Improvement in ones social status allows a person to elevate the status of those close to him/her.
An executive in either government or private institutions or organizations who got his elementary schooling from a far flung village where he/she grew up, his high school from a municipal school and college from among the schools located in his/her home province will tend to enroll their children to exclusive schools for their elementary and high school education and bring them to the national capital for college schooling in one of the prestigious universities.
It is their right to do so.
It may be because he/she did not find the education he/she got from his/her schools to be adequate. It is every parent's dream to give their children the best education there is.
But when it comes to looking back, only a few of them do try to reach out to their former schools to help make it better. Some will just tend to put down their alma mater while still some will not take notice nor take action on anything.
Is it human nature to keep on improving yourself and leave everyone else behind? Is it because of the so-called crab mentality of people that they will just pull themselves up and leave the rest to fall? When will it become our task to help others up? When will we make it our principle to be the one to take someone to a higher plane, even higher than ours?
Unlike the crabs in the final installment of Pirates of the Caribbean who, even though they walk over each other to bring the Black Pearl to sea, put others ahead so they can all move forward, we tend to move forward on our own leaving the others behind.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Baseless accusations
Often times we hear people defend themselves from "baseless accusations."
In a recent post in her column, Ms Patricia Evangelista claimed that based on her assumptions "the men who put together the CEP are, scientifically speaking, idiots."
To claim that other people are idiots supposedly based on science, where is the "scientific" proof? Assumptions are just assumptions. Hypotheses, they were called during my elementary and high school days. To be scientific, a hypothesis must be proved or disproved using scientific methods. Where is the method here to prove that?
I do not have any scientific proof, but I do have various references.
According to wikipedia, idiot means (1) person lacking professional skill, (2) a private citizen, and (3) individual based on the Greek word idiotes. A modern day meaning is uneducated or ignorant person from a 1300 French word idiote.
In dictionary.com idiot means (1) an utterly foolish or senseless person and (2) in Psychology, a person of the lowest order in a former classification of mental retardation, having a mental age of less than three years old and an intelligence quotient under 25.
I'm afraid I do not have enough time to look for a scientific study on idiots. Based, however, on what I have gathered from the ethernet, the "men who put together CEP" cannot be described as idiots. Here are the reasons why:
1. As opposed to the wikipedia definition, the "men" are professionals, working in the public sector, and are part of a group (ergo men - plural).
2. In contrast with the French word idiote, if those "men" are idiots, how could those "men" have finished their college and post graduate courses? And if they are ignorant, how could they have seen the need for the education sector to find a solution to put to scale all successful pilot project of the government and its partners?
3. And finally for the dictionary.com definition: these "men" are not senseless for they see the need to give poor children from far-flung schools a chance to learn from among the internationally recognized teachers of the country; and these men could not have the mental age of three because if they did, they will be talking about three year old stuff like bunnies and ponies and airplanes and candy.
When I was three, I began gathering an army of toy soldiers and vehicles and was on my way to planning world domination and intergalactic conquest.
In a recent post in her column, Ms Patricia Evangelista claimed that based on her assumptions "the men who put together the CEP are, scientifically speaking, idiots."
To claim that other people are idiots supposedly based on science, where is the "scientific" proof? Assumptions are just assumptions. Hypotheses, they were called during my elementary and high school days. To be scientific, a hypothesis must be proved or disproved using scientific methods. Where is the method here to prove that?
I do not have any scientific proof, but I do have various references.
According to wikipedia, idiot means (1) person lacking professional skill, (2) a private citizen, and (3) individual based on the Greek word idiotes. A modern day meaning is uneducated or ignorant person from a 1300 French word idiote.
In dictionary.com idiot means (1) an utterly foolish or senseless person and (2) in Psychology, a person of the lowest order in a former classification of mental retardation, having a mental age of less than three years old and an intelligence quotient under 25.
I'm afraid I do not have enough time to look for a scientific study on idiots. Based, however, on what I have gathered from the ethernet, the "men who put together CEP" cannot be described as idiots. Here are the reasons why:
1. As opposed to the wikipedia definition, the "men" are professionals, working in the public sector, and are part of a group (ergo men - plural).
2. In contrast with the French word idiote, if those "men" are idiots, how could those "men" have finished their college and post graduate courses? And if they are ignorant, how could they have seen the need for the education sector to find a solution to put to scale all successful pilot project of the government and its partners?
3. And finally for the dictionary.com definition: these "men" are not senseless for they see the need to give poor children from far-flung schools a chance to learn from among the internationally recognized teachers of the country; and these men could not have the mental age of three because if they did, they will be talking about three year old stuff like bunnies and ponies and airplanes and candy.
When I was three, I began gathering an army of toy soldiers and vehicles and was on my way to planning world domination and intergalactic conquest.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
The traffic is heavy
There is traffic and there is heavy traffic.
In my country, when people say it's traffic, they mean heavy traffic.
I found out from my high school English teacher that the proper term is "heavy traffic" when the vehicles crawl inch by grueling inch along a city street. She also told us that traffic means movement of something along a predetermined path to a destination or from a source. So when we say, "It's traffic," what we really mean is that the traffic heavy.
So, mga pinoy, matrapik talaga sa EDSA kasi maraming sasakyan ang dumadaan. Pag walang trapik sa kalsada, ibig sabihin nun (1) nasa probinsya ka at walang sasakyan kasi hatinggabi na o (2) nasa siyudad ka pero Biernes Santo kaya walang bumibyahe.
In my country, when people say it's traffic, they mean heavy traffic.
I found out from my high school English teacher that the proper term is "heavy traffic" when the vehicles crawl inch by grueling inch along a city street. She also told us that traffic means movement of something along a predetermined path to a destination or from a source. So when we say, "It's traffic," what we really mean is that the traffic heavy.
So, mga pinoy, matrapik talaga sa EDSA kasi maraming sasakyan ang dumadaan. Pag walang trapik sa kalsada, ibig sabihin nun (1) nasa probinsya ka at walang sasakyan kasi hatinggabi na o (2) nasa siyudad ka pero Biernes Santo kaya walang bumibyahe.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Drinking tips
Here are some tips for a more enjoyable drinking session anytime, anywhere.
1. Drink beer while cold. It is always best to drink beer cold. You can drink it as fast as you can without much of an after taste. I have been drinking San Miguel Beer myself. And I drink it cold... very cold.
2. Gulp about half a glass of oil. My friends in the street corners once told me, "to stay long in a drinking session, gulp about half a glass of edible oil to line your stomach with water rejecting oil so it will not absorb much alcohol into your blood stream.
3. Eat oily food. Here in the Philippines, we have what we call pulutan or beer-matches - foods eaten together with beer. Again, the street corner boys suggested selecting oily foods as pulutan. This will also line your stomach with oil to lessen alcohol absorption.
4. Hard first before beer. It has always been a good practice to drink hard drinks first - whiskey, rhum, bourbon - before your drink beer. Alcohol content of hard drinks, being high, get's easily absorbed by the body thus affecting the sobriety of the drinker. On the other hand, beer takes longer to affect a person.
1. Drink beer while cold. It is always best to drink beer cold. You can drink it as fast as you can without much of an after taste. I have been drinking San Miguel Beer myself. And I drink it cold... very cold.
2. Gulp about half a glass of oil. My friends in the street corners once told me, "to stay long in a drinking session, gulp about half a glass of edible oil to line your stomach with water rejecting oil so it will not absorb much alcohol into your blood stream.
3. Eat oily food. Here in the Philippines, we have what we call pulutan or beer-matches - foods eaten together with beer. Again, the street corner boys suggested selecting oily foods as pulutan. This will also line your stomach with oil to lessen alcohol absorption.
4. Hard first before beer. It has always been a good practice to drink hard drinks first - whiskey, rhum, bourbon - before your drink beer. Alcohol content of hard drinks, being high, get's easily absorbed by the body thus affecting the sobriety of the drinker. On the other hand, beer takes longer to affect a person.
So, if you drink whiskey before you drink beer, by the time beer alcohol takes effect, whiskey alcohol effect has waned down. But if you drink beer first and then drink whiskey, fast acting whiskey alcohol will come into effect just as beer alcohol hits you taking you taking your consciousness into a wild ride down the rabbit hole.
5. Beer then wash with brandy. In another advise from a professional acquaintance, it is best to wash down beer with brandy. It was indeed. But our situation, however, is that we only had a few beers. We did not have any full blown drinking session that needed us to crawl back home.
After about 6 bottles each from a seaport side umbrella covered side walk drinking store in Tacloban, Cebu, we retired to the hotel's bar where we each had 2 shots of brandy to wash down our beer. In the morning, we were fresh as daisies sans hang over.
6. Brandy before dinner. That same acquaintance gave me another tip. Brandy first before meals. I never got to practice this but this is what he does: He drinks several shots of brandy until he feels a little light or tipsy. When that happens, he goes ahead and eats his dinner. I did not catch the scientific and probably medical explanation for that but he seems to have been fine after.
Happy drinking!
After about 6 bottles each from a seaport side umbrella covered side walk drinking store in Tacloban, Cebu, we retired to the hotel's bar where we each had 2 shots of brandy to wash down our beer. In the morning, we were fresh as daisies sans hang over.
6. Brandy before dinner. That same acquaintance gave me another tip. Brandy first before meals. I never got to practice this but this is what he does: He drinks several shots of brandy until he feels a little light or tipsy. When that happens, he goes ahead and eats his dinner. I did not catch the scientific and probably medical explanation for that but he seems to have been fine after.
Happy drinking!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Dating tips
During the time I was undergoing practicum activities for my course - Library and Information Science - I came across a book we were tasked to catalog. Its title: "Dating for dummies." It turns out that I was not limited to the "dating" I know but goes beyond it.
Once you have spotted someone you are interested in, here are simple steps in picking up a boy or a girl in a bar or wherever.
Step1. Make eye contact. Once your prospect establishes contact, look away.
Step 2. Make another eye contact. This time make it linger longer than 2 seconds and smile then look away.
Step 3. Make one more eye contact. Let it linger and smile again. If the person responds with a smile, make your way to that person. But be sure that it is your smile being returned.
Step 4. Once you have approached, start some small talk like "Hi." Talk some more. Start slow. Get to know the person. Be sure to find out if that person is waiting for someone else.
What happens next, is up to you.
Once you have spotted someone you are interested in, here are simple steps in picking up a boy or a girl in a bar or wherever.
Step1. Make eye contact. Once your prospect establishes contact, look away.
Step 2. Make another eye contact. This time make it linger longer than 2 seconds and smile then look away.
Step 3. Make one more eye contact. Let it linger and smile again. If the person responds with a smile, make your way to that person. But be sure that it is your smile being returned.
Step 4. Once you have approached, start some small talk like "Hi." Talk some more. Start slow. Get to know the person. Be sure to find out if that person is waiting for someone else.
What happens next, is up to you.
Reaching to the child in you
If people would just reach into the child in them, life may be more enjoyable.
Children often find joy in the most simple things in life. Even the most affluent ones seem to be more carefree and happy when shown simple things the less fortunate ones enjoy.
When people get older, they tend to become more serious. Most can't even laugh anymore with simple jokes. They tend to look for something better than what they already have. Maybe this helps us progress to the next level of social stature. This attitude does lead towards achieving better things and possessing materials of better quality. This tendency to get more helps us exceed our potential.
Unfortunately, this also tends to take other people away from what is basic. What is simple. What is doable. What is better for all.
Communism for example is a good economic template. Cooperative input for the benefit of all. After reading the Das Kapita, I am enlightened by the concept of communism that I believe has been abused by some communist leaders. It has been abused so that the communist rule that they put in place is not much different from capitalism. What happens is that they now have a capitalism-controlled communism.
Being in touch with ones inner child allows a person the luxury of enjoying what is simple. A candy can make you smile. A day at the carnival will take your worries away. Sitting back and thinking about your childhood is a good way to relax. It works for me. Unless of course your childhood was not that fun.
When I was young, I used to long for toys that look exciting. I used to ask my mom and dad to buy me toy guns. Now, I can take apart, reassemble, and shoot a real gun. But still, the joy of playing toy guns with your friends is much fun.
While in the office, I tune in to Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, or Animax and watch a few cartoon shows. I enjoy a few laughs and I get to relieve myself with the stress brought about by my work.
Behaving like a child from time to time is a more relaxing exercise than having drinks or nights out. It helps me recharge and get a better perspective at what I do. Just don't behave like one when your boss is on to you. You'll get fired for sure. Unless he behaves the same way you do. :)
Children often find joy in the most simple things in life. Even the most affluent ones seem to be more carefree and happy when shown simple things the less fortunate ones enjoy.
When people get older, they tend to become more serious. Most can't even laugh anymore with simple jokes. They tend to look for something better than what they already have. Maybe this helps us progress to the next level of social stature. This attitude does lead towards achieving better things and possessing materials of better quality. This tendency to get more helps us exceed our potential.
Unfortunately, this also tends to take other people away from what is basic. What is simple. What is doable. What is better for all.
Communism for example is a good economic template. Cooperative input for the benefit of all. After reading the Das Kapita, I am enlightened by the concept of communism that I believe has been abused by some communist leaders. It has been abused so that the communist rule that they put in place is not much different from capitalism. What happens is that they now have a capitalism-controlled communism.
Being in touch with ones inner child allows a person the luxury of enjoying what is simple. A candy can make you smile. A day at the carnival will take your worries away. Sitting back and thinking about your childhood is a good way to relax. It works for me. Unless of course your childhood was not that fun.
When I was young, I used to long for toys that look exciting. I used to ask my mom and dad to buy me toy guns. Now, I can take apart, reassemble, and shoot a real gun. But still, the joy of playing toy guns with your friends is much fun.
While in the office, I tune in to Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, or Animax and watch a few cartoon shows. I enjoy a few laughs and I get to relieve myself with the stress brought about by my work.
Behaving like a child from time to time is a more relaxing exercise than having drinks or nights out. It helps me recharge and get a better perspective at what I do. Just don't behave like one when your boss is on to you. You'll get fired for sure. Unless he behaves the same way you do. :)
Home cooking - sauteed in garlic part 2
Another fish produce I like is tuna. Flakes. In vegetable oil. In can. Also from the local grocery store or market.
The cooking process is pretty much the same. Sautee minced garlic in margarine, butter, or the vegetable oil from the can. Add minced onion. But without the tomato.
Add the tuna flakes and sautee until brown or until the garlic is almost dark brown.
Avoid over-sauteeing the garlic. You food will be in danger of tasting bitter.
The cooking process is pretty much the same. Sautee minced garlic in margarine, butter, or the vegetable oil from the can. Add minced onion. But without the tomato.
Add the tuna flakes and sautee until brown or until the garlic is almost dark brown.
Avoid over-sauteeing the garlic. You food will be in danger of tasting bitter.
Home cooking - sauteed in garlic
Among my favorite foods to cook is sardines. In tomato sauce. In can. From the local grocery or market.
The garlic freak that I am, I begin by sauteeing minced garlic in margarine or vegetable oil whichever is within reach. When the garlic starts turning brown, I add in minced onions. After a few seconds, I add in minced tomato and sautee until I believe the tomato is cooked.
Then I put in the sardines from the can without the tomato sauce to sautee further.
After much heating, I pour in the tomato sauce from the sardine can, add 1/3 cups of water and stir to a boil.
Serve hot.
The garlic freak that I am, I begin by sauteeing minced garlic in margarine or vegetable oil whichever is within reach. When the garlic starts turning brown, I add in minced onions. After a few seconds, I add in minced tomato and sautee until I believe the tomato is cooked.
Then I put in the sardines from the can without the tomato sauce to sautee further.
After much heating, I pour in the tomato sauce from the sardine can, add 1/3 cups of water and stir to a boil.
Serve hot.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
A good leader is a good follower
The first time I encountered this concept was when I was joining the Cadet Officers Candidate Course in my college ROTC. Among the first lessons taught to us on leadership is the phrase "a good leader is a good follower."
True enough, when we started our on the job training, I was the classic officer - strict in implementing rules and harsh in giving punishments. But I came to learn a few tricks from my interactions with my "subordinates." Unlike in military school, your subordinates in ROTC are such during training periods especially those who are in the same year level as you are. For the rest of the 6-day academic week, they are your equals - students like yourself.
It is then that I came to understand what they feel during training periods when they have, even forced, to give you the respect your rank deserves. After that, I made some changes in how I deal with them that, I believe, made me a more effective leader.
For the three years that I too was a subordinate to the senior officers, I felt what my cadets seemed to have felt. I had the same contempt, anger, and level of insubordination that they may have felt.
It was said that experience is a good teacher. In my case it was, along with that phrase I learned not too long ago.
During my senior year in the ROTC where we are the decision-makers, chief implementors, and the demigods, I applied a different form of leadership. This may have resulted in some contempt but it has been the most effective method I used - I appealed to their sense of reason.
The intelligent students that they are, all I needed to do was tell them what our roles are, what is expected of them, what is expected of us, and what type of relationship we have.
I give regular talks, discussions even, with the cadets. We discuss anything from training to personal concerns to jokes and funny stories of their experiences.
We have all reached an understanding that during lectures whenever they get rowdy and I fell silent with a disgusted smile on my face, those who notice caution their colleagues and they all start to behave.
It is also important that you learn to thank them and give them credit for the success your unit achieves. This forms a bond that will last you a lifetime.
True enough, when we started our on the job training, I was the classic officer - strict in implementing rules and harsh in giving punishments. But I came to learn a few tricks from my interactions with my "subordinates." Unlike in military school, your subordinates in ROTC are such during training periods especially those who are in the same year level as you are. For the rest of the 6-day academic week, they are your equals - students like yourself.
It is then that I came to understand what they feel during training periods when they have, even forced, to give you the respect your rank deserves. After that, I made some changes in how I deal with them that, I believe, made me a more effective leader.
For the three years that I too was a subordinate to the senior officers, I felt what my cadets seemed to have felt. I had the same contempt, anger, and level of insubordination that they may have felt.
It was said that experience is a good teacher. In my case it was, along with that phrase I learned not too long ago.
During my senior year in the ROTC where we are the decision-makers, chief implementors, and the demigods, I applied a different form of leadership. This may have resulted in some contempt but it has been the most effective method I used - I appealed to their sense of reason.
The intelligent students that they are, all I needed to do was tell them what our roles are, what is expected of them, what is expected of us, and what type of relationship we have.
I give regular talks, discussions even, with the cadets. We discuss anything from training to personal concerns to jokes and funny stories of their experiences.
We have all reached an understanding that during lectures whenever they get rowdy and I fell silent with a disgusted smile on my face, those who notice caution their colleagues and they all start to behave.
It is also important that you learn to thank them and give them credit for the success your unit achieves. This forms a bond that will last you a lifetime.
Home cooking - mechado-adobo hybrid
Here is a meal I cooked once.
Ingredients:
1/2 kilo pork cubed
5 cloves garlic minced
1 onion minced
2 tomatoes minced
1/2 kilo potatoes peeled, cubed and immersed in tap water
vinegar
soy sauce
butter
1 pack tomato sauce (approx. 8 ounces)
Sautee minced garlic in butter. When garlic turns light brown, add onions. When garlic darkens add tomatoes. Sautee for 3 minutes or so until you are satisfied the tomatoes are cooked and the garlic is not overcooked.
Add pork and fry. Add 1 cup water. Bring to a boil then add about 2 table spoons of vinegar and 1 1/2 table spoons of soy sauce. Add potatoes.
Stir occasionally until water has almost evaporated. Sautee for 30 seconds and add 2 cups water. Boil for about 1 minute then add tomato sauce.
Simmer for about 2 minutes and you're ready to eat. :)
Ingredients:
1/2 kilo pork cubed
5 cloves garlic minced
1 onion minced
2 tomatoes minced
1/2 kilo potatoes peeled, cubed and immersed in tap water
vinegar
soy sauce
butter
1 pack tomato sauce (approx. 8 ounces)
Sautee minced garlic in butter. When garlic turns light brown, add onions. When garlic darkens add tomatoes. Sautee for 3 minutes or so until you are satisfied the tomatoes are cooked and the garlic is not overcooked.
Add pork and fry. Add 1 cup water. Bring to a boil then add about 2 table spoons of vinegar and 1 1/2 table spoons of soy sauce. Add potatoes.
Stir occasionally until water has almost evaporated. Sautee for 30 seconds and add 2 cups water. Boil for about 1 minute then add tomato sauce.
Simmer for about 2 minutes and you're ready to eat. :)
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Posted on commercial establishments
1. Tailoring
We'll clean for you. We'll press for you. We'll even dye for you.
2. Restaurant
Eat now, pay the waiter.
3. Travel agency
Please, go away!
4. Music store
Guitars for sale. Cheap. No strings attached.
We'll clean for you. We'll press for you. We'll even dye for you.
2. Restaurant
Eat now, pay the waiter.
3. Travel agency
Please, go away!
4. Music store
Guitars for sale. Cheap. No strings attached.
Internet security tips
Here are a few tips I picked up here and there on Internet security.
1. Always make sure that the "padlock" icon is visible on your browser. This padlock can be usually seen at the bottom-right portion of the browser window. This icon can also be found near the address box. The address box is where you usually type-in the name of the website or what is called the URL.
2. Before logging in to your account, always look for a link that says "using public computer" or something similar. Some websites provide this option to provide additional security for the user.
3. For Yahoo! users, the log-in interface allows the user to choose a picture from the user's files. The chosen picture will show on the log-in box signifying that the site is authentic and that it is secure.
4. Do not -- DO NOT -- always click "OK" whenever a window pops-up. Read the message first. If your action results to that pop-up, still take some time to read it thoroughly. Some browsers inquire if you trust the security certificate of the site you are opening especially if that site's security certificate has lapsed.
5. If you do not trust the site, try to see where the link will take you before clicking it. Place your mouse on the link until the arrow turns to a finger pointing at that link. At the bottom left portion of the browser window, you will find there the address where you will be taken.
6. Keep out of porn sites. Specially the unpopular ones. You can install a virus or trojan on your computer by just clicking the link.
7. When opening your email, be careful when opening attachments. I usually shy away from attachments with file extensions other than .jpg, .gif, .tff, 3gpp, other office files (.doc, .xls). Even if the email sender is your close friend, read their message first. If the message contains something that your friend does not usually send, avoid opening the attachments. Always try to avoid the .gfx, .vbs., and .exe files.
1. Always make sure that the "padlock" icon is visible on your browser. This padlock can be usually seen at the bottom-right portion of the browser window. This icon can also be found near the address box. The address box is where you usually type-in the name of the website or what is called the URL.
2. Before logging in to your account, always look for a link that says "using public computer" or something similar. Some websites provide this option to provide additional security for the user.
3. For Yahoo! users, the log-in interface allows the user to choose a picture from the user's files. The chosen picture will show on the log-in box signifying that the site is authentic and that it is secure.
4. Do not -- DO NOT -- always click "OK" whenever a window pops-up. Read the message first. If your action results to that pop-up, still take some time to read it thoroughly. Some browsers inquire if you trust the security certificate of the site you are opening especially if that site's security certificate has lapsed.
5. If you do not trust the site, try to see where the link will take you before clicking it. Place your mouse on the link until the arrow turns to a finger pointing at that link. At the bottom left portion of the browser window, you will find there the address where you will be taken.
6. Keep out of porn sites. Specially the unpopular ones. You can install a virus or trojan on your computer by just clicking the link.
7. When opening your email, be careful when opening attachments. I usually shy away from attachments with file extensions other than .jpg, .gif, .tff, 3gpp, other office files (.doc, .xls). Even if the email sender is your close friend, read their message first. If the message contains something that your friend does not usually send, avoid opening the attachments. Always try to avoid the .gfx, .vbs., and .exe files.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
One man's misery is another man's joy
Just like one man's garbage is another man's treasure, this topic is about the inconvenience brought about by selfishness of other people.
When you steal something from someone, you put that person in a state of inconvenience or even misery. You sell what you stole thus gaining a certain level of comfort from that. But this also brings emotional and financial discomfort to the victim.
People strive hard to earn a living. Although the same thing is applicable to thieves, the difference is that thieves trouble other people to earn their living.
"Nothing personal, just business," is a catch phrase commonly used in movies when villains, or some times heroes, confront their enemies. This reality is experience everywhere especially by those hounded by credit collection agents like myself.
Collection agents have a job to convince debtors to pay their dues with which they had committed to take responsibility for. The debtors' time, on the other hand, is wasted by the long calls as they either evade or haggle with the agents on the terms of payment or amount to be paid. Some agents go to the extent of insulting the debtors and in a similar manner, debtors also gravitate to insulting the agents. Even though both have responsibilities they committed to take, either of both tend to become confrontational with the other to the point that if ever they be talking face-to-face, someone would probably throw the first punch.
In both legal and illegal activities, there is always a winner and a loser and it is always rare to find oneself in a win-win situation.
When you steal something from someone, you put that person in a state of inconvenience or even misery. You sell what you stole thus gaining a certain level of comfort from that. But this also brings emotional and financial discomfort to the victim.
People strive hard to earn a living. Although the same thing is applicable to thieves, the difference is that thieves trouble other people to earn their living.
"Nothing personal, just business," is a catch phrase commonly used in movies when villains, or some times heroes, confront their enemies. This reality is experience everywhere especially by those hounded by credit collection agents like myself.
Collection agents have a job to convince debtors to pay their dues with which they had committed to take responsibility for. The debtors' time, on the other hand, is wasted by the long calls as they either evade or haggle with the agents on the terms of payment or amount to be paid. Some agents go to the extent of insulting the debtors and in a similar manner, debtors also gravitate to insulting the agents. Even though both have responsibilities they committed to take, either of both tend to become confrontational with the other to the point that if ever they be talking face-to-face, someone would probably throw the first punch.
In both legal and illegal activities, there is always a winner and a loser and it is always rare to find oneself in a win-win situation.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
In aid of legislation
A most common excuse for having senate- or congress-level investigations to high profile issues is doing it "in aid of legislation."
In my limited political knowledge based on my decades old high school history lessons and college political science classes, I assume that the senate and the congress are elected to represent the interests of their constituents.
The Senate of the pre-clone war Republic in the Star Wars franchise shows a chamber of representatives from various planetary systems, special interest federations, and alliances. This gave me an idea that the senators are there to ensure that the rule of law is respected and adhered to by all members. They are also there to defend the actions of the entities they represent and raise and settle any disputes between bodies represented in that senate.
According to my mental notes, both the senate and the congress are tasked to craft laws that will strengthen declarations embodied in the constitution. Being the representatives of the people who voted for them, they have the obligation to look into the effect of the laws being crafted and make certain that it does not in any way negatively affect the rights of their voters.
For three years the budget has been reenacted because of senate or congressional "investigations in aid of legislation." For three years the people made do with what the government allocated for basic services. For three years the problem of adequacy of resources was set aside.
I was not able to do much research but what legislations were aided by those investigations? Was the government able to get back the money spent to keep the investigators comfortable during the deliberations? Did the people gain anything from those investigations?
In my limited political knowledge based on my decades old high school history lessons and college political science classes, I assume that the senate and the congress are elected to represent the interests of their constituents.
The Senate of the pre-clone war Republic in the Star Wars franchise shows a chamber of representatives from various planetary systems, special interest federations, and alliances. This gave me an idea that the senators are there to ensure that the rule of law is respected and adhered to by all members. They are also there to defend the actions of the entities they represent and raise and settle any disputes between bodies represented in that senate.
According to my mental notes, both the senate and the congress are tasked to craft laws that will strengthen declarations embodied in the constitution. Being the representatives of the people who voted for them, they have the obligation to look into the effect of the laws being crafted and make certain that it does not in any way negatively affect the rights of their voters.
For three years the budget has been reenacted because of senate or congressional "investigations in aid of legislation." For three years the people made do with what the government allocated for basic services. For three years the problem of adequacy of resources was set aside.
I was not able to do much research but what legislations were aided by those investigations? Was the government able to get back the money spent to keep the investigators comfortable during the deliberations? Did the people gain anything from those investigations?
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Sensitive Catering
Here are a few tips I learned on arranging for a catering service.
1. Know your guests. It is important to know their eating preferences. You do not want to offend them by having food prepared that does not match their preferences.
2. Know basic cultural food groups. Find out what types of foods your guests prefer. If they are conscious about their food intake, take note of the ingredients used to prepare the food.
3. Balance the menu. This is especially helpful if you have vegetarians, health conscious persons, persons of varying religions, and buffet fans all in one room.
4. Check and double check the menu. Always be sure that the caterer, cook, or host knows what types of food and preparations should be made.
5. Mark them properly. Aside from the fancy names of the food served, include some details like main ingredients so guests who are not clinically allowed to eat fatty food doesn't.
This is it for now. Once I learn more, I will let you know.
1. Know your guests. It is important to know their eating preferences. You do not want to offend them by having food prepared that does not match their preferences.
2. Know basic cultural food groups. Find out what types of foods your guests prefer. If they are conscious about their food intake, take note of the ingredients used to prepare the food.
3. Balance the menu. This is especially helpful if you have vegetarians, health conscious persons, persons of varying religions, and buffet fans all in one room.
4. Check and double check the menu. Always be sure that the caterer, cook, or host knows what types of food and preparations should be made.
5. Mark them properly. Aside from the fancy names of the food served, include some details like main ingredients so guests who are not clinically allowed to eat fatty food doesn't.
This is it for now. Once I learn more, I will let you know.
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