what a (big) waste

Malacañang household bills: P2.4-B tab on taxpayers money in 2006

i shouldn't be complaining since i haven't been paying taxes back home since i earn and reside in hk. but still ... and why am i still shocked?

it's dishearting to think that even just a quarter of that 2.4B can go a long way in giving better education to more children, or providing subsidized medicine for the sick, feed the hungry, or promote entrepreneurship so the poor learn to fend for themselves.

and what about the environmental impact of wasting paper, electricity, gas, etc etc etc?

someone should really teach these guys some social responsibility.

taking stock

so "the baba", the biggest competitor of the company i'm working for (a.ka. "the source"), has unveiled its ipo here in hk.

and since it's the largest e-commerce company in china, everyone just wants a piece of it ... including myself.

yes, this clueless, uninitiated guy is venturing into the risky world of the stock market.

but with great reviews surrounding the ipo (read more 1, 2, 3), why shouldn't i pass off the opportunity to - hopefully - grow some money.

besides, "the baba" seems like a very dynamic company. sort of google-like, if i may add, and very asian. it's chairman is young, warm and charismatic. he doesn't come off stiff, rigid and overly scientific.

all of these, i think, are the secrets of the baba's huge success in china - almost 70% market share compared with only 8% for "the source".

so why wouldn't a stock market newbie like me consider this a good investment?

what's news

'Desperate' Filipino joke draws fire
some say the joke was plain insensitive and a racial slur. others ask why can't pinoys take a joke. i say the joke was in bad taste.

i won't mind if we are subjected as the butt of a joke if there's a hint of truth to it - which will explain the "stereotyping" - but i really know that pinoy doctors are some of the best in the world. and to put that in question - even though it's only an innocent "joke" - is just sad.

now, while the joke was simply in bad taste, the reaction to it is just over the top - an apology on primetime, a boycott, an apology is not enough. so what do you want guys? the joke maybe uncalled for, but let's not look at ourselves too highly.


Cory Aquino a victim of ‘insensitive’ US TV joke
now for this, i don't understand why they're crying foul. yes, madame cory is not a slut slut, but c'mon guys, it's a news parody and a satire. picking on people is the spirit of satire. i haven't really seen the episode (just about to), but i'm sure it's all plain and simple political humor.


Britney: You Snooze, You Lose?
i don't exactly like her. i dread listening to all her bubble pop tunes before her career crashed - well, "sometimes" is still an exception. but what used to be a dislike has turned into sheer pity - on what she turned out to be and what she has made of her now-disastrous life. this girl needs a lot of help.