ambushing us were in fact Abu Sayyaf elements that we missed in the original target location and we simply encountered them on our way back to base.

In fact initial news stories said that the ambush was perpetrated by Abu Sayyaf.

This assumption only changed when the MILF took responsibility for the ambush, although not the decapitations.

Now, the strange thing is that the MILF, or whoever they are, managed to get at least 200 fighters involved in the ambush in a such short notice. Even if it's their "territory", such a number wouldn't be organized to carry out an ambush.

And another thing. Did the Marines take the same route to and from their mission? If so, why did they not encounter the ambush on their way in? Hmmm...

The S211A

I blogged about it before. It's primarily used as a trainer and I doubt it'll be of any use against the MIGS and the US-made fighters. But I have no doubt it'll do enough damage to weaken Communist Rebels and Islamists down south if we had enough of them. I mean it's the best (and cheapest) solution for a short-term all-out war against insurgents.




Photo Credit: Air Force Technology

Frustrating

The media's discussion on the issue of the beheading of the Marines in Basilan has degraded into the futile focus on the banal existence of duds among the Marines' mortar rounds. It's not really insignificant but it has overshadowed the bleeding obvious issue of Islamic terrorism, more importantly, whether the government should continue the peace talks with the MILF. Yesterday, commentators were on the verge of actually getting it by questioning the very rationale of such peace talks. Somehow they can't bring themselves to actually say the Muslims are the ones who should be answering the tough questions. The local media simply has the penchant for the petty issues while ignoring the more important ones.

Mortars were duds: Trillanes wants probe of Marine debacle

Having duds in the armory aren't new. Even for what would be, I suppose for a lay man, high rate of duds in that particular encounter, it shouldn't surprise anyone who had combat experience.

Noisy tourists beware

Papal dungeons reopen for tourists

DZMM and Pseudo-knowledge

DZMM has a lot of it. Pseudo-knowledge I mean. I keep hearing Angelo Palmones hitting DOF Secretary Gary Teves for the advance tax payments made by large corporations. I seem to recall the statement made by Teves that the advance payments represent only 1% of the BIR's total tax collection last year. Given that, why is Mr. Palmones so fixated on that? Hmmm...

If my understanding of finance is correct, being an Financial Management major myself, then I'm sure that advance tax payments shouldn't really distort collections, especially at such a minuscule scale.

Two financial concepts are at work here: Cash flow and Time-Value of Money. I won't go into the details of those two but they can easily be summarized by the axiom "your money today is worth more than your money tomorrow".

In the setting of a private business enterprise, it's akin to reducing the credit/collection period from a client. In publishing, this could be likened to asking readers to get for a 1-year subscription for a magazine/periodical rather than having them buy it from the news stands. So timing is really irrelevant in this issue.

The whole budget deficit issue could be explained in a manner familiar with most Filipinos: the telecoms business. Smart or Globe has two types of subscribers: those who use prepaid cards and those who subscribe to a post-paid plan. Taken from the perspective of the telecoms company, those who buy prepaid cards actually advance money to them. In fact, I'm sure that they earn more from their prepaid cards than from postpaid subscribers because they collect in advance. They can use the funds they received "early" or in advance to finance more revenue-generating activities. So, if everything goes smoothly, advance payments allow for the exponential growth of a business.

Postpaid subscribers, however, represent a very stable source of income for the telecom company. Stable in the sense that they can be forecasted easily. Collecting them is another issue. So if you apply this imagery to the budget deficit, the real problem lies in the failure to collect from the postpaid subscribers.

Mr. Palmones should consult someone who understands the concept of cash flow management before exhibiting his ignorance and embarrassing himself in public. I certainly won't consult him for any business decisions.

The Few. The Proud

The Action

Yep, we invented that

I remember reading and hearing Adventists, INCs and others accusing Catholics of inventing all sort of stuff like the Mass, Sunday worship, false doctrine, etc, etc. But for all things Fundies and other crazies accuse the Church of inventing, they could never bring themselves to admit that She also invented music.

This Guido invented music or at least he pioneered the modern notation of music a millenium ago.

Nor would they admit that the Church, by virtue of a Papal Bull no less, established and imposed the Calendar we all use today.

If these guys are so intent in keeping themeselves pure and free of the influences of the Whore of Babylon, I wonder why they still use the calendar devised by Pope Gregory XIII and play music in the manner pioneered by Guido?

Dust to dust

A significant amount of dust in your homes were former constituents parts of yourselves.

Poverty may push Moro women to acts of terror

Poverty leads to terrorism. Right. Nothing says "will bomb for food" better than a hungry Moro.

No wonder some doctors bomb airports and some business moguls establish international terrorist networks. It's poverty. Right? Right!

Muslims should consider other excuses for terrorism. Normal people just commit ordinary crimes like robbery, theft and fraud. While others simply find jobs and a livelihood.

Missal of Benedict XVI?

In the past, the revised versions of the Roman Missal was named in honor of the Pontiff who promulgated it. For example, in the old mass, the 1962 Missal is known as the Missal of Pope John XXIII and for the new mass, the 2002 Missal is known as the Missal of John Paul. In both cases, the pontiffs inserted items and tweaked in small revisions in the Missal.

Now in Article 6 of SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM reads:

In Masses celebrated with the people according to the Missal of Blessed John XXIII, the Readings can be proclaimed even in the vernacular, using editions that have received the recognition of the Apostolic See.

Someone should correct me, but doesn't this decree constitute a revision in the 1962 Missal that would in effect make it the 2007 Missal of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass aka the Benedict XVI Missal?

Oh. My. God.

Ted Failon has become a Truther. On air, he thinks that the War in Mindanao is perpetuated by the government and that the soldiers on the ground are mere pawns in a huge money-making scheme. Just like the one GWBush is doing in Iraq. Wow!

Gosh, all that intellect must be straining Failon's neck. Simple old me can only think of one word to explain all the war and violence he mentioned. And that word rhymes with "slam".

Ted Failon calls GWBush arrogant

Well it takes one to know one Mr. Failon.

Whoa!

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Aquinas on Islam:

The case is clear in the case of Mohammed. He seduced the people by promises of carnal pleasure to which the concupiscence of flesh goads us. His teaching also contained precepts that were in conformity with his promises, and gave free reign to carnal pleasures. In all this, as is not unexpected, he was obeyed by carnal men. As for proof of the truth of his doctrine, he brought forward only such as could be grasped by the natural ability of anyone with a modest wisdom.

Indeed, the truths that he taught he mingled with many fables and with doctrines of the greatest falsity. He did not bring forth any signs produced in a supernatural way, which alone fittingly gives witness to divine inspiration; for a visible action that can only be divine reveals an invisibly inspired teacher of truth.

On the contrary, Mohammed said that he was sent in the power of his arms--which are signs not lacking even to robbers and tyrants. What is more, no wise men, men trained in things divine and human, believed in him from the beginning.

Those who believe in him were brutal men and desert wanderers, utterly ignorant of divine teaching through whose numbers Mohammed forced others to become his followers by the violence of his arms. Nor do divine pronouncements on the part of preceding prophets offer him any witness.

On the contrary, he perverts almost all the testimonies of the Old and New Testaments by making them into fabrications of his own, as can be seen by anyone who examines his law. It was, therefore, a shrewd decision on his part to forbid his followers to read the Old and New Testaments, lest these books convict him of falsity. It is thus clear that those who place any faith in his words believe foolishly.

Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles, Book 1, Chapter 16, Art. 4.

By the way...

Should we really be surprised to hear of Muslims decapitating and abusing the dead?

Hmmm...

Who sued him in the first place?

Even in the most obvious and apparent case of Islamic extremism

comes doubts and denial from the victims. Isn't that grand? All that warm dialogue and peace and justice stuff really hits the spot. Meanwhile, the Abu Sayyaf behead 4 Marines who were searching for Fr. Bossi.

RP Catholic Church ready to hold Latin masses

Unfortunately, it's only one bishop interviewed and he seems to be, if the article is accurate, simply repeating the common jabs against the extraordinary form of the Roman rite.

Meanwhile, the Filipino bishops are busy with things more interesting than the worship of God, namely asking COMELEC Commissioners to quit.

Don't trust the experts

This post from Jihad Watch reminds me of a feasibility study I had to review for my old company. The study pertains to the establishment of a flat glass factory somewhere in Laguna and the output of which would be exported to European countries. It had a definite marketing plan and the financials looked enticing. Additionally, attached was a note from a Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) stating the project was promising while repeating the stuff found in the short study. So, at first sight, the entire thing looked convincing. I mean who am I to argue against the opinions of a CFA?

So I decided to look at non-financial aspects of the business. I discovered that the operations of a flat-glass plant would be economical only if the market it serves is within 400 kilometers of the factory.

So to cut the story short, I proved that the study and the financial expert were wrong.

And the moral of the story is: be skeptical if an expert shares his expertise, especially if a large amount of money is involved.

They're bringing it to the Philippines

"Korean Xenophobia" has 230 results while "Korean Racism" has 1780

Why can't they just leave those in Korea?

COBRA is real

Back in the days when short pants were part of my school uniform, I was sure nobody would've believed that such a blatantly evil organization like COBRA would've actually existed in real life and I suppose nobody would have tolerated such a group. Now I know I'm wrong. And the guys below, by the way, are only stooges of a real COBRA

Delicadeza

I've been hearing the word thrown around these days and I'm not even surprised, but still appalled about how people use the word to mean something else.