Emerson Varel

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2011-2-20)

heeeraldo:

1. James Blake (18)
2. Iron & Wine (5)
3. Arcade Fire (5)
4. Joanna Newsom (4)
5. The Postal Service (3)

Imported from Last.fm Tumblr by JoeLaz

I Write As I Write: Setting the Stage for EDSA I

iwriteasiwrite:

25 years ago the Philippines was rapidly approaching critical mass. A process that accelerated with the assassination of Ninoy Aquino and intensified with his widow stepping in as opposition leader (and Laurel stepping aside, not so graciously though) came to a head with a snap election held on…

Trillanes 'uncavalier', Reyes 'honorable'

iwriteasiwrite:

“Our core values in the PMA are integrity and loyalty. We also teach them honor and respect. My comment is that definitely, this is very uncavalier-like. As an alumnus, I am grieved that a junior officer would say that to a senior officer and a very honorable man,” he said in an ABS-CBN “Umagang Kay Ganda” interview.

The lack of understanding of the Constitution, chain of command and the idea of civilian leadership is expressed so aptly in this statement. It is a statement that speaks to the legacy of the heights of impunity that some in the military strive. It comes on the heels of a dictatorship built on the foundation of the supposed perfection of the military system of discipline and Ramos and GMA picking and choosing generals to assume positions of reward in civilian government.

In this instance, in the chambers of the Senate, there is no junior/senior officer relationship. There is a duly elected representative of the people, a Senator, and a retired general and former Secretary. Even during active duty, a general reports to a Senator. They are both employees of the government, answerable to the people. What basically they arguing here is that the PMA and the military chain of command super-cedes that of the Constitution; that they are not answerable to a representative of the people, and by extension, the Filipino people.

I fear, reading statements like this, that the view of military leadership has become to myopic, that they have forgotten their oath and mission to serve and protect the Filipino people. There is no higher responsibility than to the Filipino people; not a school, not an institution, and most definitely not to an individual. Honor and responsibility to one cannot super-cede to the many.

They have forgotten that.

Report: Libyan protesters fired on

(Source: aljazeera, via justlikestairs)

Click to go to the blog~

(Source: daebakpm)

Now Where'd I Put My Cake?: Slow Cooker Goodness - Part One: Chicken & Black Bean Tacos

nowwherediputmycake:

I am treating this entry as a series as I am constantly on the lookout for delicious & easy slow cooker meals, and believe entirely on sharing the wealth. If you don’t own a slow cooker, you are crazy. Super fancy ones can cost as much as $150, but the $20 variety with the basic ”off-low-high”…

at least it's an ethos...: Wisconsin Protest Rundown (6.0) -

lefan-o-rama:

• Krugman - It’s not about the budget, it’s about power.
• Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said his chamber would meet Tuesday to act on non-spending bills and confirm some of the governor’s appointees even if the Democrats don’t show up — a scenario that should outrage their…

(Source: l3fan-o-rama, via tristn)

Burning Down Wisconsin: The Hidden Budget Bill Item Even Worse Than Union Busting

tristn:

Nice write up from The Awl.

Robert Reich: Why the Republican Budget Plan is a Hairball.

robertreich:

The federal budget is $3.8 trillion.

The Republicans have just come up with their plan to cut the federal budget. They’ve found $32 billion of cuts.

Their fiery campaign rhetoric, fierce determination, righteous indignation, and bloviated anger have summoned forth a hairball.

What happened to…

Robert Reich: The Republican Strategy

robertreich:

The Republican strategy is to split the vast middle and working class – pitting unionized workers against non-unionized, public-sector workers against non-public, older workers within sight of Medicare and Social Security against younger workers who don’t believe these programs will be there for…