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Hindi mag-aaksaya ang kung sinong tao nang oras sa wala.

Dalawa lang ang pinakanakakabwisit sa mundong ito: 1) yung nakawan ka, at 2) yung gaguhin/lokohin ka.

Watdapak GMA Foundation?

Wag namang ganyan sana sa China

Not an urban legend.

Review: Age of Turbulence by Alan Greenspan (Paperback, Expanded)

[picture from Amazon.com]

There's a typo on page 527! It's annoying, but everything else in the book is, to say the least, worth your while.

No one can deny that the first part, the real memoir part, is brilliant. There is no grandstanding, no self-aggrandizing, very modest. And the swipes on the personalities that he disagrees with are nothing short of perfect in rationality; and in using a relaxed tone in doing these, the personal hits appear even more effective.

The book also tries concisely to explain how FED works in the macro- and microeconomic environment. For one, you will understand why it is not possible to do that proverbial "when I become President" idea to eradicate poverty--i.e. it's impossible to just print more and more money to get your country richer and richer.

In trying to just pass by some important concepts though with just a quick footnote, the lay man may not fully get some of the `levers,' impact of controlling money supply, the give and take of increasing and decreasing reserves and interests, etc. The best place of course to learn all these is in an economics classroom with a textbook, but if you get the concept at first pass, the illustration flows perfectly into solid learning.

The writing is sometimes academic, and Greenspan loves to use "to be sure", to have transition between sentences or paragraphs. My advise is: if you don't get the thought in one pass, read the sentence/paragraph again to get full learning. (I would believe that one of the intention of the author here is to teach and let the public be aware of how, most of all, market economies work).

Greenspan's opinions on some of the contentious issues of present and future are short and just give options, but on others they are solid like there's no other choice (like in allowing immigration)--so you cant accuse the author of fedspeaking without standing for anything all the way.

Now on the most important part in this paperback edition... I think there's a sudden shift of tone, towards a bit of `fedspeak,' on the bonus chapter. I think if Mr. Greenspan has a chance, he would re-write this epilogue. It would be sour if he wrote this with a pure intention to excuse his tenure as having no influence at all to the current crisis. (Lehman did not fold yet when he wrote this update). This epilogue is more like saying nothing could have been done, except there should be more enforcement and laws on corporate governance, although he admitted in one of the public hearings already that there is a `flaw' in the system. Mr. Greenspan ought to write another book, even if just to extend this chapter. (I would also buy it).

But overall, this book should be judged on its merit and original intent, regardless whether we blame the person for this crisis or just plain hate or like his past policies on hindsight. When you read the book, everything is presented with reason and beliefs based on intelligent data and experience.

The book deserves 5 stars, no doubt.

Bye

[photos courtesy of my friend, Nhoy, who waited at Sucat for 7 hours]

"She was a good person. Say what you will about her administration, the illusions dashed and opportunities missed, but she was decent to us. She never mocked us, made fun of our hopes, or knowingly insulted our intelligence. Born to privilege, she never acted the spoiled brat. President Cory defended the Constitution from those who would twist it to their own ends. Here was a woman who rejected the temptation to perpetuate herself in power." -- Jessica Zafra.

Would also like to link you to this uniquely poignant post.

Cory Aquino, January 25, 1933 - August 1, 2009.

Thanks very much, ma'am.

Carlo Caparas

Carlo J. Caparas opuses: Lipa Massacre, Ilaban Mo, Bayan Ko: The Obet Pagdanganan Story, Pangarap Kong Jackpot (TV Series in Channel 4), Tirad Pass… just try to watch any of these… they’re surreal. Caparas is well-known to write the script while shooting!

“Kahit sino, kahit asawa ko at mga anak ko, makakapagpatunay ng sipag ko at sakripisyo para sa mga art ko… hindi ko ito hiningi ito… magprotesta sila, hayaan silang mainitan.“

Why he deserves to become a national artist according to Ricky Lo: “He’s the only artist with a street (in Pasig City where in his early years he worked as a security guard) named after him.” [Tanginahit naman Ricky. Bat ka naman bumanat nang ganyan].

C’mon, Mr Caparas, you already raked-in in the 90’s, can you just give up this disgrace? You’ll be disgraced yourself if you don’t give this up.

To Ms. Arroyo,ngayon nakakatakot na talaga ang kaya ninyong gawing mag-asawa dala kakapalan nang apog ninyo.

Rallying Point

Isang kolum na naisulat ko siyam na taon na ang nakakaraan. Wala lang, naalala ko lang sa pagkamatay ni Tita Cory.

Tatlo lang ang nasamahan kong rali.

Una, noong Feb 23 at ikasampung Birthday ko. Bandang hapon, nang magyaya sa amin ang kapitbahay naming may dyip papunta sa “Highway 54.” Nagpilit akong sumama, dahil gusto kong makakita ng tangke nang personal. At dahil birthday ko nga, pumayag ang nanay ko at sinabihan na lang kami na huwag masyadong lumapit sa mga sundalo.

Medyo malayo ang pagkakita ko sa mga tangke pero medyo natakot ako (imbes na humanga) nang maimadyin kung gaano karaming tao ang matatamaan sa isang putok lang ng kanyon dahil sandamukal at “sari-sari” talaga ang mga tao. Kumpul-kumpol maski ang mga nangibabaw na madre. Pero tanda ko na kung gusto mo talagang makapunta sa gitna, madali kang makakapunta dahil kahit marami, nagpapadaan ang mga tao.

Nakasingit pa kami katunayan sa isang stage na nagpapaagaw ng nakaplastik na sandwich at Magnolia. Madami, at tuluy-tuloy lang ang itsa ng Chocolait. Nakaagaw ang isang mama sa tabi namin at iniabot sa Papa ko ang supot para sa akin.

Pangalawa naman ang sa SONA ni Ramos nang katatapos lang ng Muroroa (“No Nukes!”) issue noong second year pa lang ako. Naririnig pa kasi noon na hindi raw makukumpleto ang buhay-Peyups nang hindi nakakasama sa isang rali. (Bakit nga kaya hindi ko na naririnig ‘to ngayon?). Sabi ko sa kasama ko, “mag-advance na tayo.” Sabi niya, sige at kami na raw ang mag-buddy. Tumabi kaming dalawa sa isang poste, nagobserba, at nakinig sa mga nagsasalita at kumakanta.

Ah, apat pala kung kasama ang maikling martsa mula Eng’g papuntang Masscomm (para magyaya) at Admin laban sa CPDP.

Panghuli itong nakaraang Anti-Cha-cha sa Makati.

Ngayong halos gradweyt na ako, iniisip ko kung bakit kakaunti at bilang-na-bilang ko pa mandin ang mga nasamahan kong rali. Siguro, sabi ko sa sarili ko, dahil: 1) hindi ko alam ang mga buong detalye ng isyu kaya hindi buo ang loob ko sa pagsama, 2) kulang sa oras dahil iba ang priority ko, 3) humahanap ako kaagad ng resulta maski estimate lang, ‘ika nga ng teknikal na kurso ko, bago ang endeavor; yung mas feasible, dahil gugulan ito ng input na time at kaunting money, at/o 4) wala akong kasama.

Nasa akin siyempre ang I-Was-There pride sa pagkakasama sa “People’s Power”maski ilang oras lang iyon, nakapasan ako nang matagal, at ni hindi ko kilala ng husto kung sino si Ninoy noon. At sa pagpigil marahil ng unconscious na pagkukumpara ko ng bawat rali sa EDSA, ngayon ko lang nakikita na baluktot ang mga dahilan ko.

Hindi diretsong masisisi ang mga 1) o 2) ang problema. Pero sa mga bulgar sa mga talagang nakaaasar na isyu, makasarili na ang mga hindi natitinag. Sa isang mababaw na halimbawa sa CPDP: sinabi noon ni Javier na “bubunutin” daw ang mga building kapag hindi nasunod ang mga mga kasunduan. Pumasok na tanong sa kukote ko: “Ano y’un, buhok sa kili-kili? Yung Citimall nga, hindi pala dapat puros kainan ang nandiyan, may bunutan bang nangyayari?”

Sa Cha-Cha naman, isang mababaw ulit: “pang-masa” raw ang mga prayoriti ni Erap pero ano ito at “urgent” daw ang Cha-Cha para maibenta na sa mga dayuhang negosyante ang Pilipinas. Ano ‘to lokohan?

Hindi pa ba ito maiintindihan? Wala ang mga “manipestong sagot” na ipinambubuska dito ng mga sosi sa mga tibak. Ako mismo’y hindi aktibista. (Hindi ako karapat-dapat sa karangalang ito dahil mas pinili ko ang pamperang kurso at ang grumadweyt ng maaga). Pero hindi naman kailangang maging tibak para sumama sa rali.

Ang isang rali—para sa 3)—ay isang ekspresyon lang, parang kinakausap ang mga dapat makinig. Kapag naliwanagan ang marami tungkol sa isyu, tagumpay ang rali. Walang kailangang mapatalsik (o matepok, para sa akin minsan), pero ultimong parang dyakpat ito.

Para sa 4) naman, totoong maraming mukha ang pamilyar sa bawat rali. Pero sa Makati, halimbawa, mas marami ang bago sa paningin ko. May mga naka-cell pa nga at magagarang jacket nang umuulan na. At totoong mga di-hamak na boyfriend at girlfriend material ang makikilala mo sa rali kung naghahanap ka.

Nakakadismaya lang ang mga nagsasalita sa TV nang walang kakurap-kurap na “matutulog na lang” sila sa bahay—ang mga hindi nakakaintindi ng mga simpleng paliwanag.

At ang mga umaarkila ng bus gamit ang pondo ng estudyante para iligaw ang mga sasakay.

Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa

You can spend hours reading about Michael Jackson, and profiting from it. It’s the last time to appreciate the art that he produced at least.

The best piece that Ive actually read is from the New Yorker (where the photo is from)

Then this snippet from Esquire.

Not a big MJ guy — never was — but after listening to the nostalgia orgies of the past twenty-four hours, I’m reminded that art can matter. That the stuff of great artists — their songs, their paintings, their books — becomes a part of our lives, and that whether you’re talking about the first time you saw the "Thriller" video or the first time you tried to moonwalk, you’re not really talking about Michael Jackson. You’re talking about yourself. The art is just a marker, allowing each of us to find our way back to some earlier, happier, more carefree version of ourselves. — Richard Dorment

I remember insistently playing cassette 1 of HIStory (the best of portion of that album) in one Pants Sale we did during college, although the hip music during that time was already Duncan Sheik, etcetera. I cant understand why some of my younger younger orgmates cant appreciate any more for example that great blend of a duet I Just Cant Stop Loving You. Now, today, Ive heard the song thrice on radio.

Just considering the variety of sounds and melody of his compositions... Michael Jackson is undeniably a big loss on earth.

Pansisin mo sa MRT o LRT...

Hindi tumatabi o umuusog man lang ang mga kababaihan kapag ikaw ay bababa na. Walang nagpaparaan, deadma. Pag nabangga konti, sisimangot pa. Hehehe.

Kapag natyempo kang nakasakay sa dulong-dulong pinto ng mga panlalake, kita na sa kabilang salamin, ang coaster na pambabae, malilibang ka pagmasdan ang phenomenang ito. Lalo na pag may kasama kang bata o buntis at mapaupo sa ‘reserved’ door (yung sa pinto ng driver), masisiyahan ka talaga.

Bakit kaya ganito? Mas mapag-isip ba ang mga babae at ayaw maiistorbo sa kanilang pagmumuni-muni? Nasanay ba sila na mga lalake ang tumatabi sa kanilang dinaraanan kaya di sila titinag? O asar lang sila sa kapawa nila babaeng katabi at di talaga magbibigay… nagtatarayan ika nga?

Get a fucking cliché and juice it.

In a so-called ‘corporate environment,’ the cliché is all over. Here’s what you are destined to here:

Rough sailing
That proposal will have rough sailing in the Mancom
I actually heard or read this five times today!

There’s also ‘get on board,’ ‘as per memo,’ ‘kindly support,’ ‘this is for your information and heads up,’ and tons of clichéd adjectives. The last two are not actually clichés, but still they are annoying when you read it once a day. And some people feel that adding these things professionalize their email or justify their paycheck. Some might subconsciously count this wielding of cliché as a skill for promotion.

Then there’s also to the tendency to ‘acronimize’ everything… I didn’t know that CBA today means Cost Benefit Analysis. And then the stupid practice to acronimizing even names. Action: JPQ instead of just writing Action: Jim. I understand that this was devised so we avoid using Sir/Mam in every name, but even then there is S’JPQ that must be written—S’ for Sir. So no savings at all. Watdapak.

It's not going to stop...

These things I know:
--in a department of 40+, there are destined to form subgroups, small islands...
--and there will be friction between these subgroups, tremors between these small islands.
--1015PM, i am still here pounding the keyboard, and nothing will change
--must be a good soldier when given clear directions... then slip in some of your own directions that makes you happy of makes life easy for you when there's a chance.
--it's not going to stop... 'til you wise up.