ADAMSONIAN

Time flies so fast. Another summer is approaching and another vacation looming, at least for the kids. As a prelude to the usual out-of-town plans that we have, I took a three day off work on Father’s Day and have my wife plan a three-hour drive to Gualala, a serene coastal town in Mendocino, California. We woke up at 5am and packed our stuff, composed of two bags of clothes and three grocery bags of food. And of course a cooler filled with soda, water and green tea.

We had breakfast at McDonalds, having decided it is the most convenient alternative for a family of four. We made our way to Lombard street headed off to the Golden Gate bridge and then to Napa. The highway was clear and there was no better time for the drive to take place than on a Saturday morning. It was foggy outside and the sky was overcast. The two kids sat at the van’s back seat each with an mp3 plugged to their ears and hashbrowns stuffed in their mouth. It was a pleasant drive, so far. My youngest was singing to the music, his own version of Amy Grant’s “Power of Love”. It sounded like a Japanese ranting. All of us had a laugh.

The drive was such a wonderful task under the circumstances. We were on a North Pacific highway and it zigzags across meadows and fields, with the ocean view to the left and the countryside to the right. There were countless curves that I had to slow down to 15 mph just to get good traction. There were but a few cars on the road and everything looked safe and quiet. On one curbside a group of surfers was dressing up to catch the wave. My wife and I hollered teasing a bald guy about to undress. Afar, one surfer was wiped out by the ocean’s mild tide. It was a beautiful sight.

On previous trips, my eldest son had a bad habit of asking if we were there yet. And so before the journey began we told him that it would take us three hours to get to where we’re going. It also came with a stern warning that he should not be bugging us with that question until after three hours on the road. That worked and kept him relatively quiet. The only bugging noise was the repeated message on the GPS telling us we are exceeding the speed limit. I turned the volume down. Now it’s perfect.

We arrived at our destination before ten in the morning. It was a picturesque view of a small coastal town. Population 585. About two hotels stand from each side of the road in the center of the town that is also the main highway. A community center near a dilapidated pink barnhouse stands in a dirt road. Across it is the Gualala Country Inn where we have a reservation. Check in starts at 3pm and so we drove directly to the rental shop where we planned to get a kayak. Adventure Rents is enclosed by a picket fence right behind a Century 21 office. A couple and their son were waiting by the parking lot for the rental office to open. They too would go to the river. Soon the person in charge drove up on a Toyota van that has seen better days. Its’ plate number says “4fun”, which is the same as the office’s phone number located on the billboard facing the highway. A nice lady walked out with a walking stick in one hand. Barely unable to support her heavy weight she moved slowly up the driveway to the benches facing a storage container. She welcomed us and proceeded to explain where the river leads and how people of all ages have found kayaking to be fun and educational. She never skipped a second without a word said. Very warm and pleasant indeed, we just listened and focused on the activities that she has mentioned. The other family was from town, part of the 585 residents of this lovely place. My sons talked to their kid who was nine years old himself. They commented on how my eldest was big for his age. And these are plain white folks just happy enough to have an Asian tourist milling around their town. Good for business.

Instead of kayaking we decided to get a canoe instead so that we could all be together. We were not sure how the paddling will turn out so it was safer to be all in on one boat. A male in his forties drove up. He was the helper, the muscle man responsible for the lifting of the boats. Another friendly smile and warm welcome. What a town indeed! The warm reception was a contrast to the foggy weather. A little drizzle barely felt dotted the van’s windshield. Amidst all these, the most striking part was how the friendly folks accommodated our questions and inquiries. We learned that the river is usually warmer when the air is cool and that this is the best time for canoeing, when there is enough water in the river left to wade on. Apparently, during the summer days, the shallow river would not permit any kayaking to be done.

The adventure sets off then as we went back to the van after getting on lifevests, to drive up the beach where the canoe is. My sons could not contain their excitement as they proceeded to position themselves on the canoe. I had to put some important stuff in a “dry bag” provided for us and in went my camera, my wallet, cellphone and keys. A bag of lunch boxes were also thrown in another “dry bag” which bulged as air is compressed inside. This makes sure that it floats, even if the canoe does not.

The first few minutes on the canoe were a struggle. We could not find a rhythm and went zigzagging across the river, barely moving far from where we launched. It was a new experience and we appeared clumsy for about ten minutes. The other family whom we met at the rental office was by now a couple of hundred yards away from us. They know how to paddle.

The air was crisp and the water was calm as can be. The thick foliage lining up the river appeared undisturbed and a few birds nestled in the branches. The water was about three to five feet deep and in some parts it was rather shallow. A number of dead trees with their trunks protrude from under water, the moss and weeds gathering up turning it to a dark color green. To our right side we could see the highway with a limited number of cars slowly driving by. A couple watched us from a balcony off an inn called Breaker’s Hotel. All of us were savoring the experience and was relishing the moment’s peace.

About half a mile from where we began, we docked into a sand bar separating the river from the Pacific Ocean. The kids wanted to swim and I was looking forward to taking some pictures. Looming in front of us was the view of the town, showing the Country Inn and a couple of residential structures that was unmistakably still not stirring on this fine early morning. The waves off the coast of the Pacific were melancholy as a group of pelicans flew into formation just above our heads. If there was anything I ever remembered feeling, it was calm.

The south side of Gualala River is another hour worth of paddling. With four inexperienced and by now wrangling pseudo rowers, it took us two hours to traverse. At some point we had to get off the canoe and pull it through the bedrock that is showing in the shallow canal. My eldest twice fell on his face going back the canoe just when the water was getting deeper. At one time he left his slippers and had to be scooped up. At another, it was the paddle that was thrown overboard and we had to go back to retrieve it. It was all plain simple fun. There was a deep sense of appreciation from simply hearing my kids laugh. And how they laughed.

They laughed when the canoe rocked and had to be steadied. They gasped when someone in the front seat farted and the air traveled throughout. And boy how they laughed when the canoe turned over and all our belongings floated in the water, the shock in my face was a mixture of surprise and fear. I was fearful of my camera getting wet as I floated in neck-deep water, trying to get hold of my stuff, while all three of them made it to the bank and hollered. They would forever have in their minds the image of my facial expression and that just kept them sniggering. We had the canoe turned over and as they scooped up the water, they still would burst out laughing.

We checked in at 3:30 pm and got a room on the second floor. Two queen-sized beds with red and gold sheets adorned the room. A fireplace was lit up by the window facing the river and the ocean. A television set was on top of cabinet and the kids immediately tuned in to Drake and Josh. My wife had to scurry them to the bathtub for a shower while I went straight to the comfort of the pillows. My spine was hurting and my arms were tired. I was wishing for a back rub when my wife did her usual back cracking ritual that usually corrects my misaligned nerves. I could settle with that for now. And I dozed off.

I was awakened at 6:30 pm by the two kids who wanted a hug. They were hungry too. After shower we dressed up to check the town. And it was easy to check. If we had to “paint the town red” we’d only need a bucket and a brush. There were just a couple of dining places but the most that stood out for us was “Bones Roadhouse.” “BBQ, beer and blues”, was their slogan and a poster said that a band was playing tonight. The inside of the restaurant was decorated with pirate flags, skeletons, road signs, and a host of other “historical” writings and sayings. The atmosphere was lively and the limited number of tables was sparsely occupied by families enjoying their dinner. The band was setting up their instruments off a corner where a billiard table was pushed aside and covered with a cloth. The waitress, a lovely looking blonde approached us and got our drinks. The way people looked at us made us feel at home and very welcome, like a relative has come home. One of those setting up the band instruments was the same guy who helped us out in Adventure Rents. We said hi and thanked him for the canoe we rented. He said he heard that our boat capsized and still managed to laugh. I said that it was the highlight of the trip but privately we were surprised at how fast the story was passed on. We realize that it’s how the community thrives. Everyone knows everything.

When the food was served we launched our attack. A barbeque ribs for my wife that is as long as her arm, the two kids each with macaroni and cheese and chicken tenders, and for me, barbeque strips with cornbread and mashed potatoes. The beer stuffed me quick and soon enough there was no more room for dessert. I glanced over to my right side and caught the flicker of an eyelash and a smile from a lady on another table. She asked if we were staying for the music and said darn since we are going to miss it. Her husband plays the drums. She works at a collectibles store near the rental office. She voted for Hillary and thinks that Obama may not solve the economy. She had her best day in sales today after months of slow business and she thinks she is not religious. All of that were said in about three minutes. And it was just a wonderful feeling that strangers talk openly about themselves, so honest and willing to connect. The crowd was building up as the band was about to play and so we hurried out and said goodbye to our newfound acquaintances.

We would have ended the day right there, resolving to go straight to bed after a mouthful. But my wife was adamant she need to check the rest of the town. The sun was still brightly up as expected of a summer’s day when they set at 9pm. So we drove a mile away to the State Park where they had this beautiful view of the whole town, the river and the ocean. We took turns taking pictures of each other and the spectacular view of the Pacific North coast. The sun was about to set yet we feel more awake than before. It might be the food, maybe the beer, but more so, it was the company that we keep, just the four of us enjoying our time that moment when our shadows were behind us, and the gentle touch of the setting glow was disappearing in the horizon. It was then that time stood still.                         

erwinilao has blogged 15 posts

It’s been 8 long years since I stopped writing literally, even in my journal; I hardly updated it since I graduated. 

It was a busy corporate world I have stocked in for almost a decade. A different world from where I was before. The struggle was more than just of the papers to be edited and published. It was the real world I pictured when I was in the publication, people in the working force experiencing injustice, paranoia of insecurity and boredom, and the never ending struggle for rights and benefits for the few who can divulge themselves and for the quarter of people who remain silent for years. 

It was a good camouflage. I had to conceal myself and my background after I failed on my first ever interview because of the radical answers on the question, “So on your term, how was the relationship of the student publication and the administration on your university?” 

I learned the art of concealment and latter unmasked it to start organizing the workforce and deal with their problems. 

It was then I realized the reality of hanging on the cliff between the management and the workforce. Infiltrating and organizing of those on the ground, and making a great deal of development and improvement on the larger scale. 

Latter on, I had to choose a side from where I could be beneficial or from where people could take their stand. Standing on the other side could give a long term career and fame, and choosing to be with them would mean a retirement. 

To choose or not to choose it was tainted one. I remembered I fired two contractual for some serious grounds, work-related-repeated-offenses, without any considerations and without thinking their families. It was a hard decision, that even my life has been endangered for the angst and retaliation of those who loose their jobs. 

Then I asked who am I now? Is this the struggle I fought for so long? 

Then I realized that people changed, it was not always the confinement from the past ideologies, it can be reconstructed, it can be modified and it can be streamed down in order to understand and to justify the struggle of those who are on the top and for those always appears as victims. 

I still have a long way to go… 

clave has blogged 1 posts

I just read this article and want to share with you something that the Filipino people should not be ignoring.

___________

By PETER RITTER/MANILA Tue Jun 10, 5:55 AM ET

On April 28, 2007, Jonas Burgos, a 37-year-old Philippine political activist, was eating lunch in Ever Gotesco shopping mall in Manila. At around 1:20 p.m., a group of four men approached his table. They spoke quietly to Burgos for about 20 minutes. Then the men began pushing him toward the mall’s exit. “I’m just an activist,” a waitress heard Burgos shout. A mall security guard approached the group. As the guard would later testify, the men warned him that they were police officers. They hustled Burgos outside and into a maroon Toyota. As the car vanished into traffic, the guard wrote down the license plate.

These are dangerous times for Philippine activists. A police task force assigned to investigate politically motivated killings says that 141 activists have been murdered since 2001, when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo came to power. All but a handful of those cases remain unsolved. Karapatan, a Philippine human-rights group, estimates a much bloodier tally: 902 murdered labor leaders, journalists, local politicians, priests, and peasant organizers. Dozens more activists have vanished. In June 2006, less than a year before Jonas Burgos was snatched, two young female organizers from the University of the Philippines were abducted at gunpoint in Bulacan.

The Philippine government has pledged to improve its human-rights record. Yet most of these abduction cases linger in limbo, stymied by the military’s recalcitrance or police ineptitude. A March report by the U.S. State Department noted that “judicial inaction on the vast majority of disappearances contributed to a climate of impunity and undermined public confidence in the justice system.” During a highly publicized six-month inquiry by the Philippines Court of Appeals, witnesses and military personnel offered tantalizing glimpses into the shadowy circumstances surrounding the brazen daylight abduction of Jonas Burgos. Yet when the proceeding concluded last week, Edita Burgos was no closer to knowing who took her son, or why. But that should not be surprising. As the case of Jonas Burgos demonstrates, families of the disappeared often expect to find neither solace nor justice in Philippine courtrooms.

Cycle of Violence

Experience had taught Edita Burgos to fear the worst. During the military dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, her husband, Jose, had published a popular opposition newspaper. The paper’s offices were frequently raided, and Jose Burgos was held under house arrest for two years. Jonas and his siblings were nursed on their parent’s leftist politics, often taking photographs or covering rallies for their father. The family was also steeped in Catholicism. After her husband died in 2003, Edita Burgos became a lay Carmelite nun. Jonas himself briefly considered joining the priesthood, but instead took a degree in agriculture, specializing in organic farming. When the family relocated from Manila to a farm in Bulacan province, Jonas adopted rural life wholesale. “He dressed like a farmer,” says Edita. “He was just like them in his manner, so he could relate to them. He had a rapport with the people.”

In Bulacan, Burgos began working with a peasant activist group, training farmers in organic techniques and giving political seminars. The government has accused the group of supporting the New People’s Army (NPA), a Communist insurgency that has festered for more than three decades in the country’s impoverished hinterland. But the peasant group’s leader, Joseph Canlas, says that neither Burgos nor his group was connected with the insurgents. Burgos certainly had deeply felt leftist sympathies. Yet even his own family cannot say for certain whether he was a mere fellow traveler or an active NPA supporter. On occasion, his mother says, he would disappear for weeks into the mountains. He would tell her he was meeting farmers in remote villages; she suspected he was meeting insurgents in their jungle redoubts.

Philippine police and military have long blamed the killings and kidnappings on internal purges within the Communist insurgency. The NPA does have a history of murderous infighting: in 2003, a former insurgent leader was gunned down in a Manila restaurant while eating lunch. But international and Philippine human-rights watchdogs allege that the military itself is responsible for many of the deaths and disappearances. According to Ruth Cervantes, a spokeswoman for Karapatan, the violence peaked in 2006, at the height of a new government offensive against the NPA. In a scathing 2007 report, Philip Alston, a special rapporteur for the U.N., wrote that the country’s military “is in a state of denial concerning the numerous extrajudicial executions in which its soldiers are implicated.” For the first time last year, the U.S. made some of its military aid to the Philippines contingent on the country improving its human-rights record. The international disapprobation was a source of embarrassment to an Arroyo administration already staggered by allegations of vote-rigging and corruption. And the government has taken steps to prosecute the killings more aggressively, including participating in a national summit last July on extrajudicial executions and forced disappearances. At that summit, the country’s Supreme Court declared a new remedy for victims of government violence. Adapted from Latin American legal systems, the writ of amparo - “protection,” in Spanish - would, in theory, disallow blanket government denials in cases were soldiers are suspected of kidnapping activists. Thus far, the new law has proven a qualified success, according to Neri Colmenares, a human-rights lawyer who has represented more than a dozen families of abducted activists. In one case involving two farmers who alleged they were detained at various army bases for 18 months and subjected to torture - including whippings with barbed wire and being bathed in their own urine - the Philippines Court of Appeals agreed that the military was culpable, and that military investigators had failed to sufficiently probe their complaint. But many other cases where the military is suspected of involvement in disappearances have resulted in few answers.

Dead-End Investigation

Burgos’ abduction grabbed headlines in the Philippines in part because of his family’s prominence during the Marcos era. Arroyo herself called Edita Burgos to assure her that police would pursue the case aggressively. But from the start the investigation seemed to sputter. A week after the abduction, police told Burgos’ mother that they’d found a corpse resembling Jonas. The man had been bound with a cord, strangled, shot twice in the skull, and dumped by a lonely country roadside. Edita Burgos insisted it was not her son. As part of their investigation, police also traced the license plate of the Toyota used by the kidnappers. They discovered that the plate had originally belonged to a vehicle in Bulacan. In July 2006, the owner of that vehicle was cited for illegal logging illegally, and the vehicle itself was impounded by the army’s 56th Infantry Battalion, also stationed in Bulacan. A second car allegedly used by the kidnappers was traced to a top military officer. Since then, the impounded car - and its license plate - have been sitting on an army base. The plate seemed to point to the military’s involvement in Burgos’s abduction. “This is vital information that connects the military to the case,” says Purificacion C. Valera Quisumbing, chair of the Philippines Commission on Human Rights at the time of the abduction. “We’re not saying they were the ones who did the abduction. We’re just saying that this is a vital connection.”

The military conducted its own internal investigation into the license plate. While that report recommended censuring three of the battalion’s officers for failing to keep track of the plate, it did not offer an explanation of how the plate became attached to the car used to snatch Burgos - other than to suggest that someone seeking to discredit the military may have snuck into the base and stolen it. In July, a senior government prosecutor announced that he wanted to interview six military officers in connection with Burgos’ abduction. He was immediately removed from the case. Senior military officers have offered their own explanation for the abduction. In a letter to the human-rights commission, General Hermogenes Esperon, head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at the time of the abduction, suggested that Jonas Burgos was, in fact, a high-ranking insurgent who went by the nom de guerre Ka Ramon. In August 2007, four months after Burgos disappeared, police produced three new witnesses: former NPA insurgents who claimed they had seen Burgos’ kidnapping. The ex-insurgents claimed that Burgos was an NPA member, and was targeted by his own comrades in a dispute over money.

General Esperon, who retired last month, declined repeated requests for an interview. A military spokesman, Lt.Col. Bartolome Bacarro, says that the military was not involved. “We as an organization categorically deny we were involved in the abduction of Mr. Jonas Burgos,” Bacarro says. “There is just a possibility that some AFP members might be implicated. If that happens, we would make available members implicated in the abduction in court. It is not a policy of the AFP to be involved in these kinds of activities.” Bacarro also says that he does not believe the military was investigating Burgos at the time of his abduction. But a confidential military memo dating from May 2007 places Burgos in the army’s “order of battle” - a roster of NPA insurgents targeted for arrest or elimination. Next to Burgos’ name is the word “neutralized.” The memo bears the name of the 56th Infantry Battalion’s chief intelligence officer, but is not signed. Bacarro will not confirm the document’s authenticity. “It is the subject of an investigation so we’re leaving it to the court to assert the authenticity,” he says.

Thus far, however, Philippine courts have shed little light on the murky circumstances surrounding Burgos’ abduction. As part of an amparo complaint filed by Edita Burgos, a number of military officers have testified; all have denied military involvement in the kidnapping. Burgos continues to insist that the army orchestrated her son’s disappearance. If he is still alive, she says she would like him released; if dead, she would like only to know where his body is buried.

In late March, Burgos’ family held a celebration for what would have been his 38th birthday at the Carmelite convent where Edita Burgos works. As she sat in the convent’s sunlit courtyard, in front on an untouched chocolate cake, a procession of care-worn middle-aged women came up to her. They were, she explained, mothers of other activists who have vanished. When the women had gone, Burgos continued: “This is not about Jonas alone. They are killing the future leaders of our country. If you kill these people, who will be left?”

The original story is on TIME.com

erwinilao has blogged 15 posts

In North Korea, sexual equality is sexy… most women in North Korea enjoy prolonged foreplay… prolonged foreplay means a long, long time…

Suffice it to say that North Korean women are sexually happy women, and their male partners, thanks to their superior knowledge and practice of cunnilingus, are proud to bring the women to climax after climax after climax…

From the famous/controversial “Cunnilingus in North Korea” [Young Hae- Chang Heavy Industries] via an old Skirmisher blog post.

Tags: Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries

JB has blogged 101 posts

We knew that is was only a matter of time before the L-GLUTATHIONE competition in the market reaches a fever pitch. We also had a sneaking suspicion that the competition might turn ugly ONCE THE OTHER BRANDS FEEL THREATENED and will do whatever it takes protect their interest.
It is truly saddening however, that even a well-respected and esteemed media institution can easily make itself available to irresponsibly disseminate unreliable and malicious information against competing brands all for the measly price of an ad placement.
WE KNEW THAT THIS IS THE PRICE WE PAY FOR BEING TRULY HONEST IN OUR CAMPAIGN.
Bad news for the news segment and ad ‘sponsor’ is that they might think that they have won the battle but they are gravely mistaken. Little do they know that what they did will prove to be their undoing because people will start asking, will seek for the truth themselves and once they find it, they will know which brands are taking them for a ride all along.
WE STARTED OUT ON A CAMPAIGN OF HONESTY AND BY IT SHALL WE CONTINUE ON.
Our company has been around since 1999 in the glutathione industry, practically starting the glutathione craze in the country, flying low as supplier and product provider. With all those years of experience behind us, we decided to develop the best glutathione formulation and market it at a very competitive price.
Our brand, KYUSOKU BIHAKU L-GLUTATHIONE plus NAC and VITAMIN C ROSEHIPS, or KB to longtime and satisfied users, has taken oral glutathione supplementation to a higher level.
In doing so however, we knew that we have also painted a big red target on our backs. We have anticipated that the other brands will play catch-up and will try to buy time by spending serious money on smear campaigns. This is until they come up with their own copycat and watered-down versions of our formulation but still of inferior quality and still replete with useless fillers.
THIS MAY BE A LETDOWN FOR THE ‘SPONSOR’ BUT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE START OF THIS SMEAR CAMPAIGN. WHAT TOOK YOU GUYS SO LONG?

We have been waiting for this because we wanted to extend this ‘sponsor’ the honor of paving a wider avenue for us to tell the consumers why our product is way better than theirs. Thanks for making our job easier for us.
These are some of the facts that we have been honest about.
1. GLUTATHIONE, BE IT REDUCED OR FREE-FORM, IS NOT EFFICIENTLY ABSORBED WHEN IT IS TAKEN ORALLY. You only absorb less than half of the supplemental glutathione. This means that you are actually paying for something and getting less than half of the effectiveness. What is even more disappointing probably to the other brands is that some of the latest research shows that the reduced form of glutathione, while ideal via intravenous administration, is more easily destroyed in our gastrointestinal tracts and goes to waste. This means that users of this form of glutathione may be paying more for something that is even less effective.
2. KB IS PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE GLUTATHIONE. This means that KB is devoid of the usual fillers, like cornstarch for example, found in other brands. We decided to make KB that way owing to the fact previously mentioned because with fillers, you actually get lesser glutathione. When our pharmaceutical grade formula came about, one brand tried to strike out cornstarch from their labels immediately. They appeared to have done so in a hurry that their printer left out the comma preceding it. They may want to check that one out before printing their next batch of labels. Furthermore, they may have erased cornstarch from their labels, but it will still very likely remain within their capsules.
3. KB IS THE FIRST AND ONLY BFAD APPROVED BRAND THAT IS FORMULATED WITH NAC. NAC or N-Acetylcysteine is the best glutathione booster available today. Even the famous Dr. Robert Atkins in his book Vita Nutrient Solutions said that, “NAC raises glutathione levels in the body, something that oral supplements of glutathione itself cannot do.” We added in NAC to our formulation to make up for the inherent limitations of oral glutathione. Apart from boosting the body’s glutathione levels, the NAC in our brand also greatly helps in the absorption and retention of the supplemental glutathione.
KB as a set also comes with Vitamin C Rosehips for a very affordable price of Php 1,500.00 only. We have definitely innovated gave the consumers a quality product coupled with affordability. KB passed the tests conducted by the Department of Science and Technology and is duly registered with the Bureau of Food and Drugs. Our brand also recently passed the stringent test by the Office of Muslim Affairs and was declared Halal.
By coming out with the facts stated above, we have undoubtedly earned the ire of the other brands. Instead of tackling and disproving these facts however, they instead opted to play the game dirty. We can’t blame them because the facts that we have presented are the truth and one can’t exactly change it. They can only hope to twist it.
NOW, IN DIRECT ANSWER TO THE ‘NEWS SEGMENT’ THAT CAME OUT OF A SUPPOSED REPUTABLE NEWS ORGANIZATION, WE AGAIN PRESENT THIS FACT. The method that was used by this ‘respected’ testing institution is titration. Titremetry uses instruments that are also available in a junior scientist toy kit and is in other words unreliable. The particular usage of titration according to the online encyclopedia, Wikipedia is to define oils, fats, biodiesel and similar substances.
WHY ON EARTH WOULD ANYONE IN THE RIGHT MIND TEST GLUTATHIONE USING A METHOD FOR TESTING FATS AND FOSSIL FUELS?
Any chemist will tell you that for testing amino acid content, the most ideal method would be to test it via High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) or Gas Chromatography (GC). We can only make assumptions why the ‘respected’ institution never used this two much more reliable and ideal methods. True the news segment and ad ‘sponsor’ scored high in titration but what does that prove? That their brand contains high-end diesel perhaps? We just don’t get it.
What is even more disappointing for us is the realization that even a respected news organization can easily be utilized for such malicious, damaging and irresponsible reporting. We urge the people to be more discerning of such news reports, documentaries, tv segments and the like because most of them are available for a price. Too bad, this ‘sponsor’ could have used their money in product improvement and give their consumers what they really deserve for the hard-earned money that they are spending for their product.
OUR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN FOR KYUSOKU BIHAKU WAS AND WILL REMAIN FOUNDED ON HONESTY.
Even our model is a certified user of our KB. We are not going to scare you into buying our product, try and dazzle you with star endorsers and we will definitely not spend millions to sponsor a tv news segment or documentary just to malign a competing brand.
WHAT WE ARE ENCOURAGING YOU TO DO IS TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH FOR YOURSELF AND FILTER OUT THE LIES THE OTHERS ARE TRYING SO HARD AND SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY ON FOR YOU TO BELIEVE.
Only then will you realize who is telling the truth and you will truly be enlightened

Tags: www.ilovekb.com

shirohana has blogged 1 posts

Integral calculus kasi ang subject at ang hirap talagang unawain. Yung ngang pre-requisite nitong differential calculus ay hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng hocus-focus ba ang ginawa ko para pumasa. Panay kopya lang parati. Kasi naman talagang pang-utak henyo ang calculus. Ewan ko kung bakit sinama pa sa curriculum namin ito eh imposible naman kasing magiging mathematician ako balang-araw. Si Einstein lang ang alam kong may panahon sa calculus.
Simpleng tao lang kasi ako. Simple lang akong mag-isip kagaya ng mga kaklase kong utak-japanese cake.
Final exam na namin ngayon at kailangan kong maka-perfect para mahatak ko ang kulelat kong grado nung prelim at midterm. Pero, diyos ko naman, kahit anong klaseng isip ang gawin ko o pagkakamot ay walang maibibigay na kasagutan ang utak ko. Kahit naman kasi anong pakinig ang gawin ko nung nagtuturo si Prof ay para bang balang tumatagos lang sa bungo ko ang lecture nya.
Naisulat ko na ang mga formula sa armchair ko kanina pero hindi ko naman alam kung paano gagamitin ito.
Sinulat ni Prof. Dimagulangan ang mga problems sa black board. At habang binabasa ko ang mga tanong ay para bang sinisigaw nito sa akin na engot ako. Nababasa ko naman ang mga sinulat nya pero di ko maintindihan. Dapat kasi hindi na lang sumulpot ang calculus. Dapat kasi sa 23^rd century pa naisilang sina Newton at Einstein. Ngayon, dahil sa kagagawan nila, nagdurusa ako.
Alam ko na wala akong maisasagot. Tinanong niya kung sino ang may mga permit na at ang mga wala pa raw ay maaari nang lumabas. May tatlong estudyante ang lumabas. Naiiyak ang isa na lumabas. Si Herbert yun. Madalas akong hiraman ng pamasahe nun. Working student kasi sya sa isang fastfood chain sa Robinson’s Galleria. Sarili nya pinag-aaral nya. Parang naaantig ang puso ko pero hindi ko malaman kung bakit. Me iba pa akong problemang dapat atupagin.
Sampung minuto na ang lumipas. Nabasa ko na ng sampung ulit ang mga given equations. Alam ko naman na puro dy dx lang ang maaari kong isagot pero intergral calculus ang kaharap ko ngayon. Ni hindi ko nga alam magbasa ng isang equation. Napakamot ako. Napayuko. Nag-iisip kunwari. Na-realize ko na mahirap talagang mag-isip lalo na pag hindi mo alam kung ano ang iisipin mo. Kailangan ko ng mirakulo. Kailangan ko ang karunungan ng Diyos sa mga sandaling ito. Kahit ngayon lang. Konting dasal lang ito at baka mauto ko siya. Our Father who art in heaven, thy intelligence be mine…Amen.
Sampung minuto pa uli. Walang response ang langit. Walang nakakasilaw na liwanag. Wala ring tunog ng trumpeta ng mga anghel. Marahil busy si God sa kakapanuod ng Tom and Jerry cartoon. Di ko na talaga alam ang iisipin ko. Tiningnan ko uli ang questionnaires. Umaasa na baka namamalik-mata lang ako at di problem solving ang exam namin kundi enumeration ng formulas o kaya essay-type lang. Kinusot ko ang mga mata ko at tumingin muli sa black board. Wala talagang pag-asa. Ito na talaga ang katapusan ko. Paalam makasalanang mundo!
Sinubukan ko nang tawagin sa isipan ko ang demonyo. Gipit na gipit na talaga ako pre. Sinabi ko na tulungan nya ako kasi naging pasaway naman ako sa mga utos ng alter-ego nya. Kahit kaluluwa ko ay isasanla ko para lang pumasa sa pesteng examination na ito. Naghintay ako ng ilang sandali. Walang lumitaw na hubad na lalaking kulay pula na me buntot at sungay. Wala rin akong narinig na tawang katulad nang kay Romy Diaz sa paligid. Nakakainis na talaga. Wala na ngang Diyos, pati ba naman demonyo wala rin. Kung ganun eh sino pa ang nagpapatakdo ng lahat ng ito? Ng sangkatauhan at ng buong kalawakan? Si Uncle Sam na rin kaya? Letseng mga Amerikanong iyan! Puro na lang sila ang may pakana!
Kay Superman na lang kaya ako mag-alay ng dasal tutal ayaw naman akong pansinin ni Jesus Christ? Pero fictional character lang din naman si Superman. Hindi rin sya totoo, ang totoo ay itong calculus na kaharap ko ngayon.
Naisip ko na kailangan ko nang lumingon sa paligid para sa kasagutan. Nakita ko ang katabi kong si Lucio na dumudungaw sa papel ko. Napa-ismid ako. Gusto kong kumuha ng fly swatter. Gusto ko syang batukan. Kokopyahan pa ako ng walang kwentang kaklase kong ito eh equal sign pa nga lang ang naidadagdag ko sa first given equation. Sinenyasan ko sya na wala pa akong sagot. Sa dami ba naman ng kaklase ko ay yung mas wala pang alam sa akin ang nakatabi ko. Sana kay Alexander na lang ako tumabi nung first day ng klase. Eh kaso me sitting arrangement na ginawa si Sir.
Binaling ko naman ang tingin ko sa kaliwa pero pader lang ang tumitig sa akin. Ano bang klaseng kamalasan ito?
Tumingala naman ako sa kisame. Limang butiking naglalaway lang ang nakita ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nag-uumpukan silang lahat sa ibabaw ko.
Tiningnan ko si Prof. Dimagulangan. Abala sya sa pagche-check ng exam ng unang section. Sinamantala ko ang pagkakataon at nilingon ko ang nasa likuran ko -si Lamielyn Santos. Hindi ko agad napansin ang papel nya. Nahatak kasi agad ang pansin ko ng kanyang malulusog na dibdib na dumudungaw sa kanyang blouse habang nakayuko sya at abalang sumasagot. Napatitig ako.
Alam ko naman na hindi ko makikita sa cleavage nya ang kasagutan pero halos lumuwa na ang mga mata ko dito. Para bang gusto nitong mag-bunjee jumping. Para ding may zoom ang mga mata ko na biglang luminaw ng tatlong ulit.
Nag-adjust pa ako ng resolution at naaninag ko na kulay yellow green ang bra nya. Cup C siguro sya kasi ang laki talaga ng hinaharap nya. Natural! Nakakaduling! Nakakapraning! Sobra! Kung kaya ko lang pahintuin ang oras ay kanina ko pa nilundag si Lamielyn parang si Venom. Tapos ang gagawin ko ay bubuhatin ko sya at ihihiga sa table ni Prof. Dimagulangan. Duon ko siya unti-unting huhubaran at dahan-dahang kukuhanin ang kanyang buong pagkatao at ispiritu hanggang sa bumunggo sa langit ang nagliliyab na maka-impyernong pagnanasa ko.
Nawawala na ako sa sarili at akma ko na sanang dadaklutin ang malalaking ano ni Lamielyn nang marinig ko ang boses ni Sir.
Cut!
Nagising ang ulirat ko nang sabihin ni Prof na last 5 minutes na lang. Bigla akong natauhan. Sumakit ang puson ko pagkatapos.
Namulat ako sa katotohanang wala pa rin akong naisasagot. Nakupo! Tiyak na uulitin ko na naman ang subject na ito next semester.
Napansin ko tumayo na si Lamielyn at nagpasa na ng kanyang bluebook. Sinundan sya ng iba pa. Hindi ko na hinabol ng tingin ang dibdib nya. Ilang saglit pa pati si Lucio ay nagpasa na rin. Masayang lumabas ang mokong, Nakakopya siguro. Dalawa na lang kaming natitirang sumasagot. Nasa kabilang sulok pa ang isa. Ilan kaya ang naisagot nya? Ano kaya ang probability na makakakopya ako sa kanya? Malabo. Walang pag-asa.
Wala na talaga. Tiningnan ko ang papel ko sa huling pagkakataon. Halos maiyak ako.
Tumayo na lang ako at inabot ko ang papel ko kay Prof. Dimagulangan. Kitakits na lang kami uli next sem sabi ko sa sarili. Pero nang lalabas na ako sa classroom ay tinawag niya ako. Hinawakan nya ang kamay ko. Marahan nyang pinisil ang palad ko at ngumiti sya sa akin.
Tinanong ko sya kung bakit.
Binulong nya sa akin ang dahilan.
Nagulat ako sa sinabi nya.
Napa-sign of the cross ako pagkatapos.

stiban_graffiti has blogged 7 posts

Hi Adamsonians,

I would like to present to you the company I belong with - DAYS HOTEL PHILIPPINES. I would like to offer all my fellow Adamsonians a 30% discount on room rates against published rates. You may contact us at 02-8996421 or 8980124. You can also reach us at 09198395567.
ASIA ANDRADA

asia has blogged 1 posts

While the world sinks down in economic despair and religious terrorism, often thought of as sparked by America during the last eight years, there comes a glimmer of hope that change is soon to come. You will feel that every American wants change and yes it will come. I hope that this happens in every country in this generation. Enjoy watching.

erwinilao has blogged 15 posts

Just want to share with you a blog from one of our soldier members at www.ownlegacy.com

I would not want to sleep. Because when I do I am haunted. The many faces of anguish, that indescribable look of the mortally wounded. Some dead, others wishing they were. Some with their arms outstretched, extended, while others just plain dismembered.

I see Nature., the fields over the horizon. The mountains lining up the sky, meeting it in peace and serenity. I see skies after the storm, the sound of lush green leaves as dew falls over the sand. At night the moon shines unearthly bright, harrowing shadows transform into ghoulish figures, shattering the peace. And then it explodes. Like thunder. Only that after or prior, instead of lightning what gives are screams…streaking.

I dream, I dream.

They have been long gone memories. Should have been gone long time ago since I first step foot. Through the carnage I moved past away, walking away from the dead. The fallen left behind. Though not the memories. For in my sleep I dream. I dream. And I wish I would not sleep.  

erwinilao has blogged 15 posts

[Written by Raul Agner; reprinted from Adamson News]

His father, a retired overseas musician, has all the reasons to play one cool triumphant rock anthem on his guitar or keyboard these days. So does his Alma Mater, Adamson University. For Levi Layague Miranda has just nailed one feat in his relatively quiet academic life: garner the topmost spot in the latest board exams for chemical engineers given last April 21-23, 2008 at the Manuel L. Quezon University in Manila.

Equally proud are her mother and two siblings who saw in him an average student who was nevertheless serious with his studies in spite of a sickly frame. After third year at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, he was refused reenrollment after incurring a second long absence due to illness. When he applied for transfer at Adamson, he was readily admitted and went on to graduate on October 2007.

Levi was born on November 29, 1983 in Las Pinas City to Liberato Miranda, a Batangueño, and Sylvia Layague, an Ilocana. He attended high school in Molino, Cavite. After his stint at the PLM, he moved to Adamson in June 2004 where he had to repeat his third year studies to catch up on the demanding chemical engineering course. His enjoyment of a full academic scholarship for two semesters meant he was able to cope up with the rigorous studies. Then the course became just too heavy that he couldn’t maintain the grades required by the scholarship program. He didn’t enjoy that benefit in his last years in the school, but he enjoyed studying anyway—thermodynamic s being his favorite subject. When pressed for his favorite teacher, he declined to name one but hastened to say that all the professors he studied under were helpful and very professional. It also helped that the University’s facilities were excellent enough to respond to the needs of the students. These included the library, where he loved reading technical books, the laboratories that had new equipment, the air-conditioned classrooms, and the relatively spacious campus.

When the results of the board exam were released, none was more surprised than himself because he didn’t expect to land at the top. Aside from his generally average performance in college, he found the exam really hard not even the one-year review he undertook was a guarantee he’d make it. That’s all water under the bridge now for this simple Adamsonian who chose a course that was her mother’s frustration (only a year short of her graduation at UST). One thing is sure though, he was not wanting in hard work, dedication, and discipline. At the moment, he’s just happy to have made a milestone for himself and the University. Not used to being lavished with attention and praise, he appears a bit awkward when congratulated, but acknowledges them the best way he can.

On May 25, 2008, he will lead the other new chemical engineers for the formal oath taking at the Manila Hotel. His proud family will be around to bask in the honor of his rare first-place achievement. The whole Adamson community warmly congratulates him for bringing a big honor to the institution. All Adamsonians at the moment are just happy and proud to be members of the tribe of Levi.

Tags: Adamsonian, Adamson University, Levi Layague Miranda, board topnotcher

Ramon Millonte has blogged 11 posts

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