Rough Groove

Philstar’s Jose Sison’s article on RH entitled Deceptions is deceiving

Jose Sison, columnist of the Philippine Star [A LAW EACH DAY (Keeps Trouble Away)] is deceiving readers. I got this impression based on his (updated) 12 March 2010 article entitled Deceptions.

His 10th paragraph:

The bigger and more dangerous deception is the condoms’ alleged effectiveness in preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS as publicly claimed by Cabral of DOH. On the contrary the use of condoms will even help spread the disease because the microscopic holes in the latex materials of condoms are 50 to 70 microns in diameter while the HIV-1 or AIDS virus is only 0.1 micron in diameter. Hence the microscopic holes of condoms are 500 to 700 times bigger than the HIV-AIDS virus which means that they can easily pass through and infect the sex partner. This is the finding contained in the report of Dr. C. Michael Roland, head of the Polymer Properties/ Chemistry Section of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington D.C. Indeed here in the Philippines the HIV AIDS incidents have increased only since the use of condoms has been aggressively been promoted in media by some media celebrities.

If you’ll google about this one, the above is oft repeated, often cited information. However,

the bigger and more dangerous deception is that Mr. Sison isn’t telling us that this kind of data was published in Rubber World, June 1993.

That’s almost 17 years old!!!

This is the most important piece of information that the author is hiding from us. The currency of such article is of utmost importance. I think, he just copied this one from various internet sources but didn’t really bother to check the source information.

Unless, he’s still using this kind of outdated condoms, he might be forgiven.

Check Dr. Michael Roland’s talk as published in Rubber World, June 1993 issue.

See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil: Erap is running

Okay guys, convicted former President, Erap Estrada is running again for the Presidency. Lets not delude ourselves again and suffer its consequences. Enough of a corrupt and convicted president. Let’s not see no evil, speak no evil or hear no evil about this one.

From the inquirer.net website.

Note: this photo was copied from a Facebook account and is unattributed. Copyright is owned by the news agency/photographer which owns it.

Sen. Lacson exploded his bomb. Many more to come!

Just this afternoon, Senator Panfilo Lacson gave his priviledge speech at the Senate and it is about the shady deals and questionable character of convicted plunderer, former President Erap Estrada. So what’s new? Other than the old jueteng issue, Sen. Lacson mentioned Erap’s pressuring the Yuchengco patriarch, and employing tactics, for him to sell his shares in PTIC. He also mentioned about the so called Oplan Delta that was allegedly done to liquidate publicist Bubby Dacer and his driver that might implicate Erap.

As I see it, this is a good time to let people know what kind of person Erap is considering that he’s planning to run again for President. And that is direct from the mouth of Sen. Lacson who has knowledge of the ins and outs of the Erap presidency. Now, I just hope that this is not another speech that will go down as biting soundbites but a start that will lead to concrete justice. I also hope that this will not be a smokescreen for the senator who is imbroiled in the Dacer – Corbito slays.

Sayang lang, may part two pa next week. Di na lang tinapos. Tomorrow, Erap’s son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada will give his own priviledge speech.

A New Birth of Freedom

I was glued to the TV as I watched the live coverage on CNN of President Barack Obama’s inauguration a few hours ago. Perhaps, this is the most that I have been engaged in US politics. And this is no exception as millions of people from around the world beyond the USA’s borders are also doing the same, waiting with bated breath and looking forward to this momentuous event in world history.

Barack Obama is not just the 44th president of the United States. His youth and, especially, his being of African-American descent represents a new order. It seems, the strong multiethnic and cultural plurality that shapes the United States of today found it’s fullest expression in his election. With him comes hope that after the debacles that has plagued the administration of George W Bush, everying will be straightened and problems solved. That the tarnished image of the US in the world stage will finally be cleansed and the worst economic recession ever to occur since the Depression will finally come to an end. But that is a very tall order and almost an impossible task to address overnight.

Staring the newly minted president in the eye are a host of domestic and international issues. Foremost is the economic downturn that has led to the biggest job losses and the lowest confidence in the economy. In the international front, you have the pestering war on terror both in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as the Israel – Hamas conflict. Then there’s North Korea and Iran.

The first 100 days of the president is crucial as key reforms and policies must be shaped. This early, Obama is already keeping expectations in check. Will his massive infrastructure development to stimulate the economy with an over $800 billion price tag pass the scrutiny of Congress especially with the Republicans still smarting from their loss? Will the soon to be specially appointed envoy to the Middle East conflict produce results considering that Israel is a close ally? After the eupohoria of the inauguration has died down, President Barack Obama needs to work doubly hard and deliver as the people of the United States of America and the world look and wait.

Trillanes et al, misinformed?

At the rate Trillanes et al is going, I really don’t think that his group, including his supporters know the real sentiments of the people. If they knew, will they have pushed through with their supposed spontaneous walkout and take over of Manila Pen wherein no one from the public came? How come, this website sprouted immediately yesterday? What about protesters bearing stickers of Trillanes gathered at the Ninoy Aquino statue at the intersection of Paseo de Roxas and Ayala Ave. yesterday afternoon while inquirer.net reported that some Tondo denizens were paid to rally?

It seems that Trillanes, his group and his supporters including the Black and White Movement, Guingona and some others are really misinformed about the true sentiments of the people. That’s why they continue to mouth long discredited and failed ways of changing a government and continue with their old framework even if it failed the first time.