In addition to the standard high school classes, Reedley International School has a class called “Life Skills” — an 80 minute per week course teaching students how to maintain a healthy disposition in life and be effective communicators.

“Life-skills is a program where students learn the best tools to strengthen their character and leadership skills, and enhance relationships with peers, parents, and society,” Ong said.

The program emphasizes three things: values formation, self-regulation, and working with others, all of which significantly contribute to shaping competent, integral and consequently, successful individuals.

Interesting and brilliant. Most people are unable to maintain healthy relationships, have anger management problems, and are just have something WRONG in their heads.

Several articles has been written lauding or referring to the program at the Filipino Voices, Reedley blog, Business Mirror and Philippine Star. Everything sounds idealistic and nice but implementing is another issue. A friend who studied there told me that “it was a useless class, well at least for our batch.”

This is something parents should be building. Character building, values formation, self-regulation, and delayed gratification. Happy disposition for the win!

A conversation with my friend living in South Korea reminded me of what happened last 5 April 2009.

My family and I were in Hong Kong when I first found out about North Korea’s launch of a rocket believed to be Taepo Dong-2. It was morning at HK and I suddenly felt fear. Taepo Dong-2 is a long-range ballistic missile, designed to reach as far as Alaska and parts of Hawaii, developed by the N. Koreans over the years. It’s first launch test, which failed after less than a minute, occurred last 2006. This month’s test was successful and crashed at the Pacific Ocean, near Japan, after traveling 1900 miles or 3100 km as planned

The development of Korea's missile technology.

The launch caused an uproar and an emergency meeting was made among fifteen countries (China, Russia, Japan, among others). The US said the event was “provocative” and S. Korea deemed it “reckless.” Notably, China, Japan, and the Soviet issued milder and safe statements. Other countries, like the three, agreed that there was no immediate danger. Bullshit though. Personally, I think they were being safe, a win-win situation. Russia has ongoing trades with N.Korea and China is concerned over their north borders (which already attracts refugees from N. Korea; feared to attract more refugees in case of a war).

N. Korea issued a statement that the purpose of the launch was to place a civilian satellite into orbit. However, it was not determined whether there was a satellite in the rocket. If there was, the satellite never made it into orbit.

How the nuclear missile works.

What makes this so bad? North Korea has a rich history involving nuclear weapons. They have refused, repeatedly, to agree withdrawal of the development, test, and use of missile technology.

Second, they have one of the largest armies with their government budget dedicated mostly to the military at the expense of the people. Malnutrition, food scarcity, and poor living conditions are prevalent in the country. Many refugees are seeking help outside from China, only to be tricked into forced slavery or prostitution. God, feed your people. The UN intervened once in 1995. Up until now, S. Korea still sends food ration to the N. Korea.

The peerlessly great man of North Korea.

Next is the propaganda. They have limited access to outside news–TV, internet, or radio. Check out their news website here. To make it easy to find the funny posts, you may check out this site. The above illustration are excerpts and titles of actual news from North Korea, lauding Kim II Sung and Kim II Jong, the former and current Presidents respectively, as “the peerlessly great man of North Korea.” (Try googling “peerlessly great man poem/song/ode.”)

Maybe Gloria should do the same. Hmm.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo - The Peerlessly Great Woman.

Illustrations come from Time Magazine (Graphics and Gallery.)

Not too long ago, I posted a link at my Facebook account about the extraordinary shit amount of quizzes, notes, and emo statuses I receive in my news feed. I hate it. Spare me the drama! Putting emo messages “I’m crying so bad” won’t make you happy. If you’re so fucking sad, what are you doing typing in front of the computer?

So, in a nutshell, it’s useless to be emo. However, I heard about this interesting article that makes me reconsider the benefits of what all the emo person can bring in the world.

Yes, you in the black clothes, wearing black eye-liner, with long bangs covering your face. You think your life sucks. But in this recession, you make one clothing brand happier and more profitable! Yes! Someone loves you! Be more pessimistic and they’ll love you more!

Hot Topic Inc. Lady Amaranth.

Hot Topic is an apparel retailer focused on goth clothing and lip-piercing paraphernalia. While the “credit-strapped suburban mall culture” sucks so bad right now, this company stood out so much—with its incredible and growing profits—that it received a special mention in AgoraFinancial’s newsletter.

No one wants fashion this recession. The worsening economy changed consumers’ buying behavior. On the other hand, emos remain unaffected. They are already depressed and pessimistic in the first place! Fuck the world, fuck everything. The recession is already expected, the whole goddamn world sucks, and humanity has it coming.

They’ll buy more clothes and they won’t care!

Who knew all that pessimism would hatch unexpected happiness and profits in the world? Emos are an unlimited resources, man. Economic smarts tell me to use them to full effect.