Below the Line

Russian roulette?

By JOSE A. ZAIDE
July 7, 2009, 6:13pm

SWINE flu grips Congress again. Virus in pork barrel?
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RP to deploy 336 peacekeepers at Golan Heights between Syria and Israel. Tourists in uniform.
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In a resolute anti-vice move, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin shut down casinos. You can play only Russian roulette in Moscow.
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With hundreds of croupiers out of job and gamblers out of recreation, expect more Russian tourists to Pagcor.
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UNESCO names 16 World Heritage sites but deletes Germany’s Dresden because of construction of four-lane Waldschössen bridge which “failed to keep its outstanding universal value.” No billboards on Banaue Rice Terraces, please!
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The Philippines’ expanded Tubataha Reef was inscribed as an extension to the WHC-listed site in 1993.
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Pacquiao and Kobe will be Nike poster boys. Pacman’s best ad is him in boxing ring corner on his knees with only the swoosh on the soles to show that he Just did It!
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Manuel V. Pangilinan may quit to avert FIBA ban on Philippine basketball SBP. What! Basketball w/o an MVP?
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Celebrating Japan-Philippines Friendship Month, the Japan Foundation and the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, School of Design and Arts, feature a month-long exhibit 7 July-7 August of “ART from a new generation in Japan” (with participation of Filipino award-winner artists in Tokyo).
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When Berlusconi hosts US President Barack Obama and other G-8 leaders at the earthquake-stricken L’Aquila, he better get a “nice bit of tan” himself.
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UP National College of Public Administration and Governance Prof.Leonor Magtolis Briones will be one of eight women who will raise the voice of poor countries to hard-of-hearing G8 leaders.
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Congressmen Eduardo Zialcita and Roilo Golez ask the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to oblige SLEX to discount the toll rates while the expressway is choked by ongoing construction. Like Unilever’s SURF detergent, either it is NEW, IMPROVED, or 50% OFF.
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Raffy Odes Abano, VP of PAG-IBIG (Home Development Mutual Fund), gives delinquent employers until the end of December this year to remit membership contributions and employer share or face prosecution. Love me or leave me.
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Two related stories: “Automation partners eye Singaporean arbiter” and “Smartmatic, TIM give SEC joint-venture papers.” Pre-nuptial agreement?
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Singapore Law Minister K. Shanmugam said an Indian court's decision to repeal a ban on gay sex will not lead Singapore to overturn a similar colonial-era law. Be happy (gay) in Boogie Street!
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If the law minister is reincarnated gay, he may have change of heart.
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Feedback: jaz@mb.com.ph