Monday, June 29, 2009

ADHD Porn

That's what Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is.

The Plot: The Autobots - Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and the others - must rise once again and protect humanity (humanity = Sam Witwicky and his girlfriend) from the threat of the Decepticons (resurrected Megatron, Starscream, a mostly inert Soundwave and - who the f*ck is 'The Fallen'?).

Explosions. Big Machinery. Cool Cars. Aircraft Carriers. Military people walking. Military people talking. Military people walking - in formation. Shootouts. Jet fighters in the sky. Explosions. Explosions. Explosions. Megan Fox in skimpy clothing. Running. Jiggling breasts. Explosions. Explosions. Explosions. A shot of some actor's crotch. Egypt. Petra. Explosions. Explosions. Explosions. Explosions. Optimus dies. Optimus lives. Explosions.

I feel dizzy.

Reaction: I never thought I'd get bored of so much explosions...but I did.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Off to Neverland



Michael Jackson: 1958-2009

The King of Pop is Dead. Long Live the King of Pop!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Mga Pinagkakaabalahan

1. Two - no, three - book reviews for Ma'am Camagay. The early bird gets a LOT of worms, it seems. hehe

2. Readings for our Anthro 292. Hindi pa kami nagkikita ni Prof Tan but from what I can glean from his essay, magaling na tao ito...at may sense of humor pa...

3. Eto pa ibang pinagkaka-abalahan natin. hehe



Trinity Blood: the DVD I bought had some defect with the encoding or rendering since it was playing at twice the speed. On a positive note, that means I was done with the series in one day. Unfortunately, now I'm stuck with the memory of all the Trinity Blood characters being dubbed by Alvin and The Chipmunks. I liked the Italian Renaissance references and the primordial siblings. Pinaka-astig na pangalan ng character - VACLAV HAVEL! hahaha and he happens to be a real historical figure.



Gunslinger Girl: The instant I heard the opening song, I fell in love with this anime. Little orphan girls modified physically and mentally to be lethal assassins. So far I find this series generally depressing but there are light and even touching moments. Now if the damned DVD behaves itself and plays properly, I could continue watching this anime...

Monday, June 22, 2009

I Have To Watch This...

Fast Track

Medyo busy reading for my papers sa Kas 204. Solong-solo ko si Ma'am Camagay nung first meeting hahaha. I actually wanted to report early since various plans are brewing next month and into August ehem ehem. Will provide details soon...

I am now almost finished with Joaquin Martinez de Zuñiga's Status of the Philippines in 1800. I didn't realize how much I missed required reading materials. Next in my list is Volume 2 of O.D. Corpuz's Roots of the Filipino Nation. Makapal ito, Dios mio.

Per tradition, Landmark Foodcourt in Trinoma still serves as an (airconditioned) extension of the UP Main Library.

Kas 205 paper is on the fast track -- when I feel like it. hah!

Monday, June 15, 2009

What Lies Beyond the Event Horizon?

No one is really sure, though theories abound. I tried reading the wikipedia article on 'event horizon' but my comprehension conked out after three paragraphs.

I am now approaching the end of this (mis)adventure in Manila. I am approaching a new horizon filled with uncertainty but we have to trudge on, even with the faintest hope and notion of where we are truly headed.

Join me as I begin the journey to the end of this adventure. I face the coming end not with a sense of dread but a feeling of hopeful optimism (redundant?).

Don't worry folks. Just because we are at the beginning of the end doesn't mean that the wackiness will ease.

After all, this is sonofaditch we're talking about. hehe

This is my Stand Alone Complex on its last season.

See you beyond the Event Horizon...

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Abangan...



Best bits:

1. "You may find this hard to believe...but I'm GAY."

2. "That is such a Samantha thing to say!"

3. "I gave him -- like -- a traditional African name...O.J."

4. "What type belt is that, candidate?"

"D and G..."

"What is D and G?"

"Dolce and Gabbana...hello?!"

"HELLO?!!!"

5. "How do you protect your self from being attack[ed] by homosexuals?"

"They probably would tackle from behind."

6. "How did you find your son?"

"I swapped him...for an Ipod!"

Marcus Wright is a Cylon. Sort of.



If you still haven't watched Terminator: Salvation, here's a tip -- ignore the plot holes and the sometimes absurd contrivances that barely manages to keep the story moving. Just enjoy the action and the explosions.

I especially liked the fact that objects manage to materialize in the little girl's hand when the occasion warrants it. Signal flare? remote detonator? No problem!

Friday, June 12, 2009

Taking Shape...

A "skeletal (skeleton?) draft" of my Kas 205 paper is finished. "Skeletal" in the sense that it would serve as the basic structure for the final paper. Some additions and deletions will follow but at least I have the "bare bones" of the paper already.

Medyo obvious naman na hindi pa ako masyadong busy dahil nakakapag-isip pa ako ng term na "skeletal draft". hehe

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Filmfest

Cheap DVDs + postponed opening of classes = my very own filmfest

Featured Screenings





Taaaaaaads!

Thank God for shopping malls. One of them became a venue for an unexpected reunion for me and Graselda, fellow grade-schooler and colleague in UNO-R.

I was quite surprised to see her since she was supposed to be on her way abroad for her new teaching job. Turns out there was a bit of a delay with her papers and that she would be leaving next week.

We spent an hour at Landmark foodcourt in Trinoma trading gossip, stories, reminiscences and future plans. Never mind that I was unable to spend time with my books; it was a welcome break from the monotony of my daily life here in Manila.

Tads, Godspeed and the best of luck to you. Hope to bump into you some day - preferably in a mall.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Reminders

A Reminder against procrastination: met Prof Jose during the enrolment when I was processing ate angie's forms. a living, walking, and smiling reminder of my Kas 205 delinquency...sigh

A Reminder against (unsafe, sexual) experimentation: David Carraidine dies in the most bizarre (though not quite unheard of) manner. I remember a similar scandal involving a British MP during the late 90s who also suffocated to death -- while wearing women's lingerie. Jesus Christ, Caine...I understand the erotic asphyxiation bit -- but choking your genitals? ano ba yan?

A Reminder against (indiscreet) video documentation: Careless whisper. 'nuff said.

A Reminder against (potentially lethal) infection: the opening of classes were postponed for a week due to the H1N1 virus threat. I need a thick book. Several cheap DVDs.


And I also need to start working on my Kas 205 paper.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

This Frakked-Upped Enrolment

Ever since I arrived in Manila, it seems that I have been dogged by a series of unfortunate events.

Yesterday, I was planning on withdrawing my enrolment money when the PNB ATM went offline. The fierce rains kept me from journeying beyond the Shopping Center.

Today, I woke up early hoping that the line at the bank would still be short. Turns out there was no line. The reason: the ATM was still offline.

But I consoled myself with the fact that I could still enroll myself as payment is the last step in the process.

Lining up at the grad school office to get my Form 5 was a bit of a hassle as the support staff was still a bit frazzled and disorganized. But thankfully the line was short. When I got my forms I snuck inside a vacant classroom and proceeded to fill them out. So far, so good...

Next, I made my way to the History Department's office to have my forms signed by our designated graduate studies adviser. I was spared the long queue since graduates students are accorded a certain privilege - naks...and so I was patiently waiting inside the office for my name to be called when all of a sudden everything went dark.

At nagkabrownout pa! walang kuryente, walang access sa CRS! Sh*t!

In hopes that the power would eventually return, I bided my time in the dark recesses of the Kas office, assaulted by the delectable sight and smell of the office staff's merienda. But there was good news -- I was directed to the office of Prof Veneracion who was gracious enough to sign our forms. Made me think twice not taking his course -- ang bait pala ni Prof Jimmy...hehe

When I was about to step out of the department, I realized that I did not have my trusty umbrella with me. Frak. I went back to the Kas office but it was not there. Then I remembered...

I left it inside the vacant classroom.

I went back there but my umbrella was already gone. Which was not surprising, considering it was one fine specimen. At sino ba ang hindi gugustuhing makapulot ng sosyal na payong, no?

But, dammit! This frakking day has been one disaster after another!

To relieve the stress of this day, I spent the next few hours roaming Trinoma and SM North. I bought myself a new umbrella and as luck would have it, an Underworld DVD was on sale at Odyssey at THE Annex. Nothing like Beckinsale in spandex to chase the malas away. hehe

I decided to return early to UP since I imagine the power cut wouldn't last long. I made my way to the library for my clearance. Earlier I had been there but the power outage meant that they were unable to access their records or whatever. I was expecting a flurry of activity since they would be making up for lost time but the library seemed bare -- and dark.

"Sir, closed na po kami. Half-day lang kami ngayon." the guard informed me.

*Sigh*