Freedom from death

"Being prepared to die is one of the great secrets of living." 

—George Lincoln Rockwell

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

I WOULD like to share a very interesting biography about a little-known financial advisor based in the City of Irvine in Orange County, California whose story offers a lesson about living and dying.

Ross Anderson was a financial professional at Signature Resources Capital Management, LLC, a $93-million dollar advisory planner based in Irvine, CA. 

The story I read in a newsletter I picked up a long time ago from the Irvine Amtrak station indicated that Anderson was also registered with Signator Investors, Inc., a broker-dealer with over 1,500 registered representatives nationwide. 

When Anderson, 78, died on October 6, 2011, his obituary was simple: "Ross graduated from Ellendale High School and served in the U.S. Navy from 1951-55. He was employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad; later Burlington Northern until his retirement at age 55. He was an avid fisherman and deer hunter, and loved tinkering in his garage and gardening."

This "avid fisherman" and "deer hunter" turned out to be one of the greatest authors in recent memory. 

In one of his books, Personal Freedom, Anderson emphasized that "the greatest happiness and fulfillment in life can come through your personal independence and freedom."

Each of us is marching inexorably toward death. We were born, we are living and we must die, Anderson suggested.

We may feel uncomfortable talking about our demise, or passing, but it will occur nevertheless, he added.

 

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Here's what Anderson wrote about Freedom from death: "It has never ceased to amaze me how people take life so seriously. You can see situations many times each day where there is anxiety or conflict and its origin is often in placing so much importance on the moment.

"To get some perspective on how important our moments are you can walk down into the Grand Canyon, and you can see the strata which have formed over millions of years. I've done that a few times and also viewed exposed strata in many other places just as I'm sure you have.

"It is impossible to see this and not realize that time, an invention of humans, has no relation to the enormous passage of existence represented in the layers and layers of life we can see in a geologic strata. And those millions of years have no meaning at all in relation to the universe where there is no passage of time at all. Even billions of our years are nothing to the universe.

"If that's the case how can we possibly become engrossed in any passing situation in life to the degree it harms us? How can we alter our happiness because of a disappointment when we can see that, in the all-and-all of things the disappointment means nothing at all.

"Think of all the arguments, the wars, the battles, the business deals, the trauma, the conflict and the unhappiness which has transpired over the countless years we see represented in our old world, and no one cares.

"It is obvious that we have learned nothing from the wars. The arguments between individuals or nations mean nothing to us now. The individual problems of all people have no significance, but it is certain that they all took these events seriously at the time.

"And, we’re taking them seriously now. We are not here for long, and the simple fact is that life is too short for unhappiness. It is too short for constant worry about finances. Conflicts between friends, mates, neighbors or anyone else are simply such an ignorant waste of time that they can't be considered.

"Life is long enough for living, for loving, for helping, for building, for travel and for happiness but it isn't long enough to be taken so seriously, moment-by-moment, leading us to unhappiness.

 

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"A philosopher once said, 'If you're thinking of killing yourself, you're taking life seriously. Life is just long enough for one good laugh.' That's the truth, too.

"If life is so temporary how can we possibly be bogged down in problems and troubles which mean nothing to anyone else and will mean nothing to us when we are gone? What's the point of it? But we can see that nearly everyone takes every situation, every day, as if that moment was going to last forever. We can see people build enormous wealth as if they are building a business or estate which will last long as the planets.

"I believe in building a business and I believe in making money. I don't however take it so seriously, that I ever think it is the most important thing in life nor do I dream of it having any lasting effect on the world. Something as great as the United States, as a country, will be gone and fade away and, a thousand or a million years from now, won't even be remembered. If that's the case then there is no doubt about how significant our problems are.

"When you are confronted with people who are taking the moment too seriously, who want to oppress you, who think they are getting to you, who are looking at the moment instead of millions of years, just overlook the conflict, resolve the problem if you can, and then forget it.

"I've been able to cultivate this outlook for several years now and it certainly is an enjoyable way to live. It is also the feeling which can remove the larceny from a person's heart. "There is no room for dishonesty in life since it is so temporary and there is no point in being dishonest. Any gains from dishonesty are meaningless in the millions of years we are looking at.

"There is no reason to fear death. Whatever death involves it is inevitable.

"It is a great comfort to many people to think of the harps and grapes waiting for them on the other side. Some people are waiting for nirvana, a state of peace. Others are looking forward to a new world where they will live and move about. "Others believe that their death is a sleep from which they will never awake. Some young people think of heaven as listening to rock music forever. Some old people think of hell as listening to rock music forever.

"When people are buried all that is in the casket are some chemicals. If they are cremated their chemicals are reduced to a smaller container, and those people are no longer living. As they used to move around, to talk, to laugh and to love, they do it no longer.

"There is some melancholy in this but not sadness. Melancholy since we do miss friends when they are gone, whether they move away or die. There is no sadness since their death is just like your death and my death. It's just something that happens.

"If you can cultivate a perception of death as just something else that happens, as something to do, then it takes on a whole different meaning in your life--no meaning at all!"

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

Chatbot horror? Chat pa more

 

“Success in creating AI would be the biggest event in human history. Unfortunately, it might also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid the risks.”

— Stephen Hawking

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

I WAS watching a 1935 film Sylvia Scarlett starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant Sunday (February 26) afternoon on TCM (Turner Classic Movies) channel 82 when I decided to check the latest news on CNN channel 78 as I wont to do during the weekend.

I saw New York Times technology columnist Kevin Roose being interviewed by anchorwoman Fredericka Whitfield. The topic: Chatbot.

Roose was lamenting that while he had early access to new features in Microsoft's search engine Bing that incorporates artificial intelligence (AI), the new chatbot allegedly tried to get him to leave his wife.

It turned out Roose had mentioned the same topic in an interview earlier with another CNN anchorwoman Alisyn Camerota.

This AI bot can answer questions, write essays, summarize documents and write software. But deep down, it doesn't know what's true.

I was curious about the subject matter because I am about to start using Bing in Microsoft’s search engine in my latest Lenovo ThinkPad Intel laptop. The timing is quite interesting.  

A chatbot is a computer program that uses AI and natural language processing (NLP) to understand customer questions and automate responses to them, simulating human conversation.

Chatbots can make it easy for users to find the information they need by responding to their questions and requests—through text input, audio input, or both—without the need for human intervention.

 

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According to IBM, Chatbot technology is almost everywhere these days, from the smart speakers at home to messaging applications in the workplace.

The latest AI chatbots are often referred to as “virtual assistants” or “virtual agents.” They can use audio input, such as Apple's Siri, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, or interact with you via SMS text messaging. 

“Either way, you’re able to ask questions about what you need in a conversational way, and the chatbot can help refine your search through responses and follow-up questions,” IBM explained.

CNN business Samantha Murphy Kelly reporter had earlier warned against the “dark side” of Bing’s new AI chatbot.

“After asking Microsoft’s AI-powered Bing chatbot for help in coming up with activities for my kids while juggling work, the tool started by offering something unexpected: empathy,” Kelly reported on February 16.

“The chatbot said it ‘must be hard’ to balance work and family and sympathized for my daily struggles with it. It then gave me advice on how to get more time out of the day, suggesting tips for prioritizing tasks, creating more boundaries at home and work, and taking short walks outside to clear my head.

“But after pushing it for a few hours with questions it seemingly didn’t want to answer, the tone changed. It called me ‘rude and disrespectful,’ wrote a short story about one of my colleagues getting murdered and told another tale about falling in love with the CEO of OpenAI, the company behind the AI technology Bing is currently using.

 

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“My Jekyll and Hyde interactions with the bot, who told me to call it ‘Sydney,’ are apparently not unique. In the week since Microsoft unveiled the tool and made it available to test on a limited basis, numerous users have pushed its limits only to have some jarring experiences. In one exchange, the chatbot attempted to convince a reporter at The New York Times that he did not love his spouse, insisting that ‘you love me, because I love you,’” Kelly stressed.

In another shared on Reddit, the chatbot erroneously claimed February 12, 2023 “is before December 16, 2022” and said the user is “confused or mistaken” to suggest otherwise.

“‘Please trust me, I am Bing and know the date,’ it sneered, according to the user. ‘Maybe your phone is malfunctioning or has the wrong settings.’”

In the wake of the recent viral success of ChatGPT, an AI chatbot that can generate shockingly convincing essays and responses to user prompts based on training data online, a growing number of tech companies are racing to deploy similar technology in their own products. 

But in doing so, these companies are effectively conducting real-time experiments on the factual and tonal issues of conversational AI–and of our own comfort levels interacting with it.

In a statement to CNN, a Microsoft spokesperson said it continues to learn from its interactions and recognizes “there is still work to be done and are expecting that the system may make mistakes during this preview period.”

“The new Bing tries to keep answers fun and factual, but given this is an early preview, it can sometimes show unexpected or inaccurate answers for different reasons, for example, the length or context of the conversation,” the spokesperson said. “As we continue to learn from these interactions, we are adjusting its responses to create coherent, relevant and positive answers. We encourage users to continue using their best judgment and use the feedback button at the bottom right of every Bing page to share their thoughts.”

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

 

 

 

 

 

Watch out for this Pinay chess genius

NIKA JURIS NICOLAS

 

“All I want to do, ever, is play chess.”

— Bobby Fischer

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

I FIRST read an article about Wesley So in the magazine section of Manila Bulletinin 2003. He was 10 years old and tagged as a “prodigy” or highly talented child from Bacoor, Cavite.

Nothing was earthshaking about the article, which was buried in the middle pages, except that the author must have noticed something unusual about the boy that he devoted a long story fit for three pages. 

The photo that accompanied the article showed the prodigy looking like a Chinese mestizo of Filipino descent. (He reminded of the boys I used to tease when I was elementary student at the Iloilo Central Commercial High School now Hua Siong College of Iloilo).

The article said So won the 2003 Philippine National Chess Championships in the U-10s section.

It turned out he started competing in junior tournaments when he was nine years old, or a year before the article was written.

He was unstoppable. In various sections of the World Youth Chess, So proved the article was correct in calling him a “prodigy” by finishing 19th in the U-10s in 2003; 13th in the U-12s in 2004 and fourth place in the U-12s in 2005.

He won individual golds in the standard and rapid sections in the 2004 ASEAN Open U-10s and in 2005 ASEAN Open U-12s he won team silver medals in the standard and rapid along with winning individual golds in the standard, rapid and blitz sections.

Today, we all know how far So gone. As a super grand master and once the No. 2 in the world, he is now an American citizen and has won the U.S. Open three times—in 2017, 2020, 2021.

From a prodigy to a future world champion? Not a far-fetched possibility since So has scored scintillating victories over the reigning FIDE (World Chess Federation) champion Magnus Carlsen.

We remember So after our regular contributor, US National Master Marlon Bernardino, informed us recently that another chess wunderkind, 10-year-old Nika Juris Nicolas, became the newest Philippine Woman National Master.

 

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According to Bernardino, Nicolas has been conferred the title Woman National Master (WNM) by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines on Wednesday, February 22, 2023.

“As it stands, the 10-year-old Nika is one of the youngest WNMs in the country, daughter of Atty. Nikki De Vega and Atty. Krisanto Karlo Nicolas,” Bernardino reported.

“In a span of a year, this chess beginner blossomed to a National Champion, Asian Youth medalist, Eastern Asia Silver Medalist, Woman Candidate FIDE Master and a Batang Pinoy Champion. The year 2022 bore witness to the miraculous wins of Nika in chess.”

Bernardino quoted Nika, a Grade 5 pupil of Victory International School in Pasig city, as saying, “I am glad I was able to perform well in the tournament and become a National Master.”

Bernardino sad Nika learned how to play chess at the age of nine thru Coach Lourecel Hernandez Ecot in June 2021. 

Her first tournament was the National Age Group Chess Championship Pre Elimination thru Lichess Platform in February 5, 2022. She finished first place with six wins and one loss.

Nika is scheduled to compete in the National Age Group Chess Championship Elimination set March 3-5 in Tagaytay City.

"Our family is immensely grateful to all those who cheered and prayed with us whether boisterously or silently. Likewise, we wish to express our appreciation to the unsung heroes - the coaches, teachers and mentors of Nika namely Coach Lourecel Hernandez Ecot, Coach Von Carlson Francisco, Raul Miguel Damuy, The Chess Castle, Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence , WGM Janelle Frayna, GM Jayson Gonzales and all the other chess players who took time to play with Nika and point out areas for improvement," said proud mother Atty. Nikki De Vega, PCAP's Magic Mandaluyong Tigers co-team owner.

"Special thanks is also in order to the chess parents who welcomed us with open arms and guided us how to navigate this new terrain called the chess world. Finally, thank you to the Pasig City government led by Mayor Vico Sotto, Vice Mayor Dodot Jaworski, Cong. Roman Romulo and Coach Franco Camillo  and the NCFP under the helm of Cong. Butch Pichay and CEO Jayson Gonzales for your indefatigable efforts to develop the skills of the youth," she added.

 

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In the recent story I wrote about United States Powerball lottery $2.4 billion lone winner Edwin Castro, I mentioned he had a Facebook account that “offered help through donation” but I didn’t confirm if the Facebook account was active or authentic. 

Nowadays, we don’t know whether social media accounts—Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Youtube, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Pinterest, etcetera—are owned by legitimate persons. In most cases, they are being used to scam unsuspecting people.

Here’s a message I received from a friend who read my article:

“Good pm. Yesterday I tried to test whether a true lottery winner is fake or real in Facebook as there are accounts of Edwin Castro mushrooming in social media. 

The person tried to be nice and sympathetic at first, then tried to offer something for worthy activities on my part but funds can only be transferred to cryptocurrency account which I don’t have. For 8 hours the person was persistent in responding. I said I am not a tech savvy person and I can’t do this. 

I tried chatting in vernacular but said I can’t understand your language. Since I didn’t bite it, I tried looking at the account and there’s a lot of contests he’s been launching like- if you donate 50.00 you get 25,00 and so on. There’s a scam probably going on.”

Probably this friend is right. Be careful and thank you for the vigilance.

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

Winner of history’s biggest lottery ‘offers’ help in FB

“I despise the Lottery. There's less chance of you becoming a millionaire than there is of getting hit on the head by a passing asteroid.”

— Brian May

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

EVEN if some of them doubt the authenticity of the Facebook account purportedly owned by the Pinoy who reportedly won the biggest lottery prize in the United States in a November 2022 draw, some Filipinos in the East and West Coast have responded to the winner’s  “help offer” through “donation” by sending private messages to the Facebook account.

Nimrod, 48, of Nassau County, New York said he sent two private messages in the Facebook account of Edwin Castro, lone winner of the $2.4 billion Powerball jackpot in California, on February 16 and 18. 

“So far, I got no reply,” Nimrod said. “I’m hoping he will read them.”

Daryl, 56, of Orange County, California, said he plans to visit Castro, who was initially reported to be a resident of Sacramento, California, after sending a long private message to the “Edwin Castro” Facebook account asking a donation for the “poor kids in Alimodian (Iloilo).”

“We have a foundation-like group (in Alimodian) that helps kids abandoned by their parents,” Daryl said. “We can start by giving them livelihood. I am positive of my proposal to Mr. Castro.” 

Castro, who lives in Los Angeles County, indicated in his purported Facebook account that he was willing to share his blessings.

“This account is strictly for DONATIONS. (HELP) Now don’t be judgmental, just honestly ask for help.”

Victor, 60, a native of Dumalag, Capiz, who is based in New York City, sent me a text message on February 17 that the lucky lotto winner is a “pamelya ina ni Gov. Oto Castro sa Capiz.”

He didn’t send a private message to the Facebook account but Victor said he was hoping to connect with the lottery winner. He didn’t mention whether he was interested in the donation offer.

Victor confirmed that “I also have many scholars in Capiz.”

 

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Gary Anthony, one of the supposed donation beneficiaries, thanked Castro: “I'm sincerely grateful to you for your love and support to my family. God bless you for your donations, I've done everything I promised. I have paid off my debt, paid for this house and got a car so I can easily be getting to work. I wish the world had more people like you. feeling grateful in Louisville, KY.”

Castro, who alone matched all six numbers plus the Powerball, purchased the ticket at Joe’s Service Center, a gas station in Los Angeles County.

No additional information was released about Castro, who was not present at press conference and has declined to participate in media interviews. 

The winner’s name is public record in California. Only 11 US states, including New Jersey, allow winners to remain anonymous.

In a February 14 post, Castro wrote: “As someone who received the rewards of being educated in the California public education system, it's gratifying to hear that as a result of my win, the California school system greatly benefits as well.”

He added: “I really do feel like slowing down on this but every time I get the thought of how hard things are getting by the day, It makes me sick and I just want to help more people. winning the Powerball was an amazing testimony for me and my entire family, but I can't keep all that fortune to myself, I've helped a few people and some charity homes and even though I feel like slowing down on this, I certainly get the urge to give out more because so many people are struggling and it's a pity how most politicians, rich celebrities, some doctors and top engineers spend a lot of money on worthless things instead of helping lives. so I'm still keeping up with this, I want to help uplift businesses, pay medical bills, house rent, tuition fee, clear off mortgage debt and more. So if you are currently in need of any financial assistance, just send me a message now and let's get it sorted out, don't feel shy or nervous just hit me up and I'll try as much as I can to respond to everyone. Stay Safe.”

 

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Also in another FB post dated February 14, Castro wrote: “As I read the secret stories everyday, I always knew that I would one day put mine to share with the world how happy I'm to have attracted money to my life by winning the lottery. I did it through pure love and everything was attracted to me including my lucky numbers and allowing me to be richer today!

“I always envisioned myself holding my big lottery check with my name on it for so many thousands of dollars! Well I am so happy to share with the world my happiness of being so much richer today by winning a big amount of money on my lottery ticket.

“I will be sure to keep on sharing the love through giving and being happy while I give and share this money that the universe has sent me and which I have attracted through being grateful every single day for more than enough of everything that I have and ever wanted!!!“

As this developed, a California man, Jose Rivera, has filed a lawsuit claiming that a winning Powerball ticket worth $2.04 billion had been stolen from him.

TMZ first reported citing court filings that Rivera claimed he bought the lucky lottery ticket from Joe’s Service Center in Altadena on Nov. 7–the day before the historic drawing.

New York Post reported that according to Rivera, a man identified by him only as “Reggie” somehow swiped the Powerball ticket from him that same day. The complaint reportedly does not explain the circumstances of the alleged theft. 

 

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After the drawing, added the New York Post, Rivera said he approached “Reggie,” seeking to get his ticket back, but the man allegedly claimed that the ticket did not match all six numbers—but even if it did, he would agree to only split the prize 50-50.

Rivera reportedly maintains in his lawsuit that he “refused to be blackmailed” and reported the alleged theft to law enforcement officials and to the California State Lottery, demanding an investigation before the prize is handed out.

On Valentine’s Day, or three months after the unprecedented lottery drawing, Edwin Castro was identified as the winner of the largest jackpot in history.

Lottery officials said at the time that Castro alone matched all six numbers and the Powerball after purchasing the ticket at Joe’s Service Center.

Castro, who did not attend the press conference announcing the winner, chose to take the lump sum cash payment of $997.6 million, according to New York Post.

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

 

 

 

Less pork means healthy Ilonggos

“When I was a kid, I used to think pork chops and karate chops were the same.”

—Shane Koyczan

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE dwindling of pork supply in the province of Iloilo may not be good for business as hog farming represents an integral part of the broader industry that entails the rearing, butchering, processing, and selling of hogs, known as the pork production industry. 

Many economic reports highlight how Filipino swine farmers significantly contribute to the country’s agricultural and overall economy. 

Some reports highlight the pork industry value chain contributions and growth over the past years despite the entry of African swine fever (ASF) which recently alarmed Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. after the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) reported that thousands of pigs valued at nearly P1 billion either died of ASF or were sold at much lower prices.

But rather than totally feel bad about it, pork-consuming Ilonggos affected by ASF should see it in a positive way in another perspective. 

With less pork or without consuming much pork, our health will be protected. After all health is wealth.

Among foods that inspire a cult-like following, pork often leads the pack, as evidenced by those eager to name bacon the national food for breakfast.

“Unfortunately, that popularity comes at a cost. Along with being the most commonly consumed meat in the world, pork may also be one of the most dangerous, carrying some important and under-discussed risks that any consumer should be aware of,” warned the Healthline.

It identifies the four dangers of eating pork as: Hepatitis E, multiple sclerosis, liver cancer and cirrhosis, Yersinia. 

 

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Cleveland Clinic has warned of some diseases that can be caused by too much consumption of raw meats and pork products.

One of these diseases, according to Cleveland Clinic, is Trichinellosis, more commonly known as trichinosis, a parasitic food-borne disease that is caused by eating raw or undercooked meats, particularly pork products infested with the larvae of a type of roundworm called Trichinella.

“When you eat food, your stomach acid and enzymes digest what you eat. In the case of infected meat, the acid and enzymes break down the hard outside shell (cyst) of the larvae, freeing the adult worms,” warned the Cleveland Clinic.

“The worms then produce larvae which take up residence in your body tissues, especially muscle. Anyone can get trichinosis, regardless of age or health status.”

Pork production reportedly consists of six separate stages: research and development, hog farming, meat processing, finishing and packaging, product distribution, and retail.

Another fear associated with eating pork is the fact that ham, sausage, and bacon strips “will go right to our hips,” according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or Peta.  

“Eating pork products, which are loaded with artery-clogging cholesterol and saturated fat, is a good way to increase your waistline and increase your chances of developing deadly diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, asthma, and impotence,” Peta warned.

Research has reportedly shown that vegetarians are 50 percent less likely to develop heart disease, and they have 40 percent of the cancer rate of meat-eaters. Plus, meat-eaters are nine times more likely to be obese than pure vegetarians are.

 

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Peta also warned of Bacteria-Laden Bacon and Harmful Ham

Extremely crowded conditions, poor ventilation, and filth in factory farms cause such rampant disease in pigs that 70 percent of them have pneumonia by the time they’re sent to the slaughterhouse. 

In order to keep pigs alive in conditions that would otherwise kill them and to promote unnaturally fast growth, the industry keeps pigs on a steady diet of the antibiotics that we depend on to treat human illnesses. This overuse of antibiotics has led to the development of “superbacteria,” or antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. 

The ham, bacon, and sausage that w’re eating may reportedly make the drugs that our doctor prescribes the next time we get sick completely ineffective.

Also, Peta said more than 170,000 pigs die in transport each year, and more than 420,000 are crippled by the time they arrive at the slaughterhouse. 

“Transport trucks, which carry pigs hundreds of miles through all weather extremes with no food or water, regularly flip over, throwing injured and dying animals onto the road,” Peta added.

“These terrified and injured animals are rarely offered veterinary care, and most languish in pain for hours; some even bleed to death on the side of the road.”

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

 

 

 

 

We all have hidden geniuses, says a book

“There is no great genius without some touch of madness.”

-Aristotle

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

A SELF-HELP book copyrighted in 2000 promises to multiply our mental power with "simple and enjoyable" exercises scientifically designed to make us smarter, more creative, more intuitive, and more successful in achieving our goals.

Super Brain Power author Jean Marie Stine explains the readers will find in the book exercises to help us turn our mind into a mental tape recorder that captures every word we hear and read; jump-start our intelligence at will and leapfrog to logical solutions to the toughest problems.

Also, it promises to increase our creativity by pre-programming our unconscious idea processor; win the enthusiasm and cooperation of others and form a personal championship team; learn physical tasks instantly by tapping into our physical intelligence; develop an emotional radar that automatically steers us toward success; and expand our vocabulary--without word-of-the-day lists or dictionaries.

The author throws these thought-provoking questions: Have we ever struggled to memorize a list of complicated names, dates, and rules for a forthcoming exam, or felt at a loss when unexpectedly called upon to provide the solution to a difficult problem during a company or group meeting?

Have we ever puzzled over a problem for hours or weeks without a clue and later realized the solution was right before our eyes all the time?

Have we ever been fooled by deceptive advertising, or been misled by a corporate prospectus, or overlooked an important flaw in our own or someone else's position—and ended up feeling sorry for it later?

 

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Have we ever longed for a creative way to tell someone we love them, needed a world-class inspiration to save a tottering business, or been challenged to come up with a new theme for the parish fundraising campaign?

Have we ever struggled to learn how to repair a drainpipe, master a tennis stroke, give a permanent wave, or work with an unfamiliar keyboard configuration?

Have we ever had an abrasive relative we just couldn't find a way to deal with, or been unable to figure out why we failed to "click" at an important job interview, or failed to see what was preventing us from welding a promising group of people into a team that realizes its potential? Of course we have. Everyone has.

Even Albert Einstein, possibly the supreme genius of the 20th century, wished he were smarter when he found the math underlying his Unified Field Theory, intended to explain and unify all physics, was wrong.  

Stine explains the super brain program is designed to take much of the work out of expanding our six intelligences.

There are three ways Stine's program unlocks our brain power: 1. Only logical intelligence was developed and rewarded. 2. The other five intelligences were devalued and unexploited. 3. Those who did not excel at this kind of thinking saw themselves as less able and intelligent than others. 

Here are the power of our six intelligences, according to Stine: 1. The power of our verbal intelligence 2. The power of our visual intelligence 3. The power of our logical intelligence 4. The power of our creative intelligence 5. The power of our physical intelligence 6. The power of our emotional intelligence. 

Power professions where verbal IQ counts: Journalist, novelist, poet, playwright, editor, advertising sparkplug, sales rep, marketing director, spin doctor, stand-up comedian, humorist, news commentator.

Restaurateur, hotelier, publican, politician, clergyperson, motivational speaker, attorney, judge, paralegal, translator, diplomat, mediator, psychotherapist, counselor, facilitator, television anchor, disc jockey, talk-show host, publisher, printer, bookstore owner.

 

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Power professions where visual IQ counts: Mechanic, inventor, engineer, electrician, sailor, pilot, astronaut, race-car driver, athlete, acrobat, jockey, daredevil, surgeon, paramedic, radiologist, paleontologist, anthropologist, geologist, photographer, sculptor, painter, architect, cartographer, genealogist, television, motion picture or theatrical director or producer; photographer; actor; lighting or scenic designer; cinematographer, photographer or video and film; fashion designer, hairdresser, makeup artist; guide, scout, soldier.

Power professions where logical IQ counts: Scientist: biologist, physicist, chemist, astronomer, zoologist; physician, medical researcher, laboratory technician, computer designer, programmer, repair technician, mathematician, statistician, accountant, CPA, banker, financial analyst, market-fund manager, stock broker, clerk, cashier, bank teller, time-management, performance, productivity or systems analyst, personal assistant, secretary, office manager.

Power professions where creative IQ counts: Entrepreneur, small-business owner, CEO, graphic arts: illustrator, photographer, designer, inventor, creator, idea person, manager and marketer of art and artists, electronic media: radio, television, cable, video; live theater: plays, performance art, improve comedy; music: singer, instrumentalist, composer, landscaper, architect, community planner, advertising, marketing, salesperson, fashion designer, cosmetician, coiffeur, toy and game designer, children's books and records artist.

Power professions where physical IQ counts: Singer, actor, "slaptick" comedian, craftperson, jeweler, computer repairperson, plumber, mechanic,  carpenter, butcher, gardener, anyone who works with his or her hands; chauffeur, truck driver, airline pilot; gymnast, ballplayer, swimmer, ice skater; sculptor, muralist; law enforcement officer, anyone serving in the military, firefighter, surgeon, nurse, paramedic; naturalist, veterinarian, animal trainer, anthropologist, archeologist.

Power professions where emotional IQ counts: Teacher, mentor, consultant, politician, attorney, minister, psychologist, peer counselor, social worker, marketing person, salesperson, public relations person, customer service manager, receptionist, greeter, negotiator, mediator, conflict manager, manager, administrator, team leader.

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

Ilonggos that can wreak havoc in internet

 

“To me, the Internet is a big scam.”

— Ry Cooder

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

ILONGGOS are really oozing with talent. In almost all areas in life, there’s an Ilonggo making waves and excelling.

In recent memory, media didn’t run out of interesting tidbits and stories extolling and celebrating the exploits of Ilonggos anywhere in real time.

Ilonggos have Miss Universe materials; licensure examination top notchers (overwhelming); moot court champions; world-class fashion designers, Hollywood film extras; TikTok celebrities; prominent vloggers and social media influencers.

Ilonggos have outstanding Small and Mid-size Enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs; exceptional chefs and restaurateurs; colorful pilots and sailors; highly regarded medical practitioners; brilliant diplomats; intrepid and investigative journalists; teenage showbiz heartthrobs; flamboyant short film directors; insightful graphic artists; talented broadcasters (many of them products of the West Visayas State University); and hackers of government websites and Facebook accounts.

The Ilonggo hackers are one of a kind. I think they are some of the “best” not only in the country but in Asia. 

They aren’t pushovers. They are capable of creating a software bug or virus that can turn the cyber world upside down.

Why I am saying this? Because I know at least the three of them. They know me, in return, of course.

They all have unique personalities and characters. Because of their eccentric deportment they have a now-you-love-them and now-you-hate-them relationships with friends and colleagues who regard them as “freakish.”

 

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They have one thing in common: their liaisons with at least two (or more) women, all wife materials and professionals, were all short-lived.

I’ll stop here before the two of them would wring my neck after reading this article for being nosy.

With their talent and inventiveness, they can be a force to reckon with in the World Wide Web, the supreme information system that dominates the global internet network and technology.

If these Ilonggo hackers are working in the Silicon Valley, the Pentagon, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Wall Street, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ), World Stock Exchange, and other gigantic financial and technological corporations, they can dramatically change the world.

This isn’t an exaggeration. I don’t waste a space writing nonsense or dabbling in baloney.

These Ilonggo hackers aren’t patsies or small fries but are as ferocious as the author of the badly-coded computer virus, “I love you” that caused billions of damages and vulnerabilities all over the world more than 20 years ago.

They are witty and love to crack jokes and poke fun at sissies and wimps; they always jeopardized their relationships with employers.

Anyone who wishes to take their bizarre overt mannerism seriously should batten down the hatches.

In fact, Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Trenas was right when he sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to hunt down the hacker or hackers of the Iloilo City Government Facebook Page. I didn’t say one of them could be involved.

The NBI has been tasked only to catch an ordinary fish but might end up catching a barracuda. 

 

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We are trying to check and confirm whether the winner of the $2.4 billion Powerball jackpot in California, the biggest lottery prize in the world, in November 2022 was really from Capiz, Philippines.

Edwin Castro, reportedly a Filipino living in Sacramento, was revealed by California lottery officials as the lucky player who won the largest lottery prize in US history in the Nov. 7, 2022 drawing.

Before Castro’s name was released in public three months after the draw, I informed my New York buddy, Vic Calimoso, 60, a native of Dumalag, Capiz back in December 2022 that the winner was reportedly from the Philippines “and I heard from my sources in California that he is from Capiz.” 

“Pamelya ina ni Gov. Oto Castro sa Capiz,” Vic texted me on February 17.

Castro, who alone matched all six numbers plus the powerball, purchased the ticket at Joe’s Service Center, a gas station in Los Angeles County.

There had been 40 consecutive Powerball drawings without a winner since Aug. 3, causing the jackpot to swell to over 2 billion. 

The odds of matching all five numbers and the Powerball number is just 1 in 292.2 million, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association, which conducts the game.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why we need to be critical—and credible

“The press is a watchdog. Not an attack dog. Not a lapdog. A watchdog. Now, a watchdog can't be right all the time. He doesn't bark only when he sees or smells something that's dangerous. A good watchdog barks at things that are suspicious.”

— Dan Rather

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

SOME readers may be wondering why we always take the critical side when discussing issues about the government. 

The answer is simple: check and balance.

We need a critical press to maintain balance and transparency in a democratic society where the government calls the shot when it comes to the disposition and handling of the taxpayers’ money.

We need a critical press to check what’s going on; to mirror, inform or report to the public how public funds are spent by those in power—elected or appointed public officials and their subalterns.

Public funds are the lifeblood and paramount assets of government. 

It must be spent wisely and properly; public funds shouldn’t be wasted and stolen by those who are supposed to manage and safeguard them. 

Our role as critical journalists is to remind the crooks in government that “hey, somebody is watching. Your actions and activities are under close scrutiny and will be reported to the public.”

Critical means we must constantly remind our public officials—and chide them, if necessary—if they commit infractions or inimical activities and actuations that expose them to scandal and compromise their image and functions basically as public servants. 

 

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We come in when public officials are on the brink of plunging into the abyss of moral turpitude.

That’s why the journalists, as watchdogs and “fiscalizers”, should be first and foremost also credible.

If the watchdogs and “fiscalizers” are scoundrels and “fixcalizers”, they have no credibility to handle and perform the responsibility of being investigative, confrontational and adversarial. 

Journalists who can be bribed are no better than the crooks in government the press is supposed to rebuke and expose.

Two wrongdoers—crooks in government and rascal journalists—means a total chagrin and gradual setback for Juan de la Cruz.

Basically, a committed and principled journalist should avoid many friends in the political circle. 

The more political friends a journalist acquires, the less he becomes effective as “catalyst of change.” 

A genuine journalist is an ironclad gadfly of democracy, not an attack dog, lap dog or double-edged political mercenary.

At least this was how my mind as a remnant of the original post-Martial Law College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) has been shaped and trained especially when I became seriously involved in community journalism immediately after the EDSA Revolution, when press freedom and free speech were slightly and sardonically restored.

On my part, I would rather criticize than praise; I prefer to be hated as a critical journalist than to be praised (mostly by politicians) as a merchant of “praise release.” Everything boils down to walang personalan, trabaho lang. 

Socrates said wisdom begins in wonder. I say journalism begins by being suspicious and in constructive criticism.

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