I will be at Times Square despite security threat

 

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THERE are many reasons to stay away from the Big Apple’s Times Square, the epicenter of all New Year’s Eve celebrations worldwide, starting December 31.

As early as December 27, we have been warned there were concerns about international and domestic terrorism and a rise in hate crimes, and law enforcement follows up on all threats as about one million people are expected to ring in New York City for the New Year’s Eve countdown at Times Square.

But I am one of those who are unfazed and will definitely be there to witness anew the historic New Year’s Eve, which is for sure a bucket list item for many people visiting from around the world.

I believe once a journalist will always be a journalist wherever I go and in whatever political and social climate. The events (we’re hoping and praying they’re all good and positive) that will transpire will hopefully be part of the priceless episodes in history that can never be witnessed once again.

Braving the cold, the crowds and being squished in one space for hours will be definitely worth it despite the security threat brought by an overseas war between Israel and Hamas if we don’t want to miss witnessing history unfold before our eyes.

James Smith, assistant director in charge of New York’s FBI Field Office, said the FBI, which is working with dozens of local, state and other federal law enforcement agencies, is ready to pounce on potential threats.

But it’s just as important that revelers pay attention to their surroundings and follow the adage, “If you see something, say something.”

As what we, boxing referees, normally warn the protagonists before they tear each other apart: “Protect yourself at all times.”

 

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I GOT an email from New York Governor Kathy Hochul, which she also sent to other New Yorkers:

Alex, I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season and are able to gather with your family and loved ones as we reflect on the past year together.

In an ordinary year, my holiday message to you would be a simple expression of peace and goodwill. But this year is different.

We have seen a spike in antisemitism and Islamophobia since Hamas’ attacks on Israel on October 7th, adding to the already troubling rising tide of hate, from anti-Asian hate to homophobia.

Today, as millions of families gather to celebrate Christmas, I’m reminded of Psalm 34 that tells us to “turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” 

I believe New York can be the model for peace to the rest of the world and do more than simply stand up against hate. Instead of yearning for peace, let’s actively live it. Instead of hoping for goodwill, let’s cultivate it. Instead of just giving best wishes, let’s give people the best versions of ourselves.

This holiday season, I’m calling on all New Yorkers to recommit themselves to living the values that define us —

We must transcend wishes and platitudes.

We stand for hope, not hate. 

We build bridges, not barriers.

We reject racism and denounce bigotry.

We must create a New York where everyone can thrive free from fear, free from persecution, and free from discrimination. 

From my family to yours, I want to wish you a holiday season filled with the genuine joy and peace that every New Yorker deserves.

Ever upward, Gov. Kathy Hochul

 

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SAVING OUR PLANET. Let’s look for the arrows by choosing recycled when it comes to fruit and vegetable packaging. Many supermarkets are catching on now–they’re starting to realize that the consumer wishes to reduce their stacks of garbage and are offering recycled and recyclable packaging. Let’s look for the universally recognized recycle symbol.

SEXUAL-HEALTH CHECKLIST. 1. Lift weight 3x a week. Not only will we gain muscle, but sexual satisfaction will also follow as well. 2. Open our mind. Increasingly, women are doing just that in their sex practices. Don’t let her leave us behind. 3. Presence, transcendence, and authenticity trump lust in the good-sex game. 4. Expand our social networks. 5. Emotional connection-even with casual partners-means better sex.

YES, I DRINK DR. PEPPER. During his downtime at a Waco, TX drugstore, pharmacist Charles Alderton liked to fiddle with recipes for syrup-sweetened sodas. His most crowd-pleasing concoction–a nose-tickling blend of 23 fruity flavors that Alderton dubbed Dr. Pepper–caught on fast and became one of the first fizzy fountain drinks. The popular pop is an American original. I drink it if I can’t find any Pepsi or Coke.

SAVING THE PLANET. Glassy eyed. Glass is excellent for recycling because there are many different grades to work through before it reaches the point where it can no longer be recycled. Let’s make sure to separate different colored glass and don’t include metal bottle tops or corks that can contaminate the process.

SAVING OUR PLANET. Let’s can the rubbish. Because metal doesn’t break down easily and can be used to make a wide range of different items, metal food and drink cans are great for recycling.

RABIES VACCINE. For centuries, few diseases were as feared–or as fatal–as rabies. A bite from an infected animal equaled death, and victims endured paralysis, hyperactivity, and coma prior to dying. So when the young Joseph Meister appeared at the Paris lab of Louis Pasteur after being mauled by a rabid dog, the 9-yr-old had one shot at survival: the microbiologist’s experimental rabies vaccine.

SAVING OUR PLANET. Let’s can the can. Recycling aluminum cans is a closed-loop system. Every can is infinitely recyclable, and recyclers paid nearly $1 billion a year for aluminum beverage cans. The energy saved by recycling just one can is enough to run a TV set for three hours! If we have to use them, let’s be sure to recycle.

DISPOSE OF CIGARETTE BUTTS: They are made of plastic; take 15-20 years to decompose; and release toxins into the environment. Over 50,000 cigarette butts and 160,000 pounds of trash are picked up from local beaches each year.

DATE QUESTIONS. Conventional wisdom says that a woman should ask a date question to draw him out instead of talking about herself. But science now says screw that. A recent study shows that guys dig chicks who use the word “I” often. Nobody would want to monopolize conversations, but telling personal stories and referring to yourself can go a long way, according to Cosmopolitan.

BUSY AT WORK. People who manage to stay busy at work are happier during time off. Some people bust their butts at the office on Friday so they can have a better weekend.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo. —Ed)

 

 

A positive 2024

“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals.”

—Melody Beattie

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

SOME of our most beloved relatives, friends, and colleagues left us in 2023. In my case, my mother, Paz, passed away peacefully (God bless her soul) while I was away; many of my personal friends and former media colleagues and allies also went home to the Kingdom of God (God bless their souls, as well).

We don’t want to lose more in 2024–although everything in life in as far as man’s mortality is concerned, is beyond our control.

As much as possible, we only want and wish for the good tidings, peace of mind, success in our chosen profession, family, business, mission in life, and, most of all, health, the ultimate wealth.

The Year Of The Wood Dragon is bringing fortune and abundance, according to the Dragon Chinese Horoscope 2024. It is reportedly “a fortunate and auspicious time to start a new relationship or family.”

The Year Of the Wood Dragon will reportedly bring lots of positivity and support for the development of love and family.

Like in the previous years, let’s be hopeful and positive that this will take place and prevail over pessimism, defeatism, and whatever lousy, unproductive, toxic, and negative isms.

Here’s hoping for the positive 2024. So help us God.

 

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DON’T DELAY. Some of our important choices have a timeline. If we delay a decision (to get married, to work abroad, to transfer residence, to change career, etc) the opportunity is gone forever. Sometimes our doubts keep us from making a choice thus an opportunity may be missed. Let’s think, decide and move!

FORGIVENESS. Christmas is a season of love and forgiveness. So even if we are not aware of it, holding a grudge against someone who has done wrong cripples us. Our energy is consumed by hatred and ill-feelings rather than being spent on worthwhile endeavors. Better to forgive but don’t forget.

CHAOS, HOSTILITY. Some of the main reasons why our relationship with our neighbors–rich or poor– has always been chaotic and hostile are:  A. Envy (both parties) B. They know our dark secrets (vice versa) C.  Jealousy (both parties) D. Territorial dispute. Some people are always uncomfortable when they see their friends talking to their neighbors.

SAVING OUR PLANET. In the can, let’s always recycle food and drink cans. Recycling aluminum requires only 5 percent of the energy it takes to process the original from the earth’s crust. One-third of aluminum is currently reused, but it should be more.

WHEN SOMEBODY ATTACKS US AND WE CAN’T DEFEND OURSELVES, we shouldn’t scream. It tightens our throat and tires us out. Instead, we must yell when in danger. A yell comes from the diaphragm, experts say, creating a louder sound with less effort.

D IS FOR DIET. Vitamin D supplements may be the newest weight-loss pills. When University of Minnesota researchers measured blood levels of the sunshine vitamin in 38 overweight people, they found that when the subject went on a low-calorie diet, those with higher levels of vitamin D lost more weight than those with lower levels.

ANTHROPOMIMETIC MACHINES. No matter how closely a robot resembles a human on the outside, if we crack it open, the jumble of wires is unlikely to bear much resemblance to our insides. A group of European researchers aims to bridge that gap–its robot prototype is anthropomimetic, maning it mimics the human form.

 

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WHAT SCARES THE AIR FORCE. A pair of binoculars and a cellular phone can threaten modern warplanes. In 1999, Serbian airplane spotters watched U.S. aircraft leave an airbase in Italy. The spies alerted anti air-missile battery crews in Serbia to aim their long-wavelength radar overhead, enabling the crews to destroy a stealth F-117A nighthawk.

LISTENING TO LEAVES. Western Washington University geophysicists are making localized air-pollution maps by tracking the magnetism of three leaves. Car and some industrial pollution contain particles of magnetic iron oxide that stick to the leaves, making them magnetic.

WIRELESS EYES. A team of MIT researchers has entered the race to develop an implant that can restore partial vision to the blind. Unlike other implants under development, MIT’s system does not place electrodes directly on the retina, which can damage the eye during implantation. Instead, the device stimulates nerves near the eyeball that carry visual information to the brain.

THE BEGINNING. Conventional radar ranges are increasing, and that’s just the start of the problem. Over-the-horizon radar can detect airplanes by bouncing signals off the ionosphere, 56 miles above Earth, while passive radar can provide enemies with rough tracks of an airplane’s location, direction and altitude.

WARNING: There is an international boom industry in anti-aircraft missiles and warplanes that are designed to defeat U.S. stealth technology. (Source: Popular Mechanics.)

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

I surrender to you, flu shot

 

“Misinformation or distrust of vaccines can be like a contagion that can spread as fast as measles.”

—Theresa Tam

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

AT past 11 o’clock in the morning on December 26, I finally yielded to the much-heralded flu shot (Influenza Virus Vaccine)—after two cancellations in November and in the first week of December and a repeated hedging and temporizing.

The turok or tuslok (pricking) ceremony, which lasted for six seconds, occurred at the Walgreens in Elmhurst, Queens.

Albert, the pharmacist/nurse, injected Fluarix PF 2023-24 0.5ML into my left muscle.

There will be no refills, according to my RX#2462176-01616.

My receipt showed I was supposed to pay a “retail price” of $58.99 (P3,250) but my insurance, EmblemHealth, “saved you.”

A 2021 study from researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that adults who got vaccinated were 26 percent less likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit and 31 percent less likely to die from the flu compared to those who were unvaccinated. There seems to be protection from illness even when vaccines aren’t perfectly matched to the strain of flu virus circulating (which happens because the shot is formulated months in advance).  

Here are four unexpected ways a flu vaccine can benefit the body and the brain, according to AARP’s Beth Howard.

1. A boost for the brain? Previous research has suggested that flu vaccines may protect the brain from dementia, and an August 2022 study from the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston makes the case even stronger.

This study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, compared more than 47,000 people age 65 and older who were vaccinated against flu to a similar group of nearly 80,000 people who were not vaccinated. The findings: Those who got a flu shot were 40 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease over a four-year period.

 

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“We weren’t actually expecting it to be that high,” says study coauthor Avram S. Bukhbinder, M.D., now a neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Bukhbinder has several theories for the vaccination’s potential effects on the brain. Perhaps by preventing the flu, the shot quells inflammation that can lead to harmful brain changes.

His most intriguing hypothesis is that vaccines alter the brain’s overall defenses.

2. The shot is linked to a stronger heart. A history of heart disease or a stroke can make flu more likely and more dangerous. In addition, flu can be a trigger for heart attacks and strokes in people at high risk for them.

According to a 2018 Canadian study, people who got the flu were six times more likely to have a heart attack within a week of getting the diagnosis. And Columbia University researchers saw a significant jump in strokes in the month after flu cases, according to July 2022 research published in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke.

A flu shot can also spare you the potential heart harms. A 2022 study led by the University of Toronto that incorporated six previous studies covering more than 9,000 patients showed that people who received a flu vaccine had a 34 percent lower risk of a major cardiovascular event in the 12 months following vaccination. Higher-risk vaccinated individuals with acute coronary syndrome—a group of conditions that abruptly stop blood flow to the heart—had a 45 percent risk reduction of major cardiovascular event, and a 56 percent reduced risk of dying from heart disease in the year after they got the shot, according to the findings, which appear in JAMA Network Open.

3. It could curb complications from other chronic conditions. Like heart disease, some chronic health conditions make you more prone to flu and its harmful effects. For people with diabetes or chronic lung diseases, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an annual flu shot is one of the best ways to avoid aggravating these underlying health problems.

 

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Evidence comes from researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis who followed people age 65 and older in a large health plan who had respiratory diseases over three flu seasons. Their findings, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, show that patients who got vaccinated were 52 percent less likely to be hospitalized for pneumonia or flu and 70 percent less likely to die from these diseases during that period.

Similarly, a UK study showed that when people with diabetes got the jab, it reduced their chances of being hospitalized by almost 80 percent during the two flu seasons that were studied.

4. It may make for a longer life. The flu shot might even increase your life span. The evidence: In a recent study out of Toronto, researchers looked at more than 54,000 people age 65 and older who had been tested for the flu between 2010 and 2016. They found that those who received the flu shot were less likely to die from any cause over the multiyear period.

“In large databases from Ontario, we found that influenza vaccines may reduce the chances of older adults dying by as much as 34 percent,” says study author Jeff Kwong, M.D., associate director of the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases at the University of Toronto.

Flu shots likely protect older adults from dying simply by preventing the infection in the first place and by preventing those who do get infected from getting very sick from the virus, Kwong says.

 

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SAVING OUR PLANET. Let’s get behind glass by not throwing away glass jars–let’s use them TO STORE FOOD in our home and to keep things airtight. Let’s recycle both the glass jars and the metal lids when we can no longer use them.

A BETTER BEDTIME. Let’s resolve to help our kid clock more quality snooze time. It could benefit our child’s mood in a big way: In a recent Columbia University Medical Center study, teenagers whose parents let them stay up until midnight or later were 24 percent more likely to be depressed and 20 percent more likely to have suicidal thoughts than kids who hit the sack at 10 P.M. or earlier.TIP-OFF TO A THREAT. If a stranger stops us on the street, let’s watch his feet: Normal–his torso points toward us, but his feet angle the way he’d been walking. Aggressive–he faces us dead-on, with one foot behind the other–a fighter’s stance. Source: “What everybody is saying” author Joe Navarro.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

We can’t love Marlon Tapales only if he wins

 

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”

—Christopher Reeve

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IT’S not fair for some Filipino commentators and fans to belittle Marlon Tapales’ (37-4, 19 KOs), 121.5, performance and denounced him for losing by 10^th round knockout a unification title fight against Naoya “The Monster” Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs), 121.75, in Tokyo, Japan December 26.

Most Filipinos, of course, cheered for the sensational 31-year-old pugilist from Tubod, Lanao del Norte, who did his best in a gallant attempt to make history, but his best wasn’t enough.

The Monster was too strong, too fast, and too slippery for the dethroned two-division Filipino world champion, and no amount of denunciation and brickbats from unsatisfied and cruel Filipino commentators and fans could change these facts.

We can’t support, love, and appreciate Tapales’ efforts to bring honor to the Philippines only if he wins.

Losing in sports is not a mortal sin; it isn’t a badge of shame. It’s always a titanic honor to fight for your country and go down heroically with both your pride and main faculties intact.

Tapales deserves our accolades, too, and high fives even if he failed to bring home the bacon, for he was up against a man called “The Monster” who is not an ordinary world champion in this generation.

ESPN’s Mike Coppinger described Naoya as “isn’t simply the best boxer in the world — he’s an all-time great still adding chapters to his legendary career” in an article dated July 25, 2023.

This was after “The Monster” continued his climb up the mythical all-time list with yet another see-it-to-believe-it performance, a pulverizing eighth-round TKO of Stephen Fulton in Tokyo to capture the WBC and WBO junior featherweight titles.

 

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In that world title setto, the Japanese star didn’t just deliver a beatdown with his otherworldly speed and power; he also outboxed Fulton in dominant fashion by clearly winning every round until the stoppage.

Against Tapales, it was in round four when Inoue started to show who’s the boss when he floored the Filipino buzzsaw with a solid combination of a left-right followed by a vicious left hook.

Our friend and Japanese contact, Joe Koizumi, who covered the fight at ringside, said they thought it would be a matter of time for the Monster to finish the durable Mindanao fighter soon.

But Tapales survived and displayed his gameness and durability to make it a longer fight than expected, Koizumi reported.

The tenth, however, witnessed Naoya turn loose and connect a direct strong right without a left lead, which had Tapales reeling backward and down with the ropes behind him. The Filipino southpaw was unable to beat the count.

“I appreciate Tapales having accepted this ultimate unification bout. He was courageous and durable. But he finally collapsed with his accumulation of punishment. I’ll fight next in May,” Naoya said after the fight.

Koizumi said it fully entertained the packed-house crowd at Ariake Arena, who looked very much satisfied with Inoue’s complete coronation in just five months since his last victory over the then WBC, WBO titlist Stephen Fulton.

 

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CompuBox Punch Stats saw 30-year-old Naoya Inoue build up a 24-5 power punches landed advantage over the first three rounds.

Tapales came alive in the fourth round, where he threw 53 punches, his fight high. Unfortunately for him, Inoue knocked him down at the end of the round.

Despite the knockdown, Tapales’ resurgence continued. His timely counterpunching limited Inoue to single digits in landed punches in rounds seven and eight after Inoue had strung together five consecutive rounds of double-digit lands.

Tapales’ success created more openings for Inoue, who landed 23 percent of his jabs and 43 percent of his power punches, compared to 10 percent and 20 percent for Tapales.

Thirty three percent of Inoue’s landed power punches were body punches. The end for Tapales came at 1:02 of the tenth round, when Inoue knocked him down and out.

The Monster impressively collected the four championship belts as he, WBC, WBO titleholder, finally caught up with WBA, IBF ruler Tapales and dropped him with a devastating right for the count at 1:02 of the tenth of the scheduled 12 rounds.

 

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FOR LADIES: HOW TO TURN DOWN YOUR GUY WHEN YOU ARE TIRED. If he’s in the mood but you’re not, let him know he still makes you hot with a sexy kiss and a straightforward “I’m so exhausted, I may conk out on top of you. Let’s do it tomorrow.” (Source: Dr. Yvonne Thomas.)

CRUNCH TIME. Holiday shopping may flatten our wallet, but it could also trim our belly. As we comb the racks, let’s stand tall and squeeze our stomach muscles for five seconds (pretend we’re bracing ourselves to lift a heavy box). We’ve just done the equivalent of one sit-up, says physiologist Pete McCall, of the American Council on Exercise.

OUR ABILITY TO BUILD MUSCLES. Thirty grams of protein are needed to maximize our body’s ability to build muscles. University of Texas Medical Branch scientists found that eating 30 grams of protein at one meal helps muscle growth as much as taking in 90 grams does. Let’s try smaller meals (3 to 4 hours apart) for a more efficient approach to repairing our muscles.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA. A man shot his ex-wife to death while the victim was on her way walking to the graveyard of their 15-year-old daughter who had committed suicide. The man blamed the ex-wife for the daughter’s death. The daughter had left a suicide note that she was pregnant, and her mother would never forgive her for what she did.

STRENGTH IN A BOTTLE? A stomach enzyme could make as stronger. Protease, a digestive enzyme that helps our body break down proteins, appears to lessen muscle inflammation that occurs after resistance training, says Baylor University researchers.

BRAIN FOOD. We could cut the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by a whopping 42 percent Columbia University researchers found when they analyzed the diets of 2,136 adults over 65 that meal plans with highest intake of lefty greens, tomatoes, and cruciferous veggies like broccoli and cauliflower plus fish, nuts, and vinaigrette-type salad dressing, with only small amounts of full-fat dairy products, cut their odds of Alzheimer’s.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

I’m not affected by Apple Watch fiasco

 

“People who are really serious about software should make their own hardware.”

—Alan Kay

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

FRANKLY speaking, we don’t give a damn.

This was what came into my mind as I randomly checked several products in the popular Apple store at Macy’s Queen’s Boulevard branch during a quick visit December 23 evening.

I’m referring to Apple’s unprecedented decision to remove a hugely popular versions of its bestselling smartwatch from store shelves to get ahead of what could be one of the most momentous patent disputes in quite some time.

Unlike many Americans head-over-heels for Apple Watches and who considered the fiasco as some sort of a national tragedy, I wasn’t affected. I have no reason to sob in the first place.

I have long given up using the expensive Apple Watch ever since I discovered other non-Apple brands with cheaper prices also carried the same features such as Apps, GPS, fitness tracking, mobile wallet, heart rate detection, gesture control, notifications, and display technology.

In fact, for a price of one Apple Watch Series 9 GPS, I was able to get online three non-Apple brands with almost identical features.  

The Apple Watch furor actually stemmed from the recent ruling by the International Trade Commission (ITC) that found Apple in violation of medical company Masimo’s pulse oximeter patent.

That technology uses light to read blood-oxygen levels. Apple introduced a pulse oximeter feature utilizing that method in 2020 in its Apple Watch Series 6 lineup.

 

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According to Rob Beschizza of Boingboing, Apple has already stopped selling the Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 online and was taking them off store shelves before Christmas Day.

The company is warehousing the gadgets because another company, Masimo, convinced the U.S. International Trade Commission to block imports on the grounds that it infringes patents Masimo holds on measuring blood oxygen, a feature of the high-end devices, revealed Beschizza.

The companies are doing legal battle in several different venues, with the ITC ruling following a mistrial in federal court after Masimo failed to convince a jury of its claims.

Apple has separately sued Masimo for patent infringement. The Verge’s Emma Roth explains a complex web of litigation. On the most obvious question, Beschizza said Masimo is not a non-practicing entity (i.e. it’s not a patent troll) and has various similar medical products on offer.

This particular story started about 10 years ago when Apple reached out to Masimo about a potential partnership around blood oxygen features on its wearables.

Soon after, Apple reportedly poached several Masimo engineers and its chief medical officer. And then in fall 2020, Apple released the Apple Watch Series 6–its first Apple Watch to feature an SpO2 sensor to measure blood oxygen saturation levels.

Because the patent dispute relates to the SpO2 sensor specifically, Apple can continue to sell its more affordable Apple Watch SE, which does not come equipped with the sensor.

The feature debuted on the Apple Watch Series 6 released in 2020 and has appeared in every flagship Apple smartwatch since. Apple has also pulled refurbished versions of two prior watches with SpO2 sensors, the Series 7 and Series 8, from its online store.

Two special editions of the Series 9, the Apple Watch Nike and Apple Watch Hermes, have also been pulled.

 

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HUCKLEBERRY FINN. Mark Twain was already a literary legend when his Adventures of Huckleberry Finn debuted in America to a tepid commercial and critical response. But the classic coming-of-age tale, chronicling the antebellum adventures of tweenager Huck and the runaway slave Jim, eventually brought Twain acclaim for his explorations of racism.

SAVING OUR PLANET: Let’s recycle appliances. If we’re not selling them on, let’s make sure we recycle our household appliances rather than throwing them away. Second-hand shops will often take them for parts, or we may ask our gov’t offices for advice on recycling program. Big terms are difficult and costly to dispose of and recycling centers will take them off our hands for free.

SEXUAL STIMULUS PACKAGE (“Pleasure Recession”). A new survey by Trojan reveals that 71 percent of Americans want sex that’s more satisfying, and 53 percent of Americans describe their sex lives as depressing, lukewarm, and predictable.

ELECTRIC TRANSFORMER. Much of America was still in the dark in the late 1800s. Yes, Thomas Edison had perfected his lightbulb, and power plants were being built, but there was a link missing between the two–a way to convert the higher voltages into lower ones.

SAVING OUR PLANET: Let’s bag the bags. Plastic bags start as petrochemicals, which are transformed into polymers and are, in turn, heated, shaped, cooled, flattened, sealed, punched, and printed on, all of which require energy. But still only .6 percent of plastic bags are recycled, with the USA alone throwing away 100 billion bags a year. Make a difference by recycling.

SAVING OUR PLANET: Let’s be a paper doll by always recycling paper. Each time paper is recycled, the individual cellulose fibers become shorter. On average, a fiber can be recycled seven times before it is too short to combine with other fibers.

(The author, who is ow based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

‘Marriage is still for man and woman only’

 

“Gay marriage is absolutely something that I am in full support of and a big advocate of, and I think it’s an important issue, but there’s a reason that I don’t talk about politics and why I’ll never be in politics. I am not the person to ever do that.”

—Jamie-Lynn Sigler

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

POPE Francis stunned the Catholic world on December 18 by making a tweak to the Vatican policy concerning same-sex couples.

Catholic priests can now bless those couples if they request it. However, the Church stressed it is not changing its views on marriage and that it believes it is between one man and one woman.

The Rev. James Martin, a scholar, editor at large for the Jesuit magazine “America” and ABC News contributor, spoke with “Start Here” December 19 to discuss the new policy and how it changes the Catholic church’s longtime stance against recognizing LGBTQ unions.

START HERE: What was this decision from the Vatican?

THE REV. JAMES MARTIN: It was a decision to allow priests and deacons and bishops to bless same-sex couples in certain situations. You couldn’t make it seem like a marriage, of course, you couldn’t kind of have it as a kind of liturgical rite.

But people who are in same-sex unions who have been married, legally, let’s say they say, ‘Come to the park and do a little blessing for us outside,’ or, ‘Come to our house in the backyard,’ that’s a big deal.

And look, I could not do that publicly before. I was not permitted to do that, and now I am. So it’s a big shift. It’s a big shift in the way the Church looks at same-sex couples.

START HERE: I’m curious what this means for the future of same-sex marriage in the Catholic church, because you just said like, obviously this wouldn’t apply to marriage. But does this open a pathway to same-sex marriage among Catholics? Is that now part of the conversation?

 

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MARTIN: Oh, meaning that the church says that a marriage is still for a man and a woman? So for people to be married in a church, or in a Catholic ceremony, you have to be a man and a woman. So that has not changed.

But before, you couldn’t even bless same-sex couples. As I said, I would have a hard time showing up in a collar and, you know, at someone’s garden party or barbecue or something even an informal blessing, that was a no-no.

So again, it’s a big step forward.

And I’ve been hearing from LGBTQ Catholics all day yesterday and they were very excited. So the proof’s in the pudding. They’re very excited and really gratified by this, an early Christmas present for them.

START HERE: You’re an American priest. Often when we have these conversations, some of the most critical voices of this Pope have been American bishops who think Pope Francis is too progressive, too out of line. Like this bishop- Joseph Strickland in Texas, on a podcast earlier this year called “Pints with Aquinas”…very openly critical of Francis before this guy was later forced out of the church.

JOESPH STRICKLAND, “PINTS WITH AQUINAS:” Living out the sexual relationship, it’s a very narrow path. It’s sort of the eye of the needle. It’s for a man and a woman, only. Committed for life, open to children.”

START HERE: So you’ve got this guy saying this pope is taking us down the wrong path. What is the response from American bishops? And will they just tell their priests, “You’re not allowed to do this?”

 

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MARTIN: I think it changes the conversation more around same-sex couples, and what does it mean. Before, just two years ago, when this question was posed to the Vatican, the response was, believe it or not, ‘God cannot and does not bless sin.’ So no, you may do this not at all, ever.

But in a declaration from the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the kind of theological watchdog group, they set out a whole theology of what blessing was and said why we can do that.

And interestingly, the declaration did not say this depends on the local bishops’ conferences. It said that it’s up to the priests and ministers. There was a pretty muted response from the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, but really it opens the door for same-sex couples to go to their local priest and say, ‘Would you mind coming by my house with my family and doing a blessing?’ And now you can do it.

START HERE: Huh, so I mean, will you be planning on doing these blessings if someone asks you to bless their same-sex union, or would you take that on?

MARTIN: Absolutely. I mean, I’ve been waiting to do this for years. I couldn’t do it and I; I think it’s important to do these things with permission and not kind of step out of bounds too much, but the next couple that asks me, I’m happy to do it.

 

-o0o-

 

SHE’S NOT IMPRESSED. Tough guys don’t wow women. A study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology shows that women find a man more appealing if he walks away from a jerk instead of responding aggressively.

BODY WEIGHT AND SEXUAL SATISFACTION. In a study of over 400 undergraduates, researchers at Florida Atlantic University found strong correlations among the students’ levels of sexual satisfaction, self-consciousness about their bodies, and satisfaction with their bodies. Muscular guys were the most sexually satisfied; body weight was key for women.

O CANADA. International cooperation has come to a grocer near us: Thanks to the new agreement between the USDA and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, products certified organic in Canada can be sold in the U.S. without undergoing additional review–and vice versa. So, when we see foods bearing Canada’s organic logo, we can trust that they met U.S. standards.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

Grieving families

 

“Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.”

― Rumi

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WHILE most people in the Christian world are enjoying the Christmas holiday, some local friends and families that lost their loved ones in most recent tragedies and in various heinous crimes are grieving.

For these unhappy families, Christmas is meaningless.

Some of them were families and friends of those who perished in the recent conflagration that killed three people in Brgy. Zone 3 Habog-Habog Salvacion, Molo, Iloilo City and the tragedy in Hamtic, Antique when a Ceres Liner bus fell into an 18-meter-deep ravine that killed 19 passengers, bus driver, and three bus workers.

Some of this year’s victims of heinous crimes were suspects in illegal drugs trade in Iloilo and Negros decapitated and murdered like animals. Some of them have remained missing, and the matter of their disappearance had the signature of summary execution.

 

-o0o-

 

Attitudes about same-sex marriage vary widely around the world, according to several Pew Research Center surveys fielded in 32 places in the last two years.

Among the surveyed publics, support for legal same-sex marriage is highest in Sweden, where 92 percent of adults favor it, and lowest in Nigeria, where only 2 percent back it, according to Sneha Gubbala, Jacob Poushter and Christine Huang of Pew Research Center.

In the United States, where the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationally in 2015, 63 percent of adults support it and 34 percent oppose it. But views are highly fractured along political and demographic lines.

For example, Democrats and independents who lean toward the Democratic Party are nearly twice as likely as Republicans and Republican leaners to support same-sex marriage rights (82 percent vs. 44 percent).

Similarly, nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of Americans under the age of 40 say they favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally – 16 percentage points higher than the share of Americans 40 and older who agree (57 percent).

 

-o0o-

 

SEVEN STEPS TO FORGIVENESS: 1. Allow ourselves to feel anger 2. Let’s talk about it with a trusted friend 3. Let’s calm ourselves when we start feeling upset 4. Let’s empathize with the person who hurt us 5. Remind ourselves that forgiveness is a gift to ourselves. 6. Let’s commit to forgiveness 7. Let’s relish the release.  (Source: Ginny Graves)

NOT GUILTY. That’s the verdict on fertility drugs and the possibility that they increase woman’s chances of developing ovarian cancer. Doctors had long worried that there might be such a link. But now Danish researchers have analyzed records of 54,362 women and found, over an average 16-year follow up, that those who took fertility drugs faced no greater risk of cancer.

HER NOSE AND HIS NOSE: Men may hope their cologne will mask underarm odor, but women aren’t fooled, research from the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia found. While 6 of 32 scents tested disguised the smell of male BO from other men, none of the fragrances worked for women. To the showers, guys! (And don’t forget the deodorant.)

LET’S EAT FISH: In a recent Swedish study of nearly 5,000 boys ages 15 to 18, those who ate fish frequently scored higher on intelligence tests. How much higher? Eating fish once a week was enough to boost scores by an average of 6 percent. Eating fish more than that resulted in nearly an 11 percent increase. Dr. Maria Aberg recommends fatty fish, like salmon, 2 to 3 times weekly.

HOW TO FIGHT TOO MUCH TEXTING: 1. Establish text-free zone. Kids often open up at the dinner table and in the car, so be sure to protect those precious places. Agree that texting is not allowed during mealtime or on drives to and from school and activities. 2. Let phones rest at night. 3. Be a role model.

LET’S BE THE SOLUTION TO STORMWATER POLLUTION. Let’s remember always that only rain in the storm drain and pollutants can include yard waste, trash, pet waste and hazardous waste.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

Hope springs eternal for Iloilo Airport repair

 

“There’s something magic about airports it’s like standing in a room with a thousand doors.”

― Atticus Poetry, The Truth About Magic

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE proposed expansion and rehabilitation of the Iloilo International Airport or Iloilo Airport is an infrastructure project the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should prioritize and expedite.

The airport, located in Cabatuan, Iloilo, is a vital cog economically and politically.

The sooner it will be expanded and rehabilitated through the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme, according to Department of Transportation (DOTr), the better for both the Ilonggos and the image of the Marcos administration.

We are glad proponents of the expensive project decided to vigorously push for it even after the Iloilo Airport had been left out of the 2024 budget for DOTr’s infrastructure development based on the list released earlier this year by Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr., vice chairperson of the House committee on appropriations.

The DOTr now sounds optimistic about the airport’s proposed expansion and rehabilitation. Hope, indeed, springs eternal.

In 2028, when Mr. Marcos relinquishes the presidency due to constitutional limitation, he won’t find it hard to seek the help of the Ilonggos for the next president he wishes to support and endorse.

The Ilonggos, ever-a grateful people, would not forget that the 16-year-old Iloilo Airport underwent a major repair and improvement under the Marcos administration.

 

-o0o-

 

All the Marcos administration needed was a joint resolution from the Regional Development Council’s Infrastructure Development Committee (IDC) and Economic Development Committee (EDC) urging DOTr and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to expedite the review of the unsolicited proposals (USP).

The Villar-led Prime Asset Ventures, Inc. (PAVI) has submitted a USPs in the amount of P6.89 billion and Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC) in the amount of P9.95 billion for the mammoth project.

They will now be up for evaluation by the Investment Coordination Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

 

-o0o-

 

IF WE’RE LOW ON SILVER POLISH, LET’S USE TOOTHPASTE: Plain, non-gel toothpaste (without additives like whiteners) can rid small silver pieces of light tarnish without damaging the surface. Moisten the silver piece; apply a bit of toothpaste to our finger. Rub gently and rinse, then buff with a soft cloth. (Source: Goodhousekeeping)

NO DISHWASHING LIQUID? Let’s grab the laundry detergent. A teaspoonful of liquid laundry detergent in a basin of hot water will cut grease on dirty dishes equally well (though we may want to wear gloves, as detergent can be drying to hands).

SEXOMNIA is the term US scientists use for people who perform sexual activities unconsciously during sleep. The spectrum ranges from masturbation to sexual intercourse – in the event that that the sexsomnia patient comes across a partner. (Source: Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine).

NOT GUILTY. That’s the verdict on fertility drugs and the possibility that they increase woman’s chances of developing ovarian cancer. Doctors had long worried that there might be such a link. But now Danish researchers have analyzed records of 54,362 women and found, over an average 16-year follow up, that those who took fertility drugs faced no greater risk of cancer.

 

-o0o-

 

U.S. PASSPORT PROCESSING times have returned to pre-pandemic norm. As of December 18, 2023, passport applications will be processed within 6-8 weeks for routine service and 2-3 weeks for expedited service, which costs an additional $60.

“With this update, we have fulfilled our commitment to return to benchmarks from March 2020,” reported the U.S. Department of State. “This reflects the work of dedicated employees working for the American people.”

In 1990, only five percent of Americans had a passport. Today, that number is 48 percent. More Americans can travel abroad now than at any time in our history.

There are now over 160 million valid U.S. passports in circulation (nearly double the amount from 2007).

This past year, the Department experienced unprecedented demand for passports.

Between October 2022 and September 2023 (the federal fiscal year), the Department of State issued over 24 million passport books and cards – the highest amount ever in our nation’s history.

“We have worked hard to modernize and improve the service we provide to the American people. We will continue to do so in 2024,” the US Department of State announced further.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

Weak basic educational system produces weak, inept voters

 

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”

—Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE weak basic educational system in the Philippines as shown in a 2022 global ranking of student performance in math, reading, and science, can be partly to blame why the country has a weak electorate, or voters who seemed hard-pressed to elect quality leaders during the elections.

“Our voters (in the Philippines) are slower in their capacity to choose the right or quality leaders,” observed Marlon Doronila, a US-based Ilonggo advocate of clean and efficient governance both in the Philippines and the United States.

Doronila, 67, who studied elementary school in Paco, Manila, said Filipino kids during his time were the No. 1 in Asia in terms of quality and substance in basic education because Engish was the medium of instruction then.

“When (the late former) President (Ferdinand Sr.) Marcos changed the medium of instruction to Tagalog, the quality of students in the basic education started to decline,” added Doronila.

UNESCO considers that “providing education in a child’s mother tongue is indeed a critical issue”.

In Philippines, the learner’s first language should be the primary medium of instruction at least until grade three. In the secondary education, Filipino and English are primary medium of instruction, wrote Aldin Faith Portillas.

 

-o0o-

 

The Thomasites is a group of about five hundred pioneer American teachers sent by the U.S. government to the Philippines in August 1901.

The Thomasites arrived in the Philippines on August 12, 1901 to establish a new public school system, to teach basic education and to train Filipino teachers with English as the medium of instruction. However, the Thomasites expanded and improved the public school system, and switched to English as the medium of instruction.

According to a poll, which interviewed 1,200 Filipino adults last September commissioned by the Philippine Senate Basic Education Committee chaired by Win Gatchalian, only 4 in 10 or 38 percent of Filipinos claimed they prefer the use of local language as medium of instruction for Grades 1 to 3.

The survey reportedly found 88 percent agreed to use only Filipino or Tagalog in teaching, while 71 percent choose English.

Across major island groups and the National Capital Region (NCR), the Filipino language received the highest percentage in NCR at 97 percent, followed by 89 percent in Visayas, 87 percent in Mindanao, at 84 percent in Luzon.

Based on the respondents’ social class, the groups ABC (88 percent), D (90 percent), and E (70 percent) all preferred Filipino.,

 

-o0o-

 

Learning begins with teachers, and empowered teachers and school heads are at the heart of genuine education reform.

“It is not enough that our teachers just go along for the ride in our drive toward quality education. They must lead the way in preparing our children and young people for lifelong learning. But what are the medium of instruction that teacher must use in the teaching process?” Asked Portillas.

There is constant debate over which language should be use in educating Filipinos: English, Tagalog, or local dialects.

The use of English for teaching math and science as well as English language and literature subjects has endured for many years; however, they said that Using English in public schools is a violation of the Philippine constitution. It also deteriorates the education system in the Philippines and puts the poorer students at a disadvantage.

Requiring its use, schools ironically determine the students’ abilities to learn the language.

 

-o0o-

 

The use of English alienates students from their cultural heritage, impairs their emotional security and self-worth, and results in inferiority complex among lower-class children who are stigmatized for using the native tongue.

Despite a number of studies confirming that learning is faster using the native language, government officials are still pushing for the adoption of English as a medium on instruction (MOI) in Philippine schools.

The country’s weak basic education would eventually lead to a weak workforce and affect economic growth and global competitiveness, according to an advocacy group founded by the country’s top business leaders.

“The weaknesses in our basic education system will eventually translate into the weakness of our workforce, affecting the productivity and key source of our economic growth and competitiveness,” the Philippine Business for Education (PBED) said in a statement following the country’s poor showing in the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), which the higher and basic education agencies plan to address by improving teacher training, among others.

Filipino students were still among the world’s weakest in math, reading, and science, according to the global assessment, with the country ranking 77th out of 81 countries and performing worse than the global average in all categories, according to a report by Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza of BusinessWorld.

 

-o0o-

 

I received an email from our bank, Capital One, warning me of these four new scams:

GRANDPARENTS SCAM. You receive a call or text message from someone impersonating a grandchild or loved one asking for money to help with an emergency and providing instructions on where to send the money.

These callers “spoof” the caller ID to make an incoming call appear to be coming from a trusted source.

Scammers can now use artificial intelligence technology to mimic the voices of loved ones and attempt to convince you they’re in distress.

CAPITAL ONE IMPERSONATION. You’re contacted by someone claiming to be from Capital One, or any other financial institution, regarding fraudulent activity on your account and asking you to transfer money or send a payment somewhere else. When in doubt, end all communication with the scammer and call the number listed on the back of your debit or credit card.

BUSINESS EMAIL COMPROMISE SCAM. You receive an email from a vendor requesting you to send money to a different account. The email looks legitimate, but it could be from a fraudster who got access to your vendor’s network.

GIFT CARD SCAM. A scammer tells you to buy a gift card, like a Google Play™ or Apple® Gift Card, and give them the numbers off the back of the card. No matter what they say, this is a scam.

No real business or government agency will ever tell you to buy a gift card to pay them.

“If you think you may have given a gift card to a scammer—no matter how long ago the scam happened—report it to the gift card company,” advised the Capital One.

The bank also gave me the following tips:

—Neither Capital One, nor any other financial institution, will ever ask you to make peer-to-peer payments for correcting any fraud activity.

—Never send money to anyone who claims your account is compromised or threatens to cut off your services.

When in doubt, end the call and connect with Capital One via legitimate sources using the numbers listed on the back of your debit or credit cards.

—Don’t use search engines to access the Capital One website. Always use capitalone.com or the Capital One Mobile app to sign into your accounts.

— Report any suspicious activity immediately.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

Twitter and Graciano Lopez-Jaena

 

“You have to go where the story is to report on it. As a journalist, you’re essentially running to things that other people are running away from.”

—Lester Holt

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

TWITTER more than any other social media platform shapes the stories that dominate our lives. In particular, one very powerful group of Twitter users is responsible for this—journalists.

That’s according to Michael Tauberg of Medium, who quoted X (formerly Twitter) boss Elon Musk as saying, “Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated.”

News writers and other media figures were among the first to widely adopt the platform and they are the ones who take twitter information wars to the masses, according to Tauber.

As renowned tech analyst Ben Thompson put it: “Most people don’t get their news off of Twitter; the places they get their news, though, are driven by Twitter”.

Had Graciano Lopez Jaena lived in this generation, he and many other post-colonial journalism heroes surely would have adopted the platforms of many contemporary journalists in the age of the social media.

It would be a delight to “follow” a regular Lopez-Jaena tweet lambasting government graft and corruption, inefficiencies and incompetence, exposing the dolts in the military and police ranks, and blasting China’s misadventures in the West Philippine Sea.

But the son of Jaro, Iloilo City belonged in a different epoch where patriotism and the vow of poverty while performing a public service towered over subservience to colonial rule and material gains.    

 

-o0o-

 

More than a hundred years after his death of tuberculosis, many contemporary journalists lived a privileged life and in affluence, opposite to his sacrifices and heroism in a foreign land, where he wallowed in poverty before his 40th birthday.

Born on December 18, 1856 and died on January 20, 1896, Lopez Jaena was not only an outstanding journalist, but was also an orator at par with the country’s and even Asia’s best.

As the first Ilustrado to arrive in Spain where he started the Propaganda Movement against our Spanish colonizers, Lopez Jaena became revolutionary when he formed a triumvirate with Dr. Jose Rizal and Marcel H. del Pilar.

But he became well known for his newspaper, La Solidarid.

Before he became an icon in the propaganda movement, Lopez Jaena was first sent by his parents to study at St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Jaro which had been opened under the administration of Governor-General Carlos María de la Torre y Nava Cerrada.

In the seminary, he served as a secretary to Claudio Lopez, his uncle who was the honorary vice-consul of Portugal in Iloilo.

But he had ambition to become a physician. Lopez Jaena convinced his parents that he needed to enroll in a university in Manila.

He was denied admission at the University of Santo Tomas because he did not have a Bachelor of Arts degree when he was at the seminary in Jaro.

 

-o0o-

 

Lopez Jaena was appointed to the San Juan de Dios Hospital as an apprentice. He eventually dropped out due to financial difficulties and returned to Iloilo.

His assimilation with the poor ignited his feelings about the injustices common in that era.

Lopez Jaena’s potentials as a reformer and writer became apparent at the age of 18 when he wrote the satirical story “Fray Botod” which depicted a fat and lecherous priest. Lopez Jaena ribbed Fray Botod’s false piety which “always had the Virgin and God on his lips no matter how unjust and underhanded his acts were.”

The story was not published, but a copy circulated widely in Iloilo. The infuriated friars could not prove that Lopez Jaena was the author, thus he came off the hook, so to speak, temporarily.

The son of Jaro refused to testify that certain prisoners died of natural causes when it was obvious that they had died at the hands of the mayor of Pototan town, thus he was pilloried.

He continued to agitate for justice. When he received threats on his life, he sailed to Spain in 1879, where he pursued the Propaganda Movement.

 

-o0o-

 

In the land of our colonizers, Lopez Jaena became a leading writer, propagandist, and speaker for reform of the homeland.

He finally pursued his medical studies at the University of Valencia but did not finish, thus incurring the ire of Rizal.

Lopez Jaena defended why he did not finish his medical studies by saying, “On the shoulders of slaves should not rest a doctor’s cape.”

“The shoulders do not honor the doctor’s cape, but the doctor’s cape honors the shoulders,” Rizal intoned.

The national hero died of tuberculosis in poverty on January 20, 1896, 11 months short of his 40th birthday.

He was buried in an unmarked grave at the Cementerio del Sub-Oeste of Barcelona the following day.

Marcelo H. del Pilar’s death followed on July 4. Rizal was killed on December 30 by firing squad in Bagumbayan.

Their deaths ended the great triumvirate of Filipino propagandists, but their works contributed to the liberation of their compatriots from the Spanish colony.

Lopez Jaena’s remains have not been brought back to the Philippines.

We commemorate Lopez Jaena’s 167th anniversary on December 18, 2023, an official holiday in the entire island of Panay.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)