PostHeaderIcon Today is the death anniversary of Nikola Tesla.

Nikola who? If you don't know him, can't blame you. But I am glad he is alive in Facebook with over 200,000 fans--- way below Michael Jackson's 10 million but much ahead that of his nemesis, Thomas Alba Edison who has just over 900. Nikola Tesla deserves more.

Ostracized and persecuted in his time because of an obsessive-compulsive behavior (a little understood disorder in his time), Tesla is now regarded as the "mad scientist" who invented the 20th century and probably beyond. Electricity that powers our homes and applicances ---and, yes, computers---is a result of Tesla's works on Alternating Current (AC). Maybe partly because of OBC, Tesla was so obsessed with "free energy for all" that he refused to impose royalties out of his AC patents. He could have been the richest man in his time and, who knows, a Tesla-AC royalty fee would still be an unwelcome burden in our electric bills.

Whereas we still hear of Westinghouse, General Electric, huge companies that benefited from his AC technology; Tesla died in 1943 at the age of 86, impoverished, leaving unfinished projects behind. Pure science ruled Tesla's life, unmindful of his finances. He should have been resting today in a tomb made of diamonds, which he deserves, but did not want to. There lies the greatness of the man.

I am not into fan pages but I take exception---way of saying "Thank you, Nikola Tesla." And we have not talked about the Principle of Resonance yet! ---another mind-boggling concept that will forever be equated with his name.

PostHeaderIcon Anjoy takes oath as new electronics and communications engineer

Anjoy (Andy Jr.) Gimpaya passed the ECE board exam last Oct 2009. Only 26% of more than 4000 examinees passed this exam, acknowledged as one the most difficult to date. Anjoy, a 2009 ECE graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University, passed this exam on first take.

The oath taking of new electronics and communications engineers was held at the SMEX Conventions Center, Mall of Asia, Manila on Dec 10, 2009.

PostHeaderIcon Tiger Woods and Sex Addiction



After the “accident” that caused Tiger Woods and his luxury car to crash on a hydrant and a tree, the scandal about his promiscuity with women has hounded and disgraced the best golfer in town. His defenders are quick to point out sex addiction as the one to blame for Tiger’s marital problem. After all he has apologized for his extramarital escapades last week and he was silent thereafer.

There is little mention about morality now. People interested about Tiger's seemingly perfect life don’t want to allude on responsibility anymore----a reminder that liberalism has marginalized traditional thinking on righteousness.

Instead of shame, a string of women is proud to be called Tiger’s mistress. The 10th to come out in the open to claim a Tiger Woods' affair and ride on his popularity is another sexy porn star---39 year old Joslyn James who consider herself as Wood’s “fulltime” mistress.

TIGER'S WOMEN
1. Rachel Uchitel, 31, VIP hostess
2. Kalika Moquin, 27, club executive
3. Jamie Grubbs, reality TV star
4. Jamie Jungers, 26, cocktail waitress
5. Mindy Lawton, 33, waitress
6. Cori Rist, 31, Hooter
7. Holly Sampson, 36, porn star
8. Mystery waitress
9. Unidentified British TV star
10. Joslyn James, porn star
Source: MailOnline (12/09/09, Halzelton, L.)
(Photo Credit: AFP/ scanpix)

===============================================================

PostHeaderIcon Norwegians think Barack Obama is rude for snubbing the traditional events for the Nobel Prize awards



In accepting the Nobel Prize for peace, Barack Obama travels to Oslo, Norway. But he cancelled some of the traditional events that go with the awarding, among them a snub to the invitation of Norway’s King to have lunch, a press conference, and a cancellation of a dinner of the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Committee.

“According to a poll published by the daily tabloid VG, 44% of Norwegians believe it was rude of Obama to cancel his scheduled lunch with King Harald, with only 34% saying they believe it was acceptable.”----Guardian.co.uk (12/09/09, Fouche, G; MackAskill, E.)

Without much success in peace promotion while the Afghan and Irag wars are raging, Obama gets the award which many think has become politicized and ill-deserved. The US president has no stellar accomplishment in international relations to make him deserving of the prize. Many peace protesters take note of the 30,000 American troops the awardee plans to deploy in Afghanistan ---a contradiction to the very essence of peace. (Photo Credit: enstarter) =0=

===============================================================

PostHeaderIcon OLPDA's Christmas Party on December 19, 2009



The Our Lady of Penafrancia Devotee’s Association (OLPDA) headed by Boy Cabaero has scheduled its yearly Christmas Party on Saturday, December 19, 2009 at the Our Lady of Victorires Church in Jersey City, New Jersey City. A potluck to bring in food and drinks will be arranged for members and guests of the association.

Bicolanos in the tri-state area are cordially invited. (Photo Credit: Boy Cabaero)=0=

=============================================================

PostHeaderIcon 127 killed in Iraq bombings




In another wave of bombings in Irag, 127 died in blasts that took place within several minutes from each other. About 400 people were injured. Iraqi security forces were scouring the site of explosion particularly at the Baghdad Finance ministry and in a location close to the a police patrol in Doha on December 8, 2009.

The bombing is the worst after the October bombing which killed about 155 people in two car bomb incidents. The carnage brought ambulances and rescue workers to the scene. No one has claimed responsibility of the blood bath. Civilian and military officals worry that this round in violence can cause instability in the government before next year’s election. (Photo Credit: AP) =0=

============================================================

PostHeaderIcon Arms cache found in massacre suspect's home




When the police and government soldiers were dispatched to investigate the house of Datu Unsay town Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr’s home, they found a cache of weapons. The raid was conducted after authorities found a cache of arms near the home of ARRM governor Zaldy Ampatuan, one of the main suspects in the Maguindanao Mssacre that killed at least 57 people. Hidden in shallow earth about 500 meters from the home of the governor’s mansion were ammunitions and weapons which could supply two battalions.

“In two shallow pits, soldiers of the 73rd Infantry Battalion found two anti-tank bazookas; four 60mm mortars; two 80mm mortars; a 90mm recoilless rifle; three M60 machine guns; a 57mm recoilless rifle; a Barrett sniper rifle; two Browning automatic rifles; a .50-cal. heavy machine gun; a 9mm pistol; seven .45 pistols; an Ultimax light machine gun; a Bushmaster carbine; a Heckler & Koch 11 light support machine gun; and thousands of rounds of ammunition for M16 rifles still in boxes marked “Arms Corporation of the Philippines,” with the October 2008 date of Manufacture stamped on them. “---Manila Standard (12/05/09, solmerin, F.S.; Requejo, R. E.)

Col. Leo Ferrer, of the Army’s 601st Brigade was surprised by the ammunition that was found. According to Ferrer, the Ampatuans have about 2,000 men in their private army. In comparison, the MILF have about 3,000 soldiers. (Photo Credit: flames of war) =0=

===========================================================

PostHeaderIcon Climate change summit in Copenhagen brings more polluting carbon emission



In spite of the economic downturn that needs some form of austerity among delegates of the global warming conference in Copenhagen, those who will attend will display a measure of extravagance. The huge number of cars, limousines, and gas-guzzling private jets coming to the capital city of Denmark will produce polluting carbon dioxide---the agent that is blamed for the planet's warming.

According to Majken Friss Jorgensen, managing director of Copenhagen's biggest limousine business, her company has only twelve vehicles, but during the summit there will be 200. Together with other limousine companies, the number of vehicles is expected to reach more than 1,200. Of these, only 5 will be among the class of “non-polluting cars”---the electric or the hybrid.

In addition to the agents of pollution on the road, Danish airports are expecting 140 private jets to be used by the VIP delegates and guests.

“The airport says it is expecting up to 140 extra private jets during the peak period alone, so far over its capacity that the planes will have to fly off to regional airports – or to Sweden – to park, returning to Copenhagen to pick up their VIP passengers.

As well 15,000 delegates and officials, 5,000 journalists and 98 world leaders, the Danish capital will be blessed by the presence of Leonardo DiCaprio, Daryl Hannah, Helena Christensen, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Prince Charles. A Republican US senator, Jim Inhofe, is jetting in at the head of an anti-climate-change "Truth Squad." The top hotels – all fully booked at £650 a night – are readying their Climate Convention menus of (no doubt sustainable) scallops, foie gras and sculpted caviar wedges.
“---Telegraph.co.uk (12/05/09, Gilligan, A.)

Whether this flashy summit will realize its goal of saving the planet is unclear. The strident controversies behind global warming are still raging. There is no unanimity if the observed climatic alteration is truly a man-made phenomenon or part of a cycle of planetary change. There are serious questions on the validity and veracity of certain climate data on which decisions have been based.

The doubts behind global warming have intensified as scientists have been accused of tampering data to influence policy and public opinion. An embarrassment to the global warming proponents, the fraud reports cast a bad shadow on the credibility and recommendations of the environmental scientists.(Photo Credit: chrismadden.co.uk) =0=

=============================================================

PostHeaderIcon Russian nightclub death toll climbs to 112



The Lame Horse night club blaze thought to have been sparked by a wayward fireworks display on December 5, 2009 in Perm, Russia had now killed at least 112 people. rushed to hospitals for treatment of various injuries and burns. The last counted casualty died of severe burns in a Moscow hospital.

During the investigation the club owner Antoly Zak and the artistic director responsible for the pyrotechnics, including two men were arrested on orders of the Leninsky District Court. Officials said they have cited club-managers for safety violations in the past to no avail.

Eyewitnesses suspected criminal negligence as the cause of the blaze. Pres. Dmitry Medvedev called for a tighter laws and regulations in the handling of criminal liability in cases of a conflagration. Since Russian fire safety rules were not well-enforced, as many as 18,000 deaths annually were attributed to fires in the country. (Photo Credit: gypsygirl) =0=

===============================================================

PostHeaderIcon $30 billion aid needed by poor countries to curb global warming



Just as the Copenhagen international conference on climate change is about to start, United Nations climate chief Yvo de Boer said an emergency $30 billion funding is needed by poor countries to help them deal with the effects of climate change. The funding which will largely come from rich donor-countries is endorsed by the European Union is needed to curb carbon emissions that are thought to be some experts to the main cause of global warming.

“Scientists say carbon gas emissions must be reduced globally in the next decade by 25 to 40 percent from 1990 levels to control rising temperatures. The European Union has pledged 20 percent cuts, and more if other nations agree.

China has proposed reducing its emissions by 45 percent from 2005 levels, while India has offered a 20 to 25 percent cut.”---VOA, (12/06/09) (Photo Credit: magazine.ucla.edu.)

Small and poor countries decry the fact that they bear the brunt of pollution that they are not largely responsible of. The aggressive move of rich countries to advance industrialization cause many parts of the world to suffer from pollutants brought by the destruction of the environment =0=

===============================================================

Topics/Categories

Feedjit Live Blog Stats

Topics/Categories

Add to Technorati Favorites

Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 74

ABS-CBN News

GMA News.tv

Philippine Commentary

Inquirer Breaking News