Philippines's IS RICHER than the United States's

Just learned today that the current President of the developing country, the Republic of the Philippines, is richer than the present head of the United States of America. More than twice richer at that.

Blue light can wake you up

Works for me.

Online articles once spread the news about blue light's properties that help reset the body clock and get the human body up from slumber. I was intrigued, more so with this article.

So I bought a blue LED lamp (well I decided to buy many of them later on since they were dirt cheap) from some Taiwanese shop some weeks ago and conducted the tests. So far, so good. I've successfully cut down my sleeping hours to a little over 4 hours daily. I no longer feel that tiredness in the mid-morning and afternoon.

Could also be psychological but as I remember it, since I set up that tiny (at 0.3 watt power consumption) blue light source on my desk, I've never felt more energetic and alert.

Oh Music

Came across this download of a certain Asian movie's soundtrack. It's got ten songs inside a compressed file of around 45+ mb. I was amazed by how that out of the blue download got me a collection of really good sounding songs. And they're in some Asian language!

Of course I don't know any other Asian language other than what I learned from living in the Philippnes, those melodious songs though took me some time to let go of them from my playlist. The lyrics sounded like random pairings of vowels and consonants but the tunes were really catchy and hard to get over with. They most probably were love songs. Well, good thing there's language barrier to keep me off stereotypical cheesy or corny lines and phrases.

I think I'm one of those who would mercilessly bash lyrics but for me, a beautiful melody always saves a song. I remember liking the song Tu Y Yo from over a decade ago. I knew it was from some Mexican telenovela and for someone my age (back then) it wasn't cool listening to a telenovela song. I didn't understand the words so I got nothing to bash; I only had the music to enjoy. The song MMMM MMMM MMMM also haunts me, reminding me of some mysterious points in my childhood. It does not have the best lyrics but the title and how it's sung are enough for some dork like me to call it good music. The very popular (in French speaking countries) "Pour que tu m'aimes encore" also has its special place in my brain...and my heart, sentimentally speaking. French usually sounds weird to me but that song's lyrics and tune sounded like a perfect combination.

Somehow I'm beginning to think that the most beautiful songs for me are songs that I can't sing along with. They are those that have the overall package that puts them above every other ordinary song. Untouchable, one can only remain in awe listening to them and feeling every note gently slipping into the ears. With this recent set of songs I got, I think I'm beginning to develop a new perception of what good music really is and how it affects anyone.

Okay, I'm just ranting here albeit positively. No link to the songs to be given away since I know enjoying music has always been something subjective. Not to invite anyone to judge my musical tastes, the only intention is to share some thoughts and show how the Internet provides all the opportunity I've never had in my younger years.

(I'm not promoting piracy. The set of songs I got comes from a country whose music I guess has the slimmest chances to make it here in the Philippines. Nothing lost for them, they're not gonna make much with that in my Westernized homeland)

Philippines's IS RICHER than the United States's

Just learned today that the current President of the developing country, the Republic of the Philippines, is richer than the present head of the United States of America. More than twice richer at that.

Google Map Maker

Google launches a competition aimed at helping map out important landmarks and places around the world. It uses the Google Map Maker software that can be accessed and used online. This isn't really a contest for personal gain. It can be inferred rather as an effort to jumpstart a collaborative endeavor to build the world's biggest, most comprehensive, most accurate, and most accessible map. Not only does this competition help web users in locating places, it also helps humanitarian and government groups in doing their jobs more efficiently. The prize for the winning entry is a US$50,000 project award from UNICEF along with a VIP tour from UNICEF officials, and an all-expense paid trip to the 2010 Map Maker Global Competition.

Interested participants may access the link below:
http://www.google.com/help/mapmaker/competitions/global/getstarted.html

SuBo is YouTube's 2009 top video

YouTube says 2009 was Susan Boyle or SuBo's year with her Britain's Got Talent video recording over 120,000,000 views. Now SuBo's such a celebrity she's got an album topping the Billboard charts. Imagine what the Internet can do. In this case, the web is weaving a path of success for a public-speaking-challenged but talented Scottish amateur singer.


Here's the sensational SuBo audition:


And the interesting "Wild Horses" revival...

Stupid Complaints

You know one thing I hate about the Philippines? People here just love to complain about very trivial things. Could be funny but it's just annoying.

Saw on TV this evening a group called "Katribu" complaining on how Big Brother housemates wear the "bahag." Too shallow! The "bahag" is a native costume made of hand-loomed piece of long cloth wrapped around a man's middle to cover what needs covering.


Filipino people (at least a sizeable portion of the population) complain about how the national anthem should be sung on Manny Pacquiao's fights. Come on, I haven't even heard of anyone complaining on how tonedeaf students and even public officials sing Lupang Hinirang on Mondays. Try examining that guy or gal who leads the singing. Does he or she even know what those hand seals of sorts (sorry I don't know how to call those...thinking Naruto here) mean or how they should affect the singing?

I've also heard of native folks banning one comedienne for allegedly maligning them with a joke that goes "Hindi po ako Igorot" (I am not an Igorot). That very simple line does not deserve very sensitive inference. Anyone non-Igorot has the right to deny that he or she is one and being a comic artist, the more one has the privilege to say such words. This is just my opinion but I think many also share the same thoughts.

And we have "racial slurs" in the international media. Okay, I may have second thoughts on calling this stupid. Maybe I'm just reacting negatively on the complaints based on how complainants do their complaining. Why don't we just act with even a little dignity?

We all have the right to complain but my only appeal is can we be a little less annoying? Maybe the media is also to blame. Why do they just love broadcasting or writing about such trivialities?

Mindanao a lawless region?

Are you kidding me? Seriously, AFP? How on earth can you describe Mindanao lawless? Have you been here?

Here's a screengrab:

The news item is located here.

Pinoy again‽

I think I was one of those who first discovered Boyce Avenue before they became the band we know they are today (the rise and the gradual?? fall). Alejandro Manzano sounded very cool back then; he's boring me now. An Internet sensation he is and like any other sensation, there isn't sustainability to expect. I don't know but Boyce Avenue has become monotonous nowadays. I found this nice sounding guy...okay excellent sounding musician with some videos of him sininging on--what else do you expect--YouTube. He's got the voice and the knack to make popular soings his own. I think I'm gonna be listening to him for some weeks.









 See more of the guy here.

Got time?

Got time?

 

Setting them pieces in their proper places...

D-op-ed: Hodgepodge

Reposting below items I wrote for the blog I just decided to retire. I plan to write entries similar to these for this new blog...and maybe publish them again in another "new" blog as soon as I get bored with this one:)


Lindsay Lohan sued over predawn car chase.
Well that's what happens when you find it hard to bloat into a fat ass ex-pop princess or be the naturally-slim looking "P of the Cell" and you're competing to be Google's top search keyword. Misbehaviour, a car stunt, and a possible stint in jail...what's next?

Crocs trap Australian rancher up tree for a week.

Interesting story but I don't think that compares to Philippine crocs who've been leeching the country for several decades. I heard they recently celebrated their 100th anniversary being an "institution."

Senator Antonio Trillanes says government execs led Marines to death trap.
Sad news indeed. Had they followed Trillanes's schemes, they could have been congressmen or senators cum armchair generals by now.

Title of choice urged for transsexuals. BANGKOK, Thailand -- Mr., Mrs. or Ms.? Thailand may soon let people who have had a sex change officially alter their title, too.
Wiroon Tangcharoen, an assembly member who is also rector of Srinakharinwirot University, said he supported the move and did not believe it would affect room assignments in university dormitories, where students are segregated by sex, The Nation newspaper said.

No trouble with segregation, the real concern is identification.

Pacquiao-Roach spat rumors
Boxing coach Freddie Roach said he does not have a quarrel with ward Manny Pacquiao following reports that the boxer flew back to Manila shortly after the press conference announcing his October 6 match with Marco Antonio Barrera. The reason for Pacquiao's departure remains unknown.
Movie shoot? Photo shoot? Whatchamacallit shoot?
Ask Ara Mina.

Sometimes, news are just written heckle-y-tickle-y...
What follows is an excerpt from a Philippine Daily Inquirer article. Read the full text here.

When Legarda, clad in a cream pantsuit, went onstage to receive her award, she said Arroyo bussed her and then asked: "Loren, did you hear the he or she?"

Legarda replied: "Yes, Madam President."

Arroyo, said Legarda, told her: "The he or she was meant for you."

The President was referring to a portion of her July 23 State of the Nation Address when, during her lengthy enumeration of the various infrastructure projects the administration is undertaking, she said whoever succeeded her in 2010, "he or she will have an easier time of it."

"I said, ‘No, when you said he or she, I looked at [Senator Manuel] Mar [Roxas II] and [Senator Richard] Dick Gordon," Legarda said.

So who could be that she Loren was thinking? Any idea, Korina?

From CNN: Fossils that have been discovered in east Africa's Rift Valley, regarded as the "cradle of humankind", pose a contention to the idea that human prototypes evolved one after the other in a linear fashion from Homo habilis to Homo erectus, ending with modern humans.
Come on, we don't need fossils to prove that (there is coexistence among human prototypes). Watch NBA.


Johnson & Johnson sues Red Cross over the use of its logo on first aid kits and other medical materials and paraphernalia sold to the public.
Red Cross is blue. The organization is surely saddened by the turn of events.

Senator Roxas: The “nature of the majority”is making Villar dance the “tinikling.”
Senate President Villar: It's not tinikling, it's a modern dance. Please see my campaign TVC.

MySpace adds Onion news to site.
Friendster reacts and thinks of signing in a counterpart—any Philippine tabloid.

Veteran Senator Joker Arroyo to neophyte Senator Alan Peter Cayetano: Think before talking.
Cayetano: Look who's joking.

3 Arroyos in House: Who’s afraid of Peter Cayetano?
Cayetano: Who's afraid of libel?

Russia to Iran: You Keep Secrets, We Keep Nuke Fuel
This has been the statement circulated in the press. Withal, reliable sources say the real Russian Government statement is worded differently. Writes something like this:
"Keep your secrets so we can keep delivering your nuke fuel. "

A report claims that most Americans would support legislation that would ban text messaging while driving.
Apparently, the "some" in the population surveyed were Filipinos who successfully applied for American citizenship.

Esperon reports: NPA strength reduced 
JDV opines: Party list representation strengthened.

Imeem now under MySpace

Popular News Corp. owned social media site MySpace acquired media streaming site Imeem for an undisclosed sum. Imeem.com visitors are already being redirected to the MySpace page with a big sad note (for faithful Imeem users) as the big transition takes place.

Generally, it's bad news. Another one bites the dust and Imeem users would have to adopt a new system if they were to continue using the new Imeem now integrated with MySpace. Users will no longer be able to listen or watch their or other users' media through embedded playlists or over iPhone and Android apps. I was somewhat shocked having to load Imeem.com and getting redirected to MySpace. I'm no MySpace fan. My initial impression was mostly negative and I sort of had spur-of-the-moment "visions"-- not so good ones.

Apple had purchased Lala some days ago and this week it's MySpace taking over Imeem. Could it be the same fate for Pandora and Rhapsody?

I'm not sure what to expect with the new Imeem. It used to be a good resource for old and new music, providing almost everything I would be searching for. Now under new ownership and management, who knows if it could still retain its popularity and the same legion of faithful uploaders who are always willing to share the last bit of media they could share. This petty issue basically Asian Imeem fans would have to get over with.

The new Imeem owners have promised a fast transition and the restoration of functions and features deemed worth restoring. Let's see. But I still would prefer Imeem as a separate, not-so-popular-in-the-West site.