Troubling New Year Trend

Tsk, tsk, tsk. . . As the new year approaches, while reports of injuries from firecrackers and pyrotechnics are nothing new, there is an apparent rise in cases of random or stray shootings and some stabbing incidences as well. 

Just a heads up: if you live near or are neighbors to a policeman/law-enforcement, military or shooting enthusiast type, especially if he tends to get a severe case of "tarantado" with his drinking buddies, watch out! OR if you are that type, pare, itago mo na yan! You really don't need that to have fun for the New Year. As someone already said: Iba na lang yung iputok mo!

Keep clear and indoors. If an argument or conflict will happen, don't make things any worse! There'll be plenty of time to sort things out the next day. Have a wholesome time and be safe as 2011 comes.

Ingat po tayo!

   For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

Exorcising the Manila Hostage Fiasco

Before we finally say good-bye to 2010, I felt the need to undergo a catharsis so to speak on what is without a doubt, a regrettable and tragic event. I've held off trying to express my own thoughts on this since it seemed like everyone including his uncle had something to say about it (valid or not).

When I saw the whole thing unravel on that fateful day some months back, it didn't even take me two minutes before I walked away from the TV in disgust. From a tactical stand-point, I knew that everything had already started badly and could only go downhill from there. It was the very definition of FUBAR. Not to mention all the finger-pointing from all sides that happened afterwards. 

Previously, a British pundit already posted his views on operational lapses that occurred. 

Now, my own humble opinion on the matter is in terms of organizational perspective since at the end of the day, this is where many things in the world get done. As it has always been the case with the ills of our country, we need to clearly define and set our goals and work out ways of achieving them. If not, everything becomes extremely academic afterwards.

WHO does what exactly? (concerned personnel or agency) 

WHEN precisely will it be done?/WHEN to explore other methods or approaches? (scenarios and conditions)

HOW is it going to be executed? (strategy and tactics) 

WHAT are the factors that need to be taken into account? (command and control structure, agency interoperability, training and equipment, etc.)  

Policy is set in motion by operational guidelines. Clearly-defined operational guidelines translates into logistical and tactical  readiness. Tactical and logistical readiness is achieved by training and support mechanisms. This is what enables favorable outcomes. Thus, a prepared and ready continuum is established. 

Policy > Operational Guidelines > Tactical and Logistical Readiness > Training and Support

That is all. Let's all move on to 2011. 

The Men That Don't Fit In

Robert W. Service

January 16, 1874 - Septermber 11, 1958

I've been an outsider most of my life. I always felt I didn't fit in with the crowd. I've made peace with the fact that I often have to go at it alone. Its not an easy way I admit, but that's just me.

I've also been the restless kind. Maybe its because I've never been good with the "what you're supposed to do" idea as with most people ("you're supposed to be like the rest, get married, get a good job, be rich and successful, etc, etc, and so forth"). I suppose I'm looking for my own little niche somewhere. I'm glad though that there are also other restless guys out there like me.

One such guy is the American poet and writer Robert W. Service. He felt he didn't fit in too and wrote some good words about guys like us. 

To the "restless" and "outsiders". . .

The Men That Don't Fit In

by Robert Service

There's a race of men that don't fit in,
A race that can't stay still;
So they break the hearts of kith and kin,
And they roam the world at will.
They range the field and they rove the flood,
And they climb the mountain's crest;
Theirs is the curse of the gypsy blood,
And they don't know how to rest.

If they just went straight they might go far;
They are strong and brave and true;
But they're always tired of the things that are,
And they want the strange and new.
They say: "Could I find my proper groove,
What a deep mark I would make!"
So they chop and change, and each fresh move
Is only a fresh mistake.

And each forgets, as he strips and runs
With a brilliant, fitful pace,
It's the steady, quiet, plodding ones
Who win in the lifelong race.
And each forgets that his youth has fled,
Forgets that his prime is past,
Till he stands one day, with a hope that's dead,
In the glare of the truth at last.

Steripen UV Water Purifier

EDIT: Bwiset! Some FUBAR in the "CATEGORIES" got this entry re-posted again. Oh well . . .

Ang tubig ay buhay. 

This is one functionally cool and handy gadget for that most essential element of life. It only takes a very short while to get dehydrated and after three days without any of it, you die! 

I can think of innumerable ways this could prove useful and convenient, such as for tourists bound for locations where the facilities or amenities might range from sub-standard to non-existent or soldiers out in the field or even those whose jobs assign them to remote areas. Let's also not forget that in this disaster-prone country of ours, you may not always have the time or resources to boil your water immediately and chemical purification tablets often have an unpleasant aftertaste. The neat thing is that it uses UV (ultraviolet) light to kill those nasty microbes.

As it says though on the final part, it does not filter out "floaters" or the bigger stuff in the water. You have to first decant (pouring the water slowly so that the sediments settle down the container and get left behind) and then filter it by improvising any cloth material at hand. 

It comes in different models. I spotted one on ebay.ph!

Some Christmas Facts Revealed

We all know the religious background of Christmas and how it evolved into a world-wide cultural festivity. If however, you've ever wondered about the factual and historical elements behind this season, a US scientist (astronomy) and researcher reveals some enlightening facts. What kind of heavenly body was "The Star of Bethlehem" exactly? Was it really a star? A comet? Maybe a divine light in the heavens? Who were the so-called "Wise Men" mentioned in the Nativity accounts? Was Jesus really born on December 25th in the 1st century BC? 

Read on for an interview with Dr. Michael Molnar and his findings about Christmas. 

A very Merry Christmas from the Grove everybody!

A Maverick Comedian

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!

The late George Carlin was a stand-up comedian in the US. Despite being peppered with foul language and biting sarcasm, I like his style because he makes you think about things while driving you delirious with laughter! His influence is felt through the younger generation of comedians for his courage, rebelliousness and irreverence to take on sensitive issues like society's conventions, the law and it's regulations, religion and politics (e.g. - apparently he was the one who started the joke about the oxymoron in the term "military intelligence"). In his last years he was still active with his angry, curmudgeon-style of comedy.

Below are some videos of his routines:

He reduces The 10 Commandments (Warning: Utter blaspemy and insensitivity towards religious beliefs ahead if you dare watch it!) -

He talks about "stuff" -

UPDATE:

More biting brilliance from the late, great George Carlin

And some food for thought about the hotly contested RH Bill. . .

A Monday Afternoon "Lessons Learned"

This is just to share what I went thru just some hours ago.

I just came out of a mall for some Christmas shopping. The local jeepney transport was crawling thru traffic in the late afternoon. I sensed something was wrong since people were looking up ahead at the source of the bottleneck: a mishap with two bikes banged-up. I saw a body lying in the middle of the road along with the typical usiseros. 

Having had a brief background in first responder training, I quickly found myself "reacting" and jumped out of the vehicle. Like I said, it was reaction without much conscious thought going on. 

As is expected in crisis situations, you begin to have a focused mindset, even a "tunneling" of your perceptions. Not so bad and not so good either. The taking-over of gross motor movements along with the adrenaline dump was steadily building too. I couldn't even wear my gloves properly the first time! Good thing there was a pulis nearby and little later another one came.

Here's some of what I went thru along with some realizations: 

1. Scan and secure the area - We were in the middle of the road and vehicles were dangerously skirting us from both lanes. I shouted to someone who looked like he a gave a damn and ordered him: "Control the traffic! Redirect the vehicles!" so as afford us some safe space to address the victim. Besides the mangled metal of the bikes, sharp shards of plastic and glass from the lights were strewn all around. I cleared as much as I can, especially a large 2" triangle piece from a tail light.    

2. CROWD CONTROL - As expected with usiseros, they were enveloping the victim, choking the space to work with and causing even more traffic. Now I've never been the alpha-male, "he-man" kind of guy as those who know me will agree, yet there are also certain times when even some who know me best say that I can get a wild, crazy look in my eye. Maybe this is what the crowd saw when I barked at them to "GET BACK, NOW!" 

3. Rapid Assessment and Call for Help - The man was lying face down in prone position. Kneeling down, I saw red on top of his head, but NOT gushing. A coagulated puddle of blood also formed in pavement below his mouth. As is protocol, DO NOT MOVE THE VICTIM IMMEDIATELY. He might have unseen internal injuries, especially a broken spine. In this particular case thankfully it was a good sign that he was able to lift his head and feet up. The victim was a large "tubby" man and seemed conscious yet difficulty with talking. I did a global assessment feeling with my gloved hand throughout his body (DCAPBTLS). I had taken into consideration how thick my gloves were but it was sort of balanced by his shorts and thin boxer shirt he was wearing. As the policemen were there, I immediately asked them to radio for the ambulance.  

4. Assure the victim/patient - An important in all of this was I was constantly assuring and telling the guy "Kuya, don't worry. WE'RE (as opposed to just YOU) all here to help and take care of you. WE (again, several not just you) can't move you but the ambulance is on its way" while I ask the police officer "Sa'n na ba ung ambulansya!?" 

5. STAND YOUR GROUND - You are the light to bring order into the chaos so to speak. In all of this I was resolute in my voice and bearing. By resolute I mean knowing when to bark/shout orders, when to talk in a straightforward manner to my co-responders and bring assurance to the "victim." When I finally heard the ambulance finally coming in the distance, it was kind of funny when I barked at the crowd trying to envelope us again to "GET BACK!" around 60 pairs of feet immediately stepped back at the same time! I told the EMT's what I figured in my assessment (suspected internal injury with tenderness and swelling in the lumbar region, probably because of the the fall).

6. Equipped - As I wanted to go ultralight for my EDC that day, my bare minimum would always be my large folding knife, mult-tool, led/incan-combo flashlight, and work gloves. Gloves are a regular part of my EDC and mine were sturdy, rubber-lined and bright yellow for color contrast. Besides for handling hazards, these prevent direct contact from any liquids or substances that could infect you (BSI in medical terms). A bandanna or large kerchief is also a regular part of my EDC. Makes for serviceable, though not perfect, pressure bandage/sling/tourniquet in a hurry. 

7. DAMAGE CONTROL - Not really part of the equation but at least some semblance of it afterwards. As the ambulance was leaving, the splatter and "blob" of gooey blood was still on the road. Knowing human nature, there will always be that kind of gawker who'll be drawn to the lurid and macabre (again, another damn traffic hazard). I saw a bank security guard nearby who looked willing to help and told him: "May hose ba kayo? Paki-hose mo naman yun!" He immediately reacted and came out with a bucket of water, but I told him to ask the two pulis's "OK" first since one was taking photos with his phone and the other making his incident report and asking the witnesses/spectators.

As in most cases afterwards, I found myself just a tad shaken and my gut felt acidic, though I didn't feel the need to throw-up. In fact I found myself very calm now. It's the skills you know and default back to when a crisis happens.