::Thursday, June 30, 2005::
ARRO-YO SERIOUS?
.. In a move to placate her critics, Philippine Pres. Gloria Arroyo reveals that her husband Mike Arroyo, believed to have taken bribes from gambling lords, is now going to temporarily live abroad as a sacrifice for the country. Does she really think this is even a good antidote for what is plaguing her administration? It seems that Ma'am President is playing with Filipinos' intelligence by having her cake and eating it too. If the claim is true, having her husband leave makes it harder to pursue the charges of corruption against him. The money will have been stashed somewhere abroad regardless of whether the charges are proven to be true or not. She is a perfect example indeed of "small but terrible". a popular expression among Filipinos.
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FROM STEVE JOBS WITH LOVE
..Graduates from Stanford got a load of iWisdom from Steve Jobs' commencement address. The Apple guru spoke from the heart the lessons of connecting the dots, learning from death and following your heart.
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::Tuesday, June 28, 2005::
SING THE OFFICE BLUES AWAY
.. A karaoke bar in the office? You might want to think about it especially if you are running a business. A study shows that singing can boost immune cells by 240%. It didn't work for me during college but may work for a stressed out entrepreneur like you.
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COLOR ME BAD
Apple strikes again by putting color on the white iPods, essentially eliminating the iPod photo line. The strategy, aimed at keeping interest in the cool pods high may be good for Wall Street but a lot of people feel duped. The minute someone buys a current edition iPod and walks out the door, another an upgrade is in the works. Frankly, I am going through iFatigue at the moment and would keep my flat iPod for posterity.Link
::Sunday, June 26, 2005::
DIRT CHEAP
.. Makes me want to go back to Manila where I'm sure two-thirds of my income won't go to my stinking rent.
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SUBWAY BLUES
I had to get off the A train in Brooklyn on my way home this evening. It took a while for me to figure out the reason for the delay except that some people were grumbling about some fire alarm. The MTA said not a zilch. Meanwhile, people anxiously waited for the next train that came 20 minutes later.
What else is new? What is wrong with the MTA this time? There have been so many incidents lately involving fire on the subway you begin to wonder what really is going on. The incompetent authority keeps on coming out with statistics stating how they have improved the general subway service. What service are they talking about? A disservice more describes this sordid state of affairs.
::Saturday, June 25, 2005::
SUMMER IS NOW!
Its going to be really hot today in nyc. The heat wave is coming and summer is back with a vengeance.
::Sunday, June 12, 2005::
LESSONS FROM THE PAST
.. The legacy of Watergate might well be that Republican party became a movement of the conservative right that culminated with the two-term election of George W. Bush. The Watergate scandal and the subsequent resignation of Pres. Nixon so derailed the party's agenda that it enabled a small cadre of loyalists to search deep inside the soul of the party and remake it into a principle-based party of small government, low taxes and fear of God. This is what Democrats need to understand in order to become relevant again in the political landscape. Republicans essentially innovated and went on to fashion a compelling message that spoke to ordinary people and their daily concerns. Democrats need to learn their lesson.
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::Wednesday, June 08, 2005::
POT-TY PLEASE
UP, UP AND AWAY!
..Here's something to rile up property owners - property taxes just keep on rising up the stratosphere.
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::Monday, June 06, 2005::
TO SURGERY OR NOT TO SURGERY
THE "DARTH" SIDE OF AMERICA
.. Is it justifiable to brand America as the Empire of the Sith - the Dark Side? Some experts believe George Lucas thinks so not only by the tone of his last prequel to the Star Wars Trilogy but also by his actions henceforth. The case for a balanced view on the issue.
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::Sunday, June 05, 2005::
DEEP THROAT-BLE
..The White House cannot have it both ways. After a week ago criticizing Newsweek's revelation that interrogators flushed the Q'uran (Koran, if you prefer)and accusing the magazine for causing the riots across the Middle East, now they are downplaying the official Pentagon report that some guards may have desecrated the Muslim holy book although not as seriously as previously been reported. In order to erase doubts about the credence about such allegations, the government should open it up for everybody to see once and for all what's happening in there. A little bit of transparency should come a long way during these conspiracy-crazed times.
This strikes to the core of the importance of anonymous sources especially now that Deep Throat has unmasked himself. Mark Felt, the FBI second-in-command bypassed by the White House to succeed Edgar J. Hoover and who consequently spilled the beans about the Watergate scandal to the Washington Post that led Pres. Nixon to resign reveals himself to Vanity Fair to be the legendary anonymous source that changed Washington politics forever. Without the confidential source, Nixon's shenanigans and extra-constitutional activities would not have been uncovered.
The White House would be wise to stop undermining anonymous sources and consequently whistleblowers and learn from history. America is a nation of laws and not of men and anything hidden from the truth will ultimately be uncovered no matter what.
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This strikes to the core of the importance of anonymous sources especially now that Deep Throat has unmasked himself. Mark Felt, the FBI second-in-command bypassed by the White House to succeed Edgar J. Hoover and who consequently spilled the beans about the Watergate scandal to the Washington Post that led Pres. Nixon to resign reveals himself to Vanity Fair to be the legendary anonymous source that changed Washington politics forever. Without the confidential source, Nixon's shenanigans and extra-constitutional activities would not have been uncovered.
The White House would be wise to stop undermining anonymous sources and consequently whistleblowers and learn from history. America is a nation of laws and not of men and anything hidden from the truth will ultimately be uncovered no matter what.
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::Saturday, June 04, 2005::
CAN'T BUY ME HOUSE
.. Paying $500 a month for rent for a year is already a third of a downpayment for a house. Sounds like a good strategy. Problem is, who would lend money to low-income young professionals like me? Like, not even my mother!
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::Wednesday, June 01, 2005::
G-THANKS!
