These are the confessions of the life learned lessons.

Christian refuses to drive "No God" bus

2009-01-18T03:42:56Z

Christian refuses to drive "No God" bus

LONDON (AFP) - - A Christian bus driver refused this week to drive a bus that displayed an atheist advertisement saying "There's probably no God" on the side, reports said on Friday.

The driver from Southampton in Hampshire reacted with "shock" and "horror" last Sunday when he saw the slogan and walked out of his shift in protest, the BBC reported.

"I was just about to board and there it was staring me in the face, my first reaction was shock horror," driver Ron Heather told BBC radio.

"I felt that I could not drive that bus, I told my managers and they said they haven't got another one and I thought I better go home, so I did," he said.

"I think it was the starkness of this advert which implied there was no God."

The protest comes amid a growing campaign by atheists that started in Britain earlier this month and has spread to Spain, with a similar initiative planned in at least one city in predominantly Catholic Italy.

The slogans have been plastered on 800 buses across Britain and in London's subway system in a move backed by the British Humanist Association (BHA).

The advertisements have been condemned by clergy in Italy and Spain, while angry Christians have protested to Britain's advertising watchdog -- asking for proof that the slogans are telling the truth.

The ads in Britain were the brainchild of comedy writer Ariane Sherine and were financed by more than 140,000 pounds in public donations.

Sherine has said she objected to Christian adverts on some London buses that carried an Internet address warning that people who rejected God would spend eternity in "torment in hell."

Sherine, 28, sought five-pound donations towards a "reassuring" counter-advertisement and won support from the BHA and atheist campaigner Professor Richard Dawkins.

Heather's employer First Bus said it would do everything it could to ensure that he did not have to drive the offending buses. After meetings with First Bus managers on Monday, Heather has agreed to return to work.

Obama will invoke God in his inauguration oath?

2009-01-12T08:37:25Z

Obama wants to invoke God during inauguration oath

By Bill Mears
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama will invoke God when he takes the oath of office January 20, despite a lawsuit filed by atheist and non-religious groups, according to an attorney for Chief Justice John Roberts, who will administer the oath.

The groups have sued in federal court to block any mention of God during the inaugural ceremonies. Roberts was among those named in the suit.

However, Obama wishes to conclude the oath with the phrase "so help me God," Jeffrey Minear, an attorney and administrative assistant for Roberts, told a federal court in documents Friday.

The Constitution mandates the exact language to be used in the 35-word oath of office: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Some chief executives have embellished the oath with "so help me God." It is not constitutionally required, unlike in other federal oaths.

Historians have been at odds over whether George Washington established precedent by invoking the phrase on his own at the first inaugural in 1789. The Library of Congress Web site says he did. Most presidents have used the phrase.

Inaugural officials and presidents or presidents-elect usually coordinate behind the scenes on whether the judge or government official administering the phrase will invoke it.

Michael Newdow, supported by several groups including the American Humanist Association, claims in his lawsuit that "so help me God" violates the constitutional ban on government "endorsement" of religion. He asked a federal judge to intervene and block references of God or religion in the formal ceremonies.

The lawsuit also opposes the traditional invocation and benediction to be delivered by pastors invited by Obama.

"There can be no purpose for placing 'so help me God' in an oath or sponsoring prayers to God, other than promoting the particular point of view that God exists," according to the lawsuit.

The federal government revealed in its response that Obama wants to use the phrase. The declaration was apparently aimed at blunting Newdow's concession that Obama could add the phrase on his own but that Roberts or any government official should not force or prompt him to say it.

Among those named in the lawsuit besides the 53-year-old chief justice are the Presidential Inauguration Committee; the Joint Congressional Committee on Inauguration Ceremonies and its chairwoman, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California); and the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee and its commander, Maj. Gen. Richard Rowe Jr.

Newdow said December 31 that he did not name Obama in his suit because in addition to participating as a government official in the ceremony, Obama possesses rights as an individual that allow him to express religious beliefs.

"If he chooses to ask for God's help, I'm not going to challenge him," Newdow said. "I think it's unwise."

A decision from the federal judge is expected in the next few days.

The high court ruled against Newdow in 2004 after he tried to block the Pledge of Allegiance from being recited at his daughter's Sacramento, California-area public school because it contains the phrase "under God."

He argued the case himself before the justices, making an impassioned plea that the teacher-led pledge forces religion on impressionable youngsters and carries the stamp of government approval.
edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/09/obama.oath/index.html

Israel-Gaza conflict confusion.

2009-01-12T08:16:44Z

Answers to some questions about the outbreak of the deadly fighting, its context and the key players.

By Michael Muskal
December 30, 2008

The escalated bloodshed in the Middle East is creating political concerns throughout the region and in the United States. Here are answers to some of the key questions associated with the crisis.

How did the latest round of violence begin?

Over the weekend, Israel began airstrikes against the Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip, in response to rocket attacks against nearby Israeli communities. The Gaza Strip is a sliver of land about 140 square miles along the Mediterranean Sea that Israel captured from Egypt during the 1967 Middle East War. Israel, which occupied the area until 2005, still controls most of the border and the airspace and access from the sea.

What has been the toll?

The three-day death toll among the Palestinians stands at more than 350, with about 1,400 others wounded. Most of those killed were members of the security forces, according to Hamas. But more than five dozen of those killed were women and children, according to the United Nations.

At least three Israeli civilians have been killed in rocket attacks since the offensive began.

Why is Israel attacking Hamas?

Israel argues that it was forced to act to curb the Hamas rocket attacks.

What is Hamas?

Hamas is an acronym based on the Islamic Resistance Movement's Arabic name. The Islamist group was founded in 1987 with a goal of destroying Israel. Hamas runs social service programs in Gaza and is a political party that won the Palestinian parliamentary elections in January 2006. Western governments consider Hamas a terrorist organization and have shunned the group because it has refused to formally accept Israel's right to exist.

Does Hamas speak for all Palestinians?

No. Hamas gunmen took full control of Gaza in the summer of 2007, after the short-lived unity government with the secularist Fatah faction collapsed. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas controls the West Bank, the larger Palestinian area. The West would prefer to deal with Abbas, who has shown a willingness to negotiate with Israel, and it has tried to topple Hamas with economic and political sanctions.

If Hamas is so opposed to Israel, why did it agree to a truce?

Hamas had hoped to put an end to the crippling blockade, but the cease-fire collapsed in November and expired Dec. 19. Abbas has blamed Hamas for prompting the Israeli attack by refusing to extend the cease-fire, which had been negotiated with Egypt's help.

What has been the response to the Israeli attacks in the Arab world?

Anti-Israeli demonstrations have been held in several countries, including Britain, France and Saudi Arabia. Syria and Iran are strong supporters of Hamas, and Syria has broken off indirect talks with Israel mediated by Turkey and aimed at resolving border issues stemming from past wars.

What about Egypt?

Egypt has opposed Islamic radical groups, including its own Muslim Brotherhood, which helped give birth to Hamas. Egypt has had a difficult relationship with Hamas-controlled Gaza because they share a border. In the current conflict, clashes have been reported between Palestinians and Egyptian security forces at the border crossing, and Egypt has prevented Gazans fleeing the Israeli attacks from crossing into its territory.

What about the U.S.?

President Bush will leave office Jan. 20 and will be succeeded by President-elect Barack Obama. The changing of the guard has created a bit of a power vacuum; the Republican policies continue while the world watches to see what the Democrats will do.

What has the Bush administration done?

The White House on Monday again blamed Hamas for declining to renew the truce, but White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe asked Israel to avoid civilian casualties in its attacks.

Bush, vacationing in Texas, has spoken with King Abdullah II of Jordan and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. In an effort to repair the cease-fire, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called leaders in Israel and Arab countries.

What about the Obama administration?

Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii, has repeatedly said that the United States can have only one president at a time and that Bush is in charge until the inauguration. But the Israeli-Hamas conflict could present an early test for Obama and his expected secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

During the presidential campaign, Obama insisted that he was a strong ally of Israel despite rumors that he would be more receptive to the Palestinian position. Obama has said he would like to give a speech in the Muslim world in hope of repairing a relationship strained by several issues, including the Iraq war.

How do Israeli politics figure in the equation?

Israel is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections Feb. 10, with hawkish former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a favorite to return to power, according to some polls. Other candidates include Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Barak is leading the military operation, and his candidacy could benefit if the offensive succeeds in stopping the rockets. An Israeli television poll showed 81% of respondents backed the weekend attacks

.www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-primer30-2008dec30,0,7026266.story

striked.

2009-01-05T15:04:56Z

i dont want to sleep
because you’ve hurt me.

I dont want to spare a smile
because you betrayed me.

I dont want to feel that i love you oh so much
because you don’t even care

I have loved you so much.

Guess the love that I have for you isn't the same as...

Unfair.

oh lala.

2008-12-31T17:08:34Z

This is what I am talking about. Watch it. love it.

uno linero nada.

2008-12-31T16:36:11Z

hello.

2009.

*************

Year ender? i dont think so.

And so the end is where i begin.

so be it.

*************

fire, i played with fire.

I am back and it's pay back time baby.

seriously.

************

take my hand and never let go.

don't you even dare. Mark my words.

2008-12-30T11:52:59Z

My life has been pretty rough and rusty (and even for the past few months), well yeah, maybe because others would like to depend their well not turned life on mine, and seemingly I have less interest about them bugging mine and letting them make my life like chips and dips and pass out later.

See my life isn't getting all the hypes and the highs like as always, but i am sure someone is there, watching me. And I don't care.

I'm living my life, so live yours. Stop passing your trash as if they were mine. they never were.

Creepy, i know.

whatever man. whatever.

i am not afraid of you.

don't you ever cross that line.

loser shit.

****************

I hate them. i really do.

okay.

2008-12-28T03:20:59Z

</div></div>
Be Ok - Ingrid Michaelson</div>

okay? :)

don't, even.

2008-12-28T02:02:09Z

It wasn't my intention to brag, but i feel like screaming my attitudes like as loud as heck. Seriously.

The truth of the matter is, I'm currently listening to paramore, which by the way the bestest punk/pop band and i don't care the less heck of what you think about the band and all, because I don't really give a crap about it. really. save your energies. mind your own.

And getting back, as I delve into its lyrics, I remembered how much I love being the cold hearted sweet plum. hahaha.

So.

who's up for a challenge.

you wouldn't dare.

I dare you.

hahahahaha. spare spare.

2008-12-26T17:38:13Z

losershitlosershitlosershitlosershit.

oh my effin' gawd.

i love it.

LOSER SHIT.

expression of the year.

looozah shiyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. :)

i hate this very long hour.

2008-12-26T16:16:01Z

Wasn't able to sleep early last night, because i was having some trouble sleeping and yeah, the screaming neighbors and the high pitched tones from the outside made it harder for me to reach my eternal bliss. Love people. spare the damsel.

So the vacation was quite boring, to begin with. No fun, No excitement, less love, less time,--you know the whole drill. Oh I hate this very hour. It's so terribly lonely here. :(

*************************
What's your point by the way?

ugh. nevermind.

****************

It's tough to see how people talk and think too darn, well, different. Much more of an alienated touch of cognitive adaptive contextual process. oookay.

************************

the braids from the north side of asia.

2008-12-25T13:20:35Z

And so the rest of the world was singing, "Hark the Herald.." and there everyone goes and I was like three times hit-faced. Imagine.

***********

I write as I feel, and i don't like generalizations. And now, it even reminds me how mad I was everytime my gradeschool english teacher calls me to generalize what she all taught us for that life long given hour that seemed like two days already. And I was like "The noun blah blah" imagine. I was getting all the boredness coming from my classmates' breathes and i know how it felt like, and like the usual, i veered my way to the fast lane. The usual. Fast talker. None understands. Everyone from high school was all "why so serious?" face and I got the "repeat, play, pause" stare from them. The daily situation was kind of scary and annoying of course, but oh well, that was before and i'm missing half of my days missing that all that jazz of my tongue from the high school drama-rama.

***********

the Juno becomes "Jun-oh."

2008-12-24T19:24:56Z

After teasing America's sapphic set with power lesbian proximity and a hint-filled SNL sketch, Ellen Page doused their rubyfruit dreams by canceling her upcoming lesbian werewolf flick. Now, word comes of a same-sex replacement!

Good as You has the scoop:

On last night's episode of the fantastic "Gay USA," Cynthia Wade, the Oscar-winning director of the Freeheld documentary, said that Juno star Ellen Page is attached to star in a feature film adaption of the Laurel Hester story (playing Stacie, Laurel's partner).

A hopeful prospect for this sad but ultimately hopeful story. It has the potential to be the sort of powerful cinema that the lesbian community has long hoped for, and the human community as a whole needs to see more of. Not to mention, it would be quite the coup for those whose "Is Ellen Page a lesbian?" rumor mill has lost its grist!

Indeed — thanks for doing us a solid, Ellen! The story in question concerns the heartbreaking struggle that faced New Jersey police officer Laurel Hester, who, upon discovering that she would soon die from quickly spreading lung cancer, battled Republican county freeholders to pass on pension benefits to her partner, Stacie. Sad stuff, but at least we can console ourselves with thought of Page's upcoming buzz cut (in order to pull off the lesbian look currently classified as "off-hours Maddow").

boooooooooooooyah.

2008-12-24T19:01:58Z

Yeeeeeezzzzzzz, I'm so back in the game.

you.

yes, you.

Push harder.

**********

I dont want to sleep yet. for real.

oh please. be real.

scram.

2008-12-24T18:47:13Z

who says who?

who says what?

i don't even care.

Still unwritten.

2008-09-25T11:45:46Z

5am.

I suddenly woke up and checked my phone to see who's been texting me so early in the morning. Imagine, my phone. vibrating, in the wee hours of the morning.

So yeah, quotes, quotes, quotes.

Delete.

delete.

delete.

Oooooooops.

hold on a second.

did i read this message right?

I grabbed my glasses, put it on and read it.

I was confused, because the message seemed

UNFAMILIAR.

I saved it, I replied.

4:18am. amazing. That is how early that person texted me.

*********************************
Just took departmental Exam just this morning.

The usual. Late.

But still managed to finish the whole 40 environmental something questions.

ayan.

2008-09-25T10:55:47Z

PANALO ATENEO! haha.

Dito ko na idadaan sigaw ko.

ATENEO!!!

galing.

ateneo-lasalle game is the reason why i am hungry.

2008-09-25T08:54:20Z

This lasalle-ateneo game is making me hungry, for real.

Intense.

12-18 ang score.

grabe.

ang bola, ateneo.

Tiu and everything so chew-able.

2008-09-25T08:44:22Z

Shot list and everything so paperworks.

Yes, this is now my life.
Papers.

hahaha.

Papers today, tomorrow, and even on sem break. hehe.

pasaway.

for ojt and everything future folded dream.

magagawa ko ba lahat?

kaya yan.

**********

Gooooooooooooooooo ateneooooooooo. Goooooooo gooooooooo gooooooooo. weeeeetwiw.

tenshinokiba

2008-09-23T02:57:12Z

This japanese movie seems familiar. Yung story. Hmm. naku naku. hindi ko na alam kung may originality pa ba talaga ang movie industry ng hollywood.. parang Philippine movie industry stuck up ang nangyayare. hahahaha. oh well.

If. And Only If.

2008-09-14T15:32:06Z

f You Forget Me

I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.

But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.

Pablo Neruda

*************

nakakainlove si Pablo Neruda talaga. hehe.

Can you write something like this for me?

2008-09-14T15:27:37Z

I Crave Your Mouth, Your Voice, Your Hair

DON'T GO FAR OFF, NOT EVEN FOR A DAY
Don't go far off, not even for a day, because --
because -- I don't know how to say it: a day is long
and I will be waiting for you, as in an empty station
when the trains are parked off somewhere else, asleep.

Don't leave me, even for an hour, because
then the little drops of anguish will all run together,
the smoke that roams looking for a home will drift
into me, choking my lost heart.

Oh, may your silhouette never dissolve on the beach;
may your eyelids never flutter into the empty distance.
Don't leave me for a second, my dearest,

because in that moment you'll have gone so far
I'll wander mazily over all the earth, asking,
Will you come back? Will you leave me here, dying?

Pablo Neruda

if you dig it more than i do, well we'll see that.

2008-09-07T16:41:42Z

My mouse isn't really working with me so, raw materials are just raw materials.. just for now. :)

I am sleepy, yet my just resurrected music inclined self is starting to kick in, again. :)

I never said, i'm a popper.

nanermon si Lucas Scott.

2008-09-01T13:52:52Z

Lucas Scott told me,

"Ida Scott Taylor once wrote: Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering."

He added, " It's worth nothing if you can't knock down the shot."

okay.
***********

huy, magaral ka. hahaha. multitasking ka ha. :)

up and there you go.

2008-09-01T10:02:37Z

keep on trusting the wrong person and it's like your digging the wrong treasure.

dig it.