Byte Me!

Untitled

2009-09-16T08:44:00.002-05:00

Do not look at me/
your prodding eyes are not welcome/
you are not allowed
to see through me/
it violates
my hollowness/
my empty space.

Smooth MJ

2009-07-22T09:15:00.004-05:00

Christmas always starts way too early. And nothing drumbeats the jolly season like hearing Give Love on Christmas Day emitting from radio stations on those early days of September. It has become a novelty and brings out that sentimental feeling of..."Putik! Gastos na naman!"

This year won't be any different. But this time, I will be hearing that song with poignancy. The Voice is gone.

This video here has my all-time favorite MJ moves.

infection

2009-05-04T23:58:00.000-05:00

there is no story to tell
just the insane melancholia
of a mind in swirl.
he sees the world in violet
like a run-down computer screen
a pinkish glare that reminds him
of an optical infection.
well maybe the world is just that
a huge contaminated land mass
that is too late to save.

My Manga Look

2008-11-19T02:09:00.005-05:00

This is how I look as a manga character :D

Create your own manga avatar at Face Your Manga. It's a pretty cool site ;)

India Goes To The Moon

2008-10-25T03:04:00.006-05:00

Talk about delusions of grandeur.

India launches its $80 million mission to the moon while leaving its population to starve. It's an obscenity.

However I am not all that surprised. This is a country who manages to build nuclear arms under the protection of Uncle Sam while millions of children die from hunger and disease. Or while thousands of people suffer year after year during the monsoon rains losing their homes, their food security, and their loved ones. It's an annual tragedy yet nothing is being done about it.

And there they go aiming for the moon...It's downright laughable.

The Long Way Anywhere

2008-10-18T10:39:00.010-05:00

Watching Ewan McGregor every week on his series The Long Way Down at NatGeo was a mixed emotion for me. On the good side, of course, I looove seeing him do all those crazy un-hollywood stuff. I don't care if he hasn't taken a bath in ages or canoodling with gorillas all sweaty and unshaven. I would run to him and give him a big hug if he suddenly appears my way.

On the bad side, it was depressing to see him travel the world without any care. Hopping continents on a bike with only a handful of clothing on his back. Meeting people along the way and just absorbing the roads less traveled.

Although I would not want to tour the globe on a motorcycle, you know what I mean. Don't you wish to drop everything from your normal life, catch a plane and go places with a single luggage, sleeping on trains, eating exotic international cuisine, and if you have enough cash in your pocket maybe rent a hotel for a week or two to sit by and watch your lovely view. That last bit also tells you that, no, I do not wish to join the Amazing Race.

But, yes, I want that amazing trip I've been planning in my head ever since I held my first atlas and found out there's a whole wide world outside of my box.

Under A Tuscan Sun

2008-10-14T07:17:00.006-05:00

I had a epiphany today. I'm bored.

Maybe because the stress of work is getting to me. Not that I don't know how to handle it, it's just I find myself at a deadend most times. It's like pushing the Berlin Wall pre-Reagan-Gorbachev era. I will not elaborate as I do not want to spread the ennui syndrome to the three unsuspecting souls reading this.

But, hell, I find myself in utter boredom, dreaming of lying under a Tuscan sun. Whatever happened to that? Last I checked I was saving for a European tour, before I realized it I bought a house!

Adieu Provence. Ciao Florence. Adios Valencia.

I wanted to be a nomad. Traveling the back doors, renting a villa, and writing all about it. A "normal" life was never in the plan. Remember that Diane Lane movie, that was a plagiarism of my ex-future-now-fictional life. Now I'll never get to smell the purple.

I guess I should set it aside and be an adult now.

Babe Gone Psycho...

2008-09-26T11:30:00.003-05:00

"A woman on the north coast of New South Wales in Australia is being held hostage in her own home by a large pig, Australian media report.

Uki woman Caroline Hayes, 63, says the pig is as big as "a Shetland pony" and that she cannot get out of her house because of its aggressive behaviour...When she opened the door, she said, the pig pushed her back inside the house."

See complete story --> Large pushy pig traps Australian

Pictures are all i have...

2008-09-20T12:15:00.006-05:00

I miss him on CNN. But got these yummy pics of his AlJareeza stint!

Hell!

2008-09-20T11:56:00.003-05:00

Watched Hell Boy 2, still hated it just like the first one. Why I am perpetually dragged to watch this franchise, I don't know. Well, I did want to see Luke Goss' Prince Nuada performance and I thought he should have had a whole movie for himself instead.

Nuada's character is far more interesting that the rest of the cast (or story) combined. Plus, he was the good guy! Why did he have to die? Isn't the red slob supposed to be the one to destroy the entire world when the prophesy's time comes?

And I love Guillermo del Toro, but quite frankly I thought he spent too much time on the drawing board for the effects and forgot to sew the connecting threads on the script. Guess not everything can be Pan's Labyrinth.

Summer 2008 Getaway

2008-03-19T08:56:00.004-05:00

Summer it is and it doesn't fail to remind us under the sweltering heat. But you know what that means...time for my getaway!!!!

Didn't go far this year, though, my friends and I sought escape at a nearby beach resort in Batangas. Well it's relatively near from Manila at less than 3 hours of travel...that's if you know where you're going.

We got lost. Not once. Not twice. But thrice!!! How can one get lost thrice? We have no excuse, we just followed a vague map and a, as we realized later, super summarized driving direction. We wasted a lot of time that we reached our destination way after sundown. I can sea the ocean waving like one giant black monster. It was a different story the next day.

I can't post my photos like I did the past years as I believe Flickr has decided to halt its free service. I'm not even sure if my photos are still there. I'll have a check later. If I can I'll post my new ones for my three readers to see :p

I'm Baaaackkkk!!!!

2008-03-11T21:18:00.005-05:00

Hopefully I can get back to my regular blogging mode hehe. How long has it been...7 months? I hope the 3 people reading this blog is still around and well :p

So how did the universe do in my absence? One thing that surprised me, though, is I opened Byte Me months later and I have a PR 2 ranking! Geeeezzzzssshhh. Beforeback I update this daily and I stayed at 0. I leave it to rot and I get PR 2???? Yeah, pretty accurate algorithm Google...

Stuff that made my last seven months interesting:

Went back to Boracay in September. I have to say the island is more likeable during off-peak when posers are off partying somewhere warmer. I found a new endearment for the place.

Went back to Baguio in January. Boy it was cold. freezing cold! My fingers were numb and moving even a inch can be a pain. Adding to my misery we stayed at this inn with no heater!!! Waaaahhhhh!!!

Team Manila was favorite to win Amazing Race Asia 2 but in the end they proved...lacking :( But I still love them :p

John Stewart hosting the Oscars again was a blast.

Shihab Rattansi left CNN moving on to Al Jazeera English :( My weekend news watching will never be the same.

There's this scandalous blog going around trashing the Manila high society Gucci Gang. Meaty meaty!

It's summer again and I'm off to my annual getaway in a week :D

I'm off to Bangkok the week after. Not for pleasure but pure work. I don't have shopping money :(

There's a buzz that U2 might be dropping by during their next tour. Weeeeeee!!!!

Life remains an uncertainty and my manic depressive alter ego persists. But today is a sunny day :) Who knows what this day brings. Ciao!

And The Stars Start to Align...

2007-08-10T00:46:00.000-05:00

So I'd like to think so.

Or maybe this is just another one of my "freefalling" phases, taking the road to the left of the fork and disarming myself of all caution. But what's life without these kind of adventures?

Where's the fun in always following that dotted line? Wear bright pink once in a while! Shed your hair short after a millennia of tying it in a knot. Because when people tell you, "You haven't aged!" it means you've always donned that 'manang' fashion all your life.

Hey, the middle of the ocean will not come for you (dear God, let it not!), you have to leave the shore to reach it. And the peak of Everest will not bow its alps so you can touch the ice (again, dear God, let it not!).

You get the point.

To sum it all up, let my boy Billy Joe Armstrong sing it out for you:

"It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right..."

It's the time of your life. Make the most out of it!

U2 - Window In The Skies video

2007-07-19T02:37:00.000-05:00

This song has been playing over and over in my head the last two days. Window in the Skies is a new U2 track featured on the U218 album.

Check out the vid and sing down memory lane ;)

U2 - Window In The Skies

Automatic Baby - One

2007-07-12T04:37:00.000-05:00

Found the video on YouTube!

That historic performance from Automatic Baby -- Mike Mills, Michael Stipe, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. (who seemed to be enjoying the congas so much) -- singing One during Bill Clinton's presidential inauguration.

Such a rare piece of music history :)

Black and White

2007-06-28T02:10:00.000-05:00

Andy Warhol was not only a genius, he was mega genius. He knows pop culture better than anyone else. And his legacy, through Interview, lives on. My ultimate dream is to be part of an equally prestigious magazine that will leave lasting footprints long after I'm devoured by the sea.

Say what you will, but Winona Ryder was a much better actress in her prime compared to Lindsay Lohan or whoever else they're raising their glass of champagne to these days.

The shoplifting incident? Oh puhleaazzee! That's a fly in your soup compared to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears' wild antics. Plus she evaded jail. See Ms. Hilton, being nice is much much better than being a B!%CH.

The Baby Is Back!

2007-06-27T02:10:00.000-05:00

That foul-mouthed baby landlord is back in another critically acclaimed role :D

Good Cop, Baby Cop

Good Cop, Baby Cop

By the way, you can see The Landlord outakes here.

My Favorite Things...

2007-06-23T09:07:00.000-05:00

Besides raindrops and roses and whiskers and mittens, here are a few of my favorite things:

My very dear friend Gilu gave this as gift on my last birthday. The most perfect gift anyone would have given me. The ultimate U2 autobiography, pretty heavy stuff. Literally. I needed neck and arms support when reading it!

Filled with conversations and pictures of the greatest band in the world. The flow is very raw and very honest. Definitely a must own for a U2 fan like moi.

Here's something new I discovered during my last trip to Sagada. Blueberry Jam to die for. Made from blueberrys harvested from the town's own farm.

Very organic and not too sweet. You can really taste and feel the blueberrys inside your mouth. I haven't tasted anything near it. One more reason to pack my bags and go back to the boondocks.

My huge Trainspotting poster. Another birthday gift some few years back, from old chums Ryan and Wenchie. The almost life-sized head of Ewan McGregor is a real treat...if you know what I mean...

Holy Swimming Cow!

2007-06-22T00:58:00.000-05:00

Must be the weather. Or could also be sign of global warming :D

Cow rescued from pool

Happy Birthday To Me...

2007-06-14T04:25:00.000-05:00

It's my birthday!

And I'm glad that people remember it and all, but I always cringe on the nest words that will spurt out of their dirty mouths: So when will you get married?

In an attempt to dodge that question, when some people ask about my age I tell them I'm 40. Maybe they'll think twice before asking me why the freaking hell I don't have a husband yet. It looks effective because the moment I utter 4-0 they seem to be having a systems breakdown and confusion soon sets it. I see it in their eyes har-har-har.

So why am I not married? I've been thinking of ways to answer that question:

1. I'm a lesbian.
2. I can't get married, I'm a mistress.
3. You think I wanna end up like you?
4. I enjoy non-committal sex, thank you.
5. Why, is your life so miserable and you want company?
6. Nice try! I'm not falling for that trap called joyless marriage!
7. Does it bother you so much that I'm free and can do anything I want with my life?
8. What the fuck do you care?
9. Mind your own fucking business.
10. Fuck off!

OK, the last three i'm just playing rude. But don't I just wish I can say that.

Whoever made a rule that everyone should get married and raise children? And why do many think that being married should be your ultimate destiny as part of the human race? So I genuinely find it insulting when people assume I will be incomplete and utterly lonely if I won't find myself a husband. Or a life companion, as they call it.

I'm not really a people person. If I want a companion I can always get a dog. I find canines smarter than most men anyway.

Eh-oh, Tinky Winky Is Not Gay, He's British!

2007-05-28T22:21:00.000-05:00

That puple purse totting teletubby is under fire again. Tinky Winky is now being attacked in Poland as promoting homosexuality among kids.

If you're not familiar with the Teletubbies, this Brit TV program aimed at pre-schoolers have characters named Laa-laa, Dipsy, Po, and the always cheerful Tinky Winky. Their vocabulary is pretty much limited to "eh-oh" meaning hello, and "uh-oh" meaning oh, dear!

Tinky Winky is the most controversial of them all being a guy and always carrying his magical red bag.

Poor Tinky is not new to these attacks. A few years ago a US pastor blasted the teletubby for being 'gay'. The evidence seem all convincing: "He is purple - the gay-pride colour; and his antenna is shaped like a triangle - the gay-pride symbol."

But I say, someone's sexuality is nobody's business. Even if that someone is a cartoon! Because, duh, you think all those toon characters we watched as a kid are all straight? Take time to ponder these:

Winnie the Pooh. is a guy with a girl's name. Plus he has no underpants, thus, diplaying his pee-pee everywhere he goes.

Tweety. How many of you know that this little bird is actually a guy?!

Ernie & Bert. Two guys living together? Where the hell are their parents?

Barney. A purple dinosaur who likes kids? He's the most dangerous of all, soon enough he'll snap and eat all those children!

So lay-off Tinky Winky. For all you know he's not really gay. He's British for God's sake.

Foul-Mouthed Baby Landlord

2007-05-02T02:58:00.000-05:00

Will Ferrel meets his drunken foul-mouthed landlady in this very funny short video at FunnyorDie.com. You'll die laughing!

The Landlord

Bad T. Rex Comes Back As ...Chicken!

2007-04-12T22:25:00.000-05:00

Hear ye! Hear ye! Seems the law of karma applies to the animal kingdom as well.

Who would have thought that the most fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex (or the mighty T. Rex), which was long ago erased from its carnivorous binging, had its genes passed to descendants we now love as the chunky, juicy chicken.

If you remember about two years ago, scientists found a well preserved bone of a T. Rex with fibers and proteins still intact allowing for an extraction of DNA. Now they have sufficient evidence linking them to birds, particularly your favorite fast food nugget order.

As BBC Reports: Researchers compared organic molecules preserved in the T. rex fossils with those of living animals, and found they were similar to chicken protein.

From being on top of the food chain to dropping almost at the bottom only taking the higher level over edible bugs.

See, there is justice in the universe :p

Davao Holiday Pics!

2007-04-11T04:32:00.000-05:00

That pungent odor of Durian fill the entire city. Yes, that is Davao in the southern Philippines for all you travelers out there.

Davao is the biggest city in Asia (and I think the world) found in Mindanao Island, which we call 'The Land of Promise.' It was explained to me that the island experience no storm throughout the year, thus it's a perfect place for farms growing all kinds of tropical fruits and vegetables.

It is true that you can find the sweetest pomelo, papaya, banana, and pineapple in Davao. I know. My 4-day stay mainly involved gorging on them fruits from breakfast 'til dinner. I failed to taste the province's favorite durian, but its presence was all over my nose. Although I didn't find it to be very offensive because as a local informed us, the farmers here found a way to grow hybrid durian fruit that isn't as foul smelling as it should be.

Davao City is very clean, the air breathable, and not too crowded. But you have to get out of the city for some exotic explorations. Like visit the Philippine Eagle Center where they house the endangered eagles and other exotic birds.

Oh yeah, them birds. I've seen a lot of them on this place. Every color you could imagine. Everywhere you go there are birds.

Or hit the beaches. Davao never lacks for white sand beaches over at Samal Island. A travel tip: travel guides or agents will offer you a trip to the beach (going to the famed Pearl Farm Resort) with around Php1,500 price tag per person. That includes a buffet lunch.

But if you don't have the budget just take a cab and ask the driver to drop you off at the Paradise Island wharf. The banca ride going to the resort is only Php10, with an entrance fee of Php75. Food is no problem as Paradise Island serves all kinds of barbecues and dishes, for a reasonable price.

You could end up spending only Php300 and enjoy a full day at the beach. Now that's a backpacker's delight!

Well anyway, check out my photos :)

That's Still Sir Bono To You!

2007-03-29T20:05:00.000-05:00

My favorite man in the entire human race has just been knighted by the British empire.

Bono received his knighthood yesterday, but 'don't call him sir!' Okay, I''ll just call him Love then.

This is only the latest of international honors he's been deservingly getting for all his humanitarian work and artistic achievements, which include the Legion d'Honneur from France and the Order of Liberty from Portugal.

However, the knighthood doesn't offer Bono full rights and privileges of a British knight, including the title of 'sir', as he is not a citizen. Not that anyone really cares, he's probably far more honorable than half of all those other Sirs.

Ten years from now, maybe even less, I expect him to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Because hell yeah, he should!

Read here the full story of his transformation into Sir Bono.

Commuting In Peace Has A Price...

2007-03-27T04:05:00.000-05:00

I finally bought my first MP3 (or is it MP4?) player to bring calm into my daily commute to and from work.

And in my quest for the right player to suit my need, I gladly found out that I don't have to spend so much moolah on an iPod. I love Apple and would gladly have every piece of garbage that they make, but they're just too damn overpriced.

Take this MP3 player for instance. An iPod would cost me over 10 grand and that's all I'll get -- a player. Whereas I got this Creative Zen V Plus for much less and it's got better and more advanced features.

It's a music player with a colored screen, which is pretty cool because it displays album covers and details. It's a video player as well and a file storage device. Meaning you can store important documents and images in it. Very useful to me since I tend to bring home work during weekends.

This little wonder also has an FM radio, an organizer to sync your contacts, and a voice recorder. In my profession this comes really handy as I won't have to bring my recorder all the time.

All these features you can get for half the price of a simple iPod MP3 player. Even my friend Gilu kinda wished he could turn back time and ditch his iPod for a one like mine.

It's always a crisis for me whenever I buy a new gadget because I'm sorta 'old world', I don't believe in these must-have scrap plastics. But I really like my player. It's cute, it's stylish, and I can commute every day in peace.

So Jesus Didn't Rise From The Dead...Big Deal!

2007-03-14T04:22:00.000-05:00

The new James Cameron and Discovery Channel documentary "The Lost Tomb of Jesus" is rising blood pressures again, as expected.

The 1st century tomb in question was discovered 27 years ago supposedly hiding the sarcophagi of the whole Jesus family:

This is the said tomb of Jesus and his family where 10 caskets with human remains were found

"The inscribed boxes, with some human remains still inside, apparently was crammed into an old cave near Talpiyot, an industrial zone in Jerusalem, alongside nine other two thousand year-old sarcophagi allegedly containing the bodies of Mother Mary, the carpenter Joseph, a little-known brother called Jofah, Mary Magdalene, and, most surprisingly of all, Jesus's son Judah, who technically could be considered the grandson of God." (from Israeli Bites)

So Jesus didn't walk out of that big tomb after being buried for three days, and he got married and had a kid. And, yes, that means he had sex! But I really don't get all these outrage.

Sure he wasn't celibate and his mother wasn't a virgin, what's the big deal? I can dig that. I still think He's the dude and I wouldn't want to incur His wrath for fear that I will be sent to hell (though I don't believe in hell either). My point is my faith isn't faltering and I honestly still like the guy.

We're supposed to be superior intelligent creatures here. We very well know that a man can't die and simply wake up to fly away to heaven. The Bible and the gospels were written as poetry, and they're the greatest poetry of all time. So people, don't take everything literally!

And if you're telling me that the cornerstone of my faith is actually a dead man rising, man, that's really news to me. Because I thought it was about love and how it can resurrect our spirits, figuratively speaking.

The Pope: Bob Dylan A 'Prophet'...

2007-03-09T02:00:00.001-05:00

The wrong kind that is. Still I think Bob Dylan should take this declaration as a compliment.

In my opinion, pissing off this Pope for doing something you believe to be right and true is a genuine achievement.

Anyway, not only does this Pope is attempting to create controversy, which may or may not spell sales for his book, he's struggling to stay relevant among his flock by continually using his predecessor's name.

His new book, "John Paul II, My Beloved Predecessor," is mostly a reflection on John Paul's personality and his religious writings. Dude, why not write down your own reflections instead? You're the Pope, you can have any publisher at your calling.

I know why. Because no one cares!

It was in this book that Papa Ratzi declared Dylan and his fellow gang of music hoodlums as false prophets.

In the first place, artists like Dylan don't put themselves so high up in the pedestal, much more call themselves a prophet. Well, Bono maybe. But even he admits to having great delusions of grandeur.

Get the full stuff of what I'm talkin' about: Pope's fears over 'prophet' Dylan

The Departed; Scorsese Big Oscar Winners! Weeee!

2007-02-26T00:33:00.000-05:00

The very long production of the 2007 Oscar Awards just wrapped up and as always you can count on them to pull some surprises.

Martin Scorsese was finally awarded with an Oscar Best Director, 26 years and six nominations after, while his The Departed was honored Best Picture.

The Departed was highly successful both commercially and critically. Ergo, it deserved to be named the best flick by the Academy. And Scorsese, man, it would be harsh disrespect to see those thick bushy brows fall sideways again because of another disappointment.

The surprise this year was Eddie Murphy not winning Best Supporting Actor, which I applaud. Because c'mon, I've seen enough clip of Dreamgirls to know that if you close your eyes you would think Donkey transformed into a Hollywood ass.

Although Jennifer Hudson won. Didn't like that one. Once again, Cate Blanchett was robbed!

And Leo DiCaprio didn't win again. Don't worry, dear, if you stay on your course you may just be the Scorsese of acting. Pretty soon they won't be able to ignore you anymore.

I've Got Sunshine... in Hugh Grant Movies

2007-02-24T02:21:00.000-05:00

British humor and Hugh Grant. The perfect ingredients for a romantic comedy.

Yes, I'm fresh off watching Music and Lyrics. It's not my typical art house or acting intensive film. But I liked it, I laughed with it, and I enjoyed it.

One thing about the British brand of comedy is you don't just slump in that reclinable theater seats we have nowadays and laugh your tongue out about something really stupid it makes you cry. No, they require you to use at least half a micro-spatula of your brain.

The jokes are not laid out in plastic platter nor the punchlines as simple as any knee-jerk reaction. They sort of make you think. And if you're not quick enough you'll totally lose the joke altogether.

It's not just one occasion that my friend Gilu and I found ourselves the only ones laughing at the spasmic lines thrown by Grant and Drew Barrymore. But it was satisfying to hear everyone join in one huge chuckle whenever the jokes take an almost physical form.

Mostly I love the British sense of humor because it's very sarcastic and they force you to laugh at your own ridiculousness.

My favorite part in the movie was when Grant was convincing his songwriting partner about the power of pop music. "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day/When it's cold outside I've got the month of May..."

Oh yeah, this is poetry indeed.

Google Ad Sense Making Sense?

2007-02-21T04:21:00.000-05:00

It must be my imagination. But is Google's AdSense trying to be my shrink?!

Visiting my blog this afternoon my eyeballs nearly popped out from heavy chuckling when I saw the Google Ads promoting Depression Symptoms and Memorial Websites!

Hah!

I don't remember discussing suicide plans or locking myself inside the bathroom with a rusty blade in tow. So, hmmm... is this my Internet guardian angel telling me something I don't know, hey beats me!

Bullish. Bull

2007-02-20T23:04:00.000-05:00

It's my word for the day.

They say the economy is bullish, or that kid is bullish. Is was that 'bully'. Whatever, they have the same word origin.

Bull.

Maybe that's what I'm missing. Some bull. I should be bullish about my future. Bullish about my plans.

Ergo, I should pack my back and move to a different city. Find a new job and start my identity crises-plagued life over. Yeah, that's what I should do.

Why haven't I thought of that 10 years ago? Is it too late? Am I too old to be thinking of unsettling down?

I should be bullish. In positive and negative ways. I need just one good door of opportunity to open and I'll be dragging my ass away from here. But where's the opportunity.

Well, if I'm bullish enough I should be the one looking for opportunities. Right?

Am I making sense or I'm just filling you with a lot of bull?

One more thought to sigh about...

Dreaming of Einstein's Dream

2007-02-19T21:28:00.000-05:00

Remember Einstein's theory that life is three-dimensional?

That in another dimension you are actually living another life because somewhere, sometime in your life you took the opposite way of the bifurcation. One of the series of forks that life presents to you, that is.

Also the reason why we have this phenomena called deja vu. Only two of the universe's long list mysteries. My favorite as such is the concept of karma.

But not to roam too far away from my topic today, call me crazy as everybody does, but I do feel that in another dimension I am living a different life. Relocated somewhere else, mingling with a different set of people, and doing a different work.

It's not so much simplier than what I have now. Just more defined.

No, I don't have regrets with the choices I've made. But you sometimes wish things could've turned out differently.

Funny as it sounds, I take comfort in these thoughts. That in a parallel universe I've made better choices, I'm more independent, and probably more resilient. Braver.

If you must know, the third dimesion the genius was talking about is that at one point the first two dimensions will meet... I'm not sure where it goes from there. Probably another fork you have to ponder on.

Still, when mornings become too much to face I throw my faith in the laws of the universe. That somehow in some way the elements are finding ways to bring balance to my force :)

Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.

Just A Minute!

2007-02-12T22:34:00.000-05:00

Why do people keep saying "For awhile" when they ask you to hold the line while they connect you to whoever you're calling for?

It's grammatically wrong! Say "Just a minute," or "Please hold on,". I think this 'for awhile' thing was coined because people are too lazy to say, "Could you hold on for awhile?"

You can also "One moment, please," or simply "Wait!"

Yeah it's the editor in me that has a teeny-weeny patience with wrong use of phrases or words. Spoken or on print.

Really people, whoever's answering your phone don't only teach them the right etiquette. Remind them of the right things to say.

Where To Go This Summer? Oh, Where To Go...

2007-01-24T05:12:00.000-05:00

Can't believe almost a year has passed since I went off to my annual Summer getaway. I could still remember all the details -- from the bookings to the sweet aroma of the ocean breeze.

Well, this year we haven't decided yet where to go. With my limited budget I really have very few options, but enough to get a good time out of it.

I've been looking forward to a Cambodia-Vietnam trip. I heard an info that Angkor Wat will closed to the tourists soon, whether for good or for some badly needed restoration, so it's probably a good time to go.

But one of my friends is coming home for the summer and would rather go on a local adventure. So option #2 Davao City. Which isn't really bad. Haven't been there and it sure would be a fine place to visit.

A probable volcano trek is also in the works. But that's a one-day thingie so it's just an extra curricular for the summer.

Oh where to go? We better make a decision soon because bookings are fast closing. Wherever I will be going, I sure will have a hell of a great time as in the past travel adventures :)

Four Funerals And A Wedding

2006-12-16T04:45:00.000-05:00

Pretty much describes, not key moments of my year, but how things went on with the people around me -- the dear ones and not so dear ones.

At the beginning of the year my Mother lost her Aunt, whom I remember as a chain smoking old lady who served me my first love affair with a macaroni salad.

Then my cousin who decided to kill himself some, I don't know, over six years ago was finally laid to rest. His ashes were locked in an ossuary along with her Dad's who also passed away this year after a long battle with an illness that kept him paralysed for 10 years.

I remember that every time I see him, I wonder why he won't just stop breathing and end his misery. Not to mention his wife's. But I guess people have to accomplish their missions before they could leave earth. Doesn't matter if you're strapped to your mattress and you're defecating on a bed pan beneath you.

Whatever his mission was, only he knows.

Late last month, I received news that a former co-worker was held up and shot. And it hit me how people can die so senselessly and so quick. In a matter of one week he was buried and maybe all that's left with his loved ones are murky memories of his last hours alive.

You'll never know if every time you walk out the door, you'll be returning in one piece. No, you'll never really know what fate has in store for you.

Now capping the year, I have to go to a wedding that no one wants to happen. My dear friend is marrying a guy whose mere mention of the name sends people to run amok. And everyone is stressed out because it's taking place on a weekday when people normally work, and out of town.

The thing is, no matter how you despise your friend's choices you need to accept them and witness a celebration where you're thinking: I'd rather be drooling in front of my PC than swallowing all these!

And your friends know that. That however crazy their life choices may be, you will be there to chew them and choke on them. And stay as friends.

Because what are friends for if you can't use emotional blackmail.

Dreaming of Tuscany

2006-11-29T05:02:00.000-05:00

I’m an old soul.

How did I know that? Because I’m tired. I’ve been tired since the day I was born.

You know I cry every time I see a landscape of a rustic town somewhere in Tuscany? I feel that’s where I belong. Not exactly rusting, but rather old and wise like the lines at the face of our grandparents. They’ve seen a lot. Maybe enough that has made them smarter.

All these years I have been wondering: What is my mission in this world? Like I’m always looking for a reason to exist. There has to be something else I’m just another useless entity loittering the universe.

There has to be one thing I’m meant to do. That’s why I keep returning to this world. But what is that I cannot fathom. I’m over 30 years old and I feel that time is swiftly running out on me. Clock is ticking, if I don’t figure it out soon I’m afraid I never will.

I’m beginning to rule out being what society expects every woman to be. You know, getting married, starting a family and all that insanity. I don’t see any convincing sign that I’m meant to live that life. Hell, I can’t even stand being with another person every second of my day. I always need space. My solitude.

Now that’s something I value dearly. My time with my self. Just keeping silent, pondering, and arguing with my other ego. Some people will mistake that for loneliness, even pity you because you’re alone. Well you can feel alone even when you’re with someone.

And that’s an even worse tragedy.

This Darn Life

2006-11-29T03:58:00.000-05:00

It's one of those days when I'm eager to write but can't find a single word that would spark an idea. Heck, i just want to punch on my keyboard and create series of phrases that hopefully will make sense.

Pretty tense ambience at work lately. I don't want to end the year with a butt slap that's for sure, but it sure looks like some heavy nimbus clouds are lurking over and the coming year seem to be easing in with, oh i don't know, a few dark omen.

At least that's my state of mind for now.

Maybe I'm just out of sync. What with the gloomy events I've been getting wind of lately.

Or maybe it's just boredom. Or the air of Christmas and another year ending so fast I haven't even had time to chew it all up. Next year I'll be a year older with heavier worries about the furture and how the hell will I able to earn enough money to pack my bags en route to Europe.

It's a darn life we're living. Sigh.

Oh Well....

2006-11-21T02:06:00.000-05:00

Some serious things can really get you off track. Like the end of a relationship. Or hearing of someone dying unexpectedly.

Kinda shakes up that little world you've created for yourself. Or a bubble that bursts without your permission. And you look at the world a little different, a little fresher, sometimes less kinder.

But what can you do? One is simply a prisoner of life. You can either go with its flow or die trying to forge your own canal. If you give up you drown. Most probably you'll just end up floating like an inflated plastic. Not caring where the waves will take you.

Sometimes it's better. Not to feel.

Tina Fey Rocks!

2006-11-16T21:48:00.000-05:00

Finally someone with balls to say what we all know. Former SNL head writer Tina Fey calls Paris Hilton a piece of shit!

These golden words were uttered when Tina guested on the Howard Stern show on Thursday coyly discussing former Saturday Night Live hosts.

Tina said the hosts are usually great, but every couple of years you get a bad one - like Paris Hilton who was a "piece of shit"!

We've called Paris a lot of things bitch, like a skanky hoe or a drunk driving liar. But piece of shit is a really direct hit.

Tina didn't stop at the collective-deposit-of-feces allusion. Here are some highlights of her "nightmare" while working with the hotel heiress:

Paris actually takes herself seriously and "embraces her stupidity".

Paris was so uninterested in anyone else the staff had a bet to see if she would ask anyone something personal (like "how are you"). She did at one point ask someone "is Maya Rudolph Italian?" (she's half Black, half Jewish).

Paris refused to do any skits that poked fun at herself. She asked the writers to create a skit in which she could play Jessica Simpson, "because I hate her" and "she's fat." When Paris grew frustrated with the writers, she would "lock herself in her dressing room."

She Paris's giant man hands and said they were as long as her forearm.
When the discussion turned to Hilton's looks, Fey complained that strands of Hilton's "gross Barbie hair" were found all over the set, and that up-close, Paris actually "looks like a tranny."

Tina rocks! The whole world of the sane is rooting for you. And firecrotch Lindsay Lohan, too...

Kill Tom Cruise!

2006-11-15T20:23:00.000-05:00

As if I'm not terribly sick enough yet of all these Tom Cruise mumbo-jumbo, I read another news that made me sick to my stomach.

Cruise, as his next project, will star in a Robert Redford- helmed film. Not only that, Redford himself will be in the movie along with fellow Oscar winner Merryl Streep. Man, this one's goin' to be hard. The movie's premise look promising, too.

I love Redford and Streep. But do I love them enough to endure a couple of hours puking my guts out every time Cruise comes on to the screen?

Was Redford sent threatening correspondence to be thrown into the bowels of oblivion if he didn't agree with Xenu's heir? Damn it! This has gone too far. I wish some psycho will get it over it and... well you know what I'm getting to.

Defamer said it all very clear:

"It's a shrewd, if ultimately safe, choice for Cruise, who's apparently decided that the best course of action for a comeback sure to be mercilessly scrutinized is to surround himself with Oscar-winning human shields. Should the project meet with eventual failure, he can deflect any critical bullets by shrugging and asking, "I don't know why the movie didn't connect with audiences. Why don't you ask the people with all the fancy awards?""

My only hope is that Redford will beat the crap out of this lunatic in the movie.

---------------

A friend once asked me: Don't tell me you never liked him in Top Gun?!

Me: No I didn't even watch Top Gun. And let me remind you that in the movie Val Kilmer was the top gun. Not him. He's too short for the job.

Tales From The Boondocks

2006-11-06T03:40:00.000-05:00

Just came from a four-day trip to one my favorite places, Sagada in the Northern Philippines.

It was my third voyage to this little idyllic town of 2,000 locals. But every time I go back there's always new things to discover and I fall in love with the place all over again.

Sweet, red, ripe tomatoes, mouth watering fruits, delightful cuisine, wild strawberries, the minty smell of pine woods, and the crispy scent of the dense foliage surrounding the area. Most especially the very beautiful people of Sagada make every trip memorable.

Take a hike to the caves, bathe in the falls, or trek the hills and get a panoramic view of neighboring Sierra Madre. Visit the vegetable gardens where the harvest is blessed by their gods. Then taste the delectable foods with all the ingredients organically grown.

Or how about waking up in the morning and being greeted by the thick mist that envelops the whole town. Smelling the sunflowers, or poinsenttias, and the different variety of flowers that abound.

Best memory of all, taking a sip of their high grade Sagada mountain coffee. The bitter-sweetness delights your mouth and wakes your senses to face a day full of wonderful things to explore.

I love this town. And I'm going back again and again...

Check out my Flickr photos >>

Kinky Friedman Gets (Politically) Serious...

2006-10-23T03:40:00.000-05:00

"Between the gutter and the stars, People are what people are..."

"May the God of your choice bless you..."

-- Kinky Friedman

What? You haven't heard of The Kinkstah? I don't blame you.

I came across Kinky Friedman while scouring through a barrage of bargain books. I found one of his jewels titled Elvis, Jesus, and Coca Cola. The title did not only intrigue me, I sensed a cruel humor in it as well.

And so I took it home, since then I've never passed up on a second hand Kinky Friedman book. I think I even bought one new just because the prize was slashed to 50%.

He was witty, smart, unconventional, and never afraid to say what he thinks wrapped in his chilli pepper coated philosophy. Truth is his religion, he declares.

So I was really amused to learn that he's running for governor in the state of Texas. Whoa! The foul mouthed Jew cowboy taking a stab at politics. I thought it was some joke...apparently not. Not surprise, though, that right-wing conservatives now attack his stance.

Well his future policies can definitely create a brawl at the Gov's office:

legalizing casino gambling to help pay for education
decriminalizing marijuana to free up prison space
developing a taxpayer ID card for illegal immigrants to work.

Can this rebel win the gubernatorial seat in Texas? We'll have to see.

See this relaled story: Kinky Friedman Wants To Run Texas, And Why The Hell Not?

Sting Proclaims Rock Music As Boring

2006-10-19T22:00:00.000-05:00

"Rock music has come to a standstill, it's not going forward anymore, it only bores me," Die Zeit German magazine quoted Sting as saying.

I could very well have said that on my own.

Because it is true. Rock music has become bland, boxed, and unexciting. Especially with American bands nowadays dishing out their own brand of 'rock' songs that are enough to send me into catatonic state.

It surprises me much that The Creed, The Calling, and all those Eddie Vedder-grunge-remnant sounding bands actually sell records and top the charts. Or that rap-rock (is that what they call it?) genre perpetrated by Limp Bizkit and many other tattoed motorcycle gang big guys. It plain sucks, man!

Very few rock bands can catch my attention these days. Of course, there's my favorite U2. REM, Greenday, Foo Fighters, Garbage... but these bands have surpassed the decade mark and were able to shape their own authentic sound.

What's new in rock when the new century ushered in? You can count 'em using fingers of your one hand: Franz Ferdinand, White Stripes, The Killers, Coldplay... I dare you to make a list of 10 bands carving out their own niche in rock history today.

So, yeah. Rock indeed has become utterly boring.

Leo DiCaprio Got Popped In The Head!

2006-10-12T05:53:00.000-05:00

Just saw The Departed. And I agree with the critics, the movie was great. Martin Scorsese at his best.

I think this movie also finally earns Leonardo DiCaprio the genuine respect of serious moviegoers. Not only because he got popped in the head real nasty.

Because if you're not familiar with his pre-Titanic career you will find it hard to look at him beyond the pretty face. If you want to understand why some of us actually like him go to your nearest movie rental shop and get What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Basketball Diaries, This Boy's Life, and even Baz Luhrman's Romeo & Juliet.

He was the celebrated Indie Boy. I was a bit skeptikal that he could regain his Hollywood status after disappearing from the scene when Titatic raked in $1 billion and turned him into a poster boy superstar. Maybe he needed to go away.

After that he came back stronger. And working only for legendary directors like Scorsese and Steven Spielberg. Upon his comeback everybody still want a piece of him. Why? Because he's plain good.

Anyway, here's our review of The Departed =)

What's Your South Park Personality?

2006-09-27T04:33:00.000-05:00

Check this out :D very cool!

Take the test and find out which South Park personality you are. Then earn your badge, hehe. I'm Kyle, obviously.

The Word According To Bono

2006-09-19T22:20:00.000-05:00

Just got wind of this news item where U2 frontman (my favorite human) Bono lashed out at fashionistas during New York Fashion week at the launch of his brand Edun.

"YOU KNOW WHAT? FUCK YOU AND YOUR FUCKING FINGER FOOD!!! WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING HERE AND ETC ETC ETC" This is pretty much an exact quote, says Idolator.

Apparently the bulimic community would rather gorge on them hors d'ouevres while waiting for the goody bags. Kinda reminds of that scene from the Bible when JC lost it with the peddlers at the temple.

Forgive me if I making parallels between Bono and JC. No, actually I'm not apologizing for that. I fucking listen more to what this man has to say than the Pope -- both the new and old.

Why? Because Bono preaches equality and food on every table. Then doing something to make that happen. Instead of making commentaries that only add fire to an already fuming conflict in guise of inviting a debate (gee, thanks Ratzi) Bono stretches his celebrity to corner world leaders into making do-or-die decisions for people in Third World countries who are dying by the minute.

Anyway, found these golden quotable quotes of my man. Courtesy of Dave Ferguson's blog. Read on and be mystified:

"I never had a problem with Christ...it was Christians that gave me problems...they seemed completely disinterested culturally and politically...they seemed very strange to me."

"The world works on the principle of Karma; what you put out comes back to you...but then enters the story of grace in the person of Christ and it turned the world on it's head."

"Duality is the mark of really great art and it's what is missing in Christian art. It's missing the tension that is missing...the attempt to wrestle truth to the ground is often absent."

"Much of gospel music seems fake to me...pretending that everything is o.k...I relate more to the blues...that sounds like the song of David to me."

"Jesus was either a Charles Manson - a nut case or he was who he said he was. I'm fascinated by a child born into straw poverty. The Christmas story is a remarkable story that never ceases to amaze me."

"How in a world of plenty can people be left to starve? We think, 'it's just the way of the world'. And if it is the 'way of the world' we must overthrow the 'way of the world.'"

"What else are you going to do with thing called 'celebrity'...it's absolutely ridiculous that it is valued more than being a teacher or more than being a mother...but it is currency and I decided that I was going to spend mine."

"God has made me an opportunist."

"Great ideas are like great melodies...they are memorable and a moral force whose time has come...and there is movement behind them."

"The reason the church has been slow to respond is that the church has historically always been behind the curve: civil rights, apartheid...the church is afraid of politics. The second reason the church has been so slow is less palatable..the church has been very judgmental about the AIDS virus...it believes that it is about people living irresponsibly. Only 6% of evangelicals felt like they were to act in response to the AIDS epidemic. But the Christ will not let the church walk away from the AIDS emergency...it is like a car crash, we have to act. AIDS is the leprosy of our age. But then something tragic happened...the church woke up and began to act...and they ruined it for me...I couldn't hate the church anymore."

"Love your neighbor is not advice...it's a command. Should an accident of longitude and latitude really decide whether you live or whether you die? There are 2003 verses in scripture about the poor, second only to personal salvation. Jesus speaks of judgment only once and that is the passage in Matthew where we are asked: 'who clothed the naked?' and 'who fed the poor?' and 'who visited those in prison?' That defines whether you are a part of the Kingdom or not."

"If the Christian church can lead this movement it can eradicate malaria in 10 years...and then AIDS."

"Stop asking God to bless what you are doing...find out what God is doing - it is already blessed!"

"This generation could end stupid poverty...we really can fix that in our generation."

"'Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven' is a phrase that grabs me...in every detail of our lives we need to seek that."

Bill has convinced me of the importance of the church as the moral force and practical infrastructure for solving the worlds problems. Open the doors of your church and make them an AIDS clinic. Your charity is important, but your passion for justice is needed. I'm asking for your voice and for you to give permission to fix these problems that are fixable. It's not a burden, it's an opportunity...it's an adventure!"

Me Wants A Pet Panda :)

2006-09-11T02:55:00.000-05:00

I love pandas.

Something about their cuddly gentle appearance that makes them almost human. Child-like.

And so I was lured into watching the Atlanta Zoo's webcam set up for Lun Lun. The giant panda who recently gave birth to a cub. Boy or girl, they haven't figured out yet.

Lun Lun cuddles her baby, which is about the size of a human hand for now. So you'll have to look more closer to see 'it'. As I write this mother and child are sound asleep. Moving to change positions every once in a while with Lun Lun never letting go of her cub even once.

Click on the image to view Lun Lun and her baby :) Wabuwabu!

He's Now Up In Croc Heaven...

2006-09-05T03:51:00.000-05:00

Steve Irwin, environmentalist and friend of the wild, has left the world he so loved with much enthusiasm not many could comprehend.

I was sad when I heard the news of his passing.

To some ignorant globs who think the earth is theirs to exploit, Irwin came across as some weirdo. Battling giant crocs like that and playing with deadly snakes. But to all of us who share his love for the wildlife, Irwin was a revolutionist.

He protected the 'creepy crawlers' many loathe -- Reptiles. Seeing him interact with them with affection soften our own view toward these misunderstood animals. His passion, his life has been dedicated to saving every living creature in this world and has encouraged us simplefolks to join the fold.

He will be greatly missed. Not only by the human race, but the animal kingdom as well. I can almost hear them salute in one big growl: 'Crikey, Steve!'

Read the story: Croc Hunter Steve Irwin Dead >>

Iranian Prez To Bush: Let's Have A Debate...

2006-08-29T20:39:00.000-05:00

People in the West may call him crazy, but they cannot fault Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for being unintelligent and ignorant of world issues:

"TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called on U.S. President George W. Bush to participate in a "direct television debate with us," so Iran can voice its point of view on how to end problems in the world.

"But the condition is that there can be no censorship, especially for the American nation," he said Tuesday.

The White House called the offer to debate Bush a "diversion" from international concerns over Iran's nuclear program, Reuters reported."

ON the contrary, I believe Ahmadinejad wanted the debate to actually bring more focus to his "peaceful nuclear program." But of course Bush's associates wouldn't allow him to be caught dead looking like a stupid duck on international TV. The way he does in the US everyday.

The CNN poll result above says it all...

On another Bush note this Canadian University ad campaign is being lauded and cirticized at the same time:

"It shows a picture of Yale graduate Mr Bush with the caption: "Graduating from an Ivy League university doesn't necessarily mean you're smart.""

Hell yeah!

Pluto Booted Out Of The Planet Club

2006-08-24T20:46:00.000-05:00

Ok, another proof that everything we're taught is wrong.

Since grade school we were told there are nine planets in the solar system. But now it has been reduced to eight. Science books will have to be rewritten. Posters will have to be recalled.

Maybe 20 years from now a poster depicting the sun surrounded by nine planets will be a collector's item. For the uber geek, that is.

What am I blabbing about? If you never take breaks from watching your soaps, you should know that Pluto has been booted out of the planet class. Scientists today made a conclusion that Mickey Mouse's dog's namesake just didn't have the right stuff to belong in that exclusive elite planets' club...

Read it: Pluto Gets The Boot >>

Heath Ledger Is The New Joker

2006-08-01T20:51:00.000-05:00

Heath Ledger will finally do what was missing in Brokeback Mountain, wear lipstick.

According to news reports, the Oscar-nominated actor's next big project is taking on the role of the Joker in the next installment of Batman titled, The Dark Knight.

Christian Bale will reprise his caped crusader role and Chris Nolan will be back at the helm.

As a Batman fan, I think Heath can pull it off. He has the smile. And he has proven himself as a flexible enough actor. My friend, Gilu, only hopes Nolan has learned his lesson from the Tim Burton-directed version of the franchise and not kill Joker off at the end of the movie.

Because that's how we ended up writhing in pain from Schwarzenegger's acting in that very tragic production of Batman & Robin.

We also heard Paul Bettany was in the running to play the Bat's nemesis. Would've been nice, too. And a possible good news (cross your fingers!) Katie's not coming back as she's busy playing fake mom and girlfriend to a real-life joker.

The Dark Knight is set for 2007 release. I can barely wait...

Mel Gibson Vs. the Jews - Part 2

2006-07-31T03:45:00.000-05:00

The middle east conflict has a new face. His name is Mel Gibson.

Or it could be that two years after the much controversial Passion of the Christ film, Gibson finally made public how he feels about his worst critics -- the Jews.

The 50-year-old Oscar winning actor/director has been apprehended by police for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) in Malibu, and blamed the Jews for starting world wars.

Celebrity stalkerati siteTMZ reported that the devout Catholic celebrity shouted anti-Jewish slurs and boasted that he "owned Malibu."

His alleged exact words were: "F….. Jews. The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." He then asked the deputy, "Are you a Jew?" Thus, completely eroding any plans he may have of becoming a representative to the United Nations.

However the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s woud not confirm this story.

As expected, no matter how it’s true or not, the Jewish community who already hate him for making Passion of the Christ was quick to pound on this "anti-semitic" sentiments.

Of course, we also expected Gibson to apologize for his behavior once he gets sober. In a well-written statement he said he is ashamed of his actions and says sorry for "despicable" statements he made during the arrest and for his "horrific relapse", after battling alcoholism all his adult life.

So now we find out that Gibson is a drunk all along. And given his claim he hasn’t been sober for the last 20 or so years.

But this apology was not enough to console the offended Jews because, well, he didn’t exactly say "sorry Jews.." And as Centerblue says:

"Given previous suspicions of his anti-Semitic views and his overly harsh depiction of Jews in The Passion of the Christ, I find his apology hard to believe–and find it more likely that he was revealing the truth of his feelings under the influence of alcohol."

Maybe he hasn’t forgiven the Jews either for his failed attempt to collect at the Oscars anew when Passion was snubbed in the major awards.

Things heat up as our unreliable sources tell us Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has invited Gibson to break bread with him and Hugo Chavez. After all, didn’t his father also said the Holocaust was mostly a work of fiction?

Well he can forget about Steven Spielberg sending him a card on Christmas!

Baby Shiloh In Wax

2006-07-27T03:33:00.000-05:00

Those money-hungry clickers haven't succeeded in cornering the celebrity global family inside their Malibu home, so they opted for the next best thing.

A silicone doll of Baby Brangelina (a.k.a. Shiloh Nouvelle Jolie-Pitt) was presented to the press, including the paparazzis, at Madame Tussauds in New York. Cashing in on the public's humongous fascination with Brad and Angelina's "chosen one", the museum unveiled the wax figures of the family. Surrounded by African furry beasts in what look like its own Safari version of the Nativity.

The figure, complete with her mother’s “signature pouty lips and delicate features,” displayed in an “African-themed nursery,” where it will rest “peacefully” in a woven basket, according to the museum’s description.

The museum also said that Shiloh is the first infant to be immortalized in wax -- take that Jesus! Madame Tussands general manager Janine DiGioacchino justified this by adding that Shiloh is already an iconic figure in world popular culture, a very significant feat for an 8-week-old.

Baby Shiloh wax was sculpted based on her first pictures published by People Magazine. Therefore it's not true that the artists were made to bring myhrr, gold and frankincense so they can be allowed to see the babe in her multimillion not-really-humble abode.

And to honor Shiloh's parents who are totally committed to giving away their children's inheritance to charity, visitors can have their photos taken with the famous wax family, and $1 from each photo visitors buy will be donated to UNICEF.

It's not cheap to see the Shiloh, too. A ticket to take a peek at what the museum calls "the world's most famous baby" costs about $30.

And so the paparazzis who have tried and failed to get near the real Shiloh feasted on the wax doll, while it's still free, and endlessly snapped their cameras with passionate vengeance.

Great Big Wars in Little Places...

2006-07-26T14:10:00.000-05:00

The middle east is at war again.

A region ravaged by thousands of years of fighting over land and religion is now in the middle of another cross-border conflict.

Israel fights hostilities started by Palestinian and Lebanese militants when Isareli soldiers were captured. Militants were negotiating prisoner swap. But Israel being tired of getting bullied, maybe, decided to attack instead. Trigerring open war.

These militants were formed as a reaction to European Jews occupying Arab land to establish their own state. Therefore, this war has been going on for many decades now.

But it's not a war of the Jewish and Arab people nowadays. Just the bickering of politicians from both sides who refuse to sit down and map out lasting solutions.

Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia, Egypt & Jordan are sitting lame ducks. The US refuse to barter with both sides for ceasefire. How could they when they are fast-tracking shipment of bombs to Israel, which are being used to pound Lebanon into shreds.

Syria and Iran decided not to do anything, like use their influence on Hezbollah so it will release the captured soldiers that may put a stop to the conflict. No they won't do anything until US and the world community directly talk to them and not just treat them as some irritants on the quest for peace and democracy.

Oh, and while they scramble to find a quick solution to this crisis, Iraq's insurgents continue to rise and push the nation into civil war.

Meanwhile innocent civilians die by the minute from all sides of the conflict. Many of them children. Simply because their leaders foolishly refuse to make a compromise.

Kofi Annan recently said in a Larry King interview:

"There are moments of frustrations and sadness. But much more desperation...on how we turn against each other. On how we create weapons that kill human lives..."

The UN Secretary-General is the most rational player in the Middle East and other world issues. Too bad no one is listening to him.

Snake Tales

2006-07-26T00:20:00.000-05:00

Was it last week or two weeks ago when doctors in Idaho oprated on a 12-foot Burmese python after it swallowed an electric blanket.

Because of that, the snake survived.

Now this news in Germany where a snake owner will be charged with animal abuse for sending 1.5m (5ft) albino python snake to a buyer through the postal mail!

A few months ago, a snake was also found peeking through an opening of our ceiling. We immediately called the Wildlife protection people to capture the crawlie for us. They told us it looked like the snake was someone's pet who escaped. They can tell from its "well groomed" scales.

The Wildlife guys took the snake with them to the snactuary where it will be taken care of.

Animal Planet must be really doing a really good job at sending its messages across. People today understand that they shouldn't wack the teh first snake they see, there are agencies to call to rescue them. Because apparently snakes are scared of us as much as we are of them.

Now I think I like snakes. I just don't want to be around them...

Meet Mimi Miyagi...Ex-Porn Star Running For Nevada Gov

2006-07-21T03:31:00.000-05:00

If Melody Damayo could have her way, Nevada will be singing She Bangs, She Bangs while she runs its daily stately affairs.

Damayo is best known to adult video subscribers as Mimi Miyagi, whose long list of movie credits include Deep Throat 6, She's the Boss, Oriental Lust and (here's my favorite) China Vagina. She insists on us that her desire to run Nevada's top office is not a stunt or a joke, but the consequence of a passion for politics.

The now retired Filipina-American porn actress who officially declared her candidacy to run for governor of Nevada in May this year as a Republican was painting the town red to show everyone that she can work the room like a real politician.

Mimi partied last week in guise of a fundraiser for her candidacy. Among her guests was a never-before-seen mix of local Republican Party stalwarts, her adult industry pals and several bargoers just there for the regular karaoke night at a Vegas club.

Old habits being hard to break, Mimi offered lap dances to entertain her soon-to-be constituents.

If you're curious enough about Mimi Miyagi's non-political background, here's a short profile we gathered:

"Born Melody Damayo in Davao City in the Phillipines, she moved to Los Angeles at 17, bringing nothing with her but a thousand dollars and a dream. Now 33, she calls herself a pioneer for Asians in the adult film industry. She quit porn with the 2003 film "Happy Ending" and now is taking acting roles in independent films. She also continues to support herself as an exotic dancer."

Surprisingly for some, Mimi is getting support not just from pervs or the adult film industry. She's running under the GOP banner, those old farts who want to turn America into the United States for Jesus! Amusingly enough, political inquisitor, Wonkette, was quick to to give her its official endorsement:

"Neither of us is related to her (although she is Filipino-American, like one of us). Nor are we familiar with Damayo’s cinematic oeuvre. But do we really need any more reason to endorse her? She’s a fucking PORN STAR. Running for GOVERNOR OF NEVADA. As a REPUBLICAN. ‘Nuff said."

If she gets elected you can be sure that strippers all over Nevada will find their voice to demand for protection against abusive club owners and mean cops.

"I have nothing left to hide," she said, "My slogan is, 'I'm bare and honest at all times.'"

So Nevada, vote for Mimi as Governor!

George Bush Talks 'Shit ' At The G8 Summit

2006-07-17T23:09:00.000-05:00

George Bush was caught talking with his mouth full during the G8 summit.

Probably irritated with Tony Blair for disturbing his meal, and you know how he feels about mixing politics with food as demonstrated during his pork preoccupation in Germany, Bush expressed his frustration at UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's diplomatic approach on the current middle east conflict.

Or as the US President mouthfully referred to as "this shit":

Bush: What about Kofi Annan? I don't like the sequence of it. His attitude is basically cease-fire and everything else happens.

Blair: I think the thing that is really difficult is you can't stop this unless you get this international presence agreed.

Bush: See the irony is what they need to do is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit and it's over...I feel like telling Kofi to get on the phone with Assad and make something happen. We're not blaming Israel and we're not blaming the Lebanese government.

I tell you, if this is how the most powerful nation in the world deals with every crisis, we will find ourselves in the middle of World Wars 3 and 4 combined and eating soil green in no time. Better call your contractor and start building bomb shelters in your backyard.

When asked for comments, White House officials advised the media to "take the president's words as they are". Because even his staff is running out of way to put a good spin on their boss' distressing behavior, maybe.

First talking with another world leader while munching on a butter roll like he's eating at Popeye's or something. Then saying "shit" in an open mic for all the Jesus-loving kids to hear.

Finally, channeling his anger at Syria and Hezbollah by dumping the blame on Kofi. Not on the US failure to establish talking terms with the two countries he has bullied (Syria & Iran) but whose cooperations he now need to end the bombings.

Poor Kofi. What did he ever do to this boy to earn his wrath? Oh yeah, he told Georgie that invading Iraq was a bad, bad thing.

[BTW, major media outlets did not release the complete transcript of that conversation, but bloggers sure got hold of the full deal.]

Superman Returns. So?

2006-07-05T04:23:00.000-05:00

I will admit that I got excited about this movie after seeing the preview. Not to metion that it's a Bryan Singer-helmed flick. That boy-man genius who gave us the critically acclaimed The Usual Suspects, and the 2 X-Men movies.

Kevin Spacey was onboard, Indy chick Parker Posey, too. And the critics sent out a well lauded review.

So what could go wrong, right?

Read our review: Why The World Doesn't Need Another Superman Movie>>

So There's More to Brad Pitt Under That Chiseled Bod and Butter-Melting Looks...

2006-06-27T21:50:00.000-05:00

For some reason, Newsweek decided to look the other way and focus the spotlight at the backdrop and named Brad Pitt one of the 15 People Who Make America Great.

Surprisingly, his paramour Angelina Jolie was missing from the list.

In fact, the magazine credited the 1998 People Sexiest Man Alive for bringing Namimbia at the forefront of celebrity-crazed public consciousness, again denying full credit to Jolie.

It says: If it wasn’t for Brad Pitt, most Americans would never have heard of Namibia. They might not know about AIDS orphans in South Africa, or the plight of children in Haiti, or what transpired at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The Newsweek article said Pitt decided to get back at the paparazzis by dragging them to the underdeveloped countries that desperately needed world attention. And to make the vengeance complete, the Namimbian government collaborated with this plan by capturing and jailing the ethically-challenged photographers when they try to get a snap of the ‘royal family’.

He’s finding out the consequences of his actions, though. Now their Malibu home is surrounded by an ant army of clickers invading land, sea, and air making sure they don’t escape without unwillingly nor unwittingly posing for the cameras.

But seriously, Mr. Pitt proudly announced they got a hefty $4 million from pics of their newborn Shiloh, all of which will go to the different charities he and Angelina are supporting.

And before many of you decide that Brad is nothing but an Angelina tagalong, you should be educated that he’s been long using his pretty boy looks to funnel attention into Africa and other impoverished nations.

Therefore his current humanitarian efforts were not the results of making amends for dumping Jennifer Aniston and hooking up with Angelina. The guy further claimed he looks up to Bono (not Angelina) as his role model for his humanitarian works, calling the U2 frontman "a wonderfully dedicated beast unto himself".

Brad and Angelina’s adoption binge is not over. So the race, rather, the betting is on for the country where Brangelina will adopt their next child. Building their own little global community, you might say.

Batwoman Is A Lesbian

2006-06-02T00:14:00.000-05:00

For years Batwoman seem to have been suffering from identity crisis. Or so I thought...

My earliest memory of Batwoman, or rather in her reincarnation as Batgirl, was on the Saturday morning cartoon Batman series where she shared limelight with Bat-Mouse in support billing to our masked hero, a.k.a. Bruce Wayne. There Batgirl was Barbara, the daughter of the constantly clueless Commissioner Gordon.

Then in George Clooney's nipple protruding version of the caped crusader, Batgirl was introduced as the niece of butler Alfred, who supposedly went to a boarding school in England. Here the heroin was played by a very unflaterring Alicia Silverstone.

Now the powers that be at DC has decided to reintroduce the real first lady of the Bat family -- Batwoman, as someone who has balls. Yes, boys and girls, the new Batwoman is a lesbian. A 5-foot-10 crimefighter with flowing red hair, knee-high red boots with spiked heels, and a form-fitting black outfit.

"We decided to give her a different point of view," explained Dan DiDio, vice president and executive editor at DC. "We wanted to make her a more unique personality than others in the Bat-family. That's one of the reasons we went in this direction."

The original Batwoman was introduced in 1956, as Kathy Kane. Nope, it wasn't Barbara (who went on to reinvent herself as Oracle). But the character was killed off in 1979.

The return of Batwoman is earning mixed reactions from DC fans. Hard core comic book readers feel DC is treading on thin ice. But others welcome the brave change:

"On Tuesday DC Comics annouced that they are bring back the Batwoman series, but this time she's a lipstick lesbian. All I have to say is "Right On!!"

Hey, for a long time now we've been wondering what goes on between Batman and Robin when they're chillin' out at the manor and not saving Gotham from underworld criminals. At least now with Batwoman there's no more hiding behind the cape.

I'm excited to see who will play her in the movie...

Sick

2006-05-30T22:10:00.000-05:00

It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine... not entirely.

I know that Amsterdam is a place where you can be who you want to be. You can be gay and be happy. Or you can smoke all the pot you want and no policeman will bother you. But these bunch of asshats are pushing it too far.

Pedophiles here are organizing and forming their own political party, which will push for a cut in the legal age for sexual relations from 16 years old to 12. Dude, I don't know what 12-year-olds are doing today but I'm nasty sure having sex with pervs as old as their grandfather is not in their to-do list.

The Charity, Freedom and Diversity (NVD) party said on its Web site it would be officially registered Wednesday, proclaiming: "We are going to shake The Hague awake!"
Their argument is that banning kids from having sex only make them curious. Yeah, well I'm curious as how you would look if I bloody carve your eyes out from your face. So let's lift the murder ban, too, while we're on the topic of releasing the evils inside Pandora's box.

One of the party's perv founders, Ad van den Berg, told local newpapers that the party wants to make pedophilia a subject for discussion. "We want to get into parliament so we have a voice. Other politicians only talk about us in a negative sense, as if we were criminals!"

I've got news for you: YOU ARE!

Oh, these freaks of nature are also lobbying for the legalization of child pornography and sex with animals, btw.

What are you doing to your children?

I Just Want A Phone

2006-05-29T22:56:00.000-05:00

I currently own this Motorola cell phone with minimal features. Well, mainimal if you compare it to other more sophisticated models kids nowadays carry around.

Colored screen, browser, scheduler, camera. It lacks an mp3 player, or fm/am radio, no infrared, no bluetooth function, and whatever else manufacurers want to put into their products.

Still I rarely use those features. I don't use my phone to browse the Internet, I have my computer for that. I don't use the phone camera, I recently bought a decent digital camera with very good resolution. I don't use the scheduler because I'd rather write my schedules on a piece of paper.

I certaintly don't miss the radio or mp3 player, I have a boom box with a fine-sounding CD player. Nor the infrared and bluetooth because I don't use them.

I only needed a phone for chrissakes, one I can use to make a call and send text messages with occasionaly. Now there's the 3G technology. Frankly I'm not interested in seeing whom I'm talking to. I already know who they are most likely.

Cell phones are the biggest marketing scam of this generation. Trying to input all these innovations in one little gadget yet not giving us enough battery power is absurd. Consumers are the worse because we fall for it.

And not surprisingly, manufacturers find themselves entangled with all these product features that they have forgotten the very simple concept of usability. As CNN reported, cell phone makers find making their products simple & easy to use.

"(Consumers have) shown a growing frustration with how confusing those added features can be... That has providers working hard to make their devices easier to use -- fewer steps, brighter and less cluttered screens, different pricing strategies -- so consumers will not only use data functions more often but also be encouraged to buy additional ones."

I know going back to the basics will sound primitive to some, but many of us would rather that we have a choice between a basic phone and a communications-entertainment-gadget-rolled-into-one without the so-called techie trend watchers looking at us like we were trapped in a bomb shelter somewhere for 40 years.

One fellow confused cell phone user share this experience:

You would be amazed at how hard it was to convince the people at the cell phone store to get me a plain phone. Last November when I traded in my three-year-old Kyocera (an antique in cell phone terms), I looked all over the store for, as I told the salesman, a phone that just makes and receives calls and nothing else. You could practically hear his crest falling. He finally found a little Samsung model that had what I wanted -- nothing -- and when I told him to disable the text messaging reception, it looked like I told him that his dog had died.

Truth is if you have your phone leading multiple lives as a PDA, radio, mp3 player, camera, video players and all those whatnots, you're getting shortchanged. Because you're actually getting these features in small doses.

Therefore you don't get to enjoy them in full despite what those million dollar adverts tell you. You're only settling for style, what's hot in the market and what goes with your outfit.

When all you really need is a functional, sturdy phone.

Why, Lord, did you remain silent?!!!!

2006-05-28T21:23:00.000-05:00

"OSWIECIM, Poland (AP) -- German-born Pope Benedict XVI, visiting Auschwitz as "a son of the German people," on Sunday denounced the "unprecedented mass crimes" of the Holocaust, and underlined the reality of Hitler's campaign to wipe out Europe's Jews.

"To speak in this place of horror, in this place where unprecedented mass crimes were committed against God and man, is almost impossible -- and it is particularly difficult and troubling for a Christian, for a pope from Germany," he said.

"In a place like this, words fail; in the end, there can be only a dread silence," he said, "a silence which itself is a heartfelt cry to God: Why, Lord, did you remain silent?"" [CNN]

It wasn't God who remained silent while the Holocaust was happening. It was the Church who lost its tongue.

Adolf Hitler was a devout Catholic. Did the church speak out against these horrors while it was happening? Did the Pope release any defiance, outrage, or any statement against Hitler while he was executing his mission towards race and religious purity?

No, it wasn't God's act. It was the cruelty of men and the cowardice of others that is to blame for permitting the holocaust to happen.

PostScript on the DaVinci Code

2006-05-26T02:29:00.000-05:00

I finally saw the film, a week after its release. I'm never one to go with the hype rushing to the theaters on the first day of big movie events. I hate the crowd. And yes most times I hate people.

Quite frankly, I don't know what the fuss was all about. All these nincompoops crying and demanding to ban the movie obviously have not even a slight inkling of what they're talking about. Watch the movie, then wail if you hate it.

If anything, I felt the movie was very cautious and apologetic. I read the book so I saw the stuff, big and small, that was changed for cinematic license. I know that in the book Robert Langdon was not cynical to the Holy Grail tale that was perpetuated by the book. In the film version, Langdon's character appear to be confused with the concept.

Then there was the line among the bishops: "You do know if the Vatican finds out about this, we will be excommunicated." Therefore, directly telling us that Rome had nothing to do with the conspiracies.

So where was the blasphemy? Oh yeah, that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and they had possibly passionate sex resulting to an offspring. And a daughter at that. On this issue, Langdon himself put to words my sentiment: Why can't Jesus be a father and still do all those miracles?

What difference did it make that he was human who had carnal needs and still preached about loving thy neighbor and following God's commandments? And we're just in the argument of him being human.

What if God turns out to be a woman, a black guy, a gay man...or a giant ape? That doesn't change the fact that he's a genius who created all things with a grand design. That doesn't change the fact that he/she/it is this omnipotent being who created the whole universe.

So what is wrong with these people shoving down our throats their brand of morality and worship? The answer is they're just plain stupid.

Stupidity should be a mortal sin. Because God gave humans a superior brain, putting it to waste should be the highest form of blasphemy as far as I'm concerned.

I liked the movie, not because it was a masterpiece. Nor do I think it deserves any cinematic award. I like it simply because it makes us think.

Apparently, the stupid feels thinking is dangerous.

When The Pope Comes To Town

2006-05-25T22:31:00.000-05:00

One sure way to take out all the fun in your town is to invite the Pope for a visit. The folks over at Warsaw are finding that out, understandably they're not so cool about it.

First a liquor ban was imposed. Then sexy advertisements were told to put some clothes on because Pope Benedict the sixteenth is coming to town.

As CNN reported:
"An eye-catching outdoor poster for an anti-cellulite cream was covered up after a conservative group in this overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country complained that the sight of a woman's bare backside and thigh was offensive.

Tabloid newspapers refrained from publishing their customary topless models on their back pages on Thursday, while Warsaw bars were either closed or served only low content beer."

And that's not all. Television ads were also censored during the period of his visit. Ads for alcohol were banned along with those for contraceptive, lingerie, and tampons.

Sure for a widely Catholic nation, the Pope coming is a big deal. Why, that's a "cute point" in heaven. You can tell St. Peter: "I came from Warsaw...you know two popes visited there! Wink-wink..."

However it's totally never cool when your whole town is sent back to the middle ages in a weird time warp.

Contraceptives?! Lingerie?! Tampons?! Is the Pope unable to handle even seeing or hearing about tampons on TV, especially considering that his Polish is not too advanced yet? Why do we need to cover up such things and pretend they don't exist at every opportunity?! As if he'll be watching TV to be offended anyway! One hot reaction says.

And considering he'll be staying in a convent, I'd assume they have pre-filtered channels on their TV programming, right? Or not? Just wondering, not implying anything.

But the weirdest thing for the Polish people, who suffered unspeakable devastation at the hand of the Nazis, is warmly welcoming a German Pope who was a confessed former Nazi fighter but now preach the message of love and peace.

From the same country that wrought such havoc and unspeakable horror now comes a peacemaker and beloved figure, worldwide, and in Poland, most Catholic of countries.

Yeah, well lest we forget, Hitler was a Catholic. So the Pope going there to appease his religion doesn't really do much for the real victims of Auschwitz.

For Sale: The Air We Breathe

2006-05-17T01:02:00.000-05:00

A very strange sign of our times, indeed.

In Japan, consumers will soon be able to buy a product called O2 Supli. The product: canned oxygen.

It was reported that Japanese workers are so stressed out and not getting enough exercise because they spend almost all their working hours sitting in front of their computers.

"People are under a lot of stress and can't get much exercise, so they aren't getting enough oxygen," said Minoru Matsumoto, a spokesman for Seven & I Holdings Co Ltd, Seven-Eleven's parent company. [Reuters]

So they manufactured an oxygen in can instead of telling people to get a life. No wonder the suicide rate in the country is hitting the roof.

It was about 10 years ago when most of us found it ridiculous that water should be sold in bottles. Water is a natural resource that should be accessed free for all. Now it has become a multi-million dollar commodity.

Will the air that we breathe follow suit in the not so distant future?

It's Tom Hanks. Period.

2006-05-15T02:40:00.000-05:00

The DaVinci Code heads to the movie theaters and the bull session heats up between the Catholic Church and, well, Catholics who never listen to them in the first place.

In the last few weeks, there have been talks of a move to ban the movie. Yez the Vatican, which calls the movie blasphemous and full of bollocks, are calling its minions all over the world to boycott the film.

Opus Dei even went as far as demanding a disclaimer be put before the start of the movie, insisting what we already know: That it's a work of fiction. But director Ron Howard said No!

"Those characters in this work of fiction act and react on that premise. It's not theology. It's not history. To start off with a disclaimer ... spy thrillers don't start off with disclaimers." Howard says.

Problem is, when did majority of Catholics ever listened to them anyway? Ergo Catholic bosses are frustrated at their failed attempts to create boiling point indignation comparable to what The Satanic Verses and the Mohammed cartoons did for the Islam community. Or in recent filmmaking history, what The Passion of the Christ did to the Jews.

In fact, it won't be surprising if instead of a boycott, Catholics and Christians around the globe make the DaVinci Code one of the top blockbuster movies of the year.

I can give you some reasons:

1. It's a Tom Hanks movie. It's Tom, no one can resist that Mr. charming good boy appeal. Plus if it's a Tom Hanks movie, odds are it's something worth spending your money.

2. Christianity is a very diverse religion that most of its followers disagree on what it is and how to worship its god. Even Jesus will be confused if he were alive today, he'll probably break away and form a new religion.

3. Many Catholics don't like being told what to do. Blame it on the long history of the church's dubious historical and political manipulation, the Inquisition, the beheading of Gallileo, and many many more blunders on its part.

4. People love controversy and conspiracy theories. There's a whole cottage industry making money on outrageous conspiracies and we all like talking about them.

5. Sex sells. Did Jesus and Mary Magdalene got married and had a child? The idea of Jesus having sex is blasphemous for many conservative Christians. He was a 33-year-old Jewish man, he was famous and with superstar qualities. He was a MAN, of course he had sex at least once in his lifetime.

6. Did I mention this is a Tom Hanks movie?

The DaVinci Code has sparked our imagination and has made the image of Jesus more interesting and multi-dimensional.

The more the church calls for its boycott, the more attention it attracts. People would want to know what they're boycotting in the first place. And whether you agree with Dan Brown or not, too late. You already bought the book and made Brown millions more richer.

And lest we all forget, we will be watching a fictitious movie. It's not fact, it's a story. "It's a damn good story and a lot of fun.... That never hurts,” says Mr. Hanks himself.

So relax. See a movie.

Finally, pictures!

2006-04-24T00:19:00.000-05:00

Finally the pics are here :D My trip to Coron, Palawan is one of the best vacations I've had. And I'm ever thrilled to share these wonderful photos.

Click on the image to see more! Also visit my Flicker page :)

Reflections...

2006-04-17T01:11:00.000-05:00

If you want proof of God's existence all you have to do is climb a mountain, stand on top of it, and wonder at the greatness of the creations below and around you.

This is something I have held true to my heart.

I like hiking up the mountains. It's always a spiritual journey for me. And when I reach the top it's like I'm closer to the heavens and I have an exclusive view of the world most lack the privilege of seeing.

Last week I went to an island called Busuanga in the southern Philippines. Top of our list was trek to Mt. Tapyas. There was a 300-step stairway found in Coron town but we opted to go through the back door. Which is a 35-minute climb on a rocky and uneven trail, under the blazing afternoon sun, mind you.

Our lack of proper exercise during our stressful existence in the city made it even more difficult to drag our limbs hurriedly so as to escape the dehydrating heat.

Since going back would be an even more difficult task once you're midway, we took it one heavy step at a time and we finally reached the top. It was well worth it.

A 360-degree view of the whole Coron town and the neighboring islands nestled against the vastness of a deep blue sea. Breathtaking, not only because we barely had enough breath after the trek, but the panoramic view allowed us a deep sigh and ethereal silence that is my substitute to a prayer.

No pics here yet to show you...but soon! I will post 'em all for everyone to see :=)

Those Bastards!

2006-04-06T02:12:00.000-05:00

Well take that Tom Cruise!

South Park, the most politically incorrect, most rude, most foul mouthed show ever invented on TV was honored for being just the way they are.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone must be feeling very vindicated right now after the George Foster Peabody Awards named them one of the awardees for broadcasting excellence in both news and entertainment.

"South Park" was praised as a show that "pushes all the buttons, turns up the heat and shatters every taboo," Peabody Awards Director Horace Newcomb said. "Through that process of offending it reminds us of the need for being tolerant."

I guess it's true that truth always comes out of the babes' mouth. In the case of South Park, they find ways to say it in the most shocking way possible. Conservatives may not like it, Catholics rallied against it, and a Scientology brat threatened to boycott promotion of his own movie because of it.

But hey, who's being rewarded now?

Many of the show's fans in the blogosphere commend this move, like this one from Blog NYC: So the only two things that we know about the Peabody awards is that we think we may have heard Jon Stewart say once that he won one for The Daily Show, and now they've given an award to South Park. In our book, that makes the Peabody the most respectable awards show out there, even though I've never actually heard of it.

I remember this memorable line from Biloxy Blues: "Once you start compromising your thoughts, you're a candidate for mediocrity."

Parker and Stone know that. And they'll probably be the last persons on earth to ever compromise their unconventional way of seeing the world.

more unconventionalities at Oddjack

Praying for Me? No Thanks.

2006-03-31T01:38:00.000-05:00

This may be bordering on blasphemy, but nonetheless a fact worth exploring.

If you're having medical problems and someone tells you they'll pray for your quick recovery, you better think twice...

A recent study shows that praying over a patient dosen't really help, but rather adds complications to their recovery.

In the largest study of its kind, researchers found that having people pray for heart bypass surgery patients had no effect on their recovery. In fact, patients who knew they were being prayed for had a slightly higher rate of complications.

The study involved 1800 heart patients who underwent surgery. Researchers were quick to add that their work does not address the issue of whether God exists or not. They also have no explanation on why patients being prayed over have higher complications that those who only have a slight idea that someone maybe praying for their health.

Naturally, religious folks were quick to retaliate against this findings. As Habakkuk's Watchpost insists:

"This totally means that God doesn't exist, doesn't it! At the very least, there goes a big chunk of the prayers of the people. The studies show that God doesn't take our prayers for health very seriously."

The way I see it, this could really hurt the evangelical business. Imagine those TV pastors asking everyone to raise their hands and pray for so and so, to lift up their souls to god...tearfully asking heaven to heal his brothers and sisters.

Damn, now their saying it'll only make things worse! Oh yeah? well about those testifying they were healed?

I don't know the answers to that. Personally I don't like being prayed over. Freaks me out. God knows that. I can see him chuckling when someone puts his hand over my head and recites a litany. I literally feel like Satan being told to "leave this body!"

We've only touched the tip of this great debate. But science don't lie either. And it's not exactly the evil of our times.

As for my soul, I think God and I are pretty cool. We have this love-hate relationship. I give him a piece of my humongous mind and he, well he could whip my ass when I'm being a total prick. Which is unfair because it's not like I can strike back...

Uhm, i think i better end this post with that note. I think can hear the heavens rumbling again...

Vandalize!

2006-03-22T20:01:00.000-05:00

This is cool! Click the image and add your graffiti on the wall...

Click here to sign my Graffiti Wall! (Powered
by
PicLibs.com)

The Vatican Idol

2006-03-20T21:30:00.000-05:00

I've always had great admiration for Pope John Paul II, because of his stand on world labor, human rights, and his stance against poverty. For building bridges between religions and faiths, and especially for admitting the Church's impotence regarding historical tragedies such as the Holocaust and the Inquisition.

But I don't think he should be declared a saint. Why? For the following reasons:

1. Although he tried to preach about equality among all faiths and races he failed to put women on equal footing with the men inside his own Church. Women cannot be ordained because those old geezers inside the Vatican still think men are God's special people. Therefore only them are qualified enough to give Catholics blessings, communions, and all those whatnots.

I abhor all forms of religion that think lowly of women.

2. He was against the use of contraception. Therefore he would rather have millions of children be born with AIDS and starve to death. And he would rather have women suffer from husbands who think sex is their god-given right and won't give a shit if she can get pregnant again for the nth time.

Women have the right to protect their body. They have the right to refuse pregnancy. This is beyond the issue of responsible sex. We all know that in many third world culture women have no say regarding this issue.

3. He is against same sex union. It's always been my policy that homophobia reveals the true character of a man. That of a low-life bigot. Do you really think God is that pea-brained to think homosexuals are freaks of nature?

4. Most importantly, he is being used by the Vatican to keep all its faithfuls loyal to the church. We all know many Catholics don't like Papa Razzi. His dogma are obsolete, his preachings should be burned at the stake. Oh wait but that would be an insult to the memory of all those they accused of witchcraft during the Dark Ages.

Young Catholics especially place Pope John Paul on a pedestal. Now that he's gone so is the magic. And that's why they're fast-tracking this sainthood bullshit.

These old school Vatican leaders know of his name's power. They need to install a new icon for the church that is fast losing its significance. And John Paul II is the perfect stooge to play the part.

What I have is a very unpopular point of view. But they need to be said. I still maintain that I admire John Paul for some of his personal convictions, and maybe even partly as a good man. But not as my spiritual guru.

We Have To Carry Each Other...

2006-03-15T05:23:00.000-05:00

The Edge was never much of a talker, and now facing probably his darkest moments he chooses to deal with it away from public scrutiny.

Last week U2 announced it is postponing the last 10 dates of the group's Vertigo tour "due to the illness of an immediate family member of one of the band." Fans are now aware that The Edge's 7-year-old Sian Evans is suffering from leukemia.

As expected it was Bono who broke the band's silence on the matter, though, lacking in real detail:

‘I can't really get into details why,’ Bono told presenter Andrew Denton. ‘There was a lot of distress and angst...Our music does come out of (a) very tight community,' he said. 'So if one of us is going through it we're all going through it.' [u2.com]

All U2 fans are saddened by this news, I know I am...

Anyway, here's the only story I could find with sufficient info about the Edge's family dilemma: U2: cancer cause of Vertigo '06 Tour postponement >>

Oh My God, No More Chef!

2006-03-14T00:28:00.000-05:00

Believe it or not, Chef served as the sane voice in that foul-mouthed fictional town of South Park. At least he's the only one nearest to it.

Now fans are shocked to hear that Isaac Hayes, the voice of Chef since 1997, has quit the show leaving the fate of the ladies' man cum school cafeteria cook hanging.

Hayes, in a statement, says he can no longer take the show's religious bigotry after errr...9 years of making fun of Christians and Jews? Yeah, it just has to stop sometime right?

"Religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored," he continued. "As a civil rights activist of the past 40 years, I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices."

But the show's creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone fired back accusing Hayes of only protecting his own religion -- Scientology. It will be remembered that the show had an episode called Trapped in the Closet, poking fun on Scientology and its members including Tom Cruise.

"(We) never heard a peep out of Isaac in any way until we did Scientology. He wants a different standard for religions other than his own, and to me, that is where intolerance and bigotry begin." Parker told AP.

Fans are now popping up different assumptions on what would happen to Chef. Will he be written out of the show? And, will the duo of Stone-Parker create a new character in his place?

However, much as they are saddened by this unfortunate news, most of the show's followers are unsymphatetic to Haye's cause:

Although I've enjoyed the ride, the show has continued pushing the envelope, and it appears as though Hayes could no longer be aboard. Unlike, for instance, the show's send-up of gays or Catholics, the Scientology episode presented no righteous or sympathetic character who embodies all the positive traits of that group - Scientologists are either con artists or idiots in the episode.

Brainpanonline adds:

"I have always maintained that the reason South Park can get away with saying the things that it does it that it is an equal opportunity offender. Absolutely no group, individual, belief, or otherwise is safe, and that reputation is what has allowed the show to be consistently funny."

So looks like it has become a backlash against Hayes. And let's face it, this will hardly affect South Park nor create any dent on its notriety. What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger. And what kills you today won't matter in the next episode.

Ask Kenny.

More sex & bigotry at Oddjack

Fatfingur's World

2006-03-13T04:51:00.000-05:00

Check out this blog from my friend, Fatfingur, artist, musician, and philosopher at large..

Click this self-portrait to see...

I've Got Mr. Hanky The X'mas Poo!

2006-03-10T03:59:00.000-05:00

First it was the grilled cheese sandwich, then Britney’s pregnancy test, Angelina’s ultrasound. And the most out of this world acquisition of them all, William Shatner’s kidney stone.

Now this GoldenPalace.com online casino has purchased a piece of metal sheet for $1500 because it (allegedly) bears the face of Jesus and the nativity scene. Adding to their collection of, uhm i don’t know, useless junks?

The "sacred" metal sheet was discovered by a hardware employee, who showed it to his friends who countered him and said it’s no Jesus but Jim Morrison’s face that was imprinted on the artifact.

"There is no doubt that an image of a face appears in this item," said GoldenPalace.com CEO Richard Rowe. "Whether it’s Jesus, Jim Morrison, or anyone else is in the eye of the beholder. This item has definitely sparked interest and debate however. It will make a great addition to the collection of religious items we will be taking on tour later this year. People will see and decide for themselves."

So now they’re considered religious items. If that’s the case shouldn’t the church start getting cuts from these holy auctions on ebay?

People who saw a photo of the Jesus sighting on a metal sheet have different opinions. Some totally believe it was indeed Christ, some offered different possibilities:

I don’t know what Jesus looks like, so I really can’t tell you if this is him or not. I’m thinking this is the image of Regis Philbin.

Here’s the point: First, seeing pictures of Jesus on everything from a piece of toast to freeway underpasses to a piece of sheet metal is akin to seeing animals in the clouds. An ordinary imagination can connect those dots, an active one… well, these recurring stories say it all.

I myself looked closely at the pics until my vision went wanko, but I couldn’t see Jesus nor his birthday party. Then again I don’t want to start any blasphemous rumors coz this may be one of God’s sick sense of humor (yeah, yeah I borrowed that from an ’80s song).

BTW, I’ve been looking at my morning discharges lately and I think I’m seeing some famous people’s faces forming on them. Anybody interested?

Feeding Your Friends To The Pigs...

2006-03-08T04:06:00.000-05:00

"You need at least sixteen pigs to finish the job in one sitting.

"So be wary of any man who keeps a pig farm. They will go through a body that weighs 200 pounds in about eight minutes. That means that a single pig can consume two pounds of uncooked flesh every minute. Hence the expression, ‘as greedy as a pig.’"

That’s a quote from the Guy Ritchie-helmed cult film Snatch. The whole of it has mob boss Brick Top explaining how you can get rid of a body without a trace. And I’ll bet my bottom-dollar this German farmer took that advice by heart.

A German farmer confessed to feeding the corpse of an elderly family friend to his pigs and then stealing from his bank account, police said Monday…He let the corpse thaw, dismembered it and fed it to his pigs. He put the parts the pigs did not eat into a sack and buried it.

The police did not charge the farmer for murder, only improper burial and fraud. Because he didn’t actually kill the elderly who died of natural causes in February 2005.

The farmer, some kind of dumbass friend he is, initially put the body in a freezer and told neighbors that his old friend was in a nursing home while he emptied the poor guy’s bank account. Then put him in the swines’ diet.

Dear god, have we really no respect for the pigs at all?

More odd stuff at OddJack

Oscars End with a 'Crash'

2006-03-06T22:18:00.000-05:00

And so it happened. The Oscars has managed to pull the biggest upset of the year by denying Brokeback Mountain the Best Picture award. The small-budget film Crash took home the top prize instead.

Before that, everything else were purely predictable i.e. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Reese Witherspoon getting the top acting accolades. Oh wait, George Clooney was another surprise winner. Loved his speech too.

I've never had much respect for George in his sexiest man alive days, but he's been getting his brain out there so I kinda like him now.

But Ang Lee won Best Director, and this is something I don't quite understand. For me if you win Best Director it should be a total shoo-in that your movie will win Best Picture. Because you're the director and you are the god of your pic, everything in it is your call ('xcept when the producers meddle with it). Therefore if they say you're the best then you're movie's gotta be the best too.

Same with the nominations. I remember a few years back when Baz Luhrmann (did i spell that right) wasn't nominated for Best Director but Moulin Rouge was in the best pic list. I say bets pic and best director nominations should match.

Well anyway, I'm not a Film Academy voter so I have no say in all of these.

Now many are coming up with theories why Brokeback failed to win the Oscar nod. The film's writer, Larry McMurtry thinks Hollywood has finally shown its true face regarding homosexuality: "Perhaps the truth really is, Americans don't want cowboys to be gay..."

Another critic says, "So for people who were discomfited by 'Brokeback Mountain' but wanted to be able to look themselves in the mirror and feel like they were good, productive liberals, 'Crash' provided the perfect safe harbor."

Ouch. That kinda hurt. I wasn't able to see Brokeback yet but I did watch Crash on video. And I can say that the film is deserving to be the Best Pic winner. And that goes for all the other 4 nominees as well.

If Brokeback didn't win this one award doesn't mean all is lost. That its message was snubbed. Maybe it's just a matter of a difference in opinion on who should win a popularity contest.

Besides, isn't it an honor enough to be nominated? Ok, that's really a load of crap...

'Brokeback' Morphs Into a Lingo

2006-03-01T02:33:00.000-05:00

You can call it part of Brokeback Mountain's Oscar campaign. Just two months off from the new year and a group called Global Language Monitor already declared 'Brokeback' as Hollywood's word of the year.

Of course it means gay, fag, or girly-man as Gov. Ahnuld would prefer it.

Paul JJ Payack, the head of Global Language Monitor, said the movie became a cultural phenomenon that generated a million jokes, according to Google. Overall, a Google search shows more than 38 million references to the film, although only about 10 million people saw the movie.

The group placed 'Brangelina' in second place although this hybrid name is soo last year. But we agree it sounds better than TomKat for Tom and Katie, or Vincifer for Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. Really, Vincifer is already stretching our patience a little too much.

A couple of new lingos also recognized by the GLM are 'tuxedo' in reference to the animated flick March of the Peguins, and 'petronoia' the political argot used in Syriana.

Back to our main word, it does seem too early to name it something of the year considering we haven't even reached mid-year. Then again it did convince Willie Nelson to write a brokeback cowboy song That'll claim a spot on E!'s most outrageous happenings of 2006.

And expect more Brokeback-y press to pepper the news as the countdown to the Oscars continues. In case it already slipped your mind, there are other films nominated for Best Pic, one of them has a brokeback theme too. Plus three actor noms for Best Acting played brokeback roles and are hot to take home the golden statue.

Get more crazy Oscar buzz at OddJack

Political D'OH!

2006-02-27T03:56:00.000-05:00

Does this mean Jon Stewart’s fake news show is not at all making a dent on the ridiculous political issues as we suspect it to be? Or was the unsuspecting Illinois’ gov just wasn’t hip enough?

Last week Gov. Rod Blagojevich scratched his head and said "D’oh!" as he revealed to the press he wasn’t aware he was being interviewed for a comedy show even after the Daily Show’s Jason Jones fumbled for his name and unabashedly questioned his sexuality.

"It was going to be an interview on contraceptives … that’s all I knew about it," Blagojevich laughingly told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in a story for Thursday’s editions. "I had no idea I was going to be asked if I was ‘the gay governor.’"

At one point in the interview, a startled Blagojevich looked to someone off camera and said, "Is he teasing me, or is that legit?" [Yahoo News]

His confusion caused even more confusion among his constituents though. Marathon Pundit writes:

"It’s hard to believe that there are people who follow politics closely and don’t know that Comedy Central’s "The Daily Show" is a send-up of real news…Naturally, the governor looked pretty foolish on the show."

And what about his aides? How could they fail to inform the poor gov he’s giving an interview for Comedy Central? Or maybe they didn’t know that either. Or maybe it was a practical joke. Or maybe they’re just stupid.

Jon Stewart is laughing his heart out. This piece of ‘oooppsss’ also boosts his star status as he prepares to take the main stage next week to host the Academy Awards. If his 2-time stint at the Grammys five years ago is any indication, he’d pass this audition much better than David Letterman.

More D'Oh news at Oddjack

Poop Power

2006-02-23T02:45:00.000-05:00

San Francisco, named after Saint Francis the patron saint of animals, has an estimated 240,000 dogs and cats. And these cuddly furry beings produce about 10 million tons of poop every year, which eats up a large portion of the city's landfill.

City officials now wants to look into a technology that will recycle the excrements not in any way edible, but turn it into energy that will power up your home appliances.

Dog feces could be scooped into a methane digester, a device that uses bugs and microorganisms to gobble up the material and emit methane, which would be trapped and burned to power a turbine to make electricity or to heat homes. This technology is nothing new. It has been in use in Europe since 20 years ago and some farms in the US too.

The Poodle and Dog blog thinks San Francisco could have a new way to reduce the U.S. dependence on foreign oil without doing any of that ugly oil drilling. Well, theres the ewwy picking up of the poop.

"The main impediment is probably getting communities around the country the courage to collect it, to give value to something we'd rather not talk about," [CNN] says an environmentalist.

Because as much owners love their pets, they're not too keen on cleaning after them.

Pot-Head!

2006-02-22T04:04:00.000-05:00

A 52-year-old man from the German town of Darmstadt tried in vain to get a refund for 400 euros ($475) worth of what he said was "bad marijuana" from his dealer before turning to the police for help, according to authorities. [Reuters]

So what do you think happened?

The police charged him, of course, with possessing the dope and confiscated his 200 grams of marijuana! All the man could complain about is that "it is un-usable" and insists that the police help him get his money back.

German authorities do allow up to 30 grams of weed for private pot sessions. But even with that small amount in question, no one would be stupid enough to try this act.

Unless you’ve grown dope for a brain.

More crack-heads at Oddjack

Say Deceased...!

2006-02-17T02:02:00.000-05:00

Creepy? Aberrant? Definitely odd. Well, we all know Japanese live under their own bizarro galaxy now these kids are taking technology far down the macabre.

Japan's obsession with camera-equipped mobile phones has taken a bizarre twist, with mourners at funerals now using the devices to capture a final picture of the deceased.

Mourners apparently gather around the corpse and take turns photographing it using their phone camera as the body was being prepared for cremation. I pray to all forms of deities in heaven that this is simply part of the mobile phone craze nowadays and doesn't turn into an age-old tradition.

While many would agree with me that this is plain morbid, others prefer to call it "a form of a memento in the modern age."

But as JaxBlog writes:

"...having a picture of grandma in her coffin lying around the house. What the hell would you do with it? Take it out every now and then to reminisce about the "great time" you had at the funeral?"

Always knew a phone with camera is a useless devise. Now people are coming up with idiotic ways to use it. Maybe so they can justify why they fell for this stupid gadget in the first place?

And I'm creeped out to realize just now that the new wave could be filming the dead thru your video phones. And then there'll be file sharing on YouTube or somethin'. Please spare us of your dead.

More oddities at OddJack

Conan Meets His Facesake...

2006-02-15T01:17:00.000-05:00

It finally happened, Conan Goes to Finland to meet face to face with his lookalike Tarja Halonen. This is the fitting climax to a comedic chapter that has not only gained him laughs but earned him superstar status in this small Nordic nation.

Before meeting with the newly-reelected Finnish president -- and whatever Finn politicians say, Conan gave her the big boost -- Conan told the thousands who waited for him in the cold that he is demanding a cabinet position from Halonen:

"Conan O'Brien is seeking a position in Finnish President Tarja Halonen's Cabinet. During a speech to thousands of Finn's Saturday, Conan expects to be rewarded for his endorsement. He wants to be appointed as Inspector of Saunas."

Conan got a full 15 minutes of Tarja's time and the late night host said he wasn't disappoined. He then sucked up to the leader assuring her that she looks more like his mother than his father.

"I think she (Halonen) was pleased and quite relieved to hear that," O'Brien said.

But if his American fans know him too well, he'd be rendering a different story once he returns to his late night desk. Full of new Finland materials and those Finnish troll dolls he got from Tarja for props.

Also read: Finns Vote For President Conan
check out OddJack.com

French Fries Is Not Health Food, And Stop Turning It To One!

2006-02-14T04:23:00.000-05:00

I say this unabashed persecution of the french fry has gone too far.

McDonald's famous french fries hogs the headlines again. Not a week ago advocacy groups badgered the potato product for containing more fat than its maker previously thought.

Now health-conscious fast food binging consumers are furious upon finding out that McDonald's fries contain gluten from wheat and milk ingredients. Nothing wrong with that except milk and wheat are considered common allergens in the company of peanuts and fish (who's allergic to fish, really?!)

The acknowledgment has stirred anger and some concern among consumers who are on gluten-free diets since it was posted on McDonald's Web site.
"If they're saying there's wheat and dairy derivatives in the oil, as far as anyone with this disease is concerned there's actually wheat in it," said New York resident Jillian Williams, one of more than 2 million Americans with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten...They should have disclosed that all along," she said. "They should never have been calling them gluten-free."

Meanwhile, eDiet.com's Master Motivator named Julia continuously berates McDonald's for lying about its fries' saturated fat content:
"That means the level of potentially artery-clogging trans fat in a portion of large fries is eight grams, up from six, with total fat increasing to 30 grams from 25."

C'mon lady, if you care so much about your food intake no health-conscious eDiet.com padawan in her right mind should be going to McDonald's for a 'healthy' meal. It's fast food and we don't expect to eat soya, we all know that. We're not babies.

Regular fast food worshippers like our food greasy, tasty, and with fat. If you take that away we might as well start flocking to a vegetarian deli or something. You don't go to McDonald's, order fries and expect that you're eating health food. So don't start complaining about it having too much fat. And don't expect it to become nutritious either. That's a load of bollocks.

If you don't like it then don't eat it. Period. So please, leave our beloved french fry alone.

Yes, I'm Angry!

2006-01-03T22:32:00.000-05:00

I consider myself a simple employee here in Manila. And I do pride myself in elevating my position, skills, and knowledge throughout the 10 or so years that I have been working.

In moments of dismay I often wonder why do I stay in this god-forsaken country underpaid and unappreciated? The past Holiday Season have caused our country's the economy to do a little better, all credited to the so-called "Bagong Bayani" (New Heroes) consisting of overseas workers who annually decides to dump their dollar earnings here for their families to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Wait a minute, what about me? What about the millions of Filipino employees who keep the economy afloat all year round? What about us who pay our taxes not always willingly just so the government will have money to feed the poor, to give out services, and to pay these good-for-nothing politicians in Congress?

What about me and a dozen of my friends who resist leaving this place for a "greener pasteur" in foreign lands? Who gives us credit? Who defends our place in history?

This is not sour-graping and I am not discrediting the OFWs. But it can really get very offensive when politicians and those bozos in the media give all praises to a certain sector while totally ignoring another's contribution.

Well this is what I have to say. We choose to stay here because we believe in the capabilities of every Filipino to clean up this mess of a country. While greedy politicians stand on the podium screetching out useless speeches, we work our asses not only to earn ourselves meals three times a day but also to help the companies we work for to keep on thriving so we will have jobs to return to the next day. And because other employees depend on these companies, if they fail so rises the unemployment rate.

We choose to stay here not because we have nowhere else to go but because we love this country and we will not let it go to the dogs without a fight. We choose to stay here because we would rather work toward the betterment of this country rather than let another country benefit from our highly-demanded skills. And because of that we deserve better treatment rather than receiving resentments because we can afford to sip a P100 coffee at Starbucks.

We do not accept the gripes of those pea-brained people who accuse us of being part of the "no-good middle class elite" just because we managed to be successful and able to lift ourselves from drowning in self-pity. No sir, we simply decided to focus all our energy to more important things than looking for faults in this government. Let me ask you, if God decides to be the president of this country, will everyone be finally satisfied?

I do resent the poor for being so self-centered. They want to reap the benefits without lifting a single finger. Free education, free housing, free health services, free food! You're complaining there's not enough of them, well it's because we cannot give you everything you need. You'll have work for the part that's still missing. Those services are not hand-outs, just some things to keep you on your feet.

This country, and the whole world for that matter, do not owe you any favors. That's the most important learning I gained in my 30 years living on this planet. If I want something I will have to work hard to get it, because the world will not give it to me on a silver platter.

I'm not saying all, but many poor individuals are simply too lazy to work. They keep producing children without thinking of their future, worse they depend on their children to work for them. I can't say they're stupid because I believe that stupidity is also the result of dormancy. And they want us to give them everything for free?!

Somebody slap me and give me a break!

And to all those half-witted politicians who pretend to further the poor people's cause, I dare them to give up their pork barrels to give to the impoverished. To stop buying imported SUVs and multiple houses in Forbes and Ayala-Alabang, to empty the contents of their Swiss accounts.

Yes, I dare Erap and his minions to do just that! Stop weeping in front of the cameras claiming abuse from the powers that be. Do not insult our intelligence! The sad part is, the poor indulge in that underdog tales of "inaapi".

Me and my friends have this proposal to the government. Let all those who want to leave the country go and earn their VISAs. Only those who want to stay and work toward this country's progress will remain and just maybe, this place will be much better than the quagmire that it is now.

And then we will see who are the real heroes of this nation.

schmaholic!

2005-10-26T01:50:00.000-05:00

I have a really bad obsession lately. Shopping! I think i caught a severe bug inflicting me of the shopaholic pandemic.

Not that i've never been on a shopping binge before. But lately i can't seem to emerge from a mall without purchasing something. And always i come out with a silly grin on my face. If you don't get it, let me tell you the art (or science? or math? more like pathological structure) of shopping.

You start with a nice pair of shoes. Yuppers, don't they look nice on your semi-pedicured feet. Then you mentally wander into your closet to imagine which of your clothes will go with 'em new shoes. Ah, yes, that shirt would be perfect... But then a shirt on the rack calls your attention. And it's there waving at you like a sore thumb. You try it on...yes it's perfect with that grey pants and 'em new shoes!

After having enough of clothes your imagination enters the world of accessories. And like fate peeking into your brain all along that accessories shop smacks right in front of you...and voila! there's them pair of earrings just like you imagined them. Is this your lucky day or what?!

And just when you have sworn you're not taking out any more penny from your wallet you enter a bag sale. A girl can't seem to have enough bags. Yes, you now know what happens next.

I once saw a documentary on the Discovery Channel discussing how being a shopaholic is actually a mental disease. It's an addiction like alcohol or drugs. Therefore, I am sick! Sick i tell you!

But what's a girl to do? sigh.

sigh. sigh. sigh. sigh.....

Untitled

2005-09-15T01:04:00.000-05:00

for what if it fades away
it was not meant to prosper anyway
and no one will accept even if
we bleed for it
love is subject to everyone's
approval
any less would be to sin
to break the commandment of a
human god
so let us walk the endless journey
see if love is round as the world
if death should find me before
you do
then we are punished
sentenced to a lonely cell
for as long as we lived.

'I'm Too Sexy for God...'

2005-09-06T22:04:00.000-05:00

Apparently there's a very unpopular beatitude, which religions failed to tell us: Blessed are the ugly for God sends wrath to the beautiful ones....

If God created humans based on His image, it should mean we're beautiful. But if we are to believe the natural selection, it may mean that God is a monkey. Ok, the sky is darkening and I feel lighting approaching...

Anyway, what led me to this topic is the news about an Italian religion teacher who was fired by the church because she was deemed 'too attractive' to teach the Word of God. If you'll ask any soul who went through boring Sunday school, it would very much help to understand the Bible if it's not being explained to you by a 'righteous' old person who has no idea what she's takling about.

I mean, if I was God I would stump in sheer horror! "I AM NOT STUPID! I AM GOD!" And if the teacher is attractive, she would be doing the church a big favor by recruiting more and more religion students. Sure they won't hear a word of the Word, but that's better than seeing them thrashing out in pubs or doing drugs.

The teacher in her defense, argued that she dresses normally when she's at work, and dresses the way she likes during her private time. Therefore, she's not showing her boobies while talking about Gomorrah.

However, the church defended itself by saying that the teacher (Caterina Bonci) was fired because she's a divorced woman. And she should not be teaching religion for a Church that does not recognize divorce.

They can't keep a divorced woman, but they harbor priests who commit sexual abuses against little altar boys. There's hyprocricy there somewhere, very hard to fathom...

Oh well, if you're curious just how attractive Ms. Bonci is, and to read more about her story, simply click here.

All I can say is, the Church is in very big trouble if God turns out to be a woman...

Temples, Traffic, and Thai (Street) Food

2005-08-10T02:00:00.000-05:00

Went for a short trip to Thailand last week, for a change of scenery so to speak. And to get a taste of the exotic Thai culture and colors.

Basically the major stop is Bangkok, for the temples with very intricate designs found nowhere else in the world. And for the shopping. Bangkok is a haven for shoppers. The Pratunam area is a simple market place where you'll find the best bargains, especially on clothes. If you want branded items you go to the malls.

Then went for a side trip to Pattaya, a beach area about 2 hours from the city. The beach isn't so attractive-- not those pristine, white sand resorts you would picture it to be. But the night life is thriving. Clubs, bars, hotels enjoy good business as tourists flock here by the hundreds. I feel too old for clubbing or bar hopping. But i went there to see a couple of my friends, so that was really neat.

Along the road you'll encounter temples big and small for the communities to worship every...well every worship day. If they have such a thing. And elephants! Being guided like domesticated pets by their owners.

Back to Bangkok, the people needs more lesson on hospitality, truth be told. This is not to say that they'e not nice. They are, it's just that you feel it's not a natural thing for them to deal with foreign visitors.

If you want an authentic taste of Thai food, go to the streets. The street food are really good, start with the noodles then take a bite on one of those grilled stuff.

One thing that really shocked me about Bangkok is the terrible traffic congestion! Day in and day out. No rush hour, it's traffic all the time (see pic below to see my point). It was hard to comprehend. You waste so much time on the cab. So better find the nearest MRT station if you're in a hurry.

All in all it was a fun trip with two of my best friends. New lessons learned and new knowlegde acquired. One thing always remain true, whenever you travel you learn to appreciate where you come from. And be proud of who you are.

Mofu Tofu

2005-08-01T04:49:00.000-05:00

Holy bean curd, Batman! This is the second time i was hit by tofu.

I'm talking about food poisoning. I couldn't accept that tofu has any bad enzyme in it. But it seems when i eat a whole bunch of it my digestive system explodes! And what a bummer. I love tofu. I'm semi-vegetarian because of tofu. I love Asian food because of tofu. I once thought that if chicken become extinct, I can make do with tofu. Guess chicken extinction is not an option.

I haven't eaten in two days! I'm so hungry :(( And I still want tofu!

Food for the Soul

2005-07-20T04:42:00.000-05:00

Recent medical studies show that dark chocolate is not only good for your health, it's also good for your soul. Consuming it can lower blood pressure because a compound found in chocolate called flavonoids helps the blood vessels work more smoothly, thus, reducing the risk of heart disease.

Why dark chocolate? Because it is richer in flavonoids than milk chocolate since it has more cocoa. Moreso, dark chocolates have lower calories and therefore less fattening.

And why food for the soul? Maybe because eating chocolates generally makes you feel good.

Read more about this story at CNN.com.

Horror

2005-07-12T02:44:00.000-05:00

This is the 1994 Pulitzer Prize-winning photo from photojournalist Kevin Carter taken during the Sudan famine.

The image shows a famine-stricken child crawling toward a UN food camp located a kilometer away. A vulture is waiting for the child to die to feast on its body.

No one knew what happened to the child. Carter committed suicide three months after taking this photograph.

Will the new aide promises from the G8 leaders finally eliminate hunger and poverty? Or will they choose to continue to spend millions in un-winnable war games?

And when will the world finally open its eyes to the inhumane conditions of children around the world, whom we call our future? Think.

The Ankh

2005-07-07T03:08:00.000-05:00

The Ankh is an ancient Egyptian symbol of Eternal Life, symbolizing the joining of the masculine and feminine principal, and the cross of "as above so below".

In Egyptian art, especially that depicting the afterlife, their gods and goddesses are shown holding the Ankh by its loop as if it were a key. It is believed that this symbolically shows the Ankh would open the gates of death on to immortality. It is also known as the Key of the Nile, representing the union of Isis and Osiris.

A Perfect Day for Cappuccino...

2005-07-05T03:33:00.000-05:00

Damn, it's raining again. There's something about the rain that sinks my mood. Don't really feel like going to work, not keen on staying home either.

Wish i could just chill out in a coffee shop, a hundred bucks for coffee and good conversation. Maybe find an interesting enough stranger and talk about the world...the redundancies of life, or anything as trivial as the traffic outside. Share a nice moment with someone you've only met because you wanted the couch instead of those hard wooden chairs that hurt your back.

It would be better if i was in another place, far from my comfort zone, traveling alone and exploring the world. Meet people you'll never see again. Look at signs you find both puzzling and amusing. Take mental photographs and souvenirs.

Life is too long. The hardest part of the day is waking up in the morning. The best part is your first cup of good coffee for the day. Then the rest goes on a downhill. You pray something different happens today, something that will catapult you into a higher level. But most days it's all the same.

I'm stuck in this office listening to dead conversations. I'd give anything to float out of here and find that stranger in the coffee shop. Still the rain wouldn't stop...thank god the day's end is near.

Happy Happy Thought =0)

2005-06-30T23:05:00.000-05:00

Iceland's Gullfoss Waterfalls' massive cascade created this wonderful landscape. Rainbows never fail to spruce up some happy thoughts...even for the cynical mind like mine.

Montage

2005-06-29T05:19:00.000-05:00

Scene from Wim Wenders' On Wings of Desire

The Taj Mahal

In my twisted parallel universe, he is my husband!(Harhar)

Choose Life?

2005-06-28T02:52:00.000-05:00

"To look life in the face, always, to look life in the face, and to know it for what it is...at last, to love it for what it is, and then to put it away..."

-- Virginia Woolf