Goemon & Casshern

I'm watching the movie Goemon and found it quite interesting. Great action sequences. It's like watching a live-action anime. Wonderful CG imagery with vivid and luscious colors. In this type of movie, the director can do whatever he envisions because he's not bound by the laws of physics. Lush and vibrant environments are created to match the superhuman abilities of the protagonist.


Also check out the previous movie of this director, which is Casshern. Visually speaking, Goemon is a great improvement compared to Casshern but both have interesting storyline if you're not lost watching the imagery.


Great movies for anime lovers.

A Week of Comedy

This week, I again indulge myself in watching videos of several stand-up comedy routines. They were videos of the following comedians:

• Ricky Gervais - Live : Politics
• Bill Connolly - Live in New York
• Lewis Black - Red, White & Screwed and Back in Broadway
• Rex Navarette - Hella Pinoy
  
• Bob Saget - Comedy Central Roast
• 

I liked the performance of Ricky Gervais in his routine. It was funny and i could understand most of his subjects even with his British accent. I had difficultly before understanding British shows before because of their twang. I am used to hearing the American accent. This is the first time I watched his stand-up performance and I liked it a lot. I also liked his performance in the movie Ghost Town, one of my fave movies.


As for Bill Connolly, I had trouble understanding his routine because of his Scottish accent. I can only undertand a few segments when he speaks slowly but when he's on a roll, I get lost.


Lewis Black is one of the comedians I can identify with. His routines are usually delivered as rants and I liked them. I can see myself in his routine because I usually rant my observations at home or in the office. I tend to express views that are not usually said in public. By the way, they are not crude or obscene, they're just observations about people and society in general.


Rex Navarette is a Filipino comedian who's routines usually talk about Filipino customs and Filipinos living abroad. I can get most of his jokes but in "Hella Pinoy", his routine is not so refined. Maybe, he's better seen live.


I first heard of Bob Saget as a comedian in the documentary "Aristocrats". He was described as a comedian's comedian who's routine is usually composed of foul ideas. But of this video that I got, he was being roasted by his peers and he only got to speak for a few minutes. I'm still searching for a copy of his videos.

To Dance With Someone

"Oh man, that hurts. But you know, why would you want to dance with someone who doesn't want to dance with you?" Adam Sandler (The Wedding Singer)

This a question that has been bugging some of us at some point in our life. Simple put, it's wanting someone/something we can't have. It's been bothering me for quite a long time now and I still can't find an answer on why I do it. We could ask psychiatrists are they could provide us with an answer that will be taken from the ideas of how we live our lives or describe human nature. But will I be satisfied with the answer, probably not. Because part of me will reject the answer or disregard it without first contemplating if it's true or not.

I have asked a couple of them to dance with but they rejected my offer. Rejections came bluntly, full of excuses or just disregarded. It hurts to be rejected no matter how nice or how cruel it came about. The bottom line for me was I wasn't good enough for them. Others might have tried immediately the other options available in the dance floor just to have that dance but I didn't. I waited to find someone I want to dance with. A selection not made by preset standards or appearance but by just following what the heart dictates. I often went home not experiencing that dance.

Then again you go to another dance and still again most of the participants were there during the first dance. Once again, you try again to woo the one's who rejected you before. I'm still drawn to them by some force that I can yet explain, Maybe it's just plain desire or lust or ego or just trying to prove myself to them or clinging to the hope of a change of mind. As with the same result as before, I went home alone.

Oh, I will ask advices from people I trust. They will give their piece and l listen to them but not necessarily implement what they think is right. I ask advice not to be told what to do but to be given an option. It is up to me to weigh my options without losing my sense of self. I wouldn't pretend to be something I'm not just to get someone to dance with me.

I will put my best foot forward and hope that my moves will be accepted.

Still Packing

I have finished packing my main backpack with all my clothes, however, I'm still packing secondary bag and I have problems determining what I bring. the cameras ready, jacket, sunglasses, medicine are now in it but I'm still wondering if I forgot to brig something. It's not unusual for me to forget my belongings so I have to double-check everything.

I'll be leaving early this morning so that I could prepare for the tomorrow morning's flight. I'll be gone for about a week. Hoping to replenish the spirit and come back renewed and refreshed.

Eagerly Awaiting for My Vacation

I will be having my week-long vacation next week. My friends and I will be going to an exotic locale for the first time. We've booked this flight months before to avail of the discounts offered by one airline. We want to enjoy nature at its best. City life is quite stressful. Too many buildings and less trees to look at.

I will be leaving this Saturday but I haven't packed yet. Not even one piece of clothing is in my backpack yet.

It's nice going to places you've been before. This is a new thing for me because I don't usually go out to other places to have a vacation. I usually stay home and most of the outing that I've attended are just overnight stays.

I'm a homebody. I don't go out a night to party or have some activity during weekends to immerse myself into or have friends to hang out with. My friends are important to me and we stay connected. We plan our meetings because of our busy schedules and the distance from each other.

I prefer to spend a couple straight days of vacation to relax rather than spend almost everyday after work to go out to some party or activity. It's tiresome for me. I would like to immerse myself in what I do so I prefer long vacations.

Recommendation Letter Dilemma

I need to have two recommendation letters, professional and academic. I already asked permissions from the signatories if they could give me a recommendation. But the catch is, I have to make the recommendations myself and they'll just sign them.

That's where my problem comes along. I don't want to make them myself. I find it difficult to praise or give approval to myself and have other people attest to it. It is difficult to make a casual recommendation to oneself. How could we gauge if we are already too self-indulgent I what we write about ourselves?

And I have to find the answers to this questions soon because I need to have both documents by next week.

I Missed Going to School

Yesterday, I went to my collegiate university to take care of some documents that needs the school seal. It's been more than a year since I last stepped in it and I still adore it. It changed a bit but most of the buildings during my time were still there and improved dramatically.

We used to have only electric fans in our classrooms, but now, most of the school is air-conditioned. Overall, the school looks much better than before.

I miss studying there, not because of friends or the activities, but i missed learning from the teachers who helped me to be what I am today. I miss doing the assignments even if i used to dislike doing them. I miss listening to the teacher especially in Philosophy even though I'm afraid that he might solicit my answer or just an opinion.

Learning things on your own like reading from books or surfing is internet is good but I believe that the teachers are great at reinforcing those knowledge that we've learned from other mediums of instruction.

"Isang" Unleashes The Power

News reports are talking of her power. The devastation that she brought throughout the land. I thought that my town will be spared. We live in the opposite end of her center. But I was wrong, her power was encompassing. It reached us and exuded her will. Fierce and strong. "Rain, rain go away..." won't be enough for this one. For two consecutiev nights, she bashed us with her might, only to give us hope in the morning. Tonight's a very dark and cold night but may tomorrow give us sunshine with a smile.

Let her have her will but spare us from destruction.

God Bless Us All and Be Safe.

In The Dark Ages

For a day and a half, it felt like we were living in the dark ages. Yesterday morning, the electricity went out and the water supply was cut off immediately after that. There were no notifications made or any warnings. Most of us didn't have any water stored.

In the afternoon, we learned from reports that the power supply was cut off because some rebel insurgents destroyed three power lines while they were fighting with the military forces.

Not having any water stored, we went to a nearby neighbor and fetched some water using the jetmatic pump. It's been years since I used one of these things and it came as a savior to us during this waterless day. We hauled water using the five gallon mineral water bottle. My brother and I made about 8 trips each back and forth to fill up the pails in our house that were to be used for bathing, washing and for the toilet. We were so exhausted carrying it because its been years since we did that. Way back in our elementary and high school days when water was still scarce and far from where we lived.

It was so hot most of the day that we bathed in sweat and had many shirt changes. Since there were no cold drinks available in our area, we went downtown and bought some iced refreshments and softdrinks in one of the few establishments with a generator. We ate halo-halo, mais con heilo and some s0ftdrinks. It was quite refreshing and I didn't mind that I have to spend that amount for such refreshing delights. On other days, I would've declined to purchase them because of the cost.

Luckily, the lights came back this evening and we don't have to haul water anymore tomorrow. I'm glad because my back is already aching.

I think that sometimes it is necessary that we lose some of the conveniences that we are used to having in order to remind us what is necessary in life. I wouldn't have had conversations with some of my neighbors earlier while fetching water if there was electricity. It brings us back to the basics. And it's good to be reminded.

Street Fighter IV has finally arrived on... PC

The game that I've been waiting for more than a year has finally arrived on PC. I was ecstatic when I find out that they were developing a new Street Fighter game. This was the game that I grew up with, starting with Street Fighter II in the old family computer, then in Sega Mega Drive and then in PS One.

After Street Fighter II, I was hooked with the EX version. I didn't have the chance to play Street Fighter III in the console because I couldn't afford to buy the newer consoles. Arcade machines are not for me because I have problems controlling the joysticks. It isn't the same for me without the gamepads, even if my fingers suffer from blisters after playing it for long hours.

I had just finished playing Street Fighter IV from my friends PC and it was awesome. It brought me back to the days of hadoken and shoryukens especially with my all-time favorite character Ryu. I just stuck my game with the basics because I can't do the SUPERs because of a cheap gamepad. It really hurts my fingers just to do a simple hadoken.

We've just unlocked a few characters and I hope soon that my friend will unlock all the other characters, especially the new ones. I'm more of a Versus kinda guy because I'm not good in fighting the Arcade Mode at higher difficulties.

I can't wait to play it again tomorrow if I have the time.

To all Street Fighter fans out there, prepare your fingers and get ready to FIGHT....

What's Up With The Weather?

It been rather hot the whole morning that you dread going out of the office and then right when you're about to go home, the rain pours heavily. Flu has been rampant nowadays with this unpredictable weather pattern.

As a child, my parents would advise me to go out and have some sunshine. But now, even adults wouldn't like to stay out long under the sun. The sun's heat pierces the skin and it burns. In the morning right after I have taken my bath, I am already sweating. I used to feel refreshed after showering but now it's different with this weather.

There's been a lot of talk about climate change and I believe that it's already happening right now. Some of the "experts" argue that it's just part of nature's cycle and not made by the pollution contributed by man and their machines.

I have a question though, could we still repair the damage done or are we just minimizing it's effects? I was wondering how we could repair the hole in our ozone layer that's been damaged. What are the end result of the environmentally-friendly activities being developed?

It's Been Approved

Finally, I've just learned today that my request to apply has been approved with the help of the one who invited me. It's been a dilemma for me this couple of weeks because I was very interested in it but it need some higher approval.

Now, it's time for me to iron out the details and I hope that I will be accepted. The experience would be tremendous, however difficult it may be.

It's been a while now that I see myself as having no purpose in what I do. Maybe this will help me grow as a person and learn new abilities and improve my knowledge.

Maybe, just maybe, I will fin my purpose here.

Watching the Cartoons I Missed As a Kid

When I was still a child, we didn't have television because my parents wants us to concentrate on our studies and when they finally bought a television, they didn't buy an antenna. So basically, we only turned on our television during Saturdays if ever there is a VHS movie available which was very rare because we were one of the few individuals who bought a VHS player when everybody else was still in Betamax format.

As a kid, I would run to my neighbors house just to watch television shows from one channel especially the cartoons but oftentimes I would miss them because I was tasked to watch over our little "sari-sari" store. I missed watching He-Man, She-Ra, G.I. Joe, Tom & Jerry, Looney Tunes and other cartoons during my childhood.

Nowadays, I like to find those cartoons that I grew up with and watch them again. It brings back memories of carefree childhood where cartoons have simple stories that could readily be understood. The prevalent cartoons today especially the anime are not good for kids growing up because they deal with such complex and oftentimes mature subject not suitable for a child's development.

Don't get me wrong, I love anime and I collect some of them especially the complex and philosophically-themed animation like Ghost in the Shell. Most of the cartoons today have their own toyline that is focused on what used to be simple toys like the yo-yo, marbles and "top".

Recently, I just found copies of the G.I. Joe series and my brother bought the complete original Tom and Jerry episodes (the one where both Tom & Jerry don't talk). I have seen the He-Man series but it was not the one I was looking for, it was the updated version. Hope to find copies of the original He-Man and She-Ra series.

Back from the Expedition

I just arrived late this afternoon. We went for an expedition in some far flung areas in our city to discover new sites and destination that would be made into future destination for adventurers and nature lovers alike.

First, we climbed a mountain to reach the observation point for the Philippine Eagle. It took me about one and a half hour to get there. I almost quit because my legs can't take any more punishment from the uphill climb. Basically, I was not fit enough to climb that mountain but I was glad to reach the top. It was a case off mind over matter for me.

The view from the top was breathtaking even though we haven't caught a glimpse of the eagle. The trees that we view from the observation point were amazing. Tall trees that is not commonly seen by a urban dweller like me. Maybe some of those trees are over a hundred years old.

The next day, we explored an island and again climb to the top of it. My feet still tired from the climb a day before and my thigh beginning to ache, I climb with all the strength left in my feet. Even though it was just a small hill to climb, it was quite steep and has has no clear trail to follow. We had to climb a through slippery rocks, loose gravel and itchy grasses just to reach the top. I slipped a couple of times and was really afraid that I might fall to the rocks below. So, I did some unconventional way of climbing, I crawled through the rocks just to prevent myself from slipping.

The view from above was breathtaking although very dangerous because it was a cliff that went straight down to the sea. It looks like half of the island collapsed. When we down, I was told that they encountered a snake on top which made me more frightened. I was just glad that they didn't tell me that when I was headed to the top because it will just add to the fright I was feeling.

The trip was a wonderful adventure, especially for me who is not what you call a nature lover or an adventurer. It was wonderful to see nature for what it is and not as man wanted it to be.

I await the next adventure.

Private Conscience

I think that when statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties, they lead their country by a short route to chaos.
from"A Man for All Season"

I am watching once again the 1966 movie of Fred Zinneman about the Life of Sir Thomas More entitled " A Man for All Seasons". It a wonderful movie about standing one's group over an issue even at such insurmountable odds and dire consequences.

Most of us know that Thomas More has already been declared a saint by the Catholic Church and rightly so. What is wonderful about the movie is the fact that it didn't present it is the view of his saintliness by his humanity. The dialogue is much more of a courtroom drama rather than drama.

The quote above is something to ponder about because it creates a debate on which is to be followed when holding office, is it your own conscience or is it your duty as a civil servant. With the separation of church and state, we sometimes encounter laws that must be implemented but is not morally sound based on our beliefs.

Which would you follow? I have my own convictions about it and that's a blog for another day.

Sleep Mode at Work

It is Monday and for almost the whole day, it was raining. However, in the afternoon, there was heavy downpour and immediately the lights went out. For almost 4 hours, there was no electricity in the office.

What was I to do ion such a situation?

Well, most body started its sleep mode. The cool breeze was enough to entice me to sleep and the absence of electricity makes me want to go home and lie down in bed. The problem was that it was still one in the afternoon but may body was already in sleep mode. It was quite embarrassing to take naps in the middle of briefing and meetings when you superior is in front on you. It happened for most of the afternoon. I thought that maybe the loss of electricity would lessen the workload but my superior was still in his usual busy self going to other offices that were partially illuminated compared to our office. It was almost pitch black in our office because we have no windows.

Often work, I immediately went home and slept. Awoken only in time for dinner.

This weather is usually bad but if this happens on weekends, I would have loved to slept through it.

New Cellphone

I have just received my new cellphone. As with all postpaid accounts, every two years one gets a new cellphone. Although I'm in tune with the latest technology and gadgets, I am not a techie. People who just by the latest models of anything revolving around technology & gadgets. I see some who just have them for bragging rights. For them to say that they have the latest even though some of them don't know that much about the thing that they have. There are some who keeps looking for new applications and features in their cellphones even though they wouldn't use it that much. Although some people are excited about watching TV shows or videos in their cellphones, I am not one of them. It only stains my eyes and let's be frank about it, would you really want to watch something in those tiny screen in your cellphones. Come on, we are buying or dreaming of buying the latest plasma or wide screen television sets and yet some are ecstatic that their cellphones have TV capabilities. If ever these phone manufacturers invent a cellphone that projects video or images towards any surface, much like the projectors, then I would be one of the many people who buy them.

I'm pleased with my new cellphone because it has some features that I was looking for. One of the obstacles that I'll be facing now is to teach my fingers again on the operations of the new cellphone. My fingers almost had a cramp when I used it earlier to type in again my contacts. I have gotten so attuned with my old cellphone that I can even text without watching the screen. Old models have little fuzz regarding its use but the newer models and modeled upon personal computers which means that we get features that we wouldn't even use during the cellphone's life span.

I just think that technology should help make our lives easier and not complicate it further with details that we shouldn't be thinking about in the first place.

Movie : Ghost Town

I've just finished watching the movie Ghost Town, starring Ricky Gervais, Greg Kinnear & Tea Leoni and found it quite remarkable. It's a comedy with clever jokes and a wonderful storyline featuring a different take on the idea of a ghost's "unfinished business". However, in this movie, we find out that it is not ghosts who have "unfinished businesses" but the people they left behind. Sort of the "letting go" idea.

I like the part of the movie where Gervais' character found out that she was in love with the woman that she haven't noticed before even though they lived in the same apartment building. It's that sort of realization that strikes me because I can actually happen in life. Maybe, I'm sentimental about that kind of idea but it was wonderful presented in the movie that it didn't seem like a cliche.

The best quote in the movie, for me, was said by Tea Leoni's character, "We just get the one life, you know. Just one. You can't live someone else's or think it's more important just because it's more dramatic. What happens matters. May be only to us, but it matters." Oftentimes, we are victims of envy of other people's lives because they have more drama in them while we think that we live in a boring life just because there's not that many fireworks in our daily living. This explains why people love watching telenovelas. They like exploring the twists and turns of the characters in the series.

Also, listen to the soundtrack of the movie because it features many wonderful songs.

How Would I?

I'm in love with a woman that's different from me. Different traits, different values, different likes & dislikes. But does that matter at all. Being me, I will always consider all angles. Some aspects would matter while some don't. Well, the heart must follow what it wants and maybe the mind will understand tomorrow. i don't know how this will end because it hasn't started yet. I have to let her know whatever her reaction would be.

Would I only use the window of opportunity that she'll give me to tell her or would I make my own opportunity?

It's tough for me because I am at a loss on how it should be done. Is there a proper way? Would I just wait for her to show me signs that she's already ready? It's already months since I tried to ask her out but there is no clear reply.

Where should I tell her? The problem with is that I can tell that to her anywhere she is. There's no problem for me. But is there a proper venue for it.

It's hard to court someone you're not familiar with even if you're known them for a very long time.

Well, I have to find out how and very soon.

Waiting is the hardest part.

Finished with " Benjamin Button"

I have just finished watching the movie "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". It was a wonderful movie. I now understand why it was nominated for a "Best Motion Picture" award at the recently concluded Oscar awards. The movie is told in a narrative by the protagonist Benjamin Button.

This is the type of movie that I like watching. It's thorough in telling the story just like some of my favorite movies, "Out of Africa" and "The English Patient". It's a movie full of inspirational messages that talks about life in general.

Some of readers of this blogger have inquired if what i think of this movie. I have to say that it is wonderfully made with great casts but not recommended for everyone. I say that it's not for everyone because it is quite a long movie with a sad undertone. This is not a feel-good movie even though it has many moral lessons" scattered throughout the movie. This movie is sort of a tragedy were both the protagonists die in the end but in a different way. One die of old age while the other one died the opposite way, just as he was before he was born. But for people who wanted to watch a movie with great storytelling, this one is a must-see.

Here are some wonderful lines from the movie:

• Your life is defined by its opportunities... even the ones you miss.

• For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.

• You can be as mad as a mad dog at the way things went. You could swear, curse the fates, but when it comes to the end, you have to let go.

• It's a funny thing about comin' home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You'll realize what's changed is you.