Meandering Shawarma

NASA Takes Google on Journey into Space

2006-12-19T22:07:00.000+03:00

NASA Ames Research Center, located in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, and Mountain View-based Google Inc. today announced plans to collaborate on a number of technology-focused research-and-development activities that will couple some of Earth’s most powerful technology resources.

NASA and Google have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines plans for cooperation on a variety of areas, including large-scale data management, massively distributed computing, bio-info-nano convergence, and encouragement of the entrepreneurial space industry. The MOU also highlights plans for Google to develop up to 1 million square feet within the NASA Research Park at Moffett Field.

“Our planned partnership presents an enormous range of potential benefits to the space program,” said NASA Ames Center Director G. Scott Hubbard. “Just a few examples are new sensors and materials from collaborations on bio-info-nano convergence, improved analysis of engineering problems, as well as Earth, life and space science discoveries from supercomputing and data mining, and bringing entrepreneurs into the space program. While our joint efforts will benefit both organizations, the real winner will be the American public,” he added.

“Google and NASA share a common desire-to bring a universe of information to people around the world,” said Eric Schmidt, Google chief executive officer. “Imagine having a wide selection of images from the Apollo space mission at your fingertips whenever you want it. That's just one small example of how this collaboration could help broaden technology's role in making the world a better place.”

"I'm thrilled that NASA Ames Research Center and Google, two of our region's and our nation's most valuable and innovative organizations, have formed a partnership,” said Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (CA -14th District).

“As Silicon Valley continues to lead in developing technologies that will guide our nation's economy in the 21st century, partnerships combining the best in public sector innovation with the cutting edge of private industry will serve as the gold standard in public-private partnerships for years to come. The technologies created by the partnership of Google and NASA Ames not only will enable and enhance further exploration of space, they will positively impact the daily lives of all Americans for generations to come," Eshoo said.

"The City of Mountain View is excited that two of our community's most innovative and dynamic organizations, Google and NASA Ames Research Center, are forming a new research-and-development partnership at Ames. This new collaboration will undoubtedly result in new research projects and endeavors with tremendous potential for innovation and far-reaching benefit," said Mountain View Mayor Matt Neely.

Located on property at Ames Research Center, NASA Research Park is being developed into a world-class, shared-use educational and R&D campus. As part of a comprehensive plan for this area, new laboratories, offices, classrooms, housing, auditoriums, museums, a training and conference center, open space, parking and limited retail facilities are envisioned. The plan calls for NASA to partner with local communities, academia, private industry, non-profit organizations and other government agencies in support of NASA's mission to conduct research and develop new technologies.

Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford doctoral students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top Web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall Web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Magic!

2006-12-15T22:37:00.000+03:00

The Holocaust, the truth and the free mind

2006-12-13T22:42:00.000+03:00

Charles Fried
The Boston Globe

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the egregious president of Iran, is hosting a conference this week on whether the Holocaust really happened. There are serious questions that someone with Ahmadinejad's hostile attitude toward the state of Israel might ask about the Holocaust — did it justify the settlement of its survivors in Palestine in the first place and has Israel misused the Holocaust to justify the Israeli settlements in the occupied territories? — but whether the Holocaust ever happened is not one of them. To even somewhat sensible, mildly educated people, Ahmadinejad's conference is like having a conference about whether the world might be flat after all.

Although Iran surely intends this as an affront to Israel and Jewish people everywhere — my family and I fled Czechoslovakia in 1939, leaving my grandparents and many relatives behind to die in Theresienstad and Auschwitz — the real victims of this minor latter-day outrage are the Iranian people and rational discourse everywhere.

What Ahmadinejad's conference proclaims is that truth has no place in the world of politics; that if your ends are just, you can say anything, no matter how far-fetched. Ahmadinejad tells us that his pursuit of advanced nuclear capabilities is for peaceful purposes only: power generation, medical applications and not as part of a weapons program. Why would a rational person put faith in any assurance from a man so contemptuous of truth or even think there is any point in negotiating with him?

But Ahmadinejad's tortured logic seems almost broad-minded compared with Turkey's stringent criminal prohibition on any suggestion that such a thing as its genocide of the Armenian people ever happened. Many brave Turkish writers and journalists have suffered persecution in recent times for proclaiming what no reasonable person would deny. Yet the Armenian genocide is as certain a historic fact as Hitler's European Holocaust, for which Ataturk's may well have served as a model and feasability study. (A recent brief, horrifying and thoroughly documented account can be found in Niall Ferguson's "War of the World.") Turkey and Iran turn truth into either a crime or charade.

And then there is the converse: What about countries like Canada and many in Europe that make it an offense to offer propositions derogatory of races or religions, or to deny the Holocaust, or proposed legislation in France that would make it a crime to deny the Armenian genocide. Here, too, the truth and how we come to know it suffers. States that forbid such palpable lies degrade the currency of truth as much as those who proclaim a lie as their national policy.

For in the end, the only way to bite the nickel to make sure it's genuine is in debate, assertion and counterassertion. That is the process in which extremists in Iran and Turkey are shown to be what they are — charlatans and liars. But states that shut down that process, even to inane propositions like Holocaust or Armenian genocide denial, debase the currency of truth every bit as much as their opposites. For in their zeal, they assign to themselves, to politics, and to official power (with its prosecutors, judges and jailors) an authority that can reside only in the forum of individual judgment and conviction.

There is such a thing as truth; that is why Holocaust deniers are fools or liars. But that is exactly why there can be no such thing as official truth — truth endorsed, policed and enforced by the power of the state. Truth is above politics, and judges politics, which is why politics has no authority to proclaim it. Official truth is a contradiction in terms.

In one respect the Turks seem worse than the Iranians: They make it a crime to tell the truth, while Ahmadinejad claims to doubt what only a fool or scoundrel would deny. Because there is a truth about the Holocaust and Armenian genocide, this doubt is foolish, but that judgment is not a judgment of politics but of the free mind that judges politics.

LCPL Daniel Smith stays in jail

2006-12-13T22:17:00.000+03:00

Judge Banjamin Pozon refuses transfer to US Embassy

By: Alvin Murcia with Hector Lawas Tess Bedico, Cristina Lee-Pisco

NO GO — Senior Supt. Delvic Oreiro, Makati City jail warden in charge of the detention of US Marine Lance Corp. Daniel Smith, shows a copy of judge Benjamin Pozon’s decision denying a petition to transfer the convicted US Marine to the custody of the US Embassy. AFP

US MARINE Lance Corporal Daniel Smith will remain at the Makati City Jail.

Judge Benjamin Pozon yesterday denied for lack of merit Smith’s petition that he be transferred to the US Embassy while his conviction is being appealed.

Pozon said Smith will stay in jail until the Philippine and US governments “shall have come to a binding agreement as to the proper facilities where the accused shall carry out his confinement or detention during his appeal.”

With his ruling, the court junked the two “agreements” signed by US Ambassador Kristie Kenny, Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.

Gonzalez said Pozon “was wrong” and that the US Embassy should have custody of Smith as provided under the Visiting Forces Agreement. The Justice chief said the judge’s decision had “ruffled” RP-US relations.

Smith was recently sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a Filipino woman. His three other co-accused were acquitted.

Pozon, however, insisted that Article V, Paragraph 6, of the VFA no longer applies since the court has rendered its judgment.

“The custody of accused Smith by the US military authorities was terminated after the completion of the trial and rendition of judgment of conviction,” he noted.

“The reason for this is that the US military authorities has no more obligation to make the accused available to the Philippine authorities or to this court for judicial proceedings after the trial had been completed,” he added.

The judge said his decision to temporarily detain Smith at the Makati City Jail is in compliance with the provisions of the VFA, particularly Article V, Paragraph 10.

“This court, in pursuance of the country’s obligation under the said treaty, did not commit Smith to the national penitentiary. Instead, this court temporarily committed him to the Makati City Jail pending agreement by appropriate Philippine Authorities and Unites States authorities on the facilities where the confinement or detention of the said accused shall be carried out,” he said.

The court also ruled that the “agreement” to transfer custody to the US Embassy signed by the US Ambassador and DoJ officials is not binding. Pozon said only the President, or the Foreign Affairs Secretary, can enter into such an agreement.

Gov’t to intervene

Gonzalez, however, said the government will intervene to have Smith transferred to the US Embassy.

Malacañang earlier concurred with the position of the VFA Commission that Article 5. Paragraph 10 of the treaty that the US Embassy should take custody of US servicemen who violate Philippine laws until the end of the judicial proceedings.

Gonzalez said it is an “international obligation” of the Philippine government to intervene in the case in keeping with the VFA. But he said any government action would depend on the next step to be taken by the counsels of Smith.

“The intervention there is once there is let’s say a petition for certiorari on the ground that the judge abused his discretion in refusing to surrender custody to the Americans when the judicial proceedings are ongoing…The lawyer of Smith could go to the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court,” he said.

“When that is filed, the Department of Foreign Affairs can file a petition in intervention in favor of the position taken by Smith,” he added.

The DFA said it is coordinating with the DoJ in coming out with a solution with which the Philippines can comply to the VFA provision.

“The DFA will continue to explore remedies available in order for the Philippines to be in compliance with its treaty obligations,” DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya said.

The Acid Lounge

2006-12-12T22:26:00.000+03:00

Do you love acid jazz? I found a wonderful blog dedicated to acid jazz. The Acid Lounge is a radio program in Boulder, Colorado.

Tune in to The Acid Lounge on Radio1190, KVCU every Wednesday from 10pm to Midnight. The best Acid Jazz, Down-beat Trip-Hop, Chillout, Soul, Latin, Urban, Deep House and Breaks heard after-hours in the hottest clubs around the world. The Acid Lounge is broadcast on 1190AM in Boulder, Colorado, and on the web worldwide at www.Radio1190.org.

'Banker to poor' receives Nobel Peace Prize

2006-12-11T13:38:00.000+03:00

OSLO, Norway (AP) -- Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on Sunday, saying he hoped the award would inspire "bold initiatives" to fight poverty and eradicate the root causes of terrorism.

Yunus, 66, shared the award with his Grameen Bank for helping people rise above poverty by giving them microcredit -- small, usually unsecured loans.

"I firmly believe that we can create a poverty free world if we collectively believe in it," Yunus said after accepting the prize at City Hall in Oslo, Norway. "The only place you would be able to see poverty is in a poverty museum." (Watch Muhammad Yunus accept peace prize to standing ovation )

The Nobel Prizes, announced in October, are always presented in Oslo and Stockholm, Sweden, on December 10 to mark the anniversary of the 1896 death of their creator, Alfred Nobel, a Swedish industrialist who invented dynamite and stipulated the dual ceremonies in his will.

The winners for literature, medicine, physics and economics will receive their awards later Sunday at a royal ceremony in Stockholm's blue-hued concert hall. Each award carries a purse of $1.4 million, a diploma and a gold medal. The first prizes were handed out in 1901.

This year's laureates include a novelist who explored Turkey's clash of cultures and American scientists who helped cement the big-bang theory of the universe and broke new ground in genetic research.

Yunus said ending poverty was the best way to fight terrorism.

"We must address the root causes of terrorism to end it for all time," he said. "I believe putting resources into improving the lives of poor people is a better strategy than spending it on guns." (Watch Yunus deliver acceptance speech )

Grameen Bank, set up in 1983, was the first lender to provide microcredit, giving very small loans to poor Bangladeshis who did not qualify for loans from conventional banks. No collateral is needed, and repayment is based on an honor system, with a nearly 100 percent repayment rate.

Yunus said the idea has spread around the world, with similar programs in almost every country.

Clad in a traditional Bangladeshi sleeveless jacket, Yunus accepted his half of the $1.4 million prize from awards committee chairman Ole Danbolt Mjoes.

Board member Mosammat Taslima Begum, wearing a traditional dress in red with a green shawl, accepted the other half of the award on behalf of Grameen bank, saying she dedicated it to all Bangladeshis.

Mjoes said the award was an outstretched hand to the Islamic world in an era where Muslims are often demonized because of terrorism.

"The peace prize to Yunus and Grameen Bank is also support for the Muslim country of Bangladesh, and for the Muslim environments in the world that are working for dialogue and collaboration," Mjoes said

Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk won the literature prize for a body of work that illustrates the struggle to find a balance between East and West.

U.S. researchers have long dominated the science awards, and swept them all this year for the first time since 1983.

The Nobel Prize in medicine went to Andrew Z. Fire and Craig C. Mello for discovering a powerful way to turn off the effect of specific genes. John C. Mather and George F. Smoot won the physics prize for work that helped cement the big-bang theory of how the universe was created.

Roger D. Kornberg won the prize in chemistry for his studies of how cells take information from genes to produce proteins, a process that could provide insight into defeating cancer and advancing stem cell research.

Economics winner Edmund S. Phelps was cited for research into the relationship between inflation and unemployment, giving governments better tools to formulate economic policy. The economics award is not an original Nobel Prize, but was created by the Bank of Sweden in 1968.

Pamuk, whose trial last year for "insulting Turkishness" made headlines worldwide, was honored for exploring "new symbols for the clash and interlacing of cultures." His novels include "Snow" and "My Name Is Red." The charges against Pamuk were eventually dropped.

Gloria under fire over failed summit

2006-12-11T13:04:00.000+03:00

President Arroyo is facing growing criticism over the Asean Summit, which she cancelled at the last-minute on Dec. 8, raising questions about her handling of the event that the Philippines was to host Dec. 10 to 14.

This was the first time in the 39-year history of the Asean that a summit was scrapped.

Philippine officials on Sun-day said “most of the Asean countries are willing to accept” a rescheduled summit Jan. 10 to 13 next year.

Malacañang had insisted that a looming typhoon in the Pacific — and not planned street protests and reports from foreign governments about a pending terror attack — was the reason for pulling the plug on the high-profile event. (See related story)

But after the storm passed far from the summit site on Saturday, politicians, opposition groups and analysts blasted Mrs. Arroyo’s decision, which sources said was “unilaterally” made.

“It’s a sign of a weak government,” said Tomas Osmena, mayor of the city of Cebu, where the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and a wider meeting of regional leaders had been due to begin on Sunday.

“We would not have cancelled it and we live here,” Osmeña told Agence France-Presse.

The abrupt cancellation, terror worries and other problems — X-ray security machines were covered in plastic bags to keep off rain dripping through the $10-million Cebu International Convention Center — have given her critics more ammunition.

“It’s brand-new and the roof is leaking,” said one official with the Asean business and investment summit held before the main events were cancelled.

“This will be remembered as the summit that failed,” the official added.

Asean groups Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Mrs. Arroyo had wanted to use the conference and its associated meetings to showcase the progress that the Philippines has made during her presidency, from 2001.

But critics say her report card is not looking good.

Poverty is still widespread with more than 40 percent of the country’s 84 million people living on less than two dollars a day, and her administration is regularly cited as one of the worst in the region on human rights. (See related story)

Just before the cancelled summit, Japan said it was concerned about the killings of left-wing journalists that have been blamed on the government, adding improvements on rights would be a condition for further aid packages.

“Mrs. Arroyo is not fooling anyone,” said Lidy Nakpil, an organizer of a series of protests by leftist groups that had been planned for the summit.

“Not even the Asean leaders would have believed her alibi of a typhoon,” Nakpil added.

The President earlier was harshly criticized over the convention center site, where squatter camps were bulldozed to make way for the summit — whose theme, chosen by Mrs. Arroyo herself, is “A caring and sharing community.”

Despite assurances from Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia that the building would be completed on time, workmen were still painting and decorating as local and foreign media moved in last week.

But the main source of public anger at Mrs. Arroyo was her decision last week to try to bypass the Philippine Senate as part of her unpopular plans to change the Constitution in what is seen as a way to solidify her power in office.

The proposal has triggered street protests, which include those from the powerful Roman Catholic church and other religious and business organizations, as well as broad civil society and social movements.

“Political noise in Manila over Mrs. Arroyo’s plans to change the Constitution might have played a part in the decision to cancel the summit,” said one delegate to the summit who asked not to be named.

Benjamin Diokno, a professor at the government-run University of the Philippines, said the President had been “scared of the mass action” that had been planned for the summit.

“Political survival for her comes first,” Diokno said.

“The weather was a good excuse,” he added.

Philippine officials also on Sunday proposed a new date next month for the aborted summit.

Some Asean members sent special planes to collect senior delegates after Mrs. Arroyo called off the event.

Lower-level officials had to scramble for airline seats out of Cebu over the weekend.

The city on the central island of the same name suffered only steady rain, which leaked through the roof of the convention center.

Announcement of the cancellation came a day after Britain, Australia, the United States and other nations warned against travel to Cebu, citing fears of a terrorist attack.

Foreign Affairs officials privately said the gathering had been scrapped because of those fears as well as worries about political protests against Mrs. Arroyo.

Marciano Paynor, the Philippine head of the summit organizing committee, said early indications are that majority of the Asean member-countries are open to the reset of the summit to Jan. 11-13 next year.

But Paynor added it is “quite possible” that the wider East Asia Summit — which groups the 10 Asean nations along with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand and which was also cancelled — might not take place in January.

Asean also holds “Plus Three” meetings with China, Japan and South Korea during its annual summits but it was unclear what the new proposal was for those meetings.

Paynor said he was unaware of a report that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would be in Europe from Jan. 6-14.

Typhoon “Seniang” hit some parts of the Philippines, killing at least one person and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands, but the central Cebu region was virtually unaffected.

“We still feel that we made the right decision in consideration foremost of the safety of the delegates...,” Paynor said.

He added the proposal was for Asean foreign ministers to meet on Jan. 9 and heads of government on Jan. 11-13.

“These new dates have been forwarded to their respective capitals and we expect reaction to the availability of leaders to these specific dates by next week,” Paynor told a news conference.

“But our indications are that most of the Asean countries are willing to adjust and meet the main changes in the schedule for their respective leaders,” he said.

Paynor added member-countries may designate representatives to the rescheduled summit if leaders could not make it.

“Leaders are leaders and their calendars are always full,” he said.

Asean senior officials who draw up the agenda for ministers and leaders did meet in the past week, however, and summit spokesman Victoriano Lecaros said there would be no repeat meeting next month.

In addition to the summit, the formal meeting of the Asean foreign ministers was also postponed.

At a rushed dinner session Friday night, the ministers managed to sign four agreements to speed up economic integration.

A business forum on the sidelines of the main meeting also went ahead.

“Where others see a storm, losses and leaks we see the opportunity to improve ourselves and toughen ourselves more,” Garcia told the same news conference.

“Where others see a setback, Cebu moves on and moves forward,” she said.

Some locals were less upbeat about the cancellation.

“It would have been a big chance for the Philippines,” said Jonalyn Cacal, a security worker at the luxurious seaside Shangri-La Hotel, where disconsolate workers were on Saturday packing up the signs and banners meant to celebrate the summit.

On Dec. 9, or a day after the sumit was canceled, many Asean ministers, who were already in the country, snubbed a breakfast meeting hosted by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo at the Shangri-la Mactan resort.

Aside from Romulo, only three foreign ministers — from Thailand, Brunei and Singapore — were present during the meeting.

Cambodia and Malaysia did not push through with their trip to Cebu after the cancellation of the summit while ministers from Laos, Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam reportedly left early to catch a flight home.

They sent their senior officials instead to represent them in the breakfast meeting.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing were also invited to the meeting but did not show up.

Philippine officials said the two ministers did not make it to the meeting due to conflict of schedule.

Dismissing reports that the Asean ministers and delegates were displeased with the Philippine government’s decision to call off the summit, Romulo claimed his counterparts who were present during the working dinner Friday night “expressed full support” to move the dates of the Cebu summits.

“They appreciated the concern the Philippine government has shown for the safety and welfare of all the participants,” he told a press briefing.

Romulo took the cudgels for Mrs. Arroyo, saying he was the one who recommended the suspension of the meeting, but did not make the final decision.

But sources said the President unilaterally decided to call off the meeting in anticipation of massive protests against Charter change. AFP and Michaela P. del Callar

The Daily Tribune © 2006

RP found most corrupt in Asia after Indonesia

2006-12-10T12:59:00.000+03:00

THE Philippine government has failed to fight corruption, with lawmakers and the police perceived as the most corrupt, according to the anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI).

The findings are contained in TI’s Global Corruption Barometer 2006 survey released Dec. 7.

The survey, which was done by Gallup International between July and September 2006 as part of its Voice of the People Survey, had 59,661 respondents in 62 low, middle and high-income countries.

The survey showed the Philippines ranking second in the Asia-Pacific region in corruption behind Indonesia (18 percent), followed by India (12 percent) and Thailand (10 percent).

In the survey, 16 percent of respondents who had had transactions in the Philippines admitted to paying a bribe last year, while 84 percent said they did not.

Thirty-one percent said government actions against corruption were "not efficient;" 24 percent said government "actually encourages it;" and 23 percent said government "does not fight it at all."

Only 13 percent said the actions were "efficient" and 8 percent "very efficient."

The police and the legislature were rated as the sectors suffering most from by corruption, followed by revenue-generating agencies and political parties.

On a scale of 1-5 with 1 as "not at all corrupt" and 5 as "extremely corrupt," respondents for the Philippines gave Congress and the police a 3.9 rating, or just one point shy of being "extremely corrupt."

Other sectors got the following ratings: taxation, 3.7; political parties, 3.5; military, 3.4; legal system, 3.4; business, 3.2; registry and permit services, 3.2; education. 3.0; utilities, 2.9; medical services, 2.9; non-government organizations, 2.6; media, 2.5; and religious sector, 2.1.

The respondents also said corruption affects mostly political life, business environment and personal/family life.

The same survey listed the Philippines as among 17 countries where between 16 to 40 percent of respondents reported having paid a bribe in the last 12 months.

The others were Bolivia, Congo-Brazzaville, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Greece, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Moldova, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, Senegal, Ukraine, and Venezuela.

Between 51 to 70 percent of respondents believed corruption has affected political life in the Philippines and 28 other countries "to a large extent."

The TI survey showed that in most cases, people tend to be very negative about their government’s attempts to fight corruption. It also showed that only one in five surveyed worldwide thinks that government is effective to some degree in fighting corruption while nearly two in five say their government’s anti-corruption drive is "not effective."

One in six surveyed globally also thinks that their government actually encourages corruption rather than fight it.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the TI survey is based on perception, which everyone is free to make.

"But definitely a country such as ours is trying to maintain the ability to be able to keep its ship of state upright and going in the (right) direction in spite of rough seas. Pero hindi naman siguro in the manner na pinapalabas nila na ang corruption is unabated," he said.

Ermita said there are government agencies such as the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, Ombudsman, and Commission on Human Rights, to name a few, that are on hand to check corruption.

He said President Arroyo is naturally not pleased with the survey results.

Officials from the PAGC, Ombudsman, Presidential Commission on Good Government, Anti-Money Laundering Council, and the justice and foreign affairs departments are taking part in the UN convention against corruption in Jordan from Dec. 10 to 14.

COPYRIGHT 2004 © People's Independent Media Inc. Written by Regina Bengco

Arrogantly Insensitive, Patently Manipulative

2006-12-09T12:17:00.000+03:00

Tyranny of Numbers blatantly disguised as rule of majority. This is how the majority coalition in the House of Representatives has railroaded their self-serving interests in a house resolution calling for the reconstitutin of the House into a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass). Truth is, they have not even had the finesse of a disguise. Their tyranny is so pronounced you will be convinced these morons are even proud of their arrogance. They remind me of how the mob practically lynched our Lord Jesus Christ into being crucified.

The height of arrogance of these so-called representatives to actually stay overnight for two consecutive days just to ensure the approval of the Con-Ass plot but neglect the more important and immediate need of our citizens in Bicol region wh o are still reeling from the devastation of the combined terror of super typhoon Reming and the deposited pyroclastic materials in the slope of majestic Mayon Volcano.

I would have applauded these tyrants had they spent the two overnight sessions to deliberate how they could have help ameliorate the people of Bicol region, by the way is among the most depressed regions of the Philippines despite the centuries-touted tourism potential of the region.

I only see one thing in this latest abuse of power by these representatives - they are arrogantly insensitiv to the real plight of our people. instead, they dilute the condition of our people with their perceived demands of the people. The Bicol victims surely are not interested in the Con-Ass, not even before the calamity, moreso after the tragedy. The members of the majority coalition in the House of Representatives have been consistent in their patent manipulation of how Congress should behave.

Now, must we wonder why these tyrants wouldn't want an elections in 2007. Remember what happened to the vaunted Republican Party in the US? After more than a decade of similar tyranny because of their sheer strength in numbers, they are booted out by the American electorate in both chambers of the US Congress. And George Junior is now a lameduck president. GMA wouldn't want that for herself too.

Kasama

2006-12-08T17:20:00.000+03:00

The spate of insolent leadership displayed by our elected officials are rekindling the activist in me, as if I have ceased to be an activism.

Nonetheless, my sentimentality and my penchant for romance has motivated me to look for a Gary Granada song that has become our favorite love song as activists while at the University of the East.

The poetry is basic and simple yet the message pierces through the heart. it is a tribute to a companion, a spouse and a life partner who is more than the sum of a woman's roles.

Kasama
Gary Granada

Siya'y aking kapiling
Sa Kabiguan at tagumpay
Sa kanyang piling
Ako ay nahimlay
Nakakaunawa
Sa 'king pagkukulang
Nakakahawa ang kanyang kagandagan.

Ngunit di lang siya kaibigan
Di lang siya kapatid
Di lang kasintahan
O kaisang-dibdib.

Di lang siya asawa
O inang uliran
Siya'y aking kasama
Sa mapagpalayang kilusan.

Pinakaiibig
Pinakamamahal
Sa aming pag-ibig
Ang lahat isusugal
Aming pangako
Hanggang kamatayan
Saan man dumako ang kasaysayan
Dahil...

Di lang siya kaibigan
Di lang siya kapatid
Di lang kasintahan
O kaisang-dibdib.

Di lang siya asawa
O inang uliran
Siya'y aking kasama
Sa mapagpalayang kilusan...
Siya'y aking kasama
Sa pagpapalaya ng bayan.

Benedict is Challenging Muslims to Confront Hard Truths

2006-12-05T17:34:00.000+03:00

By decrying the use of violence in the name of God, Benedict is challenging Muslims to confront hard truths.
By Richard John Neuhaus

Benedict XVI's journey to Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, is laden with the wounds of history both ancient and painfully contemporary. The Pope's controversial Sept. 12 lecture in Regensburg, Germany, quoted a 14th century exchange between a Byzantine Christian Emperor and a Muslim intellectual in which the Emperor made some distinctly uncomplimentary observations about Islam. The Pope admitted that the Emperor's statement was brusque. But his point in reaching so far back into history was to demonstrate that problems between the Christian West and Islam long precede today's "war on terrorism."

Although the West, and most notably Europe, may be less Christian today, Muslims still view it as the Christian West. For a thousand years, from the days of Muhammad in the 7th century, Islam enjoyed a run of triumphant conquest, interrupted only momentarily by the Christian Crusades. The time of conquest lasted until the failed siege of Vienna in 1683. After Vienna, and most dramatically under 19th and 20th century Western colonialism, Islam was sidelined from history--one of the main sources of the rage and resentment of today's jihadists.

The jihadists believe their time of resumed conquest has come. Through terrorism and the mass immigration of Muslims in Europe, the jihadists are pressing for the reversal of the military outcome of 1683. This is the context in which Benedict attempted to make a larger point at Regensburg. He acknowledged that Christians have sometimes had a problem, and he suggested that Muslims still have a problem, in understanding the relationship between faith and coercion. Violence, said the Pope, is the enemy of reason. Violence has no place in the advancing of religion. To act against reason is to act against the nature of God.

The violent responses to the Pope's speech reflect the belief of jihadist groups, such as al-Qaeda, that their religion mandates the use of any means necessary, including suicide bombers and the mass killing of civilians, to bring about the world's submission to Islam. In an Oct. 12 "Open Letter to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI," 38 distinguished Islamic religious authorities, including Grand Muftis in Turkey, Egypt, Russia, Syria, Kosovo, Bosnia and Uzbekistan, wrote that "jihad ... means struggle, and specifically struggle in the way of God. This struggle may take many forms, including the use of force." The signers delicately criticized some acts of Muslim terrorism, such as the killing of a nun in Somalia, but failed to address the relationship between religion and politics in Islam, or whether the "maintenance of sovereignty" includes, as radical jihadists claim, the violent reconquest of Western lands that were once Muslim. Whether out of conviction or fear of being targeted by terrorists, the 38 did not frontally reject the linkage between violence and the advance of Islam.

Nonetheless, the open letter was framed in respectful terms and was welcomed at the Vatican. It is noteworthy, however, that the Pope has not retreated from his challenge to Islam. Moreover, under his leadership, the Vatican has taken a much stronger line in insisting on "reciprocity" in relations with Islam. Mosques proliferate throughout cities in the West, while any expression of non-Islamic religion is strictly forbidden in many Muslim countries. In the Vatican and elsewhere, the feeling has been growing that the way of tolerance, dialogue and multicultural sensitivity can no longer be a one-way street. In fact, that shift predates Benedict's papacy. In his 1994 book, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, John Paul II said complimentary things about the piety of Muslims. But John Paul concluded his discussion of Islam with this: "For [these reasons] not only the theology but also the anthropology of Islam is very distant from Christianity."

The theology has to do with the relationship between faith and reason, the anthropology with the dignity of the human person that requires a free and uncoerced response to truth, including religious truth. God ("Allah" in Arabic), Benedict contends, should be viewed not as an arbitrary ruler who issues capricious commands but as the Divine Reason that human beings, through reason and freedom, are invited to share. Speaking for the Catholic Church, which includes over half of the more than 2 billion Christians in the world, Benedict says that, in matters of religion, violence is the enemy of reason, and to act against reason is to act against God. Challenging the leaders of the more than 1 billion Muslims in the world, he asks them to join in that affirmation.

• Father Richard John Neuhaus is editor in chief of First Things, a
monthly magazine on religion, culture and public life
Time

Super Typhoon Reming

2006-12-04T02:09:00.000+03:00

Everybody has seen the catastrophe in Bicol when the murderous wind and rains brought by super typhoon Reming (international code name: Durian) partnered with the abundant volcanic debris deposited in the slopes of Mount Mayon and wrecked havoc among the hapless Bicolanos.

Now, days and almost a week into the calamity, I wonder why there are still no large-scale relief operations. Have the Filipinos became so inured with our tragic lives that even a calamity of this magnitude cannot move us to help?

Angst

2006-11-18T03:01:00.000+03:00

Some members of my family and my extended family really knows how to antagonize me. The height of stupidity of these people who actually suggested that I might be pushing my younger brother, Carlos, to be illegally recruited in Bahrain.

They may have heard of some blood relatives who have done this crime but to actualy condemn me of the same? C'mon?!

When Carlos is still desperately looking for a job, they gang up on him claiming my brother is lazy. Now that Carlos has finally landed a job, they are raising another matter.

Well, a criticism is just that - a negative feedback if it is not accompanied by suggestions for improvement.

In the first place, I should be questioning their motives for raising hell against Carlos.

The height of you! And you are my family?

Thank you!

Pet Peeve

2006-11-10T15:44:00.000+03:00

Citizens who do not know their rights and responsibilities explains the moral decay of our society which has cause corruption to become the norm and order of the day.

This covers everyone, the public, the government, leaders and followers, everyone.

It is so sad to see that we need to erect fences along the major thoroughfares to discourage people from jaywalking.

It is sad to see public transportations stopping at will causing unending traffic congestion.

It is sad to see people inside the movie house chatting so loud you won't hear the movie anymore else they would b talking on their mobile phone.

It is sad to see that there are those who find it inconvenient to stand and sing the Philippine national anthem during last full show at novie houses.

A first: Woman becomes head bishop of Episcopal Church

2006-11-04T23:27:00.000+03:00

Katharine Jefferts Schori took office Saturday as the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States -- a first not only for her country but also for the global Anglican Communion, which has never before had a female priest leading one of its provinces.

In a ceremony at the cavernous Washington National Cathedral, filled by more than 3,000 well-wishers, Jefferts Schori took leadership of the U.S. church, which is a member of the Anglican Communion. Her appointment takes place as the Anglican rift over the Bible and sexuality threatens to tear the church apart.

Jefferts Schori, 52, was bishop of Nevada when she was the surprise winner of the election for presiding bishop at the Episcopal General Convention in June.

Worshippers stood and faced the doors of the cathedral as Jefferts Schori knocked and entered, wearing a multicolored robe and miter.

She walked in a procession toward the front of the church, led by people waving streamers and flags, as applause filled the sanctuary.

Outgoing Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold turned over the symbol of authority, the primatial staff, to Jefferts Schori.

TM video on the web.

2006-11-03T22:20:00.000+03:00

Video files saved on the web and streams beautifully. Youtube made this really easy for all of us! Enter Google. Youtube now becomes part of the Google empire. Whether you prefer Youtube or Google Video, the service is simply wonderful.

For example, recording Toastmasters meetings or specific speech presentation and making them available online for members and other interested parties makes for a great public relations for Toastmasters.

Of course, one caveat, don't use these online video services to promote piracy. :(

A quick search on Youtube using the keyword "Toastmasters" will return an interesting result of 141 finds. Google Video, on the other hand, will give us 132 finds.

Not bad...

2.9M households experiencing ‘hunger’ -- survey

2006-11-01T20:47:00.000+03:00

Social Weather Station (SWS), one of the premier research organizations in the Philippines released the results of survey where 2.9M Philippine households indicated as experiencing ‘hunger’. This report came on a day when Filipinos are supposed to observe All Saints Day in commemmoration of our dearly departed yet scenes across all cemeteries in the country indicate something else.

More interesting, 51% of the Filipinos say they’re ‘poor’.

I am poor. Many Filipinos are poor. We have been condemned into poverty by a cornucopia of reasons.

I just wonder when shall the Filipino realize that we should not be poor.

When?

4th Midyear Conference Photos

2006-11-01T20:06:00.000+03:00

Better be late than never. Jazz Encarnacion, past Area 16 Governor sent me these photos from the 4th Midyear Conference of District 75 held at the picturesque MMLDC in Antipolo, Rizal. Thanks Jazz!

MMLDC Aviary
by jiencarnacion
This is the map of the Aviary at MMLDC. The place is not only conducive for conferences such as the Midyear Conference but for many other events as well. In fact, I rarely used the shuttle service within MMLDC. Walking the rolling hills from our accommodation to the conference venue is welcome treat!

Star-studded
by jiencarnacion
I mostly shared a table with Jazz Encarnacion, past Area 16 Governor and DTM JJ Letargo (seated, right). The guy in black beside Jazz is Jap Constantino from Silver and White TMC. Standing at far left is past D75 Governor and author of D75 becoming #1, DTM Mike Chua. Beside me is Immediate Past Division B Governor Joseph Yee. To my right is Immediate Past D75 Governor DTM Eliza Tiu and current Area 15 Governor and my club mate from Managers for Christ TMC, Arlene Cadiz. The rest are TMs from Butter 'N Toast TMC from Area 16.

Heavyweights of District 75
by jiencarnacion
This is another star-studded photo op. Seated from left are Past Division B Governor (and one of the best in my book; and a DivGov of the Year awardee) Arnnie Alvar, Past D75 PRO Ondette Kempis, Immediate Past DivB Governor Joseph Yee, Past Division H Governor (and DivGov of the Year awardee) Alma Silla, Past Area Governor ______, myself, Jap and Jazz. Standing are Past Division H Governor and 2006 Midyear Conference Chair Pam Castro and Immediate Past Division H Governor Noy Josef.

The Original Homesteaders
by jiencarnacion
Well, this picture was taken before the other stars joined our table. you can also describe our table as heavyweight. ;)

Great Accommodation
by jiencarnacion
...and this is the hallway to the rooms on the second floor. I was billeted at the first room to the left. The rooms are first class! Better than the room we had at Hilton Washington!

That Hasanain fellow...

2006-10-31T22:15:00.000+03:00

I am trying (very hard) not to miss Bahrain but that Hasanain fellow found this blog and broadcasted its existence to kingdom come. Now, I am missing Bahrain big time! If I decide to return to Bahrain and cause heart ache to many individuals, they have Hasanain to blame.

World Championship of Public Speaking - A Trivia for Filipinos.

2006-10-30T21:39:00.000+03:00

Filipino Toastmasters should be proud of this.

There are already around 70 World Championships of Public Speaking to date. Only four are from Districts Not Assigned to Regions (DNAR):

1998 Brett Rutledge (Auckland, New Zealand)
1996 David Nottage (Auckland, New Zealand)
1985 Marie C. Pyne (Ireland)
1982 Kenneth Bernard (Australia)

There were fewer female champions - only three:

1986 M. Arabella Bengson (Islington, Ontario, Canada)
1985 Marie C. Pyne (Ireland)
1977 Evelyn Jane Burgay (Springfield, Virginia)

Marie Pyne of Ireland's achievement is remarkable because she is both a female and from DNAR.

But, do you know that a Filipino has actually won a World Championship of Public Speaking? Let me correct myself. The Filipino is actually a Filipina! Yes, she is one of the only three women World Champion of Public Speaking - Ma. Arabella Bengson! She represented the then Region 7, if I am not mistaken. Yet, she is unmistakebly of Filipino ethnicity.

With the election of Johhny "Pawe" Uy as the first Filipino Toastmasters International President, my interest in the Filipino's achievements in Toastmasters became an obsession. ;) so, when I stumbled upon the information that Arabella is actually Filipina, I tried to contact her.

I did! Not only Arabella but her husband as well. Fraser McAllan in an email told me that he is "privileged to be her partner in life, work and play."

I will share with you more information Fraser and Arabella will pass on to me. Wait and see.

For the meantime, why don't we plan to invite them to conduct workshops for us?

The Best Evaluation Speech at District 75's 4th Midyear Conference

2006-10-21T22:41:00.000+03:00

Evaluation by Rj Laguardia (Division B) of test speaker Nomel Gilongos "If and If". This video was prepared by Division A Governor Wilson Lee, a hardworking person I am glad to see serving District 75 with fervor.

Take three...

2006-10-19T18:16:00.000+03:00

I created this blog a year ago. After sometime, I stopped. Then, I decided to take blogging seriously but it has stressed me needlessly especially everytime I censor myself. ;) So, for the second time, I stopped...

Today, I am back. I am not sure if this will be for keeps. I can not be sure anymore. One thing is certain, this time, it will be no holds barred.

One person's work is rightfully recognized in one short but sweet statement.

2006-10-10T23:23:00.000+03:00

This peek into the history of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of the East Caloocan made a short, small but accurate recognition of one person's labor of love. That short statement is in bold face near the end of the article.

A Peek Into the CAS Caloocan History
By Dean Eleanor R. Javier and Prof Vida E. Suarez

The birth of the College of Arts and Sciences-Caloocan came about simultaneously with the dawning of the University of the East-Caloocan in 1977, as a branch of UE Manila offering college courses.
In response to the project of Mrs. Imelda Marcos (who was then serving as Metro Manila Governor) in bringing college education to the outskirts of Metro Manila, UE Management decided to phase out the elementary, high school and vocational programs in UE Caloocan. This paved the way for the introduction of the same college courses that were offered in UE Manila such as business administration, engineering, fine arts, and arts and sciences.
CAS Caloocan offered the same four-year programs of CAS Manila. Among these were AB in English, AB in Political Science, AB in History and Pre-Dentistry. Because UE Caloocan was an extension campus, the respective deans of the College of Business Administration, College of Engineering, and College of Arts and Sciences in Manila also supervised the colleges' counterparts in Caloocan. Both campuses shared the same faculty.
Dr. Herminia M. Barcelona was the first concurrent Dean of both CAS Manila and Caloocan.
The head of UE Caloocan has always been its chancellor. The late Oscar Limlingan was for sixteen years-from June 1977 to June 1993-the Chancellor, and it is no small wonder that the UE community fondly refers to him as the Father of UE Caloocan. Starting from a very small enrollment, the student population here grew from leaps and bounds, reaching as high as 10,000.
As UE Caloocan made its strong presence in Caloocan, Navotas, Malabon and Bulacan, it progressively enticed more enrollees that required the appointment of separate Deans for its Colleges of Engineering, Business Administration, Fine Arts, and Arts and Sciences. It soon became independent of UE Manila, particularly in terms of academic supervision.
Being the youngest college in the Caloocan Campus, the growth of the College of Arts and Sciences can be attributed to the five different deans who have been appointed to head the CAS and the cooperation and participation of the faculty members and students. Together, they pursued the philosophy of the College- that a solid base in the arts and sciences, with the knowledge and training that will develop and expand to the fullest a student's {intellectual, spiritual, moral, artistic, and physical powers, is the best preparation that a student can bring to whatever professional study of life that he may later decide on.
Mr. Juanito C. Diaz, a professor of philosophy, was the first CAS Caloocan Dean, from 1988 to 1992. It was he who planted the seeds of accreditation. During his term, the CAS started to make plans to apply for accreditation with the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA). Pursuant to this, he initiated several programs for the improvement of faculty recruitment and development. The faculty also became active in outreach programs, such as the CAS Pinatubo Relief Campaign.
It was also during his term when the AB in English Program was changed to AB in Communication Arts. A generalist program, AB in Communication Arts was adopted from the program designed by Prof. Sol Gabriel, the first Chairperson of the Comm. Arts Department in CAS Manila. It included subjects focusing on various fields of communication, namely Advertising, Broadcasting, Film, Journalism, Public Relations, Public Speaking and Theater. It aimed at introducing and developing students in various areas of communication.
Dr. Julieta B. Samonte, an English professor, was Dean for one year, 1992-1993. She continued the programs of Dean Diaz. During her term, more faculty development programs were organized, with emphasis on values formation. Apart from seminars, faculty members were highly motivated to participate and initiate various activities for the College because merits for promotion were not just based on academic requirements. It also included, among others, research, honors obtained, outstanding events or activities organized by either the College or the University, recognition or awards received, qualification in a government examination and community service.
CAS Manila Dean Carmelita S. Flores, likewise an English professor, became the concurrent Dean of both Campuses' CAS from 1993 to 1994. Though her stint as CAS Caloocan Dean was less than a year, she is credited for focusing on the development of the infrastructure of the College; the Speech Laboratory and the Multipurpose Hall were constructed during her time.

I am back in the Philippines

2006-10-01T06:17:00.000+03:00

Here's a blow by blow account of my return to the pearl of orient:

September 30, 2006. I spent most of my day working on my laundry. I am not able to finish it because Vicky arrived and snatched me to attend AFAEAT Toastmasters Club meeting at The Palace. I am not excited about this because I was forced to serve as Toastmaster of the Evening (TME). but I know I will have the last laugh.

We broke our fast at KFC. Where else? KFC should pay me for simply being loyal! Vicky has to leave earlier and left Waleed, Dha and myself at KFC. Big mistake. She gave me the upper hand. ;) Wicked. Wicked. We arrived at The Palace many minutes late. I was replaced by CTM Danny Perez as TME. Who laughs now? ;)

After the meeting, we gravitated back to KFC (yes, believe it or not!) This time, Jawad, Abdul Azziz and Pilita have reinforced us.

It was also the moment to bid goodbye to Jawad so insists I am returning so he never said goodbye. Abdulazziz has to meet some friends. Vicky then drove Dha home.

So it was four of us - Waleed, Pilita, Vicky and myself at the house rushing to pack my things. I love to do it this way. But I hate it because I would always end up packing more than I need!

My flight was at 6:15 AM and it was barely 1AM so we killed time at Vicky's.

At 4:30 AM, we were at the airport. I immediately went to the Qatar Airways counter to check my luggage in. Ali Shahbaz and S. Abbas arrived and joined my three well-wishers. It was absurd to see all them separated from me by the hot electronic billboard as I was not allowed to go out of the security cordon anymore. We had quick goodbyes and a lot of teasing. Then, I was alone at the waiting lounge.

I dropped by the duty free shop and bought Aigner Black for myself and the new Cinema for Jenn.

As the airplane flew out of Bahrain, I looked for the last time beyond the window and saw Bahrain in its resplendent glory as the sun rose. It was just like I saw it on Google Earth. Bahrain is beautiful. Bahrain is lovely. Up in the clouds, Bahrain bid me farewell.

Less than forty winks later, I was above Qatar. Ramadan fasting is not observed at Doha International Airport. In fact, I saw two thobe-wearing teenagers greedily drinking their fruit juices. The waiting at Doha was long and painful as it allowed me to ponder on the immeasurable wealth Bahrain has given me. I tried to enjoy the new Doha airport. I managed to buy a book, Atlantic. I resisted buying Doha Asian Games stuff.

My flight to Manila has a glitch. The Airbus did not have individual entertainment screens. I hate old planes. They did not give passengers choice. yet, I endured watching all the movies. I never slept nor napped throughout the eight-hour trip.

We landed in Manila at 11:15 PM same day. And as I have expected, the carousel area is almost clear of passengers when my luggage went out. Poor people waiting for me outside! Poor me too because the airport is running on generators because of the typhoon called "Milenyo". I was like Pagsanjan Falls when I finally saw my brother and mother.

God loves me very much because electricity was restored at the house when we arrived home at 1:23 AM. I immediately went to my room setting aside everything else. All I wanted was to sleep for when the sun rise and I rise too, I will do so in my homeland, no more in the land where I felt home too...

2006-02-21T07:55:00.000+03:00

The National Evangelical Church, Bahrain is a mosaic of diversity that has stood as an ever-evolving witness to God's faithfulness in Arabia. We are celebrating our centennial. I am humbled to be part of the committee in charge of the historic exhibition. I am merely a warm body in the committee but I thank God, nonetheless, for the opportunity. Praise the Lord!