The onion-skinned peelers.

Yesterday morning, as I peeled onions for the hamburger I was cooking, tears filled my eyes as the pungent bulb stung my tear glands. I love onions but not its tear-inducing substance, sulphur.

Onions contain amino acid sulfoxides that form sulfenic acids in the onion cells. Both the enzymes and the sulfenic acids are kept separately in the cells. When you cut the onion, the otherwise separate enzymes start mixing and produce propanethiol S-oxide, which is a volatile sulphur compound that starts wafting towards your eyes. The gas that is emitted reacts with the water of your eyes and forms sulphuric acid. The sulphuric acid thus produced causes burning sensation in your eyes and this in turn leads to the tear glands secreting tears. Thus you end up with watery eyes every time you cut onions at home.There.

Guys peeling onions and protecting themselves.

I thought about the onion scene as I listened again to the Napoles pork barrel scandal over at the morning news and marveled at how those involved invoke innocence or ignorance of their participation. Hard-skinned or lacking ethics, yes, but they act onion-skinned and talk about how their good names are being tarnished and show how delicate their egos are. 

But aren't these the same guys who peel off their opponents during political campaigns and even the civil societies, the religious, and anyone who gets in their way?
 
These onion-skinned peelers. Bah.