Jimdandy

Blessed

2012-02-10T12:52:00.000+08:00

We have to thank God for the little things, pleasant surprises and blessings He constantly extends to us. I was spared from the smoke-up list in a subject, whose midterms exam really blew my mind away, by a hairline. I am saying this not to gloat but to celebrate the fact that even though I am admittedly remiss from my obligations as a Christian, God is continuously--no, daily--showing me that He is good. I am blessed. I am still His child.

QNBS: Sherlock

2012-02-01T15:01:00.000+08:00

As I mourn the end of Chuck and await my blockmate Jen to download the last five episodes of Season 5, I continue my Quest for the Next Best Series, still hoping to find a replacement for Chuck. Many series have been recommended but today, I will write about Sherlock.

The plot: You know Sherlock Holmes? That brilliant British detective with an equally brilliant doctor/friend/crime-solver partner named Dr. Watson? Yes? Good. Imagine them solving crimes in 21st century Britain. Got it? This show is pretty much similar to that...except that the writers/producers/actors/ director/s are doing one helluva job out-imagining your brain.

PROS:
1. It's British. It's a perfect example of how good the British are with everything they do. I thought Richard Ayoade's Moss is the closest thing I could get to a British Sheldon. But no, Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock is the ~~closest~~ best--thing I could get to a British Sheldon. He's a more athletic Sheldon (he could run really fast while thinking) with a British accent sans the receeding hairline.

Who could go wrong with a name like Cumberbatch?

2. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman do not disappoint. Their on-screen chemistry is perfect. To use a Pinoy analogy, they are like the platonic John Lloyd and Bea of British TV.

2. Great cinematography. When I watched the Sherlock movie starring Robert Downey Jr., I thought Guy Ritchie was being clever and unique in using the style he did (the quick changing of screens, flashbacks, etc). Apparently, after watching Sherlock. I realized that style is...common in Sherlock-themed movies. Or so I think. Anyway, the bottom line is, it's never boring. I imagine, one can watch the show on mute and still be entertained by the way it is filmed.

3. It is very exciting, very interesting. What amazes me most about this show is the way the plot unravels. The story is rarely linear, based on the two episodes I've watched so far, and for someone who has spent most of her free time watching a show that relies heavily on flashbacks, Sherlock will suit well.

4. Familiarity. I've said it before and I'll say it again, seeing familiar things in unfamiliar territory is ALWAYS comforting. Seeing a doctor with a limp, a geek/nerd/(insert other word for 'smart' here) mindfuck (sorry for the expression) the shit out of everyone else, and Arthur Philip Dent play an ex-army doctor comforted my scared self during the suspense-filled moments of the show.

5. Little things. I appreciate the music, the crisp editing, and even the on-screen text messages. Everything seems to be well-thought of and well-executed.

6. Again, like Suits, the first two episodes reveal enough for viewers to get interested and leave some things unresolved for viewers to look forward to, and get hooked because of. The Moriarty story line is enough for me to stay tuned. And yes, who wouldn't want to know more about Sherlock's brother Mycroft and...

The Girl Who's Always Texting

CONS:
1. It's about an 1 hour and 30 minutes long! Watching it is like watching a movie and for someone whose attention span is getting shorter and shorter, watching Sherlock entails commitment--in simplest, most mundane manifestation. I'm used to watching 20- to 25- minute shows. Fortunately, British TV show seasons run for about 6 episodes only, and Sherlock runs on half of that, or three episodes per season. Sherlock is like a never-ending movie saga.

2. It's too mind-consuming. After watching an episode, I felt the same way I did after I watched Inception: as if my head's going to burst with too many thoughts. There's too much thinking required, and too much is going-on. Yes, I do not intend to be dumb-ed out by the shows that I watch but it feels nice to watch things for the sake of watching. Despite its three-episode season, I cannot imagine myself doing a season-marathon of Sherlock.

3. It can get very dark. Because of the "darkness" of life in general or the seriousness of the world I live in (well, it is supposed to be serious), I see TV serieses and movies as a way to unwind, laugh or have an opportunity to, as I've said, not think at all. Sherlock can get funny but it's still dark-funny. That freaky cab driver in the pilot episode, "A Study in Pink", really...uh, freaked me out. Lesson learned: Beware of cab drivers.

4. I'm not a conservative when it comes to movies or TV serieses but I've always found comfort in the thought that although Chuck and the gang are fighting crime, and bringing down one bad guy after another, they do it with the least violence/killing they could use. The answer: Tranq guns. Sherlock, however, is the complete opposite. Dr. Watson shoots an old guy right in the chest in the first episode. Hello, real world.

In the real world, people get shot and die.

5. And since we're on violence... and manners... how could someone shout at an old lady?! Moreso the lovable Mrs Hudson? How?! Kids love and respect your grandparents... even if they turn out to be serial killers. Haha

6. If Sherlock is based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, which is also the basis for the Robert Downey movie, my question is: WHERE IS IRENE ADLER?! Or is that character particular to the movie adaptation only. Hmm. Where is the Sarah to Sherlock's Chuck? Ok fine, maybe that's stretching it too much. Let me rephrase: Where is the Sarah to Dr. Watson's Chuck?

7. Benedict Cumberbatch is oddly too white. Are they still doing auditions for the nth Twilight movie? Yeah I know, nitpicking.

Edward's long lost kuya? Pwede.

Sherlock looks promising. It was able to elicit enough reactions/opinions or intelligent comments from me in one episode compared to Bored to Death, Modern Family or Arrested Development combined. It came highly recommended and it did not disappoint, unlike the other shows that came before. If I have to rank it, it will certainly be on the top of my QNBS list. But I'm wary that it's too mind-consuming, too intellectually stimulating. I can now understand my blockmate when she said she thinks about Sherlock a lot. Maybe even more than law school. Cumberbatch overload, indeed.

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You may want to check other QNBS reviews:

QNBS: Suits
QNBS: Game of Thrones
QNBS: IT Crowd
QNBS: Rizzoli & Isles
QNBS: Community
QNBS: Outsourced
QNBS: Awkward
QNBS: New Girl

Lawyered!: Plain view doctrine and White Collar

2012-01-30T14:42:00.002+08:00

This series will cover topics involving the law, law school and everything in between told from the perspective of a frightened, enlightened, irritated, and engaged law student. :)

It has been a time-tested, experienced-based rule of the universe that whenever you keep doing something for a long time--say, two years--chances are you're going to get bored. Two things I've been doing for almost two years are: blogging and being in law school.

To counter the effects of the rule, I blog about the law and try to equate, parallel or analogize it with something I love, and write under the title: Lawyered!. Example: Right to travel and Lily of How I Met Your Mother, etc.

Recently, I've blogged less Lawyered! stuff and busied myself with reviews of TV serieses to find a replacement for Chuck, which has aired its final series-ending episode last January 27. So to dovetail Lawyered! and Quest for the Next Best Series, here I am, writing about White Collar and search warrants.

The thing that impresses me most about my Criminal Procedure professor is his passion for the law. It is shown through his superb lecturing and teaching skills and knowledge of the law. In class, we are amazed at how much he knows about CrimPro (he knows the cases by heart and can recite them, unlike some of the profs I've had before, haha) and how dedicated he is to learning more about it. He updates his knowlegde by reading on new cases and sharing new-learned info to us.

Anyway, we've been discussing search warrants for about two or three weeks now. In the US, search warrants are governed by Supreme Court decisions in Katz vs. United States, Terry vs. Ohio, State vs. Von Bulow etc. The general rule is: A search without warrant is illegal. But there are exceptions. One is the plain view doctrine as explained in Harris vs. United States (1968), Coolidge vs. New Hampshire (1971) and Arizona vs. Hicks (1987), as shown in the pilot episode of White Collar.

For the plain view doctine to apply, the following requisites must be present: (1) Lawful intrusion of the person/s doing the search into the private property being searched; (2) Inadvertent discovery of the items seized; and (3) Object seized is/appears to be a contraband or is evidence.

From 52:00 to the 54:56 mark of the White Collar Pilot episode, it is shown how a pursuit of a fugitive can justify the search of private property and seizure of obviously illegal items. The Dutchman, an art restorator suspected of forgering 1944 bonds, is caught at his warehouse printing tons of fake bonds when FBI agents barged in the said warehouse where a known fugitive named Neal Caffrey, who has GPS attached to his ankle, was tracked at.

Tim DeKay as Special Agent Peter Burke

Based on the requisites, there is a justified application of the plain view doctrine. Lawful intrusion: The FBI agents were there to catch a fugitive. Inadvertent discovery: No other act was done by the person/s doing the search in order to find out that the materials/items were being used to commit a forgery. They came in and saw them in the act of printing and/or trying to hide the said items. Apparently contraband/evidence: Printing high-definition copies of a 1944 rare bond (although many was made, there is only one surviving copy) without authorization to do so is, rightly, a forgery and art theft in the US.

Honestly, I didn't see the search warrant part coming thirty minutes into the episode but I loved and appreciated the fact that it did fit perfectly into the story. I know this makes me sound conceited but I will say this: I liked the "Aha!" moment I had when the plain view doctrine was shown/mentioned. It makes me feel proud that I was able to find something law-related in an unexpected moment and understanding it. Goes to show how you go on to do one thing, and turn out finding/liking something else fascinating about it. Aside from providing a good illustration of the application of the doctrine, this certainly is a plus factor in White Collar's favor*.

Lawyered!

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*More on White Collar in a QNBS review coming soon.

You may want to read:

Lawyered: The Law-down
Lawyered: Do the Math
Lawyered: Top Reasons Why You Should Date a Law Student

Two-Second Moment

2012-01-28T15:32:00.003+08:00

It amazes me how, at a very precise two-second moment, we are given the opportunity to connect with someone we don't know and have just seen. This moment happens randomly. Maybe you're walking at the mall, crossing the street, dining with friends, browsing books, holding hands with your partner... It happens when you least expect it. You look at each other amidst a crowd people, or in spite of the great distance between you. Then, you smile at same precise moment that you're looking at each other. The look may be romantic or platonic but the connection is unmistakable. Because you don't know each other, and the current circumstance you're both in limit your actions, you break eye contact, and turn away, as if nothing happened. You're afraid to look again. To see if that person is still looking.

You chalk up this moment as one of your life's greatest mysteries. Who is this person? Why is he/she looking at me? Why are we looking at each other? Why did he/she smile? What is he/she thinking?

You will never know. Unless fate, destiny or luck gives you both another chance, another circumstance to connect...connect in a manner that matters.

I thought these moments happen only in the movies, books or TV serieses. Apparently they do happen to ordinary people.

Quest for the Next Best Series: Suits

2012-01-25T18:20:00.000+08:00

As I wait for January 27 (the airing of Chuck's last two episodes), I feel time is running out on me. I have reviewed a lot of series, hoping to find a replacement for Chuck but so far none has come out as the clear winner. So I continue my Quest for the Next Best Series. Many series have been recommended but today, I will write about Suits.

Plot: A twenty-something college dropout decides to stop getting stoned and taking tests for other people, and be responsible on his own by becoming the 'protege' of a thirty-something brilliant lawyer.

PROS:
1. It was recommended by one of my friends whose taste in books, movies and music I find really good, or is highly similar to mine. Props to Vizzie for suggesting that I try Suits.

2. Mike Ross reminds me a lot of Chuck Bartowski. Twenty-something loser who was kicked out of college because of cheating and has nothing to show for or be proud of in his life. Although Mike is not as endearlingly clumsly or nerdy as Chuck is, he still has that "loser" charm going for him. If you love underdogs or rags-to-riches stories, I think it's safe to say that Mike has, to say the least, a little bit of underdog quality in him. Mike's photographic memory, intelligence and ability to retain tons of information can be paralleled to Chuck's nerdy-ness when it comes to video games and technology. And of course, like Chuck, I expect Mike to get the girl...no matter how long the series writers decide it to be.

Rachel: Take notes I'm not going to repeat myself. Mike: I love you.

3. It's about law. Although I try not to do things related to law when I'm not studying, I'm surprised to find Suits really entertaining. I guess it's always okay to watch things you can relate to. Aside from Marshall from How I Met Your Mother and an occassional mention of issuance of warrants in Bones, Suits is the most law-related show I have watched so far.

4. The characters are interesting, and the actors playing them are very effective. Gabriel Macht as Harvey Specter is perfect. Harvey is like a better-dressed, less condescending but highly cunning Gregory House. Patrick J. Adams is a very believable Mike Ross. Their chemistry is commendable--from the usual sarcastic senior lawyer-junior lawyer banter to the "Because you're afraid you have to admit you're not as smart as you think you are." moments.

The supporting actors Rick Hoffman, Meghan Markle and Gina Torres are very strong in their portrayals of Louis Litt, Rachel Zane, and Jessica Pearson respectively. They provide the leads, and the show, the necessary back-up in case they fail to interest enough viewers. Sarah Rafferty as the strong-willed paralegal with her own office is H-O-T. She provides the necessary eye candy for the show. Hoffman as Louis is highly effective as that annoying villain/highly insecure other partner of the firm.

His face is really annoying. Perfect for a villain.

5. The first two episodes reveal enough detail about the characters for the viewers to get interested and yet they manage to make some stories open for clarification or exploration in succeeding episodes. Aside from the obvious Mike-Rachel relationship, I also expect to see the Harvey-Jessica dynamic expounded, albeit in a non-romantic manner (like, how they met, how Jessica helped Harvey etc), and I noticed how the writers laid down the foundation for a Mike-Trevor's girlfriend possible connection/conflict.

And of course, there's annoying Louis and the exploration of why he is how he is and the limit (or lack of limit) of the mean things he can do. I even found the secretary Donna Paulsen (played by Sarah Rafferty) promising.

CONS:
1. It sends (I assume) the wrong impression that you can be brilliantly good at being a lawyer without having a law degree. Yes, it may be possible but, as a law student who's trying to find reason and drive to continue learning about the law with the hopes of being a good lawyer, the show does not set a good example. It makes one doubt the necessity of undergoing the rigors of law school.

Oh, photographic memory: law school would have been a lot easier if I had you.

2. It reinforces the popular sentiment that lawyers are liars--very good ones at that.

3. I wish it was funnier. Yes, Louis is funny but he is such in a very annoying manner.

I admit, at this point, Suits looks promising. I can see myself regularly watching it and being entertained by it. But the question is, will it continue to have the "stick-by-it" factor Chuck and The Big Bang Theory have and How I Met Your Mother is slowly losing? I hope so.

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You may want to check other QNBS reviews:
QNBS: Game of Thrones
QNBS: IT Crowd
QNBS: Rizzoli & Isles
QNBS: Community
QNBS: Outsourced
QNBS: Awkward
QNBS: New Girl

On Joining Twitter-verse

2012-01-13T18:00:00.002+08:00

I welcomed 2012 with optimism and well, a lot of invitations to join Twitter. My apprehensions with joining Twitter started with news about celebrities being misquoted and mis-appreciated because of their tweets. Secondly, I refused to Twitter for fear of not having enough followers. Hello, it's a social networking site that capitalizes on--if not highlights--one's ability to convince people to follow them. It's harder than Facebook because one is measured by 140-character thoughts, which have to be not too personal yet endearing, witty, interesting, funny or...well, something that will elicit enough reaction for you to get re-tweeted. Thirdly, I refuse to join Twitter because I can't think of a catchy Twitter name. How can I keep up with witty names out there in Twitter-verse? I wish my name was Simon, so my Twitter name could be: simonsays, and I'll appear like the most -ass person on the planet for using that name.

So today, I write about all the Twitter names I can use when I decide to join.

joannfdm - The most bland name I could think of. Might as well not join Twitter kung ito lang gagamitin ko.

joannfrances - I used this for my Multiply account. Can be used for purposes of parallelism, or continuity.

mamajo - My high school nickname. I didn't like it but it stuck, and everyone from my batch called me mamajo.

maruyajunkie - I love maruya the same way a junkie loves/is attached to his drugs.

madtherung - My Game of Nerds username.

romancandlesacrossthenight - Being a big On the Road fan, I can't help but consider an On The Road reference. I think the name's too long.

counterculture or iamcounterculture- One of my best, most appreciated moment in 2011 was when a law blockmate described me as "counterculture" and that I reminded her of Juno's "angst in a positive way". I loved being counterculture.

malcolmhaller - Since we're on the topic of law school might as well think of one. I admit malcolmhaller is kind of lame.

frankyfranks - My friends Jan and Pau will be too happy if I used this.

sigangdominga - This will be fun to use if my close friend Alex will join Twitter as sigangsandejas.

jimdandy - It means, the best of its kind, and is the name of this blog.

jack'ssmirkingrevenge - A reference to Fight Club although I doubt it if this username is not yet taken.

richalvarezfangirl - The name speaks for itself.

batanesmeetstandanes - This list wouldn't be complete if I didn't use something Jen Tuazon-inspired.

ilovebenedictanderson - The name's very special. It stands for a lot of things I cherish but chose to forget. You may think you get what it means or what it refers to but believe me, you don't. I'm sure people will keep asking "who is benedict anderson?" or "why love him?" and I don't want to explain myself.

supersamplist - A cool name but highly inappropriate since I haven't used my supersampler in a looooong time. Also, once I use this, I am duty-bound to post a supersampler photo once in a while.

And there goes my list of possible Twitter names. Smart? Lame? I can do better? Tell me what you think.

QNBS: Game of Thrones

2012-01-06T17:43:00.004+08:00

PROS:

Referred by the Chuck Bartowski

CONS:

None so far.

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QNBS: Outsourced

QNBS: IT Crowd

QNBS: Rizzoli & Isles

QNBS: New Girl

QNBS: Community

QNBS: Awkward

An Open Letter to Rich Alvarez

2011-12-02T14:37:00.003+08:00

Dear Rich,

Hi there!

I'm Jo Ann Madarang, a twenty-two year old, and one of your biggest fans--figuratively and literally speaking. hahaha If you remember, I messaged you on Facebook a few months ago, and you replied.

Yes, I'm so nice. Haha.

Forgive me if I have to write again, and, this time, through a letter which is open for the whole world to see.

As a young grade six kid watching college basketball on Studio 23, I immediately developed a crush on you. Yes, you were my crush the moment I knew what crushes are. I liked you because you were a shy, unassuming, tall guy who plays tremendously good basketball. You never bragged about a shot nor trashed-talked with another player. You let Enrico did the trash-talking back in Ateneo, hehe. I loved how you simply smiled to acknowledge a good play.

To put it simply, at a very young age I developed an image of my ideal man, and it was you.

Last November 28, you got married to a stunning woman. Yes I do feel a pang of jealousy as you and Kyla lovingly stare into each other's eyes but this pang does not last long enough for me to be bitter. Instead, I am touched. I am touched as your and Kyla's love story got stronger just as many basketball player-TV celebrities' love stories and marriages crumbled. And because I think it is wrong ogle a married man, I changed my sidebar--from photos of Rich hugging a dog and a ball to his wedding photo.

Honestly, I got goosebumps just watching your wedding video--one of the best, most heart-warming wedding videos I've seen so far (as equally nice as Oyo Sotto and Tin Hermosa's). As my heart silently grieve for the unavailability of my ideal man, my eyes water at the sight of your amazing wedding photos.

photo from Nice Photography

Rich, thank you for being the person I look up to and idolize not only as my ideal man but also as an athlete. Your struggle, from your career and ACL injury to winning two Championships with the Talk N' Text Tropang Texters, sets a good example to athletes from all kinds of sports. Strive, play and pray hard and it will come.

Love, your biggest fan since Grade Six (hehe),
Jo Ann

Quest for the Next Best Series: The IT Crowd

2011-11-27T00:07:00.001+08:00

As I prepare myself to say goodbye to Chuck, which is on its fifth and final season, I also embark on my Quest for the Next Best Series to search for its replacement. Many series have been recommended but today I will write about The IT Crowd.

The plot: Two geek guys from the IT Department deals with their new boss, a blonde who knows nothing about computers but is a "people person". These three deal with the everyday rigors of living and working in a company's IT department--dealing with each other, the surroundings (which is an obvious fire hazard) and their quirky boss who looks like a crazy police officer.

PROS:
1. It is a 24-minute show. To accommodate my TV show de-stressing needs, my current time concerns and short attention span, the new show I will take on after Chuck must be limited. The IT Crowd's average 24 min. 30 sec episodes fits my time constraints very well. Also, since it is a British show, each season consists of around six to seven episodes. Now on its 4th season, The IT Crowd only has 24 episodes so far--equivalent only to one season of HIMYM.

2. It's a British sitcom, and I love all things British: Rowan Atkinson, Princess Diana, John Oliver in Community, the British accent.

3. Geeks are this millenium's jocks, and I admit I get easily drawn to (or maybe I identify with) geek/nerdy characters (see Chuck Bartowski, Sheldon, Leonard, Raj, Wolowitz). The IT Crowd is like the British The Big Bang Theory. The plot are a lot similar: Two geek guys meet this fairly hot blonde who knows nothing about what the geeks do, and loves only shoes. The blonde helps the geeks with their social lives and the geeks help the blonde...be funny, I guess.

Jen, Roy and Maurice

4. It's funny. The show mixes wittiness, sarcasm and a paler version of slapstick comedy. Caution: This show may not be funny for everyone. For one, I think my brothers will not find it as funny as much as HIMYM.

5. It's well-cast. Although I'm not familiar with the who's who of the British TV sitcom industry, I think Chris O'Dowd as Roy, Richard Ayoade as Maurice and Katherine Parkinson as Jen were nicely cast. Even Chris Morris' acting as Denholm Reynholm was excellent. I found his character really funny. A British-speaking, black version of Sheldon in Maurice is just amazing. I wonder if The IT Crowd and TBBT writers are open to doing a crossover featuring Sheldon (like when Abed [Danny Pudi] guest starred in Cougar Town).

6. In the few episodes I have watched I find the lines to be very clever.

"Hello, I was just wondering do you want me to connect up your phone?"
"No, no, no. It's working."
"But how??"

"I stole it."
"You stole it?"
"Yeah."
"But that's stealing!!!!"

"I can't go to prison, Roy! They'll rape the flip out of me!"

CONS:
1. The active/action/slapstick-like comedy is sometimes a bit too much. Roy's always falling down on the floor and is always bleeding (in the first two episodes Roy had a head wound and and a thigh wound), Jen's always doing facial contortions to show her delight, pain, panic or disbelief, and (insert Boss character's name here) always doing his weird gestures. Yes, the HIMYM gang may be a little physical as well (with all the slapping, costume-changing, and even whipping!) but The IT Crowd is nearly over the top for me.

Chris O'Dowd (Roy) and Katherine Parkinson (Jen) are (maybe)
going overboard with their acting.

2. The chemistry and comic timing is not as effective as HIMYM's and TBBT's. In a lot of scenes, I found it too obvious that everyone is just waiting for others to finish their spiels. It looks like everyone's making an effort to make the scenes as smooth as, and the jokes as quick as, possible. Maybe they'll be perfect by Season 4...or their 24th episode.

3. I don't see a central storyline. Moreover, I see a bleak future for the show, story-wise. The question we have to ask is: what more can you do with a plot as simple as this show's? The writers of The IT Crowd may try going TBBT way (have one of the geeks date the blonde, have them break up, be really good friends and then bring in new characters). But let us put in mind that Jen, Roy and Maurice doesn't have the emotional/romantic vibe to their relationship like what Leonard and Penny had from the very start. Maybe the writers can put it in but I think it will not be a good idea to do so. Also, the show's overall feel doesn't seem to be suitable for such emotional plots. Okay, the best thing that could happen is that three of them become good friends and be better socially adaptive individuals. That's it.

The IT Crowd is a very straight forward show. The writers don't mince their words, the actors give their all when acting out their roles, and the show is, basically, what you see is what you get. There are no hidden meanings, slowly developing storylines, plot twists or romantic subtexts to focus on. It simply is, and does not pretend to be more than, a sitcom. The IT Crowd is good to watch when you need to watch something for the sake of watching and laughing.

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Other QNBS reviews:
Outsourced
Awkward
Community
New Girl
Rizzoli & Isles

Quest for the Next Best Series: Rizzoli & Isles

2011-11-25T14:34:00.001+08:00

As I prepare myself to say goodbye to Chuck, which is on its fifth and final season, I also embark on my Quest for the Next Best Series. Many series have been recommended but today I will write about Rizzoli & Isles.

Plot: A homicide detective (Det. Jane Rizzoli) and a forensics expert (Dr. Maura Isles) work together to solve crimes while juggling personal (their respective colorful family) and professional issues.

I decided to watch the show's first three episodes to be able to come to a reasonable conclusion on whether or not to adopt this series as my replacement for Chuck when it ends. After I've read/Google-d that the show has quite a following in the gay community, I took time to read all available AfterEllen.com's Subtext Reviews, as they are called, on the show's 20-episode run (as of this writing).

The plot is a lot similar to Bones or any other detective/cop movie/TV show. The only difference, though, is that both leads are women and are not romantically linked or paired with each other--or at least the writers did not intend them to.

The popular support for a Rizzoli & Isles romantic pairing has spawned videos, picspams and even Subtext Reviews. These reviews focus on each episode's subtexts (the analogy, wordplay, body language between the actors, setting) that allude to Det. Rizzoli and Dr. Isles possible attraction to, or relationship with, each other. The gay community has been itching, in the show's two-season run, to see their two favorite leads to engage in an on-screen open relationship or, simply, they want more than TGTGT action! Despite this clamor, the writers and even the actresses have openly stated that the characters are not gay. I don't know how this clamor will affect the show's story and the actresses' portrayal in the future episodes but I'm sure that it does. TV shows are, mostly, concerned about viewership and ratings.

PROS:
1. Jane and Maura's chemistry. Angie Harmon (Jane) and Sasha Alexander (Maura), whether as friends or would-be lovers, have incredible chemistry. They seem as if they are long-time friends. For me, the only duo that has the same chemistry is Chuck and Morgan.

Photo from AfterEllen.com

2. Right amount of everything. To be fair, the Pilot episode contained the right elements enough for first-time viewers to look forward to the next episode. The Charles Hoyt story was mimical of most cop stories wherein the lead protagonist has this archenemy the lead cannot kill or defeat. Bones had Heather; Booth had that sniper; Rizzoli has Hoyt. The season finale of Season 1, wherein Jane shot through herself to shoot her hostage-taker, is just plain epic. Try to beat that, Seeley.

3. The show does not care. I liked Rizzoli & Isles because it simply does not care. It does not care that its two female lead characters have the dynamic of real-life partners yet remain friends, and that, because of this, the viewers are going bonkers. In the latter part of Season Two, one Subtext Review commented on the necessity of Subtext Reviews considering the obviousness of the whole Jane-and-Maura-love-each-other. No one from the show's writing team seemed to be in a hurry to expound on this apparent dynamic.

CONS:
1. Playing Spot-the-Subtext with myself. As I watched the second and third episodes, it became less about the story and more about spotting possible subtexts or hints. I was playing a game of Spot-the-Subtext with myself. I guess Sheldon was right when he pointed out how frustrating it is to come into something (ex: watching a new movie, listening to a new song, reading a new comic books) with your mind pre-blowed (aka someone tells you how mindblowing/great how a certain movie, song or comic books is). Once blown, the mind can never be un-blown.

2. I worry about the ending. Like most shows, I'm uneasy with the fact that the show may have no clear, definite ending. So what if Jane and Maura realize that what the people at Afterellen.com are pointing out to are true? What if they do become a couple? Then what? Will they live happily ever after? I doubt that.

Despite the US' claim that they are tolerant of colored people, gays and women, same sex relationships are still taboo for national TV programming--more so, during prime time. I think this view plays a big factor in the writers' reluctance to jump the gun and have Jane and Maura sleep together, or just even hint at becoming something else, something more.

3. I worry about the show's following. Yes, the show has a solid following in the gay community. What I'm worried about is when these fans get tired of following Jane and Maura around and interpreting their actions. Who will watch the show? But, then again, will the Subtext Reviewers and Readers ever get tired?

--------------------------------------
You may want to check other QNBS reviews:
QNBS: Community
QNBS: Outsourced
QNBS: Awkward
QNBS: New Girl

Getting Old, TV show-wise

2011-11-10T11:17:00.001+08:00

When our favorite TV shows get old, no matter how much we love them, we turn into exes with unresolved issues, friends who never stayed in touch, or neighbors who moved to some far away place without leaving a contact number...we just lose the connection.

Growing up I super loved Survivor for its challenges, trivia potential and cunning-ness. But as it moved to new locations, endless castaways and numerous twists, I never saw an end, and got tired. It's a good thing to never quit but it's better to quit while you're ahead or on top. One is only as good as his/her last performance. Survivor just became, for me, one of those reality shows of the early 2000s.

Bones got old for me because of two things: (1) It took six seasons for Bones and Booth to hook up and even when they did, it was hazy (I can just imagine how longer it would have taken for them to hook up if Emily Deschanel didn't get pregnant); (2) It keeps killing off/writing off my favorite characters. It was big enough blow that they kicked out Eric Millegan (who plays the ever-lovable Dr. Zack Addy) for being unprofessional but it was just...game changing to write off intern Vincent Nigel-Murray (played by Ryan Cartwright) as well. Watch out, Elon Gold.

Another show that grew old on me, so to speak, is House. My then-nursing student Ate convinced our family to do a House marathon of seasons 1 to 4. I stayed hook up to Season 6 but the never-ending, always-going-back-to-Dr.House-being-a-Vicodin-taking-jerk storyline just sucked the interest out of me. Jennifer Morrison (Dr. Cameron) leaving permanently, Lisa Edelstein (Dr. Cuddy) decision to leave to try out new things, and Olivia Wilde's (Dr. Hadley aka Thirteen) decision to focus on her movie career are manifestations of how the actors have realized the need to move on and the writers' refusing to do so. It's a good show but it's frustrating that writers don't realize when it's time to quit. Scrubs' writers nearly missed their cue when they tried to last longer than JD and Turk, and introduced a new batch of med students in Season 9.

I laud Chuck writers, producers, actors and even its TV network for deciding not to renew Chuck after Season 5 because, really, what do you do after Chuck Bartowski becomes a real spy and gets married to the love of his life? Is there more to tell? Yes, getting the Intersect out of his head, and being an agent on his own--which is what Season 5 is all about. It's not bad that Chuck is ending with bang (read: kick-ass episodes, stunts and special effects; wonderful set of guest stars), too.

It pains me to see that a show as good as House is slowly becoming that-show-that-got-old, and Bones is becoming just plain draggy. Goodbye, Thirteen. It was fun while it lasted.

Photo from afterellen.com

Lawyered: PGMA is Lily

2011-11-10T00:35:00.001+08:00

The "Lawyered!" series will cover topics involving the law, law school and everything in between told from the perspective of a frightened, enlightened, irritated, and engaged law student. :)

Fresh from my US case law-inspired Constitutional Law 2 class, from which I didn't finish on top of our class (yes, this gives you the right/basis to question/doubt my opinion), I re-visit my much-neglected blog series, Lawyered.

First, dear reader, I apologize for the one year hiatus of this blog series. Law school proved to be much more time-consuming and holistically demanding than I predicted it to be. In my first year, I incurred grades I have never gotten in my entire academic life and I had to focus on studying rather than blogging about studying. Anyway, this series is back...for now.

The topic: DOJ's ban on former Pres. GMA's travel abroad to seek medical attention

The simple, condensed facts: PGMA asked for a travel authority from the House of Representatives (note: as a Congresswoman, she needs to seek the approval of the House and the Speaker when leaving the country) due to health reasons, particularly to seek medical attention (biopsy) for her cervical spine infection. The House allowed her to leave but the DOJ, headed by Sec. Leila De Lima, has denied her request to be removed from the Watch List Order issued by the Secretary pursuant to Department Order No. 41. Now, PGMA seeks to nullify Department Order No. 41 which was issued on 7 June 2010--during her administration. Mainly, PGMA is arguing that the said Department Order curtails her constitutional right to travel based on Article III, Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution.

Photo from ellentordesillas.com

I have finished Constitutional Law 1 and 2. These subjects were taught in contrasting manners by different professors, who I shall not name, but whose techniques in teaching I will try to use here. Let's call these contrasting approaches as the Consti 1 - Legal approach and the Consti 2 - Political approach.

The Consti 1 - Legal Approach

Issue: W/N the DOJ's ban on former Pres. GMA's travel abroad to seek medical attention for her cervical spine condition is valid, considering the preliminary investigation on the electoral sabotage case against her and FG Mike Arroyo has started?

Answer: Yes because it is legally grounded on Department Order No. 18 issued on 23 April 2007 granting the DOJ Secretary the power to issue Watch List Orders prohibiting persons who have a preliminary investigation being done involving them or in cases when a Motion for Reconsideration is pending review before the DOJ including application for "Not The Same Person" (NTSP).

The Consti 2-Political Approach

Issue: W/N PGMA's constitutional right to travel (for "pressing" medical reasons) can be curtailed by the State's interest in national security or in protecting our justice system?

Answer: No because the constitutional right to travel is one of the fundamental rights granted by the Constitution, as evidenced by it being included in the Bill of Rights. As such, it must be protected with great scrutiny, and controversies must be settled in favor of upholding the said right. In this case, what is being balanced is a citizen's right to travel (and to obtain competent medical attention for her 'pressing' medical condition) and the State's interest in protecting our justice system.

The question is, Is the State's interest in protecting the integrity of our justice system far greater than an individual's right? No. There are other ways in which the integrity of the justice system can be protected and maintained without stepping on PGMA's right. It is wrong, at least for me, to say that: the greater good shall prevail over the interest of the few. Constitutional rights have never been, in the few cases I've read and we've discussed in class, about "majority wins". It's about protecting the interest of the minority, of the individual. This is democracy in its most fundamental level.

To help you understand this, and just to keep the How I Met Your Mother parallelism going, let me illustrate the importance democracy gives to individual liberty by using a scene from The Rough Patch (Episode 7 Season 5). Marshall and Ted are trying to convince Lily to break Robin and Barney up because their relationship is killing them.

Marshall: You've got to break them up. This relationship is killing them.

Lily: I know it is but I've learned my lesson: no more interfering; let things run their course.

Ted: It's two to one.

Lily: Yes, but the one is me.

Imagine that everyone else is Marshall and Ted, the majority, and PGMA is Lily--the individual, the minority. Even if Lily's alone she matters. I believe, no matter how crappy PGMA is as a person, she still has the right to travel whenever she pleases especially in cases when her health so demands. If she chooses to obtain medical attention abroad, no one can/should be allowed to stop her. The decision on who and how one's medical complications will be treated should be decided by the person who needs it. Having the freedom to make a choice is very fundamental, and it lies at the core of each and every constitutional right granted to each citizen of the Philippines.

The ultimate choice of which approach will apply in this case is, again, at the hands of fifteen Supreme Court Justices--twelve of which was appointed by the petitioner. I disagree with what some are saying (that this is simply a legal issue) because choosing which approach to apply, whether the legal or political approach, is political in itself.

Lawyered!

-------------------------
You may want to check:

Lawyered: The Law-down
Lawyered: Do the Math
Lawyered: Top Reasons Why You Should Date a Law Student

Quick Change-Ups

2011-11-08T12:50:00.000+08:00

It's fascinating how actors/actresses/characters in a series are changed after an episode or two. Some of us don't even notice the change for:

(1) the change is made too soon in the season (like in the case of Gen. Beckman of Chuck...

(2) the change is made too far apart from the character's first appearance up to the next (Vimi in Outsourced)...

or (3) the change involves the 'token black guy' all together (Coach was changed to Winston in New Girl)...

In all these changes, I hated the change in New Girl the most. Coach was doing great as the 'token black guy' character and I found Winston's entrance unnecessary. But, as it turned out, the change was inevitable because Damon Wayans Jr.'s series Happy Endings was renewed.

In Gen. Beckman's and Vimi's cases, better--in performance and looks--actresses replaced the former. The new Gen. Beckman played by Bonita Friedericy proved to be homelier than the former played by Wendy Makkena. I couldn't have predicted how Makkena would have played the Gen. Beckman character but as far as Friedericy is concerned, she has done a very good job. The former Vimi proved to be too dull and plain looking compared to a ravishing(!) Noureen DeWulf. It is, however, doubtful if a guy who looks like Rajiv can land a woman as good looking as the "new" Vimi.

Well, that is what TV is for.

Barnman and Robin Picspam: 501 Definitions

2011-11-01T21:03:00.000+08:00

First, what is a picspam? There's no official definition so I constructed one, the Wittgenstein way. It is a series of screencaps of characters, usually pairings, in film or TV series scenes. It's a form of channeling ones obsession over these characters. Or so I think.

How I Met Your Mother is, obviously, my favorite TV series. I started watching it in 2008. I liked Ted but when the writers paired Barney and Robin in the Season 3 episode Sandcastles in the Sand, I had a Eureka!/why-not? moment. From that point on, I was on the Barney and Robin boat. Ted who?

In my frantic quest for all things Barney and Robin, I stumbled upon these picspams (with dialogues!) of the couple made by a blogger from Italy. She has made awesome picspams up to Season 4. For references, click below:

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4 (1/2)

Season 4 (2/2)

When she stopped making picspams for the couple in Season 5, I took it upon myself to continue the stalker-ish thing she started. I never expected how much hardwork and commitment making a picspam demands. But like any endeavor I commit myself to, I promised to continue the picspam-making up to Season 8, HIMYM's last confirmed season.

---------------------------------------------
It was tiring to make a picspam for Season 5 because 1/4 of the season was about Barney and Robin being in a relationship, and the 3/4 was about them struggling to be friends.

Season 5x01 Definitions

Barney: Yeah, Lily...
Robin: Barney's awesome.
Barney: Robin's more than just awesome. She's aw--quite a bit--hold on a lot--

Robin: We’re just not feeling it right now.


Robin: I should get going I have a date. Barney: You're still seeing that guy. Robin: Even better...seeing him naked.

Barney: The Talk sucks; you have to, like, talk.

Ted: I don't think that the talk is necessary.
Marshall: What?!
Ted: Because Robin is already his girlfriend.
Barney: What?!

Lily: Seriously, we're at the point of physical violence here. Now, will you please have the talk?
Barney: Because of that? Come on, that's my thing. I'm always punching guys. Girls. I'll punch a baby I don't care.

Marshall: Just hanging out.
Lily: Not good enough.
Marshall: NOT GOOD ENOUGH! (whips)

Robin: Think about it we spent the whole summer lying about being just friends.
Why not just keep lying?

Barney: She's awesome. Robin: He's awesome.
Robin: He looks nice in a suit. Barney: She can handle her scotch.
Robin: He's my boyfriend. Barney: She's my girlfriend.

Ted: You do realize they were lying, right.
Lily: No, Ted they don't realize they weren't lying.

Stay tuned for more.

Quest for the Next Best Series: Community

2011-10-31T04:18:00.000+08:00

As I get ready for Chuck's fifth and final season by re-watching every episode starting Season 1, I also embark on my Quest for the Next Best Series. Many series have been recommended but today I will write about Community.

Very condensed version of the plot: A lawyer who's license was suspended by the New York Bar until he gets a US college degree forms a Spanish class study group to sleep with the girl he likes. This unwilling group of people evolve into real friends as the series progresses.

Unlike Awkward, New Girl or Outsourced, I have watched two full 24-episode seasons of Community. In fact, I have watched four episodes of its third, newest season. It was aggressively recommended by two law blockmates, and watched by two others. All four's taste in films, TV and music more often than not coincide with mine, or whose choices/recommendations I later on like.

PROS:
1. Danny Pudi as Abed Nadir.

Abed in stop-motion animation

He's the token non-American supporting character (Ken Jeong's Senor Chang is the second.) but most of the time, he steals the show away from Joel McHale's lead character Jeffrey Winger. He's has Raj's weirdness, Barney's creativity, Zack Addy's and Thirteen's mystery, and Vincent Nigel-Murray's intelligence (of all things trivia). Add to these qualities, he has comic timing and charm (as shown in Intro to Political Science and For a Few Paintballs More).

Abed (channeling Hans Solo) and Annie share a kiss
that launched many fan videos on YouTube

2. Troy and Abed. Pudi's chemistry with Donald Glover's Troy is surely an unexpected but very much welcome development. It has generated a solid fan base (me included) starting from the Spanish rap they did at the end of Spanish 101.

Abed and Troy doing their epic Biblioteca rap

The show's recognition of this pair's tremendous chemistry was manifested by the end-credits stuff they did in most of Season 1's and partly of Season's 2 ending credits. My favorite was when Troy, Abed and Annie dressed like Jeff.

3. An episode lasts 20 minutes only. One thing I had to endure with Chuck, even if I love it, was that it lasts, on average, 40 minutes long. 20-minute shows (like The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother) are perfect for people with short-attention span like me.

4. It takes pop culture referencing to a higher (if not the highest) level. TBBT, HIMYM and Chuck only mentions pop culture references but Community lives it. Cougar Town, Doctor Who, Dungeons and Dragons, Pulp Fiction, My Dinner with Andre, Star Wars, Lost and so on. My favorite was when Abed thought everyone was stop-motion animated.

Abed finding out the meaning of Christmas in Lost

5. It has a strong cast of supporting characters, providing side stories to the study group's central/main story. The performances of Jim Rash (as Dean Pelton) and Ken Jeong (as Senor Chang) are laudable.

Black Ken Jeong is the funniest, creepiest thing I've seen on TV yet

6. John Oliver as Prof. Duncan. Just because I love British actors, no matter how sloppy their characters are.

Oh, how I wish the writers will try to pair him up with Britta.

CONS
1. I feel Shirley (played by Yvette Nicole Brown) is an unnecessary character. I initially felt Pierce (played by Chevy Chase) was unnecessary until I realized he's that character specifically written to be hated so that everyone else is loved. And since I loathe Pierce more than any clumsy/obnoxious protagonist in recent American sitcom/TV show history, I guess the writing and acting are good. But no matter how I look at it, I still consider the Shirley character dead weight. Yes, she does provide alternative POVs (as a mother, as a black woman, as a religious) but all of these can be provided by the other, more substantial characters.

2. I felt the Prof. Duncan character is not well-developed. But this observation might be clouded by the fact that I like his character, so we will consider this a half 'con' only.

2. I see the show going nowhere. Like any school-themed show, everyone will eventually graduate but with community college I have this feeling that the writers are not limited by this. The writers can make everyone stay at the community college longer than expected since, hey, no one's rushing to graduate anyway (maybe except for Jeff). Yes, there has been character development but the development is more backward-oriented rather than forward. Each detail added to a character's personality is a definition of who he/she is and not who he/she will be/wants to be. Yes, Abed wants to become a director but now what? Yes, from being a group of unwilling individuals brought together by Jeff's lust and their common cluelessness of Spanish, the group evolves/will evolve to a group of real friends...so?

I don't see a good end to this. Sometimes, the obvious pointlessness of an endeavor is enough to make me rethink of participating in it despite the promises and the good and fun things that may happen along the way. Yes, it's all about the journey but, for me, it's comforting to know everything/everyone will end up somewhere--wherever that end is.

3. Considering my effort and commitment to Community (three seasons in), I shouldn't be thinking twice about making Community the replacement for Chuck. But I am. And this, in itself, is something worth pondering on.

-------------------------
Other QNBS reviews here:
QNBS: New Girl
QNBS: Awkward
QNBS: Outsourced

New Season Hairstyles!

2011-10-30T23:17:00.002+08:00

Don't fret, my dear regular reader (yes, I hope there's at least one regular reader out there haha), this will not turn into a fashion blog like my blockmate Janica's site.

While I brush up on Chuck episodes, I noticed one thing my two favorites shows Chuck and How I Met Your Mother have in common: the lead actresses' new cropped hairstyles.

Robin's in HIMYM Season 7:

and

Sarah's in Chuck Season 5:

Both styles suit them perfectly. I guess Barney was right: New is always better.

Quest for the Next Best Series: Awkward

2011-10-25T18:39:00.001+08:00

2. It has a music guide! It flashes the title and artist of the song that is currently playing in the background. The music list is also available on the network's website. It saves us the hassle of Google-ing right after we hear a song we like in the background. For all its good music, How I Met Your Mother should make life easier for me and just have a music guide like this.

3. The ending is just...wow. You have to watch it to be amazed by its surprise factor. On second thought, I may have been too surprised by it because I skipped 9 episodes.

4. With lines like, "Her parents' are starting to think she's not Chinese!" who would not love that show? The Chinese, maybe.

CONS:
1. Rickards is too stunningly pretty to be cast as an awkward sophomore. I find it preposterous that her prettiness seemed to escape almost every person around her. Like with Lindsay Lohan in Mean Girls.

2. J-Town. Really?! This show should have the same douchebag jar as they have in New Girl.

3. Plot is too predictable...until the last moment in the ending.

4. I found Rickards' annoyingly too red lipstick by Episode 11 and 12 too distracting. Her make-up (or lack of it) in the first episode was better (DISCLAIMER: I am not an 'expert' on make-up so my judgment in this aspect should not be trusted.)

5. I realized that when you're in post-graduate studies you aren't as amused with teen-related films or TV shows as you were when you're in high school. What appeals to me now are shows about people with jobs. Just about any show, except Glee amd maybe Awkward, I watch now has featuries yuppies or the working class, in general.

Well, for a series produced by a 'music' network, what can one expect? I'm not undermining (maybe a little) the capacity of MTV to make great shows because I have yet to watch Jersey Shore or any TV series produced by MTV. But, for a TV network known for bringing great music and legitimizing veejay-ing as one of the coolest jobs ever, Awkward was a good enough effort.

Quest for the Next Best Series: Outsourced
Quest for the Next Best Series: New Girl

Quest for the Next Best Series: New Girl

2011-10-24T18:57:00.000+08:00

As I get ready for Chuck's fifth and final season which has been moved to a mid-season opening by re-watching every episode starting Season 1, I also embark on my Quest for the Next Best Series. Many series have been recommended but, today, I will write about New Girl.

Zooey Deschanel is enough reason for me to be interested in any TV show she stars in. And I'm guessing most American TV viewers share the same sentiment. The challenge, however, lies in keeping the TV viewers interested long enough for the network to extend the season to 22 episodes for its first season, or order for a second one.

The plot: Three guys (a black guy, 2 white guys) accept a recently cheated on girl (Jess, played by Deschanel) as their new housemate. This girl sings to herself, makes up songs for herself and watches Dirty Dancing when she's heartbroken. And, she's not drop-dead-sexy. But they take her in anyway because she can pay rent and has model friends (hello, Hannah Simone!).

Judging by the looks for the first episode one would know, or can reasonably infer, that one of the guys (if not, god forbid, all of them) will definitely fall in love for Jess. This is where the story will revolve around. My money's on Nick (Jack Johnson).

PRO
The first episode was okay...
CON
...but it had a commercial-movie-like feel to it. I felt the dialogues were narrating the story instead of the story unfolding by itself.

PRO
Zooey Deschanel...
CON
...but her Failure to Launch-like comedic-ness does not seem to work for me in New Girl. Maybe her brand of comedy is best served in small, regulated doses and not regular, daily servings.

PRO
The chemistry between the guys were ok. It felt as if they are friends. Coach (Damon Wayans Jr.) was the most promising because not much has been said about him in the first episode. Nick and Schmidt's stories' foundations seemed to be laid out pretty well.
CON
They changed the token black guy character just after one episode! They replaced him with (and no surprises here!) another black guy who looked like the average black guy. I haven't fully watched episode 2 but I took a peek and discovered that Coach, the most promising character from episode 1, was replaced! Too bad Wayans' other show, Happy Endings, was renewed for another season. There should be a Bring-Wayans-Back-to-New-Girl movement. Well, first, there has to be enough people who watch the show to care to bring back the chemistry that was in the pilot episode.

PRO (and this has no CON counterpart...)
One of the guys (or at least it is made to appear that one of them) reads Nelson DeMille like I do! I'm amazed at how a copy of Lion's Game lying inocuously behind Zooey Deschanel can catch my eye.

Little things like this, albeit of...well, little importance, can easily reel me back to a show the same way that a big character change (first, Bones, House, Glee and now New Girl) has made me let go of it. For all it's worth, and New Girl has to thank Nelson DeMille for this, I will give New Girl another try to make up for Damon Wayans' ouster, Zooey's mediocre antics and the show's fairly predictable storylines. If it fails to deliver up to Episode 5 I'd drop it.

My Quest for the Next Best Series continues.

Quest for the Next Best Series: Outsourced

Quest for the Next Best Series: Outsourced

2011-10-24T18:44:00.002+08:00

As I get ready for Chuck's fifth and final season which has been moved to a mid-season opening by re-watching every episode starting Season 1, I also embark on my Quest for the Next Best Series. Many series have been recommended but I will write about Outsourced first since it was first on my list of possible shows to follow next.

PROS:
1. It's about India...or a call center in India. The cultural references remind me of the stuff we learned or suppose to learn or were taught in undergrad.

2. Considering my cultural bias in favor of characters of Indian descent, it features a good deal of Indian actors/characters. This show made me realize how much I favor characters of Indian descent. It's like pro-Indian Nazism.

3. It's a bit racist...or, at best, it reinforces the current racial stereotypes. For me this is a plus because it shows what happens in real life: Americans will forever try to force their culture on everyone they meet and Indians will always be misunderstood or misrepresented as a BPO-friendly citizenry. It is in the racial slur (delivered perfectly by Diedrich Bader) that I find myself laughing hard to.

4. It's easy to watch, and is a welcome departure from the usual American-dominated TV series scene. Asha and Tonya (and the 'new' Vinmi) provides the token eye candy for males, and Manmeet and Todd for the females. Charlie, Madhuri and Gupta provide the occasional episode-filler storylines and jokes. Ranjit's story provides the right amount of laughter and drama and romance into the show.

CONS:
1. There is not much to expect. Todd tries to get by with his life in India as a manager of a call center that sells fake puke and the like. He experiences romantic conflicts with a modern-Indian woman named Asha and an Australian BPO manager named Tonya. The other characters are pretty much inserted into this main storyline to provide enough entertainment to stretch the whole thing to 22 episodes.

2. Not renewed for a second season. Enough said.

It bums me (and my college blockmates) out that the common/majority perception of the show (that it is boring, at best, or racist, at worst) has prevailed over ours, and has dictated, sadly, its existence. We liked it just because. The non-renewal pretty much seals the deal on this show not being the answer to my Quest for the Next Best Series.

Where are my fellow pro-Indian Nazism advocates when I need them? The Sad Answer: They're too busy doing their BPO-related tasks to watch or care about shows about Indians in BPO-related jobs.

Quest for the Next Best Series: New Girl

2011-10-23T03:17:00.001+08:00

As a rejoinder (oops, still hung over from finals week in law school) to The A. V. Club's Actors we hate in movies we love article, I post my own, one and only example....so far.

Will Ferrell (or his voice) in Megamind. I love animated films and I hate Will Ferrell. Ever since I saw him on Step Brothers, which is, by far, the worst film ever, my utter dislike for him did not wane. Talladega Nights can't erase the bad memory that is Step Brothers, which is even more distasteful than Funny People. Not seeing Will Ferrell's weird, not really funny face in Megamind I guess contributed to my appreciation of the film.

The day we were robbed

2011-10-19T13:32:00.002+08:00

I consider my relationship with Death as trivial, and our encounters were fleeting. I always make sweeping declarations that, Losing my mom is my greatest fear, and that I am thankful that no one close to me (or close enough that would merit tears) has died. My favorite aunt's, my lola's and my aunt's deaths have saddened me but I was either too young or not to close to them for their deaths to affect me profoundly.

Last year, through the Internet, I was able to follow the events of a person's death and the different reactions to it through Facebook. This guy and I had so many common friends that it was impossible for me to log in and not see a status update, a photo upload or a note written related to his demise. First, I was just curious. Then, as days went on, I find myself being interested in this guy's death--or, rather, how people cope/react to it. I was amazed at how one life could affect so many people. I admit, the drama of it all piqued my curiosity. I wished to experience that kind of profound loss.

Be careful for what you wish for because you might actually get it.

Today, I find out that my sister's boyfriend died. He's a 2nd Lieutenant for the Philippine Army fighting the insurgency in Mindanao. He was set to come home for a break this November. This December was his turn to be home for Christmas.

At first, thinking that my sister's boyfriend was only missing, I immediately texted my sister saying, 'Kamusta si _? Stay strong.' She replied with a simple, "Thanks jo," which was very uncharacteristic of her. I waited for a follow-up text. Soon it enough, it came, "Magpapatulong ako sa eulogy."

I was in utter disbelief. Yes, he was in a highly dangerous situation, but knowing my sister's boyfriend, my Kuya, I knew he was wais enough to outlast the 'war'. I offered a prayer and bit away the tears welling up inside me. I went back to reviewing, or tried to, for my final exams.

But I couldn't get it out of my system. I start reading then I'd remember the instances I was with him. All the ice cream he treated me and my sister to. All the siomais we ate during his birthday last year. All the jokes he said. All the encouragement he gave. I couldn't accept the fact that starting on the 19th of October I will never see Kuya alive, smiling. What pains me the most is that I will never see him with Ate living happily, making their own family. I will never see the two of them together, and their little chubby-cheeked kids.

Death is like a thief in the night. It robs you of the things you value in the quickest possible way, when you least expect it.

May all the people whose lives Kuya touched find solace and comfort in each other, and in the thought that he has lived his life the way he wanted, the way we all should. Passionately, dedicated.

Alanis, unexpectedly, provides me with musical solace at a moment like this.

You live you learn

You love you learn

You cry you learn

You lose you learn

You bleed you learn

You scream you learn

You grieve you learn

You choke you learn

You laugh you learn

You choose you learn

You pray you learn

You ask you learn

You live you learn

See related video here, here and here.

2011-10-11T17:10:00.000+08:00

Lord,

Thank you for my Rushmore.

Always and forever.

J.

.

That Thing Ted and Robin and Barney Do

2011-10-03T15:39:00.005+08:00

Although it's too early to write about How I Met Your Mother's Season 7 since we're just into three episodes, I'll go ahead and write about one of the series' best episodes to date--Episode 3, Ducky Tie. It was one of the best for it combines everything we loved about HIMYM into one amazing episode.

The jokes, the puns, the chemistry, the witty lines, the quick editing. Everything plus some.

Ted, Barney and Robin doing the that thing they do night in, night out

HIMYM's storyline is centered on one central premise: It is a story of how Ted met his children's mother. It is a story of friendship, love, and everything in between. And when things go way overboard (read: the Zoey storyline), the writers have this central premise to get back to. Episode 3 brought us back to Ted and his quest for the one who he becomes a "complete head over heels idiot for".

And who's the best person to bring us back to the central premise? Well, someone from the past: Victoria, who is one of the best--if not the best--ex-girlfriend of Ted yet. She's the perfect person to make us forget about the horror that is Stella and Zoey. She's nice, she's pretty (even more now), and she does make a lot of sense.

Ted and Victoria sharing a moment

Her speech about Ted (and Robin and Barney) not being able to work out relationships with other people in the past because of each other really did made sense. It drives home the point that Lily was telling Robin about in Episode 1, The Best Man. Deep down each of them hopes to end up with each other, albeit not being aware of it. This hope, whether seemingly baseless, false or nonsensical, is keeping them from making meaningful relationships with other people. Ted and Robin still has the 40 Pact which was recently mentioned in The Best Man. Barney and Robin still has the chemistry, one which, according to Lily, "never goes away".

Lily was right when she said, "Because deep down even if he isn't aware of it himself, Barney wants to be with you. And if it's not gonna happen he deserves to know." Ted and Robin deserved to know as well.

In order to enable each and every one of these three to move on and make meaningful relationships, each has to realize that they need to open up to persons other than each other. Try to make it work, and try wholeheartedly.

Ted subconsciously realized this when he decided to move in with Stella in New Jersey. When Stella left, Ted came running back to "this thing that you're all doing...you and Barney and Robin where the three of you hang out in the bar, night in night out, like you're all just buddies" that Victoria was so right in pointing out.
Robin realized this in Season 5 when she "left" the gang to try to be serious with Don in "Twin Beds". Unfortunately, Don turned out to be a complete douche, so Robin came rushing back to this thing. And from the looks of Season 7, Barney is realizing this subconsciously with Nora.

Ted, Robin and Barney's friendship, despite its many advantages and positive effects, is serving as a hindrance to their own realization of what they want out of life. And because of the tease Future Ted gave ("She was right. We just didn't know it yet."), I believe that in Season 7 they will all realize this and it will lead them to make life-changing decisions. We're sure that that Barney's decision will lead to a wedding. Now, what are Ted's and Robin's going to lead to? A renunciation of the 40 Pact? Maybe. I'm certainly betting my money on that.

---------------------------------------

Victoria's speech to Ted was so heartwarming that it deserves to be printed (and watched) in full. HIMYM is one of the very few seasons that can pull off something like that without being cheesy.

There is a reason that it didn't work out between you and me. But it's not Germany. And I'm willing to bet it's the same reason none of your other relationships in the last six years have lasted either. It's Robin... Yes, she is so much bigger in your world than you realize. And this thing that you're all doing. You and Barney and Robin, where the three of you hang out at the bar, night in night out, like you're all just buddies...that doesn't work. Trust me... I'm right about this. Goodbye, Ted.

Quintet 4: Radio

2011-09-10T14:39:00.001+08:00

Quintet is a (sometimes, monthly; sometimes, quarterly) music review of any five songs I happen to come across/stumble upon, or were recommended, any how, any time. Suggestions from readers are most welcome because music deserves to be shared. Let me be your convert or critic.

The meaning of radio, or what it signifies, has changed, and consequently mirrored a musical phase in my life. When I was young, the radio, or listening to it, meant entertainment. I would look forward not only to the songs but to the witty commercials and funny banter between radio djs. When my taste in music became, well, sophisticated, I viewed radio as the propagator of mainstream music... the destroyer of the inherent coolness of some musicians and their music. I revelled in the fact that I listened to Jason Mraz before he became really famous. I liked Tristan Prettyman, Cynthia Alexander, The Jerks and some other non-mainstream musicians. Since the radio wasn't playing the music I wanted, I became my own radio. I created my own playlist I felt empowered by having ultimate control on what I listen to. When I graduated from college, saw my college friends less, and had lesser time for music-finding, I relied on the radio, especially when I'm travelling to school, to work and back home.

This week, I rediscovered the freshness that radio offers. I revelled in the randomness of radio music. I welcomed the break from all the monotony it provided because, lately, my choice in music was greatly affected by law school. I had to choose music that was reading-friendly, since I hate reading in complete silence. Anything which wasn't, I readily dropped from my playlist.

Anyway, these are the songs I liked the best, or, at least, the ones I liked enough for me to remember it to be able to download it for this review.

Friday I'm in Love by The Cure
Don't you love it when you wake up and go to work/school and the song that plays on the radio perfectly captures your mood or changes your mood to the upbeat state you want to start your day with? You get that extra bounce in your step, a certain shine in your eyes, and a little twinkle in your smile. This is what I felt when I listened to Friday I'm in Love on a Friday on my way to work. It's just magic. I've listened to this song before--during my The Cure phase--but that particular Friday morning, it had more meaning, mas may dating, ika nga.
Verdict: Listening to this song on any other day of the week may make it lose its magic but nonetheless it's okay.
Side note: From Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist: Q: What's wrong with The Cure? A: What are they The Cure-ing?

German Girl by The Lotus Eaters
The beat, the singer's voice and over-all feel of the song makes me just want to listen to it repeatedly. It reminds me of the time I first listened to In The Beginning by K'naan. To be honest, I don't know what the song is about...but, hey, it's catchy---the right amount of catchy.
Verdict: It has that road-trip-music potential.

Tears for Fears - Sadly I couldn't remember lyrics nor the title of the Tears for Fears song that played after German Girl and Friday I'm in Love that fateful Friday morning. I guess German Girl and Friday I'm in Love were too great that it crowded out any remnant of the Tears for Fears song in my memory. At least, now, I have an idea that Tears for Fears might be worth the listen.

Just Say Yes by Snow Patrol
Upon listening to the first few seconds of the song I knew the band that played it. I was guessing between The Script, The Cure, Hall and Oates and Snow Patrol because they all sounded alike. Unlike German Girl, I liked Just Say Yes more for its lyrics than it's beat.
"...It's not a test nor a trick of the mind, only love...
...I can feel your heartbeat through my shirt..."
Verdict: With lyrics like these, who wouldn't want to jump in and try love?! Me. haha No, seriously, even its lyrics appealed to a romance-cynic like me. Good song.

This City by Patrick Stump ft. Lupe Fiasco
Upbeat + Catchy lyrics ("My city is a threat to the rest!") + loud = Guaranteed radio/air time
Plus, it's a good song to dance, sing and rap to, and for someone who memorized Linkin Park's In The End this is a big plus. I'm not usually into 'party' songs but any song that reminds me of my blockmates and the good times that is College is always a nice song.
Verdict: It's perfect for road trips or parties with friends.

Lastly, in choosing to listen to the radio, there is an element of gamble. One is not assured that he will listen to good music every time he turns on the radio. Some days are good; on most days, though, crappy music permeate the airwaves.

HIMYM Season 7 Scoop

2011-09-09T14:56:00.000+08:00

Judging my most recent blog posts, you would get the (correct) idea that I love How I Met Your Mother more than any TV show I follow. The hardest months for me, as a HIMYM fan, is, of course, during the months of June to August. I re-watch episodes from previous seasons just to get over the strong compulsion to see the HIMYM gang on screen.

Contrary to my predictions for Season 7 and 8, season 7, according to the scoop from Vlada Gelman of TV Line, is going to be a Robin Season. Spoilers say that Season 7 to Robin will be much like how Season 4 was to Barney plus, to make things doubly exciting, there's Nora and Kal Penn's character to confuse Barnman and Robin.

Despite the disappointing news that the wedding that Season 7's one-hour opening episode will feature is not Barney's wedding but Ted's high school best bud Punchy's, we are going to be treated to lots of Barney-Robin action--on the dance floor!

Can't wait for Season 7.

Season 6: Photo Summary Part 2

2011-05-31T14:34:00.001+08:00

HIMYM Season 6 Part 2

Because I can't get enough of the recently concluded Season 6 of How I Met Your Mother, and for those who want to know quickly what happened in the season, here is SEASON 6 in 40 screencaps. (Thank God for VLC's Snapshot option!)

I don't know if most of you have noticed but every episode of HIMYM features at least two story lines being tackled by the two groups. Most of the time, it's Marshall and Lily tackling one story line (usually baby-related) while Ted, Robin and Barney tackle another. Sometimes--but frequently used this season--an episode revolves around only one story.

Episode 13 Bad News

Main Story: Death of Marshall's dad
Sub-story: Barney's real doppelganger

Episode 14 Last Words

Marshall's last words to his dad leads the gang to reconnect with their dads.

Episode 15 Oh Honey

Story A: Ted hooks up with Zoey despite The Intervention.
Story B: Barney hooks up with Honey.

Episode 16 Desperation Day

Main story: Barney meets Nora, and she becomes Barney's first date on
Valentine's Day, courtesy of Robin.

Episode 17 Garbage Island

Making A Good Omelette
Story A: Marshall's environmental goals results to Meeker and Wendy's subsequent marriage
Story B: Robin convinces Barney to call Nora.
Sub-story: Zoey asks Ted to get her stuff at The Captain's house.

Episode 18 Change of Heart

The gang having their hearts checked.

Barney's Change of Heart:
Upper photos show what Barney think he COULD have done.
Lower photos show what Barney ACTUALLY did.

Episode 19 Legendaddy

Main story: Barney's dad, Jerome, teaching him how to use tools.

"A kid needs a hoop.":
Barney providing the hoop for Ted's future home.

Episode 20 Exploding Meatball Sub

Main story: Barney's plot to get back at Marshall using the Exploding Meatball Sub.
Robin is baffled at the reason why Barney is upset that Marshall left GNB.

Marshall's Graduation Goggles

Episode 21 Hopeless

"Never stop partying": Marshall and his dad go clubbing.

Barney handing out cue cards for the gang's 'characters'.

"Dad, we're also a band!" -Barney

Episode 22 Perfect Cocktail

Robin and Lily ply Marshall and Barney with drinks to mend their friendship.

The gang and their weird reactions to alcohol.

Episode 23 Landmarks

The Arcadian vs. The GNB
Zoey vs. Ted

Barney using his recently acquired tool-knowledge to good use.

Robin reading out Barney's These-Are-The-Last-Chicken-Wings-For-Tonight
message to Marshall, Lily and Ted

Episode 24 Challenge Accepted

Story A: Barney and Robin to Ted (and each other), "You don't rush back to the past because it is familiar."

Story C: Marshall and Lily deal with "food poisoning".

The end of one thing marks the beginning of another.

Can't wait for Season 7. :)

Season 6: Photo Summary Part 1

2011-05-30T21:33:00.004+08:00

HIMYM Season 6 Part 1

Because I can't get enough of the recently concluded Season 6 of How I Met Your Mother, and for those who haven't watched it wants to know quickly what happened in the season, here is SEASON 6 in 40 screencaps. (Thank God for VLC's Snapshot option!)

I don't know if most of you have noticed but every episode of HIMYM features at least two story lines being tackled by the two groups. Most of the time, it's Marshall and Lily tackling one story line (usually baby-related) while Ted, Robin and Barney tackle another. Sometimes--but frequently used this season--an episode revolves around only one story.

Episode 1 Big Days

Story A: Marshall and Lily deal with Marvin Eriksen's
extreme involvement in their baby-making efforts.

Story B: Ted and Barney talk about this girl (Read-a McGee, haha) at a bar,
and Robin shows them that she "still got it".

Episode 2 Cleaning House

Main story: Barney and his brother James meet James' real dad.
Barney admits that he knows Bob Barker is not his father.

Episode 3 Unfinished

Main story: Robin forgetting Don--eventually.

Episode 4 Subway Wars

Main story: Why everyone, except Barney, needed a win.

Barney letting Robin win by tackling Ted.

Episode 5 Architect of Destruction

Main story: Ted meets Zoey.

Episode 6 Baby Talk

Story A: Why Lily wants a girl.

Story A: Why Marshall wants a boy.

Sub-story: Barney telling Robin, "You're your own daddy."

Episode 7 Canning Randy

Main story: Randy and his Wharmpess Beer.
Sub-story: Robin and her Diaper ad.

Episode 8 Natural History

Story A: Ted, Zoey and The Captain
Story B: Marshall and Lily talk about his long-forgotten
dreams of saving the environment.

Story C: Barney and Robin playing around the museum
and finding out who is Barney's dad.

Episode 9 Glitter

Two beavers are better than one: Robin and her BFF Jessica Glitter.

Episode 10 Blitzgiving

Awww, man!: The gang spends Thanksgiving with Zoey and The Blitz.

Episode 11 Mermaid Theory

Robin tries to get close to Marshall but
Marshall's trying to keep her from turning into a mermaid.

Episode 12 False Positive

Main story: Lily and Marshall get a false positive in a pregnancy test,
and this freaks out everyone BUT Ted.
Sub-stories: Robin gets new job; asks Ted to be the Best Man at her wedding.
Barney's Favorite Things!

"High Six!"

2011-05-28T18:50:00.006+08:00

Ted and Barney doing the "high six!"

The hardest part of making a series like How I Met Your Mother work is: lengthening the story without dragging it. The continuity that the fans have loved about the show may also be its biggest obstacle. Many have said that the series' best season was the second (I beg to disagree, the fourth is my favorite) because it was as coherent and as connected to the storyline (narrating to the kids how Ted met their mother) as it can get. And, they say, that as it goes on, the show is becoming dragging.

With all these in mind, I expected Season 6 to be a mediocre season. I expected it to be a painful effort of the director/producers/writers of the show to make it longer and still try to fit it with the storyline. It may not be the best, but it has its good points. For all its faults and successes, I believe Season 6 is the most coherent, most independent season yet. One could watch the whole of Season 6 without being appraised of what happened in the earlier seasons and still get what is happening. I'm not saying it is detached from the rest of the show, what I'm saying is that it is coherent. It is a like an anthology with a very good "Introduction."

The first episode, Big Days is, for me, a preview of what will happen in the season. As the season unfolded, the issues tackled and mentioned in episode one was explained, expounded, clarified and discussed further. The main themes of Season 6 can be gleaned from this episode.

"Marshall Eriksen, Put a Baby in My Belly!"

Marshall and Lily horrified at
the thought of naming their baby wrong.

In the first episode, Marshall and Lily are trying to have a baby, with Marshall's father (Marvin Eriksen) being too involved in the process. This ticks off Lily but later on realizes that Marvin's enthusiasm is what Lily loved about Marshall. In the following episodes, the couple continue to try to be pregnant and tackle the issues related to having a baby like choosing a name (Baby Talk), planning the family finances (Natural History and Garbage Island), the possibility of being infertile (Bad News) and the effects of having a baby to the group's dynamics (Glitter). However, in the thirteenth episode, Bad News, the couple's baby-making efforts are put to a halt because of Marshall's father's death and his subsequent quest to save the planet (Exploding Meatball Sub). Finally, in Challenge Accepted, it is revealed that Marshall and Lily are pregnant.

Marshall getting advice from his Dad.

"Rent Crocodile Dundee 3"
The demise of Marshall's dad and best friend affected him deeply, and forced him to rethink his goals and priorities in life. The highly emotional Last Words is a heartfelt and all-natural episode that let the audience see the gang in their most serious and sincerest selves. No matter how fun the season is, this episode brought everyone (even the fans and the actors) back to earth. Indeed, real friendships experience real setbacks. Althroughout the season, we are 'treated' to a different side of Marshall--very different from the naughty, funny and sometimes naive Marshall we have come to love. I always thought Marshall was too good to be true (He was smart, funny, sweet and lovable) but this season he became a real person--He has fired an employee, Randy, (Canning Randy), caused Meeker to be fired (Garbage Island), became selfish (Desperation Day), ate "The Calzone" (Change of Heart), fought dirty against Barney (Perfect Cocktail), and refused to touch Lily when she was vomiting like a dinosaur (Challenge Accepted'). Season 6 is the season when Marshall matured. Who's next?

"The Captain!"

Ted and Zoey trying to make a good omelette.

Let's admit it, after Ted was left at the altar, he has mellowed--romantically speaking. But this season he got back on track and dated a married-but-later-on-divorced woman named Zoey. I did not like the insertion of Zoey into the show because I felt the writers were just dragging the story along. But later on I realized that after a setback, a romantic like Ted deserves to fall hopelessly in love, once again. Regardless that we all know that Zoey is not the "Mother" (hello, the kids are brunettes, how could they have a blond 'mother'?), I felt her character was needed to make Ted realize a very important point, lesson in life which is, "Sometimes things fall apart to make way for better things."

Barney and his dad, Jerome--the Legendaddy.

"Who's Your Daddy?"
As early as Big Days wherein Barney briefly mentions that if he had his father's number there will be no time when he's not on the phone with him, the audience are treated to a glimpse of what the season will be about for Barney. Much like Marshall's growth, Barney follows suit, albeit more slowly. Barney remains to be the fun-loving Barney we know, who accepts self-imposed challenges (Baby Talk, Natural History, Oh Honey and Exploding Meatball Sub), fights with his younger brother for attention (Legendaddy), fights with Marshall (Perfect Cocktail and Landmarks), fights with Ted over who gets to push the button to destroy The Arcadian (Challenge Accepted) and mounts the Lion of The Arcadian in his bedroom. But he manages to grow up by admitting that Bob Barker is not his father (Cleaning House), admitting to Robin that Jerome Whittaker is his father (Natural History), admitting to Honey that he is frustrated at his father's indifference to his letter (Oh Honey), giving Jerome a break by spending time with him and listening to his advice (Hopeless) and, finally, accepting the challenge of going out with Nora (Challenge Accepted).

"Finished with That"
Last season, we are led to believe that Don might be the guy for Robin. She even declined a well-respected job to be with him but, alas, he has left her and taken for himself the job Robin declined. In Big Days we saw Robin moping over Don through over-eating Cheetos and other greasy foods. In Unfinished we saw her drunk-dialling him. In Subway Wars we see her crying in the subway after seeing a picture of them together. Thankfully, Barney and Ted, and the rest of the gang, helped her get through. She has dated Max (Subway Wars) and Scooby (Change of Heart). She also has a potential love interest in her Secret Crush (Hopeless), and has chosen to disregard her feelings for Barney.

Sub-themes/clues:
"Scherbatsky, I'm Gonna Crush It"
Big Days treated us to a vision of Ted being a best man. Being the friendly guy Ted is, we think of possible weddings. The subsequent episodes in season led us to believe that it might be Ted's high school's friend Punchy's wedding. Then in False Positive we are again 'deceived' by the hint that Robin asked Ted to be his best man. Some say that it might be Ted's father's wedding or Cindy's wedding. But the season finale Challenge Accepted revealed that it was, in fact, Barney's wedding. What remains to be answered is this: Who is the woman Barney will be marrying? Is it Nora? Is it Robin?
I do believe that it will be Barney and Robin's wedding because for the writers to not do so will make me and a lot of fans of the Barnman and Robin extremely sad. What remains to be explained is the presence of the 'Mother' at the wedding Barney's wedding.

"Go Get Her"

Season 6's Big Reveal: Robin still has feelings for Barney.

After their break-up in season 5, Robin and Barney took a break from being good friends. Thanks to the arrival of Don Frank. Thankfully this season, the two got back on the friendship track by being each other's rah-rah boy/girl. When Robin was coping with her break-up with Don in Big Days it was Barney who taunted her to sundress up. When she had a bad time at work, he let him win in Subway Wars. When Ted was telling her that she was too much "in control", he told her that this was her best quality (Baby Talk). When she wanted to play around, he gamely agreed (Natural History). And finally, it was Barney who made the reunion between Robin and Jessica possible by showing the "Space Teens" video (Glitter).
Robin, for her part, did the best she could: She acted as a vital instrument in making Barney realize that he likes Nora (Desperation Day, Garbage Island) and should go for her (Challenge Accepted) despite her feelings for him.

A Wizard, A Coin-Flip Bimbo, and A Planet Saver
This season treated us to a lot of career choice storylines. Ted becomes more involved in architecture and teaching. Robin finally gives up her 4am news anchor job and the brief 'coin flipping bimbo' slot for a 'serious' job as a "lowly research assistant" at World Wide News (False Positive). Barney's job remains to be elusive yet stable, despite his near-termination (Landmarks). Lily remains to be a dedicated a school teacher. Finally, much have been devoted to Marshall's impending career choice between saving the world (joining the NRDC) and being a family man (remaning to earn big at GNB). He finally chooses the former and tries to make the ends meet, with Lily providing the much-needed help.

CONCLUSION
Although I do love the show with all my heart, I believe it is best to end it with Season 7, with Robin and Barney's wedding so as to make the show and the story come full circle. Despite the fun the show has brought, we all would want to know who the mother is eventually.

To extend it beyond season 7 is too much of a risk, considering how old the season is, and may get. Taking into account my mapping, it is logical to assume that Ted and the Mother will meet in 2011 or 2012. 2013 being the latest. But as we know, and as the writers have announced, How I Met Your Mother has been extended up to Season 8. I guess the sure-ness of when the end will be will make the writers' job easier in plotting the story lines and making a fitting ending, that is as coherent and as loyal to the previously mentioned details.

FEARLESS FORECAST

Season 6's BIGGEST reveal: Ted will meet
the Mother at Barney's wedding

Season 7 will most likely be Barney's (and most likely, Robin's) season. The Nora and the Secret Crush storylines will be explored in this season leading to Barney's and Robin's realization of who they love, and the maturization of this couple leading to a possible wedding.

Some say Barney might choose to marry Nora and then opt to be with Robin at the last minute (judging by his reluctance over his tie in Challenged Accepted). I think this will not happen because it would steal the attention away from Ted meeting the Mother, which is the point of all this anyway.

The ending will be much like this: Ted will meet two women who will possibly be "the Mother". As Season 7 and 8 go on, the likelihood of these two women becoming the Mother will be discussed and expounded on, building up to the Series Finale, wherein the Mother will be revealed as she appears with the kids and Ted in 2030.

Related Posts:
Season 6: Photo Summary Part 1
Season 6: Photo Summary Part 2

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Quintet 3: GLEE-king out

2011-05-26T15:46:00.001+08:00

Quintet is a monthly music review of any five songs I happen to come across/stumble upon, or were recommended, any how, any time. Suggestions from readers are most welcome because music deserves to be shared. Let me be your convert or critic.

I was a big fan of Glee during its season 1 run. My undergrad blockmate made being a fan of Glee easy. She would provide us with freshly downloaded episodes, recently released cover songs, and even coerced us into making the signature gLee sign.

But come Season 2, when I had too much TV series to be updated on and with no undergrad blockmate to make Glee-king out easy, I sort let Glee go. I periodically update myself on what's going on with the episodes but not actually watch the episodes. I thought it had evolved into something altogether unfamiliar and boring.

Somehow I got wind of how good the second season is (well, based on my limited sources like The AV Club and some Facebook friends) so I decided to Google which episodes rock the most--so as to not waste my time watching the mediocre mid-season episodes--and watch these.

One of the main story lines of Season 2 was the Santana-Brittany-Artie love story arc. And I thank the writers for this novel addition because it deepens the characters, and because the best songs of the season came from this story line.

Landslide by Gwyneth Paltrow (Ms Holly), Naya Rivera (Santana Lopez) and Heather Morris (Brittany Pears)
I'm surprised Gwyneth can sing really well. So as Heather Morris. But the biggest revelation of all was Naya Rivera. Yes, although she has sung particularly well in the past, I believe this was one of her best musical numbers to date.

Born This Way by the Glee cast
I believe this was one of the instances wherein the cover is much better than the original. The showmanship of the number (the dancing and the shirts) makes it really nice.

Songbird by Naya Rivera (Santana)
This is, by far, the most heartfelt song in the series. (I'm guessing a number of people have their own choices.)

Santana literally crying her heart out to Brittany:
"I love you, like never before"

Isn't She Lovely? by Kevin McHale (Artie Abrams)

I love listening to this song when Stevie Wonder sang it but when Artie sang it, I loved it to the point that I'm humming it in the elevator while doing office tasks. That's how catchy his version is.

I've said it before but I'll say it again, Brittany is the luckiest girl in the Glee world cast as of the moment. She both has a boy and a girl crushing on/loving her. Forget about Quinn, Rachel and Tina and their numerous boys. Santana is like Kurt (remember Mercedes and now, Blaine).

and the only non-Santana/Brittany/Artie story arc song that made the monthly cut....

Don't Stop by the Glee cast
A good recession-caused-depression reliever song. Period.

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The Coolest People on Earth Theory

2011-04-27T15:22:00.000+08:00

As a social student/graduate, I've heard time and again from my professors at UP Manila that: "ang teoryang walang praktika ay walang saysay" (English translation: theory without practice is useless). I do recognize the importance of theory in society and, to an extent, social control. But before theory is practiced, it has to be carefully thought out.

Like Barney Stinson who always comes up with theories, and Sheldon and the gang who're always talking about real scientific theories, I'll give theory-making a try.

Theory: Once you meet The Coolest People on Earth, which is, as you know, subjective, you'll always have the thought that, whatever you do with other people it wouldn't amount to the fun, the familiarity and the feel of being with The Coolest People on Earth. So, meeting The Coolest People on Earth is both good and bad; there's a sense of ambiguity--much like Schroedinger's Cat.*

Illustration: If you're a party person, imagine yourself let's say... partying with the The Coolest Person--like let's say Tim Yap or someone who you think is the coolest (take note: not just cool butcoolest)--and then the next night you party with someone else who's not The Coolest Person. You'll come in, thinking, "ah, this is not going to be as epic as last night's" because you've experienced what partying with The Coolest Person feels like. Get it?

Real-Life Example (aka my experience): Having met, liked, loved, hated, loved again, and traveled with my Undergrad friends/blockmates/"barkada" I know what being with The Coolest People on Earth feel like. No matter what I do, whoever I meet, I know that nothing will compare to the fun, familiarity and over-all good vibe-feeling I get when I'm with The Coolest People on Earth. That sometimes, since I know that nothing will ever compare to these people, I come in into a group, a friendship, comparing this new group to The Coolest People on Earth. Of course, the new group loses because of the memories, inside-jokes and experiences I've shared with former.

In a way, this hinders me to make an effort to be really close to these new set of people I'm with/exposed to. But to look at it from another view, it gives me some sort of perspective. Where to put things, what to prioritize. Yes, I recognize the fact that I do need to make the extra effort and try to get to know and enjoy these new people's company more/better. But I also know for a fact that it will always come back to The Coolest People on Earth, who not only saw and was with me during my best moments but also have seen and tolerated me at my worst.

Note: Each person may have a different set of The Coolest People on Earth. What I consider my Coolest maybe your Worst, or vice versa. But I guess that's the beauty of this concept. It's not encompassing, it's not true in all instances (one set of The Coolest People on Earth will not be such to each and every person on this planet) but you know it's true, it works.

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The Greatest Book Ever Written

2011-04-26T11:32:00.002+08:00

Books give me ideas. Ideas that are great; ideas that aren't; ideas that may seem crap to you but seem to be the smartest thing to me. This is why I read, voraciously.

I don't always take books, statements, lines, for what they are. I always, like nine out of eleven times, turn them into something that matters to ME. Sometimes, often times, the words, the statements, the lines would be entirely different from what it is originally used to mean. Talk about screwing communication, language.

But this is what works for me.

I've read the Catcher in the Rye, hoping to be have Aristotle's bathtub-Eureka moment I experienced when I read On the Road. But no, I didn't turn into a psychotic serial killer or a possible Pope assasinator. Having read Fight Club, and after taking in the nouvelle cuisine of anarchy that the book offered, I admit I thought of becoming Joe's Smirking Revenge but I remember the sense in life and the belief I have in life, in the world, in everyone. There lies in each soul a glimmer of hope, a tinge of goodness that is waiting to be ignited into one, big, warm ball of kindness that would light the almost-dying light in other people's soul. It's a never ending cycle that awaits to be started by one's glimmer of hope, tinge of goodness.

See how books stimulate me to think... To rediscover the ideas I thought I have lost or were covered by other seemingly important but are useless pieces of information pretending to be knowledge.

One of my greatest fears is that: if I don't read my mind, my ideas, would be only as great as the last book I've read. And you and I know the last book one has read isn't, almost always, nine out of eleven times, not the greatest book ever written. There remains that one book, that one story, that one group of words, that IS the greatest book ever written, waiting for your eyes, your thoughts. It is my quest to keep looking for the Greatest Book Ever Written, and keep hoping never to find it.

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Quintet 2: Holy Week Playlist

2011-04-25T13:35:00.005+08:00

Quintet is a monthly music review of any five songs I happen to come across/stumble upon, or were recommended, any how, any time. Suggestions from readers are most welcome because music deserves to be shared. Let me be your convert or critic.

This second edition of Quintet features five songs I came across in different ways, and listened to during the Holy Week break. Some were recommended by friends, one I discovered while watching a movie, and one I liked when the biggest crush of my life announced his engagement on TV.

In the Beginning by K'naan
On the night of 420, I had the irresistible desire to watch Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guatanamo Bay. It turned out to be a good decision because I discovered the song In the Beginning by K'naan. It was used as a background song when Harold, Kumar and their respective love interests were touring Amsterdam. First impression: The song was so catchy it made me want to go to Amsterdam. Second, more lasting impression: It has a legitimate, sensible message.
Verdict: It's a cross between Where's the Love? by the Black Eyed Peas and Jah is Mighty by Bob Marley. It's perfect for both 'chill' 420-like moments and for road trips.
I liked the song so much I even made my own video of it. More on this later.

Bent by Matchbox Twenty
One of the ways I discover good songs to listen to is through the music video links posted by my friends on Facebook. It gives variety and a sense of randomness. This song is one of those Facebook discoveries. I thought I didn't know the song but when the chorus came on, I realized that I KNEW the song, and I'm part of the Matchbox Twenty generation. I sang to Unwell back in high school, and even during the depressing/emo moments of undergrad.
Verdict: This song has Matchbox Twenty written all over it, and Matchbox Twenty songs are always perfect for the lip-sync-ing and air-guitaring individuals.

Dogs Days are Over by Florence and the Machine
I've heard the song and of the song title; I've heard of the band (TIME said they're one of the emerging British indie bands). It never came to mind that these two are related. Me and The Coolest People in the World laugh at song title because it reminded us of our silly nickname for the lax days of undergrad: Doggy-doggy. So now that we've graduated from undergrad and most of us are working, the song title is perfect.
Verdict: This is what Laura Marling would sound like if she hang out/jammed with... let's say, K'naan or even Sara Bareilles.

Tadhana by Updharmadown
Like Bent this song is a Facebook discovery. Updharmadown's Oo made quite an impression on me (it was on 'repeat' for two weeks on my iPod) so I decided to give this one a try. It was the same slow melody, almost the same message/topic (sad, painful love) but this seemed to be a lot sadder than and has more drama compared to Oo.
Verdict: This is perfect for times when you feel like drowning yourself or drowning out the world with sad love songs. The analogies could mean anything, depending on how you see--no, hear it.

Beautiful Days by Kyla
Being a Kyla fan, I knew of the song way back in high school/early college. I simply thought that it was nothing more than a nice love song and an ideal sleep-inducer, like Nina's Someday and Juris Fernandez' Di Lang Ikaw. But when Kyla sang it to Rich Alvarez, my most favorite basketball player of all time and ultimate crush (as you can see from this webpage's sidebar), I appreciated it in a different light--a loving, sincere and almost wistful light.
Verdict: The song makes you want to have someone to sing it to. Fortunately, before I shed any tears or look at the guy next to me, the song ended and K'naan's In the Beginning snapped me out of it. Good thing my phone's on shuffle.

You may want to read Quintet 1.

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The New Coffee Shop

2011-04-18T01:45:00.001+08:00

Confession: I used to go to The Gym. Not because I enjoy it but because I fear that my genes or my lifestyle will get the better of me one of these days. Same reason why I don't smoke--It's not because I super care about the environment but because I know it'll become the death of me.

Anyway, the gym thing did not work well for me because:

1. Most gyms, or at least the one I used to go to, are full of men. Yeah, we hear countless women complain about their figures, their flaws and flabs but it is the men who are actually concerned about their health and their figures...or physique (or whatever sounds manly to you. haha). Some women thrive in an atmosphere reeking of testosterone but I don't.

2. I beefed up not toned down. Contrary to popular belief that gyms, or doing the exercises, lifts, etc that the gym trainers tell you to, will make you lose weight or be slimmer, gyms are perfect for people who wants to beef up. Those people who're born skinny as a stick are ideal gym-goers. Those who're born fat, or has big bone structure, should maintain a proper diet first before going to the gym to tone down.

3. Gyms are the new coffee shops. People go there not because they want coffee or really want to work out but because they want to socialize or be sosyal. Bleh.

and some other petty reasons. So I kissed gym-going goodbye and took up sports instead.

Recently, I've become a big fan of the Thought Catalog. The articles are funny, witty, and downright true. One of the more relate-able ones is this, an article on People You Tend to Find at the Gym. Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately) for me, I only met four out of the ten people the author listed. To this list, I want to add, from my brief gym-going experience:

11. The Cool Soccer Mom who wants to be fit, stay healthy and keep her husband from cheating, or get/seduce him back.
12. The Recently Retired Man/Woman who's looking for ways to spend his/her pension money and stay healthy.
13. The Woman Who is this near to getting surgical treatments but is either: )1) still saving up for the big Operation or having second thoughts.

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Petals, "Ostia" and Ice Cream

2011-04-16T20:06:00.000+08:00

JAMMAMELA

For our English 30 (English for the Professions) class, a classmate (a second year student from FoodTech) created a brochure for her home-made gumamela jam. My law blockmate liked it, and even asked for a second (and third) serving but I didn't share his enthusiasm for the jam because I can't shrug off the reality that it is a flower; that I'm eating petals.

THE BIGGEST HAW FLAKES I'VE EVER SEEN

It's the size of, and looks like, a slice of Argentina meat loaf but it is a haw flake. Haw flakes, or ostia as I used to call it, reminds me of my childhood. (aww, drama) I ate half a pack because I missed eating it.

YES, I'M AN ICE CREAM JUNKIE.

The best, only, and most favorite Comfort Food ever. I eat it when I feel like celebrating, sulking, or, simply, passing time. My thighs reminds me of all the 800ml tubs of Selecta and Nestle ice cream I greedily consumed in the past.

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The Battle of the Cup Noodles

2011-04-09T20:33:00.004+08:00

Protagonists/Antagonists:

Tekki Shomen Beef Overload

Lucky Me Supreme Bulalo

Nissin Cup Noodles Beef

Tekki Shomen Beef Overload

The Lowdown: It comes in a slightly bigger cup for only P19(?), and is sleek-looking. The velvet/dark pink/red-violet color makes it different from the usual yellow, blue, brown and green cups, cup noodles usually come in. The flat noodles is a nice variety from the usual round(?) noodle types. The condiments, especially the white one that comes in the transparent pink plastic looks really unhealthy. The powder, which gives it the 'beef flavor' is looks like ash. Ugh. Makes you think twice whether to eat it or not. Fortunately, once the noodles are cooked, the ash-like powder losses it ash-like quality.

The Verdict: It's ideal for those who want to save a few pesos or those who believe in giving all brands in the market a fair chance. It's not called a free market for nothing, right?

Lucky Me Supreme Bulalo

The Lowdown: Growing up on Lucky Me noodles and pancit canton (and later on, Curly Spaghetti and Sopas), I was quite biased in favor of this brand. Like Colgate and Coffeemate, Lucky Me has brand/name-recall in its favor. Aside from that, the taste is familiar to the taste of the noodles we are accustomed to. The one we equate with rainy days and bouts with sickness. The fork that comes in the cup puts the 'instant' in instant noodles. Like Tekki Shomen, Lucky Me has this white, unhealthy looking condiment. It makes you think about not putting it in but because you know it'll change the taste, you'll mix it in, still.

The Verdict: It is ideal for those who're on-the-go (no need for a fork) and for those who believe that, 'Why fix it if it ain't broke?'

Nissin Cup Noodles 'Beef'

The Lowdown: It comes in a plastic cup, unlike the other two which came in pseudo-paper cups, which makes me wonder about the environment a few seconds after opening it. Unlike the other two brands, the condiments or ingredients are already mixed in with the noodles, all one has to do is pour on the hot water and wait. This takes out my doubt with the white sticky condiment that is present in both Tekki Shomen and Lucky Me. The noodle strands are, somewhat, a cross-breed of flat and round noodles. One not-so good thing, however, is its easily tear-able lid. Let's say, in the 5 times that I've eaten Nissin, the lid gets torn in half about 4 times.

The Verdict: I like Nissin because it's a cross-breed between the Tekki Shomen and the Lucky Me. The things that I loved about the two brands are combined in Nissin (the flat noodles and the familiar Lucky Me taste) and the things that I hate are removed (the white sticky-looking condiment). One thing is missing to make it complete: the fork.

Winner: Nissin Cup Nooodles 'Beef'

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Note: This review does not intend to convince people that instant noodles are the smartest thing ever invented (because it isn't) or that it is a healthy food choice (because it isn't). This only serves to enlighten people on what these cup noodles offer for those who're always on-the-go or doesn't know how to cook.

Still, nothing beats the real thing:

Masuki's original mami

Twisted 8 1/2: A visual personal music player

2011-04-09T19:58:00.002+08:00

I treasure friends who impart: (1) seemingly weird but turns out to be useful information, (2) quirky ideas, and (3) uncommon but highly logical insights. Also, I tend to like/love friends who give sensible gifts. I will take a friend who gives me something I didn't think I needed until I was given one over a friend who gets me something really expensive.

For my birthday last year, I received, albeit belatedly, two really sensible gifts. A key ring and a book. Both signify the maturity that characterized that particular year of my existence. I never thought that a key ring would be helpful but when I was given one by a friend, it turned out to be one of my most used belongings.

No matter how crappy or lame other people think giving books-as-gifts is, I adamantly maintain the position that: Giving books as gifts is cool, or hot.

As a kid, when I was starting to get into reading, I always had this thought that whoever gave me my first book--after I realized reading is an interest, a passion--would be the coolest person for me. It turned out, I was right. It was my mother who gave me my first set of books; and she is, by far, the coolest best person in the world.

Yes, it was given that I received a Three Little Pigs storybook when I was kid, and I read the 1993 Guinness Book of World Records, and the Science Library that came with it, quite extensively, it was not until I was in grade school when I engaged in reading as an interest. When my mom realized that her second daughter is a nerd/book-whore, she gave me three John Grisham books: The Firm, The Pelican Brief and A Time To Kill. Of course, her choice of books was influenced by my growing interest in becoming a lawyer. (I believe it was in Grade Five when I realized that the logic-ness of being a lawyer outweighs the coolness of being an astronaut or a journalist or a painter.)

After the Grisham books, I mostly bought or borrowed all the books I read. My mom's boss is one of those very few (if not the only person) who gives me books as gifts. So when my friend gave me Twisted 8 1/2 by Jessica Zafra as a birthday gift, her coolness, in my mental Coolness Rank, definitely went higher.

My copy of Twisted 8 1/2,
one of the coolest gifts ever

The book, as I told my friend when I thanked her after reading it (three months after she gave it to me), is a very light read. You can read it almost anywhere, any time. It being black and slim sends the message to people who'd see you reading it that, "Stay away; I'm reading serious stuff." Most books do that anyway.

Despite the slimness or the brevity of the book, it was able to make my mind churn; make me think. It made me, despite the noise of Metro Manila, hear myself think. It was like a visual personal music player. Paraphrasing Zafra: "It created a force field around me, it shut out the world that is trying to swallow me whole, and defined, however tenuously, a space that is mine." A space I call my mind.

The book was relateable and lovable because Zafra wrote about the things I'm equally passionate about: Reading, Books, Music, Photography and Writing. I was able to relate to Technology, which was the main topic of her essays/articles and of which I'm not so much a fan of, because she correlated it to the aforementioned topics.

Bottomline, the book is worth having, especially for people who are turned on by prose, reality, and an occasional amount of trivia.

To end, I will quote two sentences from the book: Books are repository of human experience. They tell us what being human is all about.

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Things I Have Wanted to Do But Don't Have the Time For (Summer 2011)

2011-04-06T12:29:00.001+08:00

Because I'm overwhelmed with how much free time I'm going to have this summer (8 weekends = 16 days, approximately fifty evenings) and with the possibility that I won't be able to enjoy all these in June, when classes start, I decided to make a list of Things I Have Wanted to Do But Don't Have the Time For. All of these I wish to accomplish during summer.

1. Play basketball or badminton...or try out a new sport... Be fit, in general.

2. Lose weight, any 'weight' would be nice.

Photo from JessicaRulesTheUniverse.com

3. Read more. Finish reading all the books I bought during the school year and those I bought and never get to read. Twisted 8 1/2 by Jessica Zafra, Naked Lunch by William Burroughs, Our Town by Thornton Wilder, Life Universe and Everything, So Long and Thanks for all the Fish and Mostly Harmless by Douglas Adams, et al.

4. Rediscover painting. This long-forgotten passion/frustration has recently captured my interest when I saw the paintings on the wall of my Law blockmate's flat. Seeing his own work on canvas reignited (naks) my desire to make and display my own work.

5. Travel. Although I won't be travelling to Palawan, or even Tagaytay, with my Law blockmates because of The India Fund, I will be travelling with my family to my father's hometown in Pangasinan to celebrate his 50-something-th birthday. My childhood memories are filled with epic road trips to Dasol Pangasinan, and this trip will reminisce those.

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5 Lessons Learned as a Student

2011-04-04T16:05:00.000+08:00

Lessons Learned from the Week I Became a Full-Time Student
(aka The Week I Took a Leave from Work to Study for the Finals Week)

1: The things you are deprived of, you value more.

2: Life's simple joys is, simply, to be enjoyed.

3: Always keep in mind Murphy's Law but not to keep it in heart.

4: Love is not a feeling, it's an ability. -Dan in Real Life

5: The hours of sleep you missed can be negated, although momentarily, by the right amount of coffee you take.

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Quintet 1: Music to my ears

2011-03-24T11:48:00.005+08:00

1. Glasses

2. Good book to read

3. Money

4. Hanky

5. Skyflakes and Gatorade (grape)

6. Earphones

7. Doublemints

8. Hair brush

and so on...

I call this list "Life essentials" because, basically, without these things (and a few more unlisted things) I wouldn't be able to live life or even move through life. My glasses and books make me see the world clearly--literally and figuratively; money gives me the opportunity to enjoy the simple and even extravagant joys of life; my hanky keeps my tears, sweat and other stuff in check; Skyflakes and Gatorade, my hairbrush and Doublemints keep my stomach, hair and breath and in check, respectively.

As for my earphones... they serve a bigger, greater purpose other than signalling people who try to talk to me to step back because I'm busy or can't hear them... my earphones keep my sanity in check. Music has always been, and will always be, a personal interest and stress reliever. Often times, people would see me around work or Malcolm Hall wearing earphones (unless of course I'm talking to someone). I do this to zone the noise out. Noise that is both auditory and metaphorical.

This week, I have spent my early mornings (well, most of the day, actually) listening to music recommended by family and friends.

Sunday - Man in the Mirror (cover)

Monday - Be There by Howie Day

Tuesday - Chasing Pavements by Adele

Wednesday - I Know Places by Lykke Li

Thursday - Ashes and Wine by A Fine Frenzy

Although I'm familiar with A Fine Frenzy and Howie Day, I Know Places and Be There are welcome additions to my playlist. Coincidentally, they both talk (or sing?) about travel (literal and figurative); choosing between staying and going.

Listening to Chasing Pavements remind me of the "emo" days of high school, and the 'young and stupid yet happy' days of undergrad. I listen to it with a familiar wistfulness--a kind of wistfulness that is healthy to make yourself feel once in while but if abused may cause frustration. It is very timely for me to listen to it now when I'm thinking of giving up or keeping chasing pavements...the pavements of Malcolm.

Likewise, the cover of Man in the Mirror by an unknown artist reminds me of the videoke, carefree days with undergrad block mates. I remember the Michael Jackson "phase" I had. I listened to Michael Jackson songs and nothing else. Moreover, it reminds me of the death (and the life) of the legend.

Ashes and Wine, recommended by my elder sister, is, hands down, My Depressing Song of the Week. Rebecca Black's Friday is a close second.

To conclude, I was told by a teacher-blockmate that I am an auditory learner. I learn by listening to things or reciting things over and over again. Does this mean I have to forego listening to music next week, which is my 'Final Exams' week, and switch to listening to codals etc.? Perfect.

The clock is ticking; Go.

2011-03-17T19:38:00.000+08:00

Is it just me or is the world running out of time?

The India Fund

2011-03-13T03:42:00.002+08:00

Order to Self No. 1

An order creating the India (or Any Southeast Asian Country) Fund, and other purposes thereof

A photo of the Taj Mahal from http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ie/bgn/3454.htm

Whereas, being a graduate of BA Social Sciences (Area Studies) which deals with History, Politics and Culture of Southeast Asian countries (and some European and West Asian countries as well), I have learned to love travelling;

Whereas, this love for travelling has become more than an interest but a passion--a shared passion with my undergrad blockmates and friends;

Whereas, these blockmates and friends, who I refer to as The Coolest People on Earth, have traveled with me to Ilocos, Sagada, Batanes, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Cebu and Bohol;

Whereas, despite graduation, different work and school schedules, we still share the same passion, the same love, for travelling;

Whereas, we, as a group, have committed to taking many more trips together as soon as possible, and we have decided on going out of the country;

Whereas, since we have become part of the employed class, we have to fund our trips ourselves;

Whereas, I have prepared to undertake the first step towards the goal of travelling, which is getting a passport, I now focus on the next immediate task at hand which is planning where to get the funds;

Whereas, in this light, I am creating, for my own benefit, the India (or Any Southeast Asian Country) Fund. This Fund will be used mainly for my expenses in travelling to India (or Any Southeast Asian Country) by the third or fourth quarter of this year, 2011;

Whereas, to ensure compliance to this Order, I am enjoined to publish updates regarding the implementation of this Order;

Whereas, I am hereby compelling myself to save every peso I can, take the least (if not, none) taxi rides, eat less (expensive) meals, spend less on books etc, and basically, practice other austerity measures as much as the situation permits me. Obtaining other financial resources is also encouraged.

This will take effectively upon publication in this blog site.

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Floating

2011-03-07T21:08:00.000+08:00

Time does not cure anything. Simply, it is a cloak that deceives us. It is a placebo that leads us to think, to believe, to feel that we are well, when in fact we are anything but. We think time has helped us be better, grow better. But no, time is a magician, an illusionist. When time itself reveals to us--transports us back in time whilst staying and being in the present--that we have not changed an inch, an iota; we weep, we grieve for "all the time lost".

Time and again (pun definitely intended) we are faced by the harsh reality of the present and the indifference and impossibility of the past...and the uncertainty and wickedness of the future. We are stuck, floating floating and floating between the waves of past, present and future. Getting a whiff, sip, and taste of the past, present and future but not committing entirely to one. We give each--the past, present and future--a taste, a glimpse, a whiff of our whole being. A version of us. Little truths that if taken alone mean nothing, but if collected will mean a lot. We are afraid to choose one, for in choosing we not only opt to give our whole self but we gamble, we risk. We give up the familiarity we gained from floating from one to the other for something uncertain but promises to be something better.

Will we let these promises lure us into stopping and come down from our joyous, relaxed and comfortable floating? Or will we be firm in maintaining that floating is best thing for us, that we have once in our life stopped floating but it almost caused us not to be able to fly again?

We are unstoppable forces floating from the past, present and future waiting to encounter our own immovable objects to stop our fancy flight and make us realize that 'hey, floating is not the best/only thing we can do.'

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Why I Think Ted WILL and SHOULD Meet The Mother Soon

2011-03-03T20:51:00.000+08:00

Robin, Lily, Ted and Barney helped Marshall deal with the death of his father
("Last Words" How I Met Your Mother)

WILL
2030 - Ted tells children that the story of how he met their mother; the boy, Luke appears to be thirteen years old and Leia appears to be fifteen.
2021 - Ted tells Wendy the Waitress that he has two kids and is married to a wonderful woman. (Garbage Island).
2015 - Since the first born, Leia, seems to be fifteen in 2030, it is logical to assume she is born this year. Knowing how Ted is SO ready to be a father, it is safe to assume that he and the Mother only waited a year to have kids, and were married in...
2014 - Knowing Ted and judging by his past relationships, it is safe to assume that they would be together for two years before tying the knot, which means by...
2012 - Ted and the Mother become a couple, and judging by how Ted wins women over woth great romantic gestures, he will meet the Mother in...
late 2011 or early 2012.

SHOULD
Aside from the above argument being chronologically sound, I add another argument that Ted SHOULD meet the Mother soon, for the simple reason that... if the show is stretched beyond season seven, it will take its toll on the story. The plot will suffer because of the desire to lengthen the show, and milk it for what it's worth. As of now, critics are saying that the show has gone past its prime (season two being the best, they say), and is going farther and farther from the central plot (a father telling his kids how he met their mother). Although the show's concept (backward narration) is new and original, this is also the show's greatest limitation. While making the story and script, the writers have to take in mind:
1. What has been already said, to keep the continuity going
2. What this will all lead to. Ted meets the Mother in a manner that solidifies what has been said not only about Ted but also about his friends as well.
3. That in developing Ted's character, his friends' characters have to grow as well. That in creating a fitting ending for Ted's story they have to create an end--actual or constructive--for the other chracters as well.

The season could end now, while it's on its sixth, but since the other characters' stories have to be ended as well, so as to make a 'full story', I believe it WILL and SHOULD end in Season 7 with Barney and Robin's wedding (OR, and I believe this is a remote possibility, Robin's wedding to some other guy, or Barney's wedding to some other girl).

Sweeter the Second Time Around

2011-02-24T12:13:00.002+08:00

....or Why the La Salle Women's Volleyball Team will Win the 73rd UAAP Women's Volleyball Championship

La Salle fans and critics have "marveled" at how the UST Tigresses managed to sweep the defending champions in last season's Finals. It was heartbreaking not only for the volleyball players themselves but also for their fans and supporters who taught, with the Lady Spikers' skills and almost-impeccable timing, that they were going all the way. They never lost a game in the eliminations until they met the roaring Tigresses who people said, "peaked at the right time." That loss was the start of the Lady Spikers' spiral down to defeat.

This season, the 73rd of the UAAP, almost the same line-up that lost to UST in the 72nd season have come back to play. Except for the three players who graduated (Kaye Martinez, Camille Cerveza, Regine Diego), the line-up was intact. La Salle also recruited good players to include in their 14-woman roster.

FIVE REASONS WHY LA SALLE WILL BE CHAMPS THIS SEASON:

Mika Esperanza. The advent of this gem of a setter shows a bright future ahead for the Lady Spikers--not only for this year but in the coming years ahead. In all the years that I have been a volleyball fan, I noticed that the La Salle offense (and even defense) relies heavily on the strength of their setter. We all know what Chi Saet did for La Salle in the late 1990s. After her, La Salle struggled to find an equally competent player to take Saet's place. But this year, they have successfully recruited Mika Esperanza of De La Salle-Lipa. For a rookie, Esperanza have shown composure and leadership on court by deciding well, and giving efficient sets. I will be surprised if she will not win the Rookie of the Year Award this season. (Note: La Salle rookies have won this award in the past two years, Melissa Gohing and Joanne Siy.)

Improved team offense and defense. Good sets translate to better scoring. Compared to the team last year, the line-up this year has stepped up in terms of scoring. Abigail Maraño and Michelle Gumabao have both improved on their game, and are now part of the scoring threats of the team. Their improvement, and involvement in offense lessened the pressure and attention (aka defense) given to veteran-graduating players Steph Mercado and Jacq Alarca. The players have gradually realized and adapted their roles in the team.

The players' improvement on offense is also evident in defense. The consistent and efficient blocking, and the remarkable improvement in floor defense (especially in Game 1 of the Finals against UST) make up for the deterioration of their libero's play this season. I guess she's suffering from Junior jinx (as opposed to sophomore jinx).

Luck. In some cases, skills and talent alone are not enough to win games and championships. Luck definitely plays a factor, although coaches do not want to heavily rely on this. This season La Salle had the breaks of the game going for them--most of the time. Also, they were lucky to have no injuries on their key players. More importantly, they were lucky (read: fortunate) to have just one game nullified in light of the controversy involving their players.

Cruz' leadership-by-example. Not to disregard or make less of Mercado's leadership as team captain last year, Cha Cruz's ascent as the captain this season translated to the improvement, versatility and consistency of her game. Whenever the team is down (in morale or in score) or the other team is threatening to make a comeback, she would step up and score to stave off the other team's rally. During the games, she is the first to cheer for a scored point and the first to move on and forget about a botched play. She keeps focused on court, and plays with smarts--evident of a true leader.

Experience. Losing the championship last year (in a sweep manner, no less) made the team this year tougher and consequently better. The players now know how to handle pressure and not back down to the challenge and criticisms the crowd throws at them. Before the Lady Spikers reached the Finals this season, they experienced two or three five-setter matches, all of which they won. In contrast to last year, when they lost the five-setter matches they had against UST, making the team vulnerable to pressure. They didn't have 'veterans' to turn to last season; whereas this season, Alarca, Mercado and Cruz steps up during big games. As a whole, the Lady Spikers have developed the toughness of a Mich Datuin, the smarts of a Chi Saet, and the skills of a Des Hernandez. The question that remains to be answered is this: Will they have the heart of an Illa Santos?

A precious morning

2011-02-08T10:39:00.001+08:00

If death was a person I will both fear and love it. I fear encountering it now--when I consider myself too young to have made an impression on the world, and the people I have met; when I consider myself not to have achieved relevant things; when I consider myself not to have attained the degree of happiness and satisfaction that I envisioned to have; and when I consider myself to have lived through the twenty one years of my life instead of living these twenty one years to the fullest. I would love to face it when I'm ready. But as of now, I don't exactly know when that time be or what will make me feel that the time is right, but I do know that death is something I fear, as of the moment.

February will always be a special month for me for two simple reasons: on February 1990, the person who has influenced and touched my life more than anyone could (with the exception of my mother) was born *hint* *hint*; and on the 12th of February 2010, I received the news that I got into UP Law, which I consider to be the first step towards realizing my goals in life.

Today, February 8 2011, the Philippines woke up to experience the truth about life: It is precious, live it fully. First, our incumbent president, President Noynoy Aquino was born on this day, several years ago. Birth is always commemorated by celebrating birthdays, and declaring national heroes' birthdays as national holidays. Bonifacio Day is, in fact, the date of birth of the Filipino hero, Andres Bonifacio. Second, today, former Secretary Angelo Reyes committed suicide in front of the tomb of his mother in Loyola Heights, Marikina City. We, Filipinos, view death not with the same candor as we have dealt with birthdays. Shouldn't we be happy that a person died having lived his life to the fullest? Or do we readily assume that death of a person is an unfortunate thing? What does Rizal Day, which falls on the day our national hero Dr Jose Rizal died, imply then?

On a less nationally relevant (and more personal) note, I went to work today, relatively earlier than usual. I rode the jeep to Philcoa at around 7:15, and rode another jeep to San Mateo, Maly at around 7:30pm. When we were near Ever Gotesco, the driver said to another close-by driver who was blocking his way, "Walang preno, walang preno. Na-loose brake ako." Knowing that the jeep was not at full speed, I did not panic, and got off the jeep as soon as the driver successfully "parked" the jeep near the side of the road. I rode another jeep, and arrived at the office safely.

Upon hearing of Angelo Reyes' death on the news that same morning, my mind drifted off to my jeep mishap. Questions started crossing my mind. "What if" this, "what if" that. But I choose not to dwell on the negative (aka near-death experience part two?) but on the positive side of today's events.

To put things simply, I thank God for guiding the hand (and the foot?) of the driver of the jeep, and for steering the jeep to safety despite the lack of brakes. Commonwealth Ave. is a risky place to be in, without brakes, but surprisingly no one was hurt.

Life is precious. God is doing his best to make us realize the joys of life and keep us from harm. He gave us life--a gift so precious no one should end but Him. The best we could do to show gratitude for this gift of life is to live it fully and right.

Another Reason to Love Saturdays

2010-12-25T01:56:00.001+08:00

I didn't think about putting up an entry here because... well, I'm on a writing break (from work and school) and I'm "busy" with other stuff, but since Christmas, which is big for us Filipinos, falls on a Saturday, and this blog is aptly- and relatedly- titled as such, let me greet you...

MERRY CHRISTMAS, everyone!

May we not forget the true reason for the season.

But if you do conform to a different belief system, that's fine, too.

Just don't be a Christian, and forget the Christ in Christmas...and Christian.
As I always say, "May you and your families have a blessed Christmas."

.

Project Monte Cristo

2010-12-20T00:11:00.001+08:00

Eerily, in our family, unlike normal Filipino families, it is the men who cook. My dad cooks often than my mom (ergo, he thinks he cooks better. Maybe.) and my brother Jay is a wayyy better cook than Ate Jing and me. The fact that my father is an Ilokano and my brother studies cooking is, of course, a factor that works in their favor.

But if I had to pick, I'd say cooking breakfast is what I'm good at. Mainly because I'm a morning person and that breakfast cooking involves nothing more complicated than frying stuff. So with that in mind, I went on to experiment on my cooking skills--that is, if I do have them. Let's call this, Project Monte Cristo.

I first encountered this sandwich during lunch with a blockmate from law school at the Congress cafeteria. It tasted good, and looked easy to make. Then and there, I decided I would "cook" something like it, sometime. Unlike normal/aspiring cooks, I didn't search for a "recipe" to follow. I just knew of the recipe by looking at the sandwich I was eating.

My masterpiece. haha

Recipe According To Me:
Ingredients:
Bread (preferably Gardenia)
Ham (Argentina meat/beef loaf would do)
Cheese (Eden cheese tastes just fine)
Eggs
That's it. Ok fine, add salt and pepper to taste.

Preparation:
1. Buy all the ingredients.
2. Fry meat/beef loaf.
3. Cut the bread in half.
4. Put slices of meat/beef loaf in between the cut bread slices.
5. Add cheese (and mayo, if needed).
6. Douse sandwich in beaten eggs.
7. Fry.
8. Serve!

Assessment: My sister and her roommate Mishele ate it with gusto so I guess Project Monte Cristo was a success. But I could use more practice (and patience) when it comes to frying.

Recipe According To The "Experts" (aka The Internet)

This is how it was supposed to look like.

Stay tuned for more cooking sh*t. :)