:: driver ng bayan ::

http://drivebyshooter.net

2006-11-20T22:19:00.000+08:00

For those who haven't done so already, please update your bookmarks. You can find me at http://drivebyshooter.net from now on.

drivebyshooter.net

2006-11-06T09:46:00.000+08:00

My new domain, drivebyshooter.net, is up, but not quite running. It's still trying to get its bearings and learn how to walk. It'll be hitting its stride in no time though.

Business Cards

2006-11-04T21:29:00.000+08:00

These are my initial designs for a set of business cards I'm designing. Contents, or at least a rough idea of them, are pasted below. Anybody care to comment?

my name obviously will go here
email@myfuturedomain.net
www.myfuturedomain.com
+xx.xxx.xxxxxxx

See Ya!

2006-11-02T12:47:00.000+08:00

I just left my camera at the service center this morning for repair and cleaning. They said they would keep it for a week.

I don't know what else to say.

Mia

2006-10-26T15:42:00.000+08:00

Once again, I'm inarticulate. You'd probably be better served by clicking through to Campaign for Real Beauty and see what Mia and the other Dove beauties have to say.

[edit] It turns out Jayvee blogged about this too, and he actually beat me to the punch. Well, I guess we really jump at chances to promote our friends. [/edit]

7,000 words

2006-10-21T11:10:00.000+08:00

Stressful

2006-10-15T00:13:00.000+08:00

The Departed
Martin Scorsese
Eastwood Cinema 3
1705 - 15 October 2006

Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.

Stressful - this was how a friend of mine described the film, and I have to agree. If you expect to sit back, relax, and enjoy watching The Departed, I'm telling you now - it won't happen.

You don't really watch this movie as much as you get lost in the narrative. If you've ever injured your hand, you may, at some point, wince in pain. At the very least, partly due to the length of the movie, you will fidget in your seat. You could find yourself cursing as much as the characters onscreen. You will definitely gasp, and you could very well laugh out loud. The one thing you will not do, at least not for very long, is relax.

If you want to relax, go get a massage, grab a beer, sleep, or basically do anything but watch The Departed. On the other hand, if you want to forget where you are and get lost for a few hours, if you want to get caught in a gripping narrative, and if you don't mind getting a bit stressed out in the process, grab yourself a ticket. I did it - and I wouldn't mind doing it again.

Clone Me

2006-10-14T12:17:00.000+08:00

imaginary friend
Originally uploaded by driver ng bayan.

I'm flying down south early tomorrow morning - I'll be there until Wednesday or Thursday. It'll be a blast, I'm sure, but I have a slight problem.

I've still got some business to take care of here in Manila. No, it's not really urgent, but I'd still like to get it done soon. I thought I could take care of it before I left for this trip, but things just didn't fall into place. Now it'll really just have to wait.

If there were two of me, this wouldn't be a problem. That simply isn't the case though, and it will never be - at least not in this lifetime. Besides, I'm sure that would bring about its own set of problems. One that comes to mind immediately is my food bill. I spend a crazy amount of money on food as it is - some say I regularly eat for two - and that's without anybody else tagging along. I don't earn near enough to feed two of me.

For now, the image on the right is probably the closest any of you will get to seeing my clone. Since we're already letting our imaginations fly, I've thrown in a friend of mine with a brilliant head and twinkling eyes. I think his skin is a bit too light and that he's too thin (thinner than I am), but who am I to talk? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - and a friend of mine has already professed her undying love for, or let's not get carried away, her crush on my friend. Anybody else care to meet him?

5:32

2006-10-13T05:32:00.000+08:00

It's half past five in the morning. For many people, the day is just beginning. For some others, the start of the day is still hours away.

My day just ended.

For most people, the day ends at 5:30 in the afternoon. You could then say that I'm 12 hours late. Then again, I'm not most people.

I'm not a pencil pusher with a day job. I'm not a regular employee. I'm not confined by shifts. I'm not thinking straight.

I'm not really a morning person. I'm not normal. I'm not writing anything significant. I'm not functioning properly - at least my brain isn't.

I'm in need of sleep.

I think I'll write about my day some other time.

Good morning, and since I'm probably sleeping all day, good afternoon, good evening, and good night.

Breathe In

2006-10-11T16:28:00.000+08:00

There are so many things going on in my head now - I don't know where to start. I have a feeling I'll lose my mind sometime in the next couple of months, but I'm also pretty sure that I'll be having a blast at the same time.

I thought I would get myself a day job again, but it looks like that won't be happening anytime soon. Compared to what I'll be doing for the next few weeks, the idea of getting behind a desk is simply - I don't know. It's boring, unattractive, and if you'll allow me to be inarticulate for a moment, it's blah! Okay, a word just came to mind - it's bland. In any case, I'm excited about next few weeks. What happens after then? I don't know.

Gold

2006-10-08T19:16:00.000+08:00

Sunday, October 8, 2006
Club 650, Quezon City
WNCAA 2006 Finals

Can you guess who the champions are?

Name Game

2006-10-05T22:05:00.000+08:00

I've never really named any of my things. I call my camera - well, my camera. My laptop? My laptop. My car is sort of the exception. It has a name, albeit one that I only came up with as a joke and rarely ever use. For most intents and purposes, my car is still called my car.

There are a number of questions swimming in my head, but the one that pops out is this: why? For some reason, the reason behind naming gadgets, vehicles, and other belongings eludes me. Another question: why name some things and not others? Yet another: what makes certain objects worthy of receiving a name?

Yet another bunch of questions is begging to be asked. How does one decide on a name? Are these names gender specific? Heck, do one's belongings have genders? How much does the size of an object affect its name? How about its price or cost? Does it matter if it was a gift?

All of these questions boil down to this: what's in a name?

Kick It!

2006-10-05T19:32:00.000+08:00

Trick or Treo

2006-10-02T12:25:00.000+08:00

I posted an article on Mobile Philippines recently about rumors of a "budget" Treo in the works, rumored to be called the Treo 680. Rumor has it that this rumor is true. Rumor also has it that (as I wished for) this Treo will have Bluetooth capabilities.

Okay, I apologize for the weird tone of the previous paragraph and all the talk of rumors. Let me just, once again, let others speak for me. Rico, a fellow m-ph.com guest blogger, has posted a rumored list of specifications for the Treo 680, also on Mobile Philippines. Let it now be known that I am not the only one spreading rumors. Strangely enough, he hasn't posted anything on this rumored Treo on another tech blog he writes for, The Smart PDA. Oh well...

Once again, I apologize. I'm hungry and my brain isn't working too well as a result. On top of that [warning: geek speak ahead], I'm excited about having Bluetooth and A2DP on this phone. I just can't wait to get my hands on it. Now I just need to sell my O2 XDA IIs. Anybody interested?

About Time...

2006-10-01T17:59:00.000+08:00

Steel
Originally uploaded by driver ng bayan.

I'm at it again - I'm posting yet another photo. It looks like this blog is turning into a photography blog - or at least something that leans that way. If you count this post, five or the last ten entries are about shots I've taken.

Well, what do you expect? I got myself a camera, so it makes sense for me to make use of it, right? Besides, those of you who know me are probably aware of my tendency to get lost behind the camera. If photography is what I spend most of my time on, it makes sense for me to devote more blog entries to it, right?

This brings me to a project I have in the works: a new blog. I've bored some people already with my endless talk about photography - it figures that I can focus that energy into writing about it, right?

I admit, I'm no expert on the topic, but I can learn. Besides, I think this will make the blog more interesting. On top of this, I'm starting with a camera, but little else in terms of equipment. You (if you actually end up reading) can see how I made-do, improvised, cheated, and basically did whatever I could think of to try and get that perfect shot.

Anyway, I have a name in mind already, but I'm still open to suggestions. I'm hoping some of you can give your two cents worth. I'd like the name to still be connected to driver ng bayan somehow, but don't let that restrict you. Leave a comment if you have a name idea, if you want to make a suggestion, or if you just want to get a load off your chest. In other words, leave a comment. Why? Because I said so.

Wish me luck; and thanks!

48 Hours

2006-09-30T10:27:00.000+08:00

I've been offline for 48 hours. Well, maybe 47, but considering how bored I was during the past couple of days, you could probably count it as double that. Unfortunately, now that I'm back on my computer, my brain is dead. Two days of inactivity, and my mind has shut down.

Fine, I'm exaggerating. I'm writing now, so obviously, something's still ticking up there. The problem is, the restlessness that I've been desperately trying to get rid off the past couple of days has finally gone. That should be a good thing, but now this restlessness been replaced by a lethargy that refuses to let me get out of bed.

I hope a long drive out of town will cure this. This drive will take me offline for roughly half a day - I wish I could have taken this drive yesterday when we had no power. This time though, staying away from the net should do me good. I'll be using my head some other way, an I'll be busy enough, at least, to keep my brain from atrophying.

I seem so pathetic, and self-centered too. The past three paragraphs have all been "I" and "me." This one is turning out the same too. I don't care. My brain isn't working well enough to worry about things like that. The only thing I want is to write something about the past few days. If not for sudoku, some books, and a long night out, I probably would've gone crazy. Thankfully, that's only partly true.

I need to arm myself for life away from the computer and the television. My shelves are stocked with books and magazines, but I've read and re-read practically everything there. Heck, I had to resort to borrowing somebody else's magazines just to read something "fresh" yesterday.

The problem is my life has been swallowed by the computer. My reading materials now are blogs and other articles online. My puzzle-solving lately has been limited to Web Sudoku. With no power feeding my laptop, my world suddenly went dark. I can't let that happen again.

There is life outside the Net, isn't there? Help me find it.

BlogCon 1.0

2006-09-27T19:31:00.000+08:00

I've held out writing about the BlogCon, but all that effort, or lack thereof, will now go to waste. Yes, I went to the first Philippine BlogCon last Monday, and yes, this is my post about it.

It was a blast.

That's all I can really say that hasn't already been said. Heck, even that statement has been made already, so I'm still echoing others. I guess, yet again, I'm at a loss for words.

Unfortunately for me, I didn't really meet a whole lot of people. Despite what some people may think, I'm shy. I hid behind my camera for most of the event, and only really spoke with the people at my table, some others I got introduced to, and those I recognized from the past.

Ok, so maybe that last paragraph hasn't been said before, but it was about me, not the BlogCon. If you really want to know what happened, I suggest you do any of the following:
1. Go to the BlogCon wiki, or
2. Visit the following links (listed, for some reason, in alphabetical order): 1st Philippine BlogCon, After the 2006 Blogcon, Back from BlogCon 2006, BlogCon 2006, BlogCon 2006 was a Blast, BlogCon Aftermath, Pinoy Bloggers Face-to-Face, Seen & heard at the 1st Philipine BlogCon 2006, Teh BlogCon is the Shizzle!, What Happened at BlogCon 2006? and read what they have to say about it.

Oblivious

2006-09-27T18:31:00.000+08:00

Oblivious
Originally uploaded by driver ng bayan.

My play is over, and aside from my plug about it, this is only my second post about the play. The first was about a power outage we experienced during one of the shows.

Anyway, these are the first photos I'm posting of the whole run. Since I was manning the lights, I couldn't really get shots during the play. I could, however, take shots before, after, and in between shows. The image on the right was taken during a break between shows. Obviously, while some people were resting and conserving their energy, others had an excess of it.

Click here or on the or thumbnail on the right to see some other behind-the-scenes moments. Most of these were taken before shows - the cast is in costume and make-up already. Unfortunately, the shots posted are limited to the cast and the director, as well as a crew member who happened to walk into the frame. I might follow this up with pictures of the rest of the team, but that'll just have to wait.

Cars

2006-09-26T15:38:00.000+08:00

Z8-FR-MAIN
Originally uploaded by driver ng bayan.

Actually, that should be car - as in one car.

In fact, even that is a misnomer. The title should be toy car.

I'm sure some of you knew what it was immediately, but I'd like to think I can still fool some others with this shot. Then again, if I show the original images at full-size, I'm not going to fool anybody. You're free to view my other picks from the bunch at my Flickr. Just click on the image on the right.

Anyway, I'm on the lookout now for a 1/12th scale car. It doesn't have to be a luxury car like the Z8 pictured here. All I need is a model that has a few more details than this one. The one in the picture is a 1/24th scale model, and I'm looking to shoot something that might actually pass as real. Does anybody want to lend me a car?

m-ph

2006-09-23T09:56:00.000+08:00

No, that isn't what the title refers to. Yes, I know I drive fast, but we measure speed in this country by kilometers per hour. Besides, the dash should have told you it wasn't about speed - otherwise I would've typed in MPH, MpH, or something like that. What I'm referring to is m-ph.com, the online version of Mobile Philippines.

Yes, it is widely known that I'm a gadget geek - but what does Mobile Philippines have to do with me? Well, I blog for m-ph.com now. I actually started just under a week ago, but it took me that long to post it here. Just for that, I'll say it again - I'm a guest blogger for Mobile Philippines. Not a bad gig, eh?

Darkness

2006-09-21T12:17:00.000+08:00

In what will probably go down in Kultura history as the most memorable show ever, the cast and crew of Art have proven that regardless of the circumstances, the show must go on.

The evening show on the 20th was moving along smoothly. It was, in fact, turning into one of the best shows in the run. From a technical standpoint, it was damn near perfect. With the exception of a minor mistake handling one of the microphones, as well as a tiny power fluctuation that dimmed the lights just enough for me to notice, it was the cleanest show so far.

From the audience perspective, it was even better. For some reason, I felt like this audience was a lot more involved with the play than others. They laughed more, yes - but everybody laughs during the show. What seemed different was that their laughter was more contagious - at some point, I almost fell on top of the tangle of wires powering our lights. What proved to me that this audience was different, however, was their collective "aawww" during one of the scenes. I had always thought that was an "aawww" moment, but none of the other shows had gotten that. They'd elicited giggles, but not the "aawww" I was looking for. This show was different - of course, I didn't know how different it would be until later.

At some point, just after the most physical scene in the show, the lights dimmed. They immediately powered back on, then dimmed - and this cycle repeated another time before we were plunged almost totally in darkness. Each time the lights dimmed, I heard some loud noise off in the distance. I didn't want to say it at the time, but I knew the power wasn't coming back on - at least not for a while.

We made some announcements and tried to figure out what to do. Since most of the surrounding buildings were in the dark, we knew we couldn't rely on the city's power grid. We had generators in the building, but the operator wasn't around. We had to make do with what little light we had. We made another announcement, we made do.

It's a good thing our play has only three characters. You see, we ended up using three lights bright enough to light them up - a flashlight we borrowed from one of the guards, and an emergency light (with two bulbs) we took off the wall. I'm also glad one of the former technical directors for Kultura was there - she helped me light up our performers.

I'm not sure if it was just the circumstances surrounding us or if it was really the audience, but the applause last night seemed louder than usual. Right now, I don't really care. Things may have gone horribly wrong, but the show did go on. Our systems may have failed, but our performers soldiered on. Heck, the city may have been plunged into darkness, but everybody involved in the production helped to make sure that at least in the tiny space we call our theater, not to mention the path leading out to the exit, things remained bright. We lit up the place, not just with with our borrowed lights and our cellular phones, but with our enthusiasm, our smiles, and our performances.

Tune Up

2006-09-18T00:12:00.000+08:00

On Jayvee's recommendation, I've decided to give a tutorial of sorts on shooting cars, or other fast-moving objects for that matter. In the state I'm in though, I'll probably end up writing a journal - something like a narrative of what transpired during our shoot.

In any case, If you've seen this photo from my previous post and you're wondering how I did it, then read on. If you don't particularly care, then I suggest you jump off to another page. With that disclaimer of sorts out of the way, let's get down to business.

Before I give the details of the shoot, however, here is, quoted from my previous post, the reason for this shoot: "Thinking that he was selling his car in a few days, my friend decided he wanted some photos to remember his ride by. With this in mind, he and I decided to go on a photo shoot."

Now, on to the nitty-gritty. Because I haven't quite acquired the knack for knowing what settings to just by looking around - at least not yet - I fired off some test shots using one of the automatic settings. Mind you, I was shooting from another car, and we were both speeding down the road. Looking back, I'm glad I didn't lose my grip on my camera.

In this shot, the sky is overcast, gray, and otherwise dull. The day wasn't exactly ideal for shooting outdoors, but we decided to try anyway. I switched to manual, checked the settings on the reference shot, and got ready to shoot.

Because I was shooting a moving car and I couldn't exactly repeat any action I hadn't captured, I switched to continuous shooting mode. Since I was shooting from another car, I decided to take another precaution - I raised my shutter speed.

In my first round of shots, the car exposed almost perfectly - but there was something very wrong. It was only (very) slightly overexposed, and that could have easily been corrected in post-processing. In fact, the car looked pretty good. The problem was it didn't look fast.

If not for the faint dust cloud behind the wheels and the slight roll to the right, it looks like the car in this image is standing still. If you look closely at the wheels, in fact, it looks like they're not spinning at all.

After the first round of shots, we had to ditch the chase car. We also had to retreat to another location. We also had to pray to the powers-that-be to keep the rain away.

One car less and a location change later, we were shooting again. I wanted the get the sense of motion we had lost earlier, so I reduced my shutter speed by several stops. This produced the image of an overexposed car moving slowly.

By this time I had realized that my settings were completely off. Colors were dull, highlights were blown, and everything was pretty much overexposed. On top of that, the car looked slow. If I wanted to get the shot right before the light changed on me, I would have to adjust different variable all at once.

First off, I had to make the car look faster. I slowed the shutter down to 1/40 of a second, and took a shot while panning at roughly the speed I had been moving in the previous shots. I was happy with the background blur in the test shot; and I was hoping the wheels would get a nice blur on them too.

Next on the agenda was compensating for the slower shutter speed. I dropped the ISO to 400 and stepped the aperture down to F/8. We then did a test run and came up with this shot. It looked pretty good - but it wasn't quite there yet. The sky, not to mention the roof, was still blown out.

An F-Stop and a batch of pictures later, we came up with the following image. Pretty good, but still not quite there. The car was pretty much dialed in, but the background was still troubling me.

At this point I decided that we couldn't make any more adjustments to get the sky looking right - we would have to find a way to hide it. I didn't want a house dominating the background - it just didn't feel right. I wanted an industrial or a least a commerical look, but I didn't want to switch to yet another location. Thankfully, there was a tree and an empty lot right behind me. Greenery would just have to do.

Shooting from a reverse angle, I snapped away just as the car was running past the tree. This helped the exposure several ways. First, it put the car in the shade - preventing the roof and parts of the hood from blowing out. Second, the tree blocked most of the sky in the background - adding more texture (and blur) to the shot. Third, the change of angle revealed a piece of sky that was filled with gray clouds - giving me a sky that wasn't completely blown out.

All this resulted in a the shot you see here. After getting this, we ran back and forth a few more times and took roughly another hundred photos. We found a handful of good shots, but none quite like #205.

Finally, after a bit of post-processing, we have the image you see here. I can still think of a bunch of ways to improve the image, but they don't exactly fall under the realm of basic image processing. At some point, I might try transplanting the car into a picture on an actual racetrack. Before that, I could simply play with the sky and turn it blue. More likely than either of these possibilities though, I think I'll just get behind the camera again and try to get an even better shot.

Until then, this image will just have to do.

20+

2006-09-17T23:49:00.000+08:00

I celebrated my 25th birthday today. After several years of celebrating my 22nd, I finally decided it was time I admitted that I was no longer in my early 20s.

Next year, I will once again be celebrating my 25th. This time around, I think I'll host a party. You're invited. I'll post details some time.

I'm just wondering now - at this rate, when will I celebrate my 28th birthday?

Drive By

2006-09-16T07:46:00.000+08:00

325i
Originally uploaded by driver ng bayan.

Thinking that he was selling his car in a few days, my friend decided he wanted some photos to remember his ride by. With this in mind, he and I decided to go on a photo shoot.

The conditions for the shoot weren't exactly ideal. The sky was a dark gray, and it looked like the clouds were just about ready to burst. In fact, at some point, it had actually started to drizzle.

This, of course, did not deter us. We found a nice wide corner with very little traffic and decided to keep driving the car back and forth until we had gotten a handful of decent shots. Roughly a couple of hundred shots later, we called it a day.

We got more than a handful of nice images that day. This one just happens to be my favorite.

Size Matters

2006-09-14T19:59:00.000+08:00

Tall people earn more because they're smarter, or so they say. It's obvious I'm taller than the average person, at least around here. I know it makes me seem conceited, but I think I'm smarter than most people. Combine these two with the previous entry and you can say I've got it all. Throw in the reference from the title, and well...

I think that's my cue to just shut up. If you want to smack me on the head now, go right ahead - I know I deserve it.

Faces

2006-09-13T13:25:00.000+08:00

I don't know why the hell I'm posting this, but I guess by doing so, I'm giving you license to poke fun at me.

Done? Now move on to the post below. Believe me, that's more entertaining.

Nice Top

2006-09-12T06:32:00.000+08:00

This woke me up. I cracked up immediately when I saw it, and I couldn't get back to sleep. I found it a link on a friend's page on deviantArt that led to the deviation below, owned by this deviant. In other words, I stumbled upon it, and now I'm sharing it with you. If you don't find it funny, you might at least appreciate other aspects of the image. If not, well...

Isn't the shirt cool? I'd never get it, of course, but I'm wondering who among you would have the guts to wear that. Anyway, I'm heading off to break my fast.

Good morning!

Tukar

2006-09-10T16:34:00.000+08:00

Silhouette
Originally uploaded by driver ng bayan.

I don't know why I waited for over a month before I posted these pictures, but finally, here they are.

I took these late last July at a concert featuring Cynthia Alexander, Joey Ayala, and National Living Treasure from Maguindanao Samaon Sulaiman among others. I knew I had good seats, but I was surprised at how close they were to the stage - I could put my feet up on it from my seat.

If I remember correctly, I took well over a hundred shots. This specific picture is, obviously, a silhouette of somebody on stage. It's Cynthia Alexander's profile - and while I can think of a hundred different ways this picture could be improved, I like it enough to call it one of my favorites. The rest of my favorites are posted here.

Crikey

2006-09-04T15:42:00.000+08:00

Steve Irwin, more popularly known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed today while diving off the northeast coast of Australia. In a freak accident, Irwin, 44, took a stingray barb in the chest while filming a new wildlife documentary. He died doing something he loved.

See this Reuters article for more details.

Idiot!

2006-09-02T01:12:00.000+08:00

I almost ran head-on into another car tonight. The idiot in the other car was (1)speeding (2)down the wrong side of the road (3)while approaching an incline. If I hadn't been paying attention, I probably wouldn't be here now writing about this idiot - I would yelling at and cursing him. Worse, I could be at or on the way to the hospital. As to whether the idiot would be injured or not, I couldn't care less. Given the way he was driving, any injuries he would have sustained would be well deserved. Given the speed at which both our cars were running, those injuries would have been pretty - well - significant. Put another way, any contact would have led to a very ugly scene.

There was, fortunately, no contact - at least none involving my car. I still need to vent though, and that's what this entry is for.

Art

2006-08-31T23:57:00.000+08:00

Art
by Yasmina Reza

translated by
Christopher Hampton

9.01.2006 (Fri) 7:45 p.m.
9.02.2006 (Sat) 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
9.06.2006 (Wed) 3:00 p.m. & 7:45 p.m.
9.09.2006 (Sat) 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
9.13.2006 (Wed) 7:45 p.m.
9.20.2006 (Wed) 3:00 p.m. & 7:45 p.m.
9.21.2006 (Thu) 7:45 p.m.
9.22.2006 (Fri) 7:45 p.m.

Telengtan Hall
5/F APEC Communications Building
University of Asia and the Pacific
Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center
Pasig City

FREE ADMISSION for UA&P students, faculty & staff with UA&P ID

REGULAR TICKETS at P250
DISCOUNTED TICKETS for non-UA&P students & teachers at P200 (with valid school ID)

UA&P ALUMNI DISCOUNT P200 with alumni ID
(please contact uapalumni@gmail.com for information on how to apply for your UA&P Alumni ID)

for inquiries and seat reservations, please contact
637-0912 loc. 380
(917) 833-4564
mpuyat@uap.edu.ph

The play has been produced in more than 30 countries and has won its writer almost every major theater award in Europe and the United States, such as the 1996 Olivier Award for Best Comedy and the 1998 Tony Award for Best Play.

ART, described by its playwright as a funny tragedy, tells the story of three men who are forced to re-evaluate their friendship after one of them buys a five-foot-by-four painting of fine white diagonal lines against a white background for the exorbitant price of 200,000 francs. It is a humorous yet heartbreaking story that examines the meaning of art and friendship.

ART is the thirteenth major theatrical production of Kultura, an arts center based in the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Office of Student Affairs. Tinette Villanueva, whose varied directorial credits include Moliere’s Tartuffe, Ang Inspektor ni Nikolai Gogol, Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians, Clytemnestra ni Juan Ekis, Eugene Ionesco’s How to Get Rid of It and The Lesson, and William Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors, directs the three-man cast (Joel Parcon, Javi Coromina and Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap).

Long Day

2006-08-30T15:02:00.000+08:00

At a shoot yesterday that lasted all day and then some, I managed to take few photos. Between adjusting lights & reflectors, moving files, and a hundred other little things, I found time to squeeze the trigger on my own camera a couple of times.

Ok, that isn't exactly true. I managed to take more than a couple. At some point, I was asked to take my own camera out and shoot around - to document the shoot, so to speak. I took a handful of pictures.

Fine, I took over a hundred. I can't really post the many of the pictures here - at least not yet - but here are a few:

First is one of those behind the scenes shots. You won't recognize the model, trust me. You can try, but you won't figure out who it is based on this image.

Second is me goofing around. I mounted the strobe trigger on my own camera, tweaked my settings, moved into the lights, and squeezed the shutter release.

The last is, as I'm sure you can see, somebody taking a coffee break.

Omakase!

2006-08-28T00:14:00.000+08:00

Omakase Roll
Originally uploaded by driver ng bayan.

Considering I just recently got myself a new camera, it's a bit strange that I haven't been updating my deviantART. I've been shooting a lot, and consequently, I've been filling up my hard drives at an alarming rate. What I haven't been doing much though is sharing my photos.

To break that trend, I've posted a handful of shots on my Flickr. Pictured here is the Omakase Roll from (where else?) Omakase. It's basically a kani (plus something) maki wrapped in some salmon sashimi, and it's one of my favorite dishes. I think it's the salmon that does the trick for me.

There are five shots in the Omakase batch of pictures, but I think I'll be adding a bunch of other food shots some time. Right now though, I'm feeling hungry.

Mobile Home

2006-08-13T20:46:00.000+08:00

My camera now has a home.

It's a pretty large bag - it has room for a flash or two, a transmitter, and a couple of lenses, as well as a bunch of little trinkets. Unfortunately, those things will simply have to wait.

I Want!

2006-08-05T17:25:00.000+08:00

It's the Lowepro Slingshot 200 AW, and I want it to house my new toy, among other things.

On another (related?) noted, my birthday is coming up. =D

=)

2006-07-25T21:17:00.001+08:00

my new toy

Toilet Humor

2006-07-02T20:37:00.000+08:00

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The Japanese are crazy.

S

2006-07-01T00:25:00.000+08:00

Scary Movie 4
David Zucker
2105 - 28 June 2006

Superman Returns
Bryan Singer
Robinson's Galleria Cinema 2
2000 - 30 June 2006

Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.

Wit

2006-06-18T14:33:00.000+08:00

I hope you have a sense of humor. I know at least that this made me laugh when I first saw it a few years back.

Burning Rubber

2006-06-18T13:28:00.000+08:00

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
Justin Lin
Shangri-La Cinema 4
1935 - 18 June 2006

Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.

Keys Me

2006-06-14T02:04:00.000+08:00

You still remember your Song Hits? This should remind you.

Contact Me!

2006-06-07T20:57:00.000+08:00

I just replaced my phone and PDA, and I have to rebuild my address book and phone book. Care to help me out?

If you know me, you probably know my number. If not, you have my email address. If not, well, you can leave a comment - or not. In any case, please send me your contact details. Disclose as much as you wish, but at the very least, give me your name. Other useful info:

mobile #, email address, home address, home phone, birthdate, anniversary, name of significant other, whatever trivia you'd like to share...

Thanks!

Then & Now

2006-06-05T15:41:00.000+08:00

X-Men: The Last Stand
Brett Ratner
Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3
2105 - 31 May 2006

Over the Hedge
Tim Johnson & Karey Kirkpatrick
Robinson's Galleria Cinema 7
1200 - 05 June 2006

Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.

No Tech

2006-06-02T23:09:00.000+08:00

My laptop is acting up, my phone is on the fritz, and my PDA just died.

This is not funny.

Master

2006-05-31T14:28:00.000+08:00

... has left the building.

Win-Win

2006-05-22T21:36:00.000+08:00

I'm trying to gain weight. Simply bringing that thought up, I'm sure, will elicit some violent reactions. Yes, I am aware that millions of people are willing to spend an arm and a leg in the quest to lose weight. The countless books, diet programs, and exercise machines being sold today are testament to that. This, however, is precisely what the problem, my problem, is. Everybody else is focused on losing weight, so the skinny guy trying to pack on the pounds is left alone.

I've had enough of this, and I say it's time the skinny guy gets the support he needs. On top of this, I have a program that will also help overweight people eat less. It's a simple program with one basic principle: distribute resources according to need.

Simple, isn't it? If you want to gain weight, you need to eat more. Therefore, you need more food. To get more food, you need to spend more money. In order to spend more money, you need to have more money to spend. Ergo, we need more money.

Those who need to lose weight, need to eat less. In fact, they should eat less. Since they need less food, so they don't need to spend as much. Because they don't need to spend as much... well, I'm sure by now, you can see where I'm going.

The program will go like this: those who are trying to lose weight should subsidize the food expenses of those trying to gain weight. This way, both parties get closer to their goals.

So, watchathink?

Code

2006-05-21T02:04:00.000+08:00

"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it."

I just read earlier that The Da Vinci Code was banned in Manila, and for some reason, that set me off. I never really understood what all the fuss about Code was all about, but I didn't particulary care anyway. Reading that short article got to me though.

Yes, I understand that it raises some questions about Catholicism, or Christianity in general. Some will even argue that the movie, or the book for that matter, is blasphemous. So what? Kevin Smith poked fun at the Church in Dogma, but I don't remember there being an uproar like what we have today. Then again, I don't think that movie hit the theaters here anyway. Give me enough time and I can probably cite several movies that feature ideas contrary to the teachings of the Church. I'm not too keen on doing that right now though.

One thing I will point out, however, is that regardless of what ideas these stories might put forth, they are all fiction, and therefore ok. They don't claim that vampires, ghosts, or zombies really exist - but they allow us to step into a world where they just might be real. They don't tell us to question our knowledge - but they ask us to open our minds to the possibilities that exist in other people's imaginations. They don't replace our world - but they allow us, at least temporarily, to escape into another reality, so to speak.

Code is not much different from these other stories. It doesn't pretend to a factual narrative. In fact, it stays well within the realm of fiction. If you can't differentiate fact from fiction, then you should seek professional help. Based on the worldwide reaction to the Dan Brown tale, psychiatrists the world over will have more on their plates than most of them can handle.

This brings me to the quote I started this entry with. I took that from the movie Men in Black. People collectively really are, for the most part, stupid. This confusion of fact and fiction is just one proof of that. The whole buzz about the novel, in my opinion, isn't due to the brilliance of the narrative, but due to the gullibility of people.

If that isn't clear, let me attempt to explain. If it is, then skip this paragraph. If you choose to read this paragraph, I warn you now - it could be long, and I apologize in advance. That being said, the enjoyment of a narrative is dependent on the suspension of one's disbelief. We as readers (or viewers) have to accept the "facts" presented in a story as plausible, at least within the contxt of the story being told. In the story of Goldilocks, for example, we have to accept the idea that bears use furniture, eat porridge, and sleep in beds - otherwise, we dismiss the story as total rubbish, and the whole narrative fails. In the case of Code, the "facts" about the Church presented by the author are there to push the story forward.

Some people have accepted the ideas presented in the novel pardon the pun, gospel truth. They have taken the assertions set forth in the novel and applied them to their own worlds. These same people, if they ever read the story of Goldilocks, might start leaving mattresses and bowls of porridge in the forest so the bears there might be more comfortable.

I admit, I've made some pretty bold statements here. I'm not apologizing for them. I am, however, admitting that I'm a bit sleepy. Actually, I'm quite sleepy. If I didn't really make much sense, I apologize. If I entertained you anyway, then you're welcome.

Lost at Sea

2006-05-12T21:03:00.000+08:00

This week the sea tried to take me. Fortunately for me, the water in the area was pretty shallow - at no point did the water level get higher than my chest. The sea could not take me away - I was safe. Some other items on me, however, were not.

The first thing the sea took was a pair of sunglasses. They weren't mine, but they were in my pocket. I noticed they were missing while looking for a shallow spot to lay down and soak up some rays. A few minutes of searching brought them back to me. They were lying on the sand under 3 feet of water.

Having found some success with the sunglasses, the sea took another stab at pulling me, or something on me, back into the ocean. The second time around, the sea took a whistle clipped to the laces of my trunks. I don't know how it managed to untie the knot on the board shorts I was wearing - all I know is that I looked down and saw the laces dangling free. No whistle nor carabiner was attached. These I found some 20 yards away.

Having been foiled twice, the sea tried again. The third time, in this case, was a charm. I didn't notice it - not until it was too late. The sea had somehow taken me. I hit the showers before I realized that one of my dog tags had gone missing - probably lost at sea forever.

If anybody ever finds that tag where it came off, they will wonder how and idiot with my name managed to drown in 3 feet of water. If it gets pulled further away to sea, perhaps some divers will find it. If it washes up on shore, maybe it will bake under the sun until some kid picks it up. More likely, it will stay lost.

The sea didn't get my other toys, but it managed to get my name, date of birth and blood type. It got my phone number too, as well as my brother's. I guess, if that tag is ever found, I'll be considered lost at sea.

Yeah, right.

Rabbit's Foot

2006-05-07T10:41:00.000+08:00

Mission: Impossible III
J.J. Abrams
Glorietta 4 Cinema 3
2300 - 06 May 2006

Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.

Drive

2006-05-04T07:31:00.000+08:00

I do this a lot, and I find it therapeutic. The thing is, that's not what this post is about. It's about the same word, but in a different context.

I don't have much of it now. Don't ask me why - I can't even be bothered to figure out the reasons, let alone explain them.

It looks like I'll be stuck in this funk for quite a while, and I don't know how I'll get out of it. Any suggestions?

Then again, who's to say I actually will take those suggestions?

1930

2006-05-02T00:01:00.000+08:00

In less than 24 hours, certain events that will take place in a room thousands of miles away will hit me in ways I haven't even begun to imagine. I have no idea how I will feel tomorrow. When they come, will I share those feelings with you? I doubt it.

I've kept this pretty quiet for months now, sharing only the occasional clue. Why should I suddenly make a big deal of it now, or tomorrow for that matter? I guess if the dam holding this all in breaks down, I won't have a choice. For now though, things look pretty solid.

Then again, this could just be wishful thinking. Just to be safe, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Changes

2006-05-01T15:15:00.000+08:00

As you might have already noticed, this blog is getting a long overdue update. I've added a few things, deleted some things, and changed a few others. It really isn't a major overhaul - at least that's not what I have planned. Nonetheless, I've got quite a bit of work ahead of me.

Why am I still too lazy to finish this whole thing?

Wii

2006-04-29T21:50:00.000+08:00

The Nintendo Revolution I wrote about a few days ago officially has a new name: Wii. Pronounced "we," the new name is already generating quite a buzz - and you only need to Google it to find out what people are saying. Me? I'm keeping my lips zipped. Instead, I'll give you the official word from Nintendo:

Introducing… Wii.

As in “we.”

While the code-name “Revolution” expressed our direction, Wii represents the answer.

Wii will break down that wall that separates video game players from everybody else.

Wii will put people more in touch with their games… and each other. But you’re probably asking: What does the name mean?

Wii sounds like “we,” which emphasizes this console is for everyone.

Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii.

Wii has a distinctive “ii” spelling that symbolizes both the unique controllers and the image of people gathering to play.

And Wii, as a name and a console, brings something revolutionary to the world of video games that sets it apart from the crowd.

So that’s Wii. But now Nintendo needs you.

Because, it’s really not about you or me.

It’s about Wii.

And together, Wii will change everything.

Yeah, I guess when we Wii all get our Wiis and have those ~~little~~ <~~wee~~ Wii controllers in our hands, We Wii will all be too happy playing and screaming ~~whee~~ Wiiiiiii that we Wii won't care how crappy the Wii's name is. You agree with me, ~~oui~~ Wii?

Hello

2006-04-26T12:06:00.000+08:00

see below. 'nuff said.

Fascination

2006-04-22T19:50:00.000+08:00

I bit my lip recently. As you can probably imagine, it isn't a pleasant experience. In a slightly morbid way though, I find that I like the taste of blood. At the very least, I'm fascinated by it.

Snakes have been vilified since, well, since as far back as I can remember. I've never really hated them though. The opposite, in fact, has been true - I've been fascinated by snakes since I was a little kid. Ok, maybe "fascinated" isn't the right word, but I've never really found them repulsive. On the contrary, I like the way they feel, and I wouldn't mind learning more about them firsthand. For now though, I'm content with just carrying one on my shoulders again, even for just a little while.

Contrary to what I might tell some people (little kids, especially), I believe that there are beings among us that most of us aren't aware of. I'm not talking about mites, bacteria, and other organisms that we simply can't see with the naked eye - I'm talking about ghosts, spirits, and other beings lacking corporeal bodies. Unlike some fictional characters in the movies, I can't see dead people - not unless you're referring to corpses. I do know, however, that there are times when we aren't alone, even when it looks like we are. How? I'm not quite sure. What I do know, however, is that I want to know more. Once again, the word comes up - paranormal phenomena fascinate me.

Blood, snakes, and spirits - not exactly common interests, are they? Well, they're some of mine. Strange? I don't think so, but then again, that's not for me to judge, is it?

Play!

2006-04-19T19:44:00.000+08:00

I considered posting about the Nintendo Revolution before, but I couldn't quite figure out a way to describe its appeal to me. It is, quite literally, revolutionary.

Consoles put games into boxes. They allowed you to take your favorite arcade games home - whether in cartridges, CDs, DVDs, or what-have you. They put the games that used to only be available at your local arcade into little boxes that you would fit in your living room or bedroom. The Revolution is, forgive the bad pun, breaking out of this box. How? To put it succinctly, by breaking convention.

The Revolution tries to change the way we play games - and from the looks of it, does so quite radically. Most of us have seen consoles evolve from one version to the next, each generation adding just a bit more to the previous one. We've seen console graphics grow from the single color games like Pong and the four-colors of Mattel Intellivision to the full-color, I-can't-believe-that's-CGI realism on today's games. Of course, we've also seen controllers develop through the years.

It started with a joystick and a single button. The Intellivision tried to introduce a floating disk with a keypad sometime in the 80s, but this (thankfully) never took off. The Famicom and NES, with their 4-direction keypad and 2-button (plus start and select buttons) combination, set the tone for all controllers that followed. Every other console from that point on simply added to this winning combination. Today's controllers typically have the directional pad, an analog stick or two, 892 or so additional buttons. They've also thrown in some other extras, like extending grips with cooling fans, miniature screens, and of course vibrating motors for force feedback.

With the Revolution, Nintendo has thrown the old controller formula out the window. Yes, it still has the standard directional pad, a few buttons, and then some - but these things aren't the main form of control anymore. We've all seen one version or another of a virtual reality headset, complete with a glove or two serving as controllers. Unfortunately, these devices never really took off. Nintendo, it seems, has revisited this idea and made the controller itself, and not just the buttons on the controller, the main, well, control. You don't press a button to move around, you move the controller around. Don't get it? well, like I said earlier, "I couldn't quite figure out a way to describe its appeal to me." After seeing the video below, however, I figured I could let it do the talking for me. On that note, the only thing I have to say is this: watch this video.

Fox Fixes

2006-04-19T17:02:00.000+08:00

On Jayvee's suggestion, I'm allowing my geek tendencies to come to light once again and writing about technical, computer-related stuff. You have been warned - this entry is for geeks, specifically tech geeks, and most definitely not for technophobes.

Anyway, Jayvee's suggestion was this: write about my top Firefox extensions. If your idea of extensions involves lengthening hair (or other parts of the human anatomy), then I suggest you click away to another page - you won't find what you're looking for here. If you don't know what Firefox is, go get it. Get it now! If, however, you know what I'm talking about, then good. Here they are.

1. Tab Mix Plus
Think tabbed browsing is cool? This extension will make you wonder how you ever managed to get any surfing done on IE. TMP will let you really take advantage of those tabs. Lock or protect them, move them around, duplicate them, basically customize them. Did you accidentally close a tab? Just re-open it, or any of the tabs you recently closed. Think of anything else you can do with your tabs? This will probably do it.

What's with the plus? Did you accidentally close Firefox? Did your system hang? Were you juggling some 34,252,827 tabs at the time? You don't have to re-open every little link. The session manager lets you restart Firefox right where you left off, or if you choose, at a previously saved session.

2. Show Image
Don't you just hate it when you load a page, and some of the images are missing? Normally, you'd be able to right-click on the image and load it. This should be the case with Firefox, right? Wrong. You have to reload the entire page just to get the missing image (or images) to load. This little extension is a feature that should have been built into Firefox. Good thing somebody came up with it though.

3. IE Tab
Some sites, unfortunately, simply don't work in Firefox. Most banking and financial sites don't. This lets you keep a tab (or more, if you'd like) running Internet Explorer in your Firefox window. Never open IE again - well, sort of.

4. DownTHEMall
Find a bunch of links you like on a page? How about several pictures? Download them all! Enough said, right?

5. Restart Firefox
I install, remove, and update my extensions. A lot.

I'm also lazy - too lazy to close Firefox (1 click), find the shortcut to it (a few more clicks) then re-open it (2 more clicks). Restart Firefox lets me, well, restart Firefox in 3 clicks. Tops.

Honorable Mentions
SwitchProxy Tool, Download Embedded, FasterFox

Well, that's it. Jayvee, if you're reading this, it's your turn.

Indulgence

2006-04-12T18:01:00.000+08:00

A picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll use one:

Light My Candle

2006-04-11T12:20:00.000+08:00

Rent
Chris Columbus
Greenbelt 3 Cinema 1
2045 - 10 April 2006

Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.

Boo!

2006-04-07T12:22:00.000+08:00

My Taiwan trip ~~probably~~ isn't pushing through.

Hot & Cold

2006-04-07T07:28:00.000+08:00

My forearms are significantly darker than the rest of my body. When I first noticed this, I knew I had to hit the beach soon. This was months ago, and my feet have yet to touch sand. Tomorrow they will. This weekend, I bid goodbye to the city - and embrace the sun, sand, and surf. Come Monday though, it's back to the smog, steel, and smell of the city.

The jackets in my closet are gathering dust - figuratively speaking, at least. Even in the air-conditioned confines of this building, the temperature rarely drops low enough to make me want to wear an extra layer of clothing. Step outside and the idea of wearing anything warmer than a regular t-shirt becomes ridiculous. Summer is here, and I want to be anywhere but in the city. The beach is the only place for me now. Of course, if the temperature drops by some 10 degrees (or more), I wouldn't mind the concrete and steel environment so much. It's a good thing then that I'm heading to Taiwan.

I'll be flying North in mid-May, staying there for around 10 days. If my memory serves me well, the temperature in Taipei in May will be in the low to mid 20s (in the 70s, for those who use Farenheit). Nice and cool.

Anyway, I feel the need for some hot food in my stomach. I'm off!

Random

2006-04-03T11:30:00.000+08:00

I didn't have an April Fools' Day post this year. Boring.

Last Saturday, I shot over 2GB worth of photos. Make that 2.5GB worth. I filled up a pair of 1GB CF cards plus another 512MB, all in the under 8 hours.

I'm going to Taiwan next month. I need a camera, preferably a dSLR. Does anybody want to lend me one? It'll only be for 10 days.

My parents (as well as my sister and her husband) are flying out of the country sometime this month. By the time they get back, I'll be out of the country too. What does this tidbit mean to you? Nothing, I guess - but I didn't really have anything else to type.

I'm hungry. More to the point, I'm craving for some sushi and / or sashimi.

USB 1.1 sucks. It's frustratingly slow, especially when you're trying to unload some 500+ MB from a camera. On the flip side, it gives you an excuse to blog, or do some other useless sh*t while at work. What a way to use company resources, right?

I've just counted, and I have 6 flashlights in my bag now. A couple are running low on juice already, and one is dead. Throw in the lighter and the matches in there, and you can be pretty sure I won't be in need of a light as long as I have my bag with me.

I also have 3 knives, but only one of them (at least in my opinion) has a decent blade. The other 2 are still pretty sharp, but too small to really be useful. They've still got some other functions though.

What other toys have I got in my bag? I've got my Tungsten, my t68i, a 10GB external HDD, a stress ball, my sunglasses, several carabiners, some rope, plus a bunch of other things. Yes, I was a boy scout when I was younger. Laging handa, or for those who need an English translation, always prepared.

My picture dump is almost through, so I'm ending this session of randomness here.

Fun!

2006-03-30T07:04:00.000+08:00

Ice Age: The Meltdown
Carlos Saldanha
Promenade Cinema 5
1250 - 29 March 2006

Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.

I

2006-03-26T03:07:00.000+08:00

I have been described - or I have described myself - as many things. This entry is a not-so-feeble attempt to repeat or recall some of those descriptions. Why not-so-feeble? Well, this entry is basically a bunch of sentences starting with the word "I" strung together. This is one of those posts that I consider revealing (though I'm sure I've had other entries that are more revealing than this), primarily because I will be repeating descriptions of myself.

I am smart. I am lazy. I want too many things.

I am a flirt. I am a jerk. I am afraid of commitment. I am single. I am having fun. I am screwed.

I am not friendly. I am too friendly. I smile a lot. I don't smile enough. I don't know what to believe.

I have large feet. I love shoes. I enjoy futsal. I do not know where my futsal ball is.

I take a lot of pictures. I have an eye for what looks good. I don't quite trust my eye. I am looking for guidance - or assurance. I want my own camera.

I find driving therapeutic. I drive fast. I don't really drive fast. I am a slalom driver. I hate traffic. I can get in and out of traffic jams faster than most. I prefer driving a stick shift.

I love food. I can cook. I don't think I cook really well, but I can cook. I have a handful of proven recipes. I enjoy chopping. I don't like washing. I love eating. I eat a lot. I eat a whole lot. I don't gain weight. I wish I were heavier.

I am a night person. I love the dark. I love flashlights. I love light and shadow.

I need sleep.

I think I'll just link to these Johari and Nohari things.

Revolution

2006-03-19T15:07:00.000+08:00

V for Vendetta
James McTeigue
Gateway Cinema 10
1820 - 18 March 2006

Orapronobis
Lino Brocka
Gateway Cinema 4
2100 - 18 March 2006

Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.

Look the past. Live in the present. Change the future.

Distant 2nd

2006-03-18T15:08:00.000+08:00

Casanova
Lasse Hallström
SM MegaMall Cinema 11
2000 - 16 March 2006

Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.

Almost a month after my 1st, I see my 2nd movie for the year. This is sad.

Q&A

2006-03-13T01:11:00.000+08:00

I've posted several sets of questions before, but I won't even bother to link to them now. Why? I'm just lazy, I guess. What I will be doing now, however, is answering some questions posed to me. By no means is this a comprehensive list - rather, this is a bunch of questions that I've lifted from recent posts, or from off the top of my head. I invite you to answer them (or some of them) too.

Can you please identify yourself?
I'm known by some as driver ng bayan. I've written most, if not all, of the posts in this blog, plus several comments.

Where can I find Dep Sport Sculpting clay?
I found my last tub in Gateway Mall, in a Watsons' (or similar) store in the 3rd or 4th floor. I'm pretty sure other Watsons' stores stock them. I've run out of it though, and I now use a Watsons' hair product. It seems to work pretty well, and it's a whole lot cheaper than the Dep Sport Sculpting Clay.

What are your favorite colors?
Some will say that black is my favorite color. Others might argue that black isn't a color, but rather, the absence of all color (and all light). Yet others may say gray, but again, the same arguments will ensue. White? Again, the same problem.

Those three options now eliminated, I'd have to say blue. A specific shade, you ask? Fine. I like gun metal blue. I also like midnight blue and other similar dark shades of blue.

How many pairs of shoes /sandals / slippers do you own?
I have:
2 pairs of formal black leather shoes
2 pairs of black leather boots, a pair of which can go with formal business attire
6 pairs of casual sneakers, of which I regularly use only 2 pairs
3 pairs of shoes as athletic equipment: basketball, football, futsal
1 pair of aqua socks
1 pair of Teva sandals
1 pair of leather slippers
1 pair of rubber slippers

That makes 17 pairs all in all.

What is the best birthday gift you've ever received?
It seems mababaw, but what comes to mind is this:
I was bringing a friend home really early in the morning after a long shoot, and as she entered her house, she asked me to wait a while. A couple of minutes later, she came back out with a box of Cinnabon cinnamon rolls. I had a really sweet breakfast that day.

What music are you currently listening to?
Right at this moment? Maybe by Kaskade. I'm tuned in to the chill station I've set in Pandora.com, and now I have a whole lot of music (sort of) on my computer - that is, if I'm online.

Why are you asking all these questions? What is the relevance of knowing the answers?
I'm curious about who reads my blog, but I'm not too keen on asking that question directly. I actually did that in my last bunch of questions, but I was hoping the sheer number of questions would somehow hide that fact. In any case, those who answered anonymously obviously found ways to answer my questions without quite answering that question.

Will you have a 3rd batch of questions if you still can't guess who we are? Will you hit more specifics if you have a 3rd batch?
I've already had a 3rd batch. I actually can't remember how many batches of random questions I've asked already.

On specifics, I'm not sure where to go just yet. I'd like to.

Where are your answers to your questions?
Some of the earlier batches of questions have my own answers listed in the comments. The last 3 or so do not. This entry, as stated earlier, has the answers directly in the post.

Can you post your answers too?
I can. I'm a bit too lazy to answer each and every question asked though.

Would you like to ask more questions?
Will I ever find out who posted answers to my previous posts? Will they answer these questions? Will they answer the questions listed as answers to the question "would you like to ask more questions?" Will they ask more questions? Will this barrage of questions ever stop?

Over

2006-03-11T18:01:00.000+08:00

Carpet burns, broken zippers, and bound hands - good bye. The same goes to eyeliner, striped suits, diamond rings, and some other things - I won't be wearing any of these things again anytime soon.

One can only take so much abuse.

Uh Oh

2006-02-28T10:17:00.000+08:00

I've opened Pandora's Box, and I've unleashed a wild animal. What's in it? I think a description taken straight from the box can explain it better than I can.

Pandora is a music discovery service designed to help you find and enjoy music that you'll love. It's powered by the Music Genome Project, the most comprehensive analysis of music ever undertaken. Just tell us one of your favorite songs or artists and we'll launch a streaming station to explore that part of the music universe.

So, what have I unleashed? Well, I've just dug up an old amplifier to hook up to my computer. I haven't found speakers to wire into the amp yet, but I know where to get them. It looks like my room is going to be filled with the sound of music again. This time though, it won't be the same old (but great) tracks over and over, but lots of new stuff - based of course, on the same tracks that used to play over and over. On top of this, everything will be playing back louder than ever. I won't be straining to hear the output of my laptop's tinny speakers anymore.

What? That's it? Nope. That's just the first of many things. I used to have an MP3 collection that spanned several drives. Once I sold off the drives, I obviously lost that. It now looks like I'm going to have to buy new drives again.

What else will I have to buy? Let me see... an external burner (that is, if I don't replace my laptop), several blank CDs or DVDs, better audio connectors, racks and stands for my equipment, and who-knows-what-else.

I'm in trouble.

Damn that Pandora's Box.

1st Step

2006-02-26T14:18:00.000+08:00

Memoirs of a Geisha
Rob Marshall
Shangri-La Cinema 1
1900 - 25 February 2006

Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.

I was shocked when I checked my previous entries. Based on this blog, this is the first film I've seen this year. It's almost March, and I've only watched 1 movie?!? If things keep up, I won't even reach half of my total for last year. I'm suddenly sad.

Drag me to the theaters, please!

Livid

2006-02-24T16:54:00.000+08:00

Due to recent events, the following showdates of “The Comedy of Errors” have been cancelled:
February 24 (FRI), 7:45 p.m.
February 25 (SAT), 3:00 and 7:00 p.m.

The play’s run will resume next week, with the following playdates set:
March 1 (WED), 7:45 p.m.
March 2 (THU), 7:45 p.m.
March 4 (SAT), 7:00 p.m.

Please wait for announcements on possible extra shows.

Thank you, and for any inquiries, you may contact 0917-8334564.

Marie Puyat
Audience Development & Marketing Officer
Office of Student Affairs - Kultura Desk
University of Asia and the Pacific
637-0912 loc. 380 (telefax) / mpuyat@uap.edu.ph

Another couple of hours have passed and now my mood has swung again. I've been ignoring the drama in the streets, but now the drama has reached out to me and stuck its ugly head in front of my face. I thought I had found sanctuary here in my room, but I've been proven wrong. I'm now tempted to tune into the news broadcasts on TV.

Once again, though, I'm playing the exhaustion card. I refuse watch the news. I'm tired of hearing about the mess this country is in. I'm tired of people whining and marching in the streets. I'm tired of all the grandstanding, finger-pointing, and mudslinging going in government. I'm just plain tired.

That being said, I will rest once again.

Pathetic

2006-02-24T14:44:00.000+08:00

Some 6 hours after my lament on the state of the nation, my attitude has changed considerably. No, I haven't turned 180 degrees and marched into the streets in protest. I think, instead, I've gone sideways and just avoided the whole issue. While the President has declared a State of Emergency, I have entered a state of... well... bliss.

Ignorance, many say, is bliss. I agree. I've hopped into my bed; tuned in to American Idol, Scrubs, and whatever entertainment is on the tube; and pretty much tuned out any news of the events (or non-events) in the streets. The frustrations I could barely contain only 6 hours ago are now a distant memory. The nation could fall apart all around me and I wouldn't have a clue. Whether the city falls into chaos or trudges along like it does everyday, I will just be here, safe in my little, sheltered, world. I'm thankful for the security, but at the same time, I'm appalled by my apathy.

At this point, I should be talking about taking some action - about getting off my butt and stepping out of this cocoon I've spun around me. Heck, I should be doing more than talking about it - I should be doing something.

What am I doing?

Being the pathetic being that I am, I am doing nothing. I'm blogging, getting ready to take a nap, and thinking of raiding the refrigerator. I'm irritated by the rumors of a coup d'etat, by the rallies, by the declaration of a state of emergency, and by so many other things - but all I can do is post one entry and say that's that. Once I'm back in my room, the state of the nation doesn't matter anymore. Pathetic, isn't it?

Of course, I could blame my idleness on sheer exhaustion. I could simply say that I'm tired, I'm sleepy, and I'm staying in bed. I could just close my eyes and dream the world away.

I'm doing just that.

Sad

2006-02-24T08:05:00.000+08:00

This week marks the 10th anniversary of the EDSA Revolution. This week should be met with some celebration and a sense of pride at what we as a nation accompished 10 years ago. Sadly, this isn't the case.

Many students, I'm sure, are happy that classes have been suspended today. What I find disturbing is the idea that this impromptu holiday is not a celebration of the EDSA Revolution, but rather, a precaution in case another one breaks out. Rumors of a coup d'etat have been swirling around for several days now, and today, the city is on edge. Today, the country's mood is hardly one of celebration - it is, in fact, quite the opposite. The air today is filled with tension.

I admit - I'm hardly a model of patriotism. This fact notwithstanding, I can't help but feel bad about today's events. This is no way to celebrate an anniversary.

Ready?

2006-02-20T20:56:00.000+08:00

Get set. Go!

Show Time

2006-02-18T09:24:00.000+08:00

First show today. I'm not ready. Wish me luck.

iBed

2006-02-09T16:08:00.000+08:00

Things I am thankful I have now that I've been ordered by my doctor to stay in bed:

a queen-sized bed, a blanket, a comforter, and 4 pillows

a DSL-connected laptop right next to my bed

a cable-equipped TV at the foot of my bed

a PDA with several games installed

a cellphone

a La-Z-Boy

books

pitchers upon pitchers of juice

rest

Things I wish I had:

a refrigerator in my room

my own landline - preferably with a cordless unit

more energy

more books

more food

other things to keep me occupied

It's nice to be in bed, but still, I'd rather be up and about.

Ticket

2006-02-06T19:15:00.000+08:00

It turns out I didn't get the story right in a previous post - that the reason for the stampede was not a bomb threat, but a rush for (a handful of) additional tickets being given away. This fact notwithstanding, what took place is still a senseless tragedy. Ultimately, the people in the stampede can only blame themselves for what happened.

People, it seems, really are stupid - and events like this only call more attention to that fact.

2 More

2006-02-06T11:20:00.000+08:00

Things aren't as bad as I once feared, but they're not quite as good as I'd hoped either.

Still, things will be fine.

Bomb!

2006-02-04T20:18:00.000+08:00

A stampede in ULTRA earlier today left at least 73 dead and 322 injured. Some 20,000 people, many of whom had camped out for days, were waiting to enter the stadium when rumors of a bomb threat incited panic. Authorities later concluded that the bomb threat was not real, but a prank pulled by somebody trying to get into the stadium sooner.

Impatient idiot, or idiots, whatever the case may be - I almost wish that person were trampled in that stampede. In a 20,000 strong mob, tracking the moron who cried wolf is pretty much impossible. The only possible consolation, at least in my head, is the possibility that that idiot's face is now pretty much unrecognizable. That would be poetic justice - probably the only justice that might come out of this tragedy. I don't particularly like the idea of wishing anybody harm, but this person just might deserve it.

No, I doubt there was real malice, but somebody that idiotic deserves... I don't know. I'm just at a loss for words.

All I have in my head now are these words from Men in Black: "A 'person' is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it." In this case, one person thought he was being smart. I'm sure at least 300 people will beg to differ.

EDC 2

2006-02-03T17:52:00.000+08:00

my junk, my bag, and ouch, my back
Originally uploaded by driver ng bayan.

I got this bag at the start of the year to replace my old pack - I wrote about it in an older post. It's slightly bigger, and it has several small compartments - giving me a place to keep some pens and some paperwork and allowing me to sort my junk. I still like my old pack better, but this one is just more convenient to use.

Why in the world am I posting about my bag again?

I guess I'm that bored now.

Somebody save me, please!

Plug

2006-01-30T21:55:00.000+08:00

The circus is coming to town

William Shakespeare's
The Comedy of Errors
directed by Tinette Villanueva

February 18 (Saturday) 3:00 & 7:00 p.m.
February 22 (Wednesday) 3:00 & 7:45 p.m.
February 23 (Thursday) 7:45 p.m.
February 24 (Friday) 7:45 p.m.
February 25 (Saturday) 3:00 & 7:00 p.m.
March 1 (Wednesday) 7:45 p.m.
March 4 (Saturday) 7:00 p.m.

Telengtan Hall, 5th floor APEC Communications Building
University of Asia and the Pacific, Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig City

FREE ADMISSION for UA&P students, faculty, and staff
TICKETS @ PHP250, or PHP200 with UA&P student / faculty / staff discount

For inquiries and reservations, please contact
+63.2.6370912 local 380
+63.917.8334564
mpuyat@uap.edu.ph

Choke

2006-01-25T22:58:00.000+08:00

I think I've bitten off more than I can chew.

Wait - I was thinking that several weeks ago.

I have bitten off more than I can chew.

Ask Away

2006-01-22T20:08:00.000+08:00

For a previous post where I asked a whole bunch of questions, I got four replies, three of which were anonymous. This has prompted me to ask even more questions, with the question bugging me the most being this: who are you?

Of course, since I've asked one already, I might as well ask a whole bunch of other questions. Having said this, here is another round of questions. Sarcastic answers are welcome and sincere ones more so. In any case, entertaining answers will definitely be appreciated.

Did you post answers to my previous bunch of questions?

Again, who are you?

Do I know you?

How do I know you?

How do you know me?

How did you first come across my blog?

What is your favorite gift from last Christmas?

What is your favorite color? Why?

With whom do you live?

Would you prefer if I had phrased the previous question another way? How?

What toys, if any, do you keep in your room?

What games, if any, do you have in your computer?

What drinking games do you enjoy the most?

What TV shows do you make it a point to watch? Why?

What lip balm, if any, do you use?

What is your deepest, darkest secret?

Whom would you contact first in an emergency?

How many phones have you owned?

How many pairs of shoes do you own?

How many pairs of sandals or slippers do you have?

How many of them (shoes, slippers, sandals, etc.) do you use regularly?

When is your birthday?

What is the best birthday gift you've ever received?

How big is your bed?

How many lights are there in your room?

Do you have a favorite spot in your room? Where is it?

Curtains or blinds?

Coffee or tea?

Call or text?

Coke or Pepsi?

Drive or ride?

Tired?

When was the last time you went out on a date?

What is in your bag now?

How much cash do you have in your pocket right now?

Cash aside, what do you keep in your wallet?

What is your favorite scent? Why?

What shapes or figures have you seen in the clouds?

What is your preferred brand of mints?

How much water do you drink each day?

Are there any books you would recommend I read?

Good reads aside, do you have any advice for me?

Are there any other questions you think I should ask?

Do you have any questions you want to ask me?

Aside from posting on this blog, can you suggest a way for me to get my answers to you?

Fight!

2006-01-22T14:48:00.000+08:00

I'm watching the Pacquiao - Morales Rematch now and blogging betweeen rounds, so forgive me for not being very articulate. Why am I blogging? Well, I've got nothing to do between rounds, and I'd rather focus my attention on my computer than on the terrible ads they show here. Also, just for the record, I see a Pacquiao win by KO in the 9th. Of course, I'm no expert, so the recap I give might say otherwise. Anyway, here are my (not-so-well-constructed) thoughts.

Round 1
10 - 9 Morales. Nothing really significant, except for a flurry from Morales midway into the round. Pacquiao fought back, but couldn't make up the distance.

Round 2
Undoubtedly the PacMan's round. A nice left hook staggered Morales - almost knocking him down. The only thing that saved him there was his grip on the top rope. I'd give Manny a 10-8 advantage, but there wasn't a real knockdown. I have to say 10-9 Manny.

Round 3
Uneventful. I give the slight edge to Morales 10-9.

Round 4
Likewise uneventful. Manny 10-9.

Round 5
Still uneventful. I don't know anymore. I guess I'm getting bored. Pacquiao 10-9.

Round 6
Manny all the way! He went on the attack early on, putting Morales on his heels. Relaxing a bit in the middle minute of the round, he seemed to have a sense of when the third minute was starting, unleasing another barrage of blows on Morales. Morales seemed pretty confused from that point on - he looked slow and seemed unable to punch back. In the last 5 seconds or so, Manny let out another flurry, almost knocking Morales down again. His last staggered Morales, and if the referee wasn't in the way, Morales would have staggered back a little bit further, if not fallen down right at the bell. 10-9 Manny.

Round 7
Morales started the round as expected, hitting hard and hitting fast. He controlled the first minute of the round. He seemed to lose steam though, and let Pacquiao take over in the second minute. Neither boxer really took control of the round though, with both relaxing a bit in the latter part of the round. I think Morales won the round though - Manny's counter-attack didn't seem as impressive as his opponent's initial strike. Morales 10-9.

Round 8
Pacquiao definitely outpunched Morales this round. Just into the second minute, Manny landed a 1-2-3 combination that set Morales reeling. While Morales fought back and landed his own barrage soon enough, Manny wouldn't let him take over. Pacquiao seemed to be able to connect at will - Morales' defenses just didn't look as sharp as they had in previous rounds. Morales, in fact, was obviously tired. Manny, on the other hand, looked just as fresh as he did in the first round. Could my knockout prediction be true? We'll find out in the next round. For now, it's Manny 10-9.

Round 9
Morales looked slow. He landed a good blow early in the round, but didn't seem too inclined to follow it up with an agressive attack. Morales was also moving back a lot. Nothing really significant this round though. My knockout prediction is now officially out the window. I guess it'll be fairly safe to say Pacquiao will win this fight though. I'd still like to see a knockout, but a decision in Manny's favor seems likely. I'm not sure if Morales has enough steam in him to knock Pacquiao out. In any case, this round goes to Pacquiao 10-9.

Round 10
It's over!!!

Some two minutes into the round, Manny sent Morales down on all fours with a sharp left hook, forcing a count. When fighting resumed, Pacquiao pounced on a defenseless Morales, forcing a stop. TKO - 2:33 in the 10th.

Before Morales went down though, he still looked pretty dangerous. A punch midway into the round sent Manny back, but then this only seemed to make Manny mad. Pacquiao then let loose, and Morales seemed all but defeated. When Pacquiao relaxed al little, Morales fought back, sending a final flurry Pacquiao's way. All he did, however, was spend his last few ounces of energy on some wild blows. This totally opened him up, and let Manny land the killer blow. The blow, honestly, didn't look like much. Of course, this is because I wanted to see a spectacular fall. I'll take this though - a win is a win, and my prediction was only off by a round. b

Rounds 11 & 12
Irrelevant. The fight is over.

Breathe

2006-01-17T07:54:00.000+08:00

Things will be fine.

I know they will.

Just breathe.

Relax.

Questions

2006-01-09T23:11:00.000+08:00

I've been reading George Orwell's Animal Farm, and as much as I try, I haven't been able to put the book down. I've been trying to keep myself from reading too fast - my current limit is one chapter a day. Why? I don't have a lot of books on hand now. Once I finish this one, I'm going to have to go back to re-reading the other titles sitting on my shelf. Animal Farm aside, I haven't read a new book in several months. My question now is - does anybody have any books they'd like to lend (or give) me?

If you glance up again and check out the title of this post, you won't see the word "question," but rather, its plural form. You see, I'm bringing back something I've done in previous posts - I'm asking you a whole bunch of random questions. The question on books to read is simply the first in a long list of many. So now, without further ado, I ask away:

What is the last book you've read? What can you say about it?

What items do you carry with you everyday (or almost everyday)?

How often do you need to shave?

What is the last play you watched?

How many blogs (if any) do you maintain?

Is your name often confused with other names?

Did the previous question confuse you?

How long was the longest relationship you've ever had?

Were you tempted give a sarcastic answer to the previous question?

What is the longest time you've been single?

Boxers or briefs?

Gel, mousse, wax, putty, or something else?

To pluck or not to pluck?

How often do you shave?

What toothpaste do you use?

Are you tired yet?

What is your most-often-used pair of shoes?

How often do you wear a cap?

Have you ever been involved in a vehicular accident? How many times?

Umbrellas or jackets?

Do you consider yourself a geek?

How fast can you type?

What time do you usually go to sleep?

What time do you usually wake up?

What is usually the first thing you do before you get out of bed?

What is usually the first thing you do once you get out of bed?

What items (if any) do you keep within arm's length of your bed?

How many pillows do you use when you sleep?

How many questions have I asked (including this one)?

What gift(s) do you want to receive for your birthday or for Christmas?

What gift(s) do you think I would want to receive?

Now are you tired?

I should stop now, shouldn't I?

Yeah, I guess that's it. I'm getting sleepy already. Ciao!

Shit

2006-01-03T14:51:00.000+08:00

I can honestly say I've had coffee that tastes like shit. The thing is, to me at least, it tastes pretty much like regular coffee. It smells like regular coffee too, but still, I can also honestly say it smells like shit. Then again, it really is shit.

Kopi Luwak beans come from the droppings of the Luwak (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), a small, tree-dwelling marsupial found in Indonesia. These nocturnal creatures, though primarily carnivorous, occasionally treat themselves to ripe coffee cherries. The coffee beans in the cherries somehow pass through the creature's digestive system intact, but not before going through some significant changes. It seems that the beans ferment in the animals's stomach and react with some enzymes, adding "something unique to the coffee's flavor." When the beans come out, they are carefully cleaned, roasted, and sold.

Mind you, this shit doesn't come cheap. These excretions will set you back at least $5 a cup. A quarter of a pound will cost you some $75. Compare that to roughly $40 for a whole pound of Jamaican Blue Mountain - one of the more expensive types of coffee.

So, would you care for a cup of brewed shit?

2006

2006-01-01T00:01:00.000+08:00

2005 has come and gone, but we have a whole new year to fill with new memories and experiences.

Happy New Year!

Scene It

2005-12-31T14:47:00.000+08:00

I saw 37 films last year, and I had hopes of raising that number for 2005. Unfortunately, I topped out at 29.

Contributing to the dismal count is the fact that I missed several must-see films this year - don't ask me why. Also adding to this is the fact that CineManila this year didn't seem as well-organized as in previous years. Adding to the count, but not quite making up for the fact that I missed several good films, I caught a few films that by certain standards, were safe to skip - again, don't ask me why.

In any case, here's my 2005 roster. Like before, I'm only including films I saw for the first time this year.

01. Ocean's Twelve -- Steven Soderbergh
02. Gong Fu (Kung Fu Hustle) -- Stephen Chow
03. Blade Trinity -- David S. Goyer
04. Meet the Fokkers -- Jay Roach
05. Un long dimanche de fiançailles (A Very Long Engagement) -- Jean-Pierre Jeunet
06. Sideways -- Alexander Payne
07. Garden State -- Zach Braff
08. Closer -- Mike Nichols
09. Daddy Day Care -- Steve Carr
10. Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous -- John Pasquin
11. Snow Dogs -- Brian Levant
12. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith -- George Lucas
13. Identity -- James Mangold
14. A Lot Like Love -- Nigel Cole
15. Mr. & Mrs. Smith -- Doug Liman
16. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- Garth Jennings
17. Batman Begins -- Christopher Nolan
18. Fantastic Four -- Tim Story
19. Metropolis -- Fritz Lang (live score by Rubber Inc)
20. Bewitched -- Nora Ephron
21. Manderlay -- Lars Von Trier
22. Brothers Grimm -- Terry Gilliam
23. Transporter 2 -- Louis Leterrier
24. Mar Adentro (The Sea Inside) -- Alejandro Amenábar
25. The Legend of Zorro -- Martin Campbell
26. Four Brothers -- John Singleton
27. My Summer of Love -- Pawel Pawlikowski
28. The Exorcism of Emily Rose -- Scott Derrickson
29. King Kong -- Peter Jackson

Weird Science

2005-12-27T09:58:00.000+08:00

Stephen King has the amazing talent of taking mundane objects and twisting them around into something horrible. The people who invented the items listed below also took ordinary things and made them, well, pretty unique items. Whether they're horrible or adorable, hot or not, that's up to you.

The Needies Need You to Need Them
"Needies want nothing short of your undying love and attention--and they're prepared to fight one another to get it." Imagine three Tickle Elmo dolls gone begging you to pick them up. Now imagine them whining and complaining if you give any one of them more attention than the others. Wouldn't you want to throw them all out the window?

Hanging Alarm Clock
I can't do better than the original text. Here it is:

Hayat Benchenaa hanging alarm clock is a hanging ball suspended over your bed that lights and chimes to wake you up. To hit snooze, you just give it a little smack, causing the alarm to retract on its cord just a little nearer to the ceiling-forcing you to stretch more and more each time until you're eventually swiping at it with a broom, because you have 20-foot loft ceilings.

6-foot Fiber Optic LED & MP3 Artificial Christmas Tree
A Christmas Tree with lights and sounds built in. It has 10 songs in its repertoire, and you can connect it to your computer via USB to add more MP3 tracks.

Upgrade your Throne
Featuring a heated seat and a warm water spray, sitting on your throne is more comfortable than ever. If that still isn't enough, the high-end model of this seat comes with a warm-air dryer and a remote control. Of course, to be able to afford this, you probably have to shit out gold nuggets.

Go Topless
Again, words escape me. Read on:

Topless sandals - also called "down unders" - simulate walking barefoot while protecting your feet. Topless sandals stick to the bottom of your feet, but leave no residue on your feet when you take them off. The "stick" is guaranteed for a year, which is the typical life span of a flip flop. Topless sandals are basically topless flip flops, but so much cooler. You'll be amazed at how many heads you turn while wearing your topless sandals. People will literally think you are barefoot and so will your feet.

12.25.2005

2005-12-25T00:01:00.000+08:00

This year's holiday post, unlike those of last year and the year before that, is quite short.

I'm not mentioning names of the people I want to greet anymore - not like I've done in previous years. It's simply too tedious.

I don't want to exclude anybody who may be reading this now - regardless of whether or not I know that person.

This year's greeting goes out to everybody.

Happy Holidays! May this season and the coming year shower you with blessings and bring you joy.

I'm Back!

2005-12-21T11:26:00.000+08:00

After several weeks of not driving, I'm back! I got my license this morning - much earlier and much easier than I expected. The people at the bureau were quite helpful. One man in particular pointed something out that saved me a lot of time, not to mention quite a bit of money. I have this much to say to him:

Keep up the good work - you haven't quite restored my faith in the government, but you've shown that there might be more people actually doing their jobs than I originally thought.

You may have made my day - I started out dreading this day, but it might actually turn out pretty well.

Merry Christmas - you've reminded me that yes, Christmas is just around the corner.

Thank you.

Long

2005-12-18T10:09:00.000+08:00

King Kong
Peter Jackson
Eastwood Cinema 2
2300 - 17 December 2005

Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.

It has elements from Jurassic Park, Starship Troopers, The Lion King, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, among other films. It's not surprising it turned out to be so long. Thankfully, it was entertaining throughout - keeping me awake despite the late hour.

I have a prediction for the film: it will be receive the award for the Best Fight Sequence, and a nomination for Best Chase Scene in the MTV Movie Awards.

Suicide

2005-12-16T02:00:00.000+08:00

Tired.

Drained.

Exhausted.

I hate this feeling.

I can barely move.

Pain.

That is my punishment.

Sleep is my sanctuary.

If only it would come.

I want to be numb.

A handful of pills should do it.

Damn this muscle pain.

This is what I get for killing myself last Wednesday. I can't run like I used to. My legs aren't used to this kind of abuse anymore - and now they're letting me know it.

I hope I'll be fine by Saturday. Then I can kill myself again - this time playing futsal all day.

Low

2005-12-12T10:14:00.000+08:00

I haven't done my Christmas shopping, nor have I gotten myself any presents, but I'm low on funds already. It doesn't look like I'll be finding my way out of this hole anytime soon either.

Sad.

Yes, the title applies to my current mood too.

Frown

2005-12-10T22:28:00.000+08:00

I can't deny it, Christmas is just around the corner. I have to admit, however, that it doesn't quite feel so merry. Yes, I still smile every so often. No, I'm usually not faking it when I smile. No, I'm not depressed. Yes, I'm fine - I'm just frustrated.

Yes, I think that's the right word. I'm reminded of why I sometimes call myself a realist, or jokingly, a cynical idealist. I'm reminded of the things I wish I could change, but can't. I'm reminded of how some people, despite (supposedly) being good by nature, do crappy things. I'm reminded of these things - and they frustrate me.

Life isn't bad - but it isn't quite so grand either. In any case, it goes on, and there isn't anything we can do about that - except ending it. With this in mind, the only thing that really makes sense is to follow the cliches - grin and bear it; play the cards you're dealt; put up or shut up; and so on and so forth.

Ang drama ko no?

Smile

2005-12-05T23:47:00.000+08:00

I haven't been smiling much lately, but I've still got a bunch of reasons to do so. Listed below are just a few of them.

sifting through your stuff

watching futsal players unable to use their feet

observing people's reactions to what they're reading

finding cool stuff (even if they're not yours) like phones, blenders, and novelty glasses or tumblers

having outlets to let off steam

making others laugh or smile

attending rehearsals

reminiscing

knowing there are people watching your back

seeing good work

playing with toys

knowing certain people you care about are doing ok

seeing old friends again

recognizing how lucky you are

feeling loved

allowing yourself a few moments of sentimentality

EDC

2005-12-05T07:59:00.000+08:00

inside my everyday pack
Originally uploaded by driver ng bayan.

For those who aren't familiar with the acronym, EDC means everyday carry - something you take with you everyday, practically everywhere you go. I take this bag with me practically everywhere. This is what's in it. Click on the link "inside my everyday pack" to see a semi-detailed description of what's in the bag.

For a quick run-down, read on. The basics, of course, include my wallet, keys, PDA, phone, and sunglasses. In a pouch in the main compartment, I have a a small kit of some useful and some not-so-useful items, assorted medicine, a deck of cards, and some other useful items. In and around the bag, I've got a bunch of carabiners to attach stuff to - stuff like keys, tools, a lighter, a USB drive, and others. Also in (or attached to) the bag are a few flashlights.

You can also check out some of my other junk, see what other people have in their bags, or see more of what other people have in their bags.

Jarred

2005-12-04T14:39:00.000+08:00

Motorized scooters are not a safe mode of transport. Black is not very visible at night. If you arrive outside a party but you had a good reason for not going in, did you flake out on the one who invited you? I love my friends. Blinking amber lights are easily seen, right? WHY?!? Helmets protect your head - but what protects the rest of your body? It pays to be prepared. What use is a hospital that doesn't have a decent trauma ward? Is it sensible to keep a first aid kit in the car? I'll say it again - it pays to be prepared. If somebody attempts to steal something but chickens out at the last minute, is that person still a thief? What moods or emotions do you normally associate with rain? What moods, emotions, or messages do you associate with a wink and a crooked smile? Aren't awkward introductions... well... awkward? How fast do you normally drive on the streets? Isn't life grand? Not all cops are crooked. It pays to be polite. Hot heads only manage to make tense situations worse. Friends take care of you when you need them. Take care of your friends. Again, WHY?!? Life is tough. I'm one of the lucky ones. I don't go looking for trouble - trouble comes looking for me. People are inherently good, but there are some who will make you believe otherwise. Sleep is good. I lack sleep.

Gimme!

2005-11-30T00:01:00.000+08:00

Happiness can't be bought - but a good way to be happy is to make other people smile. Since it's the season for giving, I'm giving you all a shot at (a little bit of extra) happiness. Make me smile (or cry tears of joy) by getting me any (or all) of the items listed below.

What? You think that's too much? Don't worry. I'm not that selfless. I admit - my intentions aren't totally altruistic. I get something out of this, too! Because you're happy, and I know that I played a role in making you happy, I'm happy too! See? Your giving me stuff makes me smile, which in turn makes you happy, which then makes me happy, and that makes this world a better place for us!

Of course, I don't want to put too much of a strain on your finances. I'm only going to include items are priced under (or just over) a grand (just under $20).

Dive stickers would be nice. I don't want anything fancy. I just want plain white text on a black background... or black on white. I don't really dive, so I don't really want the flags on the sticker either. All I want are label stickers that really stay on whatever surface you stick them on. As to the contents, either driver ng bayan or elber will do.

Water jugs are cool - especially polycarbonate (i.e. really hard plastic that supposedly is unbreakable) water containers. A Nalgene bottle fits the bill perfectly, but then again, those jugs you see in most department stores or supermarkets will probably do the trick. The point is, I should be able to throw them in the freezer and not worry about them cracking. Right now, I've got a liter bottle like that - but it won't fit in the cupholders in my car. I'd like some smaller bottles - something just about as wide as a typical soda can should be fine.

Football (or soccer, if you prefer) jerseys are always welcome. Do I have any team preferences? Of course I do, but you don't have to go through all the trouble of looking for specific uniforms on my account. Keep in mind, though, that despite my height, I don't really have a large frame. I hardly ever wear extra-large shirts. I'll typically wear large or medium sized shirts, and sometimes small. In Adidas, for example, I get mediums.

Matching shorts are welcome, too, but this is where things get tricky. I'm taller than the average guy on the street around here, and I'm pretty long-limbed. This means that shorts that reach past the most people's knees probably wouldn't even cover my whole thigh. I have trouble finding shorts myself.

As an option, cargo pants will be appreciated. Anything I can wear on a hike, for that matter, is good. Shorts, 3/4 pants, and long pants alike are welcome. Convertibles (those that can be switched back and forth between pants and shorts) are likewise welcome. I've got a 31" waist, by the way. 32" pants are also ok, as long as they've got belt loops or some other way to keep them from falling.

Next is an item that might seem out of place in this list. Of course, if you know me, you'll also know that getting this isn't totally out of character for me anyway. I want a supply of Dep Sport Sculpting Clay. Yes, I've found a hair product I like that's not extremely expensive, and also available locally.

Yet another item that might seem out of place in this list is a book. I can name a bunch of titles I'd like to get, but I'll spare you the long list. Instead, I'll give you a few. First is Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things (home page). If you're a regular reader of this blog, you'll know that I posted an entry a few weeks ago about wanting this book's sequel: Sneakier Uses for Everyday Things. That's the second. Third is Eats, Shoots & Leaves. I'm too lazy to post information on the titles, so you can simply follow the links to find out more. If you don't like any of the titles, I'll give you the liberty of picking out something you think I'd like, or something you think I should read.

Moving back to more useful items, A body bag or a messenger bag would be cool. Right now, a black Adidas Essex Sling is on top of my list. The only thing I'm not sure about is whether it has a place for a water bottle (see above), but with a bunch of pockets on it, that shouldn't be too much of a problem. Other bags or packs would be cool too, as long as I can wear or carry them for various activities. If they can carry or conceal most of my junk, they'll do. Mind you, these bags might become purpose-specific kits. I have one in my car as an instant overnight pack. I need one to serve as a travel bag - a 50 or 60 liter climber's pack will probably do the trick. I need another as a hiking pack, which might also go with me to the court, field, gym, or any other place to break a sweat. One might become a small toiletries kit. Another might serve as a first-aid kit - if I don't get a small toolbox for that purpose.

One thing I'm looking for is a carabiner and blue-flame lighter combo. I have a blue-flame lighter already, but despite its size, it's still a bit cumbersome to bring around. I've also got a bunch of carabiners, but none of them have the ability to start a fire. I've also been able to find a lighter and carabiner combo, but it only produced a regular yellow-orange flame. I want the blue-flame lighter and carabiner combo. I know it exists because I've held one in my hands. If you can find one, please give me one - or at the very least, tell me where I can buy it.

On other "survival" tools, the Original SwissCard in black, maybe blue, would also be pretty cool. Somebody broke mine before, so I don't have tools in my wallet anymore. This, of course, will complement my other tools pretty well.

I'm also on the lookout for cool portable games. I've got a pocket version of Twister in my bag, but it isn't exactly a game you can play anytime, anywhere. I've also got a deck of cards, but even then, I still want something else. I'd put board games like Cranium or Taboo in this list, but they're a bit too expensive. Besides, they aren't that portable. When I say portable, I mean something that I can throw in a small bag - something I can carry around pretty much everyday. I wouldn't mind getting a puzzle game, like, for example, a Rubik's Cube. The problem with this particular item though is that after a while it goes from being a mind-bender into something you just try to "solve" faster than before. A game like Jenga would be nice, too - I can set it up quickly for games with others, but it doesn't exactly qualify as portable.

Moving on to not-so-random items, I want a laser pointer. Other not-that-expensive items on my want list: non-locking carabiners, waterproof matches, a money clip, some black leather belts (formal or dressy), a bunch of casual belts while we're at it, some hospital scrubs, some bandanas, maybe a Zippo lighter (slim brushed chrome or slim black matte finish), a small cooler to keep in the trunk or back seat of my car, a microfiber towel, a futsal, a volleyball, or a frisbee.