I saw the following flash on the newstape on ANC 21:
Justice Secretary Gonzalez calls for review of UP Charter, says UP is teaching students to defy government
One has to wonder if our esteemed (ugh) Secretary has any brains at all. First, he displays his Neanderthal attitudes by saying that Susan Roces is "too beautiful" to throw in jail, and that former President Cory Aquino should mind her own daughter Kris. And now, this drivel.
If anything, the University of the Philippines trains its students to be critical and able to spot wrongdoing. It also teaches its students to develop their crap detectors (being able to spot lies). Is it the students' fault that the current government is particularly crappy?
Apparently, Secretary Gonzalez believes the best way to put out a fire is to pour gasoline on it. And he really seems to be spreading it around. As if the GMA government doesn't have enough problems as it is.
If he really wants to help his President, he should either resign, or shut his mouth, because all that's coming out of it is crap.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
End of July in Sight
The hectic month is almost over, and, knock on wood, the next month looks more restful in terms of activities.
T and J's wedding last Saturday was simple and lovely, and G, as a flower girl, was a trooper most of the way. It's too bad that we weren't able to attend the reception, but with the number of activities for the day, it would be too tiring for G. Besides, she fell asleep almost as soon as we hit the road, so she wouldn't have enjoyed the reception, anyway.
B's birthday was fun, and I got to meet some of my former co-teachers. It's interesting to note that, of my friends there, I was the only one left in the high school. How times have changed.
Two hours later, we were at EDSA Shangri-la to attend my niece's 7th birthday (Can anyone tell me why this is a significant number?). G had a lot of fun getting dolled up, and she was so cute.
The next day was my birthday (thanks to all who greeted me), and, after Saturday's festivities, I spent the day mostly at home, but I joined UPSCA's Himig Delaney choir for the 11 o' clock mass at UP, and I realized how much I missed harmonizing with a large choir. The funny thing was that the celebrant thanked the alumni of UPSCA for singing, and the current members were looking at each other in puzzlement; they were alumni already?
Monday we stayed home because of the State of the Nation Address (SONA), not because we wanted to hear what promises GMA was going to make, but because we live near the Batasang Pambansa, where it was going to be delivered, traffic was extremely terrible.
Just a few days more, and the hectic month will be over, and maybe, just maybe I can get some rest.
T and J's wedding last Saturday was simple and lovely, and G, as a flower girl, was a trooper most of the way. It's too bad that we weren't able to attend the reception, but with the number of activities for the day, it would be too tiring for G. Besides, she fell asleep almost as soon as we hit the road, so she wouldn't have enjoyed the reception, anyway.
B's birthday was fun, and I got to meet some of my former co-teachers. It's interesting to note that, of my friends there, I was the only one left in the high school. How times have changed.
Two hours later, we were at EDSA Shangri-la to attend my niece's 7th birthday (Can anyone tell me why this is a significant number?). G had a lot of fun getting dolled up, and she was so cute.
The next day was my birthday (thanks to all who greeted me), and, after Saturday's festivities, I spent the day mostly at home, but I joined UPSCA's Himig Delaney choir for the 11 o' clock mass at UP, and I realized how much I missed harmonizing with a large choir. The funny thing was that the celebrant thanked the alumni of UPSCA for singing, and the current members were looking at each other in puzzlement; they were alumni already?
Monday we stayed home because of the State of the Nation Address (SONA), not because we wanted to hear what promises GMA was going to make, but because we live near the Batasang Pambansa, where it was going to be delivered, traffic was extremely terrible.
Just a few days more, and the hectic month will be over, and maybe, just maybe I can get some rest.
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Friday, July 22, 2005
Busy Week
So much for getting any rest this week, as it's been so hectic.
I'll be glad for Sunday and Monday, as we have no classes due to the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA). I'll be able to rest then.
I'll be glad for Sunday and Monday, as we have no classes due to the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA). I'll be able to rest then.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Movies at Home
Over the past few weeks, I've managed to catch a few new movies, either on DVD or cable, so here's my take on them:
Brother Bear (2003) - one of the last traditional Disney animated features, the movie is about understanding another by living for a while in the other's place, or, in this case, fur. It's okay, but somehow, I think the last great traditional Disney classic was Mulan. There are times when Bear gets too preachy, and it lacks the zing of previous Disney movies. Still, the movie has its moments; the two moose (played by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas) are hilarious.
Open Season (1996) - A satire about television ratings in the U.S., Season is passably likeable, and has its moments.
Home on the Range (2004) - Considering that this is supposedly the last traditionally animated feature that Disney is coming out with (although I hope not), this movie is a disappointment. It's not very funny, and the plot is a little formulaic. It's nowhere near some of the other Disney classics, and I really wish that Disney could come up with more of the classic animation that made the studio great. Sad to say, with 3-D computer animation coming out of everyone's ears, Disney has probably decided that it's the wave of the future, and so, we say goodbye to classics like Mulan and Beauty and the Beast, among others.
Brother Bear (2003) - one of the last traditional Disney animated features, the movie is about understanding another by living for a while in the other's place, or, in this case, fur. It's okay, but somehow, I think the last great traditional Disney classic was Mulan. There are times when Bear gets too preachy, and it lacks the zing of previous Disney movies. Still, the movie has its moments; the two moose (played by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas) are hilarious.
Open Season (1996) - A satire about television ratings in the U.S., Season is passably likeable, and has its moments.
Home on the Range (2004) - Considering that this is supposedly the last traditionally animated feature that Disney is coming out with (although I hope not), this movie is a disappointment. It's not very funny, and the plot is a little formulaic. It's nowhere near some of the other Disney classics, and I really wish that Disney could come up with more of the classic animation that made the studio great. Sad to say, with 3-D computer animation coming out of everyone's ears, Disney has probably decided that it's the wave of the future, and so, we say goodbye to classics like Mulan and Beauty and the Beast, among others.
Busy, Busy, Busy
It's good when old friends come back for visits, although since the U.S. summer is June-July or so, most of them come back at the same time, making this July a rather hectic one.
What have I done this month so far, in terms of activities?
July 9-10 - Gaiman Quest (see previous post)
July 14 - Dinner with J, A, and M at Chocolate Kiss (thanks for the treat, by the way)
July 16 - Himig Delaney reunion at our old choirmaster J's place. Loads of fun, lots of singing.
July 17 - Breakfast with the Ihawbalot group at McDo Katipunan, and lunch at St Ignatius for my uncle's birthday party
What's to come?
July 23 - Wedding of T and J in the morning; B's (friends' child) and R's (niece) birthday party in the afternoon (how H and I are going to cut it is still a big question mark)
July 24 - My birthday! Oh, and Himig will be singing at the 11 o'clock mass in UP, so I'll probably join them. :D
I'm pretty certain that there'll be something on the weekend after that, but I'm too tired to think that far.
Needless to say, it's been a fun but rather tiring month thus far, and I'll be looking forward to August, when the activities will be tapering out (I hope).
What have I done this month so far, in terms of activities?
July 9-10 - Gaiman Quest (see previous post)
July 14 - Dinner with J, A, and M at Chocolate Kiss (thanks for the treat, by the way)
July 16 - Himig Delaney reunion at our old choirmaster J's place. Loads of fun, lots of singing.
July 17 - Breakfast with the Ihawbalot group at McDo Katipunan, and lunch at St Ignatius for my uncle's birthday party
What's to come?
July 23 - Wedding of T and J in the morning; B's (friends' child) and R's (niece) birthday party in the afternoon (how H and I are going to cut it is still a big question mark)
July 24 - My birthday! Oh, and Himig will be singing at the 11 o'clock mass in UP, so I'll probably join them. :D
I'm pretty certain that there'll be something on the weekend after that, but I'm too tired to think that far.
Needless to say, it's been a fun but rather tiring month thus far, and I'll be looking forward to August, when the activities will be tapering out (I hope).
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Addendum to 'Fantastic Four' (Spoiler)
WARNING! SPOILER!
H brought me to watch 'Fantastic Four' last night, and I was surprised to discover that there are apparently two versions of the movie. Both versions involve the conversation of Sue and Reed when Sue took Reed out for a break from his work. In the version that I watched last Saturday, they talked by the docks on the river. Last night, they had the very same talk, but in a planetarium. Weird, huh?
The other part that's different, but I'm not sure about, is when Reed proposed to Sue at the end. Last Saturday, I remember that he made a motion to kneel, but he remained at eye height with Sue, as he had simply stretched his knee down. Last night, he knelt down for real.
I guess the different versions were to test which scene would get a better reaction, but I didn't think they'd show both versions simultaneously.
H brought me to watch 'Fantastic Four' last night, and I was surprised to discover that there are apparently two versions of the movie. Both versions involve the conversation of Sue and Reed when Sue took Reed out for a break from his work. In the version that I watched last Saturday, they talked by the docks on the river. Last night, they had the very same talk, but in a planetarium. Weird, huh?
The other part that's different, but I'm not sure about, is when Reed proposed to Sue at the end. Last Saturday, I remember that he made a motion to kneel, but he remained at eye height with Sue, as he had simply stretched his knee down. Last night, he knelt down for real.
I guess the different versions were to test which scene would get a better reaction, but I didn't think they'd show both versions simultaneously.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Gaiman Quest
One of my favorite comic book writers is Neil Gaiman, who helped revolutionalize the industry with his groundbreaking Sandman series. While the series has ended, it still manages to thrill and delight audiences around the world.
Gaiman has since moved on to writing novels and short stories, but the appeal is still there. So, when I learned that he was coming here to the Philippines on tour, I knew I just had to be there to get my books signed. It was B's birthday last Saturday, and he had gotten book signing passes for the occasion. So off we went to Rockwell for the first day of signing. Little did we know the adventure in store for us.
Day 1: Rockwell
B and I arrived at around 11 am at Rockwell, only to discover that, when we reached the Rockwell Tent, where the book signing was to take place, numbers were being distributed to make the signing more orderly. B and I got 663 and 661, respectively, so we were a little downcast, but still hopeful that we would be able to get the opportunity to meet Neil Gaiman.
We killed time by roaming around Rockwell, watching "Fantastic Four" (see prior post), and getting lunch at KFC after that. By the time we were done, we headed over to the tent, to see the large crowd forming in front of the venue.
What was nice was that I kept on running into people I knew: former students, old friends and the like. One of them, J, a former student, hung out with B and me for most of the afternoon and evening; he had come earlier than we did and got 325, which wasn't so good, but a hell of a lot better than mine or B's.
Some of my college barkada were around, and we sat for a while talking about Sandman and other comic news.
By three, it was announced that Neil would be a little late, and we began to get worried about whether we would be able to get our books signed that day.
To escape boredom, B and I took turns in roaming around Rockwell, or reading the books we had bought at Fully Booked, which sponsored the book signing.
Neil arrived at around 4:30, and began by reading an excerpt of his upcoming book, Anansi Boys, to the delight of the crowd. Equally delightful was the trailer which previewed Mirrormask, which was based on a book Neil collaborated on with long-time Sandman cover artist Dave McKean.
The book signing began at 5, and B, J, and I were getting really worried about our chances. Still, we doggedly hung on.
By 9pm, the numbers were up to the 250s, and we got a message from the Fully Booked staff that the owner would be signing the number of those who had to go. Our signed numbers, printed on neon green paper, would give us priority at the next two signing venues. B and I talked, we decided to cut our losses and go home, and try again at Greenhills the next day. By 10pm, J had made it to the line, and we wished him luck. He would text me later that night at around 11:30 that he had finally gotten his books signed, and that Neil was a pretty good guy.
So, we spent 11 hours at Rockwell with nothing to show, except some new books and the viewing of "Fantastic Four." On the way home, we discussed strategy, and decided to go first thing in the morning. When we got home, I talked it over with H, and we decided to sleep over at my parents' house so that B and I could leave earlier.
Day 2: Greenhills
B and I went to mass at 7 am in UP, and we were off to Fully Booked Greenhills for the next round of signing. We were a little more relaxed, because the person who signed our stubs said we would get in before those who just went straight to Greenhills.
We arrived in Greenhills around 8, and saw that there was a considerable line forming in front of Fully Booked; however, most of them did not have the signed stubs. So, confident that we had a slot, we went and had a leisurely breakfast at McDonald's.
We took our place in the line afterwards, having been instructed by the F.B. staff to join the line and be sorted out later. We learned that Neil had finished signing books for everybody who was left at the Tent the day before, and that he finished at around 1:30 am. Whoa, nelly, he's a tough hombre.
At around 9:30, they called for those who had the green tickets to form a second line beside the ones who didn't have tickets yet. B and I were elated to see that we were 4th and 5th in line.
The elation quickly dissipated when the organizers requested that we line up according to numbers (Now, was that fair?), instead of the line that we currently had. After 30 minutes, we got pushed back to about 25th in line. The girl in front of us was a little more pissed off; her number was 681, so she had to move a ways back.
Aside: One weird thing was that there were big burly black-shirted guys doing crowd control, with "Professional Bouncers Association" printed on the shirts. I didn't know one had to be a professional to be a bouncer. One learns something everyday, I guess.
While waiting in line, I ran into more friends and fellow Sandman or Gaiman fans. One of them, A, wasn't able to get any ticket, so he asked me if he could give me the books he wanted signed, and include them in the signing. Sure, what are friends for?
A dilemma arose when they announced that Neil would only be able to accomodate two books per person. I had to return one of A's books (Sandman: the Dream Hunters), and I had to make a quick decision: Fables and Reflections, or Books of Magic. After a lot of hemming and hawing, and moving books in and out of our bag, I settled on Magic.
Neil arrived relatively early (2:30), and began by reading a little more from Anansi Boys (I am so getting a copy of that). He then entertained two questions:
One: Will he explain how Delight became Delirium?
His answer: He plans to do so before he dies, maybe for the 20th anniversary of the Sandman. So, he continued, we had better hope he lives to a ripe old age. (Peals of laughter at this)
Two: Will he come back?
His answer: Sure, if only to have us shout at him the way we were doing.
And with that, the signing began. The line moved surprisingly quickly, and in about 25 minutes, B and I were having our books signed by Neil Gaiman (oh joy). He seemed like a nice fellow, very friendly and accomodating.
So, after 7 hours of waiting, B and I completed our quest, and got our books signed and, in B's case, drawn on.
I do hope he comes back to the Philippines. I like to think he was pleasantly surprised at the reception he got.
Gaiman has since moved on to writing novels and short stories, but the appeal is still there. So, when I learned that he was coming here to the Philippines on tour, I knew I just had to be there to get my books signed. It was B's birthday last Saturday, and he had gotten book signing passes for the occasion. So off we went to Rockwell for the first day of signing. Little did we know the adventure in store for us.
Day 1: Rockwell
B and I arrived at around 11 am at Rockwell, only to discover that, when we reached the Rockwell Tent, where the book signing was to take place, numbers were being distributed to make the signing more orderly. B and I got 663 and 661, respectively, so we were a little downcast, but still hopeful that we would be able to get the opportunity to meet Neil Gaiman.
We killed time by roaming around Rockwell, watching "Fantastic Four" (see prior post), and getting lunch at KFC after that. By the time we were done, we headed over to the tent, to see the large crowd forming in front of the venue.
What was nice was that I kept on running into people I knew: former students, old friends and the like. One of them, J, a former student, hung out with B and me for most of the afternoon and evening; he had come earlier than we did and got 325, which wasn't so good, but a hell of a lot better than mine or B's.
Some of my college barkada were around, and we sat for a while talking about Sandman and other comic news.
By three, it was announced that Neil would be a little late, and we began to get worried about whether we would be able to get our books signed that day.
To escape boredom, B and I took turns in roaming around Rockwell, or reading the books we had bought at Fully Booked, which sponsored the book signing.
Neil arrived at around 4:30, and began by reading an excerpt of his upcoming book, Anansi Boys, to the delight of the crowd. Equally delightful was the trailer which previewed Mirrormask, which was based on a book Neil collaborated on with long-time Sandman cover artist Dave McKean.
The book signing began at 5, and B, J, and I were getting really worried about our chances. Still, we doggedly hung on.
By 9pm, the numbers were up to the 250s, and we got a message from the Fully Booked staff that the owner would be signing the number of those who had to go. Our signed numbers, printed on neon green paper, would give us priority at the next two signing venues. B and I talked, we decided to cut our losses and go home, and try again at Greenhills the next day. By 10pm, J had made it to the line, and we wished him luck. He would text me later that night at around 11:30 that he had finally gotten his books signed, and that Neil was a pretty good guy.
So, we spent 11 hours at Rockwell with nothing to show, except some new books and the viewing of "Fantastic Four." On the way home, we discussed strategy, and decided to go first thing in the morning. When we got home, I talked it over with H, and we decided to sleep over at my parents' house so that B and I could leave earlier.
Day 2: Greenhills
B and I went to mass at 7 am in UP, and we were off to Fully Booked Greenhills for the next round of signing. We were a little more relaxed, because the person who signed our stubs said we would get in before those who just went straight to Greenhills.
We arrived in Greenhills around 8, and saw that there was a considerable line forming in front of Fully Booked; however, most of them did not have the signed stubs. So, confident that we had a slot, we went and had a leisurely breakfast at McDonald's.
We took our place in the line afterwards, having been instructed by the F.B. staff to join the line and be sorted out later. We learned that Neil had finished signing books for everybody who was left at the Tent the day before, and that he finished at around 1:30 am. Whoa, nelly, he's a tough hombre.
At around 9:30, they called for those who had the green tickets to form a second line beside the ones who didn't have tickets yet. B and I were elated to see that we were 4th and 5th in line.
The elation quickly dissipated when the organizers requested that we line up according to numbers (Now, was that fair?), instead of the line that we currently had. After 30 minutes, we got pushed back to about 25th in line. The girl in front of us was a little more pissed off; her number was 681, so she had to move a ways back.
Aside: One weird thing was that there were big burly black-shirted guys doing crowd control, with "Professional Bouncers Association" printed on the shirts. I didn't know one had to be a professional to be a bouncer. One learns something everyday, I guess.
While waiting in line, I ran into more friends and fellow Sandman or Gaiman fans. One of them, A, wasn't able to get any ticket, so he asked me if he could give me the books he wanted signed, and include them in the signing. Sure, what are friends for?
A dilemma arose when they announced that Neil would only be able to accomodate two books per person. I had to return one of A's books (Sandman: the Dream Hunters), and I had to make a quick decision: Fables and Reflections, or Books of Magic. After a lot of hemming and hawing, and moving books in and out of our bag, I settled on Magic.
Neil arrived relatively early (2:30), and began by reading a little more from Anansi Boys (I am so getting a copy of that). He then entertained two questions:
One: Will he explain how Delight became Delirium?
His answer: He plans to do so before he dies, maybe for the 20th anniversary of the Sandman. So, he continued, we had better hope he lives to a ripe old age. (Peals of laughter at this)
Two: Will he come back?
His answer: Sure, if only to have us shout at him the way we were doing.
And with that, the signing began. The line moved surprisingly quickly, and in about 25 minutes, B and I were having our books signed by Neil Gaiman (oh joy). He seemed like a nice fellow, very friendly and accomodating.
So, after 7 hours of waiting, B and I completed our quest, and got our books signed and, in B's case, drawn on.
I do hope he comes back to the Philippines. I like to think he was pleasantly surprised at the reception he got.
'Fantastic Four'
While B and I were waiting for Neil Gaiman to show up at Rockwell for the book signing, we caught “Fantastic Four.” We weren’t disappointed.
By the movie, that is. I'll save the book signing for the post after this.
What was appealing about the movie was that it didn't take itself too seriously. It was relatively light, and the story was a fun ride from start to finish.
The characters, especially the Human Torch and the Thing, were the main focus, by dealing with their human insecurities and frailties. Julian MacMahon, though, came up a tad lacking as Victor von Doom. In the comic book, one has a sense of a powerful presence when Doom is around; MacMahon wasn’t able to project that presence. Aside from that, no biggies.
One of the details is to try to identify where Stan Lee, the Fantastic Four’s creator, shows up (I’m not telling).
All in all, a solid movie from Marvel.
Did I mention that Jessica Alba is a babe? Because she is.
By the movie, that is. I'll save the book signing for the post after this.
What was appealing about the movie was that it didn't take itself too seriously. It was relatively light, and the story was a fun ride from start to finish.
The characters, especially the Human Torch and the Thing, were the main focus, by dealing with their human insecurities and frailties. Julian MacMahon, though, came up a tad lacking as Victor von Doom. In the comic book, one has a sense of a powerful presence when Doom is around; MacMahon wasn’t able to project that presence. Aside from that, no biggies.
One of the details is to try to identify where Stan Lee, the Fantastic Four’s creator, shows up (I’m not telling).
All in all, a solid movie from Marvel.
Did I mention that Jessica Alba is a babe? Because she is.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
My Take on the National Situation
One has to wonder at the amount of hubris that our President has. Just a few days after apologizing for her "lapse of judgement," she's coming out with guns blazing, claiming that there's no viable alternative to her. So much for her apology, but then again, that's nothing new for GMA (remember her promise not to run?). For me, ever since she was a senator, she has always struck me as one who was all image and no substance.
What direction to take? With today's events (Cory Aquino, the MBC, and 10 Cabinet members have joined the call for her to resign), GMA's base is rapidly eroding, and I don't think she's going to last much longer. The longer she stays, the more our country's situation deteriorates. So, for me, I cannot think of any other option but for her to step down voluntarily, and avoid bringing our nation down with her.
Whatever happens, it should be the constitutional route. Extra-constitutional means, such as those proposed by the leftists and pro-Erap groups will only lead to more chaos and anarchy. For one thing, who appoints this committee that some of them prate about? Erap? You've got to be kidding.
For me, impeachment takes too long, and, with the current support GMA has, it isn't likely to prosper. However, with today's events, it may be possible to subject her to an impeachment process. But, what would the evidence be against her, as the tapes have been repeatedly labeled as 'illegal'?
While I'm not very comfortable with it, because I don't trust him, I'll go with the constitutional succession and let Noli have his chance to lead the country. Who knows? Maybe he'll do well.
The main thing now is for us to observe events very carefully and discern what the best course of action will be. To act rashly at this stage would be suicide. The other is for us to continually pray for peace in our country. Maybe God will enlighten our country's leaders and make them realize the damage they've caused to the Philippines.
What direction to take? With today's events (Cory Aquino, the MBC, and 10 Cabinet members have joined the call for her to resign), GMA's base is rapidly eroding, and I don't think she's going to last much longer. The longer she stays, the more our country's situation deteriorates. So, for me, I cannot think of any other option but for her to step down voluntarily, and avoid bringing our nation down with her.
Whatever happens, it should be the constitutional route. Extra-constitutional means, such as those proposed by the leftists and pro-Erap groups will only lead to more chaos and anarchy. For one thing, who appoints this committee that some of them prate about? Erap? You've got to be kidding.
For me, impeachment takes too long, and, with the current support GMA has, it isn't likely to prosper. However, with today's events, it may be possible to subject her to an impeachment process. But, what would the evidence be against her, as the tapes have been repeatedly labeled as 'illegal'?
While I'm not very comfortable with it, because I don't trust him, I'll go with the constitutional succession and let Noli have his chance to lead the country. Who knows? Maybe he'll do well.
The main thing now is for us to observe events very carefully and discern what the best course of action will be. To act rashly at this stage would be suicide. The other is for us to continually pray for peace in our country. Maybe God will enlighten our country's leaders and make them realize the damage they've caused to the Philippines.
'War of the Worlds'
H and I caught the last full show at SM City, and, I have mixed feelings about the movie. I know it's Spielberg and all, but I felt that the movie was a bit hurried and a bit incomplete. The effects were spectacular, but so was the "Star Wars" prequel. I guess I felt that more could have been done, and the movie didn't explain things all that well. How did Cruise's son survive, and meet up with them for the very unreal happy ending? You tell me.
What I found intriguing was that the design of the alien machines, as well as the horrific weapons used, was almost exactly like the Martian invaders in Alan Moore's volume 2 of "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." Did they base their designs from H.G. Wells' descriptions in his book which inspired it all? I'll probably wind up reading it sometime soon.
All in all, while "Worlds" had a great cast (Dakota Fanning is a very talented actress; Tim Robbins has a great short role as well) and great effects, the choppiness of the story made it difficult to follow. "Starship Troopers", "Aliens", and even "Independence Day", in my opinion, were better.
What I found intriguing was that the design of the alien machines, as well as the horrific weapons used, was almost exactly like the Martian invaders in Alan Moore's volume 2 of "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." Did they base their designs from H.G. Wells' descriptions in his book which inspired it all? I'll probably wind up reading it sometime soon.
All in all, while "Worlds" had a great cast (Dakota Fanning is a very talented actress; Tim Robbins has a great short role as well) and great effects, the choppiness of the story made it difficult to follow. "Starship Troopers", "Aliens", and even "Independence Day", in my opinion, were better.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Way Too Much Time (Either That, Or I'm Bored)
| You scored as Divine Command. Your life is directed by Divine Command: Your god and religion give you meaning and direction. ?Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.? --King James Version of the Bible ?Even as a tree has a single trunk but many branches and leaves, there is one religion--human religion--but any number of faiths.? --Mahatma Gandhi More info at Arocoun's Wikipedia User Page...
What philosophy do you follow? (v1.03) created with QuizFarm.com |
Half and Half
 | You scored as Gandalf. You are Gandalf! This wise, old mage is loyal and brave. He is known for his counsel and advice to his friends and allies during tough times. "All you have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to you."
Which LOTR character are you? created with QuizFarm.com |
Quizzes!
Surprise, surprise.
J.R.R. Tolkien: Lord of the Rings. You are
entertaining and imaginative, creating whole
new worlds around yourself. Well loved, you
have a whole league of imitators, none of which
is quite as profound as you are. Stories and
songs give a spark of joy in the middle of your
eternal battle with the forces of evil.
Which literature classic are you?
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J.R.R. Tolkien: Lord of the Rings. You are
entertaining and imaginative, creating whole
new worlds around yourself. Well loved, you
have a whole league of imitators, none of which
is quite as profound as you are. Stories and
songs give a spark of joy in the middle of your
eternal battle with the forces of evil.
Which literature classic are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Monday, July 04, 2005
Voting...How Much?
G's nanny, who hails from H's province, will be reaching the voting age this year, and she's really excited about when the next elections will be.
Not because she'll be able to exercise her right to vote, but because of the the money she expects to get from the candidates. According to H, who related her talk with the nanny with me, people in the nanny's town get around P500 each during election time.
The sad thing about this is that she is only one of a multitude of Filipinos, who, when elections come, see nothing wrong in accepting money to vote for a particular candidate. The "gold" aspect of the 3 G's that rule our country has become so pervasive that people expect it as a matter of course. It has become part of the political culture.
No wonder we cannot move forward as a country. We are so politically immature that we don't elect officials based on their political platform, but on the platforms of entertainment or sports, or, worse, money. As a result, the political landscape is carpeted with idiots of every shape and color.
So, when a losing candidate calling for snap elections to replace the President said something to the effect of, "The Filipino people are mature enough to elect their leaders," I'm afraid I have serious doubts about that.
Not because she'll be able to exercise her right to vote, but because of the the money she expects to get from the candidates. According to H, who related her talk with the nanny with me, people in the nanny's town get around P500 each during election time.
The sad thing about this is that she is only one of a multitude of Filipinos, who, when elections come, see nothing wrong in accepting money to vote for a particular candidate. The "gold" aspect of the 3 G's that rule our country has become so pervasive that people expect it as a matter of course. It has become part of the political culture.
No wonder we cannot move forward as a country. We are so politically immature that we don't elect officials based on their political platform, but on the platforms of entertainment or sports, or, worse, money. As a result, the political landscape is carpeted with idiots of every shape and color.
So, when a losing candidate calling for snap elections to replace the President said something to the effect of, "The Filipino people are mature enough to elect their leaders," I'm afraid I have serious doubts about that.
Yet Another Meme
a wormhole from amy
1. reply with your name and i will write something i like about you
2. i will then say what song/movie/icon/etc reminds me of you
3. if i were to apply an o'clock to you, it would be...
4. i will try to name a single word that best describes you
5. i'll tell you the most memorable moment i've had with you
6. i will tell you what animal you remind me of
7. i'll then tell you something that i've always wondered about you
8. put this in your journal
1. reply with your name and i will write something i like about you
2. i will then say what song/movie/icon/etc reminds me of you
3. if i were to apply an o'clock to you, it would be...
4. i will try to name a single word that best describes you
5. i'll tell you the most memorable moment i've had with you
6. i will tell you what animal you remind me of
7. i'll then tell you something that i've always wondered about you
8. put this in your journal
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