chuvalais

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Mistake?! 54 Civilians killed?

I woke up this morning and tuned it to CNN. It was surreal... the newscaster said..."If you are just joining us now, there are several development that is happening right now..." and then I see all these footage of a shelter bombed in Qana, Lebanon and all these protesters storming the UN building in Beirut.

"Israeli air attack kills 54 civilians, including 37 children, Israel: Strike was 'mistake'; Rice postpones Beirut visit"

Just how could you stomach this news?! Just how could you even make justifications that Israel is fighting Hezbollah when collateral damages like these are women and children?!

True, I also cannot stomach watching Israeli civilians hit by Katyusha rockets, but my heart goes to all the Lebanese children who are suffering from this crazy, unwanted and unjust war.

Israel, Israel! Israel! You have some precision guided missiles! You have the most advanced mapping technology that it's impossible to miss! How many more mistakes are you going to have? Ok! Ok! Ok! So Hezbollah fired some rockets in the vicinity! That's way too shallow a reason to kill those innocent civilians!

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Salong bolas and salong guhits

Eto ang nakakatuwang news ngayong umaga. I have nothing against Iranians. After all.. EEEEEEHHHHH!!! Ang gagagwapoooo nila!!! I should know, I had about 4 very very good looking Iranian classmates in Manila, ok?!

But I find this news funny. It brings back memories during Marcos time. Di ba? Noon kasing panahon, they herded all these supposedly intelligent, well-educated Pinoy researchers with PhD's and what have you to improve the Filipino language. The members of the board pa nga comes from such well known schools as the University of the Philippines, etc. blah! blah! blah!

And the words that they came up with...are did you know?

Well...

Chair = Salung Pwet
Briefs or male underwear = Salong Bola
Panty or femail underwear = Salong Guhit

Ang galing di ba? Can you imagine us Pinoys out there talking to foreing professionals with all our salong guhit crap invented by some crazy PhD comprised board of duhhh?

We never heard about all these salong bola anymore because it was such a big comedy of some sorts at that time. Remember when we made Pilipino as the medium of instruction then? Ayun, nagkapalpak palpakan ang mga estudyante natin. Which is why we are back to all these All-English medium of instruction. Gone are all the salong bolas.

Which brings me back to this Iranian President.

Let me tell you Mr. President. We did that. It didn't work. HA HA HA Language evolves!!!

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has ordered government and cultural bodies to use modified Persian words to replaceforeign words that have crept into the language, such as "pizzas" which will now be known as "elastic loaves," state media reported Saturday.

The presidential decree, issued earlier this week, orders all governmental agencies, newspapers and publications to use words deemed more appropriate by the official language watchdog, the Farhangestan Zaban e Farsi, or Persian Academy, the Irna official news agency reported.

The academy has introduced more than 2,000 words as alternatives for some of the foreign words that have become commonly used in Iran, mostly from Western languages. The government is less sensitive about Arabic words, because the Quran is written in Arabic.

Among other changes, a "chat" will become a "short talk" and a "cabin" will be renamed a "small room," according
to official Web site of the academy.

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Democracy in the Middle East?

But wait a second...

I'm not being anti-American here... nor being an anti-Israeli... but see, I thought the US wanted democracy to get a foothold in the Middle East, right?

That's what we wanted in Iraq. And then... well... there's civil war now...

That's what we wanted in Lebanon. And the Hezbollah won. But we don't want Hezbollah!

That's what we wanted in the Palestine. And the Hamas won. But we don't want Hamas!

Just what is it that we want?!

Do they really want democracy?

Can't we just leave them alone?

Disproportionate response according to John Bolton

"I like John Bolton's argument about proportionate and dis-proportionate response. Here it is..."


U.S. Ambassador John Bolton says that Israel has a right to defend itself against
Hezbollah.

"What Hezbollah has done is kidnap Israeli soldiers and rain rockets and mortar shells on innocent Israeli civilians. What Israel has done in response is act in self-defense. And I don't quite know what the argument about proportionate force means here. Is Israel entitled only to kidnap two Hezbollah operatives and fire a couple of rockets aimlessly into Lebanon?"

"The situation is that Israel has lived under the terrorist threat of Hezbollah for years, and these most recent attacks have given it the legitimate right, the same right America would have if we were attacked, to deal with the problem. And that's what they're doing."

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Looks like Putin is pissed at Bush!

Russia puts cracks in united front against Iran
Country unexpectedly wants to change U.S.-backed anti-nuclear resolution
Updated: 1 hour, 2 minutes ago


VIENNA, Austria - Unexpected Russian opposition to key wording of a U.S.-backed Security Council draft resolution is straining international unity on how to deal with Iran's nuclear defiance, U.N. diplomats said Saturday.

The apparent change of heart is the latest obstacle in the months-long attempt to pressure Iran's hardline Islamic government to suspend uranium enrichment, which many countries fear Tehran wants to use for a nuclear program.

Iran argues its needs enrichment to make energy and is entitled to it under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Although it initially urged restraint, Russia, as recently as July 12 in Paris, signaled it was ready to support a tougher line. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and counterparts from the United States, China, Britain, France and Germany agreed then to resume Security Council deliberations after Iran refused requests to respond to an international offer to negotiate its nuclear program.

A statement on behalf of the six said they agreed to "seek a ... Security Council resolution which would make ... suspension mandatory."

The diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter, say particularly vexing is Moscow's refusal now to endorse language that would tell Tehran it has no choice but to freeze uranium enrichment or face sanctions.

Work on a resolution was suspended May 3 to allow the six powers to devise incentives for Iran to freeze enrichment and start talks meant to secure its agreement to a long-term moratorium on the activity, which can produce material for use in the fissile core of nuclear warheads as well as fuel for reactors.

The incentives include advanced technology and the easing of U.S. sanctions on the sale of aircraft and aircraft parts. The United States, breaking with decades of policy, has said it is willing to join in the multinational talks

Iran has not turned down their offer, but has shown no sign it is ready to give up enrichment. Tehran has said it will respond Aug. 22 to the package — a date which the six nations extending the offer have rejected as too late.

In remarks made available to The Associated Press Saturday, chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani repeated that enrichment belongs to "the inalienable rights of the Iranian nation" and warned his country would "reconsider its nuclear policies" if pressured too harshly — a possible threat to quit the NPT.

The remarks were made Thursday to Iran's Supreme National Security Council and were forwarded by Tehran to the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency with a request that it be circulated among members of its 35-nation board.

One of the diplomats said Russia seems to be distancing itself from the Paris declaration and is seeking a resolution that is not legally binding.

The diplomat said other differences — including Russian objections to describing Iran as a "threat to international peace and security" were close to being solved.

Russia's reluctance could seriously undermine efforts to secure a compromise from Iran, especially as the United States, Britain and France insist that the freeze be made mandatory.

The West wants an Aug. 31 deadline for Iran to comply on the freeze demand. But if that demand is anything less then mandatory, any ultimatum loses much of its meaning because there is little else concrete left to enforce.

While the diplomats told the AP there was no indication what brought about the apparent change of heart, it could be as simple as Moscow believing that Iran will not give up its right to enrichment. Any resolution demanding this and threatening sanctions, therefore, is something the Russians fear could lead to military action which they oppose.

The wording of a draft resolution drawn up by Britain and France, and circulated last week among most of the 15-members of the council, "decides" that Tehran "shall suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities ..."

In a nod to Russia's resistance to the military option, the draft also refers to Article 41 of Chapter 7 in the U.N. Charter. This allows punishments that do not involve the use of armed force, such as economic penalties, banning air travel or breaking diplomatic relations.

I wonder if there is a connection with what happened in St. Petersburg just a few weeks ago. Read this news... and decide for yourself.



ST. PETERSBURG, Russia
Updated: 8:45 p.m. ET July 15, 2006
- In a chilly summit prelude, President Bush blocked Russia’s entry into the World Trade Organization on Saturday and President Vladimir Putin mockingly said Moscow doesn’t want the kind of violence-plagued democracy the United States has fostered in Iraq.

Alternately joking and poking at each other, the two also showed differences at a news conference on the explosion of violence in the Mideast.

Bush held Israel blameless for its punishing attacks in Lebanon and said it was up to the militant group Hezbollah to lay down its arms. Putin was critical of Israel’s use of force and said the violence “should stop as soon as possible.”

The two leaders met for two hours before the opening of the annual summit of eight major world powers, which was expected to focus on nuclear problems with Iran and North Korea and the escalating fighting between Israel and the Islamic guerrilla group Hezbollah.

There was a quick handshake but little warmth between Bush and Putin during a photo opportunity opening their talks. For the second day, Bush spent part of it mountain biking.

Muted criticism
Despite the sparring, there was none of the tension and anger that crackled in Bratislava, Slovakia, 17 months ago when Bush challenged Putin over Russia’s crackdown on dissent and retreat from democracy and the Russian president slapped back. After that jarring meeting, Bush concluded that lecturing Putin in public was unproductive. Still, Bush said he offered Putin some suggestions.

“I talked about my desire to promote institutional change in parts of the world like Iraq where there’s a free press and free religion,” Bush said at the news conference, “and I told him that a lot of people in our country would hope that Russia would do the same thing.”

Putin, in a barbed reply, said: “We certainly would not want to have the same kind of democracy as they have in Iraq, I will tell you quite honestly.” Bush’s face reddened as he tried to laugh off the remark. “Just wait,” Bush replied about Iraq.

Putin also said Russia would not take part “in any crusades, in any holy alliances” — a remark seemingly intended to win points with Arab allies. Bush’s national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, said he was perplexed by the comment.

‘We’re tough negotiators’
Hosting the Group of Eight summit for the first time, Putin dearly wanted to win approval for Russia’s admission to the World Trade Organization, the 149-nation group that sets the rules for world trade. The United States is the only country that has not signed off on Russia’s membership in the WTO, and Bush dashed Putin’s hopes for getting in now.

“We’re tough negotiators,” Bush said, adding that any agreement would have to be acceptable to the U.S. Congress.

U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said “significant progress” had been made in narrowing differences over the protection of U.S. copyrights and patents and boosting the sale of American manufactured goods. She said negotiators were unable to resolve a dispute over Russian barriers to the sale of American beef and pork. She said the hope was that the agreement could be completed “in the next couple of months.”

What do you think? Looks like there is a connection with Putin pissed at Bush?! HA HA HA

Lesbians fighting for same sex marriage? They separated.

Eto pa...eto namang dalwang dyke, pinaglaban yong same sex marriage sa Boston, tapos sila pala maghihiwalay din! Andaming tangaaaa sa mundooooo!!!! Eh bakit kasi magpakabakla na lang kayo, iwanan nyo na yang marriage na yan sa mga deretso kasi eh! Ang kukulit nang mga lesbyanang mga to!!!


Couple at center of same-sex marriage case splits
Friday, July 21, 2006; Posted: 11:41 a.m. EDT (15:41 GMT)

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- The lesbian couple whose lawsuit led to legal same-sex marriage in Massachusetts have announced they have separated.

"Julie and Hillary Goodridge are amicably living apart," Mary Breslauer, a local political consultant, said Thursday night on their behalf. Breslauer declined to comment on how long they had been separated or whether the couple planned to divorce.
The Goodridges were among seven gay couples whose lawsuit helped thrust

Massachusetts into the center of a nationwide debate on gay marriage. The state's Supreme Judicial Court issued its narrow 4-3 ruling in November 2003 in their favor -- saying gays and lesbians had a right under the state constitution to wed.
The Goodridges were married May 17, 2004, the first day same-sex marriages became legal under the court ruling, by a Unitarian Universalist minister. Their daughter, Annie, now 10, served as ring-bearer and flower girl.

Now, Breslauer said, for Annie's sake, the Goodridges want privacy.

The child figured prominently in the Goodridges' case. When Julie Goodridge gave birth by cesarean section, there were complications. Hillary Goodridge, at the time having no legal relationship with mother or child, said she was barred several times from seeing her daughter and partner.

"Even though their number one priority was their daughter," Breslauer said, "marriage makes her also their legal obligation. Their daughter is more protected because they are married."

Julie Goodridge declined to comment, saying Breslauer was the family's acting spokeswoman. Hillary Goodridge did not return a telephone message left at a business listing Thursday night.

"The plaintiff couple in this case are real people with real lives. They're not immune from life's ups and downs," Breslauer said. "Certainly over the course of time there will be same sex couples that separate just as happens in other marriages."

Boy Scouts? They're anti-gay! Now, the city evicts them.

I love this article! He He He! Boy Scouts of America have an ant-gay policy and they're staying at the City's building rent free! HA HA HA Good!


PHILADELPHIA - The city said it will evict a Boy Scout council from its publicly owned headquarters or make the group pay a fair rent price unless it changes its policy on gays.

The Boy Scouts' Cradle of Liberty Council, the country's third-largest, has been battling with the city for more than three years over the policy, which like the national Scouts organization forbids gays from being leaders.
City Solicitor Romulo L. Diaz Jr. wrote a letter to William T. Dwyer III, president of the Cradle of Liberty Council, stating that the council's "discriminatory policies" violate city policy and law, and that city officials have not been assured the group will not discriminate.

Unless the city gets a "fair-market rent agreement," the council will be evicted, the letter says.

The group has made its headquarters on a half-acre owned by the city in the upscale Philadelphia Art Museum area since 1928, when the city council voted to allow the Scouts to use the property rent-free "in perpetuity." The Scouts pay for building upkeep.
Council spokesman Jeff Jubelirer questioned the timing of the city's move.
"With an epidemic of gun violence taking the lives of Philadelphia's children every day, it is ironic the administration chose this time to destroy programming that services 40,000 children in the city," Jubelirer said.
Stacey Sobel, executive director of Philadelphia's Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights, said she's pleased the city is taking action.
"If they are going to discriminate, the taxpayers shouldn't be subsidizing it," Sobel said.
The Boy Scouts of America's policy on gay leaders was upheld by the

U.S. Supreme Court in 2000.

In 2003, the council in Philadelphia said it would adopt a nondiscrimination policy on gays. However, weeks later the group dismissed an 18-year-old Scout who publicly acknowledged he was gay.
Dwyer did not immediately return a message Saturday from The Associated Press, and a phone rang unanswered at the organization's national headquarters in Texas.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

American Evacuees in Lebanon? We accept credits cards. No money? Sign a promissory note.

Can you imagine how ugly our administration policies as far as Lebanese-Americans or those Americans stucked in Lebanon wishing to get out of the country? Well, they are the American evacuees.

Whereas the rest of the international community are now evacuating their citizens - the Italians, the French and the rest - the Americans are still thinking and waiting and scratching their balls as to whether or not they will evacuate our citizens!

Now that they have decided to evacuate, here's the deal!

YOU AMERICANS WISHING TO BE EVACUATED HAS TO PAY. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO PAY, YOU HAVE TO SIGN A PROMISSORY NOTE THAT YOU WILL PAY THE US GOVERNMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. OH, AND YOU CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING WITH YOU - BOXES, LUGGAGES, ETC. NOTHING.

Did you see the French evacuees? They even have shopping bags! WELL - WE CAN'T!

WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH MY GOVERNMENT?!

WHHHHHAAATTTT!!!

Saturday, July 15, 2006

What is going on?!

What the hell is going on in the world?!

Bombs are exploding in a train in India! Tong gagong Kim Il Tsonggo in North Korea just tested his Taepodong at balak talagang bombahin ang Amerika! Nang-gagalaiti ang mga Hapon! Nanginginig naman ang South Korea! Ang putang nang Iran naman walang puknat sa nuclear research para ma perfect ang bomba nila! Tong mga Hamas-lupang naman to wala nang ginawang matino! Isa pa tong mga hayop na Hizbollah na to! Tahimik na ang Lebanon ano ba't ginawang hostage nang mga gagong to? Where in the world are we headed baga?

Wala na bang katapusan to?!

Wala na bang katapusan to?!

Kelangan ba nila nang tulong? Aba! Madaming mga Pinoy na walang trabaho ah! Pwede bang mag post sa POEA nang mga wanted sundalo? Aba! Lahat nang tambay sa Pinas magkakatrabaho nang dis-oras! Andaming nangangailangan. Mag-sipag-apply na kayo! Mamili kayo - Israel, Lebanon, Hamas, Hisbollah, Syria, Iran, Iraq pag di natanggal ang unemployment sa Pilipinas ewan ko na!

Bakit hindi to samantalahin nang gobyerno? Employment opportunity to ah!

There is no such thing as free lunch

Yesterday, my officemate sent me this email about the National Grant Conference. They have this free seminar at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Wanting to get some free grants and with the hope of getting some idea on how to get them - off I drove to New Jersey this morning. The seminar started at 9:00am.

Here's how they advertised the seminar:

SPECIAL FREE BONUS FOR ATTENDING CONFERENCE
Make a reservation now and when you attend you will receive a FREE BONUS at the end of our free Introductory Conference. The bonus gift is a 4-volume mini-home study course that includes these valuable publications:
Making Money With Government Grants
Making Money With Government Auctions
Making Money With Government Foreclosures
Making Money With Government Tax Lien Certificates

The information in these FREE books could be worth thousands of dollars to you, your business and your family members. Check for an Introductory Conference in your area, seating is limited.


I registered with a fake name. A fake address. A phone number that I mangled. An office number interchanged. Now, seated comfortably, I was listening to this guy and instantly, I am reminded that this is nothing more than an infomercial.

Blah! Blah! Blah!
Blah! Blah! Blah! goes this guy!

Jokes!
HA! HA! HA! (yeap! i was one of them too! see? I was participating! ok?!)

I figured.... hmmmm... I'm sure the room in this hotel is not for free. But of course they are paying for this room. Are they gonna give us the hint and tell us exactly how to navigate the amazon of grants just like that? HELL NO! OK?! You got me!

And so, as I continue to listen - there goes the Catch 21!

It's a membership.

Cost? $1,299.00 (Wow!)
After 6 months, you have to renew for $24.95 (I see...)
With this membership... you get...
a.) 2 days workshop (I guess this is where you play anc act like Bill Gates...)
b.) Unlimited assistance via the 888-number (I'm sure it'll be unlimited. Remember when you need help and you call all these supposed to be 888 numbers and you get nothing but machines? But hey! Maybe it'll be a good opportunity to get connected to the call centers in Manila. But can they afford to outsource their services to Manila?!
c.) Brainstorm with you (bout what?!)
d.) Unlimited research (re...what?!0

Ugh!

My seatmate winked at me. She said "they all say that!"

I thought... my $1,299 is better off somewhere else. I can read, I can researched - true, I may not have all the time in the world. But if you have passion for what you do, you can do it for $1,299 less.

A ewan!

Friday, July 14, 2006

Ivan and Allison from You Think You Can Dance

From the show, You Think You Can Dance, this is Ivan and Allison's Contemporary Dance the other night. What a dance! I felt so in love with the two! I thought they did such a great job. Watch it!



Here's another one of them dancing salsa.