Jose Sison, columnist of the Philippine Star [A LAW EACH DAY (Keeps Trouble Away)] is deceiving readers. I got this impression based on his (updated) 12 March 2010 article entitled Deceptions.

His 10th paragraph:

The bigger and more dangerous deception is the condoms’ alleged effectiveness in preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS as publicly claimed by Cabral of DOH. On the contrary the use of condoms will even help spread the disease because the microscopic holes in the latex materials of condoms are 50 to 70 microns in diameter while the HIV-1 or AIDS virus is only 0.1 micron in diameter. Hence the microscopic holes of condoms are 500 to 700 times bigger than the HIV-AIDS virus which means that they can easily pass through and infect the sex partner. This is the finding contained in the report of Dr. C. Michael Roland, head of the Polymer Properties/ Chemistry Section of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington D.C. Indeed here in the Philippines the HIV AIDS incidents have increased only since the use of condoms has been aggressively been promoted in media by some media celebrities.

If you’ll google about this one, the above is oft repeated, often cited information. However,

the bigger and more dangerous deception is that Mr. Sison isn’t telling us that this kind of data was published in Rubber World, June 1993.

That’s almost 17 years old!!!

This is the most important piece of information that the author is hiding from us. The currency of such article is of utmost importance. I think, he just copied this one from various internet sources but didn’t really bother to check the source information.

Unless, he’s still using this kind of outdated condoms, he might be forgiven.

Check Dr. Michael Roland’s talk as published in Rubber World, June 1993 issue.

For the past few days, I’ve been spending time at SM Megamall and Podium for the free wifi broadband internet that these two malls are offering. It’s a long way from my place in Makati but with the MRT and the lure of getting on a freebie is enough the travel. Is it reliable?

Well, SM Megamall is actually hit and miss. I was there for about five times and twice I encountered access problems. Of course, it can connect to their network but it just can’t make a connection to the internet. The first time it happened to me, I was submitting images for the World Press Photo contest and got no option but to use my Globe Tattoo and Smart mobile. As it was still unreliable, I am accessing the mall’s free internet at the foodcourt, I went to the 5th floor and stayed at Bo’s Coffee where the wifi is really fast and reliable. But I have to order coffee.

The Podium Mall? It’s fast as there are just too few visitors in this high end mall but there are no foodcourt or lounging area that I found yesterday where I can just stay. With no recourse, I ordered snacks at a restaurant and connected from there.

Other free wifi internet that I’m frequenting these days? Gloria Jeans at Glorietta via EYP but have to order something. Burger King also has free wifi.

I got this email from my travel blog langyaw.com and I was just amused with it.

HELLO, My name is miss R i saw your profile today and became intrested in you,i will also like to know you the more,and i want you to send an email to my email address so i can give you my picture for you to know whom i am.Here is my email address xxx. I believe we can move from here I am waiting. Remeber the distance or colour does not matter but love matters alot in life Thanks Miss R

My profile page in CNN GO

I contributed for CNN GO! Check my article and other info about the Boracay International Funboard Cup at langyaw.com.

I’ve been trying to finish sending my photo stories for the World Press Photo contest which will close today and wonder of wonders, my Globe Tattoo connection is unstable. I tried with my Smart HSPA capable phone and it seems, their website is also problematic with the constant errors that I have been receiving.

Wanting to save on internet costs, I am here in SM Megamall for the free wifi. While it was working fine for me the other day, and fast, now, there’s no internet connection and stuck with my own mobile broadband internet. DARN!

Check this video out. It’s moving and beautiful!

#2 The Watchful Eye of Twitter, from Top 10 Editorial Cartoons list

I had so much fun reading through Time’s The Top 10 Everything of 2009! Entertaining is such an understatement especially that the list covers News, Politics and Science; Arts and Entertainment; Business Tech and Sports; and Pop Culture. The Top 10 Editorial Cartoons was amusing and so are the lists covering fashion faux pas, new species, as well as the Top 10 Pictures of the Year.

Check it out!

This is something to be proud of!

Pensionat Oskar – Susanne Bier, 1995 (Sweden)
Avatar – James Cameron, 2009 (US)
L’uomo che ama (When a Man Loves) – Maria Sole Tognazzi, 2008 (Italy)
Kundun – Martin Scorsese, 1997 (US)
En kort en lang (Shake It All About) – Hella Joof, 2001 (Denmark)
City Rats – Steve Kelly, 2009 (UK)

It’s already afternoon of the last day of 2009, and really, the weather’s wet, wet, and wet! Anyway, me, my mother and brother went to the malls to buy stuff for media noche, the midnight dinner to usher in the new year, got my
Balaanong Bahandi books and had sumptuous lunch at Casa Verde at the Ayala Cebu Terraces. Sus, makabungog jud ang ilang ribs and it’s just P188!

Anyway, we will be having blueberry cheesecake, brazo de mercedes, embutido, softdrinks, ice cream, various fruits, cheese, chocolate cake and pansit palabok for tonight. No firecrackers though.