The James Logan Courier

Note: This is the second installment in The Courier's serialized history of the struggle for independence in the Philippines, written by Filipino Poet, Author and Activist Oscar Peņaranda, who also teaches Filipino studies at James Logan High School. Look for the next installment next Monday.

By Oscar Peņaranda,
Courier Special Correspondent

While the Filipino revolutionary leaders were planning to continue their struggle against the Spanish, they were "electrified" in March of 1898 by the news that a flotilla of the American navy had arrived in Hongkong on its way to Manila. "Their surprise knew no bounds when a Captain Wood, commander of the U.S.American ship the Petrel, acting on behalf of Commander Dewey, sought out Aguinaldo for a conference". (Malolos: Crisis of the Republic, T. Agoncillo, U.P. Press)

By Tamara Lytle
The Orlando Sentinel (MCT)

WASHINGTON — Call it the Youtube Presidential Campaign.

Widespread Internet access is likely to fundamentally change the 2008 presidential race in fundraising, candidate interactions and, most importantly, the messages voters hear. Just five years ago, only 17 percent of American households had broadband Internet connections. Now the figure is nearly half, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

Note: Today The Courier begins publishing a serialized history of the struggle for independence in the Philippines, written by Filipino Poet, Author and Activist Oscar Peņaranda, who also teaches Filipino studies at James Logan High School. Look for the next installment next Monday.

By Oscar Peņaranda, Courier Special Correspondent

When the United States Armed Forces arrived in the Philippines on May of 1898, the Filipinos had officially already been fighting a War of Independence against Spain for two years. Their revolution against Spain started in 1896 and by June of 1898, a Declaration of Independence, a revolutionary government, and a constitution for a republic had been established by the people. The elected President of that republic was also the leader of the revolution. He was a fighting president because he also had to wage war as a general (commander-in-chief) of the Philippine armed forces against the Spanish. His name was Emilio Aguinaldo. He could be compared to the United States' George Washington. One difference would be that Aguinaldo had to serve in office and fight the Spanish for independence at the same time!

By Mike Swift
San Jose Mercury News (MCT)

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Two decades after emigrating from Taiwan, Sean Chang's accent was a barrier to friendships with Americans. Native English-speakers found it too much work when conversation went beyond small talk, said the electrical engineer from San Jose.

Luis Ramirez, a home inspector born in El Salvador, developed a case of the mumbles when speaking English because of the insecurity he felt during inspections for Anglos. But when he spoke to Asian real estate agents with strong accents, the Fremont, Calif., man would catch himself wondering, "Did they pass the licensing test?" before feeling a pang of guilt about stereotyping someone else.

By Leslie Garcia
The Dallas Morning News (MCT)

Chances are, the restaurant platter o' pasta plunked down in front of you is indeed a recommended serving size for one. One family of four, that is.

That said, if we want to keep our weight under control, we need to know serving sizes.

By Erik Lacitis
The Seattle Times (MCT)

SEATTLE — After the 36 spots for Arabic 101 were filled at Bellevue (Wash.) Community College this past quarter, there was still a waiting list of 14 students. An additional 21 students were signed up for Arabic 102.

Robert Foulk was one of the lucky ones who got into the introductory class. He showed up recently wearing his Air Force ROTC fatigues.

"I'm planning to be a pilot, and if I'm staying in the Middle East, it's a huge language to learn," said the Maple Valley, Wash., 19-year-old.

By Stevenson Swanson
Chicago Tribune (MCT)

NEW YORK — From being a flat presence on a computer screen, the Web is rapidly morphing into a three-dimensional virtual world.

Powered by such popular social-networking sites as Second Life and There.com, where users represent themselves with animated figures called avatars, virtual technology is finding a host of new applications that are likely to prove as revolutionary as the rapid rise of the Internet a decade ago.

By Eric Benderoff
Chicago Tribune (MCT)

Google's new tool to add themes for brightening its famously stark search page is interesting for one reason: It was a prompt to take a fresh look at a service we take for granted.

What else can you do with a Google page? A lot.

By Colleen Mastony
Chicago Tribune (MCT)

JIMMA, Ethiopia — Inside the coffee plant's corrugated metal fence, men look more like mules as they lug 100-pound sacks of coffee on their backs.

But as midday nears, a heavenly scent wafts from the corner, where Ahmed Achoumeto, 25, pounds a pile of black coffee beans in preparation for the noontime break.

"I am terribly addicted. If I don't get coffee, I can't see properly," he said, standing barefoot in the dirt, grinding the beans with a primitive 3-foot-long wooden pestle and a mortar made of a hollowed tree stump. "Almost everyone here is addicted."

Hundreds of Heads (MCT)

Moving? Here's some advice on getting rid of extra stuff from the book "How to Survive a Move" (Hundreds of Heads Books, www.hundredsofheads.com, $13.95), straight from people who've done it:

—"Always know where a good consignment shop is. I've made so much money selling my things instead of just throwing away old items that I thought were useless. There is always someone else willing to buy your used stuff_and you can profit from it!"
Sara Faiwell, Buffalo Grove, Ill., 7 moves