let's end this war

Casualties are mounting in the ongoing military offensive in Basilan. The latest skirmish cost the lives of 15 soldiers, including 5 junior officers. This brings the total count of losses to 57.

57 soldiers have already died fighting the Abu Sayaff. Why continue fighting? Why send more to their deaths? Let's just halt the offensive; stop this war and bring our soldiers home.

Let's heed the call of the bishops, civil society, congressmen and the media. Stop wasting lives and recall the Marines. Call off the airstrikes and silence the artillery.

Withdraw all troops from Basilan and Sulu. Send in humanitarians instead; doctors, teachers, engineers. Send in food and supplies for those displaced by the fighting.

Yes, let's back down from the fight, for peace is the only way.

But wait, aren't we forgetting something?

Something like the 300 or so terrorists calling themselves the Abu Sayaff?

What about them? Should we leave them in peace? Should we leave their group intact, their cause alive? Why did we send 9,000 troops to the South in the first place?

Why the hell did 57 soldiers die?

They died doing their job. They died fighting the enemy. They died protecting our freedom. They died for us.

And yet there are some among us who couldn't care less about the soldiers' sacrifice; those who balk at the mere thought of bloodshed, those who wish to surrender to the terrorists, those who want to coddle and abet terrorism.

These people seem to forget that we are in a war, and in war, people die. This war is no exception. If we want to rid ourselves of the terrorists, we have to crack down on them. Hard. That is the job of the Army, of the Air Force, of the Navy, and of the Marines. A war without casualties to our side would be most welcome, but we must remain open to the idea that some of our soldiers may never come home.

The root cause of terrorism is terrorism, for the radical ideas spawned by terrorist leaders are not born out of poverty and social inequality. Rather, they feed upon and exploit these ills of society, and they actively work to sustain their largest source of manpower and resources regardless of the loss of life and property.

If we don't want this weed to spread and wreck all that we have built and created we have to uproot it from the ground with full force. And once it's out of the ground we have to burn it, incinerate it and scatter the ashes to the wind.

No amount of economic development and humanitarian aid can deter these terrorists from sowing chaos and confusion; we would end up sending unarmed civilians to unsecured areas. The Abu Sayaff won't stop their violent ways unless their goals are attained, and you can be sure that those goals don't include a peaceful and prosperous Mindanao.

If we want a true and lasting peace in the South, we must act now and completely destroy all traces of the Abu Sayaff and Jemaah Islamiyah. Then, and only then, when the islands are secure and combat has ceased, can development and aid flow in to secure an even stronger peace.

So, let's end this war. Withdraw the troops, and give the Abu Sayaff some breathing space. Let's surrender to the terrorists, and watch and wait for more terrorists to arrive at the pushover which was once the Republic of the Philippines. Let's bicker among ourselves instead of wholeheartedly supporting the troops in the South; let them see what they're fighting for, and watch as demoralization sets in.

Or we can continue the offensive. Push hard and never let up on the terrorists. Keep them on the run and maintain the pressure. Hound them to their graves, and pursue the mission to its true end.

Let's end this war, but only when the enemy is completely and utterly destroyed.

The quickest way to end a war is to lose it. --George Orwell

raindrops are falling on my head

This is starting to become a habit.

With Monday having been declared as a 'special holiday', I'm looking at an extremely long weekend. I've been cooped up here at home since Wednesday, thanks to the torrential rains brought by the typhoon.

Of course this 'vacation' will cost us all time and money, not to mention opportunities. Yes, opportunities to learn and do things, to meet other people, to go places. But for me, it's mostly about missing my allowance.

Having to go to school at 10AM everyday has been a blessing. I haven't yet experienced the frustration of learning that classes have been suspended again while being stuck in a flooded street. However, that has not made me any less annoyed at the dolts in the DepEd or CHED or NDCC or the local government or whoever the hell is supposed to suspend classes. You would think that these guys would have learned by now that suspending classes at the last minute is not a very good idea.

The irony just amazes me. The DepEd and CHED should have learned something by now about typhoons and their effect on our overcrowded metropolis.

There's something else I wanted to write about here, but I just can't remember what it was. My short-term memory seems to be going haywire; sometimes I look up from what I was doing and forget what I was doing. This problem manifests itself mostly when I'm doing something on the computer. I open up a new tab and then I forget what page I wanted to open in that new tab. I open up a webpage and once it's up I forget why I opened it up. I plan to do something yet a moment later I forget what it was and end up doing nothing. It's really frustrating.

Maybe it's the stress of having to do so much in such a small amount of time. This little vacation sure as hell won't help matters! Once the rains end the work is going to pour down in a torrent, and time is against me. One and a half months to go ladies and gentlemen. One and a half months to go before my fate is finally sealed.

Nah, September is still a long way off. I'll probably be able to manage, especially with all the success I've experienced in the past weeks. Unless something else really screws everything up.

Haaay... I really love the weather, especially now that my shoes have finally been fixed. What were once battered pieces of leather worn and weathered by two years of unforgiving use are once again 100% capable of charging through mud and flood, keeping my feet safe and warm. Now all I need is a new jacket and a new bag. Attrition is eating everything up, and the meager resources I have on hand are just not enough to keep my things in shape.

So, what else can I write about? The final battle scene from Return of the Jedi is taking quite some time to download, and I have to do SOMETHING to combat the boredom inherent with waiting.

Ah... Waiting. My most annoying pet peeve. I don't like waiting. I can't emphasize this enough. I abhor, despise, loathe waiting. I HATE waiting. I-- well would you look at that, download complete!

I need some coffee.

midnight coffee break

Mid-semester already, and things have taken a turn for the better. The two typhoons which hit the country last week did more than fill up reservoirs and water dry fields; they also gave me a lot of breathing space.

My Film 100 report has been pushed back a full two weeks, giving me a lot of time to fix up my Powerpoint presentation. My Natural Science 2 exam, originally scheduled for last Thursday, was a cake walk when I took it this afternoon.

I also got the results of my English 1 exam today. I really enjoy being singled out for recognition and, yes, this morning was no exception. Ahhh... I can already hear the Hallelujah chorus...

How I wish that everyday would be like today, with everything falling into place right where I want them. THAT is my perfect world - everything goes MY way.

Maybe that's why I have such an aversion to democracy.

Right, my inner dictator is once again asserting itself- down Adolf, down! Okay. The caffeine is really coming in strong.

I'm back to two cups of coffee everyday; the regular supply of milk and sugar has been reestablished. The random instances of perkiness and unexplained delight have also returned.

Remember my posts about anti-insect weapons, what Albert so fittingly called SLLs (sandatang laban sa lamok)? Well, I guess my dream of a complete and effective defense against those useless and annoying bloodsuckers is one step closer to reality.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, one step closer, thanks to the USB Rocket Launcher! I'm not kidding folks! For only a little less than 5000 pesos I can have one of these babies up and running (firing, actually) in minutes.

Of course it's not accurate or fast enough to take out my little bloodsucking friends, but it's good enough to defend my space from my little sister's dog. Hehehe...

Who knows? Maybe in a few years my dream would finally become a reality... Bwahahaha! Now if THAT dream could become a reality, why not the OTHER dream too?

Guess what that one is...

who the hell are these people?!?

time out

The Internet cafe is now my friend. Globelines really messed up this time.

I have been out of the online loop for four days now, and the withdrawal symptoms are starting to show. Yes, thank God for outsourcing. At least I'm not completely cut-off from the world!

But there are times when being cut-off from the world (well, the online world at least) can be a real blessing. I was swamped by a virtual deluge of messages the moment I opened up my email accounts: over 200 from Gmail and Yahoo combined. I've just spent the last hour reading through requests for jackets and various org-related stuff, and now I've got one hell of a headache trying to make heads and tails of all the conflicting requests for this and that color and all the work that's piling up on me.

Maybe my 'friends' at Globe were doing me a favor by keeping me away from my email. At least I had a 'relaxing' weekend (yeah, when I was not worrying about all the messages I was missing).

Oh, there was the Wii. Yes, I finally got my hands on a Nintendo Wii. Weeee! Beating my cousins on virtual tennis was very satisfying, though getting beat up in boxing was extremely frustrating.

Well, my time here is up. Duty calls. I really need a vacation. Yep, and this is only about my frustrations with the Internet. Wait until you hear about the other stuff. Hehehehe...

peace through power

It's all a waste of time. Having "peace talks" with people who have all but declared their burning desire to have you crash and burn is at best a pipe dream. Accommodating those who use the promise of peace as leverage to get what they want yet stab you in the back again and again AND AGAIN is plain stupidity.

When people actively work to bring you down and destroy you, would you try to talk to them? And if you did, could you get them to lay down their arms, shake hands, and let bygones be bygones? You would have to be a saint, a martyr, or absolutely moronic.

You do not talk peace with such people. To do so would be like digging your own grave. Real peace is not just the absence of conflict, it is the presence of justice. Justice, in this case, is best served with overwhelming firepower.

Fourteen brave men died last week. That should have been enough, but no, the powers that be want restraint. They wish to protect a ceasefire agreement which was all but trampled upon in that treacherous ambush in Basilan.

Scores of people have died in the past. That should have been enough, but no, hypocritical ideologues and activists want to turn a blind eye to reality. They wish to repeal a law which, weak though it is, defines and penalizes terrorism.

We have all seen the signs and the evidence. We have all been witnesses before. Should we let such cancers as the Abu Sayyaf, the MILF, the CPP-NPA, and all their ilk continue their reign of terror? Should we accommodate their duplicitous offerings of peace, or should we speak to them in the one language they understand?

Enough talk. Wipe them out. All of them.

a break in the clouds

I love this weather. It's cool outside, and I have the perfect excuse to wear my favorite jacket.

My life is nearing some sort of normalcy, as my schedule is achieving some regularity. Yep, it's now normal for me to leave home at 9 in the morning and be back by 8 in the evening. My academic life takes up most of my time, and my social life is squeezing into whatever gaps my subjects and readings leave behind. This leaves barely enough time for my online life, hence the dearth of any serious posts.

A lot of things have been happening around me. I have a lot of things to do, foremost is my job as Finance Cluster Coordinator of the UP Astronomical Society.
*oooh... that felt good... cha-ching! hehehehe...*
I don't count the academic work here because, quite frankly, it's not worth mentioning. All I have to do is to read, read, read, read some more, maybe write a bit, speak up some, read even more, (did I mention read?) and pass some exams. I just blew through my Nat Sci 2 first exam last Thursday, and I didn't even break a sweat. Of course the semester has only just begun, and things are bound to change.

I plan on joining the UP Debate Society (while I have a chance!) to further enhance my chances of getting into the UP College of Law some two years from now, assuming I get into a decent course by next semester.

This is probably the longest post I've written in a month as I have had to compete for ample computer time at home, hence the spate of one-liner posts and random photo uploads. I'm using Erika's laptop to write this one. Yes, I'm now into outsourcing.

It really is relaxing to just let your thoughts flow from your mind. If only I could feel as relaxed when speaking to a group of people or in class... Effective communication translates into power; power to affect views, power to influence thoughts, power to change the world.

Hala. Ayan na. Tama na muna. Hehehehe...

here comes the rain

Being stranded by the pouring rain at the Katipunan LRT station along with fellow commuters was a most enjoyable experience punctuated by moments of joyous exaltation and fruitful conversation.

I need new shoes. Toss in a new umbrella and jacket. Maybe even add a car. Thanks.

monday morning blahs

Tinatamad na ako.

It's Monday, and the virus spawned by my ill-advised and hasty decision to skip class last Friday is manifesting itself once again.

My head hurts. I want to lie down. I want to sleep more. I want to rest.

My coffee is still too hot, but I have to get going in 15 minutes. I can't afford to be late again. Here's to another caffeine rush.

I feel like I'm being pushed to the limit. I want to push back. I want to strike back. I want to- nah... I'll keep that one for myself - in places no one will find.

070707

Wala lang. Still nice to have a record of such a unique date though.

Hehehehehe...

Labo ko talaga...

now this is cute... :p

This is one of the cleverest
E-mails I've received in awhile.
Someone out there either has too much
spare time or is deadly at Scrabble.
(Wait till you see the last one)!

DORMITORY:
When you rearrange the letters:
DIRTY ROOM

PRESBYTERIAN:
When you rearrange the letters:
BEST IN PRAYER

ASTRONOMER:
When you rearrange the letters:
MOON STARER

DESPERATION: When you rearrange the letters:
A ROPE ENDS IT

THE EYES: !
When you rearrange the letters:
THEY SEE

GEORGE BUSH:
When you rearrange the letters:
HE BUGS GORE

THE MORSE CODE:
When you rearrange the letters:
HERE COME DOTS

SLOT MACHINES:
When you rearrange the letters:
CASH LOST IN ME

ANIMOSITY:
When you rearrange the letters:
IS NO AMITY

ELECTION RESULTS:
When you rearrange the letters:
LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

SNOOZE ALARMS:
When you rearrange the letters:
ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S

A DECIMAL POINT:
When you rearrange the letters:
IM A DOT IN PLACE

THE EARTHQUAKES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THAT QUEER SHAKE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO:
When you rearrange the letters:
TWELVE PLUS ONE

AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE:

MOTHER-IN-LAW:
When you rearrange the letters:
WOMAN HITLER

Yep! Someone with waaaaaaaaaaay
too much time on their hands! (Probably a son-in-law).
Bet your friends haven't seen this one!!!

outsourcing

I'm using a public computer for the first time in months.

Go figure.

thoughts on a saturday

What's worse than waking up at 5:30 in the morning just so you could get to your 8:30 class on time and then finding out that said class was cancelled?

Waking up at 5:30 in the morning ON A SATURDAY just so you could get to your 8:30 class on time and then finding out that said class was cancelled!

It was a good thing that my dad drove me to school this morning; if I had commuted I would have been doubly frustrated and annoyed at having to go to school on a Saturday. Yes, it's my fault for enlisting in a Saturday class. However, bad enough as my one-day weekend is, the alternative is even worse.

Well, look at the bright side. I got some other things done. My English 1 readings are complete, my hair is back to normal length, and I got some bread for the table. Too bad the computer shop near our home was packed; I could have gotten in two hours of Command & Conquer 3.

My reading and writing skills have been in demand for the past few days. Aside from papers and assignments for class, I've been writing some parts and editing almost all of the documents needed for our org's recognition. Maybe I've found my true calling... Hehehe...

I'm still adjusting to the new school year. I have always been late for my first class of the day, which, by the way, is at 10 in the morning. I seem to have trouble getting out of the house; the computer monitor is just so hypnotic...

***
I've been giving some thought to what I've posted before. Easy subjects plus multi-hour breaks equals a lot of thinking time. I really don't think it's going to be an effective deterrent, given some of its shortcomings.

A CIWS (close in weapon system) is just that: close range only. Targeting, tracking, and shooting are limited to line-of-sight only. What I really need to deter would-be blood-suckers plus the more maneuverable flies and the tougher-skinned cockroaches is a mini SAM (surface to air missile) system.

With an even greater engagement range than the aforementioned Phalanx CIWS, the ability to home in on locked targets, and the capability to deliver high explosives to the targets, a SAM system would effectively deny the airspace around me to any annoying insect.

Of course fighter jets are needed to maintain complete air superiority, and once I get some I plan to keep a full combat air patrol around me at all times. However, in their absence a SAM battery would do quite well in keeping me safe from dengue and malaria.

I need a new computer. Obviously, I need to get some things out of my system. Hehehe...

university of pila

So much for the first week of class. I got my PI 100 class, but the cost was just too much. I spent half of my day in a long, winding line at Palma Hall. It was hot, it was tiring, and it was all a waste of time. I spent nearly two hours standing there, only to be told that I had to go to another line at the University Registrar, where chaos and confusion reigned.

It was a good thing that Erika kept me company for most of the time, as I was already fuming and foaming at the mouth for having been forced to hop from building to building in a vain effort to find out just where the hell I had to go to get my change of matriculation assessed. And as if just to add insult to injury, all the waiting and walking was just so someone could write ''910" on my Form 26. I could have done that myself! Of course there's probably some bureaucratic purpose for all the building-hopping and waiting in line but spend some time in my shoes and I'm sure you would understand why I spent the last few hours in an evil mood waiting for a chance to snap at somebody -anybody- just to be able to blow off all the frustration welling up inside me.

''Vents" did appear from time to time, and light moments prevented my mood from getting worse. However, I still haven't paid for my PI 100 class, and I'm afraid that I would have to once again endure the endless lines which rightfully give UP the moniker ''University of Pila".

***
So what else is new...

The mosquitoes are currently feasting on my royal blood. I'm back to my Sunken Garden moments, thanks to my very open schedule. Of course this would mean more time for me to complete my requirements, but somehow I feel that... Nah... It's still too early in the sem to be thinking about that.

Someday I'll develop a miniature anti-aircraft gun which I'll carry everywhere with me. Think of a Phalanx CIWS gun, only the size of a 10-peso coin. I'll have someone else develop nano bullets and a virtual reality targeting system. Killing mosquitoes will never be the same again, or at least until I get my hands on a squadron of micro fighter jets... Won't that be sweet...

deterrence

While checking my email this morning, an article on Yahoo! News caught my eye:

Studies say death penalty deters crime

Hmmm... Interesting.

What the article says is that several studies over the last few years have shown that the death penalty DOES act as a deterrent to murder.

'They count between three and 18 lives that would be saved by the execution of each convicted killer.'

If the analysis and the conclusions of these studies are proven correct, they would make a very compelling reason to cut short the moratorium on executions imposed by President Arroyo here in the Philippines.

I have always been a proponent of the death penalty, more so after I was mugged on the way to school - even more so after hearing news of people being killed in their own homes.

In a supposedly Catholic country like ours such a view would be frowned upon. But how such barbaric acts as murder and rape still happen here escapes me.

There is the argument that crime is created by poverty, and that fixing up the economy rather than executing criminals would eliminate the crime problem. Fine. I agree, to some extent. However, explain to me why congressmen and mayors are in jail for rape and murder. Explain to me why a former President is being tried for plunder and corruption.

The pro-life movement and the Church would rather have death sentences commuted to life imprisonment. With our jails being packed with even more inmates, Amnesty International and other 'rights' groups would complain about the welfare of criminals.

The welfare of criminals.

What about the welfare of their victims?

I believe that convicted criminals should have no rights at all, especially those found guilty of capital crimes. They forfeited their rights the moment they violated the rights of their victims.

Of course everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but once proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt... Well... There you go. I prefer hard labor for lesser criminals, and the electric chair for the bigger ones. A firing squad would do for the more high-profile criminals. (A more detailed entry on my views on this can be found in an earlier Blogger post)

Justice, swift and sure, would do much to prevent more criminal acts in the future. A few 'examples' here and there would probably obviate the need for a death penalty. Yes, take the esteemed congressman-rapist from his luxurious "jail cell" and put him up against the wall. Or strap him to a chair. Just don't use the syringe; it's too humane.

Deterrence worked well in keeping the Cold War from turning into World War Three; having an answer to the other guy's big guns seems to have done the trick.

Deterrence today would make our streets and our homes safe.

what's your style?

Andre, you've got a Cool 'n' Casual style

Fashion is a balancing act for a mellow mind like yours. Comfort reigns supreme, and you won't sacrifice a lot of it just to stock up on what will likely be a passing fad (Ugg boots, anyone?). Your closet is probably filled with more classic styles, colors, and looks than anything else.

After all, you try to make your look fun and don't take fashion too seriously. But that's exactly what makes you so stylish and interesting. Your look highlights who you are — and that's the hottest thing going.

what color do you need?

You Need Some Black in Your Life

Black will make you feel powerful, in control, and not bound to what other people think of you. And with a little black, you will project an aura of mystery, rebellion, and dominance. If you want people to respect you, you've got to get a little black in your life! For extra punch: Combine black with orange or red. The downside of black: People won't be able to "read" you - and may perceive you as more aggressive than you actually are. The consequences of more black in your life: You'll become a figure of intrigue and speculation. You'll be better prepared for life's unknown path. You'll rest better and free yourself of expectations.

What Color Do You Need?

my signature color

http://i.emode.com/tests/signaturecolor/images/sterling_s.gif" alt="Take this test at Tickle" border="0" height="115" width="120">

Andre, your signature color is Sterling Blue

You've got a good head on your shoulders and you're not afraid to use it. Serious, intellectual types like you meet their match with a cool color that sparkles with the same striking intelligence as you do. That's why Sterling Blue is the ideal match for you! This is not to say that you've always got your head in a book. Not by any stretch. While you may not be the person at the party kicking off the karaoke, you're probably the one starting up stimulating conversations and making your cohorts chuckle with your quick wit. You're likely to have an insatiable curiosity that's catchy, and friends who know that you are a great person to turn to when they need a logical head to help them sort through their problems. So keep it up with your sterling hue of blue. You probably have a way of keeping things deep that people truly appreciate!

What's Your Signature Color?
Brought to you by Tickle

three years ago...

Let's take a break from blogthings shall we? Hehehehe...

Tickle naman! (Thanks Ly!)

The tests below were taken three years ago [hence the title(obvious ba?)]. Yes. I'm posting three-year old test results from my just reactivated Tickle account. Phd-certified daw e. (Nagpaloko naman ako... hehehe...)
Let's see if I've changed much in the past few years...

***
Andre, on a scale of 1-100, your Power Quotient is 90!

This number is based on how you answered the questions in this test and how you compare to others.
Your power style is Fearless. This means you're the kind of person other people look to for answers. You speak your mind and are a natural leader. Your blunt, no-nonsense style and your ability to get the job done command the respect and admiration of those around you.

***
Andre, you're a Bargain Hunter

In your life, you're willing to go the extra mile in order to find a good deal. Whenever possible, you hold out until you can find the least expensive version of something you need. Your patience and persistence generally leads you to significant savings, which you likely take great pride in. While some may mistakenly think you are cheap and puzzle over why you prefer thrift stores to overpriced boutiques, you're content to let them squander their cash while you chase down a great bargain.

When it comes to your financial state, you tend to feel like you're about where you think you should be.

***
Andre, you're a Politician!

Your personality is actually determined by two personality sub-types - your primary, or dominant sub-type, and your secondary sub-type. You are a Politician which means you are a Success / Golden Your primary sub-type is defined by "Success" characteristics and your secondary sub-type is defined by "Golden" characteristics.

That means you're forceful, innovative, and popular with the masses. Chances are you aggressively pursue your goals, and you enjoy impressing people. You've always been surrounded by friends and loved ones and have a natural sense of showmanship.

***
Andre, your IQ score is 102

Your overall intelligence quotient is the result of a scientifically-tested formula based on how many questions you answered correctly. But it's only part of what we learned about you from your answers on the test. We also determined the way you process information.

The way you think about things makes you an Intuitive Interpreter. This means you are a highly conceptual thinker. Rather than focusing on facts and figures, you look at the big picture. You are less inclined to need to walk through something step by step to understand the logic behind it. This also lets you make connections between something you learned three weeks ago and something you are learning today. While other people need those types of connections pointed out for them, you just naturally make them.

***
Normal posting will resume (probably) next week. Hehehehe...

what kind of chocolate are you?

You are Milk Chocolate

A total dreamer, you spend most of your time with your head in the clouds. You often think of the future, and you are always working toward your ideal life. Also nostalgic, you rarely forget a meaningful moment... even those from long ago.

What Kind of Chocolate Are You?

are you a cheapskate?

You Are a Cheapskate

You're so cheap, you probably turn your underwear inside out to wear it the next day ;-)Seriously though, while times may be tough - you need to work on being a little more generous.No one likes a cheap person. So give what you can, and scale back on the things you truly can't afford.

Are You a Cheapskate?

are you a perfectionist?

You Are 78% Perfectionist

You are a true perfectionist. You are both demanding of yourself and others. While it's great to have goals and standards, they don't need to be sky high!

Are You a Perfectionist?

here's the kicker

You Are 68% Addicted to Blogthings

You lead the pack when it comes to posting Blogthings. And your friends (mostly) thank you for it. It's cute that you insist on being called your Japanese name. Just stop bragging about your IQ score!

How Addicted To Blogthings Are You?

***
hehehehehe... :p

inside the room of your soul

What Your Soul Really Looks Like

You are a warm hearted and open minded person. It's easy for you to forgive and forget. You are not a very grounded person. You prefer dreams to reality. For you, it's all about possibilities. You see yourself with pretty objective eyes. How you view yourself is almost exactly how other people view you. Your near future is still unknown, and a little scary. You'll get through wild times - and you'll textually enjoy it. For you, love is all about caring and comfort. You couldn't fall in love with someone you didn't trust.

Inside the Room of Your Soul

are you immature?

You Are Somewhat Mature

You definitely act like an adult sometimes, but a big part of you is still a kid at heart. While your immature side is definitely fun, you're going to have to grow up sooner or later.

Are You Immature?

what color is your aura?

Your Aura is Violet

Idealistic and thoughtful, you have the mind and ideas to change the world. And you have the charisma of a great leader, even if you don't always use it! The purpose of your life: saying truths that other people dare not say Famous purples include: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Susan B. Anthony Careers for you to try: Political Activist, Inventor, Life Coach

What Color Is Your Aura?

what temperament are you?

You Have a Melancholic Temperament

Introspective and reflective, you think about everything and anything. You are a soft-hearted daydreamer. You long for your ideal life. You love silence and solitude. Everyday life is usually too chaotic for you. Given enough time alone, it's easy for you to find inner peace. You tend to be spiritual, having found your own meaning of life. Wise and patient, you can help people through difficult times. At your worst, you brood and sulk. Your negative thoughts can trap you. You are reserved and withdrawn. This makes it hard to connect to others. You tend to over think small things, making decisions difficult.

What Temperament Are You?

are you a tortured genius?

You Are 74% Tortured Genius

You are smart. Brilliant in fact. And while it's a blessing, it's also a curse.Your head is filled with everything - grand ideas, insufferable worries, and a good deal of angst.

Are You a Tortured Genius?

act of war

I just lost my Yahoo email account in a surprise dawn attack. The notification email I received through Hotmail said that *someone* changed my password at 1:05 AM. I tried to retrieve the password, but for some reason the new passwords generated by Yahoo don't work. Apparently, *someone* did more damage than I thought.

I know who did it. The sad thing is that I've trusted that person. Ironically, she doesn't trust me.
For the past few hours I've been scrambling to shore up all my other accounts' security. The enemy had achieved complete tactical surprise; I won't let it happen again. Note to self: never tell anyone else more than what they need to know.

I've always considered an attack on anything I own as an act of war. Call me crazy, but isn't the deliberate destruction of other people's property an unfriendly act?

And all this over such a stupid and trivial issue. Apparently, she would rather listen to the little voices in her fat stupid head than to reason and reality. I can't be with someone who doesn't -won't- trust me.

Of course there is more to this issue than what I'm writing here. But, as always, I won't tell more than what I need to write this blog entry. It's policy. And principle. If *someone* would only appreciate that then we probably won't be in this situation in the first place!

I've moved to a Gmail account. If you need to email me, send me a personal message and I'll tell you my new address there.

The best way to handle this situation would probably be with a proportional response. However, I cannot -will not- tolerate a repeat of this event.

Reciprocity. That's the answer.

ramblings

It's a miracle. I have nothing to do, so I now have some time to just sit back and relax, and maybe even reflect; if only the damned infernal heat would let up my relaxation would be complete. The past year had brought a lot of changes into my life; some welcome, most not. A lot of things have happened, but I shall spare the reader a long and rambling account of yesteryear. Let's focus on today, shall we? Dwelling on the past will get you nowhere. I am now forced to make decisions which I have never even dreamed of making. I am facing problems which I have never even considered facing. I must be getting old. Yes, that's it. I'm no longer a kid, I'm 20 years old! Damn! How I wish that I could escape from this nightmare. Sometimes l hope to wake up in a luxurious mansion, free from all these problems. Escapism. Shit. What the hell happened to "not one step backwards?" Well, you idiot, that's a line from Enemy at the Gates! And Call of Duty, in the Russian campaign. Those poor peasants, they had no choice but to run into German machine guns, or else face the guns of Russian commissars. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. I may have to rethink some of my policies. I may have to rethink my strategies. I may have to reassess my objectives. Machiavelli might have some good pointers. The end justifies the means.

Why is it so hard to build a relationship, so difficult to maintain it, and yet so easy to destroy it? It's so frustrating. Maybe that's what's keeping me up until the wee hours of the morning. But why am I so bothered by this? Why should I lose sleep over such a trivial issue? Why should I care about it? Because she's a friend? Haaay... Maybe that's the problem. Maybe I shouldn't care so much. She doesn't care. Why should I? Yes. That's it. To hell with it all.

My life needs to be reassessed. A lot of things will change. A lot of things have changed.

what time of day are you?

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits. Whether you're a nightowl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle. Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it. You enjoy staying home, but that doesn't mean you're a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

What Time Of Day Are You?

the five factor values test

Your Values Profile

Loyalty: You value loyalty a fair amount. You're loyal to your friends... to a point. But if they cross you, you will reconsider your loyalties. Staying true to others is important to you, but you also stay true to yourself. Honesty: You value honesty a fair amount. You're honest when you can be, but you aren't a stickler for it. If a little white lie will make a situation more comfortable, you'll go for it. In the end, you mostly care about "situational integrity." Generosity: You don't really value generosity. Your needs always come first, no matter what. And you'll possibly help someone else out... But only if it helps you in return. Humility: You value humility a fair amount. You tend to be an easy going, humble person. But occasionally your ego takes over. You have a slight competitive streak - and the need to be the best. Tolerance: You value tolerance a fair amount. You are open to new cultures, beliefs, and ideas. You have very few prejudices that you're aware of. And while you are tolerant, you do stand true to what you believe.

The Five Factor Values Test

what do your hands say about you?

What Your Hands Say About You

You are logical, analytical, and rational. You have good verbal skills. Idealistic and dreamy, you tend toward the impractical. You have a knack for getting yourself in sticky situations. Brainy and intelligent, you are intellectual to the point of being incomprehensible. Your emotions tend to be nervous and potent. Your energy - both positive and negative - deeply impacts your life.

What Do Your Hands Say About You?

what does your favorite color say about you?

What Your Favorite Color Black Says About You:

Timeless --- Stylish --- Sophisticated Overpowering --- Intimidating --- Dominant Perfectionist --- Controlling --- Competent

What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You?

friday the 13th

I am so pleased, yet I am also so frustrated.

I went to UP this morning to fix my summer registration. To be able to cancel just one class, I had to wake up at 5:30 AM and get to Econ by 8 AM. I got to school on time, but there was already a line outside the computer room -this was at 8:05 AM. I only got to a computer by 9 AM, which I used for about less than 6 or 7 minutes just to cancel one class. Thanks CRS! The 'new' system, which was probably supposed to 'help' us poor students, really screwed up big time. The monstrous lags yesterday were bad enough with me staring at my computer screen for two hours clicking on reload every few minutes just to access the enlistment page, but denying access to external users because of server overload? And when did this have to happen? RIGHT WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO CANCEL THE DAMN CLASS FROM HERE AT HOME. So I had to sacrifice a few hours of sleep just to beat the lines and get to a DILNET-connected computer just so I could spend five minutes to log-on and click on one little button named 'cancel'.

Yes. Five hours of preparation and waiting just so I could use a computer for five minutes.

After canceling my summer enlistment (vacation time!) I decided to get my class cards. I was in UP already so there was no sense in going back on Monday just to get class cards. I also got my TCG from SE101 so I passed my one and only application for shifting to AS101. Then it was off to PH 124 then to the Faculty Center for my class cards.

POLSC 150: 1.25
POLSC 160: 1.75
ECON 109: 1.25

LATIN 10: 2.25
CRAP.

I did not even bother to get my Persian 10 class card (supposedly [according to CRS] it's a 2); George W. Bush can nuke Iran for all I care.

I even got my papers from my pol sci subjects, which just intensified my frustration. I got a 94 (!!!) on my 12-page Polsc 150 case study and an 85 (!?) on my Polsc 160 journal article review. I was so pleased at the results, yet so intensely frustrated at the fact that my efforts could be in vain just because my cumulative GWA is now 2.05 thanks to my two language electives.

Enough ranting. I'm hungry.

great expectations

Apparently, things have a funny way of not going the way I planned. I took two language electives last semester to counterbalance my one economics and two political science courses; a little something to break the monotony of reading endless volumes and to bump up my GWA for the sem. Now, the grades are out, and guess what? I've got ones on my three major subjects and twos on my supposedly life-saving, grade-bumping language electives, turning what should have been a GWA of 1.4 to a 1.7! Granted, an average of 1.7 is a high one, and it's the highest I've ever gotten since starting out in UP, but it is just not good enough for me! (grade conscious ba?) It's a matter of pride, yes, but this latest setback has lessened my chances of getting into CSSP. I guess I now have to consider applying at NCPAG or at CAL, and face another three years of college. Hell, I want to graduate already! Haaay... But that's the way the cookie crumbles folks. I'm going to UP today to try to talk some sense into one of my professors (read: beg) and somehow salvage this debacle. It's a long shot, yes, but it just might save my skin in the long run. Yes, that's it: a desperate operation to try to change a ''2" into at least a "1.5". Hehehe... This is the new me: quibbling over a .5. What the hell. It just might work.

***
This would also be the perfect excuse to get out of the house. Though they haven't manifested themselves yet, boredom and insomnia due to idleness is a clear and present danger to my sanity. I need something to do besides staring at our antiquated CRT monitor for hours on end every single day. Of course a new computer with all the bells and whistles (read: Intel Core 2 Duo + GeForce 8800 + 4GB RAM + 250GB hard drive + Windows Vista) along with a brand new copy of Command and Conquer 3 would do much to quell all my feelings of boredom, but it sure as hell won't do much good for my insomnia I suppose. Back on topic though, the green of the Sunken Garden would do wonders for my mind, and my feet do miss walking around. Oh well, at least I would be doing something else to get my mind off the heat here at home.

***
By the way, congratulations to all those who've graduated!

all quiet on the western front

No sound at all. Not even a whisper.

Which makes it all the more ominous. And threatening.

Threats can be dealt with. Decisively.

But is there really a threat? I do not know.

So I do not move on the west. Yet the east is another story.

When six divisions attack in rapid succession there is a lot of noise.

A lot of screaming and shouting and slamming and cursing.

Diplomacy failed once again. Will I ever learn?

Was I wrong in hoping that things between us could be fixed?

I hope not. But I am ready to act. Now.

home stretch

Another sunset, and the semester is one day closer to its end.

Coffee on such a hot day may be seen as some to be a bit eccentric, but to me it is a fitting way to relax after 9 hours of work.

At the UP Main Library there is one perfect spot for me. The coffee dispenser is only a few feet away, there is a beautiful view of the sky and the trees, and the silence is just what my overheated mind needs.

Yes. Silence. Isolation. Reflection.

The end is in sight. After my final exams on the 31st I would finally be able to rest and relax once again.

For the near future, at least.

Ad astra per aspera

the force is strong with me

Your overconfidence is your weakness. -Luke Skywalker

Last night I said that I had an exam in Econ 109 today. That exam was supposed to start at 8:30 in the morning. Guess where I was at 8:20. Hehehehe... I left home at exactly 8:30, and I only got on an FX by 8:45. Needless to say I was already fuming; my temper was already rising to dangerous levels. Sure, I was late in leaving for school since I just had to open up the computer and check my mail and backup my XDA and watch some videos on YouTube, but the FX driver was also to blame for my tardiness because he was not at the terminal when I arrived! Yes. The FX driver is to blame. Not me. Certainly not my addiction to the Internet. No way.
I got to my classroom by 9:15. With only 45 minutes to spare, I immediately started on the exam. I wrote so furiously that my pen actually gave up on me halfway into the second essay question. When it was all over I had filled up one and a half sheets of yellow paper. In 45 minutes. Wow. Of course I was overconfident for a reason: it was an open-book exam. The answers were never more than 5 inches away from me. Two nights before I had already read the two assigned chapters and highlighted all the important details. I expect to see another "1" next week. How's that for confidence?

Your faith in your friends is yours. -Emperor Palpatine

My troubles, if you could call them that, did not end with my exam. There was still that one-page Latin short story to translate. The assignment was given last Tuesday. We were supposed to meet yesterday, but no one showed up at the designated place at the appointed time. History repeats itself. Guess how much my groupmates and I had done by lunch time of the deadline. Translation is not an exact science. You do not just get a dictionary and replace latin word with english word. You have to consider the context of the sentence. You have to take into account the culture of the time in which the document you're trying to translate was written. And you cannot just move on after translating a sentence, you have to polish it up so that it would have meaning in the English language. It's just like writing a paper for grammar class, or a blog, except that you have to be able to choose and use exactly the right words and you have to be extremely careful with the cases and the numbers and the persons and the moods and the genders of every single noun, adjective, verb, and adverb or else what you come up with would amount to pure gobbledygook. So we were only at the third sentence. Big deal. Our Latin class was at 2:30. In the excitement of meticulously poring over the definition and inflection of every single word in the text I sort of forgot to eat lunch. A cup of hot brewed coffee replaced rice. It had such a stimulating effect that all the way into my Political Science 150 class I was twitching and shaking. Come Latin class the fruit of our labor was finally put to the test. Our hard work was not without reward, as we garnered 8 points before the class had to be dismissed due to lack of time. And because of the lack of time everyone was given the full 10 points to be added to the second exam. Weeee!

It is pointless to resist, my son. -Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker

To reward myself for my recent successes on the academic front and to congratulate myself for living through such a hectic and stressful day, I just had to have a plate of California Maki and Tuna Sushi at Teriyaki Boy. My lunch was at 6 in the evening. It's ironic. We're just friends now, and there we were, having dinner at a restaurant after such a long time without ever going out on a date. I had planned on watching Letters from Iwo Jima at the cinema, but unfortunately only Ayala cinemas were playing it. I had no plans of going all the way to Makati at such a late hour. Blue Wave Marikina beckoned, and there we went. When you're in a celebratory mood, stay away from any arcade; it will suck you in and bleed you dry, especially when it has Time Crisis 3 in it! 150 pesos in 30 minutes. Gone. O di immortales!

Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design. -Emperor Palpatine

*Return of the Jedi; Emperor's Throne Room, right before the Rebel Alliance launches its attack on the Second Death Star

carpe diem

I have been meaning to update this blog for quite some time now, but it was only today that I was finally in the mood to do some writing. Actually I still don't feel like writing. It's as if there's a dam in my mind keeping the ideas from flowing through my hands into the computer.

So what do you do if something is in your way?

Why, BLOW IT UP of course!

Or RUN OVER IT!

CRUSH the opposition!

SWEEP it away!

SEIZE the initiative and ANNIHILATE the enemy!

Now that's better. I actually feel warm and fuzzy inside.

So what's new? Quite a lot, actually.

My mom has been at the hospital for 5 days now, thanks to a stone (or stones, but I only saw one) in her gall bladder. Her entire gall bladder had to be removed, since the stones had already caused it to be inflamed. In less than a year we've been 'invited' back to the Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital, and she even got my old doctor from my 'midterm vacation' last year. She'll be coming home today; thank God that she got treated in time and nothing else happened. However, this entire episode has had one good side effect: my mom has FINALLY been banned from smoking. And when she comes home I fully intend to ensure that that ban is well and truly implemented.

I actually have a good chance of getting high grades this semester. As I may have written about earlier, the results of my midterm exams were way above expectations. Besides that I've been speaking out in class more than before, which is saying quite a lot since I RARELY spoke out in class before. I don't know why, but I think I've got this 'studying' thing finally all figured out. Hehehehe... Just kidding. Maybe it's just because after FOUR YEARS I don't have a single Math subject. Not one. Not even a teeny-tiny-itsy-bitsy hint of Math. Yes. There's still a month to go before the semester ends and I still have loads of papers and reports and exams to wade through, but hey, at least I've regained the initiative. All I have to do is to sustain the momentum, and then my dream of becoming a university scholar will FINALLY become a reality.

Speaking of speaking out I think I actually spoke out TOO MUCH last Tuesday during my Latin class. It's election season once again, and candidates for the University Student Council and the various college councils have been going room to room to campaign for their respective parties. It so happened that some candidates of the STAND-UP party chose to campaign during my Latin class. After the usual introduction speech and the 'call for mobilization against the TOFI (tuition and other fee increase)' speech there was the usual question and answer portion, which I quite nervously took advantage of. I asked them what their alternatives for the tuition fee hike were, given that they were vehemently opposing said policy and I wanted to know what they wanted to do without it. I forgot exactly what they answered but it was the same old line of fighting the tuition fee increase with more demonstrations and lobbying for a larger budget for UP. And they didn't answer my question. I wanted to know what alternatives they had to solve the funding problems of the university in place of the tuition fee increase. So I asked again. I asked what they planned to do NOW to solve the funding problem. Besides waiting for a budget increase (which by the way is, while idealistic, totally impractical given the current state of affairs in our country) I wanted to know what CONCRETE plans they had for solving the problem. This is where I think I blew up. "LOOK AT THIS CHAIR! LOOK AT THIS ROOM! What do you propose to do about this NOW?" Their answer? "Solicitation." I did not push any further. After that and with some parting words they left, and that was when I noticed the funny looks my classmates were giving me. It turned out that during that short space of time I looked as if I was about to THROW MY CHAIR at the guy who answered my question. I didn't even notice it; I was so lost in the moment. What shocked me more was that my professor COMMENDED me for my (I can't remember the exact words) caring so much about the issues confronting the studentry today. Not bad for my first time ever speaking out publicly on an important issue.

Whew.

I guess I have to take a break here.

But wait, there's more!

Now that I've moved to the new Google-powered Blogger I can finally go back to updating this blog on a more regular basis. Weeeee!

new look!

I finally got the chance to refurbish this blog! Hehehehehe...

Enjoy! :D

troubleshooting convenience

My computer has been acting up as of late. Slow load times and random errors have become commonplace. The CD player is close to unusable and the speakers spout out loud static every time they are adjusted. Programs I've used with no problems in the past run sluggishly or not at all.
I would reformat it, if not for the slow Internet connection we've had since that earthquake off Taiwan. Download speeds are just a tad bit higher than in a dial-up connection, and there's a high probability of downloads just stopping way before they reach 50%. Web pages load painfully slowly or not at all. When once I had multiple tabs loading in Firefox at the same time I now find it hard to load one completely without refreshing it at least once.
A reformat now would erase over 3 years of patches and upgrades, not to mention security software, which would be nearly impossible to restore with our Internet connection problems.

It's very annoying and inconvenient to have computer problems nowadays. A computer has become a requirement for school; research, papers, homework, papers, presentations, papers, and reports (did I mention papers?) go through a computer before landing on the desk of your teacher. A printer would also be nice to have, as the lack of one would entail severe logistical problems and not a few unpassed assignments (yes, it happened to me). Communication with friends and loved ones is now done through the Internet; instant messaging, email, voice chat, webcams, threads, and forums now serve as meeting places. Some people build entire lives in the online world.

So imagine my predicament now. I admit I've become too dependent on computers, or on technology for that matter. I spend more time now in front of a screen, be it that of a computer, TV, or cellphone, than in front of a real paper book. In fact I have books -electronic books- just waiting to be loaded into my PDA.
I also find myself multi-tasking more often now; TV droning on in the background, cellphone in one hand, mouse on the other, headphones in my ear, YouTube loading in one tab while I'm typing in Multiply in another, Yahoo Messenger in another window, -and then the phone rings.

The convenience brought by technology can also be a curse. Having the world at your fingertips removes any need for you to walk. We are conditioned to demand speed at every turn, just so we could fit everything we want or need to do in the 24 hours given to us everyday, 24 hours which are squeezed and reduced more and more by more demands on our time so much so that soon nothing is ever fast enough. With various media competing for our attention and with all the things we do in our everyday lives we find that we have very little time for anything else.

And then we realize that we are inconvenienced by the very things we made and bought and used to make our lives easier. Computer problems keep us up all night in vain attempts to set right the effects of over six years of wear and tear (guess what I'm doing at 4:33 in the morning).Dependence on technology becomes a liability when the power goes out (remember Milenyo?). I won't even begin to describe the battles we've fought here over who gets to use the computer or the TV at this or that time.

I bought a book last Friday; you can now scratch off Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas from your Christmas gift lists. I spent the afternoon at the Sunken Garden with my new book. It was windy, cold even. I was laughing every once in a while -I think some of the people near me then thought that I was crazy. And for at least two hours I forgot about my 6-year old computer. I wasn't staring at a monitor and screaming invectives at Globe Telecom or pounding at the CD drive. No one was texting me at that time, and there were no TV sets in sight. It was just me and a good book. A cup of coffee would have been nice, but I was fine right there alone with my book and my thoughts of the day gone by.

I remember writing about how playing computer games was so relaxing for me. It seems I forgot how it felt to just sit back and relax and read and dream.

Haaay...

what the...

There is now a river outside our house; apparently an underground pipe cracked up just a few hours ago.

So now we have no water, save for what's left in our water tank. No more hot showers for a few days -actually no showers really. It's back to the tabo for us here.

Okay. So the water is out, check. The Internet connection, thanks to that huge earthquake off Taiwan last last(?) week, is crappy at best, check. Next target for elimination is the electricity- God, I hope not!

Why is everything going crazy over here?

crap

Obviously Performancing screwed up the last post. Aaargh...

all i want for christmas is...

My two front teeth.
Yes. Seriously. I've grown tired of the Harry Potter-ish lightning bolt on my front tooth. I want to go see a dentist, but I might be banned from munching on sweets like...

Chocolate.
Hi. My name is Andre, and I'm a chocoholic. The sight of Cloud 9 would get my mouth watering. The scent of Cadbury bars would drive me into a feeding frenzy. The mere thought of Swiss and German chocolates would be like heaven for me. But for now, my Mom's stash of Hershey's Kisses would serve as a worthy snack while watching...

Battlestar Galactica.
So I'm a Sci-fi geek. What would you expect from a guy who has the complete Star Wars Saga and watches it in order every few weeks? I would love to get my hands on the DVDs of seasons 1 and 2 of this series; something to tide me over until Cinemax coughs up Season 3. Yes, it's on YouTube, but why should I spend my days squinting at a little screen when I could be playing...

Medieval 2: Total War.
Ever since I started up Command and Conquer: Red Alert on my very first PC years ago I have been hooked on strategy games. Maybe it's the feeling of power as I command hundreds of troops and decide the fates of virtual nations, or maybe it's the pure sadistic joy of watching poor, hapless peasants being bombarded to death by catapults launching fire pots. Or by the 16-inch guns of an offshore battleship. Or by a squadron of B-2 Stealth Bombers. It all depends on my mood really, but there are times when I just want to sit back, relax, and wish that I could read...

Harry Potter Books 1-6.
Yes, I've read them all already thanks to the magic of the Internet, but I have dreams of having a personal library someday, and I want to expand my collection of non-electronic books. Bookworm that I am, I've also set my sights on...

Ang Paboritong Libro Ni Hudas.
I've always planned to buy this and other books by Bob Ong. My collection of books is so lacking in humor, save for my two...

Pugad Baboy Comic books.
I already have 5 and 6, and the book sale at the Faculty Center had most of the others. It took all my self-control to keep from splurging all my measly economic assets right there and then; I still need the money to buy...

Teeth of the Tiger.
My Tom Clancy collection is nearly complete. This, plus Red Rabbit, will finally round out the fictional novels. Then I can move on to the nonfiction books, like...

Into the Storm.
I have always been interested in military affairs, and this is just one in a series of books which would give me an inside look at the American armed forces. After that maybe I could move on to another author, such as Dale Brown. The first book I would get would be...

Act of War.
Obviously, I'm a war freak. Let's move on, shall we? My birthday is in 9 days. Wow. I'm getting old. But what I'm really looking forward to is...

Dinner at a restaurant of my choice.
I'm thinking of having a...

Tenderloin Steak with Mashed Potatoes at House of Minis.
Or...

Eat-all-you-can Sushi and Sashimi at Saisaki.
However I could also go for the traditional...

Roast Chicken at Kenny Roger's Roasters.
Ever since I had a taste of the scrumptious wood-fire roasted chicken and flavorful gravy and creamy mashed potatoes we had been celebrating my birthday there...

Enough! All this talk about food is making me hungry, and our dinner isn’t ready yet. I only ate a plate of baked macaroni for lunch, and I spent a whole day walking around the campus. I’m so tired and so hungry and so handsome. Come to think of it, maybe what I really want –need- for Christmas is…

A vacation.

connection reestablished

I finally got to update this blog. Hehehehe...



Wala lang... :D

pushing the envelope(again)

Climb Mount Niitaka.
A simple phrase, seemingly innocuous.

Today was supposed to be another normal day. Classes to attend, people to meet, books to read, time to kill. Yet something felt different, even when I first woke up. My first class was at 10AM, so I had to be up by 8 to get ready for school. Yes, I still take more than an hour to go through my morning routine, but a lot of things have changed. The commute to school now takes less time than before, so I could afford to spend more time checking my email in the morning. I was so confident in the efficiency of Marikina's roads and its public utility vehicles that I left home at 9:45AM. Yup, 15 full minutes before my class was supposed to start. My confidence was not misplaced, however, and I arrived at Katipunan with 7 minutes to spare.

It means nothing, really.
Until you see it for what it really is.

I however forgot about Katipunan Avenue. Sure it was smooth sailing for a while, until the jeep got to the bottleneck at UPIS. It was stop-go, stop-go for all of 15 minutes. I was already fuming by the time the jeep got to the Tumana gate, and when I saw that the traffic stretched all the way to the other end I jumped off and walked the rest of the way to the Econ building. I arrived 20 minutes late, and the doors were already locked- wait, the doors were locked? The other time this happened, on the first day of classes, Prof. Esguerra was absent. Crap.

That seemingly innocent phrase triggered a chain of events that dragged half the world into one of the most devastating periods in history.

Who in their right mind would not want a class to be cancelled? Normally I would be happy, but I was already in a very foul mood after having to walk half a kilometer because some MMDA traffic enforcer didn't know $#!+ about traffic management, and finding out that all the effort and sweat was for nothing didn't help at all! And as if to add insult to injury, the jeep I left trapped in traffic passed right in front of me as I left the Econ building. It was only 10:30AM.

Millions died because of events begun by those three words.
Innocent words transmitted by radio before one fateful December morning.

I spent the rest of the morning in the library reading newspapers. Lunch was spent at the CS Canteen, with baked macaroni again. My next class was at 2:30, so I went up to the air-conditioned confines of the Econ library to wait. I didn't really want to attend that class, but I had nothing to do for the rest of the afternoon and I was supposed to have another meeting for our BA 101 case presentation at 5:30. So with a cup of steaming hot coffee I listened to an hour-and-a-half long lecture which I could have easily read from the book. After the class it was back to the library again, to wait for 5:30.

It's simply amazing.
One innocent phrase with the power to change the world.

If you've been reading my blogs for quite some time now you probably know that I really hate waiting. I. Really. Absolutely. Definitely. Hate. Abhor. Despise. Waiting. So if you make me wait it had better be damned worth it. But history has a funny way of repeating itself, and as the clock hit 5:45, I found out that it did. Again. I arrived at the designated meeting place to find out that none of my groupmates had arrived yet. A text message clarified everything, and really made my day: "Ei di matutuloy meeting ngayon, lahat may ginagawa e. Wala bang nagsabi sayo?" My blood turned cold as I read that message. My face twisted into an evil smile, a smile I usually reserve for when I'm desperately trying to control my temper. This was the FOURTH time my dear groupmates saw fit to cancel meetings without notifying me until literally the last damned minute.

How I wish I had that kind of power.
If a group of letters could have it, why can't I?

You should be thankful I'm not some crazy, megalomaniacal dictator with access to certain 'weapons of mass destruction' because at that time I really wanted to press the proverbial button and send the world back to the Stone Age. Oh, what I would give for an MX-Peacekeeper ICBM with 10 megatons worth of pure thermonuclear goodness... Almost 2 wasted hours... I could have gone home early instead of wasting my time waiting for nothing!

Power. Unlimited power!
Power to change the world, to bend things to my will.

I was so frustrated that I just started walking around aimlessly. My normally handsome face was twisted into something- let's just say that if looks could kill a lot of people would be lining up before the Pearly Gates by now. For about 20 minutes I walked around UP, vainly trying to vent my anger yet failing miserably since 'venting' for me usually comes with 'shouting' and 'screaming', which I couldn't quite do in the civilized Diliman campus.

Yes. I'll have that power in the future.
Be afraid. Be very, very afraid.

I got home at around 7PM. Thank God for salpicado and baked potatoes and YouTube and blogging. Some ants just got a new lease on life.

extraneous thoughts

Certain things have been taking up valuable real estate in my already overcrowded mind for the past few weeks. This is a desperate attempt to purge my mind of these extraneous thoughts and at least return some semblance of order to my gray matter.

People are going to kill me after they read this post.

I don't get jaywalkers. Specifically those stupid bastards who cross the street under the damned pedestrian footbridge. Are those people blind, or are they just idiotic morons just asking, begging, to be turned into road kill? Just give me the chance and I would cheerfully and gleefully introduce them to both my car's bumper and the concrete road. Give me the power and I would declare every major road a free fire zone: jaywalkers would be considered as targets. Most targets eliminated bags a cash prize. That ought to drill some freakin' discipline into the unruly masses.

Animal rights. What the hell is up with giving rights to something that is destined to go into my stomach? Ever hear of the friggin' food chain? News flash: we're on top of it! I love pigs, especially if they're cute, pink, and chubby. But I don't care if the pig that provided the juicy tenderloin steak I'm about to eat was treated 'humanely' or like the freakin' Prince of Wales, I only want it medium well on a freakin' platter along with some gravy and mashed potatoes! Ah, but there are those who would rather have us just eat *shudder* vegetables and *shiver* imitation meat made from plants. Yeah. Just wait 'til the plant rights activists come knocking on your doors!

Havianas. Okay. Deep breath. Here we go. Explain to me the merits of buying a pair of rubber slipp-er, flip-flops, for around 600-800 pesos. Wait- never mind, opportunity knocks! I'll just buy some cheap slippers worth 30 pesos from my friendly neighborhood tiangge and pass them off as Havianas! Cha-ching! Damn! I'll make a killing! Woohoo! Money DOES grow on trees- rubber trees, that is. Yeah, that's right. I'll open up a store at the Mall of Asia right across the Flip-flop Store, or whatever the hell they call that little nook packed with people going gaga over something made in the friggin' Philippines ever since rubber replaced wood and the integumentary system as the sole [pun intended] provider of open-air protection for our smelly feet, and "liberate" Ninoy Aquino and the Banaue Rice Terraces from their wallets. Ahhh... Capitalism.

The CPP-NPA. Ah, yes. The 38 year old protector of the poor and the oppressed. Right. Let's call a spade a spade okay? Those purge-happy propaganda-loving revolutionary tax-hungry landmine-laying destabilizing morons with a cowardly leadership hiding blissfully in the Netherlands are terrorists, plain and simple. The Armed Forces can have at them all they want. I would be the happiest man alive if I were given the chance to see Jose Maria Sison or Ka Roger through the scope of a sniper rifle, or if I were in the cockpit of one of our high-tech, propeller-driven, Vietnam-veteran Bronco bombers raining napalm on one of their training camps. Ever watch Munich? I do hope the government grows some backbone and takes the terrorist leadership out of our collective misery. Yes. The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist.

Right. Animal rights activists and Havianas fans may leave their gracious comments below. Jaywalkers, wait for me at the C5 road where I'll introduce you to my little friend Optra. And to any member of the CPP-NPA, please, come back to the light. Communism is a fool's errand. Join me in my capitalist quest to liberate Manuel Roxas, Diosdado Macapagal, Ninoy Aquino, and the Banaue Rice Terraces from the millions of Haviana fans out there. Otherwise, feel free to point your AK-47's on your heads, set the switch to 'automatic', and then gently pull the trigger. Save the AFP the trouble, and by the way, free up some money for the education budget.

Cheerio!