Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Quote
Monday, August 30, 2010
Typhoon snooker!
STS Lionrock (above)
TS Namtheun (below)
Canal Ride
Another 12 mile ride with the family today. From Gathurst/Shevington to Appley Bridge to Parbold and finshing at Burscough in Lancashire, all along the canal.
The whole journey.
Part 1
Part 2
Sunday, August 29, 2010
HK furious; OFWs fearful
HONG KONG — Drawn by a mixture of anger and grief, tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents poured into the streets on Sunday to protest how the Philippine government handled a bus siege last week that ended in the shooting deaths of eight Hong Kong residents and the dismissed police officer who had taken them hostage. Organizers estimated the crowd at 80,000 people, but the police put it at 30,000. Either figure would make it the largest protest march in memory against overseas events, although there have been much larger protests in Hong Kong involving local politics or events in mainland China, notably the Tiananmen Square killings in 1989.
Wearing black and white, with yellow ribbons tied around their upper arms to remember the dead, the solemn crowd gathered in sweltering heat in Victoria Park and then marched peacefully more than a mile to the downtown business district, before dispersing quietly. A police spokeswoman said Sunday evening that no arrests had been made.
Many marchers seemed to be fairly apolitical, soft-spoken members of the middle class who said they had never attended a demonstration before but were offended that the Philippine government had failed to protect the Hong Kong residents aboard the bus. The dismissed police officer, armed with an M-16 assault rifle, had repeatedly been visible during the siege, even waving to onlookers from the bus door, but police snipers had not tried to shoot him through most of the siege.
“Their performance is not acceptable,” said Michael Kong, 33, a logistics manager who came with his wife, Anna Ho, a telecommunications manager of the same age; both said they had never previously marched for any cause.
President Benigno S. Aquino III of the Phillipines drew particular criticism from marchers for failing to show adequate contrition and remorse.
“We don’t think that he has apologized to us,” said Rachel Lam, a 23-year-old student who also said that she had never participated in a demonstration before. “It is very impolite.”
Flags hung at half-mast for three days after the killings, the nightly light show on the city’s skyscrapers was cancelled for three days of mourning and local politicians have cancelled most trips to attend memorial events.
Domestic helpers work six-day weeks for $460 a month plus room and board, with no eligibility for overtime pay. Their presence in homes has long made them vulnerable targets for abuse, because they frequently borrow heavily to reach Hong Kong but can be sent home at any time by their employers.
Hong Kong’s Equal Opportunity Commission, a government agency, issued a statement on Wednesday in which it urged, “all members of the community to stay calm and, in line with our good tradition of tolerance and understanding, refrain from shifting our anger towards an innocent group, particularly the Filipinos who are living or travelling in Hong Kong.”
But there was no sign of malice towards Filipinos at the demonstration on Sunday. “I won’t be mad at the local Filipinos,” said Lin Hengchoi, a 49-year-old electrical contractor who brought his five-year-old son, Ken, with him to the demonstration.
The Hong Kong government has strongly warned its people against travel to the Philippines in the near future, and large numbers of Chinese tourists have also reportedly headed home from vacations there. But there was little sign among demonstrators on Sunday that the bus killings would fundamentally change their view of the attractiveness of the Philippines as a tourist destination for years to come.
Mr. Lin predicted that he and other Hong Kong residents would continue to take vacations in the Philippines.
“I think we will still go,” he said.
HK furious; OFWs fearful
80,000 marchers demand justice
HONG KONG—Tens of thousands marched in Hong Kong on Sunday in honor of eight Hong Kong residents killed in a bus hijacking in Manila, denouncing the Philippine government for botching the rescue operation and demanding justice for the dead.
President Benigno Aquino III has “begged for understanding” and ordered a thorough investigation into the Aug. 23 bloodbath, but that has done little to stem growing anger in this wealthy southern Chinese territory where violent crime is a rarity.
About 20 Hong Kong legislators led the crowd gathered at an urban park in a short ceremony honoring the dead before setting off on a march to the central financial district. Police didn’t estimate the size of the crowd, but organizers said about 80,000 people took part, radio RTHK reported on its website.
“Today’s protest expresses our deep mourning and our strong desire for the Philippine government to take the matter seriously,” Jasper Tsang, president of the Legislative Council, told the crowd.
“That 80,000 people can show up in such a short period of time—it shows the anger and unity of the Hong Kong people,” lawmaker Cheung Man-kwong said.
The bloody ending stunned Hong Kongers, who blasted the Manila police for what they called an amateurish rescue attempt. They also accused President Aquino of indifference in angry online messages.
“Everyone saw how the Philippine government mishandled the situation before TV cameras and the chaos in the country. As a Chinese person, I need to demand justice,” 49-year-old worker Andy Wong said at Sunday’s protest.
“I am furious,” said 56-year-old Law Wai-hing. “I don’t think we will be ever told the truth when the President (Aquino) is as appalling as he is.”
Fears over backlash
There are concerns that local anger could boil over and the some 120,000 Filipinos working as live-in domestic helpers for Hong Kong families would face a backlash. So far, there have been no reports of violence.
Protest organizers urged participants not to target Filipinos in the former British colony.
“My feelings toward the Philippine people haven’t changed. This is not a problem concerning the entire Filipino race,” said protester Carl Chiu, a 20-year-old university student.
Solidarity
In a gesture of solidarity, local Filipino activists organized an interfaith service in memory of the victims earlier Sunday where they lit eight candles—one for each victim.
“We ask the Hong Kong people who are watching us not to blame us for what happened because we also did not want this kind of thing to happen. This is why we are holding this prayer—to send our sympathy and condolences to them,” said migrant worker Elma Oliva.
Philippine Vice Consul Val Roque said a text message was sent to members of the Filipino community asking them to “set aside what they are doing” and attend memorial Masses “to express their grief and sympathy.”
Roque downplayed fears of retribution against Filipinos, saying there had been no confirmed reports of harassment or physical abuse. But Filipinos in the territory said they had been warned to stay away from Chinese crowds.
“We are very worried to be living in a Chinese community now,” said Joy Fajardo, 30.
In a sign that feelings are running high, the message “Stop hiring Filipino domestic workers!!!” has sprung up on Facebook sites set up by Hong Kong people to mourn the hostage victims.
Frenzy of fear
A series of unconfirmed reports of Hong Kong employers trying to vent their anger by sacking or attacking their helpers has been widely circulating among Filipinos.
Fajardo said text messages had been exchanged saying that more than 30 Filipino maids had been sacked following the tragedy, including one whose contract was terminated allegedly because her family name was the same as the gunman’s.
On Friday, Fajardo said she received reports that three maids had been killed, with one of them having acid splashed over her face.
“We don’t know if these cases are true. But we are very scared,” she said.
Another Filipino worker, Julie, said her 60-year-old employer, for whom she has worked for 14 years, did not speak to her after the hostage crisis.
“She watched news on TV about the hijacking. She did not talk to me and did not give me dinner on Wednesday,” she said.
Berated on public transport
Many Filipino workers also complained about being berated on public transport in the aftermath of the siege.
The hysteria reflects the vulnerability of Filipino domestic workers, who underpin the city’s economy by taking care of the children and elderly relatives of working parents.
Under the law, a domestic worker must be paid a minimum salary of HK$3,580 (US$460) and a food allowance of HK$750 each month. They have to be given one day off every week.
“They do not want to return home because their salary in Hong Kong is higher than a police officer or a professor in the Philippines,” said Fermi Wong, founder of Unison Hong Kong, a group that helps ethnic minorities.
‘We’re not to blame’
Wong said she hoped Hong Kong people would not allow their anger and grief to transform into long-term hatred against the Filipinos.
“They were vulnerable even before the hostage siege. Now they feel even more vulnerable because they are guilty and ashamed. They feel they are morally responsible for what their government has done,” he said.
Diana Delossandos, a 30-year-old domestic helper, voiced the same hope.
“We are also shocked and angry with the way the Philippine government handled the hostage crisis. The reaction of our president is so disgusting, and our police are so stupid,” she said.
“But we are not supposed to be blamed.” Reports from Associated Press and Agence France-Presse
Friday, August 27, 2010
We are going down!
BA Crash Scare Error 'Terrifies' Passengers
12:36pm UK, Friday August 27, 2010
A planeload of British Airways passengers feared for their lives when they were told they were going to crash - only to learn the warning message went out in error.
Airline has apologised for scare, which it said was caused by computer error
Travellers flying from Heathrow to Hong Kong heard the message: "This is an emergency. We may shortly need to make an emergency landing on water."
Cabin crew on the Boeing 747 had to quickly reassure passengers their worst nightmare was not about to come true, telling them the warning was a mistake and there was no emergency.
Michelle Lord, 32, of Preston, Lancashire, told the Sun newspaper: "People were terrified. We all thought we were going to die."
Another traveller said: "I can't think of anything worse than being told your plane's about to crash."
BA, which said the incident took place within the last seven days, apologised for the scare.
The airline explained that the message was an automatic one triggered by a computer.
A BA spokesman said: "We would like to apologise to passengers on board the flight for causing them undue distress.
"Our cabin crew immediately made an announcement following the message advising customers that it was played in error and that the flight would continue as normal."
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/British-Airways-Passengers-Fear-For-Their-Lives-After-Crash-Warning-Goes-Out-In-Error/Article/201008415707771?lpos=Business_Top_Stories_Header_2&lid=ARTICLE_15707771_British_Airways_Passengers_Fear_For_Their_Lives_After_Crash_Warning_Goes_Out_In_ErrorThursday, August 26, 2010
Bad Taste!!
I found this pic on facebook posted by 'Mark L Alonzo (Spryt Cocacola)' and with the following caption
'wala naman ginawa si spider man d2....tsk tsk klase daw yan super hero'
and the following comments-
(I can only understand the hahahaha parts!!!!)
- Mark L Alonzo bot. punta mo ung point ng mouse ke spider man....ahahahahTuesday at 14:00 ·
- D'Coi Mcmlii lokong spiderman!Tuesday at 14:01 ·
- Mark L Alonzo hahahaha si bobot yanTuesday at 14:01 ·
- Bobot Vergara kna na hahahaTuesday at 14:11 ·
- Bobot Vergara c patrick nga tago s shield hahahahaTuesday at 14:13 ·
- Bong Juatchon c phet-phet nagtago sa ilalim ng bus sa may tabi ng front wheel,,,heheheTuesday at 14:14 ·
- Unico Sol Ibrahim hahahaTuesday at 14:22 ·
- Paulo Del Rosario mga buang kau* hahahahaTuesday at 14:42 ·
- Patrick Cyril Canaya hahaha............nice 1Tuesday at 14:43 ·
- Unico Sol Ibrahim bkt?Tuesday at 14:44 ·
- Patrick Cyril Canaya wala pakatTuesday at 14:45 ·
- Paulo Del Rosario ahahahahhaTuesday at 14:47 ·
- Unico Sol Ibrahim hahaahhTuesday at 14:49 ·
- Paulo Del Rosario sol? buang ahahahahaTuesday at 14:51 ·
- Patrick Cyril Canaya men anu na balita gs2 ko jan pasyal ba.....Tuesday at 14:51 ·
- Mark L Alonzo hahaha hanapin nyo na san kau nkatago jn aheheher!!!!Tuesday at 14:53 ·
- Bong Juatchon hindi pala nagtago c phet-phet jan,,, naipit sa loob kc na-flat ung tire,,,hehehehehe nanjan pa rin xa sa ilalim hanggang ngaun ba,,,
d lang nila napansin,,,hek hek hek,,,Tuesday at 15:26 · - Marky Ian Lopez hahahahaTuesday at 15:28 ·
- Abul Khayr Biruar Jampongz hahaha yawa a oiiiiTuesday at 15:32 ·
- Malice Onihc TanghalTuesday at 15:37 · 1 personLoading... ·
- Reggae Emil Angot gagong hero yan.. nakaupo lang...Tuesday at 16:16 ·
- Bobot Vergara takot bka tamaan ng maso ng pulis hahahaTuesday at 16:17 ·
- Leoncio Angot Jr. makaulaw ui...... pulis miming.... swat talawan....Tuesday at 16:47 ·
- Mark L Alonzo wala kz web si spider man kea d xa mkapasok takot xa....wala xa armorTuesday at 16:48 ·
- Leoncio Angot Jr. wahahaha..... praktis sa ui...... mga talawan.....Tuesday at 16:49 ·
- Reggae Emil Angot xpired na web at armor nya 30 days lang... hahaha...Tuesday at 16:49 ·
- Mark L Alonzo hahahah mao....Tuesday at 16:50 ·
- Phet Ladera Alonzo buang ka bong....hehehehheYesterday at 12:10 ·
- Kong Wilder HAHAAHAAHAHAHAYesterday at 13:20 ·
- Herschel Apao Ui lahat mka current events.. L0lYesterday at 13:23 ·
- Unico Sol Ibrahim bkt?Yesterday at 14:09 ·
- Malice Tart Loko gagooooooooooooo! haha.. SuperHero meron na sa pinas! spiderman pinoy ba yan?Yesterday at 15:49 ·
- Mark L Alonzo Oo meron yan d2....ikaw yan....spider man na ipis hahahaYesterday at 18:41 ·
- Unico Sol Ibrahim oo ka es.10 hours ago ·
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
God: A Biography
God: A Biography
I read this book over 10 years ago, but it still influences me today. Really an excellent book, which examines the myths contained primarily in the Old Testament. Why was He such a vengeful god? What was his relationship with Noah? Was He suffering from schizophrenia? Who were the 'chosen' people? How the different books and versions came about and when they came about is particularly interesting. This book for me finally laid bare the fact that this is a god molded by man for men. The church, especially the catholic church kept the staus quo of peasantry and the feudal system in place for 1500 years. Most of the other churches after the reformation continued to try and keep the people shackled well into the last century.None are blameless, and it is no coincedence that the church and the more fundamentailst religions still wield power in the impoverished nations of the world. That doesn't necessarily mean there isn't an omnipotent being, but it certainly isn't this one. For those that still believe in a 'god' isn't it time to change those institutions? The Buddhists come to mind, a simpler philosophy and more passive god. A church or mosque or synangogue that preaches humanity and tolerance, not intolerance, fatwas, and a sense of superiority.British people get what they deserve!
More Tory filth! 26.08.10
So the coalition govt's budget has hit the poorest people the hardest!What a fucking surprise!What a turn up for the books! A conservative government that taxes the poor for the mistakes of the rich.
The average worker had nothing to do with the recession, not able to get a mortgage, not able to get credit, and suffering ever increasing inflation. Now we have a situation where a huge number of jobs are at risk and the government is cutting the very services that people have paid for through the tax system.
The governmnet is faced with a huge deficit brought on by the collapse of the banking system. It does need to address this issue, but why make the poor suffer? Why not increase the upper rate of tax? Why not tax foreign billionaires settled in the UK? Why not increase corporation tax for those companies that continue to raise prices and increase their profits at the expense of the majority of British people-'the poor'?
BT(profits-£1bn), British Gas(£534m), Scottish power(£1.3bn),Barclays(£11.6bn) and HSBC(£600m from UK business alone) who all make obscene amounts of profit, with British Gas hurting people the most by doubling its prices this year closely followed by Scottish Power and BT all complete bastards! Barclays and Hsbc continue to make vast amounts of profit by giving shit interest rates and charging much more than necessary for loans, credit cards and mortgages, but at least you can vote with your feet when it comes to them.
In the end though, the government was elected by the people and so the people will suffer.
Chris Mercer.25.08.10
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11086137
From the BBC.
Mr Clegg said a report by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), which said the Budget has hit poorest families the hardest, was "by definition partial".
"It does not include the things we want to do to get people off benefits and into work," he said during a visit to the Disasters Emergency Committee headquarters in central London.
The IFS calls the Budget "regressive".
It had already challenged the government's claim that the Budget was "progressive".
Its analysis suggests that low-income families with children are set to lose the most - about 5% of net income - due to benefit cuts announced in the Budget.
The think tank's report was commissioned and part-funded by the End Child Poverty campaign.
Fiona Weir from the campaign group told the BBC: "This government really needs to start matching what it's saying about fairness and what it's actually putting into practise with Budget decisions."....cont (follow the link above)