I just read a news item by AP (Associated Press) saying "The era of Clintons soon over" and quoting Clinton-era Republican strategist Mary Matalin. What a clever spin!

This blog is going to be brief despite the title that invites long discussion.

This brouhaha in the international press about the tragedy in Virginia Tech seems to be focusing mostly on the gunman's profile and how all the signals slipped unnoticed through society's mesh that is supposed to be a safety catch.

I have only one comment. If there are NO GUNS to be easily bought, there would have been no mass shootings. All this talk about civil liberties especially the right of the individual to bear arms and defend himself is B__L S__T. Availability of guns for any Tom, Dick or Harry (pardon the cliche) has no bearing, in my opinion, on crime rates – a much-debated issue in gun control.

Gun advocates say: people kill, not guns. STUPID ARGUMENT.

If all those mass shooters had no easy way of accessing guns, there would have been no Columbine High, no Waco, Texas, no Virginia Tech carnage.

bananaking69 in Canada said:
"And the women don't shave their armpits, right? Yikes!"

nenriquezschanowski in Germany said:
Oh oh..the older ones they didn't..this is something again for the eyes to get used to... kasi livig in a cold- weather country, most women are not really pressured to make this part cosmeticized and maintained.

my take in the Philippines:

But this thing about underarm hair is just practical necessity. You are right, Nona, if you live in a cold weather country, it makes sense not to get rid of underarm hair. Did you know that it keeps one warm? Thus, it is accepted in cold-country culture.

I do not know if it is really wise of the younger generation there to shave or get rid of their underarm hair just because the prevalent western standards of "beauty" dictates so. Of course, with modern clothing, one can still keep warm sans the armpit fuzz.

I remember in high school, we were trained to be "proper" ladies by making us wear nylon stockings and high heels (at least 2 inches) twice a week in our senior year. I was miserable on these days. One, the nylons were hot. Two, the 2-inch heels were torture for walking.

Who ever said that we Filipinas wouldn't be considered proper ladies if we didn't wear hose? That is b_ll sh_t, I used to say. Wearing hose is an American way because it is cold there. I have no business wearing them here and perspiring throughout the day!

The high heels is another matter. Although my husband finds it sexy (for the life of me, I can't understand where he got that cultural conditoning, hehe), I also refuse to wear these torture instruments. Once in a while, yes, on special occasions – they can look real pretty. But I am content with my sandals and low-heeled step-ins and rubber shoes. During the rainy season and the cold months, I do wear pumps and boots. But I will curse you to damnation (hehe) if you make me wear boots in Manila during the summer months!

Our guests last Christmas, Justin and Erin Choo, told us about how the buildings and the transport system in Hongkong (where they live) are chilling cold. So much so that you have to be always in coat and tie going to work. Well, I think it is because of the colonials who used to lord it over there. They came from cold countries, could not stand the tropic heat, and so put in the air-conditioning. Then they pushed down low the thermostat to approximate their clime. It didn’t cross their minds to simply adopt the locals’ clothing!

Thus, do I rest my case. =)