Thoughts and Non Thoughts

We are being bombarded by bad news. The “ghost month” has barely passed yet we are continually haunted by revelations of how ghost NGO’s are used to siphon pork barrel money into bathtubs. Then an ageing MNLF leader wants to show that he is still a force to reckon with, resulting in clashes with the military in Zamboanga and putting civilians in the crossfire. Some people are smelling conspiracy, that the latter is used to take attention away from the pork barrel controversy. This could be true. Or it may not. But the warnings about a conspiracy are just another way of saying “be vigilant.” It looks like people are really keen to see this pork barrel issue through, that they won’t take their eyes off the ball. It is not to say that the loss of lives and the suffering of the people in Zamboanga are not serious. Nor that this latest incident, shattering any illusion that a lasting formula for peace in Mindanao is at hand, is not a major setback. It is just that Filipinos may n...

Race to avoid a meltdown. It's like an overheating car. The engine is off but it is still very hot so you need to cool it. Unfortunately the radiator pump is broken, so the water in the radiator boils over, the pressure builds up, and the cap blows off. You hose down the engine with sea water to cool it down as a last ditch effort.

No other country is better prepared for earthquakes and tsunamis than Japan. Yet TV footages show how considerable the damage can still be. My total admiration goes to the Japanese people. Very disciplined and orderly as the earthquake and tsunami struck. And very dignified in the middle of all this human tragedy. What a people! They will surely surmount this challenge.

This report , that a laboratory has created an artificial bacteria that reproduces itself, is going to be remembered as the start of something significant in the history of man. Like the invention of the atom bomb, or the computer. It raises questions about life, ethics, religion, science. It's another watermark, heralding a different, new phase in humanity's journey in this universe.

Four hours to vote. Democracy hanging by the line -- literally. If people didn't respect the queue it would have been total chaos. The tolerance and patience of the Filipino showed through. The bottleneck was not the PCOS machines, it was the handing out of ballots. The good news is that the counting seems to be really quick, 38% counted in 3 hours. We could have full results the next day -- this will be historic!

No one deserves this US Masters win more than Phil Mickelson. This Masters began being about Tiger Woods. Then it became simply about golf. Then it became about Phil Mickelson. One of the best Masters of all time and the best thing that could happen to golf this year.

Record rainfall caused flooding in Manila. six hours of rain equivalent to a month's rainfall. My daughter commented that she can now relate to the Noah's Ark story. If six hours of continuous rain can do this, you would really need an ark for 40 days and 40 nights of non-stop rain.

This is a cheap shot at "pogi points" at the expense of the historical integrity of the Philippine Flag. The eight rays of the sun in the flag are embedded in the Philippine Declaration of Independence. A look at the history and evolution of the Flag reveals the profound meanings the revolutionaries who fought for independence put into the design of the flag. No one should lightly put these things aside, not even -- not specially -- a Senator who has not shown any significant contribution. I say leave the flag alone. If they can't respect its historical significance, how can the citizens be expected to show it more respect?

And Tom Watson, 59, is in the lead. Go Tom!

Or Con whimper ?

You can still be famous...

Inquirer news article on her death

Duh?!

I was supposed to be in Mumbai, staying at the Taj Hotel, flying in Nov 26 and checking out Nov 28. I would have been in there, maybe my room in flames as the terrorists attacked while I was asleep. But my trip was cancelled. Just one of those things. I shudder at the thought of what could have been. But I was saved. Maybe it's my guardian angel, or my mother and mother-in-law who are now in heaven watching over me. Or my wife's nightly prayers heard. I'm at a loss for the meaning of all this. Sometimes one of those things is not just one of those things.

A terror attack on hotels in Mumbai. The Bangkok airport occupied by protesters. These are unusual times. Or maybe it's just that it's a different world. Or maybe I'm just getting older. These may be the same thoughts or nonthoughts of people during the French Revolution, or during 9/11, or during the Philippine People Power. Maybe the world is not really that normal after all, but people tend to think it is. Or need to believe it is. Until reminders like these. The world in not pretty.

The election of Barack Obama as the next President of the USA is truly a historic event. Not only is he the first African-American to be elected to this office. He is also the first candidate in a generation to bring back to the national psyche the idealism of the founders of the American nation. It has given the USA a chance to regain its respect among the community of nations, if not endear it to some of its former friends. His acceptance speech epitomizes the message and demeanor of his candidacy. It is poetic and deeply moving to those who still believe in the American ideal. I think there is one word to describe his voters: lovestruck.

At 8:08:08 pm of 8/8/08, the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics begins. What a spectacular show. China's coming out party. At the same time, the headline at yahoo is about America's fastest-dying cities. It's the turn of the century.

Super Tuesday ended in a draw. It will be another week or so, or even longer, before the final Democratic candidate is chosen. From an outsider perspective, it looks like Hillary is better for America at this point in its history. Imagine the next four years -- what's the best thing for the US to do? Pull out of Iraq, while avoiding total disaster in the Middle East. Focus on the economy while not letting up on security and terrorist concerns. Avoiding a recession while resisting protectionist urges. These are tasks for someone who can get down and get the job done. Maybe for two people who can get it done. Those would be Hillary and Bill. Obama will be a great President one day. Perhaps he can bring America to the next level after Hillary does the clean up job. But first things first. And that would be the First Lady turned President.

Taken by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Article here.