Elementary and Last Resort: New TV Series to Follow

Last Resort

I read a review of this new TV series from ABC which got me curious.  Obviously, it was a positive review but what got my attention was its similarity with the movie Crimson Tide.  I was wondering how the writers are going to spin the story.

After two episodes it looks like a good watch.  

After given an authenticated order to nuke Pakistan, Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) of the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Colorado questions the order since it was coursed through the emergency channel and not the normal order protocol.  That decision merited their crew to be fired upon by another US submarine and left for dead only to surface at a remote French island in the Indian Ocean and commandeers a NATO communications facility.  

Aside from their conflict with the United States government, in fighting among their ranks also put color in the plot as there are those who is for and against the captain's actions.  Scott Speedman (as Lt. Commander Sam Kendal) and Robert Patrick (as COB Chief Petty Officer Joseph Prosser) also stars.

Elementary

Is an Americanized version of Sherlock Holmes---at least in terms of location and time setting.  Based on the novel of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes (Johnny Lee Miller) is a former Scotland Yard consultant banished by his father to New York for rehabilitation. After getting out of rehab, he now consults with Capt. Tobias Gregson (Aidan Quinn) of the New York Police Department. Dr. Joan Watson (Lucy Liu) plays his rehab companion to make sure that Sherlock complies to all his father's requirements or face living on the streets of New York.    I must admit it was a real nice spin to have Watson played by a woman---a pretty one at that!

Come to think of it, this TV series kind of reminds me of House.  Or should I say House took from Sherlock Holmes' fascination for solving puzzles?

Libel Clause in RA 10175

According to Senator Tito Sotto, the insertion of the libel clause in the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 or RA 10175 was meant to protect netizens from being victimized by malicious postings as what happened with Katrina Halili and Maricar Reyes.  In this case, then I'm in agreement with the good senator.  However, like vintage Sotto style, the insertion was nothing more than a "copy and paste" of what is already under Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, which defined libel "as a public and malicious imputation of a crime, or of a vice or defect, real or imaginary, or any act, omission, condition, status or circumstance tending to discredit or cause the dishonor or contempt of a natural or juridical person, or to blacken the memory of one who is dead."  The only thing new hear was the hefty penalty imposed as part of the insertion.

It is truly disturbing to note the level of mediocrity on the part of our law makers to properly define the laws that they pass.  Manong namang magisip-isip naman sana!  No wonder there are a lot of loopholes that unscrupulous individuals tend to abuse.

A Call to Criminalize Plagiarism

In the world of the academe PLAGIARISM is a form of theft.  Our teachers taught us not succumb to plagiarism and exercise our own creative minds to come out with ideas to contribute and further enrich the journalistic community.  If there is a need to lift the ideas of other people it is common courtesy to acknowledge such ideas as theirs.  Owning up to the ideas of others is what constitutes plagiarism.  At least that was what I was taught.

The good Senator Vicente Sotto decriminalized plagiarism by repeatedly condoning his writers to lift written works of other people for his own good.  But what is blatantly despicable about it was that instead of apologizing he even pointed to the fact that plagiarism is not a criminal offense in the Philippines.  Point taken Mr. Senator sir!  We now know the basis of your moral compass---pag walang KULONG---OK LANG!

With this in mind I pose a challenge to the other law makers of this land to draft a law to criminalize plagiarism.  It is after all a form of INTELLECTUAL STEALING very much like the issue of piracy.  Heck!  Let us INSERT this as part of Republic Act 10175!  Isn't it that the victim of the first (that we know of) plagiarism issue against the good senator is a blogger? 

Is there is truth to the rumor that the insertion of the libel clause in the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 was a form of payback from our dear senator for the "cyber-bullying" he got?  In his interview this morning with Unang Hirit's Arnold Clavio, Mr. Sotto vehemently denied this and said that the libel clause was already there even before he was cyber-bullied.  Personally, I'm no longer inclined to believe whatever our good senator says.

Dutdutan Festival 2012: Bikinis and Other Wordly Stuff Part 2 of 2

Personally, I did not like the line up of this year's Dutdutan Festival FHM Bikini Competition.  I watched last year's FHM contestants and they were a lot prettier by far with the list led by Dorinah Groh!  Anyway, you don't see them bikini babes in all their glory to behold everyday, right!  Ika nga e laman tiyan din yan!

In fairness, they did have great bodies!

FHM Bikini Babes

 

Dutdutan Festival 2012: Bikinis and Other Wordly Stuff Part 1 of 2

The BATMANs (Batang Manyak) came back to life as soon as the bikini clad women start gyrating to the music of Cyprus Hill and culminated with the FHM Bikini Competition hosted by the Boys Night Out DJs (Sam YG, Slick Rick, and Ramon Bautista).  Man, my feet were already killing me from almost two hours of standing by the time the tattoo competition drew to a close!  Of course seeing those bikini clad ladies numbed me from the pain and got me the night's share of posterity shots!  

Me and my wife eventually called it a night after that (it was already around 12:30am by that time) although there were still other bands that were due to perform and other worldly activities they had in between.  Anyway, QUOTA na naman ako by then!  Next year ulit!

Cypress Hill and Pole Dancers

Thank You for the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012

I have always believed that everything happens for a reason.  I also believe that that it is better to focus on the positive than to be continuously badgered by the negative.  Hence, I would like to say THANK YOU to the senators who voted to put into law the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 or Republic Act 10175.  Your action told us what future we have with you on the seat of power.  Now we have a better view of what our ballots will be in the next election!