Respite

Now that my subjects in Journalism are all majors (and one elective), my drive to write creatively and professionally has increased again. It’s the thought of managing a blog that’s dragging me down.

Frankly I’m finding it quite pointless to even manage one in the first place. Why should anyone give a damn if I slept for sixteen hours and woke up at 2am, had herpes and got dumped by my bueno-para-nada boyfriend? Well, at least why bother keep a personal blog and broadcast to the world of your personal life for perfect strangers to read?

Everytime I have the drive to start a new “professional” blog to have a theme of its own (e.g. cars, music, Hollywood, videogames, sex positions, et cetera), they always end up being personal blogs and contain about some tidbits of my life. Of course I wouldn’t make an emo out of myself and whine about the world being a big scary place.

Then again here’s this blog I found dedicated to bashing Crocs; that absurd and “the most unstylish footwear I’ve ever seen,” says a friend. I may not take these alien-looking slippers fancy but of course I’d definitely not waste time, emotions and web space to advertise its absurdity.

To each his own then.

Passed and P.S.

We may not have passed with flying colors but Communication Research is no longer a problem. We braved through the stomach-twisting mock defense. The worst part was when none of the four of us could answer Sir Henson’s question on why we didn’t provide an alternate research problem. He already made corrections just on the title itself! But at least we passed with a score of 7/10…

Postscript: Remember the prick I talked about a few entries earlier? Well I bumped into him again and as usual asked for my notes in Economics. Since I wouldn’t write another entry about it, I’ll cut the story short. I told him straight to his face that…

“You’re not the only one who needs to study for Economics, I need my notebook and why don’t you borrow from someone else for a change? And I don’t like the hassle of lending things to people.”

Damn. Many people are like that. They only approach you if they need or want something from you. Afterwards they forget that you’ve done them a favor shoo you into the sidelines.

Then again it felt good to be frank for a change. At least now he knows the truth by being stabbed in the front.

You are The Sun

Happiness, Content, Joy.

The meanings for the Sun are fairly simple and consistent.

Young, healthy, new, fresh. The brain is working, things that were muddled come clear, everything falls into place, and everything seems to go your way.

The Sun is ruled by the Sun, of course. This is the light that comes after the long dark night, Apollo to the Moon’s Diana. A positive card, it promises you your day in the sun. Glory, gain, triumph, pleasure, truth, success. As the moon symbolized inspiration from the unconscious, from dreams, this card symbolizes discoveries made fully consciousness and wide awake. You have an understanding and enjoyment of science and math, beautifully constructed music, carefully reasoned philosophy. It is a card of intellect, clarity of mind, and feelings of youthful energy.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Bummed Blogging

All the tension in the world today
All the little girls fillin’ up the world today
When the good comes to bad
The bad comes to good
But I’m-a live my life like I should
-Limp Bizkit, “Take a Look Around” [Chocolate Starfish...]

For the first time in a while, blogging has been an alternative source of therapy. It feels good just to sit here and open a vein, then watch your words materialize in a cyberpage with all those funky designs and multicolor layouts. Not to mention the tinkering links at your sidebar where they can take you to broader places.

Thanks to the article entitled 7 Reasons the 21st Century is Making You Miserable from CRACKED.com, I’ve had another transpiration on blogging and the Internet as a whole. Instead of copy-pasting that paragraph, why not just click over there, give the author proper credit and have a good read? It might even change your cyber-thoughts.

I personally don’t bother with how many hits, comments or RSS Feeds I receive. After all what good will it do to me? And I’m starting not to see why a number of strangers flooding into your blog should be of such bliss. I can’t just hand in a resumé with “Owner of Award-Winning Blog” under skills and achievements. I don’t even know if having blocked 10,000 spam comments is something to be proud of.

I just don’t understand why so many bloggers turn a blind eye to that. They worry so much about raking in the most traffic when most of them don’t even make money out of it. This is the so-called “Outrage Machine,” alright. Instead of explaining it here, just click on the referred article above.

Snap Collapse

Adventure is my middle name.
-Hiro, Lunar 2: Eternal Blue

Although I’d rather be lazing off on a Saturday, I took the only moment to finally get on with my photo essay. It’s my ticket to passing Photojournalism overall. I wouldn’t want to waste three units worth of tuition, almost P3,000 worth of photolab fee, a Canon AE-1 and dozens of rolls of film just to flunk the legendary Photojournalism and Event Coverage subject. It’s the first “big” major I’ve “advanced” to.

Then again I still haven’t taken Biological Science, Basic IT and World Literature yet. Should have been done with those last semester had only I not underloaded. Oh well, at least I’m likely to graduate on time compared to those bums and slackers.

So I left for Intramuros despite the inconsiderate rain. I had a pretty uncomfortable time in the bus. Just why does the stupid conductor have to squeeze passengers through like a can of sardines? Money matters, of course. Good thing one male passenger was chivalrous enough to offer me his seat. Turns out he just wanted to watch the TV blocked by the standing passengers. No complaints there!

Time to map out the photo flatplan! I circumnavigated the walls of Intramuros alone and on foot. Subjects taken in order are:

1. Tower of Lyceum
2. Golf course with Manila City Hall amidst the background
3. Lamp post head from atop the walls
4. Mapua Institute of Technology front gate
5. One of the cannon replicas scattered across the walls
6. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila)
7. La Fondacion
8. Dome ruin near La Fondacion
9. Bronze statue of 19th century foot soldier
10. Manila Cathedral facade

I just pray I had the correct guesstimations of aperture and shutter speed. That’s the one thing I hate about film. Once you click, you can’t undo the trick. Hey, that rhymes! For the last time we’re required to use black and white film.

My last roll contained plates depicting squatters. My photo essay will be about Intramuros being a tourist paradise and at the same time a hellhole of hounds. Intramuros is only grand on the outside. But once you explore the interiors, expect to be greeted by eye sores of buildings and a stampede of smelly street kids begging you for money. Am I sounding harsh?

Kuya Wine commented that Intramuros seemed to be my favorite place. Naturally. I go there everyday to attend school plus I like the sceneries. Miraculously I haven’t been victimized by a flying golf ball yet. I know the periphery like the back of my hand. Also it’s where Carlo and I used to “get busy” in our early days thanks to the many nooks and crannies.

EDIT 10/10/2007: It may not be part of the photo essay but I brought my Kodak EasyShare C530 with me just in case! I had nothing better to do during my rest and thought I’d capture this!

After a diligent day devoted to final exams, I decided I deserve a treat at McDonald’s. I had my usual order of No. 6: Cheeseburger meal with orange juice and regular fries. Goodness knows I’m not a sodaholic. And a little food trivia: One order of regular fries contains more cholesterol than a Big Mac. Of course I’m concerned about my health too.

And oh yes. I just bought an English-Chinese dictionary (‘coz I already have a Chinese-English) and a new novel: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.

Since I’ve read all seven Harry Potter books and completed all of Paulo Coelho’s novels, time to start on a new reading obsession. I’ve read Neil Gaiman specializes in adult fantasy. Once I’m done with that, I think I’ll save up for American Gods next. Stardust has good reviews too though as well as Coraline. Anansi Boys didn’t live up to expectations though.

Postscript: Once again I was mistaken a Korean. The poor bloke of a Calesa driver even bothered to follow me while I was walking my way to Manila Cathedral, camera hanging around my neck.

“Miss, calesa?”
I shook my head, obviously saying “No.”
“Miss, calesa?”
Again, I shook my head, further indicating I was already irritated.
“Yu want rayd hors, miss?”
I got fed up and doubled my walking speed.

The fact that he had to speak to me in twisted English with a thick accent both amused and annoyed me. He must be so desperate to follow me with his dingy carriage and assuming me to be a clueless Korean tourist.

Prick-a-Prat

Yeah, I suffocate quick
Does that make me a bitch?
I don’t really care, no
-Sweetbox, “Don’t Push Me”

Just why are some people such gits? I’m referring to those who come running to you only when they need or want something from you. If only I can find a direct English translation for the Tagalog word “Namimihasa.” They’re pushing me to punching someone on the face. Come to think of it, it’s been six years since my last victim. About time I look for a new target practice.

Just this afternoon before entering school to attend Statistics, a classmate stopped me and asked for my notes in Economics. I told him I can’t since I write all my notes in one notebook which I’ll use later in my class. The prick didn’t seem to understand me and persisted. I held my temper and further explained that I was fifteen minutes late and that I needed my notebook. Before he said another word, I turned around and walked away.

Mga ‘di talaga marunong umintindi. Of course I wouldn’t let his idiocy ruin my day and attended classes like usual. Dismissal came and as I walked towards the bus stops, I unluckily came across the git again. Once again he begged for my notes in Economics since we’ll be having a quiz tomorrow. Again I explained like a corrupted mp3 file (since broken record is a term your granny will use) that I needed my notebook. He compromised that he’ll return it to me tomorrow before Economics. At long last I finally yelled, “I need my notebook too! You’re not the only one who needs to study for Economics tomorrow!”

What a schmendrick. Didn’t it even cross his mind that the person he’ll be borrowing from will also need her notes? Didn’t he even realize that I’m more concerned about my grades than his? Just why do some pricks have that self-centered mentality? They seem to think they can just easily borrow stuff from you like that, in my case my notebook which contains my salvation to passing grades.

I’ve said it once, I’ve said it many times, and I’ll say it again. A friend in need is a friend indeed. And how I loathe fair-weather friends. I’m the type who keeps problems to one’s self. It’s not my idea to burden other people, even those whom I know are willing to help me, with my own problems. Except of course on special occasions.

Then again, dealing with people you can’t stand is a part of society after all.