What's For Breakfast, Dad?

I gave "tsamporado" to my sons for their breakfast today. Using only dark chocolate powder (the younger one has milk allergy) and a little sugar on their rice porridge, the boys ate a bowlful each. They must have missed tsamporado that much since it has been awhile since we made them one. Our sons, Pinoy pa rin!

Remembering Martial Law

Today, the Philippines marked the 36th anniversary of the declaration of martial law by the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. This ushered in the darkest period of my country's modern history. I was nearly two years old when martial law was declared in 21 September 1972.

The only thing I remembered martial law affected us was when my mother gave birth to our youngest brothers, who are twins, in 1975. At that time, a midnight curfew was in effect. When mother delivered the twins, she lost a lot of blood. She needed blood transfusion quickly or she will die. Father rang for his nephews to proceed to the hospital for blood typing and eventually, blood donation.

On their way to the hospital my cousins ran into a military curfew. Obviously, they were interrogated. Fortunately, the military personnel believed their explanation and they were allowed to proceed to the hospital just in time.

Although martial law's most famous victim was the late Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr (assassinated post-martial law in 1983), there were hundeds more little known martyrs (those who disappeared and died before 1986) of this draconian rule. I am glad to know that there is now a museum that puts a face on little known martial law martyrs.

There are more than 170 of them - youth, educators, farmers, activists, artists and public servants, and many, if not most, of them are little known. I am particularly struck that many of them were young. As the museum director puts it, "It's clear many of the martyrs were the young ones. In Philippine revolutions, many of our heroes were in their teens."

On this very important day, I pay my respects to the martyrs and heroes (those who survived beyond 1986) of martial law. If not for their sacrifices and struggle, the Philippines we now know today would not have been as free and democratic. I and the millions of fellow Filipinos in the country and outside are the better because of them. Remember the past!

World's Strangest Clock Unveiled

A £1m clock called the "time eater" has been unveiled at Cambridge University by Professor Stephen Hawking.

The author of A Brief History of Time was guest of honour when the unique clock, which has no hands or numbers, was revealed at Corpus Christi College.

Dubbed the strangest clock in the world, it features a giant grasshopper and has 60 slits cut into its face which light up to show the time.

Its creator John Taylor said he "wanted to make timekeeping interesting".

The Corpus Clock will stand outside the college's library and will be on view to the public.

More at BBC News

Photo credit - BBC News

Most Dangerous Man On The Internet

Brad Pitt has been found to be the most dangerous search name of the year. According to McAfee, the film star's name is more likely to direct a user to malicious sites than any other celebrity moniker.

The security firm found that fans who search the name "Brad Pitt" on the web have nearly a 1 in 5 chance of encountering a potentially risky site. 18 per cent of searches lead to wallpaper, screen savers and photos that carried some sort of malware. Searching 'Brad Pitt screensavers' bumps the infection risk up to 50 per cent.

Read more at http://uk.news.yahoo.com

Princess

(I got this funny story from a forwarded email by a former professor of mine at university.)

Once upon a time there lived a king. The king had a beautiful daughter, the PRINCESS. But there was a problem. Everything the princess touched would melt. No matter what - metal, wood, stone, anything she touched would melt.

Because of this, men were afraid of her. Nobody would dare marry her. The king despaired. What could he do to help his daughter? He consulted his wizards and magicians. One wizard told the king, "If your daughter touches one thing that does not melt in her hands, she will be cured."

The king was overjoyed and came up with a plan. Next day, he held a competition. Any man that could bring his daughter an object that would not melt would marry her and inherit the king's wealth.

THREE YOUNG PRINCES TOOK UP THE CHALLENGE.

The first brought a sword of the finest steel. But alas, when the princess touched it, it melted, and t he prince went away sadly .

The second prince brought diamonds. He thought diamonds are the hardest substance in the world and would not melt. But alas, once the princess touched them, they melted. He too was sent away disappointed.

The third prince approached. He told the princess, "Put your hand in my pocket and feel what is in there." The princess did as she was told, though she turned red. She felt something hard. She held it in her hand. And it did not melt!!!

The king was overjoyed. Everybody in the kingdom was overjoyed. And the third prince married the princess and they both lived happily ever after.

Question: What was in the prince's pants?

(Scroll down for the answer)















M&M's of course.

They melt in your mouth, not in your hand.


What were you thinking??