One Nation, Overseas. Wired Magazine on the Philippines as one of the world’s leading labor exporters. Hearing the words “flexible, industrious, and frequently skilled” applied to Filipinos is certainly encouraging. So on the up side, the Philippines gains international prestige as “temp agency to the world.” On the down side, the main reason for this national brain drain is skilled workers fleeing the deplorable socio-economic conditions back home. :P Hay Mabu.
US and Abu Sayaff Clash
Looks like battle is kind of joined. I wonder if this is enough pretext for more active US military participation to rescue the hostages and get rid of those bandits?
Nasty Spammers
Nasty spammers. That’s almost like telemarketers threatening your life when you tell them you’re not interested. Almost, but not quite.
Laptop Robot
“Laptop Robot, go fetch the newspaper, turn up the A/C, and cook some broccoli.”
“Yes, Master, but I will need to use human bodies plugged into a neural matrix as energy cells for my continued survival and evolution.”
“Yeah whatever.”
Broccoli Stops Ulcers
Let’s hear it for my favorite vegetable.
“A compound found in broccoli and broccoli sprouts appears to be more effective than modern antibiotics against the bacteria that cause peptic ulcers. Moreover, tests in mice suggest the compound offers formidable protection against stomach cancer — the second most common form of cancer worldwide.”
Go Broccoli!
For a cloudy morning…
A foggy gray dawn gave way to a hot and bright Trinity Sunday, as it is wont to do when one decides to bring his umbrella and jacket rather than his sunglasses.
Fighting to live as the Towers died: chronicles of those victims on the floors above the points of impact in both towers, who survived the crash, but not the collapse.
No Burbling
I got a great seat on the steps of the Capitol facing the Mall, and I was able to watch about half of the public dress rehearsal for the Memorial Day special, which included Tony Danza, Steve Buscemi, and Charlotte Church. She sang “The Prayer,” in tribute to the heroes and victims of 9/11. Her soprano is even richer than I remember from her CD, though her speaking voice remains burbly. The setting sun and the amber-lit National Mall made for a wondrous backdrop behind the stage. Washington really is a beautiful city.
She Who Burbles
Charlotte Church is singing here in Washington, for the Memorial Day concert on the Capitol Lawn. There’s a live open rehearsal scheduled for 7pm tonight, at the same place. I should walk down there and check it out. According to my girlfriend, between songs and through applause, Ms. Church emits a precociously high-pitched “ThankYOU!” which can only be described as a “burble.” I must confirm whether that is truly what it sounds like.
Slingshot
MeFi on Supernova
MeFi feedback on the HR8210 supernova story has some interesting info, playing down the media-induced sensationalism surrounding the discovery.