Bored Shorts

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For some reason (I think it's the weather) I haven't felt much like writing lately. It's an interesting experience, really -- despite the news reports, it's been hard to get my dander up over anything... almost as if I am turning less and less grouchy than is normal. WTF, right?

So, in an attempt to regain normalcy, I'm going to be posting a line or three about things that are going on; let's see if the attempt works. (I'm fairly certain it isn't writer's block. Maybe it's a new form of ennui?)

Here we go. (Oh, and this one's typed on Notepad; I'm still weaning myself towards using Windows Live Writer.)

***
In the news: the death toll resulting from the recent earthquake in China is up to 50,000 or something. International aid organizations, governments, and even bloggers are offering some form of help or other (even if it's just increasing awareness).

I saw a clip of paratroopers jumping off on a mission to one of the areas where help is needed. Quite obviously, the overall mission profile would be something along the lines of:

- Establish a command post and communications nexus
- Recon and evaluate needed logistics
- Establish drop zone for basic supplies, medics, and combat engineers
- Establish light landing zone for light aircraft, supply train, medical teams, and critical medevac
- Expand command post and expand relief capability
- Expand landing zone to accommodate heavier aircraft, increased logistical train, field hospital, and increased medevac capability
- Increase operational tempo of relief operations
- Allow entry of secondary personnel (media, foreign medical teams, et cetera)

Something like that.

In contrast, Myanmar held a plebiscite during the height of the storm that ravaged the ASEAN nation, and while the rest of the population is dying, the military junta ruling Myanmar have yet to scale up their relief efforts. Heck, their response to international offers of aid is less than welcoming, haven't you noticed?

Still quite obviously, the Burmese generals would more or less sacrifice their people in their quest to remain in power.

Hmph. Sounds like Malacanang-ese to me.

***
Speaking of aid to China and Myanmar, I heard someone say at the corner store, "Why should we send them aid when the country itself is having problems?"

Well, off the top of my head, Myanmar is an ASEAN member, so it's understandable to offer help to an ally.

As for China, I'm thinking that the Arroyos have become honorary members of the clubhouse where the ZTE-NBN executives play golf, so it's only normal to offer help to one's bankers.

(Okay, that was facetious)

***
Speaking of the reopening of the ZTE-NBN deal, it is supposedly a ploy to distract the people away from the issue of Meralco and the Lopezes.

Heh. As if Malacanang did not engineer a "rice crisis" to mute reportage on the ZTE-NBN scam.

Trip to Jerusalem, I say -- and with 2010 barely two years hence, the music will get louder and faster, the chairs will get smaller in width, and the players in the game increasing in numbers and rapacity.

Let's see how this plays out. Neri vs. Senate has yet to be decided with finality.

(My brilliant professor AM said that a coup d'etat before 2010 is much more likely than charter change by 2010. What do you think?)

***
Speaking of charter change before 2010, it seems that some view the JELAC as a vehicle to eventually legitimize charter change.

In an earlier post, I think I posited that for charter change to be legitimized, the Supreme Court has to be co-opted.

Is the JELAC a co-option of the High Court, or is it just an "advisory council" of normal import, as MLQ3 says that it may be?

Yet again, news at eleven.

***
Speaking of a coup d'etat before 2010, it's probably unlikely, given that our new AFP-COS General Alexander Yano used to be the CO of our special ops soldiers.

Now, if the special ops boys won't move, and with the tough ones jailed in Tanay and the rest of the Army is still in GMA's pocket, who will move? Retired servicemen?

Heh.

***
Speaking of retired servicemen, I saw a clip of retired Marine commandant and senator Rodolfo Biazon getting riled up by ex-Defense Minister and senator Juan Ponce Enrile on the floor of the Senate.

Here's what I think: Pong, you shoulda decked JPE, man. The things that JPE said cast grave aspersions on you and your Marines.

And to think that it was EDSA that saved Enrile's hide from Marcos in the first place.

***
Speaking of EDSA, I was glad to hear of the news about President Corazon Aquino getting better, hopefully winning her war against cancer.

However, when I saw her on TV, I was sadly surprised to see how thin she's become.

Do get better, Ma'am Cory. The country still needs you.

(On the other hand, I'm not sure if the country still needs retired AFP Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon; I am certain, of course, that Arroyo still does.)

***
But back to 2010 -- notice how a lot of commercials feature politicians with 2010 ambitions? Off the top my head, I recall seeing Chiz Escudero, Loren Legarda, Ping Lacson, Pia Cayetano (ooh she's pretty! haha), and Kiko Pangilinan on a TV commercial, a TV show, or on a billboard or other blurbing up some product or whatever.

Oh, right, and Bayani Fernando is going to replace billboards with his dour mug with billboards bearing his smiling ass -- I mean, face. (That's spending taxpayer's money, for crying out loud.)

Sheesh. Cheap way to get public consciousness -- not surprising, however, that a lot of our politicians have been elected out of flash rather than substance. (Metro Manila Film Festival, a topic for debate in Senate chambers? Heh.)

***
Speaking of congressional debate and irritating TV, I was glad to hear about new tax exemption measure (finally!), but the bill is apparently going to get some rough sailing in the Senate. Chiz Escudero is apparently going to oppose the increased taxation of self-employed professionals in favor of more efficient collection.

Hmph. He's right on the point of more efficient collection, but it seems to me that he's doing the math wrong, in terms of balancing tax rates for self-employed professionals.

Chiz, some glutaphos, maybe? The concepts of efficient collection and a more rationalized taxation of self-employed professionals are not mutually exclusive.

Do the math. It's grade school arithmetic, not Fermat's Last Theorem.

***
Still on irritating TV, Marian Rivera irritates the hell out of me for some reason.

Yep, and I thought that Katrina Halili was going to be on the lowest on my list for the longest time.

Thank God for QTV's News on Q and Rhea Santos (big grin haha).

***
Speaking of women in entertainment, I saw a clip from Asia Agcaoili's (second?) instructional video. My take on it: people should watch it, we could all learn something, and perhaps have fun learning as well.

(Yes, yes, I've been told that sex is fun -- despite the recent sermons from the local princes of the Church implying otherwise. Maybe they don't have fun, who knows?)

***
In other news, I came across this one (heads up, biker bros and sprocket sisters): Muntinlupa clamps down on motorcycle riders who do not wear helmets. Full text:

The Muntinlupa City government is clamping down on motorcycle riders who do not wear helmets after it noted a rise in deaths involving motorcycle-related accidents.

Radio dzBB’s Denver Trinidad said that Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro reminded motorcycle riders of a new ordinance requiring riders to wear helmets.

San Pedro said those apprehended not wearing helmets face a fine of P100 to P500 for the first offense alone. Subsequent offenses may result in the confiscation of their licenses, he said.

Meanwhile, police and city hall employees who are arrested for similar offenses will face “heavier" penalties, failing to elaborate.

Last Monday, a policeman was killed in Manila after his motorcycle crashed into a parked trailer truck in the city’s Tondo district.

The victim, whose head was crushed, was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

Let's talk about the idiots guide to ATGATT and helmets, shall we?

- A "biker" who does not wear a helmet is an idiot.

- A "biker" who does wears a non-rated or misrated helmet is an idiot. (Yep, there are "bikers" who wear cycling helmets, construction hard hats. or other non-DOT-3-rated nonsense instead.)

- A "biker" who wears his helmet on his elbow is an idiot.

- A "biker" who allows someone to ride shotgun on his ride without a helmet is an idiot.

- A "biker" who does not admonish his fellows for not wearing helmets is a big idiot.

Imagine that -- Muntinlupa City needs to pass an ordinance just to remind motorcycle operators to act responsibly?

Sheesh. Call this harsh, but why not just let stupid bikers die? If they want to ride without helmets, break traffic laws, swerve through traffic as if they were invincible, operate their motorcycles under the influence of alcohol, let them. Let Darwinian selection take its course, so that eventually bikers who act stupidly go extinct; remember, the unhelmeted skull fractures on concrete at speeds of at least 20 km/h.

In contrast, here's wishing all responsible bikers fair weather, smooth blacktop, a safe ride, and an ice-cold SMB at the end of the long open road. Cheers! (*clinks bottle against those of the buddies)

(For those rather unfamiliar with biker lore and lingo, ATGATT is "all the gear, all the time", one of the basic principles of responsible riding.)

***
Finally, Jon Limjap pointed out errors in my previous post. Thanks for the advice, Jon. I'll keep them in mind next time.

Hmph. I wonder how well did I get myself out of this blogging funk.

Yet again, news at eleven (no, wait. News on Q haha).

Oh, by the way... saw an Asus EEE 701 priced at a tiny bit more than PhP 15K! Wowowee!

Later, all.



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