Living in the City

I saw this news item today about a Ms. Jazmine Estacio writing an online petition advocating a stop to the illegal dog meat trade. (This reminds me of my dog Blackie, who suffered a tragic ending in the hands of our neighborhood dog meat thugs. I feel my stomach revolting :-( as I write this post.) Furthermore, the news item tells about these "two Filipino women who met online while visiting a website dedicated to dog lovers. Upon finding out that the Internet was being used as a 'bulletin board' by backyard breeders of dog meat, they decided to do something about it." So they "started a campaign to collect 50,000 signatures calling for the strict implementation of the ban on dog meat trade." After collecting the 50,000 signatures, the two women "are set to present their petition to local "lawmakers, officials of concerned agencies, as well as PGMA." Meet these two women: Rhodora Maiolo and Reggie Sabado. Ms. Maiolo is based in the United S

The other day I came across this blog who offered to teach anyone who wanted to tweak blogger templates from 2 to 3 columns. I was excited. Finally, I said I am going to have a blog with three columns. After following his step-by-step instructions (I must admit it was easy to follow) what I got was a wider blog template. Yes three columns but the third column was in accessible. I felt like a stupid old woman who cannot follow plain and simple instructions. What the heck. I had wanted to go back to his blog. Unfortunately I could not remember its title nor its URL. Aarrrgghh! :-(

Someone sent me this email: "I want to live my next life backwards: You start out dead and get that out of the way. Then you wake up in a nursing home feeling better every day. Then you get kicked out for being too healthy. Enjoy your retirement and collect your pension. Then when you start work, you get a gold watch on your first day. You work 40 years until you're too young to work. You get ready for high school : drink alcohol, party, and you're generally promiscuous. Then you go to primary school, you become a kid, you play, and you have no responsibilities. Then you become a baby, and then........ .. You spend your last 9 months floating peacefully in luxury, in Spa-like conditions - central heating, room service on tap, and then........ ..... You finish off as an org*sm. I rest my case."

I saw this news article today saying that Dr. Denis Mukwege , a gynecologist from Bukavo, Congo treats women and children who have been victimized by rape and other forms of violence. Most of his patients "have been sadistically attacked that their reproductive and digestive systems are beyond repair". Newspaper accounts further reveal that this is part and parcel of human rights violations committed against certain Congolese ethnic groups. From last year's figure of 6,338, experts are predicting that sexual violence will continue to grow to about 8,000 cases this year. Savagery of this form seem to be unthinkable in this day and age. But it is happening. What can ordinary people like us do for the thousands of victims if at all? Say a prayer or two perhaps. Better, let us start by condemning all forms of violence. STOP ALL THESE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN!!! If need be, speak. Write against it. This is our small share of their burden.

Last Sunday, October 7, was the day our home grown boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao defeated Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico. Early in the day (that's Saturday night in Las Vegas) we were tuned in to the radio hoping to catch a live telecast of the event. Television coverage is usually way soooo delayed, you see. (Except for those watching expensive PPV offerings from large cinema houses) My son fortunately found this web video streaming coverage live through CCTV5 which I think is a chinese cable channel. Although, the transmission left much to be desired, it was better than none at all or the radio. To think that it was FREE made it all better. I love the Internet! Cheers!

Another garbage crisis is in the air of Metro Manila. The 14 hectare landfill located in Rodriguez , Rizal has been ordered closed effective today by Rizal province governor Casimiro Ynarez III. According to the Governor the land fill has reached its full capacity aside from being a hazard to residents living within the area. From what I know Metro Manila produces 8,000 cu. meters of garbage everyday. Now what can we individually do to reduce the amount of our garbage? Jeneen R. Garcia suggests the following: 1.# Reduce & Reuse If you’re in the manufacturing business, design your product so that you use less packaging, and more replaceable and recyclable components. This way you reduce the waste that goes to landfills. Substitute toxic substances with safer alternatives so less poison ends up in the environment. In your office or as a consumer, cut down on items that produce waste like polystyrene packaging and aerosols. Choose reusable products like rechargeable batteries and r

This cartoon I got from the mail. It is so funny. Though perhaps, others, meaning the young ones will not be able to relate. Still, this validates the positive view that aging should not be taken seriously. Just laugh off those grey hairs on your head, on your chin and yes, on the eyebrows. Arrrghh.