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Sugar


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Similar to salt, sugar can also last forever if kept away from moisture and sources of heat. And we're not just talking about pure sugar, either. According to Eat By Date, granulated white sugar, white sugar cubes, raw sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, sugar substitute, Equal, and Sweet n Low all last indefinitely. Although their textures might change, sugar never completely expires. Feel like you're eating too much sugar? Here's how to kick your sugar habit.

Dried legumes


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Not to be confused with canned or fresh beans, dried beans also last forever—if they're stored in sealed or airtight packaging. However, older beans may take longer to cook which results in a rather time-consuming process. Regardless, make sure you take note of these five health benefits and five surprising risks of eating beans.

Salt


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Pure sodium chloride has been around for billions of years, so it's no surprise that it lasts forever. Not to mention, salt is often used to protect foods from mold and bacteria so they're preserved longer. This occurs as a result of osmosis—when water is drawn out of the food by the salt itself, thus creating too dry of an environment for mold and bacteria to thrive."It is a mineral and stable," says Dr. Trattner. "The worst thing that [can happen is] it can get wet."

Cornstarch


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Depending on how cornstarch is stored, it definitely deserves a spot on our immortal foods list. As long as it doesn't get wet—which causes the starch molecules to bond with hydrogen molecules—and is kept in a dry, cool place, you won't need to pick up another container of cornstarch for a long, long time. Don't miss these 20 genius ways cornstarch can clean your house and simplify your beauty routine.

Vinegar


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Is there anything apple cider vinegar can't do? Besides having an incredible amount of health benefits, like helping with weight loss, and being a natural stomachache remedy, it can also stay in your pantry forever. But it doesn't stop there. According to Eat By Date, white vinegar, balsamic vinegar, raspberry vinegar, rice wine vinegar, and red wine vinegar also don't have expiration dates. "Because of its acid nature, vinegar is self-preserving and does not need refrigeration," according to The Vinegar Institute.

9 Foods You Won't Have to Ever Worry About Expiring

BY BRITTANY GIBSON

These foods have found the fountain of eternal youth.

Raw honey


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Honey is often referred to as "God's medicine," and has tons of health benefits–and it's great for your hair. "Honey has actually be used in wound care in some cultures and studies for its ability to naturally resist bacteria," says Dr. Elizabeth Trattner A.P. DOM, doctor of Chinese and Integrative Medicine. The best part? It never expires! In fact, it's not unusual for archaeologists to find thousand-year-old honeypots in ancient Egyptian tombs—these archaeologists found 3,000-year-old honey and it's perfectly edible. So what's the deal? According to Smithsonian, its sugar, low moisture levels, excessive acidity, natural gluconic acid, and natural hydrogen peroxide are the keys to its longevity—but only if you store it correctly.

Grawlix vs. obscenicon: What the @#&!?

Over the decades, the comic-strip world so embraced swear-symbols that the cartoonist Mort Walker (in 1980) devised the tongue-in-cheek term grawlix to describe them. The more recent portmanteau word: obscenicon (fusing obscenity and icon), coined by linguist Ben Zimmer, is a more accurate representation of this phenomena.

Whether you side with grawlix or obscenicon, swear-symbols are so ubiquitous and entrenched in our visual vernacular that even country singer Kevin Fowler contributed the first comic-bubble-swear-turned-song-lyric: "I feel like pound-sign, question mark, star, exclamation point."

http://www.dictionary.com/

Typo-bleeping gets more colorful

Using symbols for swears has a long history (some even think it traces back to Ancient Egypt, as so many things do). But, leave it to two wild kids, Hans and Fritz, to be the ones responsible for today's buffet of symbolic swears. The tykes were characters in The Katzenjammer Kids, a comic strip from the early 1900s. Rudolph Dirks, the twenty-year old German immigrant cartoonist who drew the kids into being, likely invented both the speech bubble and the comic iconography of profanity—how's that for posterity.

The first recorded use of symbolic swearing occurs in a 1902 episode of the comic, where the impish Katzenjammers mess with Uncle Heinie on a ladder. Fuming, Uncle Heinie unleashes a speech bubble of "[star]-[anchor]-!-!-?-[dung pile?]"; the anchor is a particularly nice touch, what with "swearing like a sailor" and all.

Typographical bleeping

The earliest examples of typographical bleeping are in the form of the dash, the most visually boring of the symbols. The asterisk also pecked its way into taboo-land early on, but the dash is much more experienced.

Around the 1680s, editors were dashing words like God ("G-d") and damn ("d—"), but only when used to take God's name in vain (the difference between "God damns those who smite Him" and "G-d d— him for smiting me!"). By the 1700s, "you saucy B-tch" was thrown into a dismal poem as a "warning to young, married men."

Incidentally, the conventional use of the dash (also referred to as blank because of the space left between letters) led to the swearing euphemism blankety-blank toward the end of the 1800s.

Holy $#!%: Where Did The Symbolic Swear Come From?

Why is @#$%&! naughty?

When the force of a swear word is too extreme (but some form of cuss must be used) symbolic stand-ins have long been used for lewdness. Suffice it to say, any emotional keyboard-striker can blurt out something that people perceive as a sub for swears. Whether it's to diminish the force of swear, to get around censorship rules, or maybe just because symbols are @#$%ing cool to look at, people still use symbolic swearing today.

How did symbols come to signify taboo language? Much of the answer lies in comic strips. But, before we get there, we've got to go over some of the history of typographical bleeping.

a must-read.

The principle of complementarity was embedded in the Rome Statute precisely to solve this kind of problem. The mandate of the ICC is thus normative and adjudicative. The adjudicative mandate is to stop impunity, however long it takes. The normative mandate, on the other hand, is more long-term – to push states to build a justice system where ICC intervention is not necessary. This is the reason why the ICC is and will remain important.

Jenny Domino is an LL.M. candidate at Harvard Law School. She served as a legal consultant at the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, where she helped redesign the human rights investigative framework for the Philippine "war on drugs". She also previously interned at the International Criminal Court.

Cambridge International Law Journal
http://cilj.co.uk/

What's the point?

The ICC preliminary examination on the Philippines would be an uphill battle. Issues of cooperation complicate the Prosecutor's work. The Philippine institutional set-up does not help. This raises the question: what can the ICC accomplish by opening a preliminary examination that may take years to conclude?

In an ideal world, the ICC would have no cases to investigate and no defendants to try either because of the absence of mass atrocities altogether or because all persons responsible for their commission can be genuinely prosecuted domestically. At the end of the day, we want a world in which governments are willing to make themselves accountable to the people. The ICC implicitly shares this mission by punishing persons most responsible for mass atrocities when states are unable or unwilling to do so, recognizing the reality that it is high-ranking government officials who enjoy the most impunity. This is especially true in the Philippines, where no one from the Marcos dictatorship has ever been held accountable to this day.

Another problem is evidence. Because prosecutions will have to rely on evidence collected by the police – the very persons being investigated – prosecutors are stuck with no evidence in order to move forward with their case. Even the CHR has to rely on police cooperation to facilitate their human rights investigations. RA 9851 itself requires the CHR, the DOJ, and the PNP to work together in prosecuting and investigating the crimes covered by that law. Who can assist the CHR and the DOJ in their work when the target is the PNP Chief himself?

Viewed in this manner, the structure of the Philippine justice system paves the way for an ICC preliminary investigation to proceed. The roadmap on complementarity exposes deep structural problems in human rights accountability in the Philippines. Designing accountability mechanisms based on state-dependent models presents a paradox for prosecutions of high-ranking government officials because it is the state that is commonly held to account by human rights laws. This system may work when catching low-level public officials, but not for bigger catch. When the structure of justice for human rights abuses is circular, the ICC is likely to intervene with respect to crimes within its jurisdiction.

Structural Challenges

If we only consider Duterte as the possible accused, then it is enough to justify ICC intervention due to the grant of presidential immunity under RA 9851. However, the ICC Prosecutor may also investigate other high-ranking officials involved in Operation Tokhang, such as PNP Chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa. Notably, Operation Tokhang is implemented by police forces.

Dela Rosa is not protected by immunity under RA 9851. National proceedings against him may thus bar an ICC investigation. However, Philippine prosecutorial design may still allow ICC intervention. The mandate to prosecute crimes under RA 9851 is partly lodged with the DOJ. Institutionally, the DOJ is under the executive branch of the government, with the President as Chief Executive. The Justice Secretary is a presidential appointee and serves on behalf of the President. Under this set-up, it is highly unlikely that prosecution for any high-ranking official implementing Duterte's war on drugs will ever prosper. If the President himself encourages this policy, then the idea of his representative (i.e., Justice Secretary) prosecuting the PNP Chief, the person responsible for implementing Duterte's policy, is unlikely. Alternatively, the Ombudsman may theoretically prosecute Dela Rosa under RA 9851 because the drug killings resulting from the implementation of Operation Tokhang were committed during his command of the PNP. If this happens, it will eventually and separately call for an assessment of genuine willingness to prosecute.

Perhaps Colombia's story can guide us. The ICC Prosecutor has made it clear that removing the possibility of criminal prosecution for the mass atrocities committed during the armed conflict between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia could lead her to resume the preliminary examination of the Colombian situation. Criminal accountability was non-negotiable. This influenced both parties to the peace agreement to exclude amnesties and pardons for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Against this backdrop, the consequences of impeachment – mere removal from office – may not be enough to satisfy complementarity for the Philippines.

Although the ICC has yet to define how alternative mechanisms of accountability fit into the complementarity framework, the view that impeachment is insufficient to bar an ICC investigation is more consistent with the complementarity principle. Since the ICC seeks to fill the gap left open by states that do not genuinely investigate and criminally prosecute persons most responsible for mass atrocities, it follows that to satisfy complementarity, the state must allow for a mechanism that pushes for the same prosecutorial agenda.

Impeachment has been suggested to bar ICC intervention. Apart from the political impossibility of this happening at the moment, there are good reasons to believe that the process of impeachment is not enough to satisfy complementarity. The present 1987 Philippine Constitution allows for the removal of the President for culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. Although it may be argued that the drug-related extrajudicial killings constitute a violation of numerous rights provisions of the Constitution that could fall under "culpable violation of the Constitution", impeachment only carries a political consequence and no criminal liability. This may not qualify as the kind of accountability envisioned in the Rome Statute.

Complementarity Permutations

The protective writs petitioned before the Philippine Supreme Court cannot be interpreted as national proceedings that can bar an ICC investigation. These protective writs are remedial measures for the families of the victims killed by Operation Tokhang, not efforts to hold high-ranking officials who planned and implemented Operation Tokhang criminally liable. The pending complaints filed by the drug war victims' family members against police officers with the Office of the Ombudsman do not satisfy complementarity for the same reasons. The defendants here are low-ranking officers of the Manila Police District, not senior officials of the PNP. The investigative mandate of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) may also not suffice. At best, the CHR can only recommend the filing of charges either to the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Ombudsman; it has no prosecutorial power itself. Prosecutors are free to disregard CHR recommendations and make separate findings of their own.

Both arguments are misplaced. The fact that a statutory mechanism exists is not the same as having a mechanism that actually works, which is what the principle of complementarity aims to achieve. Similarly, exploring the implications of presidential immunity presupposes that investigations that would satisfy complementarity are, in fact, already taking place. Both arguments do not answer the primordial question – are there, in fact, investigations being undertaken that would satisfy complementarity?

An absence of any investigation is enough reason for the ICC to step in. The question of genuine unwillingness will not arise if no investigations at all are being conducted in the first place. However, not all kinds of investigations are sufficient. This presupposes another question – what kind of investigation must take place, and against whom?

In its Policy Paper on Preliminary Examinations, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor requires national proceedings to be brought against the persons most responsible for the criminal acts that are being examined by it for potential cases. At present, however, no investigation, much less prosecution, has been conducted on any high-ranking official most responsible for planning and implementing Operation Tokhang, the Philippine National Police's (PNP) official campaign through which the extrajudicial killings were allegedly committed.

Can the Philippines overcome the principle of complementarity?

March 8, 2018
Jenny Domino

The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) recently announced her plans to conduct a preliminary examination on Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, which has allegedly resulted in thousands of extrajudicial executions of civilians. This process requires the Prosecutor to assess whether national proceedings exist with respect to potential cases that the Prosecutor may investigate after conducting the preliminary examination. Notably, a preliminary examination analyzes the situation as a whole and does not look into specific incidents and individuals that may be charged yet.

Duterte's supporters argue that the Philippines has existing legislation and a functioning judicial system sufficient to satisfy complementarity. They rely on Republic Act 9851 (also titled the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity) (RA 9851), to argue that the Philippines has an accountability mechanism which should suffice to bar ICC intervention. On the other hand, critics point to the presidential immunity provision in RA 9851 to argue that the ICC is not barred.

Essential oil guidelines

-Precautions should be observed when using essential oils since they are highly concentrated

-Do not apply undiluted essential oils directly to the skin

-Never use undiluted oils on children under the age of three

-If you are pregnant you must seek the advice of your doctor, midwife or aromatherapist before using any essential oils

-When used appropriately, essential oils and aromatherapy products are safe for all the entire family

Source: Aromatherapy Trade Council

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-43429933

He called for further larger studies.

"At present, there is insufficient evidence to support the concept that exposure to lavender and tea tree oil containing products cause gynaecomastia in children, and further epidemiological and experimental studies are required."

The study results will be presented on 19 March at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Chicago.

Prof Hughes added: "Clearly, the longer-term effects of such exposure are unknown."

Dr Rod Mitchell, honorary consultant paediatric endocrinologist at the Queens Medical Research Institute in Edinburgh said the study "is important in establishing a possible mechanism for the suggested link between gynaecomastia and exposure to lavender and tea tree oils".

"However, there are important factors that must be taken into account when interpreting these results. The tests are conducted in cancer cells, which may not represent the situation in normal breast tissue.

"The concentration (dose) to which the cells are exposed may not be equivalent to exposure in humans. There is a complex relationship between oestrogen, testosterone and other hormones in the body, that cannot be replicated in these experiments."

Prof Ieuan Hughes, emeritus professor of paediatrics at the University of Cambridge said the findings "have confirmed why an individual using such oils containing these chemicals may develop breast tissue".

"The anti-male hormone effects are rather unexpected and it is not possible to comment further without the data.

"Of course, not everyone exposing themselves to such oils has adverse effects, so it is possible there are particular individuals who may be more sensitive to the effects of the chemicals, or perhaps are using the products in excess.

He said attention should be given to better regulation of these products.

A previous study by Dr Kenneth Korach - who was also co-investigator for this study - found that lavender and tea tree oil had properties that competed with or hindered the hormones that control male characteristics, which could affect puberty and growth.


Image copyright GETTY IMAGES

The new study looked at eight key chemicals from the hundreds that make up the oils. Four of the tested chemicals appear in both oils and the others were in either oil.

They were tested on human cancer cells in the laboratory to measure the changes.

The researchers found all eight demonstrated varying degrees of promoting oestrogen and/or inhibiting testosterone properties.

"Lavender oil and tea tree oil pose potential environmental health concerns and should be investigated further," said Mr Ramsey.

Many of the chemicals tested appear in at least 65 other essential oils, which is of concern, he added.

The plant-derived oils are found in a number of products such as soaps, lotions, shampoos and hair-styling products. They're also popular as alternative cleaning products and medical treatments.

Lead researcher J. Tyler Ramsey from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), in North Carolina, suggested caution when using the oils.

"Our society deems essential oils as safe. However, they possess a diverse amount of chemicals and should be used with caution because some of these chemicals are potential endocrine disruptors."

A growing number of reported cases of male gynaecomastia have coincided with topical exposure to the oils.

After they stopped using the products, the symptoms subsided.

More evidence essential oils 'make male breasts develop'

18 March 2018


Image copyright GETTY IMAGES

A suspected link between abnormal breast growth in young boys and the use of lavender and tea tree oils has been given new weight, after a study found eight chemicals contained in the oils interfere with hormones.

Gynaecomastia is rare, and there is often no obvious cause.

But there have been a number of cases linked to use of these essential oils.

The American study found that key chemicals in the oils boost oestrogen and inhibit testosterone.

Not everyone will have the same reaction to an essential oil.

Orthorexia is an emotionally disturbed, self-punishing relationship with food that involves a progressively shrinking universe of foods deemed acceptable.

A gradual constriction of many other dimensions of life occurs so that thinking about healthy food can becomes the central theme of almost every moment of the day, the sword and shield against every kind of anxiety, and the primary source of self-esteem, value and meaning. This may result in social isolation, psychological disturbance and even, possibly, physical harm.

more at http://www.orthorexia.com/

https://www.facebook.com/healthadvicemagazine/

The ICC's initiation of preliminary examination on his drug war does not deny him his right to due process and his right to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise. Even if the process progresses to the investigation proper, he will be accorded his right to contest the charges, or even disclaim the court's jurisdiction to try him.

The principle of complementarity triggers the ICC's jurisdiction over a situation in a state party if that state party is unable or unwilling to prosecute international crimes happening within its territory that are cognizable by the ICC.

The attempt to withdraw from the ICC will not save anyone responsible for crimes against humanity from the ICC's jurisdiction. The rules of the ICC are clear that it has jurisdiction over crimes committed in a state's territory while the latter was a party to the Rome Statute.

-CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW (CenterLaw), 1904 Antel Corporate Center, 121 Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati City

http://opinion.inquirer.net/

There is no further requirement of publication in any newspaper of general circulation to make the treaty binding upon the Philippines, as the President contends. In fact, the Philippines now has an International Humanitarian Law Act, Republic Act No. 9851, which allows our courts to try cases cognizable by the ICC under the principle of complementarity.

The President's claim that we embraced membership in the ICC on false representations of complementarity by its international proponents is erroneous. The country in fact had a leading participation in the establishment of the ICC, as the Philippines actively participated in the drafting of the Rome Statute.

The Philippine delegation brought with them to the Rome Conferences in 1998 our rich jurisprudential heritage in international criminal law, borne of our country's tragic experience in World War II, and embodied in the landmark war crimes cases of top generals of the Japanese Imperial Army—Tomoyuki Yamashita and Shigenori Kuroda.

Erroneous claim

Philippine Daily Inquirer
March 16, 2018

President Duterte's decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court gives the false impression that government agents, especially our police force, can continue to perpetuate a culture of impunity and that they can evade international accountability for crimes against humanity.

CenterLaw shares our people's fear that this attempt to withdraw from the ICC will plunge the country deeper into the quagmire of impunity—one that has already claimed thousands of lives.

Contrary to the President's claim, the Rome Statute became effectual as domestic law when the Senate gave its concurrence to the Rome Statute in 2011. Said concurrence by the Senate is a necessity provided for under Article VII Section 21 of the Philippine Constitution. This is a point well established in our constitutional jurisprudence as the "doctrine of transformation."

Pasta


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You won't get sick from eating thawed leftover pasta, but you might not want to eat it. Most pasta will get mushy when you take it out of the freezer, though you might have luck with noodles that are cooked al dente. Check out these other frozen food myths people still believe.

https://www.rd.com/

Yogurt


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Health-wise, there's nothing wrong with popping a tub of yogurt in the freezer before it expires. The good news is, freezing yogurt doesn't kill its healthy live and active cultures, but the bad news is that when it's thawed, the texture will lose its creaminess and become grainy. Also, if you were hoping to create a freezer-ready treat similar to fro-yo, you'll be disappointed. Regular yogurt has more water than the ones you'd buy frozen, leaving an icy block when you try to give yourself a scoop. Instead, try these 14 healthy and refreshing frozen desserts.

Meat that you've already defrosted


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If you pulled the pork chops out of the freezer to cook for dinner, never re-freeze the leftovers. Frozen and thawed foods can attract potentially harmful bacteria faster than meat that hasn't been in the freezer. Your best bet is to cook the meat to the proper temperature and eat it or pop it back in the freezer after you've cooked out all the potential bacteria. These are food poisoning myths you can safely ignore.

Crumb-topped meals or desserts


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If you have an amazing baked macaroni and cheese meal that's topped with the perfect crispy crumble, you don't want to stash it in the freezer. Much like the fate of the fried foods, when crumb-topped meals and deserts meet the cold temperatures of the freezer, you'll be left with soggy, soft mush.

Raw veggies and fruits


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Any vegetable or fruit that has a high water concentration, like celery, cucumber, salad greens, and watermelon will not survive the freezer because the water inside quickly forms ice crystals. What that means is when it comes time to thaw them, you'll be left with a mushy, inedible mess. If you're at the grocery store, though, these are 11 fruits and vegetables that are better to buy frozen than fresh.

Soft cheeses


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Storing soft cheeses in the freezer will yield a similar result to storing milk there. When it comes time to eat them, you'll be left with watery lumps, which often ruins the texture of foods like cream cheese, sour cream, and ricotta.

Eggs still in their shell


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Putting eggs that are still in the shell into the freezer is a big no-no. The water content inside the egg expands when frozen, which can cause the outer shell to crack and be vulnerable to bacteria. If you want to freeze your eggs, always take them out of the shell, beat until they're well blended and store in an airtight container with a label. Don't miss these other 50 foods nutritionists never eat.

Fried foods


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Sorry, leftover mozzarella sticks! Foods that were fried will lose all their crunch if you put the leftovers into the freeze—and no one wants soft, mushy fried foods. If you're planning to make a batch of home-cooked chicken nuggets to store in the freezer, you're better off skipping the fryer and opt to bake the meal in the oven first.

Potatoes


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Potatoes have a high water content, so after being stored in the freezer, you could be left with a mushy, soft potato. If you're cooking a meal with potatoes and you're hoping to freeze the leftovers go for it. Cooked potatoes won't be as mushy as if you froze them raw. The texture change won't matter too much in cooked casseroles or stews. Find out the truth about whether it's safe to eat foods with freezer burn.

Milk


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Unfortunately, milk stored in the freezer can separate into chunks and watery parts when thawed. It will be safe to eat, but it's not exactly the best consistency for adding to your morning cereal or coffee. These are foods you should never keep in your fridge.

10 Foods You Should Never Keep in the Freezer

BY DEVAN MCGUINNESS

Your freezer is a great tool for planning ahead and preparing meals for busier days. But it's not ideal for all foods—and keeping the wrong food in the freezer can lead to gross meals or even health risks.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/video/2013/sep/19/stephen-hawking-history-time-simple-video

At the time, however, our goal was far more modest. We were just trying to create a book that was scientifically accurate without being impenetrable to the general reader, someone like me. My primary contribution to the book was to doggedly keep asking Stephen questions, not giving up until I understood what he intended to convey. That process took many months of correspondence, interrupted by a medical crisis that led to the tracheotomy that saved Stephen's life, but left him unable to speak at all. Thanks to his fierce determination and some remarkable computer software, Stephen was able to continue working on the book, and he eventually completed the final draft in the fall of 1987.

The rest, as they say, is history. A Brief History of Time sold out its first US printing in a matter of days, became a #1 bestseller around the world, was translated into more than 35 languages, and went on to sell more than 10 million copies. More importantly, it continues to make generations of readers aware of the ongoing quest to come up with the Grand Unified Theory of Everything. I'm honoured to have played a role in the publication of A Brief History of Time, and to have known, worked with, and befriended the brilliant, inspiring man who wrote it.

https://www.theguardian.com/

When we convened in Prof Hawking's room, I introduced myself, and asked politely if his flight from London had been comfortable. Stephen responded with a brief series of undecipherable sounds, which his assistant, a physics graduate student named Brian Whitt, translated. "Prof Hawking wants to know if you brought the contract." So much for small talk. I produced the legal document, and Brian held it up, page by page, for Stephen to read, which he did at breathtaking speed. His body might be largely beyond his control, but his mind was obviously in hyper-drive.

Since Stephen didn't yet have a publisher in the UK, the job of editing the English language edition of A Brief History of Time fell to me. I won't pretend that it wasn't a challenge. The manuscript was a slender but extremely dense 100 pages, describing the quest for the holy grail of science – one theory that could unite two separate fields that worked individually but wholly independent of each other. Particle physics explained the ghostly forces at work within atoms, whereas astrophysics made sense of massive effects like gravity that operated at the level of galaxies and star systems. As Stephen would so poetically put it, if scientists could come up a grand unified theory that explained both these fields we would truly understand everything: we would finally "know the mind of God."

At the time I was a senior editor at Bantam Books, which was an unlikely home for Prof Hawking's book, given the number of prestigious, traditional publishing houses in the hunt to acquire it. However, Bantam's experience selling popular paperbacks meant that its distribution went far beyond bookstores into drugstores, supermarkets, and airport shops. I sent a letter to Professor Hawking along with our financial offer, making the case that Bantam could get his book in the hands of the widest possible readership. It turned out that he was the rare academic who wanted just that — to bring his esoteric scholarly work to the attention of the masses. He chose us.

A few months later Stephen Hawking came to the US from Cambridge to give a lecture at Chicago's Fermi Institute, so I arranged to meet him afterwards at the Holiday Inn, where Stephen was staying. As I turned into the parking lot, another car pulled up nearby. A young man got out, opened the trunk, unfolded a wheelchair, and placed a large battery underneath it. Then he opened the passenger door and gently scooped up a thin figure, and arranged him in the wheelchair. As I got out of my car he shouted, "Is that Peter Guzzardi? This is Professor Hawking," just as the wheelchair spun a full 360 degrees and rocketed in the direction of the hotel lobby, with Stephen's assistant and me in full pursuit.

Stephen Hawking

A brief history of Stephen Hawking's Brief History of Time

The late physicist's editor, Peter Guzzardi, recalls his first meetings with Hawking and how his book became a bestseller

• Stephen Hawking dies aged 76

Peter Guzzardi
Wed 14 Mar 2018


Stephen Hawking's book A Brief History of Time is one of the most successful science books ever written. Photograph: Andrew Parsons/PA

I first encountered Stephen Hawking on the cover of the New York Times magazine. Inside, its pages told a story we all know today, but at the time it was a revelation: a Cambridge astrophysicist sought to solve the great mysteries of the universe, while he himself was trapped in a wheelchair by a progressive neurogenerative disease. I remember being struck by writer Timothy Ferris's description of Professor's Hawking's shoes, their soles pristine, having never touched the ground. I tucked the article in my knapsack, and a few days later I finished reading it on my way to lunch with a literary agent.

In one of those remarkable moments of serendipity, during lunch I mentioned the article to agent Al Zuckerman, who told me he was already trying to reach Professor Hawking to see if he might be interested in writing a popular book. Some months later I received a submission from Al — a short manuscript and an invitation to participate in an auction for the publishing rights to A Brief History of Time.

Physicist Stephen Hawking dies aged 76

4 minutes ago/ 14 March 2018


BBC/RICHARD ANSETT

Physicist Stephen Hawking has died at the age of 76, his family has said.

The Briton was known for his groundbreaking work with black holes and relativity, and was the author of several popular science books including A Brief History of Time.

His children, Lucy, Robert and Tim, said: "We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today.

"He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years."

http://www.bbc.com/

8. Muscle Pain

The causes of muscle pain are often difficult to pinpoint. There is some evidence that vitamin D deficiency may be a potential cause of muscle pain in children and adults .

One study in 120 children with vitamin D deficiency who had growing pains found that a single dose of the vitamin reduced pain scores by an average of 57 percent.

https://india.curejoy.com/

7. Hair Loss

Hair loss is often attributed to stress and emotional problems which are certainly a common cause. However, when hair loss is severe, it may be the result of a disease or nutrient deficiency.

Hair loss in women has been linked to low vitamin D levels, although there is very little research on this so far.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease characterized by severe hair loss from the head and other parts of the body. It's associated with rickets, which is a disease that causes soft bones in children due to vitamin D deficiency

Low vitamin D levels are linked to alopecia areata and may be a risk factor for developing the disease

One study in people with alopecia areata showed that lower blood levels tended to be associated with a more severe hair loss.

In a case study, topical application of a synthetic form of the vitamin was found to successfully treat hair loss in a young boy with a defect in the vitamin D receptor.

Bottom Line: Hair loss may be a sign of vitamin D deficiency in female-pattern hair loss or the autoimmune condition alopecia areata.

6. Bone Loss

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in calcium absorption and bone metabolism.

Many older people, diagnosed with bone loss believe they need to take more calcium. However, they may be deficient in vitamin D as well.

Low bone mineral density is an indication that calcium and other minerals have been lost from bone. This places older people, especially women, at an increased risk of fractures.

In a large observational study of more than 1,100 middle-aged women in menopause or postmenopause, researchers found a strong link between low vitamin D levels and low bone mineral density.

However, a controlled study found that women who were vitamin D deficient experienced no improvement in bone mineral density when they took high-dose supplements, even if their blood levels improved.

Regardless of these findings, adequate vitamin D intake and maintaining blood levels within the optimal range may be a good strategy for protecting bone mass and reducing fracture risk.

5. Delayed Wound Healing

Slow healing of wounds after surgery or injury may be a sign that vitamin D levels are too low. Results from a test-tube study suggest that the vitamin increases production of compounds that are crucial for forming a new skin as part of the wound-healing process .

One study on patients who had dental surgery found that certain aspects of healing were compromised by vitamin D deficiency .

It's also been suggested that vitamin D's role in decreasing inflammation and fighting infection is important for proper healing.

One analysis looked at patients with diabetic foot infections. It found that those with severe vitamin D deficiency were more likely to have higher levels of inflammatory markers that can jeopardize healing.

Unfortunately, at this point, there is very little research about the effects of vitamin D supplements on wound healing in people with deficiency.

4. Depression

A depressed mood may also be a sign of deficiency. In review studies, researchers have linked vitamin D deficiency to depression, particularly in older adults.

In one analysis, 65 percent of the observational studies found a relationship between low blood levels and depression.

Some controlled studies have shown that giving vitamin D to people who are deficient help improve depression, including seasonal depression that occurs during the colder months.

3. Orthopedic Pain

Vitamin D is involved in maintaining bone health through a number of mechanisms. For one, it improves your body's utilization of calcium.3 Bone pain and lower back pain may be signs of inadequate vitamin D levels in the blood.

Several large observational studies have found a relationship between a deficiency and chronic lower back pain. One study examined the association between vitamin D levels and back pain in more than 9,000 older women.

The researchers found that those with a deficiency were more likely to have back pain, including severe back pain that limited their daily activities.

In one controlled study, people with vitamin D deficiency were nearly twice as likely to experience bone pain in their legs, ribs or joints compared to those with blood levels in the normal range.

Bottom Line: Low blood levels of the vitamin may be a cause or contributing factor to bone pain and lower back pain.

2. Fatigue And Tiredness

Feeling tired can have many causes and vitamin D deficiency may be one of them. Unfortunately, it's often overlooked as a potential cause. Case studies have shown that very low blood levels can cause fatigue that has a severe negative effect on quality of life.

However, even blood levels that aren't extremely low may have a negative impact on energy levels. A large observational study looked at the relationship between vitamin D and fatigue in young women.

The study found that women with blood levels under 20 ng/ml or 21–29 ng/ml were more likely to complain of fatigue than those with blood levels over 30 ng/ml.

Another observational study of female nurses found a strong connection between low vitamin D levels and self-reported fatigue.

8 Signs You Are Vitamin D Deficient

Here are eight signs and symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. These signs are not necessarily diagnostic of vitamin D deficiency as they can be attributed to many causes.

1. Frequent Sickness

One of vitamin D's most important roles is keeping your immune system strong so you're able to fight off the viruses and bacteria that cause illness.

If you become sick often, especially with upper respiratory infections, low vitamin D levels may be a contributing factor.

Several large observational studies have shown a link between a deficiency and respiratory tract infections like colds, bronchitis and pneumonia and a number of studies have found that taking vitamin D supplements at dosages of up to 4,000 IU daily may reduce the risk of respiratory tract infections.

In one study of people with the chronic lung disorder COPD, those who were severely deficient in vitamin D experienced a significant benefit after taking a high-dose supplement for one year.

These are common risk factors for vitamin D deficiency:

Having dark skin.
Being elderly.
Being overweight or obese.
Not eating much fish or milk.
Living far from the equator where there is little sun year-round.
Always using sunscreen when going out.
Staying indoors.

People who live near the equator and get frequent sun exposure are less likely to be deficient, because their skin produces enough vitamin D to satisfy the body's needs.

Most people don't realize that they are deficient because the symptoms are generally subtle. You may not notice them easily, even if they are having a significant negative effect on your quality of life.

8 Warning Signs Of Vitamin D Deficiency You Should Know

TARYN DECICCO 
FEB 6, 2018



Signs Of Vitamin D Deficiency

Frequent sickness
Orthopedic pain
Delayed wound healing
Bone loss
Muscle pain

Vitamin D plays a vital role in boosting the immune system and helping your body absorb dietary calcium, a mineral needed by your bones, teeth and other tissues. Its deficiency may leave you more susceptible to muscle spasms, joint pain, frequent bone fractures, hair loss, and delayed wound healing, recurring respiratory infections due to impaired immunity.

Vitamin D is a vitamin synthesized from cholesterol and sunlight and converted to a hormone! It's also found in certain foods such as fatty fish and fortified dairy products, although it's very difficult to get enough from the diet.

The recommended daily intake is usually around 400-800 IU, but many experts say you should get much more than that. Since vitamin D can be toxic it is important to monitor levels if supplementing for awhile. Vitamin D deficiency is extremely common. It's estimated that about 1 billion people worldwide have low levels of the vitamin in their blood.

According to a 2011 study, almost 42% in the U.S. are deficient. This number goes up to 69.2 percent in Hispanics and 82.1 percent in African-Americans.

Quote from: islander on March 13, 2018, 02:17:48 PM
Another study — by Dean Ronald Mendoza et al. of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Government — as cited by Inquirer columnist Cielito Habito, highlighted the particular insidiousness of the Philippine experience: "Cross-country comparisons suggest that the Philippines has been unusually more prone to political dynasties than other countries ... with 75 percent of lawmakers belonging to dynasties as of 2013. In the United States, the figure was 6 percent, while it was 10 percent in Argentina and Greece, 22 percent in Ireland, 24 percent in India, 33 percent in Japan, 40 percent in Mexico, and 42 percent in Thailand."

well, at least, for once, we aree the world's number 1.

True to form, the political heirs have only used their family perches to strengthen and expand their hold on power.

As the Ateneo study pointed out, in the 8th Congress (1987-1992), 62 percent of legislators had relatives in elective positions; that number went up to 66 percent by the 12th Congress (1998-2001), and 75 percent in the 14th Congress.

Even the party-list system, designed to democratize representation in Congress, has been hijacked, with one of every four sectoral representatives (14 of 56) now also coming from dynastic backgrounds.

Any whole-scale amendment of the Constitution must start with one basic but radical scalpel work on the system: the long-delayed ban on political dynasties.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/

According to a study by Prof. Rolando Simbulan of the University of the Philippines, that dynamic happens across much of the country, with 73 of the 81 provinces of the Philippines under dynastic control.

Another study — by Dean Ronald Mendoza et al. of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Government — as cited by Inquirer columnist Cielito Habito, highlighted the particular insidiousness of the Philippine experience: "Cross-country comparisons suggest that the Philippines has been unusually more prone to political dynasties than other countries ... with 75 percent of lawmakers belonging to dynasties as of 2013. In the United States, the figure was 6 percent, while it was 10 percent in Argentina and Greece, 22 percent in Ireland, 24 percent in India, 33 percent in Japan, 40 percent in Mexico, and 42 percent in Thailand."

Leveling the playing field and ensuring more equitable representation in political life are crucial to a healthy republic, but the framers of the 1987 Constitution fell short in enshrining that principle by leaving the crucial task to lawmakers — the very products of that very rotten system.

Take Imee Marcos, who hinted recently about seeking a seat in the Senate, saying her family had discussed the matter because her brother Bongbong's election protest was taking some time to resolve: "Napag-usapan na ito sa pamilya namin dahil itong protesta ni Bongbong is taking forever."

The efforts of the late dictator's heirs to put the Marcos scion and namesake in the vice president's post having failed so far, they think it's expected of them to have that imagined slot reserved for them in national politics filled up by another blood member.

The sense of entitlement is acute: Heaven forbid that a political slot be ceded to anyone else; if the son can't hack it, then the daughter must step up.

The committee's consensus is that the "extent of the domination by political dynasties ... have led to bad governance, created monopoly of political and economic power, bastardized democracy, stunted socioeconomic development, and contributed to poverty."

However, the committee's proposals are merely that — recommendatory. Congress as a constituent assembly may choose to ignore the committee's action points altogether — as it has ignored the various antipolitical dynasty bills filed over the decades, all of them eventually moldering and dying in the self-serving legislative mill that remains caught in the unyielding grip of the Philippines' sprawling dynastic families.

Overweening self-entitlement is what drives these families to think that they have a natural right to public office.

EDITORIAL

PH in the grip of political dynasties

Philippine Daily Inquirer
March 13, 2018

The 1987 Constitution is blunt about the bane posed by political dynasties. Art. II, Sec. 26 says, "The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law."

The Consultative Committee appointed by President Duterte to review the Constitution as part of the Charter change efforts of his administration likewise thinks so.

The 20-member committee has voted to regulate political dynasties by prohibiting relatives of incumbent officials up to the second degree of consanguinity (relations by blood) and affinity (relations by law) to run for public office.

15. Brain Tumor

Brain tumor can cause extreme tiredness despite extra sleep. But tiredness won't be the standalone symptom. Other symptoms of brain tumor include an inexplicable headache in the morning, vomiting, and vision problems. The tiredness could be because of the seizures, headache, or nausea or because your body is using up most of its energy in fighting the tumor. Also, as the tumor makes simple everyday tasks a challenge, the extra amount of concentration and effort you need to put in everything may tire you out.

This sense of fatigue is often not cured by sleep or rest, even though as the tumor grows, you might be sleeping more than usual or falling asleep during the day. The tiredness is often accompanied by apathy, irritability, depression, or negative feelings about yourself and others.

https://india.curejoy.com/

13. Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune problem that can leave you highly sensitive to gluten found in grains like wheat and barley. Because your body launches an immune response when you eat these foods, it triggers abdominal pain and bloating, diarrhea or constipation, and vomiting and causes fatty or foul-smelling stool. What not everyone realizes is that it also causes fatigue or tiredness. It can also result in irritability or other behavior problems.

14. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Sometimes, no amount of sleep or rest seems to be enough. No matter what you do, you still feel tired all the time. If this sounds familiar, you could have chronic fatigue syndrome. You may also experience memory issues, headaches, muscular pain, painful joints, sore throat, and tender lymph nodes. Sleep problems are also common, and physical activity can leave you feeling exhausted and unwell for as long as a day after the activity.

Unlike other medical conditions that are easier to diagnose and have some clear lines of treatment, there is no single mainstream treatment suggested for this problem. Instead, a mix of therapy and medication to manage the various symptoms may be suggested. Complementary and alternative therapy can go a long way in easing symptoms and the weariness associated with your condition.

11. Anemia

Insufficient red blood cells to transport oxygen to various parts of the body and to every cell and tissue can leave you feeling winded. If you've noticed a general sense of weakness and shortness of breath, anemia may be to blame. Accompanying symptoms include headaches and difficulty concentrating. If the anemia is getting worse, you may find your nails turn brittle, your skin pale, and you feel lightheaded when you get up from a seated or supine position.11 Anemia is not just about an iron deficiency. Patients of hypothyroidism are often anemic because of the body's inability to absorb the essential B12 vitamin. The top food sources of vitamin B12 include oysters, beef liver, eggs, and mackerel.

12. Diabetes

Many diabetics complain of feeling tired all the time. This extreme fatigue could be linked to the oscillation between high and low blood glucose levels. Sometimes, the endless rigor of the regimen of diabetes self-management can wear you down, leaving you depressed and exhausted.

The American Diabetes Association warns of other common symptoms of diabetes like feeling very thirsty or hungry, urinating often, numbness/tingling in the feet or hands (for those with type 2 diabetes), blurred vision, slow healing cuts and bruises, and even weight loss (in those with type 1 diabetes).

9. Depression

Depression may seem like "someone else's problem," but it's surprisingly common. As many as 15.7 million adults in the United States had one or more depressive episodes in 2014 alone. That's about 6.7% of the adult population of the country. Symptoms of depression include:

Fatigue or a feeling of being low on energy and "slowed down"
Feelings of pessimism, helplessness, hopeless, guilt, and worthlessness
Headaches and unexplained pains that don't seem to be treatable
Loss of interest in things you used to love doing
Insomnia or oversleeping
Loss of appetite and weight
Thoughts of suicide and death

10. Hypothyroidism

If your thyroid is underactive and not producing enough thyroid hormones to keep your body working as normal, you may end up feeling perpetually exhausted. That's because your body is generally slowing down its processes as thyroid function isn't normal. This slowdown may also cause your skin to become dry and make you feel cold more easily. You may also have to deal with constipation. Some people also experience forgetfulness and depression.

7. Restless Leg Syndrome

Another problem that can cost you precious shut-eye and leave you feeling exhausted is restless leg syndrome. A neurological problem, it creates unpleasant sensation in your legs, resulting in an overwhelming urge to move them. Unfortunately, lying down to rest is counterproductive and can activate the problem, making it difficult to sleep properly. This can also happen while sitting. The natural remedies for restless leg syndrome include foods and supplements rich in iron and magnesium and herbal remedies like valerian and nutmeg.

8. Anxiety

Generalized anxiety disorder or GAD is a psychological condition which causes a sense of dread/unease, restlessness, and irritability. While anxiety can cause insomnia, a major reason for daytime tiredness, it can cause exhaustion in people who sleep well too. With anxiety, as with depression, the mind feels easily exhausted. Soon, the body too succumbs. Other physical symptoms that could tip you off about your fatigue being anxiety-linked are:

Dizziness
Irregular or fast heartbeats (palpitations)
Muscular aches
Sweating
Shortness of breath
Stomach ache
Dry mouth
Feeling sick
Pins and needles
Headaches
Insomnia

Interestingly, physical exercises like running can help lower anxiety effectively. While the exercise itself will tire you to an extent for the first few days, and help you fall asleep faster, soon it will make you feel more energetic.

5. Glandular Fever Or Mono

Also known as mononucleosis, or just "mono," glandular fever usually attacks young adults. While this viral infection lasts just a couple of weeks, the fatigue, unfortunately, lingers on for months after. Other signs of this fever are a sore throat, high body temperature, and swollen glands in your neck.

6. Sleep Apnea

According to the American Sleep Association, an estimated 25 million adults in the United States have obstructive sleep apnea. In this condition, the airways are partially or completely blocked when a person is asleep. As a result, there is a pause in breathing and this can cause blood oxygen levels to drop. In a bid to restart breathing, the brain wakes you up, resulting in a very disturbed night of sleep. The result? You wake up feeling unrested and tired, with drowsiness that lasts through the day.

3. Unhealthy Body Weight

Being overweight too can cause tiredness, as can a lack of physical activity, ironically.

4. Dehydration

If your body is perpetually dehydrated because of low water intake or because you lose more water than you drink, fatigue is a common symptom. Dehydration can also cause brain fog and make it difficult for you to concentrate. The tiredness after exercise can often be aggravated by inadequate intake of hydrating fluids and electrolytes. Drink at least 1.2 L water every day and more on days you exercise.

1. Disrupted Sleep Routine

Disturbed sleep may not always be due to health problems or medical conditions. Sometimes, lifestyle choices you make could interfere with your sleep too. Whether due to working a shift job, clubbing into the wee hours, or tending to a baby at home, a disrupted sleep routine can upset your body's natural rhythm and tire it out.

2. Alcohol And Caffeine Before Bed

Alcohol and poor diet can affect sleep. Don't drink alcohol or caffeine before bed. Set up a nighttime ritual and be sure to get a nap during the day if you aren't able to sleep through the night.

15 Reasons You Are Tired All The Time Despite Sleeping Well

CUREJOY EDITORIAL 
FEB 28, 2018



Excessive tiredness isn't always a side effect of a busy life. While you can reverse lifestyle factors like irregular sleep hours, heavy drinking, or dehydration, some causes are more serious. These include sleep-disrupting problems like sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, psychological ones like depression and anxiety, and physiological causes like anemia, hypothyroidism, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, and brain tumor.

Feeling tired, lethargic, or fatigued all the time isn't normal, especially after you sleep the requisite 7 to 9 hours a night. So you shouldn't have to "live with it." Even as you ask yourself "why am I so tired all the time?" You may be tempted to ignore tiredness as a sign of a busy life. But it is often a symptom of some other health problem. Watch out for other symptoms to differentiate between the numerous possible conditions that cause such fatigue.

Here's a roundup of the top physical, psychological, and lifestyle causes for chronic tiredness. Which box will you tick?

10. "Go at throttle up"

January 28th, 1986. Four words that would sadly define the untimely fate of the Challenger space shuttle. The shuttle exploded a mere 73 seconds into its flight. "Roger, go at throttle up" would be the last words we would hear from Commander Dick Scobee and the rest of the seven-person crew.

Staying Power: 1. The visual impact of the explosion was profound for the live TV audience; an emotional punch to the gut, but the phrase would never be used again.

http://www.dictionary.com/

9. "Do you believe in miracles? YES!"

Sportscaster Al Michaels made that call at the 1980s "Miracle on Ice" Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. The New York Post calls it the best sports call ever, and Sports Illustrated called it the 20th-century's top sports moment.

In a nutshell, the powerful Soviet Union hockey team included pro players and had won the gold in five of the previous six Winter Olympics. (A classic David and Goliath match.) The US underdog was comprised of amateurs, but it turned out to be an upset for the ages. The US would go on to capture the gold miraculously.

Staying Power: 3. Anyone who was watching the Olympics will remember that moment forever. Try to watch that clip and not get a lump in your throat as the ragtag Americans celebrate on the ice. This one still may be used during a miraculous sports play.

8. "I have a dream"

These four words were powerfully delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963 . . . just a couple of months after President Kennedy's Berlin speech.

On Time.com, Pulitzer Prize winner and author Jon Meacham noted, "With a single phrase, Martin Luther King Jr. joined Jefferson and Lincoln in the ranks of men who've shaped modern America."

Staying Power: Off the charts. The societal impact of these words simply cannot be measured by any means. A defining moment in American history. Most people continue to use the phrase by actually quoting the speech itself.

7. "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

Sticking with the Berlin Wall: It had been up since 1961, attacked by Kennedy in 1963, and now President Ronald Reagan was taking his turn on June 12, 1987. He was exhorting Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to take down the massive, dated symbol of oppression.

At the time, the speech didn't move the needle all that much. The Washington Post said "What is today often referred to as perhaps Reagan's most powerful one-liner was almost completely ignored. The speech didn't make many front pages back home.'"

Staying Power: 2. As a snapshot of late 1980s global power-politics, it completely rocks, but it doesn't see many opportunities for usage today.

6. "Ich bin ein Berliner!"

"I am a Berliner." President John F. Kennedy delivered those powerful words in an emotionally-charged speech at the Berlin Wall on June 26, 1963. The Cold War was still quite chilly, and Kennedy deplored the concrete wall that divided East Berlin from its West counterpart. Former California and current Berlin resident Aimee M. told Dictionary.com "It probably has more resonance in the US, honestly."

Staying Power: 3. Another phrase that's relegated to the history archives, yet its delivery at the pinnacle of Cold-War tensions cannot be understated.

5. "One small step for man . . . "

NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969. "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. (Or did he say "one small step for a man"? Theories abound.)

How did Armstrong come up with such a historical sentence? ABC News says he once told reporters he didn't come up with the line until after the Eagle had landed on the moon. However, they also cite a BBC documentary that apparently revealed Armstrong shared the line with his younger brother months prior to the flight while they were playing the board game Risk.

Staying Power: 4. It was a one-time only phrase that has resonated throughout history. Only one person will ever be first on the moon, and Neil Armstrong got the gig. These days, it's often used to mock small achievements. But, it should probably be amended to be "one small step for a person" (i.e., genderless).

4. "Houston, we have a problem"

This phrase refers to the moment when Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell realized they weren't going to the moon after all (except he originally said "Houston, we've had a problem").

Staying Power: 10. Whenever there's a big problem, you're apt to hear this one. You don't need to be in or connected to Houston to use it, either.

3. "Wardrobe malfunction"

Where were you February 1st, 2004? The day the world (momentarily) stopped turning. If Twitter had been around, it would've simply melted. That's when Justin Timberlake (accidentally or not) tore off part of Janet Jackson's costume during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show . . . exposing her breast. Timberlake would then issue this mea culpa: "I am sorry if anyone was offended by the wardrobe malfunction during the halftime performance at the Super Bowl."

Staying Power: 10. Whenever a supermodel slips on the runway and her costume, er, rearranges itself, we're going to hear this one. It's so generically unspecific that it works in all slip up (or slip out) occasions.

2. "I am not a crook"

Five men burgled (or bungled, take your pick) the Watergate offices of the Democratic National Party in Washington D.C. in June of 1972. Yup, Watergate again.

Afterward, in a memorable November 1973 speech, President Nixon decided he wanted to set the record straight. "People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook," he said in an Orlando news conference. "Well, I'm not a crook. I've earned everything I've got." NPR's Arun Rath said, "Five short words that you won't find on the National Mall inscribed in marble. But, you might say they're etched into the country's memory."

Staying Power: 3. This one is relegated to YouTube and the archives of network news. The phrase is too exclusive to Nixon himself to be applicable in many other situations. But, whenever the topic of Nixon comes up, it's sure to show up.

1. "-gate"

This is quite possibly the mother of all news buzzwords. It's used in popular culture to denote any type of scandal, big or small. Did someone steal your donut from the break room? Check to see who has sprinkles on their shirt because it's donut-gate.

The suffix was born after the Watergate scandal that took down the Nixon White House. The OED's first recorded example of the use of -gate was only one year (1972) after the Watergate scandal. In America's National Lampoon Magazine, they state "'There have been persistent rumors in Russia of a vast scandal . . . Implicated in 'the Volgagate' are a group of liberal officials." It's then said (according to BBC) that political columnist William Safire (also a former Nixon speechwriter) took the suffix and ran with it (coining many more -gate words). So, how would we use this today? The current White House administration is dealing with "Russiagate." So, there's that.

Staying Power: 10. We'll see this one forever. If someone sticks "-gate" on the end of any word, look for it on CNN. (Want to see some other famous -gate scandals? Check out The Best (And Worst) Scandal-Gates.

Catchphrases That Have Seen Their 15 Minutes Of Fame

Often times, words and catchphrases surface in our culture. Many come from landmark news events, and, before you know it, that term is everywhere and firmly embedded in our collective conscience. Why do they strike such a chord?

If there was a secret sauce to creating one of these memorable expressions, we'd all be copywriters. Let's look at some buzzwords and catchphrases from the world of news (and we'll also grade them on their staying power in a truly arbitrary manner), to see if we can figure out why we still remember these landmark sayings.

when does on realize that one isn't worth having a selfie with?

If his peers in the Supreme Court overrule Leonen, and they certainly have the dominant numbers to grant the controversial petition, the high court will have inflicted a mortal blow on itself, a kind of
unintended hara kiri.

The Supreme Court must therefore rise to the occasion and make the right decision. Otherwise, it will be a permanent casualty of its own greed and pettiness.

Narciso Reyes Jr. (ngreyes1640@hotmail.com) is an international book author and former diplomat. He lived in Beijing in 1978-1981 as bureau chief of the Philippine News Agency.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/

To most people, the petition also invites the suspicion that the so-called impeachment grounds against Sereno are sloppy and weak and would not prosper in the Senate, hence the fast lane taken by Solicitor General Jose Calida, who could rely on the strong numbers of anti-Sereno justices in the Supreme Court.

But outside the Court, Leonen could count on a gathering storm of popular support, and the strong dissenting voices of ranking officials such as Vice President Leni Robredo, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senators Antonio Trillanes and Risa Hontiveros, Rep. Gary Alejano, and Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Abdiel Dan Fajardo.

In sum and substance, these dissenters argue that the quo warranto petition is illegal because an impeachable official cannot be removed through a nonimpeachment proceeding. Furthermore, the method constitutes a dangerous assault on the Senate's integrity and the Philippines' democratic processes. If the petition is approved, no impeachable official is safe from such a Sword of Damocles, not even the President himself.

Whatever the faults of Sereno, and she has quite a few, she deserves her day in a proper court. The 1987 Constitution clearly stipulates that as an impeachable official, she can only be removed through an impeachment trial, with the Senate sitting as impeachment court.

According to authoritative sources, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the lone dissenter to the quo warranto petition pending at the high court, told his colleagues that "the justices of the Supreme Court, being impeachable officers, can be removed only through impeachment."

For him, "the quo warranto petition may supplant the constitutional requirements of taking out impeachable officers from authority and should be dismissed outright."

Supreme Court in a quandary

Narciso Reyes Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
March 09, 2018

The Supreme Court is trapped in an unprecedented quandary, with justices torn between duty and personal-partisan imperatives. Whatever the high court decides on the merit of the government's attempt to unseat Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno—through the shortcut of a quo warranto petition rather than the constitutional impeachment court of the Senate—will seal its fate: either as the majestic, impartial arbiter of justice or a forum no better than a kangaroo court.

It is unmistakable that the overwhelming sentiment and views of the justices are against the unpopular Sereno. The shameful (and shameless) spectacle of seven justices trooping to the lower chamber, the House of Representatives, to vent their ire on the Chief Justice speaks volumes about their true feelings. Never had the high court sunk so low in the public eye. The justices who threw caution to the winds by washing their dirty linen in full view of the mass media and live TV audiences were seemingly unmindful of the irreparable damage they were inflicting on the very name and integrity of the Supreme Court. Most people wondered: Why couldn't they have preserved the dignity and independence of their once august office by keeping their mouths shut in public, and settling their petty wranglings among themselves?

The Philippines could play this card indefinitely since there are many related issues involved. It could ask the UN to demand that China lift its blockade on Ayungin Shoal, as well as its ban on fishing at Panatag Shoal, etc. This will be a PR battle, forcing China to use its veto in the UN Security Council repeatedly.  The frequent use of the veto will confirm China's isolation in the West Philippine Sea dispute.

But instead of these diplomatic initiatives, the Philippine government has engaged in a blame game. Mr. Duterte falsely blames the Aquino administration for the militarization of the West Philippine Sea. China's island reclamation began during the Aquino administration, but militarization started under Mr. Duterte's watch. The Philippine government blames the United States for not stopping China's reclamation activities. However, the United States cannot intervene unless China interdicts freedom of navigation in the area.

The Philippine government must take the initiative based on the 2016 ruling of the arbitral tribunal in The Hague awarding our country sovereign rights in the area. Otherwise, we will be subject to China's continuing  abuse.

Hermenegildo C. Cruz holds a degree in international development jointly conferred by Tufts and Harvard Universities. A retired ambassador, he was posted to Canada, the United States and the Soviet Union, and was able to observe "the complexity of running a federal system of government."

http://opinion.inquirer.net/

Filipino officials have acquired the mindset of the Chinese in common with those afflicted with Stockholm Syndrome. President Duterte has stated that when he mentioned the dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea, President Xi Jinping threatened him with war. (This is the standard ploy of aggressors. When your  diplomatic position is weak, then threaten war. Adolf Hitler used this tactic in the Czech crisis of 1938. By continuously threatening war, he pressured British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain to conclude the infamous Munich Agreement.)

Since then, whenever the policy on the West Philippine Sea is questioned, Mr. Duterte's immediate reply has been that the country is not ready to wage war with China. His spokesperson Harry Roque has said the same thing—that the only way the Philippines can assert its rights on the West Philippine Sea dispute is by waging war with China. Roque is supposedly well-versed in international law and diplomacy. Before one talks about waging war, one must first exhaust all diplomatic options—and the Philippines has not even taken the first step in this direction.

The Philippines could start with a formal note of protest to Beijing and then play the United Nations card. It could refer the case to the UN Security Council as a "threat to peace." China is a member of the UN Security Council and would veto any such resolution, but the Philippines could transfer the issue to the UN General Assembly under the Uniting for Peace Resolution where China cannot use its veto power.