Need For Speed Goes Online Gaming.

Exit Crazy Kart, enter NEED FOR SPEED: WORLD. The network gaming version of the NEED FOR SPEED franchise from EA Games. Now, if you are still playing "for kids only" network racing online, then you are left behind. NEED FOR SPEED is the real racing game for the real men. Take it from me. This sure's gonna be and addictive ride like buddy classmate said. Do check my cars right here. By the way, here's the trailer of NFS WORLD.

Fluxus All Stars Vs. Pomplamoose: Who's Gonna BEAT IT ?

I get stuck on these two cover versions of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" . One was a collaboration of artist from the Fluxus Music based in Korea. The other is from a group called Pomplamoose. Both are great covers. Watch and judge for yourself if which of these version is the best.

Our Pluralistic Society Makes Our War against Jueteng Even More Difficult

It’s been a long time and we are still losing the battle against jueteng. The past administrations tried all of its efforts to stop jueteng, but unfortunately they failed because some government official, past and present, are benefiting from it. Which makes me wonder: Why is it that we lose on this war? Which makes this battle even more difficult and complicated to stop?

The reason, I guess, is that our view with gambling in general is very pluralistic. For example, jueteng is illegal while Small Town Lottery (STL, which is similar to jueteng) is legal. By that, we are difficult to differentiate between what legal and illegal because they are both the same. Let’s say video karera, saklaan, and other forms of street gambling are illegal while casinos, lotto, bingo, horse race betting, and cockfighting are legal. See, there is no distinction of what is wrong and what is right. You make law that will make an illegal legal, or even use the profits from gambling to help assist government projects. That’s very pluralistic. And sad to say, we are living in a pluralistic society, as my former teacher in values education told us.

There’s a clear Biblical message in I Timothy 6:10 that says:

For the LOVE OF MONEY is the root of all evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Why there is gambling? It’s because people love money these days. Even worse, people love money when money is earned without effort and no hard work. Because of this people who are addict to gambling wandered from God and being subjected to different kinds of grievances like loss of job, loss of love ones, broken relationships, and emotional disturbances.

Yet our, human government, apart from God, set exceptions to make gambling good by making it as a fund generator for their government projects, instead of running over tax evaders and smugglers. If that was so, why are still in our bleak situation. And it’s to funny to realize that while the gambler helps the government in their social programs for the poor, his own family is being forgotten.

There are also rumors that some government official wants to legalize jueteng. This kind of suggestion could make things worse. They are raising the white flag if they continue to insist on it. If they watch Face To Face on TV5, we could see families and friendships being broken by gambling. Would that bother them to think for a minute?

So at the end of this commentary, I would say that if we want to abolish jueteng, we need to change our pluralistic thinking on gambling. If we don’t change our pluralistic stance, then all of its efforts to fight jueteng will be useless.

In Response

I've just read a post on the P-Noy's Website entitled "A Note On every Pinoy", written by a certain Ray L. St. Jasper and I was disgusted because in spite of the administration's incompetencies during the Manila Hostage Crisis, this guy will support P-Noy even though he never voted him.

So I make this post in response to this so that I want to know him that he made the wrong decision to stand behind P-Noy.

For the nth time, let me honestly say that I did not vote for P-Noy, for I did not believe that he is president material, but I do support his presidency now, and I pray that he succeed. My reservation then is now irrelevant. Whether the yellow armies were wrong in voting for him is likewise irrelevant. P-Noy did not cheat and won his mandate honorably. I have seen presidents whose election to the office were marked by questionable conduct. Election is as sacred as marriage and whoever disrespects its sanctity does not deserve respect. P-Noy clearly earned my respect.

You did not vote for P-Noy because you do not believe that he is a president material, yet in the end you bluffed by saying you support his presidency. Why did you changed your position? Why do you want to support P-Noy now that the first evidence of his incompetency saw right behind our very eyes. That leads to my comment on whether the yellow armies were wrong in voting P-Noy. Sorry to disagree, but this is a relevant issue because our voters never used their heads because they voted because of bloodline and pedigree, not by competence and character. And now that we see the repercussions of our actions, is their any excuse that the yellow armies will make to justify their votes? You say that P-Noy did not cheat and won the mandate honorably. For your information, the 2010 "automated" elections are still in question by other individuals, including some IT experts. P-Noy did not won by a clear mandate, but rather he is a victim by a "rigged" elections, but thanks to the mainstream media, this issue has clearly deleted out of our minds. And by now, P-Noy can't earned my respect unless this issue has been solved.

P-Noy is a good and honest man. For all my 40 years, I have not seen a president like him. And when he spoke during his inaugural and SONA, I saw a President who spoke the language of the Filipino people. He rightfully articulated the rage of a misgoverned people, and sincerely shared their dreams of a better government. Coming from a disastrous past, I would surely put my trust on P-Noy, as I do now.

If P-Noy was a good and honest man and spoke the language of the people, why he is still silent upon the Hacienda Luisita issue? Why can't he persuade the Cojuangcos to give the land to the farmers?

Regarding on his inaugural speech and SONA, there's nothing new about. It just a mere litany of what the previous administrations never done or what they done evil. I've heard this so many times from the previous presidents, but nothing happened. The corrupt goes scot-free while the nation goes dysfunctional.

Yes, we came from a disastrous past, but voting for an incompetent leader would only repeat it, worse.

While sovereignty resides on us people, we have little knowledge on the going-ons in the political battlefield.(Although, P-Noy, at the risk of self-embarrassment, is being more truthful and transparent.) But surely, we are aware of the war being waged against the P-Noy presidency. And surely again, this war is not being fought for the good of the people but for the interest and comforts of the disgruntled and affected powerful few. In this war, P-Noy will not be the casualty, but the dreams of the ordinary people.

The problem with us is that we treat our sovereignity as a toy. We don't take it seriously. For 112 years as a free and sovereign nation, did we mature? NO! Because we don't educate ourselves and educate others about the right way of treating our sovereignity. And this is the danger of having little knowledge( or none) of the going-ons in the political battlefield, as you say. Unless we educate ourselves and the others, and unless we face the truth that we are dysfunctional country, we can never take to what P-Noy called it as "matuwid na landas".

You said there is a war waged against P-Noy's presidency, but I see this war in this case. For a few people, who accepted the truth and made the right step to real change by voting a competent leader, they would wage war, against corruption, incompetence, and ignorance. This war will never end unless the yellow hordes accept their failures. At the end of the day, P-Noy will be a casualty, a big baggage to a dysfunctional nation.

For the yellow armies who voted him, this is the time you should stand by your decision.

Yeah, you're right. The Yellow Army should stand by their decision by admiting that their president is incompetent and never able to lead our nation. They should be held responsible for the national shame that we brought to the world. And I will never repeat it all over again why. One word is enough for a wise man(if you are wise).

As for me, I would like to see the day when the real Mr. Juan Dela Cruz would stand up and lead the people, but until that day comes, P-Noy has my support, and I will follow his lead.

For me it's different. I would like to see the day when our nation is waking up from these yellow nightmare and be mature by voting for competent leaders on the next election. To treat democracy and our sovereignity seriously. And to change our bad habits and attitudes as a nation. But unless that day comes, and unless P-Noy understands and prove himself more worthy to be a leader, I am always be reluctant to give my support to him.

Kamot-Ulo Hanggang Mapanot.

Dahil sa madugong hostage crisis na kumitil sa siyam na turistang galing ng Hong Kong, malaking kuwestiyon sa administrasyong Aquino ang kakayahang hawakan ang mga kritikal na situwasyon kagaya ng hostage taking. Tuloy ay naungkat ang mga isyu kagaya ng kawalan ng kakayahan ng kasalukuyang pangulo na siyang isyu pa bago pa man siya maupo sa puwesto.

Tila baga nagkakatotoo na ang pangamba ng ilan na di rin magtatagal at mawawalan na ng amoy at lasa ang bagong adminstrasyon dahil sa kawalan ng kakayahan at mababaw na pamantayan sa pagpili ng mga uupo sa kanyang gabinete.

Kung maaalala ninyo, sa kanyang plataporma noong eleksyon, sinabi ni P-Noy na ang integridad, kakayahan, at performance ang siyang magiging batayan ng kanyang adminstrasyon sa pagpili sa mga taong bubuo sa kanyang gabinete. Ngunit dito sa platapormang ito ay tila bagsak na si P-Noy sapagkat ang mga bumubuo sa kanyang gabinete ay mga kaibigan, kaklase, mga dating nagsilbi sa kanyang ina na nauna pa sa kanya, at ang mga tumulong sa kanyang kampanya noong halalan. Ang kanyang basehan ng pag-pili ay base sa “utang na loob” at “katapatan sa partido”. Isang paulit-ulit na problema sa pulitika.

Sumisingaw rin ang di umano’y agawan sa mga cabinet position ng dalawang paksyon sa administrasyon, ang “Balay” na binubuo ng mga taong sumuporta sa tambalang Noy-Mar noong 2010 elections at ng “Samar” na kinabibilangan nga tumaguyod sa tambalang Noy-Bi.

Nakakalungkot isipin na paulit-ulit na lamang ang pangyayari. Nagpalit nga tayo ng adminstrasyon pero ang mga pumalit ay mas pulpol pa sa dating administrasyon.

Maaring magalit na sa akin ang mga bumoto kay P-Noy ngunit isa lang ang masasabi ko. Matagal na tayong binalaan noon pang halalan ukol sa kawalan ng kakayahan ni P-Noy ngunit hindi tayo nakinig at sa halip ay pumili tayo dahil sa sikat siya at anak siya ni ganito’t ganyan. Ngayong nangyari na ang trahedya dalawang linggo na ang nakalipas, anong mukha pa ang ihaharap ng mga bumoto, sumuporta, at nag-tiwala kay P-Noy? Buti na lang at hindi ko siya binoto. Kundi isa na ako sa mga nag-kamot ng ulo hanggang sa mapanot.

Hanggang kalian tayo matututo sa ating mga pinagdaanan? Ilang trahedya pa ba ang kailangan bago tayo mamulat at matauhan?