The Manila Times

Goebbels rides again

- Kang” sagasa”

FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teddyboy Locsin said: “I will kill anyone who asks for a birth

to change the agency’s name to Department of Forensic Affairs.

***

The sequel Trump- Jong Un meeting will be held in Hanoi this February 27 to 28. It will be

to meet a country in a state of emergency. Mr. Kim should take the opportunit­y to discourage Mr. Donald from building a missile wall. Steaming Pho Hoa noodle soup coming up.

*** President Rodrigo Duterte is calling on Congress to pass another general tax amnesty bill that will allow the lifting of bank secrecy on cases of fraud. Like in mahjong, if “secrets” will not be allowed, “and “to cheaters will be more costly. One bitter senator will definitely find this surprising as it contradict­s the basis of his unfounded allegation­s. This last termer wanted PRRD to sign a waiver opening his alleged bank accounts which he cannot even provide. Pathetic.

*** President Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed into law a bill seeking to overhaul the 21- year- old charter of the Social Security System ( SSS). Sen. Richard J. Gordon is happy about this developmen­t, saying that “this new law can provide a sound, viable and meaningful social security for the people by inculcatin­g the principle of work, save, invest and prosper.” I absolutely agree.

***

Miss Maria Ressa, is it really about press freedom? The case stems from Aquino’s time. Why Duterte? Filing a libel case is everyone’s right. Publicity is muddling the real issue which should be fought in court. Until now, I did not realize that many court jesters will just jump into the bandwagon to try to elicit tears without understand­ing the issue. When tears dry up, I hope that their brain fluids will not go the same way.

I have to share the disgust of my colleague Bobi Tiglao when he said: “It is so disgusting that Vice President Leni Robredo, Yellow senators like Risa Hontiveros, Church officials, and even academic institutio­ns like the Ateneo and La Salle gave the benefit of the doubt to an American rather than to Filipinos patriotica­lly serving the country like Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who ordered Ressa to be charged with cyber- libel, and Judge Reinalda Estacio- Montesa, who issued the arrest warrant against her.”

Addiction to power is a state of being where victims are suffocated by too much air. Yes, the pen is mightier than the sword, but it should not be used as a blade to exact blood from anyone. The analogy is comparable to the definition­s of a driver and a chauffeur. A driver drives for himself. A chauffeur drives for his passenger. This is what the owners of media outlets should always keep in mind. Their navigation­al instincts should be competent enough to help followers balance their options in enjoying the ride. Their service to the nation should consist of providing a roadmap in finding the truth, guided by a compass that is not polluted by their own magnetic fields.

***

What is really the best lens for street photograph­y? My previous write- ups revealed my lifelong infatuatio­n with street photogra-

the most desirable. Some will not like the idea of moving in closer or stepping back away from the subject but would prefer the ease of using zoom lenses. Since primes

35mm

or 50mm,

the

overall

conspicuou­s like the giant zooms.

The lesser number of elements is contributo­ry to the smaller dimension with pluses like wider lens opening, less noise when taking nocturnal shots. Components are designed with less moving parts that can result in sturdier build. They are sharper and superior in quality due to shallower depth of field which can ultimately result in insanely wide aperture of F0.95 against most zooms that are tied to F2.8mm.

Shooting handheld is possible without using a cumbersome monopod or tripod. ISOs are much lower than competitor­s achieving less noise and motion blur.

There you go, camera lovers.

***

It’s always better to remain quiet and let the world assume that you know nothing rather than opening your mouth and confirming the descriptio­n.

***

Wall Street is that narrow alley in New York where busy men in black suits play and spend your money and say with a straight face that you owe them a favor.

***

To those who cannot find anything right in our society, allow me to share an exquisite quote from Ahmed Aboutaleb, the Muslim mayor of the Dutch city of Rotterdam:

“I cannot accept that poverty should breed terrorism. I came from a Muslim country and spent my childhood in poverty. In Rotterdam, churches stand side by side and I’m ok with that as long as their actions are within the bounds of law. If some refuse to be part of that arrangemen­t, then they are free to leave. If you don’t want to participat­e in the project of civil society, just get lost and leave the rest of us alone.”

***

Good work, good deeds and good faith to all.

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