Melamine

I read in the Inquirer a few days ago yet another story on the melamine menace inflicted upon us by evil businessmen from China.    This is about the whole Sunflower cracker boo-boo.  Initially they said it was found to have the now dreaded "M" in it's ingredients.   This was later found to be suddenly safe (i wonder how much money exchanged for that to happen), and here is where i would like to point out the kicker.......   Apparently, the tests showed that the melamine content in the Sunflower crackers was below the maximum allowed content according to the BFAD..............wait a fuc*ing minute....SO THEY KNOW it's there and they are allowing it?   For how long now, i wonder?

That would also mean that LOCAL businessmen, the greedy and evil kind, are knowingly poisoning people for financial gain.   That just sucks.  Period. I personally haven't been eating Sunflower crackers for over a decade now, but now that this is out, i'm never touching their company's products from now on, and that goes the same for my family.

Be wise, people.   Now is the time for vigilance.   For the sake of profit, you don't know what these food manufacturers are putting in our food.

Be vigilant.   The food that we enjoyed when we were young may not be good anymore.

Stay healthy.   Think healthy.   Be picky in what you eat and try to go for natural and organic stuff.   You might be feeding your kids with toxic substances.  Do a bit of research from now on on the food that you eat, especially that which you prepare for your kids.

Another problem that's surfacing is the added contamination in eggs and other food sources.  Apparently these evil Chinese businessmen have gone to mixing the melamine in feeds.  So now it's being consumed by chicken and possibly even pork and even beef, i guess.   Hmmm.....chicken, pork, beef.....these are what we consume on a regular basis, correct?  OMG.   This is getting a bit out of hand.   Even if they say that the amounts are minimal, we are still putting the melamine in our bodies clogging your liver and kidneys and who knows what else?

We should all go cold turkey for a while.  Let all the stocks be left unsold and rot.  It should not be in the feeds.   It should not be eaten by the animals that we eat, for crying out loud!  That's just sick.   Really sick.

Melamine should be IN THE PLATES that we eat off of, yes, as in Melawares (the plastic plates sold in malls... Melaware is a brand, for those who do not know), NOT IN THE FOOD that we eat.   Sheesh!!!



---my canned thoughts

Metro Manila Asphalt Menace!

You have probably seen this.......a contractor laying asphalt. Typical, right? To the point that you see that they NO LONGER "cook" the asphalt but just shovel dry asphalt into a hole on the road AND LEAVE IT THERE for unsuspecting motorists to drive over them and compact it for them. The effect, the TAX PAYING motorists like you and I get blasted with asphalt in running over these improperly laid asphalt and from the vehicle in front of us who's tires are spewing the asphalt on the face of our cars. UNACCEPTABLE!!!

Just so you would know, i experienced this just before lunch on my way to the office along C5 road. C5 road! One of the major highways of Metro Manila. Was it a side street, maybe? No. It was on the C5 Highway itself! It's at the point around 700 meters before the spot where the road forks going to the service road, on the 1st and 2nd lane from the right side (the "slow lane").

To the contractor....SHAME ON YOU! Companies like you contribute to the decay of our country. Only profits are on your mind. That was a very dangerous thing that you did. What if cars panic-braked and caused an accident? Karma will get you, that's certain.

To the government office that paid for this....BOOO!!! How did you choose this contractor? Another rigged bidding? You MOST LIKELY over-paid for this asphalt-laying so they should have at least made a good job. Do you even monitor them? I guess not. Contractors like this should be banned. Very irresponsible of them and they endanger the lives of motorists.

Voice your complaints people! Nothing will get done when we just choose to shut up and ignore this kind of thing! I for one will complain.

Wag nating babuyin ang ating bansa! Our leaders don't really care about this because no one gets punished. Doesn't mean though, that we should do the same.

It's high time that we give a damn!



---my canned thoughts

Ateneo will win!

It is my wish that the Ateneo UAAP basketball team will play a fantastic game today and win convincingly against La Salle for a 2-0 sweep!

ONE BIG FIGHT!


peace out!

My last post didn't go through.... :(

Such a pity.

I was posting through Facebook a couple of days ago, but my blog didn't go through. :(

Bummer.

Anyway, i'll just try to summarize it.

I FINALLY got the 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT Turbo! I am SO happy. This is my dream car that came true. :)
Special thanks to my partners - Andrew, Dale and Mr. Ed Diaz, for helping me make this dream come true.

The new Forester is fantastic. Very smooth. Very fast (at 230hp). I haven't fully broken it in yet, but it runs like silk.

The 2009 Subaru Forester is a great SUV! Will beat anything in it's level (or even, higher, come to think of it) in safety and performance.

It surpasses all American, Japanese and Korean SUVs (and a few of the European ones as well) in terms of safety - with full curtain airbags, front to rear, Vehicle Dynamics Control, anti-roll..... the works. It even got a 5 out of 5 Star crash rating with the NHTSA and the IIHS.

Did i already say that the new Forester is fast? :)

It's not a guzzler, either. It consumes the same amount of gas as my 2.3 liter 2005 Mazda Tribute. Pretty good, if i may say so myself. :)

Looking for a new ride? Don't go down the beaten path. Get the new 2009 Forester and put a huge smile on your face!


Cheers!

testing... part 3

i hope this works.............

The 2009 Subaru Forester

Thank you Lord!  The 2009 Subaru Forester is now here!  =)

I can't wait to sell our Mazda Tribute and get this Forester that i have been wishing for.   My friend Andrew and I saw the units in advance last Monday.   I am very satisfied with the way it looks and the REAR LEGROOM  that it now has (and then some).    Fantastic!   A test drive is not offered as of yet.   MotorImage says that they do not test drive units unless a unit has been purchased by the company or someone from the company.   For now the units are already reserved for quite a few clients.    Envy....... but not for long!  =)

I WILL sell my Mazda Tribute for a very good price in the next few days and after that... I WILL GET A BRAND NEW 2009 SUBARU FORESTER!   I CLAIM IT IN JESUS' NAME!   AMEN AND AMEN!!   =)

peace out!

Blog IT on FaceBook

I saw that my friend added this app and wanted to try it out.

Let's see what happens...



--my canned thoughts

About the DJ Montano Blog

From what i read lately, Embassy is now under surveilance or something. This is related to the supposed drug activities going on inside. It doesn't really matter what is going there as long as the illegal activities there stop.

It's hard enough having to deal with your kids getting wasted from alcohol, but it's more burdensome to have to worry about them getting into drugs too.

THAT should stop. There are a lot of info already given about drugs going on in that place, that if it were true then catch them all and punish them. What is the the USA???

Let them worry about the decay of morals there but at least leave the values that we hold dear here. The addicts will most likely disagree with me, but that will just bring our society down.

Stop the moral decay. Stop those guys from selling drugs there, if it is true.


---my canned thoughts

That Swine! Another Gloria Macapagal Arroyo scam?!

Karma-karma-karma-karma-karma-chamelion...
You'll come and GO...you'll come and GO-oo!

God is just. The Arroyo's will pay. All the money she and her hoard stole will not help them one bit.

God is just. The Arroyo's will pay. All the money she and her hoard stole will not help them one bit.

God is just. The Arroyo's will pay. All the money she and her hoard stole will not help them one bit.

God is just. The Arroyo's will pay. All the money she and her hoard stole will not help them one bit.

God is just. The Arroyo's will pay. All the money she and her hoard stole will not help them one bit.

God is just. The Arroyo's will pay. All the money she and her hoard stole will not help them one bit.

God is just. The Arroyo's will pay. All the money she and her hoard stole will not help them one bit.

God is just. The Arroyo's will pay. All the money she and her hoard stole will not help them one bit.

God is just. The Arroyo's will pay. All the money she and her hoard stole will not help them one bit.


In the mean time, don't be a fool. Do good and avoid evil, that's all. Change will come.

God is good. Trust in Him.
God will take care of the rest.
Live a good life. Live for others too.
Remember that it's not always about you, but remember to always love yourself.

Care about what goes on.

Stop saying "everyone's corrupt anyway...". That IS NOT TRUE and you know it. That's just the easy way out. Know that we always have a choice. But like a friend of mine said, "we don't have to choose between two evils...there's always someone else".

Keep an eye out for that someone. Gloria and her minions are going down...and they will pay dearly for the evil they have done. In the mean time let's just lead good lives, stay away from evil and wait. Let's stop hating them and concentrate on our lives. Good things will just come to us. It will happen. It's just a matter of time.


--my canned thoughts

Thank you Acer Technical Services

I was greeted early today with a mesage on my Acer laptop that said "No wireless adapter installed or unsupported wireless adapter". In short - NO INTERNET........Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

Goodness! And today i was hoping to get a lot done on our company website. I tried the usual tricks with the Acer - restarting, diagnose and repair the connection (it's a clickable tab) re-install the driver. And i was about to do the last resort, which is to re-format my laptop. That would have meant at least 4-5 hours straight of installing drivers and updating everything.........Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

Then i remembered, maybe the Acer tech support can help me over the phone. It's been a few months past my Acer's 5580's warranty period, but i thought, what the hey, might as well try. Much to my surprise the man i spoke with was very accommodating and assisted me in solving my problem.

In the course of our conversation, i mentioned that i found a Trojan worm in my laptop last night and cleaned it. He said that most likely, the pesky Trojan worm corrupted some of the wireless driver file and caused my problem. He helped me do a simple uninstall of the corrupted program and VOILA! >>>INTERNET CONNECTED!!!<<<

Thank you Acer tech support. Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!


--my canned thoughts

Citibank's ZERO Grace Period.

Citibank's Zero Grace Period. I have two words for it. How inconsiderate.
What time are banks closed nowadays? 4pm? 5? Anyway, i am just so irritated by this 12midnight cut-off by Citibank.

It's not enough that you give effort to go out late at night to pay for your bill that you are greeted with a sign that says that the cut-off for payments is at 12 midnight. After that you are technically late and will be penalized for paying minutes or a few hours late. Used to be that banks give 3 days grace period, in case you are late in paying for your bill. Actually, BPI still gives its client this courtesy.

So, i'm kinda pissed that Citibank, one of the biggest bank in the world, can't even give the same. And its not like i was late a few days, it's just a few hours. AND it's just a MACHINE that's taking my payment. So what's the difference in the morning when they get the envelopes? Citibank guys will sort it out and go... hmmmm...this envelope is 2 minutes late, lets charge the guy 2,ooo pesos for being late!

Crap! Money making crap! I'm not taking part of Citibank's underhanded "business policy". What, they put "member since" on the card for what? Apparently this doesn't really mean anything to them. They don't really understand you. They just want your money, and as much as they can justify. That's probably why they invent these 12midnight cut-offs, even though it's just a machine that's taking your money!

I appreciate the fact that there have been quite a few times that Citibank has reversed the charges in the past but that could easily avoided if they give their "so-called" valued clients a day or two of grace period.

I just don't like having to explain myself, why i was an hour late, or twenty minutes late, or 5 minutes late. It's annoying. It's a pain. Shoot! It's not like i was trying to get out of not paying my bill or something devious like that. I always pay in full.

Anyway, it is because i can compare with another bank and how they handle clients that i can see how i am not really a valued client at Citibank. Well screw them. I pay almost 100,000 a month in credit card bills to that bank and this is how they treat me?? Screw that. If they wont give me a grace period, i'm turning my back on them. Why should i let them earn from me and when it's payment time, they wont even give me a day or two of consideration- in this case just a few minutes,

Whatever. I don't want to be treated that way. Times are hard. In our company's business, we deal with accounts receivables all the time. Part of you just understands that sometimes or oftentimes, that just happens, but we don't take it personally. We consider the relationship we have with our client because we understand them. Because we know that we value their business that we become a little bit flexible sometimes. And we don't even make them explain themselves. That would be embarrassing to them.

I wouldn't do that to a valued client. So i guess i don't want that being done to me as well.


--my canned thoughts

Where Are You, Canon HV20?

For the past few days I have been doing some research on the web for a good digital camcorder. The search started when it dawned on me that our old camcorder was no longer up to par with our high-definition lcd tv, we have a Sony Bravia D-series.

I guess the video imperfections are just highlighted on a bigger screen. So much so on a high-definition lcd tv, apparently. Although the videos we took were okay, the graininess was very obvious, especially under an indoor shoot setup, which is most of the time in our case.

Then i realized at that point a new HD camcorder will be forthcoming in our home. So when we were at the mall, i was looking around for HD camcorders. The Sony handycams came into view. The videos shown were pretty impressive. Rich colors, sharp image and very life-like. Cool.

I checked out a few models and remembered them for the next step. What next step? Search the web. Research. It's all there. Other people before you have either bought it or reviewed it so be smart and have fewer regrets. ALWAYS, ALWAYS SEARCH FOR REVIEWS ON THE NET. Go to a lot of sites just to be sure.

And so I diligently Googled "top hd camcorders" and started clicking at least 5-7 sites and read the reviews. I cannot stress enough how important it is that you ALWAYS DO RESEARCH ON THE WEB. We sometimes get that urge to get stuff impulsively. Be patient. Hold off a bit. Be smart and do some research.

This is what i found out. Although i initially liked the Sony handycam because of what i saw in the store, i learned a few things...

1) the AVCHD format of Sony is not very flexible yet, in terms of editing. That this AVCHD is still in its infancy so to speak.

2) HDD (hard disk drive) memory will mean less mini DV tapes to buy, but disk drives will eventually fail and are more sensitive to rough handing (unlike mini DV tape format).

If you can live with that then, the Sony HD handycams are for you. For me, maybe. I'm wary now of that AVCHD, the way the reviews make it sound like its not flexible at all.

Armed with the knowledge now that the mini DV tapes, at least for now, is still the way to go, my choice would be a camcorder that uses mini DV tapes.

I continue my research. It will have a 1 to 1 transfer time if you are planning to put the videos on a computer (that's livable for me), a mini DV tape, by the way, holds an hour long of high def video.

Hmmm...what else is out there? Then I find the Sony HDR-HC5 which is the most acceptable of the bunch, for me. It uses mini DV tape, so it passes my requirements. It does have AVCHD, though but IF i don't do any editing on the video then its okay. So it's a candidate.

What else..... I extend my search to "top high def camcorders" and lo and behold, I come accross the Canon HV20, which got very high marks and comes highly recommended or even editor's top pick here , here and here. So now i'm leaning towards the Canon HV20 more and more.

The Sony HDR-HC5 isn't highly recommended by any of the sites. It was just avarege. Actually, it was very difficult finding reviews for the Sony HDR-HC5. The thing that attracts me to it is the price. It is selling for PhP 34,999 at the local Sony shops so the price is pretty good for me at least in that regard.

Still the Canon HV20 has piqued my interest. Editor's pick. Recommended by at least 3 websites. Looks good! Okay, the Canon it is. A day later I'm at the mall looking for it. Where to look..... i guess i should just go directly to the Canon showroom and check it out there, right?

So I head off to Megamall and i'm indise inside the new Canon showroom. I can't wait to see it! And then bam!... "sorry sir, we don't have that yet.." They don't have it YET??? But the Canon HV20 is already being phased out in the US and is currently being replaced by the Canon HV30.

Actually the Canon HV30 is an improvement of the Canon HV20 so can't go wrong with it. However, if the Canon HV20 is not even available yet, what more the Canon HV30? bummer! Anyway, i still like the Canon HV20 because of the performance and also the price. Oh well, if its not in Canon stores yet, maybe I can find it in Hidalgo, although i'm not sure it they sell camcorders there.

the search continues.

---my canned thoughts

Live Life

Our family friend, Andrew, sent me the video of Randy Pausch. Have you seen this yet? If you haven't, you owe it to yourself to click it.

Life is very important and coming face to face with the idea of death either makes you cherish each moment or dread each second that passes by. It's very true, what Randy says, it's how you choose to live your life that will still matter in the end.

I've always believed that, you know....that it's the journey that's really important. Sure you have to have an idea where you are going in your life, but once you do, your journey there is what makes up your life. Your experiences. That is life. The things we go through, which can either be mundane or filled with joy and excitement.

Start doing important things. Important things to you. Better yet, do things that bring joy to not just you, but to those around you as well. You can start with the ones you love and care for and build from there. Care a little. No....i take that back.....care a LOT. What ARE we waiting for, right? We have the capacity to bring joy and on the opposite end, to bring pain to others. Joy is much easier easy, though, being an ass actually takes a lot of effort if you think about it.

Anyway, just stop being an ass if you know that you have been an ass. Do good things. Bring joy, life and hope to others. Don't believe what others say, that life is hard and difficult. Lets stop thinking that way. Thoughts become things. Life is good. There is hope.

Amidst the turmoil and chaos that we sometimes go through, seek what is good in your life and embrace it. Live it. And as long as you keep seeking what is good and true, like Randy says...everything else will fall into place.

Deep down inside, you KNOW that this is true. How do I know? Because you are still alive. Because you persist. That is because inside you there is still hope.

---my canned thoughts

You want change?

Ok, so there was another rally today to protest against Gloria "I'm Sorry" Macapagal Arroyo. On my way home i was listening to the radio and one of the students interviewed said she wasn't going to the rally because nothing changes anyway so why go. She then added that she'd rather make an essay. To solve the problem of our country, some people think we should just write about it. Let me see......ummm....no. I don't think so.

Although, I believe in expressing one's opinions (that's why I'm doing this in the first place, right?) I firmly believe that we can't just TALK about things and leave it at that. No. We have to back up our words with actions. If you want change you have to work on it and just not talk about it. Talking helps, but it's more believable if the person talking actually does something about it, otherwise, it's just a waste of time. You want real change? More action less talking.

Do what? Today I'd like to begin with the topic of.....

FOLLOWING THE RULES:

• Follow the stoplight when you are driving. Yes, the YELLOW light MEANS SLOW DOWN. Just follow the rules.
• Do not Jay-walk. Especially for those who don't even know how to cross the street. Just follow the rules.
• KEEP THE INTERSECTION FREE! The moment one moron beats a red light and ends up in the middle of the intersection (along with a few moron friends of theirs) this blocks traffic and causes jams. Hello people, jams are avoided when the intersection is free, think about it. And don't think the enforcer knows what to do too, that's too much to ask. On our own we should just be patient and follow the rules. Everything will be sorted out much faster this way. Just follow the rules.
• DO NOT COUNTER-FLOW! I UTTERLY HATE THIS. For the love of our God and country, PLEASE stop doing this!!! Mahilig lang kasi man-lamang ang mga taong ganito. It shows no respect for the other good citizens on the road. Counter-flow people are just plain old selfish, disrespectful, full of themselves and uneducated. Sad to say, even drivers of classy cars do this. You are the cause of traffic. How arrogant. May araw din kayo. Just follow the rules.
• If you get caught breaking the rules, be man (or woman) enough to get a ticket and pay for your mistake. PAY AT THE LTO OFFICE NOT the apprehending officer. Do the right thing na. TAMA NA ANG LAGAY! Sheesh! Just follow the rules.
• Line up properly at the elevator entrance. You will notice that some places already put an entrance and exit side so the people inside can actually find a way out so you can come in. First come first served, stop cutting in and let those that were there first get in first. It's not that hard to do. Just follow the rules.
• Line up properly when checking out at the grocery. I'm sure you have seen the sign at some check out counters that says "10 ITEMS OR LESS", right? Pretty simple and straightforward right? HA! Wrong. There are still some selfish people that go way over the limit indicated in the sign. Ummm.....to those of you who think that 10 cans of beer count as 1 item... NO!!! 10 packs of noodle soup DOES NOT count as 1!!! And yes, if it's a different flavor, it's still 10 pieces, NOT 1!!! Come on. Stop pretending that you don't know. You do. I know you do. We know you do. You actually look stupid pretending that you don't know. Stop embarrassing yourself. Just follow the rules and stop trying to bend them to suit you.
• Turn off or put your cellphone on mute in banks, churches and planes. It says so right at the entrance, and i assume that you can at least read if you have a cellphone, right? If your phone rings or beeps, it makes the guards suspicious of you, it will make the priest look for the source of the incoming call or text and might even point you out and it will make the pilot see the instrument monitors clearly so the won't crash the plane. Simple enough. Just follow the rules.
• Follow lane signs in car parks. When you see the arrow on the floor pointing TOWARDS your car as you are driving, then you are going the WRONG WAY buddy! You might even have yourself an accident. Why do it in the first place? 'Coz you saw a free slot so near you and the car coming from the CORRECT side might get it first, right? The other car is SUPPOSED to get it because he patiently and respectfully followed the signs and deserves that slot, NOT YOU. I think the appropriate term would be "wag kang kupal". Yes, I think that's the right term for it. Just follow the rules.
• Another parking rule in some places - Please Park Facing the Wall. If you don't know why, I'll tell you. It's for you to avoid putting soot on the wall from the exhaust of your car. It's to keep the place looking clean and beautiful for you and me, buddy. So please follow the rules.
• No Loading and unloading. Attention: all BUS DRIVERS, JEEPNEY DRIVERS and TAXI DRIVERS. To translate: WALANG BABAAN AT SAKAYAN. I singled out these 3 groups because they constantly abuse this causing traffic and chaos in the street. Another guilty party here are the traffic enforcers who almost always let these violators get away with breaking this rule. To me, yes, they are PART of the problem, along with Bayani Fernando and his blue boys and the Traffic Management Group Heads who don't seem to know what they are doing. What, are they too busy that they cant go out and see that this simple rule is not being followed?

Hi world!

This is my first post in my quest to say what's on my mind.