Feasib: Monday Submission, Thursday Defense

I was slitting hotdogs for cooking when the bread knife slid from the meat and its serrated blade dug into the flesh of my left index finger. It didn't bleed.
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Check out my Carpenters discography collection. Woot!

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"When my niece returned from school saying, “Gays are disgusting!” I knew she learnt that hatred from a classmate, who had in turn absorbed that hatred from a parent...

"Many people have cited many ‘reasons’ for hating homosexuals, just as many people tried to justify their views that the Earth was flat, that the darker skinned should always be inferior, and that women should subjugate their lives to men."

Feasibusy Kuno

Update: Do you want to know the most shocking CE gossip for the 1st Sem AY 2007-2008? (It's already a few months old although still only a handful are aware of it.) Text me! :P
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I'm so distracted I'm distracted from my usual distraction-- which is blogging. For the lack of a narrative, I present you with my latest music download.

Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition, The Carpenters

When singing videoke at home was still a pastime activity for us, my mother never missed to sing to the tune of The Carpenters' songs. She would then proceed to resent my generation's taste for noisy, artificial-sounding music. I was really indifferent to her most loved band until Toni Gonzaga rendered "Superstar" (lyrics) a cappella in an "Eat Bulaga" Lenten special. It was only then that I started to appreciate the music of The Carpenters.

During a period when rock and soul started to flourish, the music of the Carpenters was lambasted by critics saying it was too bubble-gum poppy. What probably was their saving grace was Karen Carpenter's voice. It had a remarkable hint of melancholy. The kind that was contagious and potent. Although seemingly trivial at first, it would slowly creep into the listener's subconscious making him turn to introspection and be haunted by his own emotional demons. The fact that Karen struggled with and died from anorexia makes her voice all the more romantic. A romantic tragedy, indeed.

If I had to pick my most favorite in their discography, I think it would have to be "A Song for You" (lyrics).

I'm Going Under! Este, Down Under.

Hah, alimuom is in the air. *Sniffs*

Run, baby, run, screaming with a loaded gun!
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If you own one of the beautiful names listed in my phonebook, I absent-mindedly left my cell phone in Pampanga. So don't call me, babeh. But you can call me babeh. Wenk. To push it further: Don't call me in the middle of the night no more. Don't text-text me to be there. Haha. Wenk another. It's not as if I'd readily reply anyway. :P
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Last Saturday I was in Makati to attend a seminar on Australian migration. Why? Actually it was my mother who volunteered me. Her friend is the friend of the managing partner of the organizing agency. The registration fee was some thousand pesos, but for us it was free. So why waste the opportunity, right?

The speaker was an old Aussie. He is a veteran migration officer and one of those who drafted the policies followed today blah blah. He was mumbling the whole time so I couldn't catch half of what he was saying. Good thing I had a seatmate (Multimedia Arts graduate from CSB) who was pleasant to stare at. Haha. And of course, there was also the food. Almost all of the attendees were hardcore on migrating and brought their resumes for assessment. I was also a bit interested, but despite that, I was still unqualified because the jobs required work experience of at least three years, unless I plan to study in Australia.

The venue was in Salcedo Village, near Citi Tower so I got a chance to see again the building of my beloved, future employer. (Yucch, feelingera!) After the seminar we went straight to the shopping malls. While Egay was unleashing her torrential fury and drowning half of my province, I was apathetically sashaying in the corridors of Glorietta and Rustan's. And please tell me what the buzz with Crocs is. They look like they're made out of cheap plastic, in retarded colors and designs! Wala lang, consumer insight.
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Break na pala sina Gil? One month has passed and I didn't notice! (Maybe it's because I had no interest in their relationship in the first place. FYI, I'm not being mean when I say that.)

Depression Is a Much Abused Word

It could all be so simple, but you'd rather make it hard.

I'm sad. There are so many things that I should be sad about. Some of them are an outcome of my own misdoings or negligence. Some of them are just out of my control...

I can't stand whining. I can't stand it when people whine, and most definitely I hate it when I find myself whining. It is an unnecessary activity in facing difficulties. One should direct all energy instead in formulating tactics in tackling the problem, to minimize it, to eradicate it. Easier said than done, but that is the surest way of doing it. But what if one, more than being beyond help, is unwise behind his years?

(I'm distracted, excuse me. Be Bench eye-candies!)

And I'm back. But I lost my train of thought. Chuchu, train, chuchu.

The bottomline is, no matter how heavy it is, my burden is my burden. I should carry it with my own shoulders. With a gag in my mouth. (Welcome, dirty thoughts.)

If only life were an unending late-night bus ride. Despite the freezing temperature and dimmed lights, to the nostalgic classics playing on the radio, I sleep, care-free yet secure, alone yet content.

When I look far, far back, the future was forever shining.

Bus Ride, Glueboy, Prince Harry

Going home to the province, I boarded an ordinary (un-airconditioned) bus just for the heck of it. Actually, I overspent my allowance that's why. Hehe. But I really didn't mind. The bus was half-filled and the weather was chilly.

From Cubao, I sat closely beside the open-wide window. I displayed my freaking, fugly face for the sidewalks of EDSA to behold. By the time we exited Balintawak, my face was already covered with soot of Quezon City air (ang sosyal) and god knows what other particulate matter entered my asthmatic lungs.

Past the tollgate, against my frail frame the wind rushed violently. Like flag on a pole amidst a storm, the shirt that covered my body flapped vigorously. Like the force of an industrial-strength magnet, the wind repelled my repulsive self as if to say "You don't deserve me, you puny being!" To which I would insist," Rape me! Rape me!"

Sensing the hubbub happening behind him, the man seated in front me closed down our shared window. Instantly, silence fell and for thirty seconds I couldn't feel my face. Another thirty seconds, there was this high-pitching sound. Someone farted. I just pretended I didn't hear anything. Deadma. So did the other passengers who boarded that bus.
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I spotted Elmer Glueboy walking by the Sunken Garden. He was wearing his usual black frames and skinny jeans. What has drawn a deep sigh out me though was his white, long-sleeved polo. It reminded me of Chiaki-senpai's. And I bet that just like Chiaki who's so confident of himself, Glueboy would say, "I'm so gorgeous I could sleep with myself!" Butting in, I would ask, "Can I join?"
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What is Prince Harry hiding under those shorts?!

Hmm, to the left, to the left....

The cold makes me horny. >:P Sa inyo na si Prince William.

Leah Dizon

I'm confident that only Jazelli takes interest in my JPop entries while the rest of you just skip reading them. However, what I'm going to tell should intrigue you.

There is this upcoming female artist in the JPop music scene. She was born in 1986, and she has Filipino heritage! (Her father is Filipino-Chinese and her mother is French.)

Presenting Leah Dizon.

Kawaii!
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"Softly" (first single)
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"Koi Shiyou♪" (second single)
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"L·O·V·E U" (third single)

She already has three singles under her belt the first of which was released early this year. She looks like Katrina Halili and a bit like Paris Hilton in her music videos. Haha. So far, she has one nice ballad and the rest are synth-filled, danceable tunes. Her music style is very poppy and teeny-bopper. I would have completely ignored her had she not been Filipino and a JPop artist. As of now, I can say I'm her fan. Hehe. Besides, Utada Hikaru is fond of Leah Dizon. :D

Related links:
Official site
Official blog
Wiki.ThePPN article
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"America is the only country which had first created and used the atomic bombs, while banning other countries to possess the atomic bombs or been putting pressure on them to reduce the quantity on the other side (And they possess a lot of nuclear weapons themselves) . . . Also, lately they've been criticizing Japan's "Comfort women" issues in the past, but they have a history of slavery in the past as well, are they really in the position to talk about the things like that..."

That comes from Utada Hikaru herself. Just when you affirm your opinion that she truly is an artist with profound insights, she proceeds to insert her usual conversation with her stuffed bear, Kuma Chang. I'm not complaining. :D
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Gulay, it rained so hard today. So hard that the raindrops beat against my umbrella mercilessly, creating tiny rips on it. The streets also gushed with rainwater that my sneakers and socks got soaked. As I walked back home I could feel the insides of my sneakers squish with every step I take. It felt oddly nice. Squishy, squishy. Hehe.

This just in: Palace suspends classes in Metro, 13 provinces (08/08/2007 06:27 PM)

Litter Miss Philippines

A post (translated from Kapampangan) in our Y!Group by a friend I've known since elementary. He is a Comm Arts graduate from Ateneo.

"Currently I'm staying here in our house [in Angeles] because I already left my events job [in Makati]. My body could no longer handle looking haggard all the time. I'm now busy sprucing myself up so I can apply as a flight attendant so wish me luck everyone! I hope I'll look gorgeous within a few weeks' time, I'll harass my dermatologist!

"When I finally save up enough, that's when I'll focus a career in fashion. I don't know, maybe in fashion design, fashion journalism or modeling or fashion buying, fashion PR, whatever! Just thought I'd tell you..."
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Good afternoon, everybody! I am Ivan Flores Rico, 20 years of age. I live in the city of Angeles... City!

I am taking up BS Business Administration in UP Diliman. I'm in my ninth trisemester and I expect to give birth graduate this October. (Yuck, delayed! So what?)

My ambition in life is to be a slave for the multinational corporations of the world. I also may put up my own business. That's if my need for achievement requires so and if I overcome my pathological sloth.

I used to believe that there is no God. I've already relented that atheistic persuasion, although I'm still not a fan of Christianity (or the Church to be exact).

There is a saying that goes, "If I am that and you are that and everything is that, then that is all there is."

I thank you. *Curtsies*
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Update:

Alpha: shehetttt ivaneeee! winner ka na naman!!!

When it comes to love I may be a loser but not in life (though it's contestable).

Innocent Porn

I caught an episode of this late-night Christian program. Actually, my mom was the one watching the TV while I was in front of the computer. Anyway, their topic was the "oversexification" of the entertainment media. So they went about discussing things like pornography, its widespread accessibility, its bad effects, and so forth.

Then, as usual, they showed case-studies-slash-testimonials. One was that of a married man who claimed to have been addicted to porn magazines. I think it's still within the bounds of normalcy, though. Anyway, the program went on telling that, as a result, the man developed an affair with another woman, blah, blah, blah. Later on, the featured case focused on the extramarital affair itself and ended completely oblivious of the porn addiction part.

I was like, "WTF was that?!" I even asked my mom sarcastically, "O, ano namang koneksyon ng pagkakaadik niya sa bold sa pagkakaroon niya ng kerida?" My mom just shrugged, then laughed. I mean, for chrissake logic's sake, they could have explained the psychological connection of the affair with pornography, but no! They didn't even pretend to attempt, those self-righteous idiots!
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Back in high school, in Creative English class, I made a research paper on sexual deviation. One of my references, a book on abnormal psychology, cited the "unadulterated" findings of the Meese Commission (a copy of its report can be found in the UP MainLib) under Ronald Reagan's term regarding exposure to erotica and how it correlated to sexual crimes.

Related readings:
*Exposure to Pornography and Reactions to Rape
*No link between child porn and sexual abuse
*Pornography, Rape and Sex Crimes in Japan
*Pornography, Sex Crime, and Public Policy

This Is How Harry Potter Should Have Ended

Tohru and Kyo of Fruits Basket, graying, together until the end. Aww. :)

Or not. Haha. Oh my god, I'm going to grow old and die alone. Huhu. :(

Extrajudicial Killings Aside, This Administration Does Something Good

Woot! Classes suspended tomorrow. One more day to procrastinate and escape into the comfort of cyberspace.
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Rain, rain, on Saturday
Come what may, that's what I say.
Um, hindi ko na matuley.
Hehey.

Sana bumagyo para walang BACBACAN, para walang masaya. Yay!

HP7 Highlights (Part I)

"Dinner, Nagini."

The first chapter described an unconscious person hanging upside down in midair as if bound by and tied to the ceiling with an invisible rope. At the end of the chapter, Voldemort killed her with a curse, and she dropped dead on the table down below her. Voldemort then prompted his humongous snake Nagini for its meal, the lifeless Charity Burbage.

Can you stand imagining that snake unhinging its jaws to limit and swallowing whole its victim without you wincing at the least? Its body bulging with the silhouette of that of a full-grown human. Creepy!
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"He dug with a kind of fury, relishing the manual work, glorying in the non-magic of it, for every drop of his sweat and every blister felt like a gift to the elf who had saved their lives."

For me, Dobby's death was the saddest in the book. Reading this, especially the parts where he was actually dying in Harry's arms and when Harry was etching the words on the elf's grave stone, I almost cried with my bloodshot eyes (caused by the strain of not blinking enough).
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"When my sister was six years old, she was attacked, by three Muggle boys... It destroyed her, what they did: She was never right again."

Albus Dumbledore's brother Aberorth recounted what truly happened to their younger sister Ariana.

I searched Google for something that would say explicitly how she was "attacked". I found nothing official, but it didn't surprise me that people speculate as I do that Ariana may have been sexually assaulted (raped, to put it more bluntly) by three Muggle boys.

To be continued...

One, Two, Three, Four, Fi..., Seven.

You think hearing which character dies in every Harry Potter release diminishes the utility (in layman's term, spoils the fun) before you even get to read the books on your own. What could be more anti-climactic, you ask. Let me tell you, I read books 1, 2, 3, 4; dabbled in the beginning of 5; skipped the entirety of 6; and finished 7 in PDF format in less than a week after the physical books started selling.

I don't know if I should feel proud or stupid. Proud because I finished reading 7 before most of those who acquired the hardbound copy did or will do. And stupid because I acted impulsively, carried away by the thrill of a lead of a mere day of laying eyes on the text over anybody else. (Credit to Jay for the PDF download link.)

Now, am I at the point of no return? Did I cross the line just as Sirius Black himself crossed the veil? If I go through 5 and 6, will I still be able to enjoy reading them, to appreciate the revelations they would present in the order intended by the author? Bakit ba ang drama ko? Titigil na nga e.

I love Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! The more sophisticated fiction readers out there would proclaim the same, I believe. Every tidbit of truth that unfolded outstood the one before it. HP7 is a very juicy gossip session in black and white. (Not exactly a comparison that would flatter JK Rowling most, but you know what I mean. Hehe.)

To be continued...
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Kampyon daw ulit ang UP CBA sa StratMark. Well, I don't give a care; I'm not a caregiver! Ay, bakit tandang pandamdam? Dapat tuldok lang para mukha talagang hindi ako apektado. Haha.

Hikki Fanboy Moment

Two weeks ago I wrote a fan mail to Utada Hikaru sent through her website.

I asked if she would have made "Beautiful World" differently (or created another song altogether) had she known prior to her composition that it would be used as Rebuild of Evangelion's ending theme, not as opening. I also asked if she will be releasing an album this year.

Addressing her as "Utada-san," I introduced myself as an avid fan from the Philippines. And I have a strong feeling she posted the following (snippet) in response to my fan mail. Feelingero, bakit ba! :P

"I've probably written this before, but I must say it again! I cannot cease to be amazed by all the different places in the world I receive fan mail from! I really do read all my fan mail, and I wish I could write back to each of you, but since that's practically impossible, I will take this chance to say, Thank you!!!"
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Up next, my take on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!

HP5 Movie Date

My movie date with Teacher Duna pushed through last Wednesday night at Eastwood. Thanks for the company and the treat!

There I was, sitting on the velvet couch in front of Cinema 2, waiting for Dona to come, when I caught sight of a couple that was about to enter Cinema 1. I stared at the girl's familiar face. Then I turned my sight to her beefy, head-shaven companion. Omaghad, it's Paolo Contis and Isabel Oli (sp?)! Star-struck? Not much, as there was nothing really striking about them.

Minutes after, Dona arrived and we proceeded to watching the movie. Fast forward to the end, she said it's the one she liked the most among the five HP movies. As for me, I read only the first few chapters of the book so I couldn't really compare it against the movie, which also I enjoyed greatly. As long as Daniel Radcliffe's in it, any discrepancy is welcome.
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Daniel Radcliffe, why do you have to be so beautiful (and so filthy rich)? Never mind your stunted growth or your crooked teeth! I love you more than ever (especially now that you bared it all)! Huhu.

I see the pits of hopelessness and of low self-esteem ahead. Anybody care to join me jump off? You have to pick only one, of course.

Animefied Freud

"Beautiful World / Kiss & Cry" cover

"Beautiful World" will be the opening ending theme to the first (or all?) of four Rebuild of Evangelion movies. My heart skipped (in a good way) when I saw the single cover. For the Eva fan who knows the anime very well, Utada can be seen depicting the character Rei Ayanami in her (Rei's) quintessential pose.

The single will also include the 2007 mix of Utada's "Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)" (the Sinatra original) another version of which was used as ending theme to the original "Neon Genesis Evangelion" series.

I guess the main reason why Utada was approached by the Eva party to produce the theme and why she consented just as easily is because she is a self-confessed Eva fan herself. She would even allude to or quote from the anime in her personal blog.

But why the hell did I trouble myself hyperlinking when you really don't give a damn? Only Jazelli and I do. Wenk.

Two-night Paris Special

Omaghad, omaghad, Bhagdad! (Click image for more info.)

Ang Pag-ibig, Parang Ice Cream, Natutunaw

Question of the Week

"Nainlove ka na ba? Nyak, yan ang million dollar question ko ahaha. Pero kung gusto mo ng mamisong question, ano favorite flavor mo ng ice cream? Hehe." - T. Duna

Answer: It's not so much "falling in love" as it was obsession. And in that sense (what sense?), I think I've gone gaga over some skunk three times in my lifetime. Each one of these obsessions started with physical attraction, ended at that. Needless to say, I spent my time stressing over the crush while its object, oblivious of my suffering or, worse, denying my very existence, went on with his daily dealings. Next thing I knew, I was wishing never to see the light of day again and growing zits in the process.

My favorite ice cream flavor is and forever will be chocolate. I hate, hate, hate ice cream with nuts, any kind of nuts. Makes me nuts!