Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Consensus

So what is it really?
In April, scientists say: Global warming may spur wind shear, sap hurricanes
Now they say: Tropical storms doubled due to global warming, study says

So what is it really?
I thought we have consensus.

Read Wizbang and Iowa Voice for better understanding.


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Sunday, July 29, 2007

Friday, July 27, 2007

Enough

Cebu's Sunstar's headline today reads: But not in Cebu: ‘supply enough’
This was VECO's response to questions raised about the possibility of power outages in Cebu, in the light of projections that Manila will be suffering again from outages in the coming months because of the lack of water due to the effects of dry weather.

Ei, why did we have two outages in my area last night (one at 8pm and the other at 10pm)? Power was restored in no more than 10 minutes, though. ;-)

On another note, REP. Pablo “Pabling” Garcia (Cebu, 2nd district) said yesterday: “I’d like to set the record straight. Nobody asked me to withdraw, we were simply not given the chance to enter the race… We have lost the battle but, as they say, our dreams will never die.”

Nothing wrong with that, noh? Yes. My only beef is that news reports immediately after the "elections" of officers of the House of Representatives and the day after said that he asked not to be nominated anymore.

Why does anybody have to clarify reports? Why not get it right the first time?

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Volunteers needed. Hurry! or not.

Count me out of this. But if you like, sige na, sali na!

Here's what they say though:

VHEMT (pronounced vehement) is a movement not an organization. It's a movement advanced by people who care about life on planet Earth. We're not just a bunch of misanthropes and anti-social, Malthusian misfits, taking morbid delight whenever disaster strikes humans. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Voluntary human extinction is the humanitarian alternative to human disasters.

We don't carry on about how the human race has shown itself to be a greedy, amoral parasite on the once-healthy face of this planet. That type of negativity offers no solution to the inexorable horrors which human activity is causing.

Rather, The Movement presents an encouraging alternative to the callous exploitation and wholesale destruction of Earth's ecology.

As VHEMT Volunteers know, the hopeful alternative to the extinction of millions of species of plants and animals is the voluntary extinction of one species: Homo sapiens... us.

Each time another one of us decides to not add another one of us to the burgeoning billions already squatting on this ravaged planet, another ray of hope shines through the gloom.

When every human chooses to stop breeding, Earth's biosphere will be allowed to return to its former glory, and all remaining creatures will be free to live, die, evolve (if they believe in evolution), and will perhaps pass away, as so many of Nature's "experiments" have done throughout the eons.

It's going to take all of us going.


Visualize Voluntary Human Extinction

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Kublai in his element

A webgrab picture and caption from Sunstar Davao of July 25 shows my prolific sculptor cousin Kublai Millan.


Sculptor Kublai Millan works on the details of his sculpture for the centerpiece of the Independence artificial reef project of the Aquamarine Protection and Preservation Alliance, which will be deployed inside the eight-rayed art reef already set up off Paradise Island Beach Resort. (Sun.Star Davao/Stella A. Estremera)




Whoa!

“If, back in the mid-1990s, we knew what we know today about climate, Kyoto would almost certainly not exist, because we would have concluded it was not necessary.” ...

“‘Climate change is real ’ is a meaningless phrase used repeatedly by activists to convince the public that a climate catastrophe is looming and humanity is the cause.Neither of these fears is justified. Global climate changes occur all the time due to natural causes and the human impact still remains impossible to distinguish from this natural ‘noise.’”

60 Scientists Call on Harper to Revisit the Science of Global Warming
“Open Kyoto to debate”
An open letter to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Financial Post, Thursday, April 6, 2006

Monday, July 23, 2007

Here they go again. The link.

UK's new Science Museum head now also advocates a human solution to man-made global warming. Come to think of this, it is not too far off from the proposal to require people to stop breathing for a few seconds every now and then. In the end, it is all about population control, don't you think?

If they did this long ago, perhaps as they say, we wouldn't have this man-made GW problem. Then again, this, and this, and this wouldn't be news because they would not have happened.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Pray for the burglars

My only sister sent me an SMS that read: We were burglarized yesterday while we were out-of-town. Thank God that we were not in any danger. Please pray for the burglars because they are in dire need.

Initially I thought how naive she could get. I mean, if they were burglars (especially if they did the burgling to support "nasty habits"), they should be (^*%$#@(*&^. And I mean really (^*%$#@(*&^.

But then I became more edified. True, we really have to pray for them. They could really be in dire straits. Then let SOCO do their job, and pass what they find to the police. They may not catch them, but at least we get to pray for those burglars.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Where is the outrage?

When "government forces" are tagged as responsible for abductions and killings, the outrage from many is deafening. When "government forces" are abducted and killed or hurt (like the 14 few and proud Marines who were killed and mutilated last week), there is only silence. Is it because they deserved to die by doing their job? Or by being in the Armed Forces, they ought to die? I do not remember the Commission on Human Rights saying anything about it? Where is the fact-finding mission? Are they afraid of these wayward Islamist perpetrators (common criminals really)? MSM reported it, and that is good. But what about the MSM columnists? Very few.

Human Security Act

A day and twenty seven years ago, Ronald Reagan accepted the Republican Party nomination for President. In his inaugural address in 1981, Pres. Reagan included these words:

  • As for the enemies of freedom, those who are potential adversaries, they will be reminded that peace is the highest aspiration of the American people. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it; we will not surrender for it, now or ever.
  • Our forbearance should never be misunderstood. Our reluctance for conflict should not be misjudged as a failure of will. When action is required to preserve our national security, we will act. We will maintain sufficient strength to prevail if need be, knowing that if we do so we have the best chance of never having to use that strength.
  • Above all, we must realize that no arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have. It is a weapon that we as Americans do have. Let that be understood by those who practice terrorism and prey upon their neighbors.

With all the hype (what hype? who's hyping?) about the Philippines Human Security Act of 2007, these words are good food for thought. Read the whole speech here. You may also read the Human Security Act of 2007 here. Read the comments at your own risk.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

You never know

Here is a link to the story of Jessica Osborne. As I am into fundraising, this story is another proof that fundraising is indeed friendraising. Be pleasant and do your work well. You'll never know what awaits you.

Monday, July 09, 2007

Federer in, Tiger out

Roger that. Roger Federer won his 5th straight Wimbledon, equaling Borg's.

Tiger wasn't so lucky (although it was also statistics at work, as he wasn't in the lead after three days) at the inaugural AT&T National. He handed the award to South Korean KJ Choi (who a few weeks back also received an award from legend Jack Nicklaus).

And BTW, a post by BluegrassHindu at MM's says that grain used for bio-fuels might actually feed more people than produce fuel:

On July 6th, 2007 at 2:43 pm, BluegrassHindu said:

Here is a neat fact bio-fuel will increase world hunger :) what is the compassionate lefts answer to that ?

Fact : The grain required to fill a 25-gallon SUV gas tank with ethanol will feed one person for a year. The grain needed to fill that same tank every two weeks over a year will feed 26 people.

Saturday, July 07, 2007

Upset at Wimby

Marion Bartoli described it best when she said, "A match can turn easily. On a good day, I can beat everybody, and I proved it today." She came back from a set and break down to win 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 over Justine Henin. She now faces Venus Williams in the finals.

Andy Roddick was also sent packing.

Friday, July 06, 2007

It could mean nothing

A little trivia. The Wimbledon 2007 semifinal matches are between Henin and Bartoli and between Ivanovic and VWilliams. Do you see that there are 16 seeds in between Henin (1) and Bartoli (18)? Between Ivanovic (6) and VWilliams (23)? Also 16. Hmmm. Oh and look at the time of posting: 15:16.

Live Earth

He-whose-son-could-be-in-the-slammer (in fairness, the son was driving an environment-friendly Prius) is promoting Live Earth in the weekend and is getting all the hype and coverage at US broadcasting's NBC. Unfair promotion, some would say. Steve Milloy says it is not at all surprising. Read what he has to say.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Ms. Lucy talks of hope

Lucy Gomez talks of hope in her July 1 column in Philstar. She was in one of my classes at UP and I'd be the first to say I did not get to know her that much. Only since she started writing, and then I read her at times, did I get a glimpse. Then again, perhaps she wasn't like this then. Read on.

What I know about hope
LOVE LUCY By Lucy Gomez

Within the pages of one the many fairy-tale books I treasured as a little girl was the story of a poor little girl and a carved wooden flower. A fairy told the kindhearted girl to hold out the carved flower under the heat of the sun three days in a row and all her wishes would come true. She wished for a better house and delicious food for herself and her mama, and that came true. She wished for toys, candies, nice dresses and shoes to match, little bows and a bone for her little white dog. It all happened for her.

...

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Going for the underdog

Going for the underdog isn't so bad.

This is why I'd bet on the underdog in this next "all-American QF matchup." All-American? Well, Masha has lived and trained in the US longer than she has ever lived and trained in Russia. Of course, she's Russian blood. And favored to win over Venus. So I go for Venus.

Update: Venus scores an upset, "easy-as-you-like 6-1 6-3 win" and without a single break point in a lopsided match. Masha true to form. Cannot sustain.

But, for the life of me, I cannot go for the underdog in this next QF matchup. Just. Can't.
Update: 6-4 3-6 6-3 Justine.

Means a lot

Read in the news: MCCI launches family program. But, it talks of the push for family planning. How one word could make the difference. How would it go if: MCCI launches family planning program? Of course, that is one word too long for a title.

Monday, July 02, 2007

Henin first

Justine Henin is first into the quarterfinals at Wimbledon 2007. She won over Patty Schnyder, 6-2, 6-2. She faces the winner in the Serena Williams - Daniela Hantuchova 4th round match.