Sailboat in East Sound - Orcas Island               Orcas Island Washington Ferry

Orcas off Orcas island                                  Mount Constitution, Orcas Island

Brass Band, Orcas Island                             Leaving Orcas Island

Good day: One thing I’ve noticed since living here in the Philippines how many people are superstitious, of course that varies in degrees. For example years ago when were having a new muliticab built in Cebu the business owner swore that he knew a family that when their daughter was born a snake was born along with her.  Now I’m not a gullible person but I’ve seen bizarre and uncanny things since living here. Such as while everyone in the household is asleep there was strange knock at our bedroom door at 2 a.m. Or on occasion hearing uncanny loud foot steps running across the upstairs hall directly above our heads - then followed by opening and slamming doors shut. On both occasions I found no one was there – at least from this world. Mr. Chuckchuck

A young girl falls asleep while selling cooked peanuts in downtown Zamboanga City. (Sunnex/Bong Garcia)

A man carries a wooden console that he peddles from one town to another in Pampanga. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Chris Navarro)

Participants to the 3rd Mindanao Caving Forum appreciate the rare coral-like formations inside Lagbasan Cave in Sen. Ninoy Aquino town in Sultak Kudarat on Sunday. (Contributed Photo)

Pirates release 15 Pinoy hostages

The 15 seamen are now heading towards Fujairah, United Arab Emirates

Thursday, October 9, 2008 -  MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said 15 Filipino seafarers on board a Japanese-operated chemical tanker were freed by Somali pirates Wednesday evening (Manila time), about 49 days after they were abducted in African waters. Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2008/10/09/pirates.release.15.pinoy.hostages.(11.23.a.m.).html

Quake rattles Bicol, Eastern Visayas

Aftershocks are expected
Thursday, October 9, 2008 12:35 PM - A magnitude 5.5 tectonic earthquake rattled parts of Bicol region and Eastern Visayas early this morning but no damage or casualties were reported, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said the tremor struck at 3:09 a.m. and was located some 46 kilometers northeast of Sorsogon, Sorsogon.The quake was strongly felt at Intensity 5 in Legaspi City, Sorsogon City and Irosin, Sorsogon. Source: http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Local News&p=54&type=2&sec=2&aid=200810098

No closure of resorts, Palace assures Boracay operators

The Supreme Court upheld a two-year-old presidential proclamation declaring Boracay Island as forest land and agricultural area owned by the state.

10/09/2008 09:28 AM - MANILA, Philippines - In the wake of a Supreme Court decision declaring Boracay as state-owned land, Malacañang reassured resort owners Thursday there will be no closure of their establishments. But Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said these owners will have to comply with regulations and apply for special permits. Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/125951/No-closure-of-resorts-Palace-assures-Boracay-operators

Ovarian Cancer Test Sales Are Illegal, FDA Warns

Ovarian Cancer Test Sales Are Illegal

The Food and Drug Administration warned clinical test giant Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings that it was marketing an ovarian cancer test in violation of the law, vindicating skeptics of the assay who worried it wasn't ready for prime time. Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122351915525718133.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Sleek, but Don't Touch: Samsung's Glyde Disappoints

Snazzy design and a great keyboard can't overcome a scrolling touch screen

October 9, 2008 - The Good: Sleek slider design; full keyboard for messaging; touch screen scrolls with a finger stroke. The Bad: Possibly the least cooperative touch screen around; freezes up like an underperforming PC. The Bottom Line: There are better options out there, with and without a touch screen. Source: http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2008/tc2008108_982340.htm

SPARKLE VISION

The Jonas Brothers are lighting up London! The boy band, who recently finished the music video for "Lovebug," deliver an electrifying performance Wednesday on The Paul O'Grady Show are lighting up London! The boy band, who recently finished the music video for "Lovebug," deliver an electrifying performance Wednesday on The Paul O'Grady Show

Good day: Yesterday it was another quiet here in our household – my wife took Thomas to Bogo for sightseeing trip with her Dad “Pappy” and her sister Neng-Neng. They all came home around 6 p.m. exhausted but having good time. So it was Rudy, Gina and me holding down the fort here in Danao City. I tried to watch the US presidential debate but after a few minutes I switched channels to see a movie. The debate to me seemed mean spirited so I lost interest almost immediately – it wasn’t worth the time to me. This presidential doesn’t seem to have sense of decency. Mr. Chuckchuck

Peace to you and your love ones....

PEACE TALKS

Eva Longoria Parker finds herself at peace while chatting on her cell phone Tuesday in Hollywood. Earlier in the day, the Desperate Housewife reportedly treated members of her family to a shopping-and-manicures outing.

YOU HAD THEM AT HELLO

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes strike out for a friendly stroll with bundled-up daughter Suri, 2, after leaving their New York City apartment on Tuesday.

She parachuted off the building right into them."
– Bonnie Hunt, imagining how Victoria Beckham got into her skin-tight PVC thigh-high boots, on her daytime talk show.

STRONG SURVIVORS

Sheryl Crow, Christina Applegate and Melissa Etheridge proudly show that they're survivors at Stand Up to Cancer, a multi-network charity event that aired Sept. 5. Crow beat breast cancer in 2005, Applegate underwent a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and Etheridge recovered from the disease in 2005, famously performing bald at the Grammy Awards.