Them Belly Full

Am in Saisaki, blogging thanks to AvantBlog, whose existence I learned about through my friend Cliff. He swears by AvantBlog. For Cliff, it's helped him keep on posting, even though he's far from a computer. Talk about making the most out of downtime.

On a different note, I've finally gotten people to sign on to the class blog, but so far I'm the only one posting. I hope everyone gets to post, though. That way, it really becomes our voice.

At any rate, Saisaki's only worth it when there's sea urchin on the menu. Otherwise, you're just eating for tomorrow.

Are You Experienced?

OkCupid - The Virgin Game

If so, let me know what score you got. I got 52% at first, thought I could do it better after smoking some, and got 38%. That's like me getting really good at spotting experience, but saying virgin.

That's what smoking will do to your brain.

Mobile Computing Nirvana

It's been a long day. It's been a long semester for that matter.

Thanks to a scheduling snafu, I don't have classes for the next two Wednesdays. The wife and I decided to celebrate this occasion by going to Greenhills, where we scoured the aisles for accessories for my new PDA. Finding nothing within our budget, we had to settle for hopia at Baker's Fair.

I found this little store while walking around on the second floor. They carry a wide array of PDA covers, and have a few pretty xda II holders, including one that doubles as a fine leather wallet. It costs P2,200.00, which is more or less one-fourth of a minimum wage-earner's keep for a month.

I refuse to see things for their dollar value, it becomes confusing that way. I decree that no one will see currency conversion factors in this blog, at least when it comes to how much things cost in this part of the blue marble.

Point is, we went in with some money, and we left with no money. Greenhills is a black hole for your wallet. Damn.

I'm sick and tired of being broke. I can't wait for this mad season to be over.

Not All News is Bad

I read this today from Rolling Stone:

R.E.M., the Dixie Chicks and Maroon 5 are singing for a considerably younger audience on a new compilation album, "Mary Had a Little Amp", set for an October 5th release.

Personally, I wish I was a father so I could buy my kid a Mary Had a Little Amp album. When my kid starts asking me about chord progressions, I'll be the happiest dad in the world. I want my kid to be so musically grounded he starts laying down roots.

Although I think this album won't be as miraculous as Schoolhouse Rock (that great 70's opus!), I expect this to be a lot better than 1998's Saturday Morning Cartoons. It's great to see these rockers involved in projects like these. On a side note, I have trouble imagining what an album that features REM and the Dixie Chicks on the same track list would sound like.

Sho' would be some kind of funky.

Thank You, Ninoy.

My Hero

Thanks to Ninoy and GMA's proclamation declaring his death anniversary a non-working holiday, we got a long weekend, which unfortunately ends today.

In class, I made a small litany for the events that led to this small mercy.

Salamat, Ninoy, sa inyong pagkabayani.
Salamat Tita Cory, dahil pinayagan ninyong umuwi si Ninoy.
Salamat Apo Ferdie, dahil gahaman ka.
Salamat AVSECOM, dahil sa pagiging inutil ninyo, nagkaroon tayo ng bagong salapi.
Salamat Ate Glow, at medyo uto-uto ka.
Salamat Ateneo, at mayabang ka.
Salamat, salamat, dahil tumama sa Sabado ang ika-21 ng Agosto.

The holiday will be over in a few minutes. Blech.

I make you lait, Kris Aquino.

My good friend and fellow oldie, noringai, wrote a column about Kris Aquino the other day, and how, like Kris Aquino, she also likes to be the center of attention when it comes to chitchatting with her amigas and palanggas, even if it means divulging nasty details about oneself that no one really cares to hear.

At the same time, I have noticed, to some dismay, that Kris has become a Filipino answer to Jerry Springer.

I happened to have the misfortune of catching the househelp watching The Buzz while on my way to the neighborhood sari-sari store for a soda. She was grilling one guest - I forget who, it's not important - over something equally unimportant, and the guest looked like she was on the verge of tears.

It is clear her interviewing style borrows heavily from Boy Abunda's: badger your guest needlessly while spouting obviously fake sympathy (don't bother hiding it from the discerning viewer, the camera does not lie!). It's become so bad that Boy doesn't interrupt that much anymore.

Sometimes, it's just too painful to watch. But people DO watch, and watch with fascination as the cherished daughter of a national hero disgraces herself on national television every single day.

How does she disgrace herself? Her lack of tact, among her other flaws, is legendary. Television could be the worst industry she could have picked, because it magnifies your flaws like no other. Finally, she puts her flaws out on display, day after day. People watch it because there's nothing more entertaining than watching a person self-destruct. Don't believe me? Watch The Buzz every Sunday on Channel 2. You'll get hooked, and I'll bet it'll be for the wrong reasons.

She's William Hung, except that William Hung isn't the favorite daughter of the country's national hero.

I am led to believe it's called schadenfreude, that guilty feeling of pleasure you get out of watching someone else's pain. I don't get any pleasure out of watching her, because I feel more for the pain she (un)consciously inflicts on those who may really care about her.

That doesn't mean I like her. I admit I watched Pido Dida 8 times, but that was when I was a mean little child with a lot less empathy than I do have now.

Once upon a time, I heard that that's the way women feel better about themselves: when they hear about someone who's having it worse than them. The theory goes on to say that this is the principle that explains the concept of lait. Sure, it's fun, but girls do it mostly to cover up their own insecurities.

I have girl friends who pick on other girls in the law school, and have become quite notorious for their antics. No one is safe from their broadsides, so I guess it all evens out. Equal opportunity offenders and all that.

Now, I'm not sure what their tirades mean, but I'm not in a hurry to find out.

Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll

I've always been an advocate of the holy trinity = sex, drugs, and rock and roll. I don't think I'll look like Pepe Smith in a few years, partly because I'm too fat to look like him. That's neither here nor there.

What I was thinking of though, was about the effects of MDMA, taken in a sufficient dose, to a group of orgy participants. Would it make them more conjoined? I went to ecstasy.org to find out and the testimonials there are somewhat promising. Since the drug tests on MDMA have been confirmed as one big hoax, I've felt a lot more safe in considering using it in a "clinical" trial.
Now, to find a test group.

Swing, batta batta, swing!

Tractor Beam: On

This is what a typical lecture class looks like in the Ateneo. I was only able to take this shot because the professor was talking about land patents, and I think I give a good impression with regard to taking notes.

What Work Looks Like

I usually spend nights studying for the next school day. I make my notes and place it on my PDA. Some days, I come to school bringing only the PDA because practically everything's already there.

The work that I put in often seems pointless to my wife, but I swear this work comes in really handy for class. There are times where you will not be called for days for any subject. Those days are bad because there's a good chance of slacking off.

This way, I get to keep on my toes. Or so I keep telling myself.