::Tuesday, September 27, 2005::
WILL DIET PREVENT CANCER?
.. The New York Times published an article about the lack of a preponderance of evidence linking good diet to the prevention of cancer. Here's a condensed summary of most of the questions you've always wanted to ask.
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::Monday, September 26, 2005::
HYBRIDS: ALL HYPE?
::Sunday, September 25, 2005::
RITA'S WRATH
.. It's too early to have a comprehensive assessment of Rita's effect on the US economy but it looks like the worst is over and only with minimal damage compared to storm Katrina. The good news, if ever there is one, is that the oil industry was spared with refineries and oil rigs sustaining little or no damage at all. The country cannot afford long term damage with the weak economy already reeling from Katrina, loss of jobs and the deficit. It looks like it might just survive this onslaught.
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THE BEST OF TIMES
.. It's that time of the year when everybody's coming out with their Best Of List for 2005. The jury is still out about the impact that this year has done to the world and it's not even over yet. At least we can pretend to live in the virtual world and Time Magazine has come out with its year's best.
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BLOG THE WORLD
.. So you want to join the Blogosphere? Here are the different tools you can play with. The myriad choices, just like in life, don't come easy.
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::Saturday, September 24, 2005::
WITCH-HUNT IS ON!
.. In an effort to impose the ban on gays from seminaries, the Vatican is sending investigators to U.S. seminaries to find out the extent of homosexuality among seminarians on their way to the priesthood. Interviews will be conducted with the priest hopefuls, their superiors and course work will be looked at in an effort to make sure that seminarians are well-formed in the image and likeness of Jesus. How in heavens are they going to find out FOR SURE if someone is gay? I hope you're not thinking what I'm thinking! Hmmm.. scandalous indeed.
Everybody knows that Psychology is not an exact science. It can "raise flags" as one Monsignor in the US Church hierarchy said but it cannot fully and definitively determine sexual orientation at that early stage. Most seminarians are in their early 20's and are still struggling with their identity. This is one contributor to the problem in that gay priests often find out later in life when they are serving their ministries that they are actually gay. Behavioral manifestations start to come out that they can't control that confirms their orientation.
There are indications that FBI files will be used, credit card purchases and past history to aid the process. These are people with dignity and inalienable human rights! The Vatican is treading on dangerous ground here. Can't they at least use these means to finally weed out the pedophile and maniac priests first who should be the real targets of these investigations? What message is the Church communicating to the faithful when she herself declared that it is not the orientation that is intrinsically evil but the behavior or actions?
Questioning and probing seminarians orientation undermines the very identity of sincere people of faith, children of the same God as we heterosexuals. It questions their very being and existence. It will also have a chilling effect on the already dwindling numbers of priests in the Church. Gay priests who have practiced celibacy amid this brouhaha will either go underground or leave the priesthood because of this affront in their persons. The losers are the faithful and the people of Christ who make up the Church, not the Church servants who are now playing God.
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Everybody knows that Psychology is not an exact science. It can "raise flags" as one Monsignor in the US Church hierarchy said but it cannot fully and definitively determine sexual orientation at that early stage. Most seminarians are in their early 20's and are still struggling with their identity. This is one contributor to the problem in that gay priests often find out later in life when they are serving their ministries that they are actually gay. Behavioral manifestations start to come out that they can't control that confirms their orientation.
There are indications that FBI files will be used, credit card purchases and past history to aid the process. These are people with dignity and inalienable human rights! The Vatican is treading on dangerous ground here. Can't they at least use these means to finally weed out the pedophile and maniac priests first who should be the real targets of these investigations? What message is the Church communicating to the faithful when she herself declared that it is not the orientation that is intrinsically evil but the behavior or actions?
Questioning and probing seminarians orientation undermines the very identity of sincere people of faith, children of the same God as we heterosexuals. It questions their very being and existence. It will also have a chilling effect on the already dwindling numbers of priests in the Church. Gay priests who have practiced celibacy amid this brouhaha will either go underground or leave the priesthood because of this affront in their persons. The losers are the faithful and the people of Christ who make up the Church, not the Church servants who are now playing God.
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::Thursday, September 22, 2005::
YOU HAD ME AT GOODBYE
.. Renee Zellweger finally breaks her silence about her short-lived marriage to country singer Keney Chesney. The actress had to clarify the reason given for the separation - fraud, as being a legal language and not a reflection of her former husband's character. Who is she fooling? Renee should leave spin to the politicians and call a spade a spade. I'm guessing it's something to do with the "destination wedding" concept. Did he forget to pay the caterer? Hmmm..
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SAY IT AIN'T SO-NY
.. The former tech darling is shedding thousands of jobs in an effort to stem the tide of sliding profits. Number 13, 13,000 to be exact for Sony workers is a cursed number right now. Companies worldwide continue to sacrifice people's job security and livelihood for corporate profits. It is a race to the bottom as companies put a premium on profits in the guise of productivity.
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GOOGLE AGAIN
.. At the rate Google is going, Microsoft risks becoming just a footnote in the ongoing tech wars. The online search behemoth has come up with yet another product in Google Blog Search. This new search allows one to search the whole universe of blogs that are proliferating like crazy in the web. But nothing is perfect and Google is no exception. In this no holds barred review by Businessweek, the new search tool is deconstructed.
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::Wednesday, September 21, 2005::
NOT AGAIN
.. The hurricane season is on the way and 'Rita' is predicted to hit Galveston and Corpus Christi, Texas based on NOAA simulations. Still reeling from the devastation brought about by Katrina, another one is bound to hit this in Texas. Let's hope that the government will do everything in their power to evacuate people and for everyone to learn from the lessons of Katrina.
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::Tuesday, September 13, 2005::
'CON'TRINA
.. Thinking of donating to disaster relief? Here's how you can avoid being duped by scammers and make sure your contribution goes a long way.
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::Monday, September 12, 2005::
JOB WELL DONE PART 2
.. Having difficulty finding a job using the traditional way? Fear not. Second generation job hunting is here.
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::Saturday, September 10, 2005::
MICROSOFT UNDRESSED
.. Filipinos may soon get a $30 stripped down version of Microsoft's operating system XP. The behemoth company apparently has different versions of its leading software for distribution to developing countries to help improve their access to technology. Personally, the software will still prove too costly for majority of Filipinos 15% of whose population susbsists on $1 and below a day according to UNDP reports.
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CAUGHT NAPPING
.. The Federal government was warned by NOAA weeks before that Katrina will be a tremendous storm and wreak havoc on the Gulf Coast of the United States. The government agency even escalated the warnings 56 hrs before Katrina hit the coast of New Orleans. The chronology of failure is stunning considering the massive resources available to the government's disposal.
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::Monday, September 05, 2005::
TO BAG OR NOT TO BAG
.. You decide if this latest extravagance meant for celebrities and their minions will catch on. A new cult website called bagborroworsteal lets people borrow clothing and accessories. The site lets subscribers pick from hundreds of bags in a "virtual" closet; the bag arrives by mail a few days later, and customers can either use it and return it or arrange to buy it for a hefty fee of course. Depending on their level of memberships-Diva, Princess of Trendsetter-subscribers can order recent ,models from popular labels Hogan, Versace, Kate Spade and dozens of other brands. If you're bewildered by the "steal" option, read on.
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::Saturday, September 03, 2005::
CHINA "HU"?
.. Amid the recent economic struggles between China and the United States, Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao visits Washington with less fanfare accorded to rival India. The White House rolled out the red carpet for Prime Minister Singh last July with the honor of a state dinner. This was not lost to some political pundits who are already predicting a serious deterioration in the works regarding relations between the two superpowers. Is Washington trying to placate critics of its China-foreign policy deemed as kowtowing to a future national security threat to the United States? Has it seriously considered the political consequences of this "snub" at a time when China is indirectly funding the US national debt with its dollar investments and becoming too friendly with America's traditional rivals Russia and France? It remains to be seen whether the visit will resolve increasing political tensions and mistrust. The China issue should be carefully assessed by all sectors in society and not left to isolationists on the left and imperialists on the right who are the ones currently making noise in the media. More realism should come into the picture.
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CHANGING THE WORLD
.. Here's a neat contest that actually means something to third-world countries. The World Challenge is a competition aimed at honoring individuals or groups who have made a contribution to their local communities in terms of enterprise and innovation. There is an entry from the Philippines about the practical uses of coconets in combatting soil erosion.
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::Friday, September 02, 2005::
FREE CREDIT REPORT
.. Starting September 1, Northeasterners can check their credit reports for free as part of an effort by the federal government to help combat identity theft. Consumers are encouraged to take advantage of this new right by logging on to www.annualcreditreport.com.
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SAVE NEW ORLEANS
.. Our hearts pour out to the victims and the their families devastated by hurricane Katrina. We stand in solidarity with the American people who are suffering and appeal to everyone to do whatever they can, no matter how small, to help the recovery and alleviate the sufferings of the people in the Gulf Coast. Here are ways to help.
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