Brilliant!

Good thesis discussion on a very important topic.

This comic series is brilliant.. but it needs update. (just press newer, older, or random)

I parked today, and this I saw...

National Bookstore Cut Price Book Sale!
(I used to put nasyonalbukstorcutpricebooksale! at the flyleafs of books I bought during this season)

I also like how theyve brought back that scissor image from long ago. I wish they can also find the tv commercial with falling dominoes from the 90's, and show it again.

It's that time when we can buy books cheaper than anywhere in the US, etc.

I owe a lot to this yearly event. Couldnt have read those Rushdie, Roth, Vonnegut, et al books if they were not on sale. I remember seeing an out-of-my-pocket's-reach book called Sabbath's Theater (400 PhP during college days), and marked that it will go on sale in one year at a big markdown,and it did go on sale! Thank you Nanay Socorro for your superb negotiation skills.

Former expat colleagues used to wait for this as well. Ah, them Dutch.

So went out for lunch today, first day of the sale. And these are the initial loots:




p.s. Fullybooked also went on sale one weekend a month ago. I was able to buy Christmas at The New Yorker, Heat (hardbound by Bill Buford) for 300 pesos! at the branch in Boni High Street. But that bookstore in general prices on the higher side relative to NBS.

Little transformers and Yoda

Highly recommended!

Jollibee Chicken Barbecue

Ive been hearing this for years, but now it's hear (albeit on soft launch).

A bit more expensive than Chickenjoy, comes with Java Rice that doesnt taste quite like a Java Rice yet, comes with toyo and calamansi that you have to ask for (not given automatically), and I still see a bit of inconsistency with regards to grilling (the three branches Ive visited). Further it's not something that you can eat everyday. (Mas nakakaumay yata).

But overall, this one is a well-thought of, well-researched, tasty, juicy, alternative to Chickenjoy. I see primer cuts than Chickenjoy.

Jollibee Branches that have this BBQ: Megamall (1st floor), Virramall, Greenmeadows (Libis QC), E Rodriguez Sr, SM Centerpoint.

Try it before Jollibee launches a full-blown campaign and the waiting time gets longer!

Jollibee Breakfast Joys Commercial

Ang sarap magtagal sa kama
sa Jollibee, mas mahaba ang umaga...
...sige tulog pa nang sandali,
di kailangang magmadali

Angganda nang commercial na ito, pre. Panalo.

Pero di ko maintindihan kung pano ka pa makakapag-aalmusal kung magtatagal ka pa sa pagtulog. Tyak na HR memo ang aabutin mo sa sangkatutak na leyt sa trabajo.

Eksenang Peyups

Dahil sa pagkakatisod ko sa matinding wasak na blog ni Norman Wilwayco, parang nangangarap ako ngayong ibalik ang konting tonong ganoon na dating taglay sa aking tangnang pagrarayting-rayting. Binalikan ko ang isang eksenang peyups na ito. Sampung taon na ang nakakaraan Tita Helen... tinginininininingtingining...

Mga kupz, pukz, pekz, kepz, chupz,… oo kayong mga bastos mag-alyas na player ng Starcraft diyan sa mga lab ng NEC! Hindi ba “very, very big, too big” na bawal na maglaro diyan, lalu na sa Intel Lab? Hmmmmmm… pero on an “oh-my-god-is-that-your-pinyot” second thought, tumpak nga naman ang palusot ng mga sinuwerteng nakatikim ng unang network sa Peyups: kung hindi nga naman busy ang mga PentiumII, bakit hindi na lang laruin ang kani-kanilang mga Joystick, este paglaruan sa mga computer ang Protoss, Terran, o Zerg. Pero mukhang pati ang chatroom channel ng #up at #ateneo ay naiimpluwensiyahan ng inyong mahahalay na call-sign. Napapapukinamsiyet tuloy ang mga mga kunyareng-laking-kumbentong coño. Kung bakit kasi hindi na lang makuntento sa mga medyo-hindi-vastuz na condoman at jackolino para kunyareng-inosente pa rin ang mga nahihibang sa chat. Uhuh! LOL. GTG. Hi na lang nga kay bluekitty.

Die, kapalmuks!

Jollibee Transformers Toys

Ito si small starscream at si big starscream. Pareho silang di pa lumalaban, pero sumusuko agad.

Review: A Most Wanted Man (John LeCarre)

The first John LeCarre that Ive read [twas more than 10 years ago] was Our Game. His characters in this book get tremblingly jealous, nauseatingly vengeful, furiously indignant. The protagonist himself is languishing on moral dilemmas. I have read Constant Gardener, Tailor of Panama, Absolute Friends, since, Our Game remains his strongest for me... until this one.

Some people, as with Absolute Friends and Constant Gardener, would probably dislike the book for its ending. Lecarre could have wrapped it up differently by revising just the last 20 page, and the book will sell a couple of hundred thousands more, but LeCarre chooses the most plausible ending that he thinks happen today (same case for his the books I mentioned above). It's his own little way to fan the ember of activism and awareness/alertness on what's happening.

Well even if you don't like spycraft stories and the political underpinning in the book, you will still enjoy the very human characters. They are brilliantly framed, most probably rigorously pre-studied, and the drama is taut. This book is guaranteed worth your while.

To us who work 8am to 8pm, we cant really hope to finish a novel anymore in one week. Much less, expect to start it. But how LeCarre waves real breathing people will take you to finish a book once you started. The tension is always there even without the gunfights and explosions. Last 75 pages especially are fire-y, frenzy.

We support Gary Granada

Please click and listen.

Hindi mag-aaksaya ang kung sinong tao nang oras sa wala.

Dalawa lang ang pinakanakakabwisit sa mundong ito: 1) yung nakawan ka, at 2) yung gaguhin/lokohin ka.

Watdapak GMA Foundation?

Wag namang ganyan sana sa China

Not an urban legend.

Review: Age of Turbulence by Alan Greenspan (Paperback, Expanded)

[picture from Amazon.com]

There's a typo on page 527! It's annoying, but everything else in the book is, to say the least, worth your while.

No one can deny that the first part, the real memoir part, is brilliant. There is no grandstanding, no self-aggrandizing, very modest. And the swipes on the personalities that he disagrees with are nothing short of perfect in rationality; and in using a relaxed tone in doing these, the personal hits appear even more effective.

The book also tries concisely to explain how FED works in the macro- and microeconomic environment. For one, you will understand why it is not possible to do that proverbial "when I become President" idea to eradicate poverty--i.e. it's impossible to just print more and more money to get your country richer and richer.

In trying to just pass by some important concepts though with just a quick footnote, the lay man may not fully get some of the `levers,' impact of controlling money supply, the give and take of increasing and decreasing reserves and interests, etc. The best place of course to learn all these is in an economics classroom with a textbook, but if you get the concept at first pass, the illustration flows perfectly into solid learning.

The writing is sometimes academic, and Greenspan loves to use "to be sure", to have transition between sentences or paragraphs. My advise is: if you don't get the thought in one pass, read the sentence/paragraph again to get full learning. (I would believe that one of the intention of the author here is to teach and let the public be aware of how, most of all, market economies work).

Greenspan's opinions on some of the contentious issues of present and future are short and just give options, but on others they are solid like there's no other choice (like in allowing immigration)--so you cant accuse the author of fedspeaking without standing for anything all the way.

Now on the most important part in this paperback edition... I think there's a sudden shift of tone, towards a bit of `fedspeak,' on the bonus chapter. I think if Mr. Greenspan has a chance, he would re-write this epilogue. It would be sour if he wrote this with a pure intention to excuse his tenure as having no influence at all to the current crisis. (Lehman did not fold yet when he wrote this update). This epilogue is more like saying nothing could have been done, except there should be more enforcement and laws on corporate governance, although he admitted in one of the public hearings already that there is a `flaw' in the system. Mr. Greenspan ought to write another book, even if just to extend this chapter. (I would also buy it).

But overall, this book should be judged on its merit and original intent, regardless whether we blame the person for this crisis or just plain hate or like his past policies on hindsight. When you read the book, everything is presented with reason and beliefs based on intelligent data and experience.

The book deserves 5 stars, no doubt.

Bye

[photos courtesy of my friend, Nhoy, who waited at Sucat for 7 hours]

"She was a good person. Say what you will about her administration, the illusions dashed and opportunities missed, but she was decent to us. She never mocked us, made fun of our hopes, or knowingly insulted our intelligence. Born to privilege, she never acted the spoiled brat. President Cory defended the Constitution from those who would twist it to their own ends. Here was a woman who rejected the temptation to perpetuate herself in power." -- Jessica Zafra.

Would also like to link you to this uniquely poignant post.

Cory Aquino, January 25, 1933 - August 1, 2009.

Thanks very much, ma'am.

Carlo Caparas

Carlo J. Caparas opuses: Lipa Massacre, Ilaban Mo, Bayan Ko: The Obet Pagdanganan Story, Pangarap Kong Jackpot (TV Series in Channel 4), Tirad Pass… just try to watch any of these… they’re surreal. Caparas is well-known to write the script while shooting!

“Kahit sino, kahit asawa ko at mga anak ko, makakapagpatunay ng sipag ko at sakripisyo para sa mga art ko… hindi ko ito hiningi ito… magprotesta sila, hayaan silang mainitan.“

Why he deserves to become a national artist according to Ricky Lo: “He’s the only artist with a street (in Pasig City where in his early years he worked as a security guard) named after him.” [Tanginahit naman Ricky. Bat ka naman bumanat nang ganyan].

C’mon, Mr Caparas, you already raked-in in the 90’s, can you just give up this disgrace? You’ll be disgraced yourself if you don’t give this up.

To Ms. Arroyo,ngayon nakakatakot na talaga ang kaya ninyong gawing mag-asawa dala kakapalan nang apog ninyo.

Rallying Point

Isang kolum na naisulat ko siyam na taon na ang nakakaraan. Wala lang, naalala ko lang sa pagkamatay ni Tita Cory.

Tatlo lang ang nasamahan kong rali.

Una, noong Feb 23 at ikasampung Birthday ko. Bandang hapon, nang magyaya sa amin ang kapitbahay naming may dyip papunta sa “Highway 54.” Nagpilit akong sumama, dahil gusto kong makakita ng tangke nang personal. At dahil birthday ko nga, pumayag ang nanay ko at sinabihan na lang kami na huwag masyadong lumapit sa mga sundalo.

Medyo malayo ang pagkakita ko sa mga tangke pero medyo natakot ako (imbes na humanga) nang maimadyin kung gaano karaming tao ang matatamaan sa isang putok lang ng kanyon dahil sandamukal at “sari-sari” talaga ang mga tao. Kumpul-kumpol maski ang mga nangibabaw na madre. Pero tanda ko na kung gusto mo talagang makapunta sa gitna, madali kang makakapunta dahil kahit marami, nagpapadaan ang mga tao.

Nakasingit pa kami katunayan sa isang stage na nagpapaagaw ng nakaplastik na sandwich at Magnolia. Madami, at tuluy-tuloy lang ang itsa ng Chocolait. Nakaagaw ang isang mama sa tabi namin at iniabot sa Papa ko ang supot para sa akin.

Pangalawa naman ang sa SONA ni Ramos nang katatapos lang ng Muroroa (“No Nukes!”) issue noong second year pa lang ako. Naririnig pa kasi noon na hindi raw makukumpleto ang buhay-Peyups nang hindi nakakasama sa isang rali. (Bakit nga kaya hindi ko na naririnig ‘to ngayon?). Sabi ko sa kasama ko, “mag-advance na tayo.” Sabi niya, sige at kami na raw ang mag-buddy. Tumabi kaming dalawa sa isang poste, nagobserba, at nakinig sa mga nagsasalita at kumakanta.

Ah, apat pala kung kasama ang maikling martsa mula Eng’g papuntang Masscomm (para magyaya) at Admin laban sa CPDP.

Panghuli itong nakaraang Anti-Cha-cha sa Makati.

Ngayong halos gradweyt na ako, iniisip ko kung bakit kakaunti at bilang-na-bilang ko pa mandin ang mga nasamahan kong rali. Siguro, sabi ko sa sarili ko, dahil: 1) hindi ko alam ang mga buong detalye ng isyu kaya hindi buo ang loob ko sa pagsama, 2) kulang sa oras dahil iba ang priority ko, 3) humahanap ako kaagad ng resulta maski estimate lang, ‘ika nga ng teknikal na kurso ko, bago ang endeavor; yung mas feasible, dahil gugulan ito ng input na time at kaunting money, at/o 4) wala akong kasama.

Nasa akin siyempre ang I-Was-There pride sa pagkakasama sa “People’s Power”maski ilang oras lang iyon, nakapasan ako nang matagal, at ni hindi ko kilala ng husto kung sino si Ninoy noon. At sa pagpigil marahil ng unconscious na pagkukumpara ko ng bawat rali sa EDSA, ngayon ko lang nakikita na baluktot ang mga dahilan ko.

Hindi diretsong masisisi ang mga 1) o 2) ang problema. Pero sa mga bulgar sa mga talagang nakaaasar na isyu, makasarili na ang mga hindi natitinag. Sa isang mababaw na halimbawa sa CPDP: sinabi noon ni Javier na “bubunutin” daw ang mga building kapag hindi nasunod ang mga mga kasunduan. Pumasok na tanong sa kukote ko: “Ano y’un, buhok sa kili-kili? Yung Citimall nga, hindi pala dapat puros kainan ang nandiyan, may bunutan bang nangyayari?”

Sa Cha-Cha naman, isang mababaw ulit: “pang-masa” raw ang mga prayoriti ni Erap pero ano ito at “urgent” daw ang Cha-Cha para maibenta na sa mga dayuhang negosyante ang Pilipinas. Ano ‘to lokohan?

Hindi pa ba ito maiintindihan? Wala ang mga “manipestong sagot” na ipinambubuska dito ng mga sosi sa mga tibak. Ako mismo’y hindi aktibista. (Hindi ako karapat-dapat sa karangalang ito dahil mas pinili ko ang pamperang kurso at ang grumadweyt ng maaga). Pero hindi naman kailangang maging tibak para sumama sa rali.

Ang isang rali—para sa 3)—ay isang ekspresyon lang, parang kinakausap ang mga dapat makinig. Kapag naliwanagan ang marami tungkol sa isyu, tagumpay ang rali. Walang kailangang mapatalsik (o matepok, para sa akin minsan), pero ultimong parang dyakpat ito.

Para sa 4) naman, totoong maraming mukha ang pamilyar sa bawat rali. Pero sa Makati, halimbawa, mas marami ang bago sa paningin ko. May mga naka-cell pa nga at magagarang jacket nang umuulan na. At totoong mga di-hamak na boyfriend at girlfriend material ang makikilala mo sa rali kung naghahanap ka.

Nakakadismaya lang ang mga nagsasalita sa TV nang walang kakurap-kurap na “matutulog na lang” sila sa bahay—ang mga hindi nakakaintindi ng mga simpleng paliwanag.

At ang mga umaarkila ng bus gamit ang pondo ng estudyante para iligaw ang mga sasakay.