Get a divorce!
From Barbara's blog, I read a story about Pin@y dying in Australia. In their haste to leave the poverty, the women run towards Australia and find death waiting in the riches of the continent. A message to men in general: When you separate with the Filipina, why don't you pursue divorce instead of bashing their skulls in? Divorce leaves you outside of prison.
Sunday, April 11, 2004
Saturday, April 10, 2004
Onward Christian Soldier
I always thought that Christians were the most uninteresting people. Let's face it. The ones I have met in Berkeley always want to speak about Jesus and try to convert me into their church. No offense, but I have enough problems with one Catholic church. I don't need to add the problems of another church.
But just when I have about given up on Christian Pin@y bloggers, along came backspaced to return my faith on the indomitable spirit of humanity to overcome whatever restraints are placed upon them. Backspaced it the Pin@y Blog of the Day for the 10th of April 2004.
I always thought that Christians were the most uninteresting people. Let's face it. The ones I have met in Berkeley always want to speak about Jesus and try to convert me into their church. No offense, but I have enough problems with one Catholic church. I don't need to add the problems of another church.
But just when I have about given up on Christian Pin@y bloggers, along came backspaced to return my faith on the indomitable spirit of humanity to overcome whatever restraints are placed upon them. Backspaced it the Pin@y Blog of the Day for the 10th of April 2004.
The ring, one ring
I don't know what this dream means, but I dreamt that I finally bought the engagement ring. What is odd is that it was in a blue box. I bought it somewhere in San Francisco. And all I remember was how it glittered. Hmm, now I have to go searching for a real ring patterned after the ring in my dream? Thank goodness it did not have writing that glittered when the ring is placed in fire. No weird chanting voices came out either.
I don't know what this dream means, but I dreamt that I finally bought the engagement ring. What is odd is that it was in a blue box. I bought it somewhere in San Francisco. And all I remember was how it glittered. Hmm, now I have to go searching for a real ring patterned after the ring in my dream? Thank goodness it did not have writing that glittered when the ring is placed in fire. No weird chanting voices came out either.
Friday, April 09, 2004
Looking at the Stars from the Gutter
What do physicians think while they are in their training in medical school? Just what do they encounter in school to make them become healers? Now you have the chance to find out. gutterboy tells you all about his life and training from circumcision to alanis, and for that gutterboy is the Pinoy Blog of the Day for the 9th of April 2004.
What do physicians think while they are in their training in medical school? Just what do they encounter in school to make them become healers? Now you have the chance to find out. gutterboy tells you all about his life and training from circumcision to alanis, and for that gutterboy is the Pinoy Blog of the Day for the 9th of April 2004.
Babaylan Speaks
Dear Friends,
April's featured poet is Maiana Minahal with her poem "stolen kali" (written for a poetry/kali collaboration with Gura Michelle Bautista). Other items mentioned are
1) "Before Their Words," a multidisciplinary performance in San Francisco with Maiana, Michelle, Nedjula Baguio and Rona Fernandez;
2) Michelle and Eileen Tabios's poetry/kali performance coming up at Mills College;
3) information on Eileen's latest e-poetry chapbook CRUCIAL BLISS EPILOGUES;
4) a review of Eileen's short story collection BEHIND THE BLUE CANVAS (Giraffe, 2004); and
5) information on Eileen Tabios's poetry reading in Los Angeles on April 25, with guest artist Mary Talusan.
Happy Reading!
Jade Afable
Associate Editor
Meritage Press
Dear Friends,
April's featured poet is Maiana Minahal with her poem "stolen kali" (written for a poetry/kali collaboration with Gura Michelle Bautista). Other items mentioned are
1) "Before Their Words," a multidisciplinary performance in San Francisco with Maiana, Michelle, Nedjula Baguio and Rona Fernandez;
2) Michelle and Eileen Tabios's poetry/kali performance coming up at Mills College;
3) information on Eileen's latest e-poetry chapbook CRUCIAL BLISS EPILOGUES;
4) a review of Eileen's short story collection BEHIND THE BLUE CANVAS (Giraffe, 2004); and
5) information on Eileen Tabios's poetry reading in Los Angeles on April 25, with guest artist Mary Talusan.
Happy Reading!
Jade Afable
Associate Editor
Meritage Press
JOKE LANG COMEDY NIGHT
There will be a comedy night to benefit the International Hotel. Those living in the San Francisco Bay Area should know about the history of the I Hotel because it is an example of the collision between modernization and the social welfare of the elderly. In life, society and we as members of society make choices which are not often the best choice for those of us who do not have the financial werewithal to fight.
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Doors open: 6pm, Show starts: 6:30 pm
Zellerbach Auditorium, UC Berkeley
Featuring
Rex Navarette, Kevin Camia Brent Weinbachand MORE! Experience live music by SPAMSILOG
A BENEFIT FOR THE RISE OF THE INTERNATIONAL HOTEL AND THE MANILATOWN CENTER
The International Hotel was the home for many Chinese and Filipino elderly immigrants, and was the last standing block of a 10-block area that was previously known as Manilatown. From 1968 to 1977 the International Hotel Tenants Association led the defense of their home against eviction, for affordable housing, and preservation of their Chinatown-Manilatown community. The new International Hotel and the Manilatown Center will be opening in May 2005.
$10 Pre-sale, sliding scale $10-15(+) @ DOOR, general seating
questions?: JokeLang_2004@hotmail.com
There will be a comedy night to benefit the International Hotel. Those living in the San Francisco Bay Area should know about the history of the I Hotel because it is an example of the collision between modernization and the social welfare of the elderly. In life, society and we as members of society make choices which are not often the best choice for those of us who do not have the financial werewithal to fight.
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Doors open: 6pm, Show starts: 6:30 pm
Zellerbach Auditorium, UC Berkeley
Featuring
Rex Navarette, Kevin Camia Brent Weinbachand MORE! Experience live music by SPAMSILOG
A BENEFIT FOR THE RISE OF THE INTERNATIONAL HOTEL AND THE MANILATOWN CENTER
The International Hotel was the home for many Chinese and Filipino elderly immigrants, and was the last standing block of a 10-block area that was previously known as Manilatown. From 1968 to 1977 the International Hotel Tenants Association led the defense of their home against eviction, for affordable housing, and preservation of their Chinatown-Manilatown community. The new International Hotel and the Manilatown Center will be opening in May 2005.
$10 Pre-sale, sliding scale $10-15(+) @ DOOR, general seating
questions?: JokeLang_2004@hotmail.com
Thursday, April 08, 2004
She Has Nothing to Say
curlytops supposedly has difficulty putting into words her experience. I wish I had her gift of writing then because she manages to cut into the beauty of life using Taglish. Normally, I would wince at the mix of languages, but with curlytops' writing I sense the drama and the dignity of everyday life in the Philippines. Her blog is the Pin@y Blog of the Day for the 8th of April 2004. Check out her March 29 2004 entry about "Dalaga na si Bunso" and you will understand the speed of time coursing around you.
curlytops supposedly has difficulty putting into words her experience. I wish I had her gift of writing then because she manages to cut into the beauty of life using Taglish. Normally, I would wince at the mix of languages, but with curlytops' writing I sense the drama and the dignity of everyday life in the Philippines. Her blog is the Pin@y Blog of the Day for the 8th of April 2004. Check out her March 29 2004 entry about "Dalaga na si Bunso" and you will understand the speed of time coursing around you.
Pilipino Cultural Night
I have a lecture coming up next week. I will be discussing PCN's with respect to history, decolonization, power relations, and essentialism. As a result, I have been spending time writing on the BART going to and from work, and I have not been blogging lately also.
PCN has been one of the more interesting animals I have come across. At first, the necessity of PCN eluded me. "Why do you have to dance Philippine folk dance again? To know your Pin@y culture? Didn't your parents teach you that already? Your grades are suffering! You should drop PCN and study!" is usually the stuff I would mutter to myself.
But time has a great way of showing you why some things are important. Going to grad school allowed me to analyze America and its associated systems of government and laws. History made me realize just how important it is for someone to be able to obtain data about one's own people. And my own dramatic decrease in facility with the Tagalog language woke me up to the rapidity with which culture and language can be lost in a place away from the Philippines.
I have tried to photograph and document the PCN's from 2000 to 2004. But something has always come up and made me unavailable. Just recently, however, I realized that maybe I needed to have this four years of not seeing PCN so that I can be ready for some project. While preparing the lecture, I realized that maybe, I would be in a position to document PCN at UC Berkeley in a documentary.
The timing is almost right. In two years, it would have been twenty years since I first set foot on the Berkeley campus and heard about the Pilipino-American Alliance. I would like to see the differences between the students who are entering Berkeley now versus the students who entered in the 1980's. PCN itself just celebrated 25 years at Berkeley several years ago (maybe in 1999?).
I will see how the stars align.
I have a lecture coming up next week. I will be discussing PCN's with respect to history, decolonization, power relations, and essentialism. As a result, I have been spending time writing on the BART going to and from work, and I have not been blogging lately also.
PCN has been one of the more interesting animals I have come across. At first, the necessity of PCN eluded me. "Why do you have to dance Philippine folk dance again? To know your Pin@y culture? Didn't your parents teach you that already? Your grades are suffering! You should drop PCN and study!" is usually the stuff I would mutter to myself.
But time has a great way of showing you why some things are important. Going to grad school allowed me to analyze America and its associated systems of government and laws. History made me realize just how important it is for someone to be able to obtain data about one's own people. And my own dramatic decrease in facility with the Tagalog language woke me up to the rapidity with which culture and language can be lost in a place away from the Philippines.
I have tried to photograph and document the PCN's from 2000 to 2004. But something has always come up and made me unavailable. Just recently, however, I realized that maybe I needed to have this four years of not seeing PCN so that I can be ready for some project. While preparing the lecture, I realized that maybe, I would be in a position to document PCN at UC Berkeley in a documentary.
The timing is almost right. In two years, it would have been twenty years since I first set foot on the Berkeley campus and heard about the Pilipino-American Alliance. I would like to see the differences between the students who are entering Berkeley now versus the students who entered in the 1980's. PCN itself just celebrated 25 years at Berkeley several years ago (maybe in 1999?).
I will see how the stars align.
Sunday, April 04, 2004
Advice to a College Senior
First off, congratulations on getting admitted to a University of California campus. Only the top 10% of high school graduates earn that distinction. The way in which the state of California designed the state schools, those who have a higher chance of continuing to advanced degrees like a master degree or a doctorate in philosophy generally attend the UC campuses.
However, you really wanted to get into UCLA and not UC Davis. What to do? What to do? I already have spoken to you about this before. The students who usually get into Berkeley or UCLA are those who want that school so badly that they will do anything to get into the school. That means special projects, going the extra mile in extra-curricular activities, and playing sports. And yes, appealing a rejection letter to UCLA is part of that taste in your mouth.
If your pride does not allow you to write an appeal and plan a course of action to show just how much you want UCLA, then the school might just be right in rejecting your application. Every applicant is smart, has the extra-curricular activities and is distinguished. The only difference among students is what resides in their heart.
"But what about family? What about my sister? What about my parents?" you ask. As with anything else, this decision must be based on what you yourself want not only at this time point in your life, but also in the future, say twenty years from now. What is your gut instinct telling you to do? Do you belong in UCLA or in Davis? Are you going to be happy staying at home? Are you going to be happy in Davis? Or, do you know that you belong to UCLA?
The exceptional students do not let anything hamper them from attaining their desires. This is just another challenge thrown your way. I personally scoff when people say that their family can not afford college. This is America. If you want it bad enough you will find a way. It's time to grow up.
Ten or twenty years from now, your parents will be in the grave. Your siblings will be married with their families. Where will you be? Will you be regretting your choice in school? The ones who do well in life are the ones who sought and chased after their dreams. In life, achievable dreams come so rarely. Choosing your college is one of them. Do not just think about the now. Think about yourself in the future.
Why do I personally care about your situation? Because I have seen talented Filipinos SETTLE for less than what they are worth because of FEAR. If I stand by and let talented people settle, pretty soon, the Filipino community will be full of people who settled. Life is not about settling. Life is about living.
Twenty years ago, my father was dying of leukemia. I had to choose a college. I was already accepted into UCLA. But, Berkeley came calling to me. Berkeley offered scholarships. Going to Berkeley would mean leaving my mother and family. I would have to be alone. In my gut, I knew I had to go to Berkeley. Seeing Berkeley for the first time made me wince, because it was not as pretty as UCLA. In the end though, I would not have changed anything in my experience. Berkeley made me who I am. Berkeley allowed me to excel. Berkeley challenged me to find who I am. In exchange for that privilege, I had to leave my family. But you know what? I learned to forge a mature and loving relationship with them. I appreciated them more after knowing what they sacrificed for me. Leaving made me find my love for my family.
I look at you and I know that UCLA will bring out the best in you. That is of course if you desire UCLA enough.
First off, congratulations on getting admitted to a University of California campus. Only the top 10% of high school graduates earn that distinction. The way in which the state of California designed the state schools, those who have a higher chance of continuing to advanced degrees like a master degree or a doctorate in philosophy generally attend the UC campuses.
However, you really wanted to get into UCLA and not UC Davis. What to do? What to do? I already have spoken to you about this before. The students who usually get into Berkeley or UCLA are those who want that school so badly that they will do anything to get into the school. That means special projects, going the extra mile in extra-curricular activities, and playing sports. And yes, appealing a rejection letter to UCLA is part of that taste in your mouth.
If your pride does not allow you to write an appeal and plan a course of action to show just how much you want UCLA, then the school might just be right in rejecting your application. Every applicant is smart, has the extra-curricular activities and is distinguished. The only difference among students is what resides in their heart.
"But what about family? What about my sister? What about my parents?" you ask. As with anything else, this decision must be based on what you yourself want not only at this time point in your life, but also in the future, say twenty years from now. What is your gut instinct telling you to do? Do you belong in UCLA or in Davis? Are you going to be happy staying at home? Are you going to be happy in Davis? Or, do you know that you belong to UCLA?
The exceptional students do not let anything hamper them from attaining their desires. This is just another challenge thrown your way. I personally scoff when people say that their family can not afford college. This is America. If you want it bad enough you will find a way. It's time to grow up.
Ten or twenty years from now, your parents will be in the grave. Your siblings will be married with their families. Where will you be? Will you be regretting your choice in school? The ones who do well in life are the ones who sought and chased after their dreams. In life, achievable dreams come so rarely. Choosing your college is one of them. Do not just think about the now. Think about yourself in the future.
Why do I personally care about your situation? Because I have seen talented Filipinos SETTLE for less than what they are worth because of FEAR. If I stand by and let talented people settle, pretty soon, the Filipino community will be full of people who settled. Life is not about settling. Life is about living.
Twenty years ago, my father was dying of leukemia. I had to choose a college. I was already accepted into UCLA. But, Berkeley came calling to me. Berkeley offered scholarships. Going to Berkeley would mean leaving my mother and family. I would have to be alone. In my gut, I knew I had to go to Berkeley. Seeing Berkeley for the first time made me wince, because it was not as pretty as UCLA. In the end though, I would not have changed anything in my experience. Berkeley made me who I am. Berkeley allowed me to excel. Berkeley challenged me to find who I am. In exchange for that privilege, I had to leave my family. But you know what? I learned to forge a mature and loving relationship with them. I appreciated them more after knowing what they sacrificed for me. Leaving made me find my love for my family.
I look at you and I know that UCLA will bring out the best in you. That is of course if you desire UCLA enough.
Saturday, April 03, 2004
Reality or What Passes for It
rundmb discusses how reality can be revisited and replayed in one's mind. I used to do that a lot. I was never truly happy about how the world was fashioned in its imperfect state. I used to daydream about making it better. The trouble I ran into was that I was beginning to spend more and more time in the dream state than in the reality state of mind. Looking back now, this is probably how people go mad. Little by litttle, they switch from reality into dreamscape.
With the advances in neurobiology, I can now just attribute the escape from reality into some overactive lobe of the brain. If scientists can determine that people in love have overactive regions of the brain, then other behavioral patterns must also have the same basis in the brain. But I suppose what people say about genius and madness being separated by a thin line is true.
rundmb discusses how reality can be revisited and replayed in one's mind. I used to do that a lot. I was never truly happy about how the world was fashioned in its imperfect state. I used to daydream about making it better. The trouble I ran into was that I was beginning to spend more and more time in the dream state than in the reality state of mind. Looking back now, this is probably how people go mad. Little by litttle, they switch from reality into dreamscape.
With the advances in neurobiology, I can now just attribute the escape from reality into some overactive lobe of the brain. If scientists can determine that people in love have overactive regions of the brain, then other behavioral patterns must also have the same basis in the brain. But I suppose what people say about genius and madness being separated by a thin line is true.
Friday, April 02, 2004
Do you want to see the future?
The beauty of life is truth. To get a glimpse of truth, go to rundmb the Pinoy Blog of the Day for the 2nd of April 2004. Watch as college, high school and family life come under the spotlight. Truth in all its beauty comes out.
The beauty of life is truth. To get a glimpse of truth, go to rundmb the Pinoy Blog of the Day for the 2nd of April 2004. Watch as college, high school and family life come under the spotlight. Truth in all its beauty comes out.
The Impermanence of Things
On Monday, I become a permanent employee. I have a great boss and the group is making a product that is sold in the business. I am jazzed, excited, happy and grateful. Three months of uncertainty in the unemployment line sucking at the teat of the American government that I love and critique is enough to make me worry about my future.
Three years ago, give or take a few months, I started another job. I wondered then how long I would last in the company. But two years of a post-doc and pretty much anything that pays money makes you grateful. Twelve years ago, I began graduate school the same night that tanks rolled into Moscow. I saw five years of graduate school extend into nearly seven years. But I was gratefull because graduate school let me try my hand at being an adult with my family ready to support me in case I failed. Graduate school allowed me to be inquisitive about the world and not have to worry about where I was going to get my food or shelter.
I learned many lessons in these past few years. Perhaps the most important lesson is to take care of myself. To ask myself why I do the things I do. Why worry about things that I have no control over? To enjoy every single day because each day is a gift that will never come back. All this I shared and learned from the SO.
On Monday, I become a permanent employee. I have a great boss and the group is making a product that is sold in the business. I am jazzed, excited, happy and grateful. Three months of uncertainty in the unemployment line sucking at the teat of the American government that I love and critique is enough to make me worry about my future.
Three years ago, give or take a few months, I started another job. I wondered then how long I would last in the company. But two years of a post-doc and pretty much anything that pays money makes you grateful. Twelve years ago, I began graduate school the same night that tanks rolled into Moscow. I saw five years of graduate school extend into nearly seven years. But I was gratefull because graduate school let me try my hand at being an adult with my family ready to support me in case I failed. Graduate school allowed me to be inquisitive about the world and not have to worry about where I was going to get my food or shelter.
I learned many lessons in these past few years. Perhaps the most important lesson is to take care of myself. To ask myself why I do the things I do. Why worry about things that I have no control over? To enjoy every single day because each day is a gift that will never come back. All this I shared and learned from the SO.
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Man's Inhumanity
The April 1st San Francisco Chronicle's headline says "Horror at Faluja." Four American contractors were killed by Iraqi gunmen; the bodies were burned, defiled, and strung up on a bridge. The American newscasts have been repeating the newscycle since last night.
This episode makes me wonder at the gift of America for self-delusion. What did we as a nation and a people expect from a war? Did we as a nation think that just because America says that the war is over that the resistance will cease? The very presence of Americans in Iraq will continue to prod the Iraqis into resistance whether or not the Iraqis sympathized with Saddam Hussein or not.
Another aspect that this horror brings up is how America gives more value to American lives than to an Iraqi life. Three thousand people die at the World Trade Center; America goes to war. Less than 10,000 American soldiers have died in Iraq. Compare that number to the amount of Iraqis killed. It is with great admiration that I look upon the ability of America and Amerians to be horrified at the defilement of burned bodies and at the same time rationalize away the fact that a missile killing Iraqi civilians is also a very horrible event.
The Americans killed were contract workers who provided security. To me, this means that the men killed were knowledgeable soldiers. They were capitalists working in Iraq to make money. They knew that there was a war. They knew the risk. I will not be horrified at the way their bodies were treated. I will however rejoice at the fact that here in America, you can legally make money from a war by becoming a contract security guard.
If I was working in Iraq as a contract security guard, I would be riding a tank.
By the way, infraternammeam asked me if I would let the soldiers die in Iraq. Yes, I would because we are already in the damned country and participating in the war. To pull out prematurely is to repeat the mistake that Bush the First made in the first gulf war. I don't want a third gulf war to happen. Let's finish what we started. Get Iraq a democratic government. It is only the politics of Bush trying to get re-elected that we are even thinking of pulling out. Bush is a wimp. He never served in Vietnam.
The April 1st San Francisco Chronicle's headline says "Horror at Faluja." Four American contractors were killed by Iraqi gunmen; the bodies were burned, defiled, and strung up on a bridge. The American newscasts have been repeating the newscycle since last night.
This episode makes me wonder at the gift of America for self-delusion. What did we as a nation and a people expect from a war? Did we as a nation think that just because America says that the war is over that the resistance will cease? The very presence of Americans in Iraq will continue to prod the Iraqis into resistance whether or not the Iraqis sympathized with Saddam Hussein or not.
Another aspect that this horror brings up is how America gives more value to American lives than to an Iraqi life. Three thousand people die at the World Trade Center; America goes to war. Less than 10,000 American soldiers have died in Iraq. Compare that number to the amount of Iraqis killed. It is with great admiration that I look upon the ability of America and Amerians to be horrified at the defilement of burned bodies and at the same time rationalize away the fact that a missile killing Iraqi civilians is also a very horrible event.
The Americans killed were contract workers who provided security. To me, this means that the men killed were knowledgeable soldiers. They were capitalists working in Iraq to make money. They knew that there was a war. They knew the risk. I will not be horrified at the way their bodies were treated. I will however rejoice at the fact that here in America, you can legally make money from a war by becoming a contract security guard.
If I was working in Iraq as a contract security guard, I would be riding a tank.
By the way, infraternammeam asked me if I would let the soldiers die in Iraq. Yes, I would because we are already in the damned country and participating in the war. To pull out prematurely is to repeat the mistake that Bush the First made in the first gulf war. I don't want a third gulf war to happen. Let's finish what we started. Get Iraq a democratic government. It is only the politics of Bush trying to get re-elected that we are even thinking of pulling out. Bush is a wimp. He never served in Vietnam.
Sunday, March 28, 2004
Bosses and scientific fraud stories
The Cat is telling stories about her Pinoy boss. The old-timer Pinoys have the hardest time understanding the changes that have occurred in the world. In their mind, the world revolves around them. They don't know that often times they are not smart enough to be the center of the universe. In most cases, they are expired materials.
It reminds me of one of the people I used to work with. He heard me say to an undergraduate that "Give me a call if you want to bullshit about this project." The old-timer thought that I did not like the project because I referred to it as bullshiting. When he confronted me about the matter, my jaw fell at his ignorance and his ability to spy on people. I told him that I was trying to communicate with the younger generation. I was using their slang and my slang. To bullshit is to shoot the breeze. Old-timer thought that bullshit was the excrement from a cow. In the end, there was excrement coming out of the lab, but it came from the old-timer not knowing how to run a project.
Old-timer's and his crony's biotechnology company is probably wallowing in the stench of scientific fraud nowadays. I told him that the data was not right. He should have listened to me. Beware of old-timer Pilipinos trying to sell you anti-cancer magic pills. They are lying.
The Cat is telling stories about her Pinoy boss. The old-timer Pinoys have the hardest time understanding the changes that have occurred in the world. In their mind, the world revolves around them. They don't know that often times they are not smart enough to be the center of the universe. In most cases, they are expired materials.
It reminds me of one of the people I used to work with. He heard me say to an undergraduate that "Give me a call if you want to bullshit about this project." The old-timer thought that I did not like the project because I referred to it as bullshiting. When he confronted me about the matter, my jaw fell at his ignorance and his ability to spy on people. I told him that I was trying to communicate with the younger generation. I was using their slang and my slang. To bullshit is to shoot the breeze. Old-timer thought that bullshit was the excrement from a cow. In the end, there was excrement coming out of the lab, but it came from the old-timer not knowing how to run a project.
Old-timer's and his crony's biotechnology company is probably wallowing in the stench of scientific fraud nowadays. I told him that the data was not right. He should have listened to me. Beware of old-timer Pilipinos trying to sell you anti-cancer magic pills. They are lying.
The Movie Passion of Christ
Over the last month, the movie has grossed over $27 million (28 Mar 04). Benefitting from the controversy created by Mel Gibson and his production company, the movie puts on center stage once more the life of one Jesus of Nazareth.
I laugh and smirk at all the Christians who say that they have rediscovered their faith by watching this movie. Apparently, they were touched by the torture that Jesus suffered at the hands of those bastard Romans who were just upholding the law. Scenes of being scourged and beaten and having shoulders dislocated brought tears to people's eyes.
My response is that if scenes of torture of any human being do not bring tears to one's eyes, then one is a callous and insensitive brute. Of course you will be touched by the horrors of torture and brutality. You don't see it everyday. But I am amused by people who rediscover God. The movie experience should lead you to question man's inhumanity to man. It might even lead to a questioning and a deeper understanding of the sacrifices god makes for man. But finding God and its subsequent metaphysical questions of faith by watching a movie suggests that one's beliefs have not been examined to the fullest.
Besides, Jesus of Nazareth was lucky. He was tortured only once and he died from it. Now, slaves on the other hand are pretty much tortured whenever they disobey the master. Figure that a slave will try to disobey once or twice or three times, and the slave would have been flogged more times than Jesus. The only difference between a slave and Jesus is that Jesus has a very active marketing and sales firm working for him with the promise of salvation at the end of the world.
I have reached the stage in complexity of religious thought to know that Allah, God, Buddha, Bathala, and Zeus are simply the manifestations of one God who is so complex that the human mind can only approximate the reality. The human mind is so small that in contemplating God, the human mind comes up with the different variations on deities.
Over the last month, the movie has grossed over $27 million (28 Mar 04). Benefitting from the controversy created by Mel Gibson and his production company, the movie puts on center stage once more the life of one Jesus of Nazareth.
I laugh and smirk at all the Christians who say that they have rediscovered their faith by watching this movie. Apparently, they were touched by the torture that Jesus suffered at the hands of those bastard Romans who were just upholding the law. Scenes of being scourged and beaten and having shoulders dislocated brought tears to people's eyes.
My response is that if scenes of torture of any human being do not bring tears to one's eyes, then one is a callous and insensitive brute. Of course you will be touched by the horrors of torture and brutality. You don't see it everyday. But I am amused by people who rediscover God. The movie experience should lead you to question man's inhumanity to man. It might even lead to a questioning and a deeper understanding of the sacrifices god makes for man. But finding God and its subsequent metaphysical questions of faith by watching a movie suggests that one's beliefs have not been examined to the fullest.
Besides, Jesus of Nazareth was lucky. He was tortured only once and he died from it. Now, slaves on the other hand are pretty much tortured whenever they disobey the master. Figure that a slave will try to disobey once or twice or three times, and the slave would have been flogged more times than Jesus. The only difference between a slave and Jesus is that Jesus has a very active marketing and sales firm working for him with the promise of salvation at the end of the world.
I have reached the stage in complexity of religious thought to know that Allah, God, Buddha, Bathala, and Zeus are simply the manifestations of one God who is so complex that the human mind can only approximate the reality. The human mind is so small that in contemplating God, the human mind comes up with the different variations on deities.
Friday, March 26, 2004
Restaurant Menu
Imo asked if there was any significance to her blog being in the Sisig portion of the menu on the right. In truth, there is some slight significance. For example I personally know the first group of bloggers under dinuguan at putong puti. Actually, the poet Eileen Tabios who has an audience of 10 million peeps, a coterie of a thousand blogs and a vanguard of fallen angels swilling brandy, smoking cigars and swearing at god is my personal inspiration to begin a blog. She seemed to have so much fun letting voyeurs into her poetic life that I figure that I should let others into my life. The SO of course is the one who gives me laughter. And the others are personal friends met through the jeepney ride of my life.
As for Sisig, the group is made up of younger writers who are in college or in their twenties. While googling, I found a blog by a college student. I ended up mining the links to find other blogs that were interesting. Some groups like Pansit Bihon are PIn@y migrants or immigrants telling about their stories in their new world. And of course the over 21 section is for more blunt and revealing blogs.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Imo asked if there was any significance to her blog being in the Sisig portion of the menu on the right. In truth, there is some slight significance. For example I personally know the first group of bloggers under dinuguan at putong puti. Actually, the poet Eileen Tabios who has an audience of 10 million peeps, a coterie of a thousand blogs and a vanguard of fallen angels swilling brandy, smoking cigars and swearing at god is my personal inspiration to begin a blog. She seemed to have so much fun letting voyeurs into her poetic life that I figure that I should let others into my life. The SO of course is the one who gives me laughter. And the others are personal friends met through the jeepney ride of my life.
As for Sisig, the group is made up of younger writers who are in college or in their twenties. While googling, I found a blog by a college student. I ended up mining the links to find other blogs that were interesting. Some groups like Pansit Bihon are PIn@y migrants or immigrants telling about their stories in their new world. And of course the over 21 section is for more blunt and revealing blogs.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Bush's War
I am reading the San Jose Mercury News when I find that the US is planning to hand over security for Iraq to the Iraqis in one hundred days. Does anyone out there believe that the Iraqi security force created under US guidance is ready to handle terrorists who were former soldiers from Saddam's army?
Does anyone out there besides George W believe that in one year of training, Iraq will be able to stand on its own?
Does anyone out there believe that relinquishing control of Iraq after ONE year was in the plans when America invaded Iraq?
Bullshit. Chickenshit. That is what I think of Condoleeza Rice and George W. Bush and heck, let's throw in Colin Powell since he's prostituted himself to George W. Three morons without a clue. Lame ass politicians. Pathetic losers.
We go to war to get rid of Saddam. Then we will leave Iraq to the vultures. Wonder-fucking-ful.
Just when I thought things can't get any worse, George W. acts.
I am reading the San Jose Mercury News when I find that the US is planning to hand over security for Iraq to the Iraqis in one hundred days. Does anyone out there believe that the Iraqi security force created under US guidance is ready to handle terrorists who were former soldiers from Saddam's army?
Does anyone out there besides George W believe that in one year of training, Iraq will be able to stand on its own?
Does anyone out there believe that relinquishing control of Iraq after ONE year was in the plans when America invaded Iraq?
Bullshit. Chickenshit. That is what I think of Condoleeza Rice and George W. Bush and heck, let's throw in Colin Powell since he's prostituted himself to George W. Three morons without a clue. Lame ass politicians. Pathetic losers.
We go to war to get rid of Saddam. Then we will leave Iraq to the vultures. Wonder-fucking-ful.
Just when I thought things can't get any worse, George W. acts.
Haynaku! Another convert
Tamageneris is the Pin@y Blog of the Day for the 24th of March, in the year of the Pin@y 2004. An is an outstanding debut for the haynaku form. Tamageneris has a double entendre if you got a Pin@y accent, tama (Correct) and generis (Generous). I'm sure the author did not intend that, but with a monkey, any slight hint becomes reality. I wait with bated breath for the next episode. There are very few times when I wish I had written certain things. This is one of them. Simply breathtaking!
Tamageneris is the Pin@y Blog of the Day for the 24th of March, in the year of the Pin@y 2004. An is an outstanding debut for the haynaku form. Tamageneris has a double entendre if you got a Pin@y accent, tama (Correct) and generis (Generous). I'm sure the author did not intend that, but with a monkey, any slight hint becomes reality. I wait with bated breath for the next episode. There are very few times when I wish I had written certain things. This is one of them. Simply breathtaking!
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Nikon 3100
I just joined the digital revolution in photography with the help of the Apple store in Concord. The store was clearing away its stock of digital cameras and were selling several Nikon Coolpix 2100, 3100 and 5100 cameras for a reasonable price.
In 2000, I was working as a post-doc and at the same time, Nikon came out with the Nikon 800/900 series of digital cameras for a cool $1000. I thought that the price was excessive considering that the resolution of the cameras was for a 4x6 inch photo. Who would be insane enough to buy one? The camera just came out, the technology is not that settled, there are kinks in the way the camera works. Lo and behold, the lab I was working in bought one. For what, I still don't know. I tend to believe that the person responsible was so enamored with the grant money that he just received that he just wanted to show off to the other labs in the department that he has money. Thank you very much for buying the lab something that was not useful at any level at all. As a testament to his genius and leadership, that lab is wallowing and pining away for the good old days.
The camera I bought was reasonable for $200. I slapped on some doube A batteries into the camera and proceeded to take pictures at the party. After 20 shots with flash, the alkaline batteries were dead. Ooops, read the direction first! I'm not supposed to use alkaline batteries. I should use lithium batteries or the rechargeable Ni-Metal hydride batteries which cost around $60 for charger and batteries at Radioshack. The next day, I slapped on the lithium battery which came with the camera and took about 80 pictures. Not bad in terms of battery life and the amount of pictures. Of course, this time around, I turned off the red-eye reduction which affects mostly those who are optical pigmentation challenged.
There is a selection in the camera for the size of the pictures. The 3 megapixel is ridiculous because really, who wants to print 8x10 photos? If you do, you really should get that manual camera ready. For the Sunday party, I went to the 4x6 size and that is why I got 80 photos from a 16 MB compact media memory. There is also an option for a 2MB which probably translates to a 5x7 photo.
The size of the camera can be a burden and a blessing. For someone whith humongous hands, the camera can be difficult to control because it is so small. My hands swallows the 3100. For the ego, it is not so cool to be taking pictures with this measly little camera. However, on those days when I don't want to carry a 20 pound backpack stuffed with camera gear, well the small size is a blessing that is overdue my body. Place the camera in the buttbag and off I go to wherever land.
The slow speed of the shutter is something that is a problem. I'm sure there is a way to make the shutter faster, but the speed of the camera is equivalent to an ISO 50 film. 50!!! Perhaps that is one reason that this camera was on sale. Some of my photos of moving people came out blurred. Forget about taking basketball shots of the SO. All I capture is a blur of flowery clothing and a ball.
But how about the posed shots? They were beautiful. I was examining them last night and the camera was definitely worth the $200. I just upload the photos to snapfish.com and people can order whatever photo they want. No muss, no fuss. Just the type of camera I love.
If you are in the market for a digital camera, consider a NIkon Coolpix 3100 if you find it on sale. I highly recommend it. It gets five pots of rice.
I just joined the digital revolution in photography with the help of the Apple store in Concord. The store was clearing away its stock of digital cameras and were selling several Nikon Coolpix 2100, 3100 and 5100 cameras for a reasonable price.
In 2000, I was working as a post-doc and at the same time, Nikon came out with the Nikon 800/900 series of digital cameras for a cool $1000. I thought that the price was excessive considering that the resolution of the cameras was for a 4x6 inch photo. Who would be insane enough to buy one? The camera just came out, the technology is not that settled, there are kinks in the way the camera works. Lo and behold, the lab I was working in bought one. For what, I still don't know. I tend to believe that the person responsible was so enamored with the grant money that he just received that he just wanted to show off to the other labs in the department that he has money. Thank you very much for buying the lab something that was not useful at any level at all. As a testament to his genius and leadership, that lab is wallowing and pining away for the good old days.
The camera I bought was reasonable for $200. I slapped on some doube A batteries into the camera and proceeded to take pictures at the party. After 20 shots with flash, the alkaline batteries were dead. Ooops, read the direction first! I'm not supposed to use alkaline batteries. I should use lithium batteries or the rechargeable Ni-Metal hydride batteries which cost around $60 for charger and batteries at Radioshack. The next day, I slapped on the lithium battery which came with the camera and took about 80 pictures. Not bad in terms of battery life and the amount of pictures. Of course, this time around, I turned off the red-eye reduction which affects mostly those who are optical pigmentation challenged.
There is a selection in the camera for the size of the pictures. The 3 megapixel is ridiculous because really, who wants to print 8x10 photos? If you do, you really should get that manual camera ready. For the Sunday party, I went to the 4x6 size and that is why I got 80 photos from a 16 MB compact media memory. There is also an option for a 2MB which probably translates to a 5x7 photo.
The size of the camera can be a burden and a blessing. For someone whith humongous hands, the camera can be difficult to control because it is so small. My hands swallows the 3100. For the ego, it is not so cool to be taking pictures with this measly little camera. However, on those days when I don't want to carry a 20 pound backpack stuffed with camera gear, well the small size is a blessing that is overdue my body. Place the camera in the buttbag and off I go to wherever land.
The slow speed of the shutter is something that is a problem. I'm sure there is a way to make the shutter faster, but the speed of the camera is equivalent to an ISO 50 film. 50!!! Perhaps that is one reason that this camera was on sale. Some of my photos of moving people came out blurred. Forget about taking basketball shots of the SO. All I capture is a blur of flowery clothing and a ball.
But how about the posed shots? They were beautiful. I was examining them last night and the camera was definitely worth the $200. I just upload the photos to snapfish.com and people can order whatever photo they want. No muss, no fuss. Just the type of camera I love.
If you are in the market for a digital camera, consider a NIkon Coolpix 3100 if you find it on sale. I highly recommend it. It gets five pots of rice.
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