Going to work in sports shoes, a new twist

While on the way to work, I usually ride the van (shuttle) from
Marikina to Makati. Other times, I ride the MRT/LRT. Tedious but
gets me on time if I walk fast from SM Makati to Rufino Street.

This particular day, I thought, what the hell, if I'm late, I'm late
and queued for the shuttle ride. Everything okay. I even had a few
short shut eyes. And just when the van was turning Buendia Ave. I
had a glance at this young girl's shoes. Okay, she's not a young
girl, young girl, girl, but more like early twenties, in t-shirt denim
pants and rubber shoes. (But forgive me if I call any female younger
than thirty, a "young girl.") Looked like a call center agent. I
raised my head from my nap, and the shoes caught my eye. First time I
saw a young lady wearing white soccer shoes. No kidding. The studs
were yellow. I don't know what model it was, but it was a Nike, with
a number 90 on the heels.

Soccer shoes are not the most comfortable shoes outside the pitch.
And maybe only a woman who's worn high heels can appreciate the beauty
of wearing soccer shoes to work. I don't know, I'm not "smart
looking" enough to wear soccer shoes to work.

--
--andoy
28 February 2006

Last Friday: A Funny Thing Happened on the way to EDSA...

(or Making Sense of a lot of pre-emptive missteps)

Friday morning. A coup happened. And of all types of coups, this one was the worst kind. It was a scheduled coup. At the start of the day, Tatay sent me a text message informing me that there was going to be a coup. Everyone knew there was going to be a coup. And then Friday morning came, and first thing I heard on the TV was that classes were suspended. (At which my wife told my kids that they can undress from their school uniforms and go back to bed.) Next thing I heard was that a coup was aborted with the "arrest" of three senior officers. ("Arrest" being a conditional term as event unfolded during the weekend.)

There were scheduled anti-Gloria rallies. Not really anti-Government as the rallyists were mostly Government personalities and the main rally was to be at Makati with the appropriate permit from the City Government (and where the Mayor of Makati, Jejomar Binay was expected to attend.) There was a rally at the EDSA People Power Monument, and another rally at the EDSA Shrine. Watching TV last Friday, I can't help but note that there was a sense of "Three Stooges" meets "The Twilight Zone" masquerading as CNN breaking news.

Consider these:

1. Before noon, Friday, there were riot policemen at the EDSA Shrine, facing rallyists who were on the Shrine steps (just below the Mother Mary statue). This was planned and announced days in advance. One of the police officers was holding a water cannon, and water was already gushing out of the hose. And there was a guy in barong tagalog (or white long sleeves polo, tucked out) talking to one of the police officers discussing or negotiating the dispersal of the rallyists. First time I ever saw the water cannon hose spewing water while negotiations were ongoing just beside it. And then former VP Guingona goes up and joins the rallyists. The water cannon was not used at that time. I think it was used later in the afternoon.
2. Friday afternoon. News from Malacanang is that coup plotters have been tagged and the coup aborted. After lunch, a press conference with the Joint Chiefs of Staff have the top military brass winging their way out of the questions posted to them. Turns out that the coup plotters were relieved of duties and under custody, but not in the stockade, or have been charged with anything yet. Turns out that one of the suspected coup plotters, who was supposedly already under custody was in the Chief of Staff's office talking to him about joining the coup attempt. And then they arrested the guy. The Chief of Staff said so on national TV.
3. Government negotiators talk to Former President Ramos, asking him for support. He's holed up in Tagaytay, and the only thing he gave was "conditional support" for House Speaker de Venecia's statements to support the constitution and state, etc. As of Friday, FVR's position was that a statement will be released the following day, Saturday. Said statement in essence condemns the State of Emergency, suspension of habeas corpus, and other actions by PGMA. And now, Congressman Pichay (a pro-Gloria politician) taunts that FVR thinks he's still the President. Pro-Arroyo people ask for FVR support and when they don't get it, they turn against FVR.
4. If the coup plotters have been rounded up, why suspend the writ of habeas corpus? And why declare a state of emergency? No reason.
5. If this was a coup attempt, why are there (supposedly) a hundred suspected civilian supporters and another hundred military supporters to be invited for questioning for their possible involvement? This boggles the imagination. A coup attempt with that many supporters. Wow! No wonder everyone knew about it.
6. House Speaker de Venecia gives a statement that the coup attempt was an alliance of right-wing military elements with communist insurgents. I have no idea where he got that idea.
   
7. Live on national TV, UP Professor, sociologist, writer and political scientist Randy David got arrested. Insane!
8. One newspaper was shut down Saturday morning. And the TV stations had military personnel securing them for the safety of the press. What?
9. Sunday late afternoon. Remember the military brass who have been tagged as coup plotters? One of them, a marine, goes to the the Marine Headquarters and asks that he be charged and put imprisoned. This is a weird turn of events. I'd have thought that the coup plotters were already in jail. Now here he comes, asking to be imprisoned. And the Marines don't know what to do. The new Marine Commanding General even has to introduce himself as being in command because the marines don't know who's in command. Really, I thought they jailed these guys. And this Marine commander walks to Headquarters and asks to be imprisoned? WTF?

As an offshoot of all of these, there was hardly anyone out during the weekend. The EDSA celebration was still held at the EDSA Shrine, but not enough people in attendance.

All this because Madame President has the propensity to pre-empt all opposition. This will be the real beginning of her downfall. Funny thing is that I have no idea if the President really thinks that she can get away with this, or that she's outsmart the opposition, or that there's someone else out there pulling her strings.

Crazy.

--andoy
27 February 2006

Statement of Vice President Noli De Castro ON PROCLAMATION 101

Statement of Vice President Noli De Castro
ON PROCLAMATION 1017:

I urge everyone to rally behind the Constitution. Only
by adhering to it will we be assured of the continued
enjoyment of our freedom and our democratic way of
life.

I respect the right of the President to declare a
State of Emergency in order to preserve the peace,
maintain law & order, and ensure the protection of
human rights & civil liberties of the people for as
long as there is an imminent threat to public safety.

I reaffirm my support to the people, the Constitution
and the duly constituted authorities. ###

-=0=-

Vice President Noli de Castro was in Batangas last Friday at a Fiesta
celebrating coffee and with him were some ambassadors. The statement
above was also released from his office during the day. Question is,
even if he had tried to be a lot more vague, could he have succeeded
more without using a fire-alarm and smoke bombs in a movie house?

This is a standard issue statement from his office, and I wonder if he
will ever give a statement giving a definite stand. Then, again, at
least he gives statements and press releases. When PGMA was VP, she
never gave a statement while Erap was having problems.

--andoy

Quiz: Check the difference.

PROCLAMATION 1081
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines,
by virtue of the powers vested upon me by Article VII, Section 10,
Paragraph ('2) of the Constitution, do hereby place the entire
Philippines as defined in Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution
under martial law and, in my capacity as their commander-in-chief, do
hereby command the armed forces of the Philippines, to maintain law
and order throughout the Philippines, prevent or suppress all forms of
lawless violence as well as any act of insurrection or rebellion and
to enforce obedience to all the laws and decrees, orders and
regulations promulgated by me personally or upon my direction.

PROCLAMATION 1017
NOW, THEREFORE, I Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic
of the Philippines and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested upon me by Section 18,
Article 7 of the Philippine Constitution which states that: " The
President…whenever it becomes necessary,…may call out (the) armed
forces to prevent or suppress…rebellion…, " and in my capacity as
their Commander-in-Chief, do hereby command the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, to maintain law and order throughout the Philippines,
prevent or suppress all forms of lawless violence as well any act of
insurrection or rebellion and to enforce obedience to all the laws and
to all decrees, orders and regulations promulgated by me personally or
upon my direction; and as provided in Section 17, Article 12 of the
Constitution do hereby declare a State of National Emergency.

--
--andoy
27 February 2006

SHARE: Sun In the Night, Lighthouse Family

Sun In The Night
LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY

How many times in your life have you ever had the feeling
That the way you live is crazy and there must be something else.
When you look at the sky does it ever cross your mind
There could be something you’ve forgotten that won’t ever go away

(Chorus)

Like the sun in the night,
Like the sun in the night,
You’ll always be with me baby,
Be in my soul,
You’ll always be with me
Wherever I go.

Gets too much after a while trying to always hide your feelings
When the world is going crazy and you keep it to yourself
How much it hurts; though you try, try to get on with your life
And tell yourself that worse things happen and just hope it goes away.

-=0=-

--andoy
22 February 2006

MetroWestDailyNews.com - Local / Regional News: No refunds on dates

MetroWestDailyNews.com - Local / Regional News: No refunds on dates

This is a crazy story about a guy asking a refund for a date which didn't turn out well. He asked for $20. Stupid guy. hahaha

--andoy
14 February 2006

Another LSS: Iris by Goo Goo Dolls

Iris
by Goo Goo Dolls

And I'd give up forever to touch you
'cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
'cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me
'cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me
'cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
'cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
'cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am

-=0=-

Another song which title is not mentioned in the song. I joined an
out-of-town trip with several office mates. A (delayed) birthday
celebration by the Head Accountant, Ms. Beng. And this is one of the
songs played on the car's sound system on the way to Iba, Zambales.

Valentine's kasi, kaya I posted it here. hahaha

--andoy
13 February 2006

SHARE: Somebody by Depeche Mode, another LSS

Somebody
sang by Depeche Mode
(c) 1984 Martin Lee Gore - Depeche Mode

I want somebody to share
Share the rest of my life
Share my innermost thoughts
Know my intimate details
Someone who'll stand by my side
And give me support
And in return
She'll get my support
She will listen to me
When I want to speak
About the world we live in
And life in general
Though my views may be wrong
They may even be perverted
She'll hear me out
And won't easily be converted
To my way of thinking
In fact she'll often disagree
But at the end of it all
She will understand me

I want somebody who cares
For me passionately
With every thought and
With every breath
Someone who'll help me see things
In a different light
All the things I detest
I will almost like
I don't want to be tied
To anyone's strings
I'm carefully trying to steer clear of
Those things
But when I'm asleep
I want somebody
Who will put their arms around me
And kiss me tenderly
Though things like this
Make me sick
In a case like this
I'll get away with it

-=0=-

I watch "Unang Hirit" every morning while I have breakfast. Not
really watch as in paying attention. Just watching as in it's there,
I hear it and if it's interesting I pay closer attention. While
having breakfast, and listening to my wife and yesterdays' recap of
daily events. Anyway, this morning Aiza Seguerra sang "Somebody" live
and playing the guitar herself. [The only person who ever lip-synched
on that show was Mike Hanopol last week. All the bands and singers
sing live in the studio or on location.]

First time I heard Aiza sing that song. I sang that to my kids as a
lullaby till they were old enough to notice that I don't know how to
sing. hehehe And then I stopped. They still know the song by heart.

Good way to start a day.

--
--andoy
7 February 2006

Discovery Channel :: News :: Odors Trigger Memory In Squirrels

Discovery Channel :: News :: Odors Trigger Memory In Squirrels

It has been noted that memory is strongest when associated with odors. In other words, odor reinforces memory. And not just in humans but also in squirrels, it seems.

--andoy
6 February 2006

Thursday!

One of those days when you want to shout and curse at the toilet bowl
and flush it all down afterwards! Ahhhhhh!!!!

And a headache to boot!

When is Friday when you need one?

--
--andoy
2 February 2006

The Ultimate Blog of Jesuit Humor

The Ultimate Blog of Jesuit Humor

That says it all.

--andoy
1 February 2006

Is Hell Exothermic ?

**new twist to the joke

Is Hell Exothermic?

The following is supposedly an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid-term. The answer by one student was so "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is,of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well.

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or somevariant.

One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul getsto Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving.

As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different Religions that exist in the world today. Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell toincrease exponentially.

Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.

This gives two possibilities:
1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.
2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.
So which is it? If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, "it will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you," and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number 2 must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over.

The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct...leaving only Heaven thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explainswhy, last night, Teresa kept shouting "Oh my God."

THIS STUDENT RECEIVED THE ONLY A

--

--andoy
1 February 2006