The North Beckons

Anyone know...

2009-01-29T15:13:00.003+08:00

that thing Stevie does near the end of one of Little Wing's choruses? It's escaped me for close to a decade now. I cannot figure it out. I have an idea of how it's done; I've played something that sounds like it--but I can't use it anywhere else. Somebody help!

Wait! I'm Lost.

2009-01-29T15:05:00.002+08:00

Do you know I'm an overweight, lazy sod who can't be forced to exercise? Are you aware that I view perpetually chucking salty, oily food into my mouth as a religious exercise? Do you have high-tech monitoring equipment lodged into each burger I take in, each bag of chips that inevitably meets its maker the moment it touches my hands? Or has heaven seen fit to send me a lifeline? Yet again, the task involves the mention of weight loss pills.

Kung Hei Fat Choke

2009-01-29T13:47:00.003+08:00

This year, I promise to try and practice writing a lot more. I need to learn how to do it, and how to do it well. I need to find out how the greats did it. Sure, I'll never have their talent but I think if I had an inkling of how they thought, how they always saw things so differently, and how they managed to muster the patience to see their ideas through, I'd be able to produce something that remotely resembles a piece of literature. That's my thing for the year. If squat happens, I'll start learning how to come up with catchy names for night clubs and the sort. Nothing beats seeing something you made in neon signs or, as this is the 21st century, digital signages.

Coming Up Roses

2009-01-05T13:46:00.000+08:00

I think my younger brother's finally starting to find his rhythm. After what seemed like an eternity of goofing around and generally acting like everyone in the entire universe owed him a favor, he's wised up and started a small business. From what I hear, business is good and he's not unhappy about the hours and being his own boss, either. He's got what you may call minor issues with authority figures, as evidenced by the sheer number of jobs he's rifled through (sales jobs, desk jobs, manual labor, you name it) so it's great that he's seemed to have found a niche. I'm thrilled for him. For the first time in a long while, I can see pride in his eyes again and his step has a confident bounce to it. Looks like we're in for a good year.

Glasnost

2008-12-08T16:31:00.006+08:00

How much of an asshole do you have to be before I can call you one?

Well? Judging from the way things are nowadays there has to be a limit, a quota of sorts. So what is it then? The mass murder of millions of Jews?

Look, if we all sat down and tried to really understand that everyone truly is unique, jails everywhere would be empty. If we all were truly special, how come we're in the mess we're in? This is a message I firmly believe must be sounded: there are idiots out there and it's OK to hate the crap out of them.

Tolerance is one thing, but it can't be the cure-all for everything. Like those juvenile delinquents you see crying almost every week on talk TV. Why didn't you think about missing your mother before you jacked that car? Here's the rub: what do the wise sages we call talk show hosts do? They blame the parents. They blame society. They blame the media. But they try to understand things from the point of view of that car-jacking, crack-smoking piece of shit that just blew a one-year old child to pieces. You can't sit down and try to understand that kind of shit. You let the fucker rot in jail.

You can't sit on a fence for extended periods of time, your ass tends to get tired. You can't make excuses for every jackass out there, you'll eventually run out and be left with "to each his own, I suppose." I have loads of respect for people who can say that line sincerely, but I also want to say them that it's OK to call it like it is sometimes. Everything in moderation, so they say, and the same goes for bullshit. There's so much of it flying around these days you'd think heaven was a dairy farm.

You know what I mean, but people say you just can't say it:

Everyone thinks their kids are smart. Everyone. If this were true, how come there are special classes for the slow learners? If this were the case, wouldn't the world be crawling with geniuses by now? If these parents are such keen observers, why is reality TV such a big thing?

You call yourself a poet, musician, writer, photographer; an artist. Yes, you are a/an ______. Yes, you and 25 gazillion other people who all claim the same thing. Ergo, YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL. You'd think with the number of talented individuals out there we'd all be puking enrichment. But we aren't. You're an artist? I say you are full of crap. You want to know why I can say that? It's because I am just an under-achieving bloke with internet access. Beat that, you pretentious prick.

Blogs. Much like this one, no one cares about yours.

That jerk from work. All that asshole does now that he's moneyed and people talk to him is lash out at the world because everyone he knew when he was a little jerk slapped him around. He acts all high, mighty, and popular. He talks about dates with hot women that never really happened. He buys the latest gadgets, always catches up on the latest styles, hypes up Web 2.0, and takes yoga classes. All in an effort to prove to people how he's now got it made. Guess what-- he is still a jerk. A rich, possibly very powerful jerk, but a jerk nonetheless.

Don't get me started on self fucking help. No amount of literature will ever make up for the beatings your parents never gave you. If you feel like no one loves you, you're probably right. It's a bit difficult to even like someone who spouts out cliches and quotes Phil McGraw every 5 minutes. Feel like grabbing the latest motivational bestseller? Try alcohol: it's loads cheaper and ten times the fun.

Maniacs on motorcycles. If these idiots are so keen on dying, I know several thousand law-abiding motorists who can help them.

(List shall be updated.)

A Mugging

2008-12-05T10:33:00.005+08:00

There was a show on maglev trains the other night on the Discovery Channel and the technology and physics that drive the trains are mind-blowing. Imagine; the highest recorded speed of a maglev train is 581 km/h (that’s just over 360 mph, for our American friends)—that’s Baguio and back in under an hour… with only magnets propelling the train! There are numerous ways of applying the technology, but the underlying principle is always the same: powerful electromagnets and their opposing magnetic fields push a 50-ton train from point A to B. I don’t believe performance is an issue but the economics may well be, though. Maglev transport systems are notoriously expensive to build, but, proponents claim operation and maintenance costs are less than those of traditional trains and even buses. One thing’s for sure, however; don’t count on a maglev train ferrying you and your friends to Baclaran anytime soon.

Hand Support

2008-12-05T10:13:00.000+08:00

I’ve not put much thought into it, but you know I think even keyboard-slamming, pencil-pushing us desk jockeys need some sort of disability insurance. Sure technical writing isn’t exactly the world’s most dangerous occupation but what if, fate forbid, I lose a hand or even just several fingers? I can’t very well type using my nose or my tongue now, can’t I? With my life insurance payments almost done, it’s probably a good thing to think about when the new year comes in.

Look, Ma! Just look!

2008-12-05T08:32:00.000+08:00

Lipat Bahay

2008-12-05T08:16:00.000+08:00

It’s now just a few more months till we force ourselves to pack up and move to a new home. Well, we haven’t found one yet, but the hunt has officially begun. Renting is the number one option at the moment; it’s still way too expensive for us to buy a house in a location we really like. I’m pumped but am a bit concerned at the stress levels involved with moving. The last time we moved was four years ago, and that was just from a small studio space so 2 trips using a mid-sized vehicle was did the trick. This next one though, will be massive compared to the last, i.e., moving trucks will have to be used. You wouldn’t believe the amount of junk I have been able to hoard in the last year or two. It’s going to be a blast.

Holy Cra...

2008-11-28T11:34:00.001+08:00

…and the windfall continues. Mr. Xbox 360 just sent me an SMS telling me that it looked like he was close to convincing (read: con job) Mama to get him a laptop. Apparently, he didn’t think the machine I was selling him was good enough, so he took her to have a look at some Sony Vaios. Oh, I’m happy for him, I just simply cannot believe the lucky streak the boy’s been having. All is well, I guess; his kuya and I have loads of fish to take care of anyway.

Lucky Luciano

2008-11-28T11:26:00.000+08:00

The boy is pumped. My youngest brother just got word from an uncle that his Xbox 360 was on its way to Manila. I don’t know what he’s happier about: getting a new game console or not having to ask my permission when he wants to use mine (an old, beat up PS2). He has been doing the rounds, looking for, ahem, alternatively-acquired games at the usual places. He’s prepared his TV rack for the new arrival and I may have even seen him cleaning, I’m not sure. Anyways, it’s just amazing because I honestly can’t remember the last time I was that excited about something.

Solid

2008-11-25T18:47:00.004+08:00

Widyo: Waiter, ako ay nagugutom. Bigyan mo ako ng inyong menu.

Waiter: Yes sir. Just a minute po lamang... ito na pala, pumili na kayo.

Widyo: Ano ba ang specialty ninyo na nakawiwili? Bilisan mo lamang, pare... may tip ako sa iyo.

Waiter: Baboy, at tokwa... may champorado pa. Pansit palabok at may menudo pa. Softdrinks, at hopia; ano po sir ang inyong meryenda?

Widyo: Lomi! Meron ba kayong lomi?

Waiter: Meron po kami, 'yan ang specialty!

Widyo: Sige, bigyan mo 'kong marami...

Waiter: Right away po, sir... may dagdag pang miki.

Widyo: Lomi ang pag-ibig ko, sa araw-araw at gabi...

Waiter: 'Yan din po ang paborito ng aba niyong lingkod.

Widyo and Waiter: Lomi, lomi... fans kami ng lomi. Lomi, lomi... pampagandang lalaki. Lomi, lomi...

Widyo: L-O-M-E... L-O-M-E forever.

Oh Say, I Can't See

2008-11-25T16:03:00.000+08:00

It wasn’t as glorious as he made it all out to be. I received a letter from an old friend who moved to the US to try out his luck yesterday and his wasn’t the happiest of tales. He’d gone there under the guise of visiting an aunt in New York several years back and has since been ducking the INS left, right, and center. He’d gone through a number of jobs in Manhattan and he couldn’t keep one very long due to his, erm technically being a fugitive and all, and was now really in hiding. Apparently, some overly patriotic, newly sworn-in immigrant tipped off the authorities and the poor fellow can’t even look out the window nowadays. It’s a common, but no less tragic, story. Sadder thing is he could have spent his time being of better use to us over here—he’s a doctor—instead of wasting his talent washing dishes and waiting tables albeit in the land of milk and honey. Off to write him back and ask him to come on home.

Never Alone.

2008-11-19T11:03:00.001+08:00

That much, my little one, I surely promise.

Inspiration

2008-11-18T11:43:00.000+08:00

After much head-shaking at the current state of my abdomen-after the same received more exposure than usual during our trip to Boracay. I have made a pledge to not get back in shape (this implies I was actually in shape at some point), but to transform this bouncy tub of lard I call my body into something close to what artists and poets can draw inspiration from. I discussed my plans with the wife and she was very supportive, even promising me an extremely lucrative reward should I succeed. But I feel I must first prepare my body for the horrors that await it. Them diet pills will never see what hit them.

Cruel

2008-11-18T11:14:00.000+08:00

Of all the toys I wanted back then, I wanted nothing more than a pro-spec remote-controlled vehicle. It didn’t matter what it was: an rc helicopter, off-roader, speedboat… anything would have worked for me. We could never really afford one, of course, so I made a promise to myself that when I grew up and made enough money, I’d get one. Twenty-five years and a considerable number of paychecks on, I still can’t afford my most coveted toy. Life sho’ is cruel sometimes.

No Mas

2008-11-05T15:31:00.010+08:00

Ernesto stood wiping the sweat off of his brow, holding a piece of cardboard that passed for a cap—a meager form of protection against the raging midday sun—in one hand, a machete in the other, and a forlorn look on his weathered face. After having served four years as a servant in the Limcauco household to pay off his late father’s debts, he was told that he needed to serve four more. “You still owe us interest”, they told him.

He glanced at the machete, the front gate that lay open, and then finally shifted his gaze to the people lazing about in the courtyard. The family had guests; the famed Dys of Binondo came over for lunch. Still in a daze, Ernesto saw images of bright crimson on pale yellow.

He calmed himself.

“No.”

And then took the first step to freedom.

To Market

2008-11-04T11:49:00.000+08:00

Standing at the supermarket counter last weekend, I could not help but be amazed by how retail POS systems work and by how (I imagine) they make a grocery clerk’s job a whole lot easier. It’s easy to overlook how much technological progress has been made in and by this generation. I can still remember how punching in an item at a cash register meant literally keying in the item’s price. Now, a digital scanner relays the item information in the blink of an eye. Not a decade ago mobile phones were a rarity and with one hand, you could count the number of people who had them. Yet now we are a mobile connectivity-centric culture, unable to do the simplest of tasks without cell phone in hand.

Highway 54

2008-10-28T08:28:00.008+08:00

There's nothing wrong with it; just with how it's being used.

There's nothing wrong with how many vehicles are on it; just with how they're being driven.

How can you run a goddamned country if you can't run 28 kilometers of highway?

Shoeper Star

2008-10-24T11:49:00.000+08:00

My mother’s not quite young, you see, but she still insists on wearing shoes with impossibly high heels and eventually ends up not being able to walk soon thereafter. So I scrounged around, hoping to find something to help her and come across Beautifeel shoes. These guys, by the looks of it, are hell bent on creating a quality product. They’re big on comfort, and as a matter of fact I believe the business was put up because of this one need. I had a quick look at their wares and I think it’s possible that mamma mia will dig their shoes. Off to drag Mama over to the computer now.

This Means You

2008-10-23T11:45:00.001+08:00

Just because I feel it needs re-posting.

...he'd be nothing like me. He'd be good-looking, fair-skinned, filthy rich, popular, and impeccably stylish. He'd be named Giancarlo. He'd also be able to say the things I can't.

"What, now you think that you're the Jesus of cool?"

"Nope. Social status is not contagious. You still ain't one of us."

"Everyone knows you're gay. Well, except you."

"Kurt Cobain was not a poet."

"Your favorite band sucks."

"Listen, you are not sexual harassment material."

"Reading all those books won't wash away that stench of idiocy that hangs about you."

"If you weren't rich, you'd be bloody ugly."

"That raise shut you up, didn't it?"

"If you were THAT good, you wouldn't be here telling me about it."

"Considering that someone's pay should be proportional to their work, you're Bill Fucking Gates."

"You sure have a lot of complaints for someone who's drunk 6 nights a week."

"Yeah I think those clothes would look a lot better on you if you were, say, Caucasian."

"Call me when you start shitting fragrant blossoms. Maybe then I'll finally realize how inferior I am to you."

"Good idea wearing that loud shirt. It takes my eyes away from your face."

"UP, Ateneo, and La Salle are not the eighth, ninth, and tenth wonders of the world."

"Did you know that overpriced coffee can make you sterile? Not that that's a bad thing."

"Any schmuck can wear a tie and look like a banker."

"That's a big-ass SUV. What bully screwed you up in grade school?"

"Why thank you. I enjoy holding doors open for people. It's a hobby."

Por Sale

2008-10-16T11:00:00.000+08:00

With a new machine coming possibly very soon, we’ll need to get rid of one machine we currently have. I’d like to sell it at a slightly higher, but still reasonable, price so we’re looking to do some upgrades before we put it on the market. RAM needs to be upgraded and we’re on the hunt for video cards. Another thing I’m looking to do to raise the computer’s value is to maybe include the OS in the package. We’ll see.

Donkey

2008-10-16T10:52:00.001+08:00

Finally. After my dufus of a brother managed to almost reduce it to a rather large conversation piece, our treadmill is once again up and running (no pun intended). I now have roughly two weeks to shed a considerable amount of weight so I can fit into a pair of trousers I need to wear for a friend’s wedding. It’s close to an impossible task but I have hope: according to Mrs. Killer, something special awaits if I keep exercising till the end of the year. A carrot on a stick, hopefully a carrot you can play video games on.

411

2008-10-14T16:00:00.002+08:00

Stupid task for the day number four hundred and eleven: I need to call my car insurance company and ask them to correct a--hmmmn--small error on the insurance papers. They freakin’ put in the wrong freakin’ license plate number. I'm more than a bit agitated because knowing how these things work, I shall probably have to accomplish approximately thirteen hundred forms and talk to half of the company’s personnel before they can even begin to process my request. Perhaps some CPM is in order?

Management Management

2008-10-14T15:51:00.001+08:00

So that’s what it is: Corporate Performance Management. They’ve got us reading up on performance and process improvement methods over here where I work so I ran into something called “cpm”. Funny this is there were probably a dozen or more non-business related definitions so I spent a fair amount of time digging it up. When I did find what it meant, I did some further researching (read: Wikipedia) and dug up this gem: “A process that helps organizations optimize their business performance. It is a framework for organizing, automating and analyzing business methodologies, metrics, processes and systems that drive business performance.1” It’s a process for analyzing other processes.

I should have become a painter.

1] http://www.bpmmag.net/magazine/article.html?articleID=13966

295

2008-10-14T15:36:00.002+08:00

Talk about sneaky. A friend was telling me how he (almost) got conned into getting an insurance policy from some barstid posing as a promo guy giving away free vacations. So he was minding his own business, my friend was, when from out of nowhere comes this guy telling him he was qualified for an overnight stay in some hotel in Tagaytay. I suppose at this point you could argue that it was as much my friend’s fault as it was Mr. Con-nery’s, but let’s keep at it. So he has my buddy fill out a “registration” form that turned out to be several requests for life insurance quotes. Granted, there was no money involved, the false pretense, in my mind, still qualifies what transpired as garden-variety thievery.

For that Special Offer

2008-10-08T10:28:00.000+08:00

Man I am pumped about moving to a new place. It’s not that I dislike living where I am now, but it has more to do with fresh starts and all, you know? It’s also good having a lump of clay you can mold and shape to what you want, and this is the part I like best. It’s a treat shopping for new things for a new home. I say if Joe (God rest his soul) had issues about being lost in a supermarket, I quite fancy getting lost in between aisle after aisle of cabinets, bathroom installations, tubs, kitchen sinks, garden hoses, and all that.

ATGB

2008-10-08T08:46:00.001+08:00

My youngest brother turned twenty-one this year. I was twelve when he was born so I got the chance to take care of him as a baby. I look at him now and shake my head in disbelief at how fast time goes by: it doesn’t seem like twenty years to me. There were diapers and feeding bottles; then came coloring books and video games; next were basketballs and acne treatment; now, we’re currently at daily shouting matches about him still acting like a child--when I sometimes wish he still was.

The Spoliarium

2008-10-02T11:13:00.003+08:00

You'll be better off seeing it in person. It truly is a sight to behold.

Tree's a Crowd

2008-10-02T08:36:00.001+08:00

I was watching a reality show based on a real estate/house restoration company on the Bio Channel the other night. Things became really interesting when the landscape people they hired decided to move some huge trees to the other side of the garden they were working on. Yeah I know entire towns can now be moved house by house but still, the idea of moving services (of sorts) for trees is an undoubtedly good one. Plus they said that moving a tree takes considerably less time than chopping it down--or planting one and waiting for it to grow.

Ligaya

2008-09-29T15:23:00.004+08:00

Salamat, Tiya.

Sa, kung sa aking pakiwari man lamang, 'di mabilang na pagkakataon na dinampot mo ako at inihele. Sa, kung sa aking palagay man lamang, pag-aaruga na walang iniwan sa marapat na ibigay ng isang magulang. Sa walang-sawang pagtugon sa kahit anumang kahilingan ko: lomi, holen, turon, pandesal na may giniling, kape, ang pagsakay sa tren, at kung ano pa. Sa walang kapagurang paninilbihan sa amin. Wala kayong katulad.

Hindi kita lilimutin.

Ngayon, nang sabihin ng mga mediko na ika'y tila nasa mga huli nang kabanata ng iyong mahirap ngunit makulay na buhay, mahalagang malaman mo na hindi ka nag-iisa. Humihingi ako ng paumanhin kung huli na ang saklolo; sana mapawi ang kung anumang kalungkutan na dinulot ng aking kapabayaan ng aking pag-amin sa 'di masukat kong utang na loob sa inyo. Uulitin ko, wala ako dito kung wala kayo.

Hanggang sa muli nating pagkikita.

Magpahinga ka na, Ligaya. Talaga din namang matatapos ang kahit ano pang hirap; mapapawi rin ang kahit ano pang pagod. Ilang saglit pa ay ginhawa na lamang ang mararamdaman mo, Tiya. Lahat nang ibinuhos mong pagbibigay ay masusuklian na din, sa wakas. Nawa'y bigyan ka ng labis pa sa labis. Pahinga na, Tiya. Pahinga na.

Tour de Farce

2008-09-29T13:00:00.000+08:00

Went on a guided tour of the National Museum (both of them, I guess) last Saturday and while the displays were utterly magnificent I can’t say about the other people on the tour. They were a bit too loud and a few apparently thought the tour fee gave them the freedom to get up close, personal and touchy-feely with the displays. Then there were the mobiles (a couple of them were surely unlocked cell phones forcibly put to service using an unauthorized prov-i-der, ehem) of various shapes and sickeningly, sounds. I tried my best to ignore them but they were just too much of a distraction. I suppose another, less populated, tour is needed.

Los Vagrant

2008-09-25T18:50:00.000+08:00

If you had the money (and all the freaking papers needed) to spend a week in Las Vegas, would you go? I ain’t the city’s biggest fan--it’s too, hmmn Vegas-y and loud for me, but I’d sure go. Assuming the money I had could fill a couple of dump trucks, I’d go just to spend a night each in all them fancy vegas hotels travel show hosts on TV rave about to no end. A hotel is good recreation in my mind; 24/7 air conditioning, fresh towels and sheets when you WANT them, nifty shampoo and lotion bottles for your other trips, and yes--room service.

Fickle

2008-09-25T18:43:00.001+08:00

The Singapore GP’s just around the corner, and while I still think Formula One is bordering on being hypocritical by expressing its desire for eco-friendly motorsport on one hand and hosting a night race that needs to be illuminated like the surface of the sun on the other, I’ll most probably still tune in. I promised myself I wouldn’t watch this race, yes, but a compelling factor in my reconsidering the boycott was a new HDTV a good friend recently bought. Guess another boring street circuit can’t be that bad.

Yo, Vinnie!

2008-09-03T17:39:00.000+08:00

You know what I’d like at precisely this moment? A yard--front or back, it doesn’t matter. All it has to be is outside and green. There are still nights when the sky over our small patch is relatively clear, and I am glad that the wonder brought about by just staring at the heavens has yet to leave me. I’d put in a bench or a rocking chair, probably a small table, and not much else. Yeah, I’d have to get outdoor furniture covers but it shouldn’t be a hassle. Even if it was, quiet nights inducing neck pain would be worth the trouble.

What Most People Probably Do Not Know About Lighting Fixtures

2008-08-29T14:09:00.000+08:00

What most people probably do not know about lighting fixtures, part I: modern sconces, while perfectly alright to use on walls, are typically used in hallways, corridors, and other similar passages because they tend to provide both lighting and points of interest in what can be an otherwise featureless, long walkway. They are generally placed at 3/4 the distance up the wall, and designers try to keep the distance between sconces equal to the distance from the floor. Another commonly used technique is to place the fixtures on alternating sides of the walkway. Experts recommend that the size of a fixture be scaled to ceiling height.

Run Dome Thaw T

2008-08-28T15:18:00.000+08:00

I have absolutely no idea what to write about acne. Well, other than wonder out loud if there is a great deal of pain when one has it. There has to be some pain, correct? I was a pimply kid right about the time all kids get all pimply, but was fortunate not to have been hit full by the pimple train. I say these things will all due respect to those who have it; I feel your pain (so, is there any?) so please do not think I am being an insensitive pr*ck (no pun intended).

Tip # 0917

2008-08-28T14:51:00.000+08:00

Finally purchasing an automobile is one thing, finding the resources for its upkeep is another. See there’s obviously fuel expenses, you’ll also need tools, cleaning accessories, and other bits and bobs that are not necessities, mind you, but still seemingly indispensible. Then there are maintenance costs: oil changes, tune ups, the odd shoddy suspension replacement, and the other 10 tons of car parts you’re likely to need as your vehicle ages. I write as a friend has suddenly found himself with enough money to get a vehicle in the pre-owned range. The basic rule, aside from all the other basic rules, in buying second hand cars is so simple: try to get as new/young a car as you can get. It ain’t fun spending an equal amount for maintenance and monthly payments. Tip courtesy of Bitoy F. Hernandez.

Return Op Da Comeback

2008-08-26T16:17:00.000+08:00

Provided my wife lets me and I am able to get my hands on enough money, I’m going to ask good old buddy Bert to humor a friend and endure another long trip up north with me. I’m thinking Batad or back to Sagada; the Ilocos region is also an option. I prioritize the mountains simply because I’m not a fan of the dry heat prevalent in Ilocandia, but I am not totally averse to the idea of re-visiting the homeland of my ancestors… and bagnet. I’m really pumped: looking forward to the hunt for cheap hotels, the smell of bus terminals, and stop-overs. You all wish me luck, now.

Whole in Juan

2008-08-21T15:22:00.001+08:00

One day I will take up golf. Before he was struck by illness, my late father took a liking to the game and, during the rather brief time he played, he looked like he was having a blast. He was introduced to it by a close friend of his, who was also kind enough to give him a set of clubs and a couple of golf bags to get him started. I still remember the morning we picked the clubs up, my father was as happy as a clam. In the weekends that followed, he was out of the house at the crack of dawn Saturday and would return shortly before lunch brandishing a tan that would make George Hamilton proud. He was pretty good at it--winning a tournament in his skill class. Never are an umbrella, a shirt, and a jacket more valuable than when they are prizes for a golf tournament. It was the happiest Papa would be in a long time.

Rest Easy, LeRoi

2008-08-20T16:24:00.003+08:00

We lost LeRoi Moore yesterday. He died of complications from injuries he sustained when he crashed an all-terrain vehicle. He was a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band. LeRoi was 46.

Classified Odds

2008-08-20T15:03:00.000+08:00

I was viewing a local employment network site the other day and as I saw page after page of job openings and employment offers I was struck at how inaccurate, overly-stated, and outright intimidating most job descriptions are. It’s like whoever wrote them has an agenda that totally disagrees with the task at hand; it’s like they’re trying to scare the living daylights out of applicants. In my mind, a job description should say: “This is what this job requires. If you think you can do it, then go on ahead and try your luck.”, not “You think you can do this? Prove it. Now.” It’s absolutely ridiculous.

Hope

2008-08-07T14:40:00.000+08:00

2012. That’s when I can realistically expect to own a PS3. Darned PS consoles are so expensive over here it’s simply absurd for someone of my financial standing to even think of getting one the same year it goes out. My brothers and I got our hands on a PlayStation four years after it was released. I was able to buy a PlayStation 2 six years late--I’m lucky they’re still making games for it. I’ve got roughly four years. Better start saving up.

Bravo, Felipe!

2008-08-07T11:45:00.000+08:00

Opening laps of the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix. Coma meus shorts, Lewis.

Donald Dog

2008-08-07T11:34:00.001+08:00

We lost Donald in the last few days of 2007. I can’t say that his passing was not a relief to us all, but only because he was finally afforded some rest. I’ve always maintained that getting a dog for my brother was a mistake because it was painfully obvious that our youngest sibling lacked the ability to take care of himself--much less another. Still, we took Donald, or Ernest, as the pet store crew called him, in. I tried to help take care of him as much as I could; getting him groomed, buying dog food and other pet supplements, training, etc. till it was time for me to move out. Things went downhill for the Naldo then. He was always sick and his owner got into the habit of forgetting he existed. It was simply too late to do anything for him. Still, it was good he went, if only due to the fact that his passing meant an end to his hardship.

Double Trouble

2008-07-31T10:12:00.003+08:00

I'm sorry I did not study you as much as I should have. It was an education I needed, but apparently did not want enough. Now I find myself wanting. It was a sublime act of stupidity--assuming I knew enough; believing I had taken all I had to. Late nights could have had more meaning had they been devoted to discovery; energy better spent had it been on hitting nickel.

Now, as I struggle to find something I fear is impossibly lost, I look to you for direction.

27 days to the day of your untimely death eighteen years ago.

Salut, Stevie.

Take Two

2008-07-31T09:15:00.004+08:00

Leptomania

2008-07-30T16:37:00.000+08:00

Putting on my trousers has become a struggle again. So has clipping my toenails. I have not been back to see Mang Dionisio since the move here to the new office. It’s been frustrating; I’ve been coping with stress (and frustration) by turning to Mr. Lay and all his wonderful products and the result, needless to say… so I won’t say it. I swear to God a bottle of Leptovox isn’t a distant possibility in my near future.

Lesson Number 361

2008-07-24T10:45:00.006+08:00

Sunrise doesn't last all morning
A cloudburst doesn't last all day
Seems my love is up and has left you with no warning
Its not always going to be this grey

Sunset doesn't last all evening
A mind can blow those clouds away
After all this, my love is up and must be leaving
Its not always going to be this grey

None of life's strings can last
So, I must be on my way
And face another day

Now the darkness only stays the night-time
In the morning it will fade away
Daylight is good at arriving at the right time
Its not always going to be this grey

All things must pass
All things must pass away.

George Harrison, All Things Must Pass

Have a listen here.

Bust A Move

2008-07-24T10:00:00.000+08:00

People are always moving somewhere else. This is why I think I’ve finally decided on the “or bust” business for me: a moving company. I believe that if I put one up, “Move On Up” (one of the possible names, also “Relax, See Us Moving”) will attain meteoric success and will ultimately lift me out of the gutter. I’m starting a checklist now, and so far I have: 1) a multitude of boxes 2) probably 2 or 3 moving trucks. That’s about it for now. I shall fill you all in as the list grows.

Immagini

2008-07-23T11:09:00.006+08:00

Capones Island and Anawangin Cove, Zambales, Philippines

Copyright Sherwin Ian S. Reyes

Square Rooms

2008-07-23T10:47:00.000+08:00

An update about the bedroom design post: Bert's designer friend called me and said the first step was finding stuff I liked so that he'd have something sort of a "base" look and feel to work on. So I hit the Net and started my search. I don't like fancy or overly noisy bedroom furniture. I want things neat, simple, and angular. I want bedroom furniture like these:

Those guys (company I got the photos from) have great-looking bedroom sets. They're just what I want: nothing loud, nothing bulky, nothing with curves on them. I can't afford their stuff, though, so I'll have to look for whatever looks the most like what they have. Off to the hunt, then.

Secret Garden

2008-07-23T10:31:00.001+08:00

My mother had nothing to do over the weekend so that meant two days of general cleaning for all of us. She had her eyes set on her garden this time, so we were off early Saturday morning to get some indoor planters and decorative planters for her beloved plants. These were the only items on her list, so when we got back from the garden supply shop, we naturally had window box planters as well.

It was a day of tilling the soil soon after. We were all covered in dirt and fertilizer by day's end. She marked strategic locations around the house and had my youngest brother place an indoor planter at each point. My other brother was tasked to set up a decorative planter in her office. The eldest son was assigned setting up a window box planter on each of the house's four windows.

We were absolutely spent and Mama, sweet woman that she is, got us all the pizza we could eat. Still, I covertly checked her planner to make sure she had some work to do over the next five weekends.

Revolution from My Bed(room)

2008-07-17T08:46:00.000+08:00

I went over to Bert's last night for the formal launch of his new business. My friend the Medical Technologist is now in the construction industry. He put up a small construction company with an engineer friend of his and I must say they look pretty solid this early. As I was chatting up their in-house designer our talk naturally went to design ideas and concepts and I asked him for some advice regarding bedroom furniture.

My daughter still sleeps in our room so you can imagine it's a bit of challenge arranging our stuff with function, form, and a 3-year old in mind. The designer suggested that I look at some modern bedroom furniture or possibly some contemporary bedroom furniture because these had a good mix of aesthetics and form, plus a tendency not to eat up too much space.

I guess he's right. Most of the furniture in our room are hand-me-downs from our parents; this of course means we live somewhere between 1977 and 1989. Time for an upgrade.

Dear Papa J

2008-07-16T10:53:00.003+08:00

Sandy's bedtime prayer last night:

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Papa Jesus, please bless my Mama, my Papa, and don't let me get sick. Also, please make the blinds clean... and then Mama will say, 'Naku, do not touch the blinds because they're dirty and you will get sipon again' and then I will say, 'No, the blinds are not anymore dirty', and then Mama will say 'Why?" and then I will say 'Because Papa Jesus cleaned them.'

Please bless my classmates and thank you for my toys and my food. Good night, Papa Jesus."

I was in stitches so bad I could've just come out of an operating room.

Billy the Bee

2008-07-16T09:40:00.003+08:00

My daughter is learning how to read and to help her, I thought I'd make her specific letter-themed bedtime stories. We are on week "B" .

Once upon a time, in a bright and sunny clearing deep in the woods, there lived a little boy bee named Billy. Billy had two favorite things in the whole, wide world-- bread and bananas. One day, Billy came home from school really hungry. He went to his Mama.

"Excuse me, Mama. I'm very hungry; may I please have some money to buy some bananas and bread?"

"Why, of course, darling. But we have some bananas here, so all you need to buy is some bread. Here's some money... oops, that may not be enough. Better go to your Papa and ask for some more money, dear."

"Ok, Mama. Thank you."

So Billy went to his Papa. Papa Bee was in the living room reading a newspaper.

"Excuse me, Papa. May I have some money to buy some bread, please? Mama gave me some but she said to go to you for some more."

"Sure son, here you go. Oh and while you're at the baker's, can you get us some butter and biscuits, also?"

"Thanks, Papa. I'll make a list and then be on my way. See you later!"

"Take care, Billy."

Billy grabbed his blue bonnet and was soon out the door. On his way to the baker's, he ran into one of his friends, Barry.

"Hiya, Barry. What are you up to?"

"Hey, Billy. I'm actually on my way to town. My Mama sent me to the butcher's to get some bacon. My Mama loves to eat bacon for breakfast. How about you?"

"I'm on my way to town, as well; I need to go to the bakery to buy some bread, biscuits, and butter. Hey, why don't we go together?"

"Great idea, Billy! Let's go!"

The two went on their way. On the road to town, as they came to the bend before the big banyan tree, someone suddenly jumped in front of them.

"BULAGA!"

"Anubayun!", shouted Billy.

It was their pal, Barry. They were soon all laughing.

"Hahahaha! Good one, Barry. You got us good!"

"Haha! Yeah I sure did, didn't I? By the way, where are you two off to?"

"To town on some errands. You?"

"Hey I'm on my way there too. Gotta get some blueberries for my Mama. I also need to get a couple of balloons for my baby brother, Bobo."

"Fantastic! Let's all go together, then!"

After some time, the three of them reached town. They went to the baker's first. Billy went in and asked Bert the Baker for some bread, biscuits, and butter. They then went to the butcher's. Benny went in and asked Bob the Butcher for a pound of bacon.

"How about some beef, Benny?", Bob asked.

"No, thank you, sir. All I need is some bacon."

When they were done at the butcher's, they headed over to the town market. There, Barry got some blueberries and two balloons for his brother: he bought one blue balloon, and one brown balloon.

With their errands done, the three bees started on their way back to their homes. They soon saw another good friend of theirs-- it was Bart, the bird.

"Heeeeeeyaaaa fellas! Where are you going?"

"Hey, Bart! We just came from town and are on our way back to the village", the three replied.

"Let me give you all a lift, then. You three hop on may back and I'll have you home in no time."

"Wuhoo! Thanks, Bart!", said Billy.

Billy, Benny, and Bart got on Bart's back. Bart spread his wings and with a few flaps, they were in the air, flying at great speed. The boys felt the wind on their faces. They were having a lot of fun. They soon reached their village, bid Bart goodbye and headed to their homes.

Barry got home and gave the blueberries to his Mama (she was making blueberry cheesecake) and the balloons to Bobo. Bobo was very happy.

Benny got home and handed the bacon to his Mama. She told him they were going to have bacon and eggs for breakfast the next morning.

Billy got home and gave his Mama the bread, biscuits, and butter. She sliced the bread and put out out the bananas. Billy then called his Papa and then they all ate their afternoon snack.

The end.

National Hero

2008-07-15T09:51:00.003+08:00

It's a thankless job, but someone has to do it.

I am tired of writing.

2008-07-11T15:25:00.001+08:00

Exhausted, as a matter of fact.

Jack Squat

2008-07-10T15:15:00.001+08:00

Are free top level domains still available somewhere? They were all the rage a few years back but I'm not sure if you can still get them nowadays. I ask because a college buddy just put up a construction business and he is looking into the idea of getting a web site put up. Poor guy has no idea what he needs to do. Well, he knows he needs a web site designer.

He knows squat beyond that. Nothing about domain registration, zero about web hosting, and zilch about how to build up site traffic. Well, he did say he had read about e-mail marketing but all he knew about it was you marketed via e-mail. I'm no web wiz but I've got an obligation to help the guy out. Hence, the question about free TLDs. I was thinking of saving him several hundred pesos till he gets his business going full tilt.

Anyone with a clue let me know. Danke.

Help

2008-07-10T14:59:00.002+08:00

My friend Manolo is one of those sad stories often presented to us as templates of what not to do with one's life. He was born into a difficult life and had to fend for himself at an early age. He was thus exposed to the not-so-sunny side of life before he even hit puberty. He was already a candidate for substance abuse treatment by the time he was 14, and was fortunately taken in by a social worker for drug rehab before the poison he constantly pumped into his system did its worst.

He got out and remained clean for a couple of years and then took to drinking. It wasn't the occassional drink but gallons and gallons of whatever he could find. Then my friends and I met him. We couldn't at first, but as our friendship grew we subtlely suggested that he consider alcohol rehab. He eventually agreed but sadly, had a difficult time with his addiction to alcohol. He was let out after only 3 months and was sober for only half that time. He was forcibly taken back in and we never saw him after that. Manolo was a tragedy; he was a decent human being--a truly good person deep down. He just made some really bad decisions.

Having seen what substance abuse can do to people, I'm glad there are people who go out of their way to help those who desperately need it. The world doesn't need more Manolos.

David's Own

2008-07-04T16:31:00.000+08:00

Tiyo David is upset. He is absolutely livid. The man is a grease monkey obsessed with bikes. I swear he bleeds 2T oil. All his life he’s been saving up for the bike he says “will be the ultimate one for me, I will ride nothing else.” So he reaches his financial target, and after selling a couple of his old bikes, he has enough for a ride and then some. He goes to Japan to get his bike. Now, see, because he had to save up for the plane ticket, as well, all he could look at were used Harleys. Now back to our story. He gets the bike and jumps through flaming hoops to get it home. On his first trip out, he notices a sign not far from his house: Pre-owned Harley Davidsons, call 865-XXXX.

May, 1985

2008-07-04T16:07:00.000+08:00

Up at 9am, a quick bath, and some orange juice. I dash to the garage and take off the old shower curtain that is my bike’s blanket. I look at the old girl: tires, drive chain, bolts and screws. Chain needs some oil. I shout out a quick goodbye and open the garage gates. It’s absolutely beautiful out. On the bike in a flash, I rush out and give my mother’s wind chimes a quick tap for a safe day ahead. I feel the sun on my face. The summer sunshine is blinding.

Treading the Mill

2008-07-04T15:50:00.000+08:00

I can do it. I can do it. For the past month I have been coming up with a rather impressive number of excuses not to drag my sorry, stout behind onto our treadmill. Headaches, pain in various parts of the body, a lack of sleep, energy conservation, malaise, all the socks are in the laundry, music player’s at the office and running’s doubly difficult without any sort of distraction; you name it, I’ve probably used it as a cop out. But that’s over. I am a changed man. I shall exercise tomorrow morning.

If I wake up at exactly 6.47am.

Globetrotter

2008-07-04T15:40:00.002+08:00

Late last night as I was trying to sleep, I went on one of my usual fantasy binges and thought of the places I’d like to see even once before I kicked the bucket. Majority of them are in Europe (well, Italy): Maranello (pilgrimage), Monza, Florence, Milan, Venice, Palermo, and Rome. I’d also like to hit Geneva, Vienna, Amsterdam, Spa, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Prague.

Across the pond, there’s Liverpool, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and maybe Cardiff. The North American leg includes Montreal, New York (GO YANKS! GO KNICKS! We'll be back on our feet real soon...), New Orleans, Memphis, Chicago, and Jackson (MI).

On the whole I’d like to follow the Formula 1 circus around the globe and possibly spend some time in New Zealand as a breather. Here in the PI? Any place north and 4,000 feet above sea level.

Blow by Blow

2008-07-03T15:50:00.000+08:00

A friend who’s been in the States for the past dozen years or so is coming home for a visit this Christmas. She’s been asking me about what people here are wearing nowadays. She could have asked a tree and gotten a better response. Anyway, she was curious about the possibility of buying some clothes and other stuff there and re-selling them here. She’s really excited about re-selling Blowfish shoes over here because she thinks their shoe styles will catch on pretty quickly.

I jokingly suggested she open a store called Bonnie’s: Blowfish Women’s Shoes, Blowfish Men’s Shoes, and Blowfish Sashimi. She managed a quiet giggle, but was clearly not amused. To make up for my insolence, I have been tasked to actively peddle her wares when she gets here. Watch this space. Wahoo.

The North Beckons Still

2008-07-02T09:35:00.003+08:00

I still dream of it. I still dream of freedom. I still long to live in the mountains. I still feel a yearning to be draped in mist, swallowed by the fog. There I can learn. There I will grow. There I will end.

Yes, the north still beckons.

Ees Beeg

2008-07-01T16:27:00.000+08:00

Adnuges-Onam did not pop up out of the ground overnight. Eleanor McKenzie’s money, every single cent in a recently estimated 8.9 billion dollars, did not fall out of the sky and onto her lap. Ellie Mac, as only her closest friends call her, is not living the dream, she IS the dream. Having worked her way through college, she landed her first job as a North Carolina health insurance agent. She soon grew tired of the drudgery and with the small amount she was able to save, put up a thrift shop that specialized in second-hand goods. She called it Adnuges-Onam (she won't say why to this day). Even she swears she doesn’t know how it happened, but in a mere 16 months, her small corner store had become a chain of 24 branches nationwide. The decade that followed saw nothing but growth. The 1600 dollars she first invested is not even close to a quarter-percent of her net worth today. Now that, ladies and gentlemen, is making it big.

Old Timer

2008-07-01T11:34:00.000+08:00

My aunt is what you may call a technoboob. Yes, she has a mobile phone and she can work a computer, but her knowledge of things related to technology is somewhat limited. She thinks email is some expensive service that needs an extremely bureaucratic application process, her machine’s still on Windows 95 “because she may not be able to open her files if she changes to a new system”, she once believed that a phone’s battery life was equivalent to its service provider’s call and SMS credits, and to her, laptop memory is a recollection of one’s mobile computer.

Pack Rat

2008-07-01T10:50:00.001+08:00

It was inevitable. The hoarder that I am; my junk has finally caught up with me. I was asked to clean out the closet (and other various spaces around the house) last weekend and I was surprised to see that all my precious belongings put together occupied a medium-sized room. No one was pleased. I was asked to sort and throw away--something I did not particularly like. I refused and came up with a compromise: I am currently mulling having custom boxes made for my treasures so that they may raise the ire of more practical folk no more.

Up In Smoke

2008-06-26T13:06:00.000+08:00

I once met someone who, when he did things, did them with utmost conviction. If he did something, he’d go all the way. He decided to buff up and go all Schwarzy on us one time and he went to the gym daily for 8 months. Daily. Every-frickin’-day. During that period he refused all fat, sugar and excess carbohydrates. That meant plain, unflavored oatmeal once a day for 240 days. Story: he recently went vegan and, true to form, plunged into the lifestyle heart and soul. In his commitment to stay true to the movement, he purchased some vegan shoes online. When he got them, he promptly schooled us lesser, planet-destroying mortals; proudly claiming that his shoes were made from hemp and recycled tyres. It had become rather tiring by the end of the second hour, but amusement finally came when one of his stoner friends tried to smoke his shoes. There behind him sat Cheech sans Chong, hemp shoe in one hand and cigarette lighter in the other. Funny that.

Yes, You.

2008-06-26T12:36:00.000+08:00

Things I’m sure that bastard in the cubicle next to yours needs:

Deodorant
Mouthwash
Frontal Lobotomy
Acne Treatment
Less money
The realization that he/she isn’t hot
A belief in the possibility that he/she can make mistakes
Recognition that not everything one finds in the Internet is undisputed fact
A pet pig, or anything else that, like him/her, has the tendency to crap where they eat
A new job somewhere far, far away

May I Take Your Order?

2008-06-26T12:24:00.001+08:00

Like wanting to write when you can’t even read. Like wanting to speak when you don’t even know how to listen. Like wanting to hop, skip, and jump when you have yet to walk. Some things just necessarily follow a certain order. No amount of understanding and tolerance will free you of this burden. Like the artist who claims an affinity for abstract work, when he has yet to paint a face, a form, a figure. Certain things need other certain things at some other certain time. Like the neighbor who makes sure everyone sees the plasma tv mount delivered to his doorstep, when no plasma TV delivery occurred.

The Boxer

2008-06-26T11:59:00.000+08:00

Do you remember being a kid and finding nothing more fascinating than a pile of boxes? I can. Boxes could be made into anything. Cardboard is pretty good material for a fort, a submarine, a tank, a pool, and just about anything else, really. A roll of tape made things even all the more interesting. I remember an Uncle who worked abroad came to visit once and with him came six or seven shipping boxes full of chocolates and other goodies. The other stuff was neat but I clearly recall wanting the boxes more. I had quite a number of matchbox cars then and I could not wait to get them into a small world of their own. Boxes. Childhood. Bliss.

Love Me

2008-06-26T11:42:00.001+08:00

I will buy me a bottle of Hydroxycut so I can lose weight in a quick and painless manner, thereby gaining an amount of self-esteem proportional to the how much weight I lose. Losing all this weight will also allow me to wear more fashionable clothing, thereby gaining access to the highly exclusive club of the self-expressing stylish folk. I am hell bent on joining this elite and very discriminating group, as everyone else is part of it. I will drink all the fat-burning tablets I can. Society hates the fat. Beauty cannot reveal itself beneath numerous layers of blubber. I want to be thin because I do not want to be ugly anymore.

FS

2008-06-26T11:33:00.001+08:00

The company computer lease program I’m on will end in a couple of months, so I’ve been considering putting my machine up for sale. It’s a Compaq V3000 series (black and oh-so stylish unlike its stooge of an owner) laptop, around a year-and-a-half old. It’s got 80GB of storage, 1GB RAM, and is powered by a core duo processor running at 1.73 GHz. I can’t throw in the OS, though, as I’ll still need it. Stay tuned if you’re interested.

Straight Flush

2008-06-26T11:21:00.000+08:00

I’ll be 33 in 6 months. That’s how old Jesus was when he died on the cross and saved a species. Me, I can’t even save myself. I’ve no hard evidence but I’m fairly certain there’s something wrong with me. I don’t feel sick or anything, but I’ve noticed a serious decline in my energy level, my ability to stay focused, and what was once a rather remarkable ability to keep at something till I got it absolutely down pat. Maybe it’s all in my head. Maybe with all the junk I so religiously put into my system, things are at critical mass. Maybe I need a serious, industrial-grade colon cleanser.

Game On

2008-06-18T12:56:00.000+08:00

I got a Playstation 2 six years after the product was released. It was that expensive locally; and, well yes, when it became available here, I did not have that kind of money just lying about. So there, more than half a decade after the product was released, I bought a PS2... second hand.

Being late and all presented its difficulties. It's a bit challenging finding good PS2 games nowadays. Most of what I see when I go game hunting is either a renamed copy of an exact same game, or some game based on a movie. Finding driving/driving simulation type games is particularly tricky. I once went through five shops without finding one.

My guess is people tend to pay more attention to what's current and forget, for lack of a better term, the "retro" market. Stores are now packed with PS3 games and XBox games and Wii games and what not, with only a minute percentage of games for consoles from years past. Any chance anyone know of something like this here?

Kansas

2008-06-18T11:39:00.000+08:00

My first encounter with a missing dog was when I was about six. We all woke up one morning and found a small brown dog huddled beneath my father's car. The poor thing was spooked, tired, and hungry. We took him in and started calling our neighbors to ask if they knew of anyone who lost a dog recently. Three days later someone came knocking on our door, looking for his lost dog. We handed over the pooch and all was well.

I lost my own dog several years later and, unfortunately, the ending was not so happy. I never found Bandit. I was sad for a good bit of time so I understand the trauma of people who have missing pets. It's not exactly a pleasant experience but there's hope: These guys should be able to help out.

Tag ni Bel

2008-06-17T15:45:00.008+08:00

Mga naitawag nang pangalan o kung ano pa man sa iyo at kung sinu-sino ang tumawag sa iyo ng mga ito.

Papa - Sophia
Butchel - Tatay ko
Sher - Nanay ko at Misis ko when talking to someone else, referring to me
Apung - my Lola Anding
Kuya - my brothers JP and RV, my cousins
Kuy - my cousins
Kuya Sher - my cousins
'Tchel - Tita Bebot
She (short e) - Blaise, Ritchie, Berto, Daniel, mga tiga SPS7, karamihan ng kilala ko
Sherwin - lahat ng taong kilala ko
Ian - my 4th grade Math teacher
Negro/Negern/Nog-Nog - mga tiga SPS7
Sherwinian - some CAT officer in high school who did not know of the space between words
Manong - Rey
Aweng - mag tiga Palawan
Mr. Sherwin Ian Reyes - teller sa UCPB
S 'Travaganza (HipHop/'Hood name) - my posse

Tagging Joy, Gene, Candy, Tabel

1-3-1

2008-06-17T15:20:00.000+08:00

One of the building's security guards asked me this morning if I wanted to try my luck and place a bet on who'd take the NBA Championship. I'm actually following the series as a neutral (who's slightly partial to Boston, if only because I think Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce play the game beautifully and that they've earned their dues and deserve if but one championship) but was actually tempted to put a hefty amount on the Celtics ending the series tomorrow.

It's been the buzz the past couple of weeks; everyone is suddenly an analyst, and each analyst's opinion is beyond reproach.

Flashback to the Pacquiao-Barrera fight. I got to talk to three ex-boxers and asked them how they thought the fight would go, expecting in-depth analyses and extremely insightful points of view given that they were also prize fighters once upon a time. It was a unanimous decision: "Mahirap eh. Hindi mo masabi. Kahit ano pang galing (ng isang boksingero), 'pag tinamaan... Hindi mo masabi. Mahirap."

The three of them were former Philippine champions in their respective weight classes, each with more than a decade's experience in the ring and they could not provide a definitive answer. They all believed Pacquio could walk through it easily, but still, they would not say he'd actually win it.

Now back to our armchair ballers. I'm just amazed at how sure they are of who'd take the crown and how they'd take it. I personally know someone who's not even picked up a ball, much less play the game well but lo and behold-- several years of cable television and he's Red effing Auerbach.

The Celtics will be champions tomorrow.

Maybe.

Mahirap eh.

Copy Furnish

2008-06-17T14:20:00.000+08:00

My mother always told me that having good credit standing was of utmost import if one expected to live a reasonably comfortable middle-class life. She constantly reminded me that we of the working class would never have enough cash around to buy the things we would sometimes want, or more importantly, need. That's where loans, etc. came in. And, of course, you had to be worthy of lenders' time and money.

It doesn't end there, once capable of lending, you'd need to be wise enough to not fall into debt as more than enough people often do. A friend once got a bit carried away and maxed out 4, count 'em--4, credit cards with no idea how she'd be able to pay back what she owed. She's now in dire need of credit repair. Another friend who works in the US told me recently that debt problems are so rampant over there that there are now companies that specialize in credit repair services. The companies provide assistance and guidance to people who need to repair credit standings and generally be free from debt.

A good lesson someone taught me about credit was: use it as seldom as possible and when you do, pay straight.

Seven, Eight, Wine

2008-06-13T15:50:00.001+08:00

Anyone out there a wine connoisseur? I like my alcohol but I am still very much a complete idiot when it comes to vino. I grew up hearing “red is for meat and white is for fish” then some chef on the food network says these rules or guidelines no longer hold water. I suppose that sums up my education on wine, essentially zilch. I like drinking it because it tastes good (I always help my mother clean up her wine rack after she gets dozens of bottles during the holidays--she does not drink) but I’d like to find out what “dry” tastes like or what actually coats one’s palate when the lady says something does hers. Drop me a line if you can help. Danke.

Is a Kingdom Ruled by Boars a Boredom?

2008-06-13T12:21:00.000+08:00

The most frustrating way to combat boredom is to browse around the internet for stuff you can’t afford anyway. At least that’s what I do. I’d check how much a Playstation 3 would set me back, or there was some way possible to get my hands on some gear for my camera.

The deepest holes I dig are when I come across a wiki-type product catalog. Say I’m checking out the PS3; there’s the review staring me in the face and it’s littered with links to PS3 gear: PS3 controllers, PS3 games, etc. Then when you get to the linked page, even more stuff is there. It’s utterly frustrating and I usually get off my chair a shade of green darker but it’s OK. At least I constantly beat boredom.

Where Art Thou?

2008-06-13T12:02:00.001+08:00

I’m not sure I have the amount of self discipline required, but I am nonetheless willing to consider having a stay-at-home job if the opportunity comes around. Freelancing is of course an option, but you’d need tons of exposure though to get word of your services out. Numerous social networking sites can help you, but it’s better if you can get on a network/directory type of site. That’s where Lookup Page comes in.

Lookup Page is an online directory that allows its users to upload their professional online profiles and essentially have access to a worldwide network of potential clients. A free account is available, and this includes a free profile page (basically a free website) where you can post information about the services or products you offer. This free account is a good deal for people like me who have yet to decide whether to go aggressive with online marketing; you get exposure without losing anything.

Kink, Right, 249 in 5th

2008-06-11T16:02:00.004+08:00

Dream on, bud.

Shoot!

2008-06-11T15:43:00.001+08:00

A friend is currently looking for a digital camera. The thing is, he knows absolutely nothing about digicams and to be honest, I really can’t be arsed to constantly provide tips and opinions via SMS so I went online to find some sort of facility that would help him find the best digital camera for his needs. I found these guys.

I like the way they narrow your options down to what should best suit your needs. They do this by asking you questions about the photos you like taking, camera size preference, features you want in a cam, brand preference, well, you get the idea. In the end, you get opinions on specific products and I mean specific. You can choose from the best compact digital cameras, the best travel digital cameras, the best wide angle digital cameras, etc. Off to let Mr. Camera Shopper about this now.

Bees Knees

2008-06-11T11:28:00.000+08:00

On a recent trip up north, the wife and I decided to stop by a café for afternoon snacks. As we sat there, sipping coffee and munching on cake, a gentleman from the table next to ours asked if we could spare him a few minutes so he could tell us all about Direct TV. I remembered seeing posters strewn all across town advertising DirecTV or DirectTV or whatever it was really called so I was really curious at that point so we agreed. Besides, to a guy, anything related to the letters T and V were always worth one’s time. He also seemed a decent enough person and was extremely polite in asking.

Direct TV, I learned, was simply a TV directly linked to the satellites that broadcast the feed distributed by cable TV companies. So by going direct or going SAT TV (Satellite TV), you “eliminate the middle man” and get access to TONS more channels. Sure, you may ask, “what do you need 500 channels for?” I tell you: you never know when you‘ll run out of stuff to watch, so it’s better to have channels in reserve.

The cost is a bit of a concern though, particularly the initial setup/installation fee. But in terms of value for money, the monthly fees are reasonable: you simply get more for what you pay for. Overall, this entire direct TV deal is quality stuff, but only if you think TV is better than sliced bread and you’ve got extra cash floating around.

Rear View

2008-06-10T10:15:00.001+08:00

If the earth is a living organism then can mankind be seen as its malignant tumor? Is there really a dramatic increase in people stricken by cancer or is the upswing in information dissemination and awareness? Is something out there trying to get rid of us? Is this retaliation? Did we do this to ourselves? Is the world a reflection of us or are we more a reflection of the world and its sorry state? Does Mama Earth need its colon cleansed? Will we find ourselves in some plastic bag dumped somewhere? Will the term “biohazard” then present some bitter irony?

Neither Snow Nor Rain

2008-06-05T12:39:00.003+08:00

Never knew mailboxes were big business and I thought the same about lawn ornaments (or curbside décor, as I just found out) until I ran into some people that offered what looked to be each and every single type and style of mail-receiving implement available. Single units, multi units, wall mounted, locking, column, post, slots. I won’t look at a mailbox just a mailbox from now on.
Funny thing is, after you do pay attention, you kind of understand how a post receptacle accentuates a home. It is some sort of welcoming piece, after all; your front lawn ambassador, so to speak. I’m actually thinking about our mailbox (a rusty tin can) as I write this. Guess we could do better. Oh one last thing, these guys I’m talking about have an affiliate program going on. People living in lawn-rich neighborhoods may want to have a look-see.

Personification

2008-06-05T11:36:00.000+08:00

While browsing ‘round the ‘Net for some books for my little princess the other day, one of the pages listed in my search engine’s results page grabbed my attention. The company offered a rather interesting spin on what was otherwise not a new idea: personalized items. You see this company offered personalized kids’ gift items but went one step further in providing customized products for kids: they also personalized DVDs (a headshot pasted on an animated figure, if the image on the home page is anything to go by, still it looks like it might get a laugh out of children), children's books (yup, I guess they just change the name of the main character to whatever the customer’s name is), and even songs. A number of the items they offer are also mainstream products (Disney stuff and other well-known cartoon characters). I admit their services are neat, but that’s about as high as they’ll rank with me: neat. Personally (no pun intended), I’d rather make up my own stories for my little one. Why? No one knows (ideally) what your kid wants more than you do and it should take all of 10 minutes at most. It’s easier than you think. You should also keep in mind that even if the story should teach a good lesson, it doesn’t have to make sense (no pressure going for a Pulitzer.) So there, customization for kids is an OK thing but maybe you should go DIY first.

Hit The Lights

2008-06-04T15:35:00.002+08:00

I’ve always liked lamps. There’s just something about how they make a room or any space they occupy something a bit extraordinary. Lighting is awesome, what can I say?
Table lamps, floor lamps, desk lamps, they’re all great.

As I was going about the good old ‘net last night, I came upon a lamp specialty store, and I mean “specialty”. They had this neat feature that let you select a lamp to your specifications. Size, color, finish, etc. it was like choosing a car. I had no idea the lamp-loving demographic was that demanding and that particular. They didn’t stop at lamps, though. They had stuff for baths, ceiling fans, kitchen fixtures… it was the absolute works. I’m all pumped up about it because there’s nothing close to it over here, well online, that is. Just a fan of armchair hardware hunting, is all.

Wer na U? L8 Me.

2008-06-04T14:53:00.004+08:00

Sumisingit pirmi sa pila. Hindi makapaghintay sa takdang oras at lugar ng tawiran. Kapag nasita ng isang traffic enforcer o pulis, automatic 'yan: "Medyo nagmamadali lang po, eh." Kapag naipit sa trapik, hindi titigil hangga't hindi nakakauna sa ibang sasakyan; may yabang pang halo 'pag naka-alpas na. Bumili na motor para hindi maipit sa trapik; lintik kung paandarin ito, akala mo ay ahas sa kaliwa't kanang pagpasok sa pinakamaliliit na puwang.

Pirming nagmamadali. Lagi.

9:30 ba kamo? Alas-diyes ang intindi dyan.

Pirming nagmamadali. Lagi. Lagi din namang huli.

As A Bone

2008-06-04T14:51:00.001+08:00

These are, how should I say this, rather “flat” times for me. I’m not sure why, but my family aside, nothing, in the past several months, has even remotely looked like the proverbial light at the end of the obligatory tunnel. People have suggested that it may be a work thing and that a job search may be in order, but I’m pretty certain it isn’t that. I’ve done too little work to say I’m anything close to being tired. But I am. I’m always tired.

Cover to Cover

2008-06-04T14:43:00.000+08:00

A good friend, Daniel, was sitting in traffic when he suddenly heard the distinct sound of metal grinding metal. When he looked around to see what was going on, he saw someone getting up slowly from the left-hand side of his car. He got out and saw that a 3-foot gash now adorned a stretch from the rear fender to the middle of the rear door and the motorbike that put it there. He says it was a good thing he had just upgraded his car insurance. Oddly enough, he’d been telling people about his fantastic new insurance company not a week before the incident. Said they offered plans and that the sales reps were very knowledgeable, even offering free quotes and auto insurance comparisons sans the subtle glare that usually indicated some type of threat: you’d better be in a buying mood, pal. Well, I guess he can now find out how good they are with claims.

Backslide

2008-06-04T14:27:00.000+08:00

I’ve constantly been finding excuses to skip exercising for two months now. It started with schedule conflicts; but hey, there really was a lot going on the first month. The second month was more like planning when I’d get back to giving the old bones a good shakedown regularly. The result, as can be expected, is a complete reversal of the weight loss I was so darn proud of. Thankfully, however, the laziness has (I think) worn off and I’ve started doing light morning runs again. We shall see.

Sugatan Ang Ugat

2008-06-02T14:28:00.003+08:00

Traysikel Drayber: “O, isa na lang, aalis na.”

Pasahero: “Ma, may dala ho kasi akong malaking bag. Mukhang ‘di kakasya kaya dito na lang ako sa susunod sasakay.”

Traysikel Drayber: “Tignan ko nga. Pwede 'yan! Dito natin sa bubong ilagay. Tara, para makaalis na tayo.”

Pasahero: “Sigurado ho ba kayong pwede? Baka malaglag eh.”

Traysikel Drayber: “Pwede 'yan.”

Pasahero (pasakay na): “Ma… paki-ingatan na lang…”

Traysikel Drayber (initsa ang bag sa bubungan ng sidecar): “Oo, akong bahala.”

Pasahero: “Hindi ho ba talaga mahuhulog 'yan?”

Traysikel Drayber: “Hindi 'yan!”

Naisip ko lang, kahit ba posibleng malaglag ang bagahe nung pobreng pasahero eh aaminin ba 'yun ng drayber? Ibig kong sabihin eh saang mundo mo makikita na ang sagot ng drayber ay:

“Oho, posibleng mahulong ang bag ninyo.”

O ang mas-angkop na katutuhanan na:

“Aba eh oho, talagang malaki ang posibilidad na malaglag ang bag ninyo at hindi naman talaga sadyang lalagyan ng kung anumang gamit ang bubong ng sidecar ko. Umaasa nga lang ako na hindi malaglag para walang aberya, pero sa totoo lang, kahit naman malaglag ‘yan eh ano ba ang pakialam ko? Kung gusto mo ng siguradong lugar para sa bagahe mo eh ‘di nag-taxi ka na lang sana. Kakamutan na lang kita ng ulo at dadaanin sa paghingi ng alanganing dispensa kung mahulog man ang bag mo-- isa lang akong dukhang api na naghahanap-buhay tapos gigipitin pa ako ng mga may-kayang tulad mo. Ngayon, tigilan mo na ang pangungulit at ng maka-lakad na tayo. Kailangan kong makadami sa biyahe.”

Ugat ‘yan ng lahat: “Kakamutan na lang kita ng ulo at dadaanin sa paghingi ng alanganing dispensa kung mahulog man ang bag mo.” Ang mga katagang “mahulog man ang bag mo” ay palitan mo lamang ng:

“mabangga ko man ang sasakyan mo”
“masagasaan man kita”
“idamay ko man ang limang sasakyan sa isang aksidenteng dulot ng kapabayaan ko”
“magkasakit ka man sa kinain mong tinda ko”
"mapatay ko man ang iyong apat na taong-gulang na anak"

at nang 'sandaan pang ibang kasawian-palad.

Kawawa nga naman daw kasi.

The Loan Ranger

2008-06-02T14:09:00.001+08:00

I was fortunate enough to have parents who were always able to put up enough for my education. This fact was driven all the more home when I got the chance to talk to a cousin the other day. His family migrated to the United States about in the ‘70s and he is now just working as an associate professor in one of the top universities there. He teaches students majoring in Comparative Literature.

Anyway, as with most migrants, they went through pretty rough times during their first years there and since the day he started high school, he'd made up his mind that he’d give his folks a break and find a way to get an "education on loan", so to speak. He was bent on getting a degree without having to break his parents' backs.

He applied for several student and college loans, held down multiple jobs while he was studying, and did everything short of stealing to get him through university. He’s still making payments on one of his student loans (took on another loan for to start the payments, matter of fact), but says that while it’s still isn’t easy street for him, there’s a quiet and proud satisfaction knowing he went most of the way on his own steam.

Europa

2008-06-02T10:36:00.009+08:00

A rather wealthy acquaintance has been flapping her lips constantly about an upcoming tour of Europe and I’d be lying through my teeth if I said I didn’t suddenly turn bright green when she told me about her trip. In blind envy, I searched for travel agents that offered relatively easy access to major travel destinations in the continent. I came across an online hotel reservation facility that seemed to have a wide selection of contacts across Europe.

They look like they've got an expansive world-wide network with accomodations available at major European cities (well, the ones I dream about visiting anyway). They can hook you up with hotels in Rome, London, and even Prague.

I've taken note of these hotels and the attractions I need to see when I get there. Now it's just a matter of stumbling on several hundred thousand pesos.

Toll Tails

2008-05-29T17:08:00.004+08:00

Overheard at the Greenbelt 5 park fish pond.

Tourist: Wow, these fish are adorable!

Local: Do not let appearances fool you. These fish, while brandishing looks indeed similar to the adorable Koi, are actually Philippine Neck-Biting Perch. They’re called Karupa in our native tongue, which, roughly translated, means “soulless swimming demons from the nether regions of hell”. An alternative translation, found in the journal of Father Juanito Chavez, a missionary who came to the country in the early 1600s, is “a water-bound terror which must never be spoken of”. They are actually born an iridescent white, but quickly turn orange the moment they taste blood… human blood.

Tourist: You don’t say…

Local: Oh yes, I say. There have been documented cases of these fish leaping out of the water and onto boats, where they slay their hapless, unsuspecting victims. And these are the juveniles. Adults, especially males, have been known to leap out of the water and actually walk to the nearest town to prey on people. Karupa, sir, truly are merciless, blood-thirsty monsters. My grandfather told me he had seen one brandishing a pistol once…

Tourist: Hang on… a pistol?!

Local: Oh yes, good sir. Excellent marksmen, these sons of bitches are. The Allied Forces tried to recruit some during World War II, but the danger they posed to humans was too great. Too great. (stares off into the distance) The shoal of about a hundred fish who were trained were released into the waters of Central Visayas right after the plan was shelved… and people wonder why the Japanese lost the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Ah, the greatest generation…

Tourist: I guess we’ll be on our way now

Local: (lights a Marlboro)

The Liar

2008-05-27T12:56:00.003+08:00

When I last saw her, she was but a faded shadow of her old self. Gone was the alabaster that covered her entirety; what replaced it looked like pale, light-gray, unpolished granite. It was apparent that the lather of creams from far beyond our seas did not touch her as often anymore, if at all. Her plain, threadbare garb gave finality to what was a slowly unfolding tale of her fall into our everyday, our every way.

She had everything going for her. She was sure to succeed. She was certain to roll in the velvety smooth lap of luxury. For as long as she breathed, breaths would always be comfortable.

“Hello. How have you been?”

“Hey. It’s been… great.”

She put away several sheets of paper. They appeared to be forms for preparing life insurance quotes.

“Good. Great. So, uh, what’s been keeping you busy?”

“Oh you know, this and that.” She smiled.

No smile lied more.