MikeLigalig.com

Toronto skyline
The iconic Toronto skyline includes some of the tallest buildings in the world, such as the CN Tower which is 553m (1.814f.) high.

Jupiter's moons
Io and Europa hover over the Great Red Spot. They are two of the 67 confirmed moons; this gives the largest retinue of moons with reasonably secure orbits of any planet in the Solar system.

Australian Forest
Australia has many forests despite being one of the driest continents in the world. The majority of Australia's trees are hardwoods, typically eucalypts rather than softwoods like pine.

Machu Picchu
Building in Machu Picchu city

Almendres Cromlech, Portugal
The Almendres Cromlech is believed to be one mankind's first public monument. It is the largest existing group of structural menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula.

Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is an Incan built structure located 7,000 feet above sea level and nestled on a small hilltop between the Andean Mountain Range, above the Urabamba Valley in Peru. It was discovered in 1911.

Georgian bay sunrise
This luminous landscape of the Georgian Bay in Central Ontario is often used as a model by many artists.

Sunrise
A sunrise is the instant at which the upper edge of the Sun appears over the eastern horizon in the morning.

In for a landing
A wasp enjoying a sweet white flower on a summer's day.

Plaza de Cibeles
The monumental Cibeles Fountain has become a Madrid icon. Located in the heart of the city, it shows Cybele, the Greek goddess of fertility. This Plaza is the most beautiful of the many grand squares in Madrid.

Windmills, Spain
A group of windmills found in Consuegra, Spain. This region was immortalized in the novel Don Quixote de Miguel de Cervantes.

Azenhas do Mar, Portugal
Azenhas do Mar is a small village on the Atlantic coast. With its small houses over the sea, it is an attractive subject for landscape photographers.

Flowing stream over the rocks
A stream of water flowing over the rocks in an enchanting forest.

those must be islands of flowers, judging from the one blossom hanging around his neck.

that must be pia da sistah at the back.

kerpul, senator.  china might own those islands.

was ist das?  that's where his pdaf went?

yeah.  it should have been the other way around, like she should have carried him on her back.

My recollections are of an incredible chain of events. When I first heard of the mutiny, my initial reaction was: "Leave the soldiers to fight it out among themselves." Clearly, the mutinous crew could not have lasted against the armed might of the dictator. Yet it did. Within an hour from a call for support for the mutineers, EDSA was filled with people.

The atmosphere was portentous of divine intervention. Lighted candles and religious images abounded. The night wore on and there was no indication of fear.

-Joaquin G. Bernas, S.J.

"In subsequent calls I summoned the people to fill the streets precisely to avoid bloodshed and fratricide. Our intent was to make sure the first spark of fire would not be struck; that the first drop of blood would not be spilled. The call to fill the spaces around Crame and Aguinaldo was a summons "to love, not war." 

-Jaime Cardinal Sin

"Come out from your cells. Go immediately to the chapel and before the exposed Blessed Sacrament with outstretched arms prostrate yourselves on the floor before God and pray. And start fasting tonight. Do not eat solid food until I tell you because we are in battle and you are the powerhouses. And if we do not win the battle, you will have to fast until the end of your life."

-Jaime Cardinal Sin, calling on the contemplative nuns-- the Poor Claires, the Pink Sisters, and the Carmelites to fast and pray for non-violence, with his own kind of sense of humor intact while under pressure over the unfolding events

"Look at those toy soldiers playing at war. For years they had nothing better to do than to march in loyalty parades and bang the heads of civilians who could not fight back. Now they ask these same civilians to keep their asses from being blown off."

-alleged remark with wonder and amusement by former Secretary of Education from 1961 to 1965, during the term of Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal, about the rebel forces deploying at Camp Aguinaldo

February 22
CEBU CITY - People lined the highway leading to the city. In some intersections, crowds became so excited that they literally blocked the road, thus creating momentary bottlenecks in the traffic flow. People shouted "Cory! Cory! Cory!" and "Laban!" There was an abundance of yellow banners, streamers, and flags. People along the motorcade route displayed anything yellow, such as yellow banana leaves, yellow flowers, yellow bedsheets, yellow towels, yellow shirts and blouses, and even yellow men's briefs.

more at http://www.stuartxchange.com/DayOne.html

i surely would if i saw her.

right, on!  pero gipakaon na lang unta nimo kang doggie, granny.

backhoe akong type, mayor!

February 21
Marcos admitted he was "nervous" about the decisions of foreign governments to boycott his February 25 inauguration and that he was launching a diplomatic offensive to inform foreign governments about what transpired in the polls.

Despite rumors of a weekend coup by RAM and suggestions that she stay put in Manila, Mrs. Aquino said she would fly to Cebu as scheduled Saturday morning to pursue her civil disobedience campaign.

In less than a week since Aquino's call for a boycott of crony-owned or aligned banks and business establishments, there was a total of P1.78 billion in withdrawals from crony banks and the Philippine National Bank, Security Bank & Trust Company, Republic Planters Bank, and Traders Royal Bank.

The first to get their money out of the crony banks were groups belonging to the clergy; in Union Bank, the clergy represented at least 12 % of its deposit base. As a result, deposit upsurges were recorded in Bank of the Philippine Islands, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company, and Citibank.

Bulletin today, the country's largest circulated newspaper (circulation 350,000) trailed behind the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Malaya, and the Manila Times.

Rustan's department store was empty; most of their customers moved over to SM Shoemart, Anson's, and Robinson's.

more at http://www.stuartxchange.com/BeforeEdsa.html

February 20
Testifying before a US House subcomittee, Asst. Secretary of State Paul H. Wolfowitz disclosed that Reagan's offer of new aid was "in abeyance" as long as Marcos remained in office.

Diplomats from 15 nations - Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Japan, Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, and West Germany - called on Mrs. Aquino who told them she was determined to assume the presidency "at the earliest possible time."

Jeepney drivers, consumerists, students, and academicians joined the boycott wagon.

February 17
Crony banks, corporations, and media were hit hard by the boycott. Deposit withdrawals were reportedly heavy not only in the seven banks in Cory's boycott list but also in banks either partly or wholly owned by known Marcos cronies. Nestle pulled out its ads from government TV Channel 4 and newspaper Bulletin Today. San Miguel-A shares went down to as low as P11.50 per share, while B shares went down to P14.50 per.

Not far behind in financial fiasco was the beverage industry. Beer quaffers had suddenly shifted to gin or hard drinks. Restaurants, eateries and cafes refused to serve San Miguel beer as well as Coca Cola, Sprite and Royal True Orange. A small number also stopped drinking Pepsi Cola, Seven-Up and Mirinda, thinking that these softdrinks were also under the control of a crony.

February 8
Cory Aquino took the lead in NAMFREL's tally of precinct results. She vowed massive protests and daily street demonstrations if cheated [of the election results]. The government's counting proceeded more slowly and showed Marcos leading.

February 9
Led by Linda Kapunan, thirty computer technicians manning the COMELEC tabulation machines walked out of their posts in protest over alleged deliberate changing of election results.

these are excerpts from the book:

CLARK AIR FORCE BASE - The fugitives rested nearly eight hours before proceeding to Guam at 5:12 AM, Wednesday, aboard a USAF C-9 Nightingale Hospital Aircraft which the Geneva convention protects from forced landings. A second plane, bearing General Ver and other supporters, left at 5:22AM. Their destination: Andersen Air Base, Guam, USA. 

CLARK AIR FORCE BASE - Shortly before they were to leave the base, the deposed President asked his American pilots if they can take him to his home province. The pilots retorted in a rather curt manner that their orders were to take him out of the Philippines. It was on the flight to Guam that the President had to be sedated, to stop him from insisting on flying to the north.

CLARK AIR FORCE BASE - The deposed President at first refused to leave Philippine soil and insisted on being flown to Paoay, Ilocos Norte. American officials hurriedly communicated with the heads of the rebel forces, General Ramos and Minister Enrile, who earlier gave the go-signal for Marcos to leave the country.

The rebel chiefs said no way could Marcos be allowed to seek refuge in Ilocos as this would enable him to regroup with his loyalist forces. By 5:05 AM of Wednesday, Marcos was finally convinced to take the US Air Force plane to Guam. 

CLARK AIR FORCE BASE - The Americans provided two jet aircraft, capable of transporting 500 persons - a Boeing 707 and a B-747. The Marcos party was given security during the operation by US Marines.

Mr. Marcos begged to be taken to Laoag because, he said, he "wanted to spend one last night in Ilocos." Arriving at Paoay's lakeside Malacañang of the North, the former president's mood shifted to aggression. He instructed his aides to organize an "Ilocano Army" to fight its way back to Metro Manila and "recover" the capital.

He rang up up Deputy Premier and Minister of Local Governments Jose Roño and told him of his plans. Roño, aghast, counseled him against a "countercoup." He asserted, "Please spare out people a bloodbath!"

He then telephoned Minister of Trade and Industry Roberto Ongpin, insisting, "Bobby, I'd like to make a last stand in Paoay!" Ongpin, equally taken aback, advised Mr. Marcos: "Think of the millions of Filipinos who are going to die if you start a civil war!"

He boarded his US Air Force Plane at 0:15 AM Wednesday morning and finally departed with his family. 

more at http://www.stuartxchange.com/Flight.html

EDSA - Tuesday began with midnight fireworks. Persisting rumors of Marcos's fall and flight prompted many to celebrate by exploding rockets and firecrackers. 

NAGTAHAN BRIDGE, Past Midnight - Several were wounded when Army soldiers fired through the barbed wire barricades at a crowd of rebel supporters who had turned back a column of armored vehicles heading towards Channel 4. Sunday Times Mag 2 Mar

MALACAÃ'ANG PALACE - Marcos's two sons-in-law were supervising the packing of dozens of crates of family possessions, including hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold bullion and bonds, more than a million dollars worth of freshly printed pesos, as well as artifacts and jewels. These were delivered by boat to a bayfront lawn adjacent to the US Embassy. Weeks earlier, a number of bulkier items, mainly large oil paintings and other works of art, had been packed and shipped out of the country at the direction of the First Lady.

There was little sleep in the palace that night as aides scurried from room to room, sifting through cabinets and boxes filled with documents, receipts, letters, many of them incriminating. Imelda Marcos was able to provide little advice to her husband. She seemed dazed, drifting in and out of her private chapel where she knelt and prayed. Marcos's son Bongbong and General Ver were arguing desperately with him to stay and fight.

NAGTAHAN BRIDGE, Past Midnight - Several were wounded when Army soldiers fired through the barbed wire barricades at a crowd of rebel supporters who had turned back a column of armored vehicles heading towards Channel 4.

MALACAÃ'ANG PALACE - Marcos's two sons-in-law were supervising the packing of dozens of crates of family possessions, including hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold bullion and bonds, more than a million dollars worth of freshly printed pesos, as well as artifacts and jewels. These were delivered by boat to a bayfront lawn adjacent to the US Embassy.

Weeks earlier, a number of bulkier items, mainly large oil paintings and other works of art, had been packed and shipped out of the country at the direction of the First Lady.

There was little sleep in the palace that night as aides scurried from room to room, sifting through cabinets and boxes filled with documents, receipts, letters, many of them incriminating.

Imelda Marcos was able to provide little advice to her husband. She seemed dazed, drifting in and out of her private chapel where she knelt and prayed. Marcos's son Bongbong and General Ver were arguing desperately with him to stay and fight.

http://www.stuartxchange.com/DayFour.html

CAMP CRAME, Midnight: Gen. Ramos took a jog around the perimeter with two guards but no sidearm.

A JOURNALIST, Midnight - We sat with two radios, a Radio Veritas and a second short-wave. Veritas, knocked off the air, was beaming from some clandestine radio station which a few of us knew was barely a kilometer away from where the Evil One resided. "Lord preserve Ketly - that's our pet name for June Keithley - they'll kill her in cold blood if they discover where she is."

RADYO BANDIDO, 12:10 AM - Keithley's broadcast began with the playing of Mambo Magsaysay, the campaign song identified with Radio Veritas, "hoping people would recognize the song and know us as DZRV."

All she had were a small pamphlet on civil disobedience and a phone patch to Gen. Ramos's headquarters. Manila Times 3 Mar

Beside June were two young boys, Paulo 15 and Gabe 13 years, sons of Tony and Monina Mercado. They manned the VHF transceiver link with Fr. Reuter and Gen. Ramos.

Keithley was on the air when Gallaga's group arrived at the booth atop the J & T building. A skeleton force was operating the facility and June was getting lost in the plethora of new equipment that she had to instantly be familiar with.

It was agreed not to air the radio station's call sign and frequency as it would alarm Marcos's troops. A phone-in number was announced instead and shortly, there was a barrage of calls.  Malaya 28 Feb

ORLY PUNZALAN ­ "When our newsmen discovered that June Keithley was on Radyo Bandido, they started feeding her news. Harry Gasser, Bishop Baccani, Jun Tana, and the rest of the boys helped. Poor June Keithley. She did not have a mobile unit, did not have a crew. All she had was a radio station and a telephone whose number was not even supposed to be announced.Manila Chronicle Feb 87

ANN MERCADO (Student) ­ My brother Gabe called to tell me that June Keithley was broacasting again. The Voice of Truth could be heard on 810 of the AM band. I asked him where they were, trying to sound as demanding as possible, as I was sure my mother would be very worried. He said he could not tell me. It was a secret.  PEOPLE POWER p. 191

Fidel Ramos: We were very lucky to have been able to hook up in that manner because to the audience, to the outside world, it appeared that our momentum continued and did not diminish with the demise of Radio Veritas.

more at http://www.stuartxchange.com/DayThree.html

EDSA, 12:00 Midnight - Cardinal Sin's plea that the people help Ramos and Enrile was taken literally. Thousands of people began massing outside the rebel camps and supplying food for the soldiers.   

Fidel Ramos: That day we had to develop additional forces outside Crame and Aguinaldo and, of course, we needed to reinforce our military forces. This is why our call to the people to come and support us was very constant. And we were able to do this through June Keithley and the radio broadcasting crews of Radio Veritas who were on the job, calling on the people, transmitting for us even messages which were tactical in nature. This was the first time in military history, anywhere in the world, when private broadcast media, run by concerned citizens, were used to transmit or relay military orders or directives to military units in the field."

STA. ANA, MANILA ­ Father James Reuter, S.J., was the vital link in the communications system of the revolution. He had a VHF radio link to Gen. Ramos in Camp Crame; another to Veritas radio station where June Keithley was broadcasting; and a telephone line to the US Embassy political section headed by Gabriel Kplan, Scott Hallford and Bruce Thomas.

MALACAÃ'ANG PALACE - Tonight, nothing was working. The Enrile-Ramos team was on the air, making noise without letup over Radio Veritas and other stations, waging an aggressive propaganda war. Eager to confront the rebels, presidential aide Col. Aruiza called up Gen. Ver on the other side of the river and urged him to act. Ver said, "I have no instructions from the President."

All through the night and the next two days, there was the same maddening inaction on the part of government troops. No one was thinking; no one was taking the initiative. Several generals besides Ver could have planned and executed counteraction, but they didn't. Some were nowhere to be found. They were all waiting for Marcos, but Marcos was sick. Others had already made up their minds to sit it out and join the winners.

CAMP CRAME, Past Midnight - Butz Aquino sought out Gen. Ramos to tell him, "The troops are here!" Butz was surprised to see the general "so relaxed, with his cigar, like he has no problem, as if it's a social visit." He was glad he saw Enrile first because then, "there was urgency."

Ramos explained their plans to secure the camp, briefed them regarding the entrances and exits that should be guarded. Butz asked how many people Ramos had. "All told, about 3,000."

"As it turned out, he was also counting the wives, househelpers, everybody in the camp, including the dogs. The soldiers were only 300."

Gen. Ramos asked if the troops were prepared to stay for two months. Butz answered, "If it takes three months to remove that guy from Malacañang, we are prepared to stay three months."

more at http://www.stuartxchange.com/DayTwo.html

When the day began, just after midnight, a meeting was in progress in the home of Marcos's Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile.

DASMARIÃ'AS VILLAGE, MAKATI - Among those present were Enrile, his press secretary, Silvestre Afable, and three key officers plotting a coup against Ferdinand Marcos.

The five were putting final touches to a speech Enrile planned to read 36 hours later over national radio and television. Enrile would proclaim himself head of a ruling junta, the National Reconciliation Council, just after rebel troops assaulted the Palace at 2:00 AM February 23, capturing or killing Marcos.

Spearheading the attack on Marcos was Enrile's chief of security, Colonel Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, an officer whose relationship with the Defense Minister has been described as "closer than father and son."

Enrile was the central political figure behind the coup conspiracy, but Honasan, his PMA classmates Col. Eduardo Kapunan and Col. Victor Batac, were the masterminds of the attack plans.

At 2:00 AM of the 23rd of February, Sunday, Col. Honasan and his commandos, guided by carefully prepared maps and rebels in the Palace guard, would break into the presidential bedrooms of Malacañang Palace to arrest Marcos and his First Lady, Imelda.

Simultaneously, Col. Kapunan's force would set off a series of massive explosions near the Malacañang armories, signalling three rebel battalions to move in with reinforcements. The first and largest explosion was intended to assassinate General Fabian Ver who would be sleeping inside his home in nearby Malacañang Park.

The rebels also finalized a list of nominees for Enrile's junta: opposition candidate Corazon Aquino, Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Fidel Ramos, Cardinal Jaime Sin, and several leading technocrats like Marcos's Prime Minister Cesar Virata.

Unknown to Honasan, one of his moles in Malacanang Palace had been leaking top-secret details of the coup plot to the Vers.

more at http://www.stuartxchange.com/DayOne.html

Path to anywhere
A forest in British Columbia

Karnak
The Karnak Temple Complex composes a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons and other buildings located three kilometers north of Luxor. It's one of the main tourist attractions in Egypt.

Montreal skyline
Montreal is a city in the Canadian province of Quebec. It is the largest city in the province and the second largest in the country.

Beijing International Airport
Beijing International Airport is the main international airport serving Beijing. It is located 32km (20mi) northeast of Beijing.

Dinner in the Sky in Brussels, Belgium
An original dinner up in the air in the heart of the capital city of Belgium.

The grotto of Georgian Bay
The grotto of Georgian Bay is located in the Bruce National Park. It is a big cave, carved out by the waves of the Georgian Bay during thousands of years.

Burning heart
Colorful heart shaped flames.

The Sphinx at Giza, Egypt
The Sphinx of Giza is a limestone statue of a reclining or couchant sphinx, a mythical creature with the body of a lion and a human head. It may be more than 10,000 years old.

Mont des Arts, Brussels in Belgium
Mont des Arts is a fabulous location in Brussels. It is an extraordinary place to visit for its numerous museums and other art houses gathered in the same square.

Schwerin Castle, Germany
Schwerin Castle is located in the German city of Schwerin, state capital of Germany's Northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is situated on an island in the city's main lake, the Schweriner See. It currently serves as the seat of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Parliament.

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde Natural Park, Colorado
Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling (troglodyte) at Mesa Verde National Park in the southwestern corner of Colorado. It has 150 rooms and some have residential features.

Winter Forest
Beautiful snowy forest and snow covered trees and branches in a winter country field.

Oxford University, England
Oxford University is a collegiate research university located in the central southern city of Oxford England United Kingdom. It is one of the leading universities in the world.

Burj Khalifa, Dubai
Burj Khalifa known as Burj Dubai prior to its inauguration, is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the tallest man-made structure in the world at 829.8m (2,722ft).

Rainbow over Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada
A beautiful rainbow forms over the edge of Horseshoe Falls, in Niagara Falls, Canada. The falls are located at the border between Ontario Canada and the state of New York.

Heart-shaped Island
The lovely Heart shaped croatian island is located in Zadarski Kanal (Zadar Channel) between Zadar and Island of Pasma.

Zhangye Danxia Landform, China
The Danxia refers to various landscapes found in southeast and southwest China that consist of a red bed characterized by steep cliffs. The Danxia landform is formed from red-coloured sandstones and agglomerates of the Cretaceous age.

harassed saksi nga kabulakan sa pork barrel scam

chopsticks as new age weapons

chopsticks as anti-riot weapons

chopsticks in medical practice

naa mi daghan ana uy.  sa among terrace.

what's wrong with that someone you know?  too bad s/he wants more than what s/he needs.  a sure formula for unhappiness.

1
1912: John Thorpe Stripped Of Medals after Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden

John Thorpe was a gifted athlete who excelled in track and field endeavors, such as the demanding pentathlon and decathlon events. During the Olympics, he won two gold medals, and participated in many events. The King of Sweden presented him with his prizes, and deemed him to be “the greatest athlete in the world.”



Scandal followed the Oklahoma-born superstar as it was discovered that he was not an amateur athlete: he had played baseball for pay in the past. Thorpe was stripped of his medals and disgraced in front of the entire world. He went on to play pro football in the States.



Thorpe’s achievements were so great, however, that, in 1982, the IO restored his medals to his family, and reinstated his athletic records. Unfortunately, Thorpe had already passed on when this happened. In 1999, Thorpe was posthumously named America’s Greatest Athlete of The Century.



http://historyoftheolympics.com/

2
1936: Hitler Attends The Olympic Games

In 1936, in Berlin, Hitler stood in the stands as Chancellor and President of his country. Hitler was overjoyed to watch his prized athletes prove themselves in the world arena, but his joy turned to nastiness as black athlete Jesse Owens defeated his own athletes in the track and field events he dominated. Owens won four Gold medals, and Hitler, out of spite, refused to give the black athlete the medals he earned that day.



The nature of the nascent Third Reich was revealed to many as Hitler’s childishness and racism resulted in a global scandal. Owens got his medals nonetheless, and Hitler and his entourage left the arena in protest.

3
1968: Black Power Salutes by Olympic Athletes

In 1968’s Olympic Summer Games in Mexico City, two black athletes showed their political leanings by using the black power salute while on the Olympic podium. One athlete, a talented track and field competitor named Tommie Smith, won the gold medal for his performance in the 200m dash in Mexico City. The other athlete, John Carlos, won the bronze medal in the same event.



While sharing the podium with another white athlete, both runners gave the infamous black power salute. Silver medalist, Australian runner Peter Norman stood beside them and donned a badge supporting human rights to show his solidarity with them.



The IOC were dismayed at the political display, and attempted to punish the athletes by stripping them of their team member status. Many people thought the actions of the athletes involved were noble and heroic, and the actions of the IOC were not acceptable to a lot of people.

4
1972: Black September, Munich

Recently, Steven Spielberg detailed the events that took place in West Germany, in his film, Munich. This film retold one of the most dramatic moments in all of Olympic history.





In his film, he told the story of the politically motivated hostage taking of Israeli team members by Palestinian guerrilla forces. The terrorist group, named Black September, attempted to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners who were being held in Israeli prisons. They also had other demands for the release of prisoners being held in German penitentiaries.



It is reported that the terrorists were offered huge sums of money to release the Jewish hostages, but they were not accepted. Several Olympic athletes were shot and killed as an unsuccessful rescue attempt by West German forces failed, and the incident is now known as the “Munich Massacre.”

5
1976 â€" African Nations Boycott Olympics Due To New Zealand’s Rugby Tour of South Africa

Political tensions reared their head again in 1976, when New Zealand was the center of controversy. 25 African countries decided to boycott the Montreal Summer Games because New Zealand permitted their Rugby team to tour South Africa.



From 1964 onward, South Africa had been banned from participating in the Olympics due to their racist program of Apartheid, and African nations felt that New Zealand were showing their approval of South Africa by sending the Rugby team to that country.

6
1980: Crowds Hiss at Polish Pole Vaulter

Wladyslaw Kozakiewicz, a Polish pole vaulter, won the Gold medal for his efforts in the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow. The crowd had tried to distract and hinder his performance by booing and hissing him during his performance.



In retaliation, Kozakiewicz gave the crowd a coarse gesture, using his hands and arms to demonstrate his disdain for the crowd and their attitude. This was the first example of an Olympic athlete turning on the crowd, and it represented a new low in sportsmanship, and in the respectfulness of Olympic spectators. The Russians attempted to take his medal away for his “elbow gesture”, but they were unsuccessful.



Many thought the gesture was also a statement about Russian control over Polish affairs, and the Polish people were ecstatic that the athlete should openly oppose the Russian people this way.

7
1980: Boycott of the Soviet Union at the Moscow Summer Games

The escalating Cold War conflicts between the United States and the Soviet Union became more prominent after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Many other countries also felt that the invasion was wrong, and all this tension resulted in a huge boycott of the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow. Athletes, who are so briefly at their peak, were forced to sacrifice their dreams as the heads of state of 80 nations decided to pull their athletes out of the competition, to protest the Soviet Unions military tactics.

Only 67 countries competed in the Moscow Games, and the Soviet Union swept the competitions, gathering 80 gold medals and 115 silver and bronze medals. Many people feel that the boycott of the Olympics in Moscow rang the death knell for the Soviet Union, and signaled the beginning of a new era.

8
1994: Tonya Harding Plans Attack on Nancy Kerrigan

In 1994, there were two American rivals for women’s figure skating’s biggest prize. Nancy Kerrigan had grace and femininity, and Tonya Harding had strength and the ability to do triple axels in abundance.



When Tonya Harding decided to orchestrate an attack on Nancy Kerrigan, before the Olympic Games in Lillehammer, she was showing her lack of confidence in her own sports prowess to the entire world. With the help of her husband, Jeff Gillooly, and two other men, the attack on Nancy Kerrigan, at the Detroit US Figure Skating Championships, was successful. By attempting to knock Kerrigan out of contention with a blow to the knee, delivered by Shane Stant, Tonya sought to increase her chances of winning a medal at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer. In the end, all she did was ruin her reputation forever, as she placed 8th in the competition.



Tonya was banned for life from all participation in USFA events, and she will never get another chance to win Olympic Gold. The media frenzy that surrounded Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan during the days leading up to their skating programs at the Olympic Games was unprecedented, and it tarnished the sport.

9
1996: Atlanta Summer Games Bombing

The tragic bombing of Centennial Olympic Park, a popular hub for athletes and spectators, took place during an open-air concert, and claimed the lives of two people.



On July 27, 1996, three pipe bombs were discovered in a black sports bag. Richard Jewell, a security guard who was later considered a prime suspect for the attack, found and reported the bag, and helped security personnel clear the immediate area, so that explosives experts could attempt to defuse it. It exploded at around 1:30 that morning, and one woman died as a nail was drilled into her head by the force of the explosion: another person died of cardiac arrest at the site.


Richard Jewell, innocent
more at http://www.businessinsider.com/lessons-from-richard-jewell-2013-4

Richard Jewell was found to be innocent of any wrongdoing, but was the subject of much scrutiny and negative attention from media and the general public. He was also forced to undergo intense interrogations by the FBI.

In the end, the culprit of the 1996 Olympic bombing was found to be Eric Robert Rudolph, a twisted individual who also bombed an abortion clinic and a lesbian bar in the Georgia area. Rudolph is currently serving life without the possibility of parole at one of America’s harshest Supermax prisons, ADX Florence.


Eric Robert Rudolph

10
1999: International Olympic Committee Bribery Scandal

The reputation of the Olympics’ governing body, the IOC, took severe blows as it was revealed that IOC members were taking bribes to secure Utah’s bid for the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Some voting members received large sums of cash in return for their decision to vote in favor of the Utah city. Twelve members of the IOC were dismissed due to evidence that they were taking cash bribes, and many people protested the choice of Utah for the Games’ location. In the end, it was too late to change venues, and the Olympics were held in Salt Lake. Since this incident, many have cast a jaundiced eye on the activities of the International Olympic Committee, whose corruption was reportedly widespread. Since then, there have been other such scandals, but nothing on this scale. The IOC have tried to restore their integrity and reputation since the Utah scandal.

Top Ten Olympic Scandals and Tragedies

In the long history of the Olympic games, there have been many dramatic moments, and not all of them were sports-related. Sometimes, they came as a result of political change and protest. As well, athletes have taken risks that cost them their medals. Even Olympic administrators are not immune from their moments of scandal. Here is our look at the Top Ten Olympic Scandals and Tragedies, from the present day, back through history:

The flight arrived an hour late, but Martinez’s fans patiently waited for their idol and gave him a rousing welcome when he emerged from the tube of the plane.

Martinez, 17, brought honor to the country by being the first skater from the Philippines, a tropical zone, and Southeast Asia to qualify for the Olympics.

He made a remarkable 19th place finish, a big jump from his 30th rank upon qualifying for the Olympics among thousands of aspirants.

From the airport, a brief motorcade organized by the Pasay City government and the SM Mall of Asia management was held for Martinez shortly before 6 p.m.

more at http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/02/24/1293899/martinez-gets-rousing-welcome-fans

Martinez gets rousing welcome from fans

By Joey Villar (The Philippine Star)
February 24, 2014


Olympic skater Michael Martinez is greeted by fans at the SM Mall of Asia yesterday. VAL RODRIGUEZ 

MANILA, Philippines - Olympic skater Michael Martinez came home to a grand welcome yesterday after a dramatic 22-day journey in Sochi, Russia for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Martinez arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on board flight EK 332 from Russia along with his mother, Maria Theresa.

Coconut water is fine for recreational athletes -- but so are plain water or sports drinks. In general, most adults don’t exercise strenuously enough to need sports drinks or coconut water because good, old-fashioned water works just fine.

If you enjoy the taste and your budget allows it, coconut water is a nutritious and relatively low-calorie way to add potassium to your diet and keep you well-hydrated.

Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, is director of nutrition for WebMD. Her opinions and conclusions are her own.

http://www.webmd.com/

Bottom Line

There are some health benefits to consuming coconut water. It’s an all-natural way to hydrate, reduce sodium, and add potassium to diets. Most Americans don’t get enough potassium in their diets because they don’t eat enough fruits, vegetables, or dairy, so coconut water can help fill in the nutritional gaps.

Beyond that, the scientific literature does not support the hype that it will help with a laundry list of diseases. “There is a lot of hype about coconut water, yet the research is just not there to support many of the claims and much more research is needed,” says Cheung.

Neither coconut water nor sports drinks contain enough sodium or carbs for the heavy perspirer. “Supplement with a quick source of energy like a banana or some raisins and a handful of pretzels to provide nutrients to replenish your stores,” Clark says.

Recovery starts before exercise begins. “Most people don’t need to worry about calories, potassium, or sodium. Eat a bagel with peanut butter to get food into your system before and drink plenty of water during exercise,” Clark says. If you exercise for prolonged periods, she suggests eating salty pretzels and raisins or other portable sources of energy.

What Experts Say

Staying hydrated is one of the most important things for recreational and professional athletes. And if the taste of coconut water helps you drink plenty of fluids, it is a fine choice for most people but may not be for those in prolonged physical activity.

Coconut water is low in carbohydrates and sodium and rich in potassium, which is not exactly what athletes need when exercising rigorously, says Clark.

“Whether you choose a sports drink, coconut water, or plain water, they all work to keep your body hydrated. The challenge is when you exercise strenuously for more than three hours in the heat and lose lots of body fluids, you need easily absorbed carbs for quick energy and to replace lost electrolytes like sodium and potassium,” Clark says.

Coconut water may be better at replacing lost fluids than a sports drink or water -- as long as you enjoy the taste. A study recently published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise shows that coconut water replenishes body fluids as well as a sports drink and better than water but the athletes preferred the taste of the sports drinks.

Sports nutritionist Nancy Clark, MS, RD and author of Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook says coconut water won’t rehydrate the body unless you can drink plenty of it. If you enjoy the taste and can tolerate large amounts, it could help keep you hydrated.

A 2007 study shows coconut water enhanced with sodium was as good as drinking a commercial sports drink for post-exercise rehydration with better fluid tolerance. Another study reported that coconut water caused less nausea, fullness, and stomach upset and was easier to consume in large amounts during rehydration.

Some Athletes Swear By It

Professional tennis player John Isner credits coconut water with keeping him on his feet for his epic 11-hour marathon Wimbledon tennis win. “It is super hydrating and has kept me going in long matches and prevented me from cramping even in the hottest and most humid conditions,” Isner says.

He drinks a mixture of coconut water and water the night before a match in difficult heat conditions and routinely mixes a cocktail of coconut water and sea salt for on-court hydration and mixes it with protein powder for post-match recovery.

Better Than Some Sugary Drinks

Coconut water has less sugar than many sports drinks and much less sugar than sodas and some fruit juices. Plain coconut water could be a better choice for adults and kids looking for a beverage that is less sweet. But don’t overdo it, says Lillian Cheung, DSc, RD, of Harvard School of Public Health. “One 11-ounce container has 60 calories and if you drink several in one day, the calories can add up quickly," Cheung says.

Cheung, co-author of Savor Mindful Eating, Mindful Life, suggests being mindful about beverage choices and reading labels to choose plain coconut water and avoid those with added sugar or juices, which are no different from other sugary beverages.

What Is Coconut Water?

Naturally refreshing, coconut water has a sweet, nutty taste. It contains easily digested carbohydrate in the form of sugar and electrolytes. Not to be confused with high-fat coconut milk or oil, coconut water is a clear liquid in the fruit’s center that is tapped from young, green coconuts.

It has fewer calories, less sodium, and more potassium than a sports drink. Ounce per ounce, most unflavored coconut water contains 5.45 calories, 1.3 grams sugar, 61 milligrams (mg) of potassium, and 5.45 mg of sodium compared to Gatorade, which has 6.25 calories, 1.75 grams of sugar, 3.75 mg of potassium, and 13.75 mg of sodium.

The Truth About Coconut Water

By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD
WebMD Expert Column

Low in calories, naturally fat- and cholesterol free, more potassium than four bananas, and super hydrating - these are just a few of the many benefits ascribed to America’s latest health craze: coconut water.

Dubbed "Mother Nature’s sports drink" by marketers, the demand is skyrocketing, propelled by celebrity and athlete endorsements and promises to hydrate the body and help with a whole host of conditions, from hangovers to cancer and kidney stones.

But is coconut water capable of delivering on all the promises or is it hype?

A woman sits on a bench on a flooded Thames riverside path in Staines, southern England, Feb. 17, 2014. Tens of thousands have been left without power, others evacuated from their homes after the wettest January on record pushed river banks to breaking point.

http://www.voanews.com/

A Thai anti-government protester (R) stands next to soldiers during a protest against the government's repeatedly delayed payments for rice submitted to the pledging scheme at the government's temporary office in Bangkok.

http://www.voanews.com/

A villager walks near houses covered by ash from the eruption of Mount Kelud at Ngantang village in Malang, Indonesia's East Java province, Feb. 16, 2014.

http://www.voanews.com/

Soldiers and rescuers carry a woman to a truck following the eruption of Mount Kelud, in Malang, East Java, Indonesia.

http://www.voanews.com/

windblown beauty.

gwapa gyod ang tag-iya ani, i'm sure na sure. pwera kuto.

Quote from: hubag bohol on February 16, 2014, 11:50:49 AM
Don't let the checkers fool you, silly girl. She's actually wearing a bikini...

don't let the strings fool you, either.  if it's not an apron, then it must be a monokini.

Large waves hit the lighthouse and harbor at Newhaven in Sussex, southern England. Britain was hit by a third storm in a week causing damage and compounding the record levels of floodwaters in the south and west of the country.

http://www.voanews.com/

Honor guards stand near a monument in Minsk, Belarus, commemorating the Soviet victims of the war in Afghanistan, along with many former Soviet states, marked the 25th anniversary of the Soviet troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan where they fought for more than nine years.

http://www.voanews.com/

Fireworks from the Philippines light up the sky at the opening of the 5th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition at suburban Pasay city, south of Manila. The fireworks display, which will run for six consecutive weekends, features 11 countries, including Australia, China, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, United Kingdom, the United States and the host country Philippines.

http://www.voanews.com/

Super Moon
A Super Moon is the coincidence of a full moon or a new moon with the closest approach the Moon makes to the Earth on its elliptical orbit.

Caño Cristales, Columbia
Cano Cristales is a Colombian river located in the Serrania de la Macarena, province of Meta. The river is commonly called "The river of Five Colors".

Wisteria Flower Tunnel in Japan
A spectacular view of Wisteria Flower Tunnel in the Kawachi Fuji gardens. It is a shining example of the Japonese perception of beauty and architecture.

Lion Rock, Sri Lanka
The Lion Rock, located in the central district of Matale in Sri Lanka, is a large 200 meter high granite stone, ancient rock fortress and palace ruin.

The Black Forest in Germany
The Black Forest is a beautiful wooded mountain range in Baden-Wurttenberg, South Western Germany.

Ready to fly
Baby barn swallows are ready for their first fly.

Northern Lights
In northern latitudes, the effect is known as the aurora borealis, or the northern lights named after the roman goddess of dawn Aurora.

Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand
The highest mountain in New Zealand, Aoraki Mount lies in the Southern Alps. The mountain's range runs the length of the South Island, and is a popular challenge for mountain climbers.