NVM

To a certain extent, the Pin@y psyche is intertwined with the greatest writers of land. Here's a story about NVM Gonzalez.

The Old Fashined Way of Doing It

I might have gotten carried away with giving Pin@y Blog of the Day awards to bloggers who are retching and drinking shitfaced all the time. But to give you balance, check out Aurelio Agcaoli's site. Poetry as only someone who is Pin@y can write. I want to meet this person. His site is the Pin@y Blog of the Day for the 18th of March in the year of the Pin@y 2005.

Another East Coast Pin@y

Err.... Uhmmm... Yeah. Right. Tequila Shots is the Pin@y Blog of the Day for the 17th of March in the year of the Pin@y 2005. From food to sex to an incredible staying power, her blog is just plain interesting. Bipolar? It's just a little incident. Four inch penis? If you know how to work it, it's okay.

East Coast Pin@ys

They are a different breed of Pin@ys. They exhibit in some ways more of the American than the Pin@y. Yet, they are still distinctly Pin@y in their most basic of needs. Meet G the Pin@y Blog of the day for the 16th of March in the year of the Pin@y 2005. With supermodel looks and an attitude to boot, this one almost seems too American. But her propensity for photos shows just how Pin@y she is. And read in between the lines and you will find more secrets than she can bear.

Surrendering to Capitalism

Over the weekend, I suggested to the SO that perhaps it is time to get a DSL service to her place. I figured that with the wedding coming this year, our lives would be a lot easier if we began transitioning our lives together. I have also began transferring some of my bills to her place.

But, we had to make a choice as to the provider of said DSL. Did we want cable to go with that? Frankly, I have had bad experience with cable. During the times when I did have it, I would spend countless hours watching television. And I end up with nothing to show for it. After some discussion, we nixed the idea of comcast as a provider.

I thought about using my current service, but their offer was $80 per month for DSL. Sorry, but that value was trumped by earthlink service which offered $20 / month for the first six months and $30 thereafter. So yes, we will be surrendering to corporate DSL in the hope that our connections will be faster.

The other choice that was up in the air was whether or not we allow our neighbors to gain access to the broadband. I have been using some of my neighbor's broadband, but lately, they have started requesting for passwords. I had hoped to allow the neighbors some leeway in accessing the service. Part of it was payment for all the broadband that I used to use. We'll see.

You think your life is hard?

Yup, there is always someone with a harder life. Meet Pepe Singapore, the Pin@y Blog of the Day for the 15th of March in the year of the Pin@y 2005. He's living in a foreign land with his heart on the line. Watch as he grinds it out day by day.

Money and Me

A few weeks ago, I noticed a check in an envelope. I figured it was just one of those pretending to give you a VISA but non-negotialbe checks. But lo and behold, it was one of those real checks which I could have cashed.

The interesting thing is that it was classified as a loan with a 22.99% interest. Looking at the table in the back, if I had cashed the check, I would have five years to pay it off. But guess what! By the bank's timeline, I would have made a total of $9,900 in payoffs for a $5,000 loan.

That is the epitome of what America is. If you are a sucker, you can get suckered in. You have got to pay attention to all those interest rates. Otherwise, you will be paying mucho dinero for them. God knows that I was never one to pay attention to interest rates and such. But boy, do those things come up and bite you. At one time, I was wondering how I could pay off $4k in credit card bills. I would pay off $500 at a time and nothing happened. I finally figured out that I needed to stop using the credit card and then I could get somewhere.

So for those of you out there in credit card hell, you need to pay them off in $1000 drops if you are ever going to get out into credit card purgatory and heaven.

Kat's writings

A rock star waiting for the blink of a moment when her life as a lawyer will end. Married at 24 with discussions of real life drama. Kat's Scribbles is the Pin@y Blog of the Day for Monday the 14th of March in the year of the Pin@y 2005.

Tagalog in the movie Constantine

The following was found in my comments section. I don't agree with this person's point of view, but at least he took the time to write a point of view. This is something sorely lacking in soc.culture.filipino. But that is an aside.

Dear Follow Blogger,
Greetings of Peace! You may call me RAZC. I have terrible news for all of you. Once again, Our Country is put to shame. If you have not watched Constantine starring Keanu Reeves and released by Warner bros picture company. Please do so.
At the beginning of the film, where Reeves makes his appearance, you will see a girl being possessed by a Demon. As the Reeve’s character (John Constantine), tries to exorcise the girl she says the words “papatayin natin sila” or papatayin natin silang lahat.”
In other words it’s like saying that the Filipino Language is that of the Devil’s. I was offended so much by that scene tat it ruined the entire movie for me. I wrote a Blog about it. Although I wrote it in a violent way, please forgive me, I wish you would take time to react about it and write something on your pages. Spreading things like this would eventually raise consciousness that as a race we have been once again maligned in a dastardly way.
Help me. This is a sta...

I can see this several ways:

1. Logical fallacy. If the girl used English, then it follows that English is the devil's language.

2. Well, at least they are using a real language in the movie.

3. Was the girl Pin@y? Score for us if she is.

4. I was more offended by the Frasier show where the mail order bride came from the Philippines. But in each comedy, there is pain because of the small grain of truth.

5. I hope someone can make money from this.

Bagoong Anyone?


Pinakbet: A mixture of vegetables that include:
bittermelon, eggplant, and squash


Which Filipino Food Are You?
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AN IRISH FRIENDSHIP WISH

Good Luck!! I hope it works...
May there always be work for your hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
OK, this is what you have to do....


Now.................Make A wish!!!!!!
I hope you made your wish! Now then, if you send to:
1 person --- your wish will be granted in 1 year
3 people --- 6 months
5 people --- 3 months
6 people --- 1 month
7 people --- 2 weeks
8 people --- 1 week
9 people --- 5 days
10 people --- 3 days
12 people --- 2 days
15 people --- 1 day
20 people --- 3 hours

From soc.culture.filipino:

10 POWERFUL SECRETS OF LOVE

Got this from another group and just wanted to share.....


THE FIRST SECRET ---- The Power of Thought
Love begins with our thoughts. We become what we think about. Loving
thoughts
create loving experiences and loving relationships. Affirmations can change
our beliefs and thoughts about others and ourselves. If we want to love
someone, we need to consider his or her needs and desires. Thinking about
your ideal
partner will help you recognize him or her when you meet him or her.

THE SECOND SECRET ---- The Power of Respect
You cannot love anyone or anything unless you first respect them. The first
person you need to respect is yourself. To begin to gain self-respect asks
yourself: "What do I respect about myself?" To gain respect for others, even
those
you may dislike ask yourself: "What do I respect about them?"

THE THIRD SECRET ---- The Power of Giving
If you want to receive love, all you have to do is give it! The more love
you
give, the more you will receive. To love is to give of yourself freely and
unconditionally. Practice random acts of kindness. Before committing to a
relationship ask not what the other person will be able to give to you, but
rather
what you are able to give them. The secret formula of a happy, lifelong,
loving
relationship is to always focus on what you can give instead of what you can
take.

THE FOURTH SECRET ---- The Power of Friendship
To find a true love, you must first find a true friend. Love does not
consist
of gazing into each other's eyes, but rather looking outward together in the
same direction. To love someone completely, you must love him or her for who
they are not what he or she looks like. Friendship is the soil through
which
love's seeds grow. If you want to bring love into a relationship, you must
first bring friendship.

THE FIFTH SECRET ---- The Power of Touch
Touch is one of the most powerful expressions of love, breaking down
barriers
and bonding relationships. Touch changes our physical and emotional states,
and makes us more receptive to love.

THE SIXTH SECRET ---- The Power of Letting Go
"If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you it's yours, if
it doesn't it never was." Even in a loving relationship, people need their
own
space. If we want to learn to love, we must first learn to forgive and let
go
of past hurts, and grievances. Love means letting go of our fears,
prejudices,
egos and conditions. "Today I let go of all my fears, the past has no power
over me-today is the beginning of a new life."

THE SEVENTH SECRET ---- The Power of Communication
When we learn to communicate openly and honestly, life changes. To love
someone is to communicate with them. Let the people you love know that you
love
them and appreciate them. Never be afraid to say those three magic words: "I
LOVE
YOU." Never let an opportunity pass to praise someone. Always leave someone
you love with a loving word - it could be the last time you see him or her.
If
you were about to die but could make telephone calls to the people you
loved,
who would you call, what would you say, and why are you waiting?

THE EIGHTH SECRET ---- The Power of Commitment
If you want to have love in abundance, you must be committed to it, and that
commitment will be reflected in your thoughts and actions. Commitment is
the
true test of love. If you want to have loving relationships, you must be
committed to loving relationships. When you are committed to someone or
something,
quitting is never an option. Commitment distinguishes a fragile relationship
from a strong one.

THE NINTH SECRET ---- The Power of Passion
Passion ignites love and keeps it alive. Lasting passion does not come
through physical attraction alone; it comes from deep commitment,
enthusiasm,
interest and excitement. Passion can be recreated by Recreating past
experiences
when you felt passionate. Spontaneity and surprises produce passion. The
essence
of love and happiness are the same; all we need to do is to live each day
with passion.

THE TENTH SECRET ---- The Power of Trust
Trust is essential in all loving relationships. Without it one person
becomes
suspicious, anxious, fearful, and the other person feels trapped and
emotionally suffocated. You cannot love someone completely unless you trust
him or her
completely. Act as if your relationship with the person you love will never
end. One of the ways you can tell whether a person is right for you are to
ask
yourself: "Do I trust him or her completely and unreservedly?" If the
answer
is "no", then you must think very carefully before you make any type of a
commitment.

La Times and the Oscars

I have always been partial to this newspaper. It was the first one I read when I got to America. I remember that I needed to understand America, to smell the scent, to suck the marrow of America. Get it from the LA Times. I learned about gangs, corruption, fires, death, massacres, the Lakers, Dodgers and Angels. I learned about brutality, death, fear, anguish and hope in its pages. And for nearly as long it still shows what America is up to.

The coverage of the LA Times of Jamie Foxx's Oscar win shows how far we have gone in our race relations. Yes, they write up about Fox's wins. And they also write up about his excesses. I wonder how they wrote it up when a white person wins. Let's say Russel Crowe. Do they mention that he divorced his wife for a fling with Meg Ryan? How about that producer from the Titanic? Do they mention that he left his wife?

How about comparing the write-up for Morgan Freeman and Cate Blanchett?

I always laugh because of the irony. Yes, blacks can win the Oscars. But now, we take the slightly nastier bit of tearing them down in the newspaper columns.

Who says that America is equal?

Simple Lang

Nothing fancy" is the Pin@y Blog of the Day for 27 February 2005. Longevity and consistency in documenting her life is her mark.

Riches and Old Age

Sometimes, being rich is not enough. Read about Cathy's life and you will see another side of being rich. Sometimes, raising your children and creating bonds with them is a necessary part of life.

What biological molecule are you?

For those of you not nerdy enough:


You are a pheromone. You are seductive and you know
what you want. You have something about you
that permeates the air and draws people to you.
You can get what you want almost without fail,
like some of the sexiest moths out there.


Which Biological Molecule Are You?
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Gizzoogle

Gizzoogle translates sites to a new form of English that is spoken in the rap world.

Drizzay Kings

The SO asked me yesterday if I wanted ta go ta a drag king show from tha streets of tha L-B-C. Initially, I did not want to fo shizzle. It was a Sunday in tha hood. We were going ta our financial group W-H-to-tha-izzich sometizzles stresses me out doggystyle. But, tha SO does not ask fo` th'n often. And oftentimes, her trips is interest'n, fun n straight trippin'. So although, tha Great Brotha was weep'n on a cold Sunday even'n, off ta Jack London Square we went ta see tha show King Heat at tha Oakland Metro .

What key am I in?


C major - the simplest key. You are content with
where you are now, you have what you need. Some
people are happy in C major, but it is up to
you to decide to push yourself further if you
want more from your life.


what key signature are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Drag Kings

The SO asked me yesterday if I wanted to go to a drag king show. Initially, I did not want to. It was a Sunday. We were going to our financial group which sometimes stresses me out. But, the SO does not ask for things often. And oftentimes, her trips are interesting, fun and exciting. So although, the Great Maker was weeping on a cold Sunday evening, off to Jack London Square we went to see the show King Heat at the Oakland Metro.


Sunday, February 20, 2005
King Heat
featuring performances by:
Nappy Grooves
Simone de la Ghetto (of Harlem Shake)
Sile Singleton AKA Luster
Fresh!
Junoon
Carlos Las Vegas
Roscoe D. Gitchoding
Show - 8:00pm Doors -7:30pm Tickets: $7-10 18+


The location is not on my top ten lists of places to visit in Oakland. The bar is located next to the restaurant strip on Broadway populated by Everett & Jones BBQ, a Chinese seafood restaurant and Nations Burgers. The building was dark; the tables were small; the stage was adequate. But, you must understand. This is not Broadway. This is burlesque if I were alive to see burlesque. This is Off-Off-Off-Off Broadway in New York terms. Minimal lighting, though more than a high school's. Movie house seating, which means that on one side are arrayed a series of metal chairs. An odd prelude to an odd evening.

Lesbians are interesting to me. On the one hand, we have something in common. They love women. I love women! Hooray! And, they are women who love women. I love women who love women! Hooray! On the other hand, some of them are masculine woman who love women. That is where I draw the line. If you start looking too much like a man, or smelling like a man, a buzzer goes off in my head.

Red alert! Red alert! This is a man. This is not cute. This is not sexual. This is not a woman!!!

So, call me Moby Dick out of the ocean last night. I did not know how to react. Should I be aroused? Let me tell you. It's pretty hard to be hard when you are looking at a bunch of females who look like men. Should I be bonding with the men? But in some ways, there were more masculine than I am. I just don't know. Call me Moby.

One interesting thing of note is how the women transform themselves into men. They wear facial hair. I found it interesting because in one way, it completes the illusion of how society sees men. Masculinity is more hair. The closer one looks to animals with fur, the more masculine a person becomes. Now, for those of you balding like me do not lose hope. You should remember that the hair follicles fall out because of an excess of a form of testosterone called DHT. Biologically speaking, if you are balding, you are an uber man. You are testosterone man unbound.

It was a drag king show. Essentially, a woman dresses up as a man and lip-synchs. Now, I am more used to draq queens who actually sing their songs. But I figure, drag kings must be relatively new compared to drag queens. Just wait a few more years. In Pin@y terms, these are women who like to sing karaoke.

Now, being Moby, let us discuss what disturbed / confused me the most. When Papa Dino who is part of Kreatibo was on stage, he had a dancer. Now, I guess they were all getting hot because a nice young woman with a cowboy hat from the audience joined them on stage. Now here's the disturbing part. The nice young cowgirl did some hot and nasty things on stage. Though I should mention that this was with clothes on. Call me Moby ouf of the water. Errr, this is becoming like a sex voyeur thing. Err, shouldn't I be paying more for this? Hell, in San Francisco, it would be $50 at the door. Unlimited in and out. Heck, add the chatelaine in the mix and she would the whole San Francisco art world in a tizzy about a performance act show!!!

Now, the second thing that was disturbing about this was that the guy on stage was dressed like a cholo. Now, being from LA, the last thing I can think of is a cholo being a sexual being. Usually, cholos are packing some guns and getting ready to waste or beat someone up. The last thing I need in my head is a cholo with his belt whipping a nice young thin cowgirl and that nice young cowgirl riding the cholos thigh. Disturbing.

As if that was not enough, at the end of the show, one of the performers starts getting his groove on a woman. Initially, the woman was standing with some heavy breathing with the man. The man started rubbing and dancing Then she sat down. The man continued to rub and shake. Then, her back was being supported by the chair. One of the SO's friends had to push the chairback so that the woman would not fall. Did I mention that the man was about 250 lbs? yup, a rubbing dancing two hundred pound weight. On a not so skinny but apparently quite flexible and durable woman.

I figured, five minutes. Folks, twenty minutes later, it had become a threesome with the fresh young cowgirl. I did not know if I was supposed to be aroused or what. So I did the next best thing. I left for the evening.

Love Isn't Enough

As the SO and I prepare for our wedding, we have heard of statistics that say that 50% of weddings end up in divorce. Now a year or two ago, the stats were one-third. Needless to say I was intrigued by this jump. Hence the link. Nevertheless, the thought that one-third of marriages end in divorce still rattles my brain.

Recent research" suggest that money might not be the root of all evil. But I am not as convinced. I still believe that money becomes one of those things which people focus on for control and easy discussion of life's problems.

When I first started going out with the SO, I figured it would be a good run if I went out with her for two years. Yes, marriage was in the back of the head. But really, I did not have as much to offer her. So yup, yup, I was ready to let go because I already met her. If it was meant to be, I would find her again when I was ready.

Well, two years became three and then five years. Next thing you know, we were talking about marriage. I was stuck in a dead end job and could barely support myself. More specifically, while watching television, she suddenly asks me "Honey, is 2004 a good year to get married?" I felt the noose shrinking around my neck. Ladies, believe me, that nooose is real. The SO suggested marriage and I felt like I could not breathe. But since my Mama did not raise a fool, I quickly settled my poor butt down and talked to the SO about the plan.

I don't like surprises and neither does any man. My belief is open communications to expectations. You all need to talk to him and brief him on what you are planning. Otherwise, expectations fall and divorce comes a knocking. If he does not want children, and you do, pack up your bags. If you are twenty and think you don't want children, better do some research with your cousins who have children. Carry that baby around. Make sure you really don't want one of those cute little tykes. You are going against 10,000 years of evolution.

At any rate, the SO and I went through a planning of our future. I was feeling out of sorts at work. Haggard from all the crap. I needed to see where I was going. Believe me, it shooked me up pretty good to see that I could have children in two or three years. That we needed a house. That we needed this or that. Two children by four or five years. Three children after six or seven years. Yikes! With a progression like that, your fatherly instintcs kick in or you leave.

Fast-forward to last night. The SO and I are in a financial group. She tells the group that if I had gone one way or another with my life, I probably would not be waiting for the wedding bells. She never told me this in those precise words. I didn't even know that I was being tested. But in the end, just like when I determined if she is a good enough person to raise my children or when I determined if she had a good heart, she was judging if I could provide for the family.

There is no shame in saying that love is not enough. Many times, people marry for love. But if they have a bitterness welling in them, love is not enough. If the person is not money-smart, love is not enough. If the person is an addict, (and who isn't), love is not enough. Sometimes, the best thing to do when you love someone is to walk away and let them find themselves. They just might not be a large enough container for your soul.