Monthly Archives: February 2014
Freedom of Choice, Work and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) : Where is Obamacare Taking Us?
A few days ago, in its latest “Budget and Economic Outlook”, the normally staid non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) put out a political bombshell analysis – see quote above. It said the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – a..k.a. Obamacare – would reduce the U.S. work force by two and a half million jobs by 2024. Of course, this was instantly seized upon by Republicans and other opponents to show that Obamacare really is the “job-killer” they had always said it was. Equally predictably, the Tea Party set high on its agenda for 2014 the “dismantling” of Obamacare along with other measures to “unshackle” free markets and preserve liberty. Continue reading
Justice and the Dacer Decision Part 2
After Michael Ray Aquino and Cezar Mancao fled to the US in 2001 following a tip from Sen. Panfilo Lacson that warrants of arrest would be issued for them, Lacson’s lawyers managed to delay the issuance of the warrants of arrest against Aquino and Mancao until 2006 when the Manila Regional Trial Court ordered their arrests after finding probable cause against them and 18 others in the double-murder case. Continue reading
What Controls Appetite?
What triggers hunger and satiety?
The urge to eat (hungry or not) is, to a large extent, controlled by hormones in our body. And these hormones fluctuate depending on how much sleep we get, what types of food we eat and how much calories we take in, and on how much physical activities we indulge in daily. Scientific researchers are focusing on four specific substances they call “fat hormones Continue reading
Babae
Part I
Napag-alaman at ipinapahayag ng Pangkalahatang Kapulungan ng Estado ng Ilinoy ang mga sumusunod: 1. Ang domestic and sexual violence ay biktima ang marami anuman ang edad, lahi, antas ng edukasyon, kalagayang panlipunan at pangkabuhayan, relihiyon, o trabaho. Continue reading
Artificial Intelligence Human Machines
The idea of endowing machines with artificial intelligence or ‘AI’ has been around for millennia. The concept of equipping machines with human like characteristics began in antiquity with stories of artificial beings endowed with intelligence and consciousness by the gods. These myths eventually evolved into current beliefs regarding intelligent machines. Continue reading
Immigration and the Politics of Language
There has been a recent rumor that Tagalog will no longer be translated into English because of an assumption that most Filipinos speak in English. I was asked for an opinion and I responded that Tagalog is just one of the so many languages we have in the Philippnes. Kapampangan, Chabacano, Ilokano, Karay-a, Hiligaynon, Ilonggo, Bisaya, Cebuano, Batangueno, Bulakeno Continue reading
A Handkerchief and a Widow
I. Grief
“Why are you crying?”
My eyes are very sad.
“Why?”
The little boy I loved
Is dead.
“What did he die of?” Continue reading
Is Xi Jinping the second Hitler?
During his interview with the New York Times at the Malacañang Palace last February 4, 2014, President Benigno Aquino III brought to the attention of the international community China’s aggressive moves in the South China Sea. Little did he know that when he likened China’s rulers to Hitler, it would evoke a vitriolic response from China. Continue reading
Potential state witness
A new twist to the P10-billion pork barrel scandal has surfaced with the return to Manila of a former aide of former President, now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, and vowed to drop the bombshell against the former leader’s senator-son and an erstwhile leader of the Senate. The ex-aide is Ruby Chan Tuason, Continue reading
Bruno Mars in record Super Bowl show; cries foul over New York Times criticism
February 16, 2014
NEW JERSEY – While many applauded Filipino-American Bruno Mars for rocking the Super Bowl stage in Rutherford, New Jersey and smashing the ratings in the process, the New York Times apparently was not impressed and criticized his performance. Continue reading