Thursday, April 29, 2010

Its Noy Or Never

I just want to start off by saying the singing sucks. Just know I will resort to anything to get my point across. I meant this to be the Noynoy campaign song if you used truth serum. It would be the campaign song if it intended to include full disclosure. No sugar coating anything. We all know the truth hurts. Even more than my singing. Actually I have to thank my Noynoy fanatic uncle for telling me the title of this song. I modified the lyrics to fit the context. Doughboy whipped up the midi backing track in about an hour. I am glad that genius is on my side. The rest of it assembled with a PC, a 24 year old Radio Shack Mixer. A Nokia cell phone playing the Midi file with an old Creative Zen recording the music mixed with the vocal as it is. Most of the thoughts originally expressed in my blog. A lot of the pictures made by people with thoughts similar to mine. Scary huh? Ed


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1107/Conviction_Part_1_


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1065/What_A_Lame_Campaign_Noynoy_Related

lyrics
It's Noy or never,
His words are tight
His campaign is rockin ,
His deeds are light
Tomorrow will be too late,
It's Noy or never
Your vote cant wait.

When we first saw him
His way so tender
Our hearts were captured,
Our soul surrendered
We'd spend a lifetime
Waiting for the right time
Elections are near
The time is here at last.

It's Noy or never,
His words are tight
His campaign is rockin ,
His deeds are light
Tomorrow will be too late,
It's Noy or never
Your vote cant wait.


Just like the lemming
heading into the ocean
We give our voices
And sweet devotion
Your sister excites me,
Let your past invite me
For who knows when
People will vote this way

It's Noy or never,
His words are tight
His campaign is rockin ,
His deeds are light
Tomorrow will be too late,
It's Noy or never
Your vote cant wait.





Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Beware The Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt








Watch me closely, be aware
That all I do is only to surprise you
And every move is sleight of hand
And every word is planned to mystify you

Ask me, "Why?", I don't know
Ask me, "Why?" and I say
"Don't get fooled a second time"
I thought by now you'd learn
You're gonna get your fingers burned


The Alan Parsons Project



In my family I like to joke that beware the vegetarian who tells you that the chicken is good. Manny Villar it's your turn. It's not just because you picked a boxer to endorse you who can't even spell your name. It's not because you allegedly abused your position as senator to reroute a project to your property.It's not because you have Manila's Hugh Hefner wannabees endorsing you. If you had a sister who craves for attention maybe I would have gotten to you sooner. It's because as I said earlier in my posts, I believe you are spending tons of money because there is not much to you. Just as Noynoy hides behind the guy in the 500 peso bill and the first post Marcos president, you believe throwing money away will make the campaign go down in the most delightful way.


There is this expression all form and no substance. Money can buy you form of course, but it can't buy you substance. Actually if you can use someone else's money to promote yourself, the better. Villar wanted the position a long time ago. I remember he was in tax payer funded ads for himself. Lucky a pinoy forum backs up my hazy memory. http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16491


Manny Villar is all cake and no icing. But man, that's expensive icing. One of the best book titles ever is "Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt". This is a poor country in case some of you have not noticed. If you are going to be a leader of a poor country then you should at least show by example that you know how to spend money. It's funny how every politician in the Philippines is against corruption during campaign season. Makes as much sense as fish being against water. Are they trying to tell you corruption happens in a bubble? Somewhere else? All I know is that somebody is causing the corruption in this place. It's usually the people you hear from most during election season.



When the naked man sells you his shirt, remember that it was your own blindness, the dazzling vision that danced before your eyes, not his skill, that closed the deal.

-Harvey Mackay (p. 289)

Politicians are seen as cheats, liars, thieves and opportunists for a reason. It's true. I give you no such proof that Sen. Villar is all those things. But if the guy was honest, virtuous and sincere, would he need to spend as much money as he has? You don't spend money just because it's there. A good leader of a financially challenged nation has to be be fiscally responsible. Or are you thinking that once Villar is in office, he will flip a switch?


I personally believe that the excessive spending of Villar is to make up for inadequacies elsewhere. I will leave it up to you what those inadequacies are. The issue is not so much where the money is coming from or how it's being spent. The issue for me is the fact it is being spent in such large amounts to begin with. You could not tell me in a zillion years these are the actions of an efficient man. Not sure about you but this country as challenged as it is, could use an efficient man at the helm. Villar is spending but go ahead make the case that he is spending wisely. I can not.




Noynoy just continuously talks about his parents. Not about what he has done up to age 50. Why? Because it works for him.



Villar just spends money and spends and spends. Why? Because it works for him.

What you ultimately have to ask yourself if their behavior translates into an effective leader for this country.

Ed




http://www.gmanews.tv/story/188232/comelec-asked-to-probe-villars-source-of-funds


http://philippinenews.com/article.php?id=6668


http://newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7651&Itemid=88889051

http://antipinoy.com/the-world-gets-ready-to-move-forward-while-philippines-remains-stuck-in-a-moment-it-cant-get-out-of/


http://ph.politicalarena.com/presidential-elections/news/villar-to-barnstorm-media-outlets-across-the-country

http://www.malaya.com.ph/02252010/edbanayo.html














Monday, April 19, 2010

Conviction Part 2


Dedication

You are never dedicated to something you have complete confidence in. No one is fanatically shouting that the sun is going to rise tomorrow. They know it's going to rise tomorrow. When people are fanatically dedicated to political or religious faiths or any other kinds of dogmas or goals, its always because these dogmas or goals are in doubt. ( from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig)


If you recall in Conviction Part 1, I try to make sense of all the people I see fanatical over an occupation that in common culture is usually looked down on. That occupation of course is politician. I just see this senseless fanaticism and fervor over nothing. But that is exactly why I find this passage this explains it so well.Back in Conviction Part 1 I relied on the New Testament to make sense of this fanaticism. In Part 2 I will use the discipline of philosophy.

How did I get into this book? Well First of all, find authors who speak to you. Harvey Mackay was one. Sometimes these authors have recommended reading lists, and I suggest exploring them too. This book was on Harvey Mackay's recommended reading list. It of course had the most unusual title so it got me curious. Once I found the book it proved to be a very memorable reading experience. It's all about the journey of life and ways of thinking. Ways of evaluating. All about experience. Once you realize that then comprehending the book gets easier.


This was one quote that always struck me was the idea of people who were dedicated to a cause, or fanatics. It is the very resistance that they encounter that gives them the strength to be fanatics. Read that short paragraph again. Nobody will argue about the sun rising on Wednesday and Thursday and Friday so no one is fanatic about it. But if something were in doubt then fanatics will emerge to "convert" those that doubt. For me that's why Noynoy has the dedicated legion that he does. The guy's record proves him to be a political stiff. Nothing noteworthy in his resume. But the fanatics somehow made a leap from his parents glory days to an envisioned future of a competent Noynoy steering this ship of state towards utopia. That may be a bit of an exaggeration but one does not get fanatic over a vision of mediocrity. Their envisioned future has no basis in the reality that Noynoy has delivered in his first 50 years on Earth. He could not lead his way out of a paper bag. Yet he is supposed to lead this country.

Yet it is those of us that doubt Noynoy based on his track record that fuel the fanatics to yell even louder in this annoying campaign season. One that already has a convicted plunderer and a guy whose billions are spent for no practical reason. There you have it, the stiff, the mad spender and the plunderer are apparently 1-2-3 in the polls. If that does not make you question the cerebral capacity of our electorate I don't know what will.

Ignore the fanatics. Make up your own mind. Track record and skills have to count more than one's deceased parents and romanticized revisionist history. A romanticized history I might add that Noynoy was a bystander.



All the amount of fanaticism in the world will not change the fact that Noynoy has a blank resume.

Ed



http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1107/Conviction_Part_1_


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1109/Beware_The_Naked_Man_Who_Offers_You_His_Shirt


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1065/What_A_Lame_Campaign_Noynoy_Related


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/943/What_part_of_beyond_reasonable_doubt_do_you_not_understand_Erap_related

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/913/Riding_the_Momentum_of_Death

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/tag/robert%20pirsig

http://worldofalbert.multiply.com/journal/item/230/Why_I_Am_Not_Voting_For_Noynoy_Aquino?replies_read=51


http://www.gowland.ca/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/286/Zen_and_the_Art_page_13_My_Personal_Interpretations

http://www.virtualschool.edu/mon/Quality/

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1108/Conviction_Part_2

http://robnazario.multiply.com/journal/item/31/Interesting_Information_on_Noynoy_Aquino






Conviction Part 1




Yes, another elections inspired piece. Once in a while I pay attention in Church. Thanks to my Bible in my Ipod , I can really pay attention when I go to a place without missals or when the mass is in Espanol. As Bill Cosby once said "If you're not careful, you might learn something before it's done" I came across these passages that struck me in my mass last Saturday.




Acts 5:40 (King James Version)

40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Acts 5:41 (King James Version)

41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

The Apostles took what should have been a moment of pain, humiliation, betrayal and bitterness and instead chose to see it a badge of honor. They truly exemplify, its not what happens to you but how you react to it what counts. Only you choose how you see your situation.

In my last ten years of living here, there have always been people who have astounded me with me their fanaticism for politicians. Their fever pitch support. There are no role models in Filipino politics. I bet the closer one is to being a role model, the farther back they are in the polls. My family is filled with people who support a candidate who I already defined as Wallpaper. Just there. Who the heck gets fanatical over wall paper? The guy has not earned his followers by his actions. He has his followers because of his last name. If the guy's last name was De Los Reyes and he had his identical resume , these groupies would just laugh at him. Another argument I always hear is about his opponent. A guy whose followers seem to exist of whores. As in people enamored by his record spending. This is what we are reduced to. Vote for somebody who has done nothing because of his last name and because you don't like his rival. It does not matter if he can't lead his way out of a paper bag. And people believe we are not screwed up.

I am convinced that supporters of Wall Paper believe it is an honor when they face the taunts of cynics like me when we question what has Wall Paper ever done? My father once told me "What are you going to believe? What you hear or what you see?" . Granted I don't see him putting up any resistance to the family's fanatics of Wall Paper.

The Bible has been around 2000 years and will be around for longer than that. Because it also talks about human nature. I know that is not going anywhere.


Ed




http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1065/What_A_Lame_Campaign_Noynoy_Related


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/913/Riding_the_Momentum_of_Death


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/notes


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/notes/item/47







Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Wake Up Call To Perspective

Kirk: And how we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life, wouldn't you say?
Saavik
(Kirstie Alley) : As I indicated, Admiral, that thought had not occurred to me.
Kirk: Well, now you have something new to think about. Carry on.

From Star Trek The Wrath of Khan.




Yesterday (April 13 2010) I spent some time in a crypt.

It was my aunt's 4th death anniversary.We got there a bit early. For some reason I am always drawn to people who are in there that died at a relatively young age. Maybe because its a wake up call to perspective. When I get too caught up in the little things when I am having a bad day. There was this young girl there that is the same age as my youngest sister. There is another girl who was the daughter of a famous politician. She died tragically in a fire four years ago and would have been twenty today. For me, all sad stories. For those of you that actually know me, my cousin is in there too. Only time in my 43 years of living that I went to a funeral of someone younger than me. So much promise that we won't see in this lifetime. This is not the first time I speak of death in my blog. I just want to say appreciate what you have even when we have those bad days.


Ed


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/214/Jimmy_V_Foundation_all_about_Love_Living_and_Fighting_Cancer













Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Pangilinan in New York Times Joins Other Pinoy Parrots













An Inquiry into Filipino Originality


In case you did not notice, Manny Pangilinan's act of plagiarism made it to the New York Times.

Manny now joins that list of internationally known Filipinos who have nothing original.


a) Mars Ravelo


By the time a kid is about 7 or 8 they will see the similarity between Darna, Captain Barbell and Lastikman




to



Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel and Plastic Man. Or somebody who is really brain dead will accuse DC/ Marvel of ripping off Mars.


b) Arnel Pineda-



most of my thoughts are here.


But to summarize all he is doing is mimicking what Steve Perry has done before him. Monkey see monkey do. Arnel, be a good boy and just copy Steve Perry.


c) Charice Pempengco-

Only answer if you are over 12. Name 3 of her songs. Now name the 3 artists that are better known for performing those songs. Monkey see monkey do. I really thought the "O" in OPM stood for original.


For me originality should count. It obviously did not matter for Manny Pangilinan.


Ed



http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/business/global/05speech.html

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/editorial/view/20100406-262598/Plagiarism

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20100406-262603/Plagiarism-in-the-age-of-the-Internet

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20100406-262725/Valedictories

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/27/world/asia/27aquino.html?pagewanted=all


http://www.ioffer.com/141530871


http://jpthehistorian.wordpress.com/2009/07/24/is-darna-an-original-filipino-komiks-classic/


http://worldofalbert.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-i-am-not-proud-of-arnel-pineda-and.html

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/619/Arnel_Pineda_Extrapolation



Sunday, April 4, 2010

Yes You Can Forget About A Gun In Your Carry On Luggage





Two simple words. Two simple words in the English language: "I forgot!" How many times do we let ourselves get into terrible situations because we don't say "I forgot"? Let's say you're on trial for armed robbery. You say to the judge, "I forgot armed robbery was illegal."

Steve Martin




Very simple story. Shaun Rogers who is an NFL Player brought a gun in his carry on luggage and was on his way to board a commercial flight. In these days of airplanes flying into skyscrapers and bombs in underwear. He claims he forgot. Shaun's story is here.



99.999% of people will look at that and say what an idiot. Normally I will be part of that 99.999% as cynical as I am. First of all , I forget things myself. Remember that Episode of the Simpsons where Marge gets caught shoplifting except she did not mean to at all. She just forgot. Marge may be a fictional character but only last Wednesday I had lots of things in my mind. I was buying a gift for my sister. I had the book in my hand then I remembered that I did not ATM. First thing I thought of was drop book before you think of leaving the store. I remembered Marge Simpson.





It's so easy to profile and stereotype. Dumb Football player. A minster, a man of God would not do the same thing. Let me tell you, one did. My admiration for John Maxwell has long been on display in this blog. I read several of his books, I link to his blog and I both listen to his speeches on audio and once in person. He is truly an inspiration. He did exactly what Shaun Rogers did. He says he forgot and I for one believe him. His story is here.

We live in a world of sound bites and 10 second video clips. It is so easy to connect the dots and come to a conclusion. I know that just constantly listening to talk radio. But for all the people that will be quick to call him an idiot. Let me at least give you a scenario where it could happen. I had this killer line I wanted to put here that will have you on your feet cheering and weeping. To end things with a bang. Unfortunately, I forgot.

Ed





http://johnmaxwellonleadership.com/2009/03/13/stupid-is-as-stupid-does/



http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AhhY.0D9iMEf59guQS4wNMU5nYcB?slug=ap-browns-rogersarrested

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1079/At_Least_I_Am_Not_In_Denial_

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/tag/john maxwell


http://www.snpp.com/episodes/9F20.html

Friday, April 2, 2010

He Should Face Justice



On a Good Friday where I should be working on my Strategic Management paper due tomorrow, I am giving you this. Every once in a while in this blog filled with whatever I can think of, I post a pro life story. Today Scott Roeder received his sentence for his murder of Kansas abortion provider Dr. George Tiller. Murder is murder. I in no way approve of taking the life of an adult even if they perform what they perform on the unborn. The law is the law.

My idea of pro life is to hold life sacred even if that life does not share the same sacred view.


Ed



(link to story)

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/01/kansas.abortion.roeder.sentence/index.html


Additional links

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/833/Bothered_By_Baby_Dismemberment_Case


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/tag/abortion