Save Tequilla!
Noooo! The shift to ethanol has made Mexican farmers give up blue agave for corn (read about it here on
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18926019/?GT1=9951).
Stop the tequilla shortage! Use biofuels made from coco methyl esther!
I thank you.
Finally, Heroes!
I know it's on RPN9, but I didn't get to start it last month. I don't like starting a series that everyone's been talking about right smack in the middle of the season, although that's how I got turned on to
House, MD which is easy to follow.
Star World has been showing it, too. Except in the Philippines. We get Grey's Anatomy instead. How dumb is that? (Sorry. I have no love for that show. It's Melrose Place in a hospital).
Finally, the Crime/Suspense channel, with sponsorship from Caltex with Techron, presents Heroes (Big oil company saves the day!). The first episode aired last night and my family sat still to watch. We almost forgot about CSI: New York. Smallville meets The X-Men, indeed. Now I know why all my friends who've seen Heroes knew I'd get hooked.
Hiro is easily my favorite character despite his being a Trekkie. Trekker. Whatever. Don't worry! Some of my closest friends are Star Trek fans who don't think much of Star Wars, so we're square. In any case, I can identify with Hiro simply because he's a geek. Tito Masa said that the Japanese actors on Heroes are obviously American-born because their accents are weird (I wouldn't know. Then again, if someone spoke Tagalog with a different accent, a Manilenyo would pick it up right away). I like the visual style of the show; and I like how the subtitles were placed right on the screen next to the characters speaking, not at the bottom.
So there go my Monday nights. It's Heroes at 9 on C/S then CSI: New York on AXN at 10. So many good shows, so little time. I need the dibibidis!
Sci-Fi List
There's a lot of stuff on Entertainment Weekly to pass the time, like this article:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20036782_20037403_20037541,00.htmlWhat did I agree with?
- Aliens
- Blade Runner
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - although I would have classified it as a "drama" rather than a "sci-fic" pic.
- The Matrix - as far as I'm concerned, the last two Matrix films do not exist.
- Star Wars: Clone Wars
- V - Bianca and I used to look forward to it every week. It was on every Monday on RPN9, I think.
- The X-Files - and we all know how obsessed Bianca, my old officemates Jerome and Liza, and I became with this series. My God!
I'd include
Heroes, but I've never seen it (surprise!). I'd throw
Lost in, too, but I haven't been following it, so I'm just so...uh....lost. Yes, I know, I should go out and buy the
dibidis.
What did EW miss?
- Automan - yeah, it was soooo baduy, but I enjoyed it and wanted my own Cursor.
- Space Balls - "Raspberry...Lone Star!" Classic!
- Star Wars - probably because it was a shoe-in.
- The Twilight Zone - I will never forget this one black and white episode where many were killed in an earthquake, but one man survived. He realised he was the only one left, went to the public library and started re-arranging the books because he finally had all the time in the world to read. And then he tripped. His eyeglasses fell. His eyeglasses broke. He could no longer see. He sat down and cried. The End.
Star Wars and
The Twilight Zone are on this list, though:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20036782_20037403_285332,00.htmlI cannot believe they put
Starship Troopers on the Top 25 list. It was horrible! Robert Heinlein must have been turning in his grave! The book was fantastic. I read it twice! The movie was absolutely nothing like the book. The army was supposed to be made up of mostly Filipino soldiers on the ship
Magsaysay. Did you see any Filipinos in the film?
So what would
you put on your top sci-fi movie/tv show list?
Conspiracy Theory
I never knew that I could last 30 minutes on the elliptical machine (you know, that cardio gym thingy that kind of works like a stepper?). I normally get dizzy after 10 minutes on it, but last Wednesday, all the treadmills at Gold's Gym Glorietta were full. I was hoping to catch part of the last performance show of
American Idol. So I told myself, "F--- it. I want to watch the show and I need to lose weight" and hopped on the elliptical machine facing a wall of tv screens, plugged in my earphones, and wanted to die. Chris Daughtry (yeah, what's with the eyeliner?) was my only saving grace.
I missed the finale yesterday, but checked
www.curlio.com (I cannot live without Curlio when AI and
Rock Star are on) around 11AM and talked to Bianca who caught the show at home. I was all for Melinda throughout the season (the judges did constantly remind us that this was a
singing competition. Yeah, right. Go
Vote for the Worst!). Despite how boring this year's AI was, I was still hoping for a Melinda vs. Blake or Melinda vs. LaKisha finale (something to bide my time while waiting for
CSI on AXN at 10PM on Wednesdays and to make up for poor programming all around on Thursdays). As if I didn't know Jordin would win (check out Roman's and Gabby's blogs for their rants and raves). And then Bianca pointed me to
Entertainment Weekly online where she found this:
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did you deal with having to perform ''This Is My Now''? It seemed so... not you.BLAKE LEWIS: [When I first heard it] I was like, really? All right. I gotta sing this song, shake hands with it, make friends with it. And hopefully perform it well. It's definitely not my style. That track would never be on my album.Did you think about rearranging it?They wouldn't let me do that, because it was the song that won the contest. If it had been a song for me and a song for Jordin, I think that would've been a lot different. They could've picked two songwriters.We was robbed, preciousssss!
For more Idol commentary, go to
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20007164_20008533_20040053,00.html and to
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20039904,00.html (my sentiments exactly! Especially "if the best song that America's aspiring tunesmiths can come up with is 'This Is My Now,' then bring back the people who gave us 'Do I Make You Proud.''' Bwahahahahaha!).
It Takes a Galaxy
It's
Star Wars' 30th birthday on Friday, 25 May. Happy birthday! Man, we're old. Hahaha! How many summers did my sisters, childhood friends and I spend watching
Star Wars over and over and over again, re-enacting scenes, quoting lines, wishing we could actually pull off a Jedi Mind Trick? Although I can't remember the exact date, I remember watching
The Empire Strikes Back with my family on Betamax and projected onto this huge movie screen we had in the living room. That "I
am your father" scene changed my life! And who doesn't think that the best "I love you" scene ever played out on film belonged to Han Solo and Princess Leia on Bespin?
Celebrations are under way in the US with special screenings, new book releases, fan meetings/conferences, and what not. The latest Star Wars book is out - The Making of Star Wars - and we wants it, preciousssss. And I love how the cover is one of my favorite production photos (yes, I have favorite production photos. Sue me). It's two months away, but now you all know what I want for my birthday (together with anything for my solo trip to Spain. Heeheehee).
My oldest friend (as in the very first one I ever had) is selling his Star Wars action figures. Call/email me directly if you're interested in any of the following and I'll hook you up:
With Original Cardboard (from Kenner)
1. Obi Wan Kenobi
2. Princess Leia (Boushh Outfit) (missing helmet)
3. Boba Fett
4. Bib Fortuna
5. Imperial TIE Fighter Pilot
6. Imperial Stormtrooper (Hoth Battle Gear)
7. Klaatu
8. Gamorrean Guard
9. Rancor Keeper
10. Rebel Commander
11. General Madine
12. Yoda
13. Chief Chirpa
Without Original Cardboard
14. Luke Skywalker (original Tattoine outfit)
15. Luke Skywalker (Jedi Outfit)
16. Darth Vader
- all action figures except Obi-Wan Kenobi and Klaatu, missing original weapon
- Imperial Stormtrooper (Hoth battle Gear) (made by Palitoy)
I actually felt bad when he texted me to say that his toys had to go (he needs the money). I felt like someone was selling my childhood! I mean, we used to get together on weekends with our sisters and family friends and play with all our Star Wars toys for hours on end. Some time after the original trilogy was re-released, he came over to the house with his little Star Wars suitcase and his action figures still intact. He sold his Imperial Guards a few years later. To this day, Bianca and I still wonder, "Why, oh why, didn't George Lucas ever release a stuffed baby Bantha doll like the one Chewbacca's son was playing with in the Star Wars Holiday Special?" (I seriously want one. Truly).
I still remember the joint birthday party that our parents threw for Bianca and I in June 1978. I had a plastic C3-PO costume on and Bianca was a little Darth Vader. Papa scared most of the kids in his Darth Vader costume (complete with red lightsabre), and Tito Jimmy was a Stormtrooper. I can't recall who the other C3-PO was. Tito Jeff? Tito Chief? We screened a Betamax copy of The Making of Star Wars and everyone (I mean everyone) was so engrossed with it. No one spoke or stood up. We all just sat there and watched. And of course, most of our gifts were Star Wars toys. Our parents' friends weren't sure who'd enjoy them more - us kids or our dad.
When the original trilogy was re-released in the 90s, Bianca and I threw ourselves another Star Wars-themed joint birthday party (a costume party no less!) with give-aways, games, prizes, and an R2-D2 chocolate cake. All the Star Wars geeks came out to play and we had loads of drunken fun!
Jim Emerson wrote that the movie(s) "appealed to the 8- to 12-year-old boy in all of us -- and still does." I agree. I told you I had a happy childhood. And as I always say, "When I grow up, I want to be a Jedi."
Outsourcing Wonder of the World
Will India ever run out of outsourcing ideas? They're amazing! I just came upon this article on CNN and thought, "Where was this when I was growing up? Why didn't anyone think of it here?"
What will they think of next?
Bro. Felix, FSC
My dad and his classmates paid Bro. Felix a surprise visit last weekend. Bro. Felix stays in the retired brothers home in Mont La Salle, Napa Valley, California. His Alzheimer's is setting in and he now moves very slowly.
I hope to visit him soon. He's such a character. Back in the day, he had a great memory and sharp wit. Now, I doubt he will remember me or that he never called me by my real name or that he often said I spoke and acted like Papa (is that good or bad?).
It's hard to look back at my Zobel days without remembering Bro. Felix and his "lost and found" speech about the bow-day-gah. He is now the last of the American Christian Brothers sent to run the La Salle schools in the Philippines. I don't know if he knows exactly the kind of impact he had on all of us who grew up with him around. If anything should happen to him now, I will take it much harder than when I last saw Bro. Benedict's golf set outside the DLSU main chapel. God bless Bro. Felix. La Salle needs more brothers like him. Bro. Arian, you're our only hope!
Old Pictures: Porsche Club
Just wanted to share some pictures that I took at my dad's Porsche Club meeting at Denny's in Mt. Diablo, California back in June 2004 (yes, I finally have time to upload photos!). This was around the time he injured his foot and couldn't drive properly without pain. The dutiful eldest daughter with a need for speed came to the rescue!
His is the 2000 Boxster S. Manual transmission, of course. Siya pa. Needless to say, Celso is not allowed anywhere near it. Hahaha!
We left Pittsburg at around 6.30AM (I got to drive. Woohoo!) and breakfast had already started when we got to Denny's (yes, I'm a slow driver. Well, it's not my car and I didn't want to wreck it). They were welcoming new members and planning to spend a weekend driving in Monterey. they still owe me my PCA pin, by the way. Hmmm....
Most of the Porsche Club members I met were either retired or retiring. A few were around my age, some were my dad's age. Many still had the Porsches they bought as college students. My dad's was a retirement gift to himself. Then he had to get another a job to continue paying for it!
The cool thing about this Club is that they organize trips and races around California; sometimes in other states as well. During breakfast, I was told that a 70 year old lady won one of the races. Coolness!
This is my favorite picture. It's a typical car photo, but I was so proud of myself when it came out. I don't know why. It's nothing great. It's not as fantastic as my shot of the Harley-Davidson Las Vegas showroom roof display, but...I don't know. I just can't explain why I like it.
Whenever I show these next 2 pictures to Layla, she says "Drive!" Ask her what kind of car she's looking at, and she'll happily reply "Porsche!" Good girl!
So how about being a photographer for
C! magazine?
New Pictures
I'm sorry that they're grainy. I know I should go digital soon....
This one is my current favorite, taken at the Palms Country Club on a not-so-sunny morning with my trusty Nikon F2, my favorite 105mm Nikkor lens, and Kodak Max ASA 400 (do I use any other film?) set at 8 and 250.
Isn't she so pretty even when she's sad?
These were taken at Moon Garden in Tagaytay on the eve of my Mom's birthday (same camera, same type of film, switched lenses on a few shots, used various settings that I can't remember). Wonderful place. Great food. Fantastic cuchinillo!
Ok, the Teapot was not my only subject, although I do enjoy taking candid pictures of people. Children and animals are really the best "target practice" for candid shots. I don't like anything "posed". So here are some pictures of Moon Garden itself. It was set up for my Mom's birthday mirienda cena.
Moon Garden has sitting areas separate from the dining area where guests can hang out, relax. It's the perfect place for an intimate gathering of family and friends. If you're interested in visiting the place or making a reservation, let me know and I'll hook you up with my Tita Nieves.
So. Do I have a future as a photographer for brochures, lifestyle magazines and websites? If yes, call me! I need practice, I need to buy a digital camera, I need to get my name out there. Photography is one of the things I want to do for the rest of my life....
I know it's on RPN9, but I didn't get to start it last month. I don't like starting a series that everyone's been talking about right smack in the middle of the season, although that's how I got turned on to House, MD which is easy to follow.
It's Star Wars' 30th birthday on Friday, 25 May. Happy birthday! Man, we're old. Hahaha! How many summers did my sisters, childhood friends and I spend watching Star Wars over and over and over again, re-enacting scenes, quoting lines, wishing we could actually pull off a Jedi Mind Trick? Although I can't remember the exact date, I remember watching The Empire Strikes Back with my family on Betamax and projected onto this huge movie screen we had in the living room. That "I am your father" scene changed my life! And who doesn't think that the best "I love you" scene ever played out on film belonged to Han Solo and Princess Leia on Bespin? 
Just wanted to share some pictures that I took at my dad's Porsche Club meeting at Denny's in Mt. Diablo, California back in June 2004 (yes, I finally have time to upload photos!). This was around the time he injured his foot and couldn't drive properly without pain. The dutiful eldest daughter with a need for speed came to the rescue!
