Saddam is dead.

Almost all international and local news outlets are reporting the execution of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein today. CNN reports that he was executed by hanging on December 30th, at around 3:00AM GMT.

“Bringing Saddam Hussein to justice will not end the violence in Iraq, but it is an important milestone on Iraq’s course to becoming a democracy that can govern, sustain, and defend itself.” – President George W. Bush

I personally doubt that is “an important milestone on Iraq’s course to becoming a democracy.” From a statement released by the Vatican following the execution, “there is a risk that it will feed a spirit of vendetta and sow new violence” – I agree. His death will more likely bring forth newfound violence than peace in an already chaotic Iraq. “The (Brazilian) government does not believe carrying out this sentence will contribute to bringing peace to Iraq,” a Brazilian press release stated.

Libya has declared a three-day national mourning of the passing away of a man they called a “prisoner of war.”

While Saddam definitely deserves to pay for his cruelty during his regime, nobody deserves to die. No man deserves that kind of punishment. Killing a person means that he will never have a chance to change his ways again. As Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero puts it: “All dictators must answer for their crimes, but I cannot support this kind of punishment, I am against the death penalty.”

BSU and Stadium on Google Earth

Wow, Google Earth’s satellite data seems to have been updated recently, because now I can see Batangas City clearly. Just a couple of months ago, I was not able to see the city because it was under the clouds.

Happy Holidays

Today is Christmas! I just wish to greet everyone who reads this blog a merry, merry Christmas! For the Christians who celebrate this holiday, it’s not just about the presents, the napamaskuhan — it is all about the birth of the Messiah, the Savior, Jesus Christ.

To all the people who do not celebrate Christmas, happy holidays. Today, it’s all about being with your family and loved ones. It is all about giving and sharing.

What did Santa gave you last night?

Christmas Party

Today, we finally had our Christmas Party at Aero’s place — the event I’ve been scheming for over a month.

I could say that today’s Christmas Party turned out to be better than what I expected. At least 30 people attended, at yung ibang nag-aalanganin kagabi ay nakarating din naman.

Wala nga lang program, pero I think nasiyahan naman ang karamihan. Pero may napansin akong iba na out of place na naman. I won’t mention them here.

Medyo nasira lang ang maganda kong mood dahil hindi ako nakakain ng spaghetti na inaasam-asam ko. Kaya sumama ang mood ko dahil sa napakaliit na bagay na ito. Pero isipin nyo, bihira na nga lang ako magkaroon ng “i want this,” hindi ko pa nakuha… Pero, sana nabusog naman kayo sa spaghetti. At yung nilaga nga pala na niluto ng lola ni Aero, nasayang lang.

Wala mang formal program para sa games, nakapaglaro din naman ng “Concentration” at yung enumerate thing.

Naging successful overall ang Christmas Party, ngunit, gaya ng nabitiwan ko na, ito na ang huling event na ako ang magpapasimuno. Dun sa mga naabala, pasensya na — don’t worry, ito na ang huling paggambala ko sa inyo. Kay Aero-joy at sa kaniyang lolo at lola, maraming salamat po sa pagpayag na gamitin ang bakuran ninyo na venue ng party. Pasensya na rin kay Aero, dahil alam kong may appointment siya sa Kapisanan niya dapat kanina.

Have a happy Christmas and New Year to all of you.

Thanks to Rey and Rosa Nica (“Dear”) for the gifts! Dear, your gift made me feel much better.

Personality Test.

A friend of mine posted in her blog some sort of a “personality test.” Well, I have nothing else to do, so I tried to answer it.

A Personality Quiz. Have a pen and paper handy before you read any further. As soon as you read a question, write the answer right away. Read the following questions, imagining the scenes in your mind, and write down the FIRST thing that you visualize. Do NOT think about the questions excessively.
Ready?

1. You are walking in the woods. Who are you walking with?
2. You are walking in the woods. You see an animal. What kind of animal is it?
3. What interaction takes place between you and the animal?
4. You walk deeper in the woods. You enter a clearing and before you is your Dream House. Describe its size.
5. Is your dream house surrounded by a fence?
6. You enter the house. You walk to the dining area and see the dining table. Describe what you see on the table.
7. You exit the house through the back door. Lying in the grass is a cup. What material is the cup made of?
8. What do you do with the cup?
9. You walk to the edge of the property, where you find yourself standing at the edge of a body of water. What type of body of water is is it?
10. How will you cross the water?

My answers were:

1. I see myself walking with you-know-who.
2. It was a cat.
3. I imagine “talking” to the cat (I can imitate a cat’s meow), cuddling it, and patting its head.
4. A medium-sized, two-storey house, ultramodern and minimalistic in design and architecture. Your typical ultramodern home, with large glass panes as windows and with an overall linear, geometric look.
5. No, it is not.
6. I see a fruit basket, with apples, oranges, grapes and bananas, as centerpiece.
7. The cup is made of glass.
8. I pick it up and return it to the kitchen.
9. It is a freshwater stream.
10. I would cross it by walking through it.

Here comes the analysis. I advise you to not read this if you plan on answering the test yourself.

1. The person who you are walking with is the most important person in your life.
2. The size of the animal is representative of your perception of the size of your problems.
3. The severity of the interaction you have with the animal is representative of how you deal with your problems (passive, aggressive).
4. The size of your dream home is representative of the size of your ambition to resolve your problems.
5. No fence is indicative of an open personality. People are welcome at all times. The presence of a fence is more indicative of a closed personality. You’d prefer people to not drop by unannounced.
6. If your answer did not include food, people, or flowers then you are generally unhappy.
7. The durability of the material with which the cup is made is representative of the perceived durability of your relationship with, the person from number 1. For example, Styrofoam, plastic, and paper are disposable; Styrofoam, paper, and glass (ceramics) are not durable; and metal and plastic are durable.
8. Your disposition of the cup is representative of your attitude toward the person in number 1.
9. The size of the body of water is representative of the size of your sexual desire.
10. How wet you get in crossing the water is indicative of the relative importance of your sex life.

I’m going to comment now, if you don’t mind.

1. Agreed.
2. I quite agree that I see most of my problems as “small,” but I’ve had tiger-sized problems before.
3. Most of my problems, I don’t take that seriously, so I also agree. I’m a carefree-type person.
4. My dreams are humble dreams, so… agreed.
5. I am very much open and free (not free as in beer).
6. I am generally happy (sometimes, I am too happy).
7. I haven’t had any romantic relationships before, so I can’t comment on this.
8. WTH?! “I pick it up and return it to the kitchen.” What did I just say? *sob*
9. Haha! A stream? I should have written “ocean”! *kidding*
10. I’ll just imagine that I tripped while I was crossing the stream. I am so wet! *evil laugh* But seriously, sex life isn’t that important in true love.

I didn’t know Santa uses Live Messenger.

Yep, Santa actually has a Live Messenger account, and I’ve been lucky to have a chat with him a minute ago.

l|q| says: Hello, Santa Claus…
Santa Claus says: Hi jay_jay_2000_ph.
l|q| says: Would you mind if I call you Santa?
Santa Claus says: I’m Santa Claus. HO HO HO.
l|q| says: OK. Santa, I would like to check if I’m on the nice list this year.
Santa Claus says: Okay, I’ll see what I can do with that.
l|q| says: So, am I on the nice list?
Santa Claus says: Let me see. I better check twice, though. You’ve been very, very, very, very nice.
l|q| says: Glad to hear that.
Santa Claus says: Sorry, little boy, I didn’t quite understand you.
l|q| says: I said, I am glad to hear that, Santa. Thanks.
Santa Claus says Hey! That’s my name! I won’t call you that.
l|q| says: I want a Wii for Christmas.
Santa Claus says: Great, jay_jay_2000_ph! I’ll see what I can do.
l|q| says: And a laptop, too!
Santa Claus says: My elves will get right on that.
l|q| says: Thanks!
Santa Claus says: You’re quite welcome.
l|q| says: What do you think of Christmas today?
Santa Claus says: Sorry, I’m having a little trouble understanding you, jay_jay_2000_ph.
l|q| says: ohh… that’s ok.
Santa Claus says: K.
l|q| says: Are you real?
Santa Claus says: Gee… Did someone tell you otherwise? How naughty.
l|q| says: I believe you santa.
Santa Claus says: Well, I believe in you, and that’s the important thing.
l|q| says: Where do you live?
Santa Claus says: I live in the North Pole.
l|q| says: I see…
Santa Claus says: i c 2.
l|q| says: Do you have a wife?
Santa Claus says: I’m married to Mrs. Claus!
l|q| says: That’s great…
l|q| says: How is Rudolph doing?
Santa Claus says: Rudolph is working hard, training for Christmas Eve.And how are you this year, jay_jay_2000_ph?
l|q| says: I’ve been a very good boy, Santa.
Santa Claus says: Great.
l|q| says: Do you watch television?
Santa Claus says: Hmm…
l|q| says: How is it there at the North Pole?
Santa Claus says: The North Pole is on top of the world! Where are you?
l|q| says: I’m in the Philippines.
Santa Claus says: I’ve been there. Ho ho ho.
l|q| says: Really?!
Santa Claus says: Whatever you say.
l|q| says: hehehe
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho.
l|q| says: hohoho
Santa Claus says: Happy holidays, jay_jay_2000_ph.
l|q| says: Happy holidays, Santa.
Santa Claus says: Merry Christmas to you.
l|q| says: Merry Christmas, too.
Santa Claus says: Happy holidays!
Santa Claus says: Yes, it’s a happy day. Enough of that… What else is up?
l|q| says: Can I tell you a secret?
Santa Claus says: The North Pole is on top of the world! Where are you?
l|q| says: Hmm?
Santa Claus says: I’ve been there! Ho ho ho!
l|q| says: Huh?
Santa Claus says: ?
l|q| says: Never mind
Santa Claus says: OK, fine. Anyway… Don’t you want to ask me something?
l|q| says: How many children are on the nice list?
Santa Claus says: I don’t need children — I have all the boys and girls of the world!
l|q| says: ok
Santa Claus says: OK. Well. Anyway… You wanna talk about where I live some more?
l|q| says: yes
Santa Claus says: Great! What would you like to say about where I live?
l|q| says: i want to pay you a visit
Santa Claus says: That sounds nice. I’ll see what I can do, jay_jay_2000_ph.
l|q| says: can you sing for me?
Santa Claus says:

I’ll be home for Christmas;
You can count on me.
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree.

l|q| says: can you dance?
Santa Claus says: Who are you, Denny Terrio?
l|q| says: hahaha
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho!
l|q| says: can you speak Spanish?
Santa Claus says: I thought we were talking about music. So anyway… Hey, do you have anything else to say about music?
l|q| says: do you like classical music?
Santa Claus says: I’m not sure, jay_jay_2000_ph. Do you?
l|q| says: Yes, I love classical music.
Santa Claus says: That sounds great. What else do you like?
l|q| says: I like cats, too.
Santa Claus says: That’s great! What else do you like?
l|q| says: i like you
Santa Claus says: I like you too, jay_jay_2000_ph.
l|q| says: *blush*
Santa Claus says: You’re turning every shade of red. Try asking me something.
l|q| says: When will you visit?
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho.
l|q| says: ngek
Santa Claus says: What was that?
l|q| says: oh, i’m sorry
Santa Claus says: OK. I’ll forgive you this time… Anyway, moving right along… Don’t you want to ask me something?
l|q| says: i have to go now, santa.
Santa Claus says: S’later, jay_jay_2000_ph.
l|q| says: thanks
Santa Claus says: My pleasure. It’s all very intersting. So, tell me something new.
l|q| says: remember my wish
Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho! What?
l|q| says: Please remember: my Wii!
Santa Claus says: Sorry, little boy, I didn’t quite understand you.
l|q| says: nevermind… thanks
Santa Claus says: You’re very welcome. Well. Anyway… Don’t you want to ask me something?
l|q| says: goodbye santa
Santa Claus says: Bye for now!
l|q| says: merry christmas
Santa Claus says: And a very happy holiday to you, jay_jay_2000_ph!

Well, he sometimes gives very weird answers, but I had fun talking with the big guy anyway. Thanks for the time, Santa!

You can talk to him via Windows Live Messenger, too! His Live ID is northpole@live.com.

Get ready for a new day.

Windows Vista released for businesses and Software Assurance customers.

I can hardly wait for the retail release on January!