Leni Robredo’s MOUTH is her worst enemy

October 30, 2019 - by benign0 - 5 Comments.

Leni Robredo got herself into another embarassing pickle again. Back on the 23rd October, Reuters published the report “Philippine vice president says time for Duterte to halt failed drug war”. Most political observers would agree that this headline pretty much sums up Robredo’s position on the matter. In a subsequent statement translated to English by Interaksyon, however, Robredo seemingly denied taking such a position…

“It’s hard… because headlines are sending another message. For example, I saw headlines that claim I called the drug war a failure so it should be stopped.

“If you review the interview, I said something else. If you look at it, what I said what the government should assess if the counter narcotics strategy being used is still right. Because it isn’t, it should be tweaked. Isn’t that to ‘tweak’ means to massage, to shift it a bit.”

Even translated into English from her native Taglish, Robredo’s statement comes across as utter jibberish. She has long been known for her lack of eloquence and her public statements have been consistently inarticulate resulting in much confusion. Reuters, for its part, stands by its story.

“Reuters fairly and accurately represented the statements of Philippine vice president Leni Robredo, and we stand by our story,” Reuters Asia Pacific Communications Manager Tyler Thia said.

The problem with the Opposition, however, is not Robredo but its core community of Yellowtards — partisans loyal to the Liberal Party led by Robredo and the Philippines’ powerful Aquino-Cojuangco feudal clan. Despite the lack of intelligence evident in the “vice president”, the Yellowtards continue to latch onto every word that leaves her mouth that then gets immortalised on the pages of the Philippines’ top newspapers.

Such rabid loyalty to an obviously incompetent and unintelligent official is what is behind the inbred nature of the Opposition rhetoric. It’s time the leaders of the Opposition take stock and re-evaluate their choice of leaders.

About benign0

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Luke 19: 1-10 | Dutch Delft plate | Salvation comes to the house of Zacchaeus

Luke 19: 1-10   Salvation comes to the house of Zacchaeus

Jesus Encounters Zacchaeus,  Dutch Delft plate by De Roos Factory, Blue and white painted and glazed plate, Executed 1690-1710 © Victoria & Albert Museum, London Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance: he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’   READ MORE     Reflection on the Dutch Delft Plate In most of our daily reflections I select a piece of Fine Art (painting & sculpture), but rarely do we look at Christian depictions within the Decorative Arts (silver, porcelain, tapestries, furniture etc…) The main distinction between Fine art and Decorative art can be put as follows: Fine Art is primarily made for pure beauty or aesthetics; Decorative Art serves some practical function on top of this (silver for pouring wine; porcelain for eating; etc…). I particularly like it when a decorative arts object, such as the porcelain plate here, depicts some Christian theme. As today's plate is an object that serves a purpose (to eat from), this Christian imagery comes right at the very heart of our every day action (eating). With Fine Art, the items are always items somewhat remote, to be admired from afar or to be looked at; with decorative art items, they become very much part of our every day actions and activities. And so Zaccheus, in today’s reading would have welcomed Jesus in his house and used plates  and other every day objects to make Christ welcome and be hospitable towards Him. Zaccheus is someone we all like I think. He is a humble man, rather shy, didn’t want to draw any attention to himself. He just climbed up a tree to see Jesus. Yes, as Zaccheus’ heart was open, he ended up somewhere far beyond his expectations, with Christ Himself paying a visit to his house. Zaccheus could never have imagined that this would happen. Just imagine when we too humbly ask Jesus to pay us a visit, what could happen… It transformed Zaccheus, and his world was turned upside down. Same could happen with us… When Zaccheus was watching from the tree, Jesus immediately knew what he really wished for in the depths of his heart, and invited himself over… That encounter changed Zaccheus’ life…and brought salvation to his house… to our house too if we are open for it… by Patrick van der Vorst

Luke 7: 11-17 | Master of the Darmstadt Passion | ‘Do not cry’ He said to the widow of Nain

Luke 7: 11-17   ‘Do not cry’ He said to the widow of Nain

Raising of Widow’s Son at Nain,  Painted by Master of the Darmstadt Passion (1420–1460),  Oil on panel, Painted circa 1445 © Alte Pinakothek, Munich Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a great number of people. When he was near the gate of the town it happened that a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable number of the townspeople were with her. When the Lord saw her he felt sorry for her. ‘Do not cry’ he said. Then he went up and put his hand on the bier and the bearers stood still, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you to get up.’ And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying, ‘A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.’ And this opinion of him spread throughout Judaea and all over the countryside.   READ MORE     Reflection on the Painting Today we meet a woman, struck by immense grief, as she lost her only son. Just imagine the deep sadness and despair she must have felt. Her son must have been her main source of joy, love and protection. She is simply called the ‘widow from Nain’. No name, no further details given… So she could really be any of us grieving… …and right in that moment something unexpected happens, something out of the ordinary occurs… Jesus turns up and changes her life by telling her ‘do not cry’, followed by Him performing the miracle of bringing her son back to life. What does it teach us?: nothing, not even death, is beyond the powers of Christ. So if He can help the Widow of Nain in her most anxious times, then we too should put all our troubles, worries or problems before Him. The painting is by the Master of the Darmstadt Passion (named on the basis of two altar panels that are attributed to him), one of the most accomplished painters in the Middle Rhine region at the time. The widow is shown dressed in white, not in black. Whilst she still weeps, her white cloak already shows that hope and purity of joy have been bestowed upon her. The son is basically an adult man, but depicted reduced in size, to show he was her ‘son’ and the younger one in this painting. The son has his hands prayerfully folded thanking the Lord, with Christ embracing his prayerful hands. The onlooking crowds, as described by Luke, were ‘filled with awe’ we can see the amazement expressed on their faces. By putting our problems in front of Christ, we too can and will be helped by Him... by Patrick van der Vorst

32 Top Tips To Improve Memory

I first became really interested in the mysteries of memory many years ago, when I learned of the incredible feats of “memory masters” – who appeared to have superhuman memorization abilities.

I was surprised to learn that in many cases, it is not so much that they have a prodigious capacity for sheer “data storage”, but that they have learned to take advantage of the brain’s innate structure to full advantage.

For example, did you know that visual memory has a much greater portion of the brain “allocated” to it than other memory types – and that you can employ this natural power that you already have to improve your memory greatly?

The classic example given is that of a shopping list. Try this: Instead of attempting to memorize a basic shopping list, imagine walking into a room, and seeing clearly the items laid out on a table in front of you.

Then when you get to the store, recall the memory of walking into the room, and look on the table.

Give it a go! You’ll find it much easier than attempting to memorize a string of words with no specific visual connotation. If you doubt this, consider how much easier it is to remember a face than a name! Our memories are visually-oriented.

So the memory masters, utilizing these innate qualities of the brain to best effect, would do things like for example memorizing a simple set of objects that are “permanently pegged” to each of the numbers, starting with ten but gradually extending this system so that they had for example perfectly memorized 100 objects, one for each of the numbers 0 to 99. Then by creating visual sequences of these easier-to-memorize objects, they could memorize incredibly long numbers with ease, astounding people with their “total recall” ability.

This technique can also be applied to remembering names, strings of letters or even complex codes – always using the same “key code” of a simple set of objects that correspond to the basic word and number building blocks. Once you have the basic system down, it can be used to remember anything you wish to remember. You too have this astonishing natural ability – it’s just that no-one ever taught you how to use it!

Fascinating stuff, don’t you think? It’s a kind of “inner cryptography” for your own mind. 

Ok, here is our “master list” of resources for you which can help improve memory:

1. Here’s a great article which contains a list and tutorial for 20 tips to improve memory: http://ecosalon.com/what-are-the-20-tips-to-improve-memory-say-again

2. We have a page called 10 Herbs For Memory which lists ten of the herbs thought to be most valuable. Of these our ‘top picks’ are Rosemary and Gingko Biloba.

3. We discovered a fascinating substance – Galantamine – a substance extracted from the Snowdrop and a few other flowers. Interestingly, it has been theorized that the Snowdrop may have been the flower given by Odysseus to his men to restore their memory in Homer’s epic from Ancient Greece. Galantamine has been studied and found to be an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor – and it turns out that for this reason it has significant potential as an anti-Alzheimer’s agent! According to life extension scientist Will Block, it may even have an edge over other anti-Alzheimer’s agents. ^[1] It also turns out that galantamine has gained a reputation for its ability to assist with the practice of lucid dreaming – however please note that there have been some side effects noted and it may not be safe for all: Here is a very detailed article on galantamine.

4. I just discovered a fascinating supplement available on Amazon.com called “Neuro Optimizer” and I’m really keen to check it out. I haven’t tried this yet, but it is getting some really good reviews from people saying that it is helping them with mental clarity. It contains neuro-nutrients and protectants thought to assist with several aspects of brain function. This product seems amazing and I’m really keen to try it out soon. If you are curious to investigate, here is the link where you can read the reviews and purchase. (Note – this is my Amazon affiliate link.)

5. A final useful tip is to think of “the brain as a muscle”. In other words, it needs a workout in order to remain strong. “Use it or lose it” applies to neural pathways and the ones that are not used, fade away whereas the ones you use habitually are reinforced. As we get older it’s important to keep challenging ourselves to think and do “mental exercises” which utilize recall.

What do you do to keep your memory sharp? Got any other tips? Please let us know on our Facebook page or in the comments. 

Reference:

[1] Block, W. Aug 2004. If Only Galantamine Could Talk … http://www.life-enhancement.com/magazine/article/973-if-only-galantamine-could-talk

Matthew 5: 1-12a | Elizabeth wang | All Saints Day

Matthew 5: 1-12a   All Saints Day

All Saints,  Painted by Elizabeth wang (1942-2016),  Oil on canvas, © Radiant light, Elizabeth Wang Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them: ‘How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy the gentle:  they shall have the earth for their heritage. Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted. Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied. Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them. Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God. Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God. Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’   READ MORE     Reflection on the Painting Last year, for All Saints Day, Pope Francis urged all Christians ‘to seek holiness not by accomplishing extraordinary things but by following the path of the Beatitudes without half measures in everyday life’. He continued saying that ‘we are united not only with the saints of the calendar but also with our "next door" saints - our relatives and acquaintances who are now part of that immense multitude. All Saints Day is a family feast, because the saints, our truest brothers and sisters, love us, know what is our true good, help us, await us and want us to be happy with them in heaven.’ Very poignant and beautiful words spoken by Pope Francis. Today’s Gospel of the Beatitudes reading is so relevant for our times. The Gospel tells us ‘blessed are the poor’, while the world arounds us says that riches will bless us; the Gospel tells us ‘blessed are the meek’, while the world says that the proud-hearted are the most important;  the Gospel says ‘blessed are the peacemakers’, whilst the world is on fire with wars and discontent; the gospel tells us ‘blessed are the gentle’, whilst the world tells us to be tough in order to make it in life; etc… Today’s painting is by Elizabeth Wang, who was born in 1942 and received into the Catholic Church in 1968. She was an artist with wonderful abilities to paint in a very simple and yet effective way the essence of a lot of Christian themes. Today’s painting is called ‘All Saints’ and we can see the saints, almost like upright standing lit candles, standing in communion around the central figure of Christ. We see a kneeling figure in the middle, representing us… in the midst of Christ and His Saints… all one big family. by Patrick van der Vorst

7 HUGE Reasons To Avoid Antibiotic Overuse

The “age of antibiotics” began with the discovery of penicillin by Fleming in 1929, which led to the mass production and widespread availability of the “do-it-all” drug that is often regarded as a cure-all for any infection… fed to animals as part of their diet and with doctors often prescribing them “just in case”. ^[1]

As a result, antibiotics are now regarded as “the world’s most overprescribed medicine” but it’s important to note that they are not without side effects and potentially serious dangers – as you will see from the report below.

7 Huge Reasons To Avoid Antibiotic Overuse:

1. “Collateral Damage” To Good Bacteria

Antibiotics are used with the intention of targeting bad bacterial infections but in reality, broad-spectrum antibiotics don’t discriminate between bad and good bacteria. Good bacteria, especially in the intestinal tract, are essential in maintaining a healthy balance in the body and antibiotics can play havoc with the body’s natural balance of bacteria, potentially allowing bad bacteria to recolonize and “run the show” – leading to stomach upsets and potentially more serious conditions.

Scientific studies have found evidence that when you take antiobiotics, there are risks of other health problems. ^[2][3][4] Several studies have also linked the presence of select strains of bacteria to healthy body growth and development, mental health (astonishingly) and overall well-being.

It’s possible that intestinal trouble could go on for years after antibiotic use and many people complain of this – however there may be a solution: A practice worth considering would be the use of probiotics, especially after a course of antibiotics. Consult your doctor about probiotics, they are regarded as suitable for many people but there are some cases in which they are contraindicated; notably if there is some damage to the intestines i.e. ulcer, which could potentially permit the bacteria into parts of the body where they should not be.

2. Increased Risk Of Autoimmune Intestinal Disease

Disease can only take hold of the body if its immune system isn’t functioning properly. Antibiotics can upset the normal equilibrium of the body, affecting the body’s immune system. A damaged immune system can lead to an autoimmune disorder or the development of a chronic disease or infection.

Autoimmune diseases are conditions where the body’s immune system starts targeting itself other major organ systems of the body. Scientific understanding as to why this happens is incomplete, but alterations in the body’s equilibrium may have a big role to play in the disease process. A study published in 2006 discovered that changes made to the intestinal tissue (specifically increased permeability which can be caused by an imbalance of bacterial presence in the intestines) is a common factor among several autoimmune conditions like Chron’s and Celiac disease. ^[5]

3. Higher Incidence Of Asthma And Allergies

Brochial asthma is a relatively common condition that is life-threatening if managed poorly. An asthma attack can even be fatal if a person comes into contact with a severe trigger. However, in a study published in 2009, antibiotic use, especially in infancy, has been associated with a higher incidence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in school age children. The next time you give your child antibiotics, think clearly of what this means for their future health. ^[6]

4. Liver Damage

When people are prescribed very strong antibiotics, it is part of the diagnostic phase to include liver function tests to set a baseline. This is because antibiotics are dangerous to the liver. Antibiotics have been found to damage liver tissue and can cause liver function test values (AST and ALT) to rise. Azithromycin, an antibiotic widely available in most pharmacies, has been directly linked to liver injury – with abnormal liver function tests revealed as early as two-weeks after the start of antibiotic treatment. ^[7]

5. Increased Cancer Risk

A nationwide study in Finland compared data of long term antibiotic users with cancer patients, looking for a correlation. The study’s results suggest that chronic use of prescribed antibiotics increased the risk (by as much as 1.5 times) forprostate, breast, lung, colon, ovary, endocrine, skin, thyroid, and kidney cancers in both men and women. ^[8]

6. Weight Gain

You might think that the links between antibiotic use and weight gain are a stretch but you would be mistaken. We often think that the only cause of weight gain is poor diet and exercise but the medications you take may also have a hand in it. Studies published in 2014 and 2015 positively associated antibiotic use to abnormal weight gain in infants and children. ^[9][10]

7. Development Of Superbugs

Chronic use of antibiotics (especially if you don’t follow the prescription of a physician) can actually build up bacterial resistance to certain drugs. When a bacterium is continually exposed to a specific drug, it becomes resistant to it, which is why we have a rise in MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and MDR TB (Multi-drug resistance Tuberculosis) cases. Read our full report on the predicted rise in fatalities from untreatable infections (immune to all manufactured antibiotics).

Alternatives:

While we cannot for legal reasons make any sort of medicinal recommendation, naturopaths / herbalists have a wide array of herbs to choose from that have natural antibiotic qualities that may provide support for various conditions. For example, garlic has been found in lab tests to be 100x as effective as antibiotics in cases of bacterial food poisoning.

Here’s a great book exploring this topic in full: Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-resistant Bacteria (Amazon link)

NOTE: This article is not medical advice nor a substitute for professional medical consultation. For legal reasons we do not advise self-diagnosis or self-medication.

References:

[1] Aminov, R. (2010). A Brief History of the Antibiotic Era: Lessons Learned and Challenges for the Future.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3109405/

[2] Zhou, L. & Foster, J. (2015). Psychobiotics and the gut-brain axis: in the pursuit of happiness.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4370913/

[3] Schmidt, K., et. al. (2014). Prebiotic intake reduces the waking cortisol response and alters emotional bias in healthy volunteers. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-014-3810-0/fulltext.html

[4] Clarke, G., et. al. (2014). Priming for health: gut microbiota acquired in early life regulates physiology, brain and behaviour.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24798884

[5] Arrieta, M., Bistritz, L. & Meddings, J. (2006). Alterations in intestinal permeability.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1856434/

[6] Foliaki, S., et. al. (2009). Antibiotic use in infancy and symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in children 6 and 7 years old: International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase III.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091674909012536

[7] Martinez, M., et. al. (2015). Clinical and histologic features of azithromycin-induced liver injury.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25111234

[8] Kilkkinen, A., et. al. (2008). Antibiotic use predicts an increased risk of cancer.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijc.23622/full

[9] Saari, A., et. al. (2015). Antibiotic exposure in infancy and risk of being overweight in the first 24 months of life.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25825533

[10] Angelakis, E., et. al. (2014). Abnormal weight gain and gut microbiota modifications are side effects of long-term doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine treatment. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24687497

http://www.herbs-info.com/blog/7-huge-reasons-to-avoid-antibiotic-overuse/?c=d

Winning the Only Contest that Matters

Winning the Only Contest that Matters November 1, 2019 Solemnity of All Saints Father James Swanson, LC Matthew 5:1-12a When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in you with a faith that never seeks to test you. I trust in you, hoping to learn to accept and follow your will, even when it does not make sense to the way that I see things. I love you, and I want to love you and those around me with a love similar to the love you have shown to me. Petition: Lord, help me accept sacrifices and overcome difficulties in order to gain heaven. The Beatitudes Don’t Make Sense: As we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints’ Day, the Church calls us to contemplate the promises Jesus makes to all those who follow him. At first, they don’t seem very attractive. Jesus lists a whole series of things that most people would probably avoid. They would see them as interfering with their wants and desires, Yet, Jesus says that we will be blessed if we have them in our lives. The word in the original Greek is makarios, which means “happy”. This doesn’t make sense. I am supposed to be happy when I am poor, mourning, meek, lacking righteousness, merciful, clean-hearted, a peacemaker, persecuted and insulted? That’s not what I see on TV, in the movies, on the Internet. It’s not what many of the people I know would recommend. So, what is Jesus’ big idea telling me this? Is he out to make me miserable? Sacrificing for Worldly Glory: We can see that the whole picture isn’t gloomy. Jesus says that if we accept these difficult things, there will be rewards. And the rewards sound pretty good. In fact, they sound great: The Kingdom of Heaven, comfort, inheriting the land, satisfaction in seeing righteousness done, receiving mercy, seeing God, being a child of God, a great reward in heaven. Who wouldn’t want these things? Don’t people work a lot harder for a lot less? Don’t athletes train for years, giving up all kinds of pleasures, submitting themselves to intense suffering at times only for a brief moment of glory in some competition? Don’t businessmen work long hours, giving up pleasures and making immense sacrifices just to make a few more dollars? Isn’t what Jesus offers us much better than any of that? Better than a gold medal or even a million dollars? But I Am Not Interested in Heavenly Things: Anything worth having is worth making sacrifices for, and the more it is worth, the greater sacrifices we should be willing to make for it. Perhaps a gold medal is worth the sacrifices the athlete makes to win it. Perhaps a million dollars are worth the sacrifices that a businessman makes to gain them. If heaven is really all it is supposed to be, isn’t it worth all the sacrifices Jesus mentions here – and more? If people are willing to make such great sacrifices to gain things they cannot keep, shouldn’t I be willing to make even greater sacrifices to gain the eternal happiness of heaven? Of course, many people with the talent to do great things in this world never do them because they just aren’t that interested or motivated. Is that why I don’t do more to gain heaven? Am I just not that interested? What will it take to motivate me to really desire what Jesus offers? Conversation with Christ: Dear Jesus, I don’t do much to make the Beatitudes come to life in me. Help me to give heaven its full value. Help me to desire it more each day. Help me to meditate on what heaven will be like so I will love it more and more and be willing to do anything – whatever it takes – to get there and help many others arrive as well. Resolution: I will spend at least five minutes today imagining what heaven will be like so as to increase my desire for heaven and enable me to make the sacrifices necessary to get there. Jesus is setting up a mansion there for me. He is going to put everything that he can in it to please me and make me happy. Our Daily Meditation is also available with audio: CLICK HERE TO START LISTENING!