A FILIPINO SPREADING CHEER THROUGH ART

He leaves his paintings in streets, airports, schools, malls, anywhere for anyone to pickup and own for free— on condition that he smiles more often.   His name is Bren Bataclan, a Filipino.

THERE IS NO OBJECTIVE REALITY, ONLY CONSCIOUSNESS?

Life creates time, space and the cosmos itself.

Figuring out the nature of the real world has obsessed scientists and philosophers for millennia. Three hundred years ago, the Irish empiricist George Berkeley contributed a particularly prescient observation: The only thing we can perceive are our perceptions. In other words, consciousness is the matrix upon which the cosmos is apprehended. Color, sound, temperature, and the like exist only as perceptions in our head, not as absolute essences. In the broadest sense, we cannot be sure of an outside universe at all.

For centuries, scientists regarded Berkeley’s argument as a philosophical sideshow and continued to build physical models based on the assumption of a separate universe “out there” into which we have each individually arrived. These models presume the existence of one essential reality that prevails with us or without us. Yet since the 1920s, quantum physics experiments have routinely shown the opposite: Results do depend on whether anyone is observing….

LINK

MICROSOFT IS LAUNCHING OWN SEARCH ENGINE, BING

A search engine called Bing armed with a $100M campaign funding  is set to be lunched by Microsoft, its sights zeroed on Google.  And Yahoo too.

Bing.  It is like the sound of a gun, a toy gun. But with a funding that big, what a  deadly toy gun this is.

ADAM LAMBERT GETS MY VOTE TO BE QUEEN’S FRONTMAN

On a Rolling Stone exclusive, rumors have it Adam Lambert is being considered by the legendary group Queen to be its new front man.

He gets my vote.  I bet he will be it.  The guy’s vocal power is just amazing.  He’s young and even better looking than the late Freddie, perfect for a legendary but aging band looking for a sort of Viagra for its long-sagging career.

Thanks for the photo, Rolling Stone!

MEET THE MAKER OF ECSTACY

Here’s Alexander Shulgin, the man responsible for Ecstacy and dozens other mind-altering drugs:

Our entire universe is contained in our mind and spirit.

AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW: CORRUPTION CAN BE GOOD

Corruption can be useful if properly managed, says this article from Manila Times:

People believe widely that corruption hampers economic growth. But in East Asia the experts have noted the seeming paradox of high corruption and high growth occurring together. And they conclude that corruption in weak and still un­formed states—for as long as it is predictable, moderated and controlled—has its uses, since it substitutes for the legalities that in the mature countries ensure the stability of investments and the inviolability of property rights. Only in our country has corruption failed to produce this East Asian paradox.

More.

I have a book arguing essentially the same: Corruption: The Boom and Bust of East Asia

THIS MADE ME ROLL ON THE FLOOR LAUGHING

The Best of Melanie Marquez Quotes:

1. I couldn’t care a damn!

2. What’s your next class before this?

3. Can you repeat that for the second time around once more from above?

4. Hello, my brother Joey is out of town, would you like to wait?

5. Don’t touch me not!

6. You! you’re not a boy anymore! You’re a man anymore!

7. Hello? For a while. Please hang yourself.

8. We are lovers. Not fighters

9. Don’t judge me! I’m not a book!

10. Why should I have a calling card? I’m not a call girl!

11.  I don’t eat meat. I’m not a carnival.

12.  I won’t stoop down to my level!

13.  I keep my crown in the voltage.

14.  Bakit ang dami mong tanong.  You’re so questionable!

15.  My answers have been prayered.

16.  A man’s success is a woman’s behind.

DO YOU WANT TO BE MANNY PACQUIAO?

Do you like to be a global celebrity like Pacquiao?

Of course, yes! yeas! yes! YES!

Do you like to be as rich?

Sure, sure, even a tenth will do!!

Do you like being the toast of the town, surrounded by global VIPs, diplomats, Hollywood and NBA superstars, leaders of the world paying their respect to you, media calling you a hero, gorgeous women making passes … do you like all that…?

Oh, surely, who would want less than that if one could help it.. of course, yes yes YES! …

Do you like to have his face?

Ahh, yeah…I, well.. uhhmm… ahhh, alright lemme think… I think can live with it… though I prefer mine anytime.  Heck, if I had those millions, I can have it fixed, right?

You want to be a boxer?

Ahh, well… yeah… NO. Hell, no… I am better off driving my cab!

PAQUIAO AND THE GRAND “PANG-UUTO”

It’s understandable that everyone’s falling over in praise of Manny Pacquiao after his stunning win over Ricky Hatton.  But what is this:  Pacquiao as DOJ chief’s intelligence aide and ambassador for peace and understanding?  Poor guy, he probably could sense he is being taken for a ride but how could he decline without being rude?

Ok, let me join the fun.

What about Ambassador for Everything or Special Assistant for Universal Concerns…

An honorary doctoral degree is probably in the works now.

One more win and he will be Assistant God.

The luxuries of wealth and fame are many, so are the burdens.  Followers and fans are like a swarm of mosquitoes and flies after a while.  Your real friends, the ones who really care who will come to you in time of need, who among them are these?   Most likely, they are taking the backseat in your time of glory, crowded out by the more enthusiastic fans cum con artists.

IT’S GONNA TAKE 175 YEARS!

The Philippines has all of 175 years to catch up with the living standards of developed nations at the rate we are going, says this ADB Report.

You can find the table of comparison below on page 23.

JUDGE WRITES A SATIRE FOR A COURT ORDER

Well, I think it is satire.

From VERA Files,  via Ellen Tordesillas:

ORDER

Accused having been arrested, his arraignment is set to May 7, 2009 at 8:30 in the morning.

In view of the pendency of a motion filed by a priest and a nun involving the custody of accused, and in view of news reports that the Senators would also be filing a motion praying for the custody of accused in the Senate, the resolution of the request for commitment order filed by the police is held in abeyance. All these request/motions shall be heard by this Court on Friday, May 8, 2009, at 8:30 a.m.

Catholic priests and nuns as well as the members/leaders of other religious groups are welcome on said date to participate in the court’s morning prayer before the start of court session. The Supreme Court encourages Judges to start court sessions with a prayer.

As I have said during the hearing of accused’s motion for release on recognizance which, by the way, I promptly denied, Mike Defensor should have been there so that I could help him and accused settle their differences. After all, the Supreme Court encourages trial judges to help parties arrive at an amicable settlement.

My words designed to penetrate Defensor’s mind and heart will be many. If I say it orally on May 7, 2009, it will consume too much time to the detriment of the other parties whose cases are also set for said date.

Hence, I have decided to include those words in this order for Defensor to ponder on. I hope that Defensor would be able to clearly so that on May 7, 2009 (accused’s arraignment), there could already be peace between him and Lozada.

Why is it safer for Defensor to settle the case—

Defensor has admitted on TV that this perjury case he is pursuing against Lozada is very bad for his political career. I fully agree with him.

Furthermore, I say that it may be very bad for his health and his family as well. If he gets sick like Mike Arroyo, would not that be bad for him and his family?

The Presidents that I have known are only Presidents Marcos, Aquino, Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo.

My observation is that of all the presidential spouses, Atty. Mike Arroyo is the one who is very sickly. He has a serious heart disease. He even tries to make us believe that he is in no condition to attend Senate probes.

Imelda was strong during Marcos’ incumbency. Aquino, of course, was a widow during her term. Ming was so healthy and strong during Fidel’s time; and even after Fidel’s term, she was even the president of the Philippine Badminton Association. Dra. Loi was also very strong during Erap’s rather abruptly ended service.

There are those who say that the serious heart disease is some kind of punishment for Atty. Mike Arroyo. I do not know if this is true, for I do not really know how our Lord works, for He does works in mysterious ways. But what I do know is that Lozada is being protected by the Church, by the priests and nuns. That must mean something. Defensor, take note: that must mean something.

I invite Defensor to look closely at the faces of the priests and nuns protecting Lozada; at the faces of the other people openly voicing their support for Lozada. They are guarding Lozada so closely for they feel that what he says is the truth and they fear that the Arroyo administration might harm him because of his expose. That is why his custody during this trial in my court is such a big issue for those who support him.

Now, why are all these so important for Defensor to ponder on. Simple: if it is true that Mike Arroyo is being punished, Defensor may also be punished with some serious disease. I am sure his loved ones do not want that to happen to him.

But has Defensor not already been punished in some ways? He lost in the last senatorial race because he was perceived to be protecting the first couple during the NBN ZTE deal hearings; because he was perceived to be trying his best to make Lozada stop talking. He used to be presidential chief of staff, now he just has old, dilapidated, rusty trains to play with. At least some of the trains still run. Is Defensor suffering from some kind of political suicidal tendency that he is seeing to it that he will forever be hated by he people and not win in any election at all?

Defensor, on May 7, 2009, when I arraign your enemy, Lozada, you shall have the unique opportunity for cleansing, for healing, for regaining public sympathy. The Court suggests that you do what is right for your sake, for your kids’ sake, for your wife’s sake. I have not talked to Mrs. Defensor, but as an experienced trial judge who deals with human emotions and passions everyday in my courtroom,  I am sure that Mrs. Defensor wants peace and good health for you.

Why this case is not to the best interest of the first couple—

Since Defensor is not a trial lawyer, he apparently has not seen the very explosive potential of this case: the first couple (Gloria and Mike Arroyo) may validly and legally be dragged into the proceedings by Lozada’s defense team. All that the defense team has to do is invoke certain provisions of the Rules of Court. As a fair and impartial judge, I shall have no reason not to grant such request.

It is true that evil, cruel and vindictive regimes can use the law to make their enemies suffer, but it is that very same set of laws that can enable the oppressed (to) fight back. Such is the beauty of the law: that is why many have fallen in love with the law and have become lawyers or judges. As a child, I have dreamed of one day becoming a judge, to apply the law not to destroy lives, but to make lives better. Now, I am in that position, with the help of God. I dispense justice everyday with the aid and guidance I always seek from our Lord.

When this case goes to trial, I will of course allow the prosecution every opportunity to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

When it is the turn of the defense to present evidence, I will also allow the defense every opportunity to raise reasonable doubt or to destroy each and every element of the felony of perjury.

And if there is a motion to present president Gloria or first gentleman Mike Arroyo as hostile witnesses in order for accused Lozada to establish, I will not hesitate to issue the corresponding subpoena compelling the first couple to testify as hostile witness for the defense.

If Gloria and Mike refuse to obey the subpoena, I will not hesitate to issue the warrants of arrest against them because it is the constitutional right of Lozada to have the best possible defense. And it is my duty as trial judge to see to it that there is due process in my court.

If the police officers refuse to serve the arrest warrants because Gloria is their boss, then I will be forced to deputize other public officers to serve and implement the arrest warrants.

I need not search hard nor should I wait long, for Manila Mayor Lim and the many senators who wish to take Lozada into their custody may move that they be deputized. Some of these people are lawyers, some of them have extensive police experience, like Mayor Fred Lim and Senator Ping Lacson. They can arrest, handcuff and put behind bars any fugitive.

They are no match against the PSG, the Presidential Security Group? What if Sen. Trillanes and his comrades join the mission to arrest? Get the picture, Mr. Railroadman Defensor?

Defensor, just imagine how powerful a message that would (be) for our people and for the whole world. And just imagine how that would affect the first couple.

I now suggest to Mike Defensor not to think only of himself in his perjury case. The welfare of the first couple is also involved, as discussed above.

I invite everyone who may come across this order to pray for both Defensor and Lozada, so there may be peace between them.

Please pray also for me, so that I may always be a good, humble, God fearing and very wise Judge to those who seek justice in my courtroom; and so that I may be elevated from a Judge to a Justice (even though I do not have any political backers) for that would surely make my late father, Jorge Lorredo, Jr. (who is now with Jesus in heaven watching me with a smile on his face) and my mother, Mary Lorredo, very proud of their only child.

So ordered.

May 4, 2009.

JORGE EMMANUEL M. LORREDO

Presiding Judge

INVEST LIKE WARREN BUFFETT

Yahoo.com has the world’s second wealthiest man on earth featured on its homepage early this  morning, commenting on the future of certain companies  in the new economic order.    Wanting to know more about the man and the secrets to wealth that might help me lift myself from poverty, I was led to this:

“Mr. Buffett, if you were starting over today and only had $1 million to invest, how would you do it? What kinds of companies would you look to own?”

Those were the questions a nervous gentleman asked the Sage of Omaha towards the end of the 2006 Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting — which I attended with my colleague Chris Mayer.

Buffett didn’t waste much time answering. If he were a retail investor these days with a limited budget he would sock his money into:

1) Smaller companies that the major institutions (including Berkshire) can’t even think about investing in because they are too small.

2) Emerging markets where you can buy great businesses for next to nothing.

Buffett’s affinity for obscure, out-of-the-way investment opportunities (i.e. small-cap stocks) is well documented.

In 1999 he told Business Week “…it’s a huge structural advantage not to have a lot of money. I think I could make you 50% a year on $1 million. No, I know I could. I guarantee that.”

And in a 2005 interview with a group of students at Kansas University, Buffett defended that statement saying:

Yes, I would still say the same thing today…You have to turn over a lot of rocks to find those little anomalies. You have to find the companies that are off the map – way off the map. You may find local companies that have nothing wrong with them at all…

Having a lot of money to invest forced Berkshire to buy those that were less attractive. With less capital, I could have put all my money into the most attractive issues and really creamed it.

To illustrate his point, Buffett told the 24,000+ people who made the trek to the Quest Center this weekend that he would have put 100% of his assets in South Korea a year or two ago when incredible companies (many small-caps) were selling for three or four times earnings. But because Berkshire is a massive $112 billion company, he couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity. The companies were too small and too illiquid for them add to Berkshire’s earnings power. So he had to sit and watch.

As a small investor, you don’t have to sit on the sidelines. You can take advantage of the illiquid opportunities that the big-boys, like Buffett, simply can’t. But as Warren reminded everyone (as he sipped on his Coca-Cola and ate his Sees’s candy), just because he would love to invest in smaller companies doesn’t mean he would change his underlying strategy. He still wouldn’t speculate in companies he didn’t understand.

That comment got people in the audience thinking about their own investment ideas and strategies.

One shareholder asked, “What is your opinion on ethanol? Should I look at those companies now?”

Buffett responded by saying, “I have friends who like ethanol. And I have friends who don’t like ethanol. I’m sticking with my friends.”

He explained that ethanol might well be an adequate investment idea. But the fact is, no one knows what an ethanol plant will be producing in five years. The economics of the business could totally change over that time. And that uncertainty scares him – so he won’t invest. Plus, he made it a point to say, “Ethanol is hot right now. Our general policy is not to look at things that are hot.”

Then the next question came, “Are we in a commodities bubble?”

“My guess is we’re seeing speculation in commodities and the housing market today,” Buffett said.

So the next shareholder dug a bit deeper. “What kind of exposure do you have to silver?”

Warren explained that he has no exposure right now. He got into silver early in the game — when the fundamentals make sense to buy. But he admits that he sold very early as well.

Buffett made the point that silver (like oil and all commodities) isn’t an interest bearing investment. In other words, in order to make money in silver you have to hope (something any value investor doesn’t like to do) it rises. If it doesn’t, you are better off putting your money in stocks or bonds.

Not wanting to leave the area of commodities, one annoying shareholder (who’s piercing voice blared through the speaker system at a decibel level that may have deafened some) asked if investors would be smart to invest in countries where there is an abundance of natural resources per capita.

Buffett responded by saying, “We don’t play big trends. That’s too macro for us.”

And Charlie Munger finally chimed in to end this big-picture discussion by saying, “We failed to profit from the recent commodities boom.”

Everyone laughed.

Of course, being a value investor means you don’t catch every wave.

When you insist on buying companies at cheap prices and selling when they are no longer cheap, you inevitably buy early and sell early. In Buffet’s case, that’s what happened with silver. And a lot of the times, they miss opportunities altogether. The classic example is technology.

Buffett never invested in tech stocks in the 1990s. And he still doesn’t regret it. As he explained to the crowd, we know what we are good at and we stick to those things. In the Olympics, you can win a gold medal if you can run 100 meters faster than anybody. You don’t have to throw the shot-put as well.

The same is true in investing.

You don’t have to get everything right. You just have to know what you do well and stick to that. In Buffett’s case that means staying away from tech and commodities.

(Thanks James Boric and The Daily Reckoning!)

Oh, well, I had my first attempts in stocks many  years ago, in better times.  Looking back, I believe I did make good choices in four out of six.  Not too bad for a newbie then, I think.  But then a financial disaster struck and all, save for one, had to go.   I might yet get lucky with that last one.

GREATEST BOXER OF ALL TIME?

Manny Pacquiao defeats Ricky Hatton on the second round of a 12-round match on a barrage of bone jarring punches.

Bob Arum predicts  Pacquiao will be named the greatest boxer of all time.

Pacquiao stuns Hatton by Brian Doogan