LostCommand

The oligarchy in Pinas may seem myopic, especially when compared to the apparent vigour and creativity of the American ruling class.

But put yourself in their shoes today, of these oligarchs, these families who have rules provinces and politics for over a hundred years: what project would you do TODAY that would pull Pinas out poverty? Much less match or reach the level of proficiency of Americans?

1. We can try to industrialise - but we missed that boat and now China/Singapore/Vietnam even are ahead of us in this. No point making cars and refrigerators now when China is going to crush all competition there.

2. We can try to become agricultural mass producers - the likes of Thailand Indonesia and Vietnam for example. But our land reform laws, for historically justifiable reasons, now prevent the concentration of land ownership - the very basis of industrial mass agriculture.

3. We can try going for the knowledge economy, of IT and banking and finance for example, like Singapore and Malaysia. But our "negotiable" law courts prevent any right-thinking finance group from depositing billions of dollars here, while our knowledge and education base are not enough to create IT jobs save call centers.

I can go on - but my point is this, to those who would criticise the "myopic" Oligarchs - so what project would you do NOW, if today you had control over say 2-3 billion dollars (100-150 billion pesos) that would return the money in ten years and develop this country? And that would allow us to match the so called declining Americans in something, anything, aside from making the world's largest bowl of sphagetti or some such mass stupidity only Filipinos can do?

Sigue nga? I am all ears your proposal, goodness knows I have been searching for years.

LC

Perhaps we already have enough laws, or maybe too many laws, even.

Perhaps proposing one more law is counterproductive; perhaps merely enforcing the existing is enough.

But what am I, a poor taxpayer, to know about the majesty of them f8cking laws? Except the bare fact that them f8cking laws, and them f8cking lawyers, every last one of them, have so far failed to lift pinas from poverty? I mean, that's all I f8cking see and know.

So ok, fine, let's propose one more law:

That Congress should be 25% STEMM (Science, technology, engineering, math, medicine) background. To reduce crazy laws and them crazier lawyers, who try to actually contravene science; such mongoloid monstrosities (apologies for insulting mongoloids). I hear the electricity debates and my goodness I want to weep.

LC

I've met them, these Americans. Worked with them. Studied with the best of them for years, at the masteral level.

Even in their so called "decline" they remain formidable. And they keep adopting/co-opting the best of new blood from other cultures - asian, indian, japanese, hispanic, and of course european. No other culture can do that. No other so called "superiorist" culture can elect a black to the top job.

They will fall, yes, perhaps gently, like the Brits, perhaps roughly, like the Romans. No one can tell.

But not in my lifetime, or at least, the lifetime of that generation I had studied with; for they were not all talk, many were really good.

And I say that as a Pisay graduate.

LC

To discharge the various duties and responsibilites entrusted to me, commensurate with the authorities granted me.

Duties? to teach others how to fish

Responsibilities? to remind them my techniques are temporary, and will be superseded. And they will have to come up with new techniques themselves.

Authorities? Never enough. Strategise then improvise. As always.

LC

Manual. As much as possible, even the steering I would prefer manual.

I need to feel the machine, especially if overloaded and operating at the limit, gauges nearly red. If I floor the gas but acceleration is slow, am I too overheated? Are my valves about to melt? The manual shift will help me guess. If I shift gears and the gears grind, is my clutch worn? Is the oil too thin, too foamy, in the tranny/diffy? The manual shift will give me clues.

Machines talk to you. Especially in manual mode.

Automatics are for normal folks.

LC

Terry Pratchett/Science of Discworld

Finding believable science fiction is as difficult as finding writer-engineers. And when you do, they are absolutely stark raving mad.

LC

I want to talk to your pnssy. The way you talked to me over dinner, sweetly and affectionately. I want to kiss it gently and relax it, the way you relax me with your touch. I want to smell, taste, and drink your pnssy's honesty, the way you are honest with your needs and wants, and your limits. With my moist tongue I want to stroke the translucent milky jade of your wet flesh...

Then, make you spread your legs wide as you sit naked in the couch facing the morning sunlight streaming through the window. Let the light fnck you first, your beautiful trimmed pnssy and smooth waxed assh*le.

Before I do...

LC

Alexander - final song - Glory/ by Vangelis (same guy who did Chariots of Fire soundtrack)

The dead will rise, along with the greats, of either side, of Light and Dark.

Men and women will array themselves under the battle flags, armed and glittering.

All take positions as they have led their lives - the most worthy will lead each charge

Silence. Angels an invisible wind, watching, keep score.

The hiss and slither of steel blades drawn out, slowly.

Then, the crack of Doom, the final battle!

...but all Endings, are really Beginnings. Including even this.

Again and again, we must recall the Two-Step dance of Strategy:

1. What is the best path, given straightened means, to get from Here to There?

2. How do we turn this into a story, a plot, a narrative, that will sell to the people whose help we need?

Thinking of item 1, makes you also consider item 2, and then you check back to see if item 1 is still fulfilled, and so on. A dance, simple and clean.

It's like fcuking - you thrust, then checks how she reacts, you adjust, then check again, until the Dance ends.

It's like life, in general. The ones who can dance the steps faster, get more out of it.

Like you.

Happy Valentine's!

Blend 45 Instant coffee.

Paki doble yung takal,

May tatapusin lang ako

45 kph:

Isuzu Forward/6BB1 6-liter engine/6 tons cargo

Up Kennon, on a blind curve

in the opposite lane.

at night.

With some Red Bull, monkeys too can drive fast in straights,

A king may move a man, a father may claim a son, but that man can also move himself, and only then does that man truly begin his own game. And remember that howsoever you are played or by whom, your soul is in your keeping alone, even though those who play you be kings or men of power.

When you stand before God, you cannot say, "But I was told by others to do thus," or that virtue was not convenient at the time. This will not suffice.

Remember that.

-The Kingdom of Heaven

....whilst this talk of flying above it all, in heaven, dreaming dreams...is the 1% of capitalism!

LC

SHOW ME HEAVEN (Maria Mckee/Days of Thunder)

There you go flashing fever from your eyes

Hey baby, come over here and shut them tight

I'm not denying, we're flyin' above it all

Hold my hand, don't let me fall

You've such amazing grace, I've never felt this way

Oh, show me heaven

Cover me, leave me breathless

Oh, show me heaven please

Here I go, I'm shakin' just like the breeze

Hey baby, I need your hand to steady me

I'm not denying, I'm frightened as much as you

Though I'm barely touching you

I've shivers down my spine and it feels divine

Oh, show me heaven

Cover me, leave me breathless

Oh, show me heaven please

If you know what it's like to dream a dream

Baby, hold me tight and let this be

Oh, cover me, leave me breathless

Oh, heaven please

Show me heaven

Cover me, leave me breathless

Oh, heaven please

Show me heaven

Cover me, leave me breathless

X/X

With a slight twist of imagination, all this talk of perfect complex, and no one less special than the next...is communism!!

LC

X/X

LOVE THY WILL BE DONE Written by Martika and Prince

Love, thy will be done

I can no longer hide

I can no longer run

No longer can I resist the guiding light

It gives me the power to keep up the fight

Love, thy will be done

Since I have found you my life has just begun

And I see all of your creations as one

Perfect complex

No one less beautiful

Or more special than the next

We are all blessed and so wise to accept

Thy will love be done

Love, thy will be mine

And make me strive for the glorious and divine

I could not be more, more satisfied

(Satisfied)

Even when there's no peace outside my window

There's peace inside

And that's why I no longer run

(I don't know)

Love, thy will be done

Love thy will be done

I can no longer hide

I can no longer run

(No)

Love, thy will be done

Thy will love be done

No longer can I resist

(No)

The guiding light

(Guiding light)

The light that gives me the power to keep up the fight

I couldn't be more satisfied

(No)

Even when there's no peace outside my window

There's peace inside

And that's why I can not longer run

Love thy will be done

(Thy will be done, done, done)

Love, thy will be done

I can no longer hide

I can no longer run

Love, thy will be done

Thy will love be done

Love, thy will be done

I can no longer hide

I can no longer run

(No, no, no)

Love, thy will be done

Thy will love be done

Thy will love be done

Thy will love be done..

X/X

Chanel Antaeus/Lalique Encre Noir.

And a bit of Jack Daniel

Can't get the head to shut down. 4D56T with stock, ported 4in1 turbo manifold, with a VNT turbo installed and set for low backpressure and (if this engineering model developed using company software is correct) just enough recovered power to boost to 0.5 bars while generating less than 1 psi backpressure. Install this with 3.92 rear diff to come up with 110KMH at 2150 rpm - the correct rpm to generate economic cruise power and achieve lowest BSFC for a W123 chassis, all day, all night, up and down the Alcan.

This list of basics done right will achieve the design aim of being the ultimate in fuel economy, without resort to chips and ECUs.

Too often we use technology in order to cover up our bad habits. Yet if only we get the basics right, so much less technology or resources are needed. But then the basics in their bare beauty don't sell so well. So, we pander to humans and give them the auto stuff and numbers they crave, not the stuff they really need.

But once, just once, I want to go back to building things right. And not building things that pander. Steve Jobs was correct, of course

LC

We learn at school and on our own what has gone wrong with the world, with the country, with politicians/police, even with the power companies. Then, being young, we made the mistake of talking up the ideal case that will totally right the wrongs, both in print and in the blogosphere.

This is after all what our school heroes did: to fight in word and in deed for our country and beliefs.

But is strenous fighting the only option?

And then we learn, 10 years after school:

1. The opposing side also make mistakes - so why not take advantage of their missteps to advance our cause? Even dear Macoy had his many blunders.

2. Compromises can be made for the moment; done well, this may "compromise" them more than us. Deng compromised with capitalism to make today's China

3. Focus is all important. Solve just 1 problem, even if you have strength for all 10. Jobs' pride at the 10,000 things he chose to not do, to do the iPhone

In other words, a decade later, we finally learn Machiavelli and the essence of strategy: to advance given limited means.

For no success (and no disaster) is final - advancing is our only goal. Only knowing this do we truly, truly start living.

LC

I cannot let go.

Save when charging deep into mountain roads where lack of concentration is fatal, the inner INTJ keeps hammering, day and night, in the background of my mind; at what is, at what must be, and at the gap in between.

I cannot rest. This new year, or in new years to come.

LC

The sweet thrust of a model OM617A revving above 3,000 rpm. Tireless, heedless, free.

Why do they take the fun out of the later machines? Their nanny electronics so limit what I want the basic machine to do. What I know it can do.

We are now in the pushbutton age. All nice and good, right until when the buttons don't work. In Tacloban, for example. Then it's up to pag-handa and abilidad, all over again.

Keeps the basics covered. Always.

LC

U,

Sometimes, we need to focus on our blessings. Like the Land Reform officials still on our side. Or cousins who do not sell us out. Or allies and old reliables who do not abandon us, the later and lesser generations of our antecedents. Or our health and good looks. Or the fact that the mayor has not yet confiscated any of our undefended assets...

If all we focus is are the things that do not work, like the police confiscating oyour licensed firearms cache, no progress will happen. Now we realise that at least the police back the only went after some of our firearms, while more dangerous foes now go after our land assets.

So I suggest we instead focus on what is still going strong for us, and capitalise on that. For the ills of the world or local politicians will go on some time yet. And if we only focused only what does not work, we will not progress.

"There is no surety on this world. Only opportunity"

-General MacArthur

Essential Drucker/Peter Drucker, 2001

Blitzkreig/ Leigh Deighton, 1970's

Elements of Modern Militarty Strategy/ Condoleeza Rice et al, 2007

LC

No amount of technology and IT thrown at our corporate problem, will overcome a lack of theory and strategy.

A hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand of the latest mainframes and algotrithms will not find a way to send us to the moon, if they lacked the basic theories of motion to direct any number of gigabit efforts. Without the further creativity of strategy, any amount of IT and technology will just find more of what we already know, instead of creating something new.

Theory before strategy. And strategy before execution. "Just do it" belongs to nike and other muscle sports. Not to the mental arena that is the corporate jungle.

How did you get to be VP?

Strawberry fields-

- the beatles

Let me take you down, 'cos I'm going to,

Strawberry Fields.

Nothing is real. And nothing to get hungabout.

Strawberry Fields forever.

Living is easy with eyes closed. Misunderstanding all you see.

It's getting hard to be someone but it all works out, it doesn't matter much to me.

Let me take you down, 'cos I'm going to,

Strawberry Fields.

Nothing is real and nothing to get hungabout.

Strawberry Fields forever.

No one I think is in my tree; I mean it must be high or low.

That is you can't you know but it's all right - that is I think it's not too bad.

Let me take you down, 'cos I'm going to,

Strawberry Fields.

Nothing is real and nothing to get hungabout.

Strawberry Fields forever.

Always, no sometimes, think it's me, but you know I know when it's a dream.

I think I know I mean a 'Yes' but it's all wrong, that is I think I disagree.

Let me take you down, 'cos I'm going to,

Strawberry Fields.

Nothing is real and nothing to get hungabout.

Strawberry Fields forever.

Strawberry Fields forever...

John/Paul/George/Ringgo

---dammit guys what were you smoking!!!?? I want it, and I want it good!

LC

LC,

 

The sensitive balls do not involve any SEA nation. Its Taiwan that the mainland "cares" about. Always has. Always will be. Like it or not, the sentiments on either side are mixed. Loyalties are suspect on each side.

 

PRC and ROC have long been fighting over who "owns" the islands based on historical grounds. Heck, the two have been "fighting" over who's the REAL China. Let's be frank. PRC could easily wipe out all the state capitals of the ASEAN nations with its ICBMs. China vs. ASEAN is like Israel vs. Arab nations in 1967.

 

But not ROC. ROC is a formidable foe, with or without the US. ROC Army is better equipped, more advanced, and better trained than PLA. If I remember it correctly, Taiwan's armed forces is more or less 20+ yrs ahead of PLA. It will be stupid for PRC to engage ROC. Why allow yourself to bleed when right now, everyone else thinks your a God?

 

And China is again, a merchant state - state capitalism at its finest (or worst depending on how you view it). They won't do something stupid for some altruistic motive or abstract goal. Its all business. what they're playing is war of attrition. Its a slow, methodical means to outlast all the claimants - it's cheap and effective.

I will grant cheap and effective.

But not inevitable. Those yellow chekwas are hiding some rather deeps flaws. Or do you submit they have none?

LC