Eh-hum # 248

Beaker is definitely one of my favorite Muppet characters. Here's why:



Enjoy!

Eh-hum # 247

It is still July, but I say it is never too early to prepare/share one's Christmas list (an annual thing for me, and possibly most bloggers out there).

But am not going to list all my needs (or wants) for 2008 in just one post, we'll do it one wish at a time for emphasis. This is in no particular order, everything has meaning and importance for moi.

Today, I pray to our Father in Heaven and to His loyal servants for this, rather, him:

Minus the wedding ring, of course.

Photo is from August 2008 issue of British GQ where hot thespian Christian Bale graces the cover. Just a thought: If you're a guy, do you want to be seen buying a GQ with a guy on the cover? So, is it really a men's magazine or more for women (eh-hum)? Wala lang. Heheh.

Eh-hum # 246

As I was saying...

This book is the scariest and most suspenseful that I have ever read.

And yet I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.

Yun lang.

Eh-hum # 245

There are a few things in my mind right now, a couple of which are making me quite uncomfortable. Its not really a problem, but if not handled properly, it could spell trouble for me. This all came about last Friday, when I spoke to two different people with different sets of news. But like most in this world, its all interconnected. Again, its making me uncomfortable, the reality of it all.

I thought I could use some enlightenment. Thus, I asked my siblings' opinions. Whenever my sister spends her weekends in Novaliches-land, we would have these mini-conferences in the kitchen, usually when our parents retire to their room for an afternoon nap. Having these talks are very helpful in times of distress, because it puts everything in perspective.

I am thankful for having smart/witty siblings.

***

People turn to food for comfort when agitated. Well, this doesn't really apply to me since I eat comfort food on a regular basis. What I do is nothing new: retail therapy. However, instead of clothes or shoes, I buy books.

What better way to temporarily escape your worries than to indulge oneself to some good reads and get lost within the pages of a book/novel. And here, in my opinion anyway, are some interesting literary works.

A month ago, I purchased Fugitive Pieces, a story about a Polish boy who lost his family during the Holocaust (narrowly escapes being killed by the Nazis) and was adopted by a Greek archaeologist. The book also talks about his life after immigrating to Canada, marriage and writing poems. Its a wonderful story, and it moved me. There is something so poignant about children surviving an extremely unfortunate event then trying to live a normal life afterwards. I also learned that the novel was translated to the big screen and premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival.


The other book I bought last Saturday, hence, I haven't finished it yet. With its lead characters on a quest, my newest acquisition can be considered an arcane mystery. Yes, its both exciting and frightening. Why? Because The Historian takes another look on the historical Dracula, and the myth that was (and still is) associated with him.

Eh-hum...

Eh-hum # 244

To my Fellow Pinoys:

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

May we continue to work smart and hard to make our nation independent from the things that challenges our place in this world.

Eh-hum # 243

While waiting for the train this morning, I noticed a movie poster for Made of Honor right across from where I was standing.

Patrick Dempsey is handsome, no doubt about that, and his popularity will make it the movie, uh, popular among the ladies. However, the movie is like a male version of my Best Friend's Wedding, except the lead guy wins and gets the girl in the end. But I thought the groom was interesting as well, being Scottish and all. Hehehe.

I did not consult Wikipedia for the plot (which is obvious), but for the actor who plays the groom, Kevin McKidd. In the said poster, you can see only 1/3 of the groom's face, but I thought he looked awfully familiar, until I confirmed that it was indeed Lucius Vorenus in a tux.

If I were the girl in the story, I would be quite in a bind. So, the choice is yours ladies. Would you rather be "examined" by the charming, dreamy doctor or act out any scene from Rome with a tough and principled centurion (complete with costume)?

*This post is brougt to you by (my wish to purchase) the DVD set of the HBO series Rome. Thank you.

Eh-hum # 242

I. Each blogger starts with ten random facts/habits about themselves.

II. Bloggers that are tagged need to write on their own blog about their ten things and post these rules.

III. At the end of your blog, you need to choose ten people to get tagged and list their names.

IV. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

***

1. Weird but true: I eat banana with bagoong, or shrimp paste. It is an acquired taste, so try this only at home.

2. I'm Christian, but it wouldn't hurt to observe certain Filipino beliefs. For instance, I always say "Tabi-tabi po" when crossing quite corners, foreign places, bushes, etc. so not to disturbed its residents.

3. I have four email addresses. Why? Because I also use them to store important files. Also, once upon a time, email accounts offered less than 25 MB of space. Also, I am thinking of buying my own external HDD. I need space, even though I won't be able to use all that memory. I'm afraid of, what my brother calls, "the blue screen of death", and/or my computer crashing.

4. No matter what company/organization I am working for, I am (usually) the first person to arrive in the office. Yes, I am the current key monitor.

5. I like riding trains. Its convenient and fast, and the stations make good landmarks. I pray the transportation system in the Philippines will improve, like that of Japan (sigh).

6. I am a newbie when it comes to coffee, and it was only over a month ago when I started making regular visits to a shop near work. My favorites are dark mocha and coffee jelly. Non-fat/light blend, of course. Also, I prefer iced coffee, so that I can drink it faster.

7. I make to-do lists that I rarely follow. Its important for me to just write it down. Doing it on time is a different matter. I also like doing rough diagrams/mapping, which I can only understand, of how to do a task/tasks. I talk out loud while "brainstorming".

8. If I fail to watch a movie and I am interested in knowing the plot, I always look it up in Wikipedia. I sometimes make a mental note of the things I want to check in the said online encyclopedia.

9. Whenever I pass by National Bookstore at the mall, I have this urge to buy something. Its usually a steno notebook, ballpen, fold back clips or any paper.

10. I am a big bag person. But I always wanted to go to school and NOT bring a bag at all. Iskolar, kuno.

***

I haven't thought of whom to tag, so I'll just say for anyone who will be visiting this blog.

Thanks very much to my sister for this one.

Eh-hum # 241

I was reading yesterday's editorial of the Philippine Star, and found Mr. Jarius Bondoc's opinion article interesting. Perhaps it is true what they say, that history repeats itself.

While Mr. Bondoc didn't share his opinion on the account, he hinted (from what I understood anyway) that the skirmish between the RP Government (especially Malacanang) and Meralco has something to do with the (seemingly) heated and unpleasant relations between two very influential families: the Arroyos and the Lopezes. Unfortunately, us taxpayers and common folks are right in the middle of this "war".

Anyway, here's a portion of the article. Read the rest of it here.

***

Meralco squabble relives earlier Lopez-Arroyo clash

GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc

Monday, June 2, 2008

The Malacañang-Meralco tiff looks more like a fight between the Arroyo and Lopez families. Gloria Arroyo drew first blood in blaming the Lopezes, instead of her mulcting Napocor appointees, for costly electricity. Lopez spokesmen countered that the Arroyos were squeezing Meralco to get back at their other controlled firm, critical media giant ABS-CBN. Full-blown war then escalated in the courtroom, boardroom and newsroom.

Eight decades ago in 1929 a similar battle raged between the Lopezes and Arroyos. Setting: Iloilo, the fastest rising city in the Visayas. Self-rule was top issue nationwide. A National Assembly of Filipino legislators had just convened in Manila under Senate President Manuel Quezon, of Partido Nacionalista. New technologies were spurring changes in traditional sugar regions. Among the young entrepreneurs caught up in the modernization tide was Eugenio “Eñing” Lopez, 28.

Iloilo, as all other cities, had a seamy side. A Chinese mestizo named Luis Sañe, alias Sualoy, operated jueteng with impunity. Bribes to civilian and police officials exempted him from law enforcement. It so happened that Eñing was then reviving his late father Benito’s Spanish-language newspaper El Tiempo. Immediately in Sept. 1929 the paper launched a crusade against vice that corrupted the Iloilo government. The jueteng winning numbers were published each day on the front page, playing up official inaction. Personally leading the fight, Eñing came out with one exposé after another, pointing to the highest officials as Sualoy’s protectors. “Eñing did not choose lightweight opponents,” Raul Rodrigo recounts in the book, Phoenix: the Saga of the Lopez Family. They were no less than Governor Mariano Pidal Arroyo, city police chief Marcelo Buenaflor, and congressman-brother Tomas Buenaflor.

***

Ahhh, same old story: 1) Arroyos and the issue of jueteng payolas; and 2) Frequent antagonism between the Government and the media.

Eh-hum.

Eh-hum # 240

Cleanliness is next to Godliness.

Don't ask me how I took the pictures...nor why do a post on lavatories.

Yeah that's right, lavatories or comfort room or powder room, etc.

But I thought our dear urban planners, architects, real estate people or whoever is in charge in constructing commercial buildings and/or malls should realize that it pays to have clean, modern and (need I say more) CLEAN lavatories. It reflects on the kind of building they've constructed (I sense a metaphor for a person is about to develop, but let's not go into that...hehehe).

So here it is. A Japanese lavatory (that our malls should all emulate...for the love of God).

***

First Picture: where to place your baby safely while "releasing tension" (inside the stall);

Second Picture: sensor-operated thrash bin;

Third Picture: white, CLEAN, sparkling sinks;
AND

Fourth Picture: sensor-operated soapy foam dispenser.

Eh-hum # 239

"Five fifty-five, fifty-five! Dial limang five! Five fifty-five, fifty-fa-ha-ha-ive"

MAKE IT STOP!!!

If you, like myself, are part of the thousands (if not millions) of Filipinos commuting using the Metro Rail Transit, MRT for short, then you will notice that we no longer hear the driver's voice over the train's PA system telling us which station we're already at. Thankfully, a pre-recorded friendly and articulate female voice tells us that, which saves us from getting confused when the drivers still have not memorized the correct order of the stations (have experienced this).

(Also, saves the driver from being jeered at just because they came from certain provinces. Story: my brother heard from a friend that while they where riding the LRT yellow line, the driver announced "Pedro GEL" instead of "Pedro Gil", which prompted once passenger/another friend to say loudly, "Delikado pala sumakay dito, may byahe papunta empyerno". Oh well).

This improvement in the MRT station is welcomed, of course. Some trains even have small TVs for ads. But what is annoying (and speaking of ads) are the commercials being played after the friendly and articulate female voice makes her reminder. It won't be a big deal if there was variety, like a radio station. BUT, as what I have experienced yesterday, it was just ONE commercial, played over and over and over again. From the time I got on the train in Taft, until I got off at North Ave. Much to my chagrin, I found myself humming this Greenwhich pizza ad (to the tune of an Eraserhead hit) on my way home via FX taxi.

MAKE IT STOP!!!

Well, this little experience proves that 1) repetitive commercials are annoying, worse than LSS; and 2) it really works. If I suddenly crave for pizza/pasta, I know what numbers to dial.

All together now: "Five fifty-five, fifty-five! Dial limang five! Five fifty-five, fifty-fa-ha-ha-ive"

Note: I should demand money for even mentioning said pizza company in this blog, especially if people started calling. Hehehe.

Eh-hum # 238

I knew it!

Congratulations, David Cook, for being the American Idol's Season 7 winner!

What can I say? He had us at HELLO.





(Sorry, I had to say it, heheh).

Eh-hum # 237

Before I share thoughts on life/work and a couple of pictures, let me dedicate this post to two interesting entries made by Ms Jessica Zafra in her blog:

1. "Geek History"

"Are nerds born or are they made? Now that geeks rule tech companies, lead billionaire lists, and are the auteurs, subjects and stars of Judd Apatow movies, has it become cool to be a nerd? Even people who must’ve been popular in high school now claim that they were nerds. If everyone was a teenage outcast, then who cast them out?

I do not like these belated claims of membership in the tribe.

Here’s an interview with Benjamin Nugent, author of American Nerd." ; and

2. "Children are not PC."

"Panchito (not his real name) and his six-year-old son boarded the elevator in their building. There were two other passengers on the lift: a middle-aged Australian and his young Filipina wife. The Australian was a friendly sort–he looked at Panchito’s son and boomed, “Hello! How old are you?”

“I’m six,” the little boy replied.

“You’re too big to be a six-year-old!” the friendly Australian said.

“You’re too old to have a yaya (nanny),” the little boy said.

Panchito was unable to take note of the Australian’s reaction, or that of his wife. He was too busy looking for an elevator shaft he could throw himself into."

***

Eh-hum...

1. So, are the nerds brining sexy back? Maybe not entirely, but I did noticed that nerd is the new cool. I also have met a few claiming to be nerds back in high school, but were obviously the cheerleaders, prom queens and the jocks. What's up with these airheads? Even though they are the center of attention (and people are supposedly dying to be like them), they are also in a perpetual state of trying to fit in (pretending to be somebody they are NOT). Revenge of the nerds indeed.

While I am not that smart, I would consider myself as a nerd. In GS/HS, I was very much into cartoons (i.e. anime), fantasy films, thriller/horror novels (Christopher Pike), encyclopedias and National Geographic magazines. Yeah, I remember a few of my classmates gave me an unflattering nickname, which I thought it was pretty nasty. I may be a weird girl, but at least I have always been true to myself. Rather be a nerd than a poser. ;)

2. Yep, a bonafide "the Emperor's New Clothes" moment right here, a child stating the the obvious that we adults dare not talk about out loud. Funny, this was a topic of conversation between me and my Indonesian friend back in Japan. You know, the observation that Westerners tend to marry, uh, not so pretty local girls. Nothing wrong with that, of course, everybody deserves to be happy (or married).

Its just that, well, you know...why?

Maybe...its just me.

Heheh.

Eh-hum # 236

Hullo! So much has happened in the last week after our office outing at Laguna. Though I cannot share it in detail due to the nature of the work, I don't mind sharing a couple of things I learned about the industry I'm in so far and myself.

Also, I like to post some pictures I took in the past couple of weeks, which may describe what I am feeling right now about life and work.

***

For now, I would like to share my fondness for a television program I remembered watching as a child, Jim Henson's The Storyteller. As the titled suggests, the show was created and produced by Muppet master Jim Henson in the late 1980's. It lasted for two seasons and is now available in a boxed DVD set.

The show basically retells various folk tales/mythology with a combination of actors and puppets. The original Storyteller was John Hurt, he was replaced by Michael Gambon in the second season. Amid these changes, the show's format remained: an old storyteller sitting by a fire telling each tale to both the viewers and to his talking and realistic looking dog (a muppet voiced by Brian Henson).

I loved this show as a child, but I must admit there were times I was a wee bit scared due to the presence of some dark elements in the stories.

I hope there is a way for me to purchase the DVD set. All I can do, for now, is visit YouTube. Anyway, here's the opening sequence of the first season. Enjoy!

Eh-hum # 235

Laguna, here we come. Our office (rather, the department I belong to) will be spending our weekend in a modest resort located in, as mentioned, Laguna. A much deserved break from the demands of work and the bustling (not to mention polluted) urban jungle.

I was hesitant at first, due to the possible awkward moments that could make any seemingly normal conversation a source of ridicule and major embarrassment (am one of the newbies at work). But since its free (food, lodging and transportation), I convinced myself to attend. Also, if I find myself in a painfully uncomfortable situation, I would only be scarred for life, not dead. Hehehehe.

***

I have great, wonderful, fantastic news! But its better to keep it to myself. Next week, next week.

***

Also, next week, will be having dinner with a couple of friends from Shindai. Looking forward to that (right next to my great, wonderful, fantastic news, hehe).

Eh-hum # 234

Whew!

My sister's home for the weekend after spending five days in Baguio. Hence, the house became noisier with more trips to the kitchen for family discussions and before dinner snacks.

After being tag-teamed by my siblings, I finally was able to watch 300. Its a bit late, but watching movies months after it has been shown in theaters is a habit of mine, so am not complaining (part of my "against-the-flow" philosophy, I guess). And I am certainly NOT complaining about this:

Let me just repeat what I've said before, those abs are REAL...real...real. If Gerard Butler gets any more hotter than he already is, we might just found an alternative source of energy.

***

I am a bit annoyed that one of my new blouses is ruined no thanks to a few loose threads. When I first saw the rip (it could be caused by a washing machine mishap or apathetic ironing), I wanted retribution since I used it only once and it did cost me some hard-earned money. However, I realized later on that putting the blame on other people (particularly household help) will not make it any better and I ought to find other ways to have it fixed so that a relatively new blouse won't go to waste.

One option was to have it replaced, but I figured it won't fly since it has been more than a week. I could also try asking the boutique (where I purchased it) if they could fix it. Or visit a shop that specializes in these things.

Oh well. The bottomline is, I am trying not to make this incident ruin my Monday. Or the fact that I am sniffling and coughing since yesterday. But thanks to a certain coffee shop near work, I am feeling much better.