Monthly Archives: March 2015

International, Science and Environment, Travel

U.S. TO SCRAP DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME IN 2016

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Image: ABC News

WASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles) – It’s hard enough remembering when to ‘spring forward’ or ‘fall back,’ but having to change your clocks twice a year can make your life off balance.  All because of this thing called ‘Daylight Saving Time (DST).’

It confuses Americans, considering that not all of the 50 states observe this ridiculous back and forth exercise, not to mention that they already have to deal with Pacific, Mountain, Central and Eastern time zones.

Well, think about the International Dateline, where countries east and west of this imaginary dividing line over land and water have to calculate the time and day differences between and among each other. 16 hours ahead. 9 hours behind. It’s already Tuesday here, and only Monday there.  And if you’re a frequent world traveler, it’s a constant nightmare!

Most people think that DST is an energy-saving measure in the United States. Wrong. In the U.S., Daylight Saving Time – or “fast time”, as it was called then – was first introduced in 1918 when President Woodrow Wilson signed it into law to support the war effort during World War I.

Despite DST, Americans still waste a lot of energy by constantly plugging in their smart phones to recharge, never turning off their desktop computers, indiscriminately turning on their heaters and airconditioners and constantly driving to the supermarket located three blocks away.

Workers are fashionably late during ‘spring forward,’ but are also late during ‘fall back.’ Travelers miss their flight connections, employees miss their morning staff meetings, and women (and men) show up late for their dinner dates. It’s an epidemic of total mess!

The U.S. government is fed up with all the complaints. So effective in 2016, it will totally scrap Daylight Saving Time. Permanently.  That means you just have to remember to adjust your clock one more time this fall. And remember  it’s ‘fall back!’

What do our readers think? Good riddance, or bad idea?

Festivals, International, The Media

MEDIA GUIDE TO 2015 LUNAR NEW YEAR

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imageSAN JOSE, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – Is it the Year of the Sheep, Goat or Ram?

If you’re confused about what to call the 2015 Lunar New Year, don’t fret.  We are as confused as you are.

As a public service, The Adobo Chronicles has issued a media advisory to guide editors, reporters and netizens in properly making reference to the new year:

CHINESE NEW YEAR (Wrong) – It is not only the Chinese that celebrate the New Year. So do many other countries and cultures that subscribe to the Lunar calendar, like Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Mongolia, Tibet, Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, and … well you know what we mean. The politically-correct term is LUNAR NEW YEAR.

YEAR OF THE SHEEP (Use with caution) – Sheep is the female Ram.  Be careful when using ‘Year of the Sheep’ as it may be offensive to the male population in the countries celebrating the Lunar New Year.

YEAR OF THE RAM (Use with caution) – Ram is the male Sheep. Be careful when using ‘Year of the Ram’ as it may be offensive to the female population in the countries celebrating the Lunar New Year.

YEAR OF THE GOAT (Be mindful when using) – Many people favor the sheep over the goat because the sheep looks better in pictures (and selfies), especially with its  white, thick coat. But also remember that sheep may not be found in many tropical countries, except perhaps for farm breeding. But they have goat, so ‘Year of the Goat’ may be more appropriate. Incidentally, have you tasted goat meat? They’re delicious! When in the Philippines, try the kalderetang kambing, kilaweng kambing or adobong kambing . When in Baguio City, Philippines, the best place to go for goat meat is the Slaughter House.

GUNG HAY FAT CHOY (Spelling doesn’t matter) – It doesn’t matter how you spell this traditional ‘Happy New Year’ greeting, as long as it sounds the same or similar. ‘Kung Hei Fat Choi,’ Gung Hay Fat Choi,’ Gong Hei Fat Choy, ‘Gong Xi Fa Cai.’ To be safe, when greeting someone a Lunar Happy New Year, just make a phone call.  Don’t embarrass yourself by posting on your Facebook Page or Twitter Account.

To one and all, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Lunar New Year, that is.

Festivals, LGBT, Religion, Tourism

NO MORE LGBT PRIDE PARADE IN SAN FRANCISCO BEGINNING IN 2016

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imageSAN FRANCISCO, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – LGBT pride and street celebrations are a diminishing breed in the gayest city in the world, San Francisco.

It’s been half a decade since the City of San Francisco decided to crack down on Halloween in the Castro and shut down this street festival that started in 1940.

The annual Pink Party on the eve of Pride Parade, is not going to happen in 2015 because the organizers of the event, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, have decided against  holding it  beginning this year. San Francisco City Hall is mulling sponsoring the event but it will be more like a political campaign rally for those who will be running for public office.

Next on the chopping block is the Castro Street Fair which is held annually on the first Sunday in October.

The biggest LGBT event, the Pride Parade will happen for the last time this year.  It will also be cancelled beginning in 2016.

That leaves the Folsom Street Fair the only, sort-of-LGBT street festival which usually happens on the last Sunday in September.

Beginning next year, however, the Folsom Street Fair will  be free of commercial sponsorships, like the Pink Party.  There will only be one non-profit sponsor which will  subsidize the popular event — the Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco, under the leadership of Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone.

So expect nudity to be a thing of the past at the Folsom Street Fair. However, there will still be a lot of people being tied up, whipped, spanked, caned and humiliated. Cordileone said that these practices are consistent with biblical accounts of Jesus Christ during the march to Mount Calvary prior to His crucifixion.

If you have procrastinated about attending the Pride Parade, Castro Street Fair and Folsom Street Fair in its original form, this is the year to do it.