Eh-hum # 233

Funny stuff.

Am sure, anybody who has been through college (whether two semesters or three terms) can relate. Thanks to Benigno for this one. Enjoy!

***

Every New Trimester:

After First Week:

After Second Week:

Before the Mid-Term Test:

During the Mid-Term Test:

After the Mid-Term Test:

Before the Final Exams:

Once Get to Know the Final Exam Schedule:

7 Days Before the Final Exam:

6 Days Before the Final Exam:

5 Days Before the Final Exam:

4 Days Before the Final Exam:

3 Days Before the Final Exam:

2 Days Before the Final Exam:

1 Day Before the Final Exam:

The Night Before the Final Exam:

1 Hour Before the Final Exam:

During the Final Exam:

Once Walk Out From the Examination Hall:

After the Final Exam, During the Holiday:

Eh-hum # 232

THIS is great news.

THIS is most definitely not.

Ganyan talaga ang buhay. Eh-hum.

Eh-hum # 231

I celebrated my birthday almost two weeks ago.

Even though I am a year older, I don't feel any different from last year. But is it funny (or not) that I will be 30 in two years time. Perhaps its true that age is just a number, what matters is how you are living your life. And I have so much to be thankful for.

Well, for one, I am back in the work force, in a government institution...again. The pay is not so good, rather, not too bad. But I am looking forward to the work I will be doing (more of the significant, less of the mundane), the people I could meet and the knowledge I could gain. I am still in that stage where I value experience over salary. Since I was, eh-hum, on "academic leave" for a year, I really have no problems starting near the starting line. But it also pays to work smart as well. Gambarou!

***

The heat nowadays is terrible, and I can't believe I am looking forward to the rainy season. And thanks to the unbearable warm weather, in the past few days (or nights) I have been terrorized by flying roaches. While there is no denying that I (and perhaps most of mankind) consider them pests, I can pretty much handle a crawling roach. But flying roaches are an entirely different thing. And in an attempt to make my room roach-free, I (grudgingly) cleaned my room and (happily) fumigated it with insecticide.

I pray that my normal sleeping habits return so that I won't have to wake in the wee hours of the morning just to hunt for these, uh, home invaders. OMG.

Eh-hum # 230

I am happy to announce my laptop is doing just fine.

This little incident made me more critical of the programs I want to install as well as the capacity of my HDDs. My friendly neighborhood tech support, uh, dude, told me that I should leave 1/4 of the total size of my HDD free to prevent it from crashing.

And we seriously don't want that.

***

I got this picture from a popular blog, and deemed it to be connected to the protests that marred the Beijing Olympics 2008's torch relay. I thought the caption for the said photograph was pretty funny.

"His Holiness, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, could totally kick your ass"

But what is NOT funny are the controversies hounding the said torch relays. Its a pity that sensitive and political issues such as the case with Tibet and Darfur got intertwined with historic events like the Olympic Games (which aims to promote peace and brotherhood among nations through sports). It could not be helped I guess, since this year China is the host and the urgency of the said issues.

Eh-hum # 229

Its April! Which means I will be 28, really soon.

Now it's a good time for me to get my act together and seriously consider plans for the next five years. I'm really an easygoing person by nature, so this will take a lot of work. But I guess, it will be worth it. As they say, daig ng maagap ang masipag.

***

In other news, I'm feeling not so fine. Not because I'm ill, but my partner-in-crime is.

Yes, my one and a half year old Acer notebook went bonkers this morning, leaving me really nervous. Its only 0900, which means I have to wait for an hour before I could bug my friendly neighborhood tech support.

I hope (and pray) that this little mishap has nothing to do with the fact that yesterday morning, I decided to upgrade my RAM, or DDR2 as they call it nowadays, to 1 GB. I checked my notebook's specs/user guide, and it says that I can expand its memory up to 2 GB. And I also hope (and pray) that if there is something wrong, it won't affect my files, especially my pictures and my school data/research materials.

Will keep my fingers crossed. Haaaayy.

Eh-hum # 228

Me (aspiring kick-ass intellectual/policymaker): 0
Ditsy "valley girls"/trophy wives/mistresses: 1

So what is this about? Really don't want to elaborate, but its a self-esteem issue, again. Or, why sometimes (or often) young ladies who take the "easy" way out (eh-hum. wink, wink) tend to get ahead of those wanting to add more integrity into their lives by taking the road less traveled?

OMG, we live in an odd, unfair world. And a couple of weeks ago, everything that I ever believed in was challenged by this little saying from (uh-oh) my late grandfather: "Masmabuti na maraming kang pera, kesa abakada". And as of the moment, that's me.

Ouch.

Eh-hum # 227

Two San Miguels are getting much media attention nowadays. One is the Opposition's newest witness in the ZTE-NBN Broadband deal scandal, Leo San Miguel, and the other is Bb. Pilipinas-Ms. World winner, Janina San Miguel. This post, unfortunately, is about the latter. My views on the scandal will come in after the unfolding of events in the next few days.

I really don't want to do this because I am also a Filipina and we are now celebrating Women's Month. But I believe that we can learn something from this little brouhaha/incident, such as beauty isn't everything and it pays to be smart and quick-witted.

Its obvious that this young lady made a fool of herself in national television and her winning second place, or being the country's representative to the Ms. World 2008 pageant, added insult to injury. Its also ironic that she is a Communication Arts student. Did she deserve to win after doing poorly in the Bb. Pilipinas 2008's question and answer portion? Will this tarnish the reputation of the Bb. Pilipinas organizers? Would this have an effect on younger women, how they would see themselves and their priorities in life? Do beauty contests even have a role in women empowerment?

Three points I would like to share:

1) Had she answered the question in Filipino, I would've admired her. There is nothing wrong in answering in your native tongue. I mean, in international beauty contests, you see representatives from Venezuela among others speaking in their own languages. The pageant organizers provides them with interpreters, so I don't think its a problem;

2) Speaking in Filipino may have allowed her to answer the question correctly. People who sympathize with her were saying that we shouldn't make a big deal about her broken English. Fine, but they forgot to note that she did not even answered the question in the first place! And truth be told, it was such an easy question; and

3) We are taking our knowledge in English for granted. I myself am not fond of grammar and I do make mistakes. But its still important, and Ms. San Miguel wouldn't know proper grammar even if she was ran over by it (ouch!).

Fine, I'll cut her some slack, since Ms. World 2008 is several months away. Lovely and confident as she is, she still needs work on her comprehension skills. Whoever is training her has her/his hands full. And us, her fellow Filipinas, can only do but pray. I am not expecting her to win (Where are the Gloria Diazes and the Margie Morans when you need them?), but rather just make us proud by being a shining example of Filipino beauty and, God-willing, BRAINS.

Eh-hum # 226

Maraming kalokohan simula pagkabata hanggang ngayon. And here are just some of the few:

1. More or less, fifteen years ago.

Me: "Bunso, huwag ka nang umiyak. Blow mo na yung rice mo para makakain ka na."
Him: (Wailing on top of his lungs, due to God-knows-what) "HINDI BLOW IYAN!!! WHITE!!!"

2. Two years ago.

Him: "Siguro, para makilala ni Bruce** si ate pag-uwi nya, kailangan maglagay tayo ng picture (ni ate) sa may kulungan nya."

3. Last year.

Me and Lin: "Jo, bakit ayaw mong kainin ang Fuji apple na binili ni mom? Pareho naman silang mansanas ng Washington (his favorite) ah."
Him: "Ganito iyon mga ate. Parang si Ate Con gusto ng Latondan* at si Ate Lin paborito ang Lakatan*".

4. A couple of weeks ago.

Him: "O, nasaan na yung Mango Milk Yogurt ko?! Wait...nainom ko na pala kanina...hehehe"

+++

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY! Natatangi ka talaga, and we wouldn't have it any other way. :)


*saging
**our Belgian-Doberman mix/one-hell-of-a-guard-dog

Eh-hum # 225

Its March already! How time flies when you're having, uh, fun.

Forgive me, I haven't been out lately so there is nothing really much to talk about, or to write about. As I've said, I have been busy lately and I am just looking forward to next week because everything (I hope) will be back to normal. I am thankful for my grad studies to counter the boredom (or urge to slack-off) I have been experiencing lately.

Moreover, it helps that your friends would give words of encouragement. I sometimes felt embarrassed that my "problems" were not really that important, and yet that didn't prevent them from sharing good advise or encouraging thoughts. :)

***

Also, I have The Sims Life Stories to amuse myself and to keep me from going insane. Speaking of this game, for those who are familiar with it, notice when Sims interact with one another they speak using their own language called "Simlish". Designers of the game felt it would be impractical to use a real language for the Sims' every day dialogue, so they invented one. I find it amusing that Simlish took its roots from fractured Ukranian and, get this, Tagalog. Tagalog is one of the major languages used in the Philippines, and it is similar (almost identical) to the official/national language, Filipino.

Pretty neat, huh? It would've been cooler if I actually understood Simlish, but I guess that's a little too much. Hehehehe.

Eh-hum # 224

HAHAHAHA.

Wala lang.

After going over my blog's archives, I just realized that ever since I started this modest online journal of mine, I always share my thoughts (e.g. cynicism, amusement, etc) on that very special day (to most people anyway), Valentines' Day.

For this year, I totally forgot. It could mean that I have no qualms about being single. However, I am not sure if that's a good thing.

Who cares anyway?

***

More importantly, last February 14, my father came home from overseas. Well, his six months as Master Mariner is not yet over, he'll really come home in April. What I meant was he was able to "steal" a few hours from work because his vessel temporarily docked at the South Harbor in Manila. We had dinner to celebrate his visit, as well as our kasambahay's 30+ birthday. Several hours later, he went back to the ship and set sail to Malaysia.

It was not so bad. Anyway, we'll be seeing him 45 days later. Hehehehe.

Eh-hum # 223

Forgive me, henyo blog, it has been indeed a long, long time since my last post. Rest assured that I am not about to let February pass without posting (at least) one entry under this month.

Am not busy, just preoccupied with the following (don't ask me why, I believe there's a difference):

1. School assignments;
2. Part-time research work (which, with God's grace, will be finished within this week);
3. Newly acquired novels (bought three in two weeks);
4. Household responsibilities;
5. Simple gatherings with friends (the latest was a baby shower for a dear friend in College);
6. Job-hunting; and
7. the Sims. Eh-hum.

Plus the occasional "slacking-off moments", when you just want to stare at the wall for a couple of hours and not think.

Not really swamped, but there were times when I see myself procrastinating. Its one of my biggest weaknesses (next to eating a lot of rice), and I try to fight any urge to slack-off. And this week is quite crucial for me. I am hoping to be "set-free".

Oh well. I am just praying everything will work out fine.

Eh-hum # 222

And so I'm back from outer space...or from the friendly and virtual neighborhood of Four Corners.

Yes, yes. Until today (right this very moment, I mean), free time from work and school was wholly dedicated to playing the Sims Life Stories, a standalone PC version of the wildly popular simulation game the Sims/the Sims 2 published by Maxis and distributed by Electronic Arts. My first encounter of this kind of game was more than four years ago, when it was available for the PlayStation 2. The graphics were not as good back then and the gameplay got a little complicated (e.g. rewards and aspiration points).



I decided to buy this standalone version rather than the expandable the Sims 2 Deluxe because I can install and play the former on my laptop (and it is cheaper by a few hundreds pesos). I enjoy "playing God" by creating Sims (virtual characters) and running their lives (career, family, lovelife, etc). Its an amusing way to relieve stress, or to put one's pathological need to control other people's lives into good use. And I must say, the more I play it, the more I've become addicted to it...hehehe. Just kidding.

As much as I enjoy playing it, I don't consider myself a serious gamer. Moreover, my fondness for it has not taken over my daily responsibilities. I am not one to forget that I have a real life to live and enjoy.

***

Speaking of life, I was shocked to learn this morning that Hollywood actor and Australian Heath Ledger has passed away at the age of 28. I mean, the guy will be next seen in the movie Dark Knight as Batman's most formidable enemy (in my opinion, anyways), the Joker. When the movie premieres in July (?), we expect him to be gracing the red carpet with another actor that has the looks and the talent, Christian Bale. With a promising career, his family in Australia, his fans and most especially his daughter, I doubt it was a suicide. I hope its not, for his little girl's sake.

And just last week, we learned that the Client's Brad Renfro died. He was just 25. He may not be as popular as Ledger, but Renfro also has a makings of a serious actor, especially since he stayed away from teenybopper roles.

Haaay, buhay.

Eh-hum # 221

Talk about unusual names for places.

First read about this little village in Austria in another blog, and I had to check it further in the Internet. And then I got my answer in an article about (excuse me) Fucking, Austria in Wikipedia. And its 100+ residents are not happy with the recent happenings wherein English speaking tourists would steal the traffic sign by the entrance of the town. Here's an example:

What's the F---ing joke?

September 3, 2005

The 104 inhabitants of F---ing, Austria are tired of pesky tourists - and they're fighting back, writes Toby Harnden.

For those travelling to it across the border from Germany, it is a long way further on from Petting - where some people prefer to stop for a while rather than going all the way. It might appropriately be twinned with the Amish town of Intercourse, Pennsylvania. Or perhaps with Condom, France. Or Climax, Colorado.

In the world of crosswords, cryptically the name of the village, which begins with F, has seven letters and is not for those under 16, could be: "Monarch follows soccer team, you hear."

A quick crossword clue might ask you, po-faced, for the gerund form of the English profanity that refers to the principal act leading to procreation.

An etymologist would know that its verb was derived from the Latin futuere and the Old German ficken, meaning "to strike or penetrate". The lexicographer can trace its first recorded use to John Florio's A World of Words, a 1598 dictionary.

D. H. Lawrence used it in Lady Chatterley's Lover in 1928, but it was 32 years before it could be published legally. The playwright Kenneth Tynan was the first one to utter it on television four decades ago.

But for the conservative inhabitants of a settlement called F---ing in rural Upper Austria near Salzburg that comprises just 32 houses (population: 104), the English meaning of their village's name is just one giant headache.

One night, tourists stole all four road signs on its approaches. Since records began, there has been no crime there - apart from the perennial theft of what officials call "street furniture".

Now the authorities are fighting back. The signs have been set in concrete bases and Kommandant Schmidtberger, the local police chief, hints at clandestine operations to combat what he calls "foreign criminals" disturbing the alpine order. (Read the rest of the article here.)

Ergo, it does not matter if the name rhymes with "looking". Hmmm, if these tourists know how to speak Filipino, then this town in Albay is in trouble. Hehehe.

Eh-hum # 220

In a couple of days, it will be 2008. Its amazing that another year has passed by. And truth be told, I am so grateful for 2007 thanks to the many blessings I recieved, events I've experienced and people I've met. The highlight, of course, was the opportunity to stay and study in Japan for a year. The learnings from school, bible studies and even from seemingly mundane activities made me a better person. Thanks to this new found confidence, I can definitely say I'm ready to face the challenges of the coming year. Moreover, I look forward to the blessings that will be coming my way in 2008 and beyond.

***

Just a little something-something. A post on the coming New Year celebration will not be complete without 2008 prediction based on the Chinese Zodiac. Mine says:

Expect to see better changes from 2007 since your financial trends are generally set to be pleasant this year as the Year of the Rat is favorable to Monkeys in terms of money and finances. Just bear in mind that 2008 is not a year for perilous investments. Keep on using your intrinsic capabilities on spotting what is best. 2008 is one of the years that prefigures acceptably for your stash and those savings could result to generate substantial assets in the coming years.

Aahhhh, looks pretty good to me. I would like to start the new year with a new and better job, so I hopefully the "generate substanstial assests" part of the prediction will come true. Hehehe, health is important, but wealth isn't so bad either.

Again, a prosperous New Year to everybody! God Bless!

More predictions here.

Eh-hum # 219

Ehem...its the 25th of December. All I want to say is:

Also, have a prosperous and bountiful 2008! God Bless one and all!

(pic from http://lloydyweb.com/blog/personal/)