SAFEWAY, WHOLE FOODS, TRADER JOE’S TO SET UP SPY CAMERAS IN THEIR STORES

November 23, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (The Adobo Chronicles) – Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson said Monday mosques, schools, supermarkets, car repair shops and “any place where radicalization is going on” should be monitored in light of terrorist threats.

Campaigning in Nevada, the retired neurosurgeon addressed the need for increased surveillance of people in the United States during an appearance about an hour west of Las Vegas.

Reacting to Carson’s statement, three popular supermarkets — Safeway, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s — have announced that effectively immediately, they will be setting up spy cameras in all their stores to help with the anti-terrorism campaign. “We’re happy to do our part to help secure our people and nation,” spokespersons for the supermarket chains told The Adobo Chronicles.

So the next time you go grocery-shopping, make sure to smile because you’re on candid camera!

Politics

FOR RODRIGO DUTERTE, THE DIE IS CAST; FOR MAR ROXAS, THE DYE IS DRY

November 23, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – For Mar Roxas, former Philippine Interior Secretary, the quest to become president is a long and winding road (mahaba at liku-likong daan).

It took a long time for President Aquino to anoint him as his preferred successor, despite being the ever-loyal Noytard (NoyNoy loyalist). Roxas’ standing in national polls remains significantly behind frontrunner Senator Grace Poe.

And now, a new threat to his presidential quest has emerged (or re-emerged): the tough-talking, popular Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who has all but confirmed that he is running for president in the 2016 elections.

“The die is cast,” Duterte announced yesterday. (To say the die is cast is to suggest that a process is past the point of return. In the metaphorical phrase, die refers to a numbered cube used in gaming and cast means thrown. The phrase is attributed to Julius Caesar.)

Duterte’s announcement has reportedly resulted in more gray hair for Roxas. He had to go to his hairdresser for a quick fix.

For now, the (hair) dye is dry for Roxas.

Business, International, Travel

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS OPPOSE TIGHTENING OF U.S. VISA WAIVER PROGRAM

November 23, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

WASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles) – Senate Democrats, in an effort to head off legislation that would overhaul a program to take in Syrian and Iraqi refugees, are focusing instead on tightening a program that makes it easier for foreigners to travel to the U.S. without obtaining a visa. And Republicans are vehemently against the move.

The visa waiver program (VWP) allows foreign citizens of 38 countries to enter the U.S. for as long as 90 days without a visa, thereby avoiding an in-person interview at an embassy or consulate. At least 19 million foreign nationals enter the U.S. each year through the visa waiver program.

The program is under scrutiny following the Paris terror attacks over concerns that it could be a weak spot in the security system. Islamic State operative Abdelhamid Abaaoud, suspected of organizing the Paris attacks, was a citizen of Belgium, which participates in the visa waiver program. Richard Reid, a British citizen who is now in prison for attempting to blow up a plane flying to the U.S. with a bomb in his shoe, is a citizen of the U.K., which also participates in VWP.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, speaking to reporters at the Capitol on Monday, said that his party strongly opposes any changes to the existing VWP on the grounds that this would be discriminatory.

“If we are going to do this, we must also do it for Mastercard, American Express and Discover,” Ryan pointed out.