Milagroso!

Omg! I witnessed a miracle today. My long dead and cadaveric computer just sparked back into life. I'm a self-confessed technological moron who doesn't know how to fix anything digital, electronic and mechanical thereby degrading myself to the ranks of the lower mammals. Approximately 2 weeks ago, my PC decided to quit on me. How dare it! Without any resignation letter or formal notification, this stupid mechanical contraption found it hilarious to just die out on me. I don't f*****g know what the hell was its problem. The monitor just goes to sleep everytime I turned the PC on. I tried to reattach the wires and and try to fix stuff ( of course I don't know what to fix in this event) but to no avail. Just this morning, I turned to computer on just to check if it will change its mind and get back to work. Still the same effect. I went to my room to watch TV and after awhile I came back out to find that it was back on its feet again. It just turned on.

What the hell is this? Miracle? Or this stupid PC of mine decided to come to work after finding out that the global financial crisis would make it difficult for it to look for a new job elsewhere? Remain my slave, PC! BWAHAHAHA

(Baw linteks ginakulbaan ko i turn off ang comp ke bac ndi nmn ni mgandar bla karun aw.. huhu...galeng ma ubra pako ya...huhuhu)

Feng Feng Cho!

I have so many things to write about but I'm cursed with a damn stupid PC at home. I can only write my blog in school, which for the past week I hadn't frequented coz I have few classes this midterm. Well, anyway, I will try to write short strips to say a few things on my mind. Here is one of them:

Charice will be singing in Obama's inauguration tomorrow, right? I have to admit that I was blown away by this lady's vocal prowess the first time I saw and heard her sing on TV. However, I do believe that she is becoming dangerously too overexposed. She will be singing a true-blooded American song for the inauguration? What the hell is this? Although I'm honored for her being Filipino, I think she doesn't even have the adoptive right to sing that song. And although she may have that very powerful and commanding voice comparable only to the top divas in entertainment namely Mariah, Whitney, Celine and Barbra, I think her overexposure will ultimately lead to an early demise in her career. Why is this so?

First of all, we had to admit that Charice is not lovely to look at. It is true. Charice is not blessed with beauty. She makes up for this, though, through her likeability factor, which is necessary if you want to be a star. I am worried, however, that her not-so-good looks will get the better of the two. In fact, I believe that until recently people only want to hear her belt out the high notes and they don't really listen much to the rest of the song. I don't find any kind of uniqueness in her voice if she is just singing the so-so simple melody which may explain why her song, It Can Only Get Better, didn't do so well even here in the country.

Secondly, Charice is not a pop-class singer. She is more of a balladeer type. Some might argue that she can make up for it with her great voice. However, we have to realize that hitting the high notes isn't that "cool" anymore. Most memorable ballads were sung in the 70s-90s. Therefore, it isn't cool for a 15-yr-old to sing them ALL the time. Old people who sing old songs and hitting the high notes is good but heck a 15-year-old? Voice alone will not make up for it, too. Martin Nievera has a good voice and he still continues to make albums almost every year. Question is: who buys them? eeerrrr...

On the lighter side, Charice, who wisely dropped here family name Pempengco (ka pangsut), was able to wow both Oprah and Ellen which is a major boost to any one's popularity. And David Foster, that singer songwriter who few people know about (but who I knew even before Charice came out coz I like his music), is on Charice's side which is another plus for her.

At the end of the day, she has to make the best of it while it lasts. I honestly hope it lasts. She is one great voice so to say, although not a pretty one.

Waste of Time!

I'm totally wasting my time now. I am obliged to attend this seminar-training crap that is supposed to teach us to become teachers. Duh! Something like using technology to improve teaching efficacy. Powerpoint thing and internet sourcing. Watdapak! Waste of time!

First of all, I am a very low-tech person. Kung sa cheese curls pa tanan kamo Pringles na, ako ya nasa PeeWee stage pa lang! I don't need powerpoint to teach. I feel comfortable mgwakal-wakal kag mgsulat chalk sa blackboard! Anhon mo kung perfect ang imo powerpoint kung wala man may matun-an ang studyante sa imo? aber aber....

Second, this takes up a lot of my precious time. I should have spent this time drinking beer and sleeping till kingdom come.

Watdapak! Help me! Help me! Avah first time ko nag Ilong-lish sa blog ha... whahah

The Face

I went to Dame's house to celebrate the New Year. I brought a book along with me on my way there as I have already started reading it. The title of the book is The Face by Dean Koontz.

I became a big fan of Dean Koontz right after reading Intensity which is probably one of the handful of books I refused to put down eventhough it was way past bedtime. For those who don't know Dean Koontz, he is a master thriller writer at par with Stephen King. Yes, that famous Stephen King. The main difference is that most of Stephen King's novels are of epic catastrophes where the events occur for weeks, months or years. Stephen King is (was) a visionary of horrific and armageddonian (if there is such a word) masterpieces in which, unfortunately, Hollywood was able to catch up to. In any event, people would rather see War of the Worlds or I am Legend than read Stephen King books having the same theme. Dean Koontz, on the other hand, writes about serial killers and supernatural events with only a few main characters participating in his suspense thrillers. And the events just take place in a few days or a week.

The book that I read, The Face (2004), was a great read. Not exceptional but great. The story revolves around an ex-cop-turned bodyguard to the most dazzling Hollywood star known as the Face. The bodygaurd has to protect the Face's son who is a target of a deranged and dangerous anarchist plotting to kidnap him. Just right before Christmas, the famous mansion of the Face is empty save for a few security personnel, the bodyguard Ethan and the Face's son, Fric. The anarchist sets out a most daring plan to penetrate the impenetrable security features of the mansion and kidnap the son.

Overall, the novel is fast-paced with a dash of comedy to lighten up the mood. The description of how sick the anarchist was perfectly painted and his evil oozes out of the pages. My only concern was that there were a few subplots that were not relevant to the story. And before the twists start to unfold another subplot of pure irrelevance is added up murkying the story.

The ending was fantastic. It had a subtle suggestion that human ideation of beauty, such as their adoration for the Face, would pale to the highest degree if you see the Face of the divine. Overall the book didn't left me wanting. It left me satisfied and high with the Christmas spirit.

Nakapauli na si Toto Dyud!

I'm sorry for the fans I disappointed these past few weeks. I went on a holiday, all expense paid trip, in Varzditumerchgotiv, Iceland. I wasn't able to write much since then. But now that I'm back, I can finally write again. Hmmm, I saved my pictures during the trip and I will upload it as soon as my computer is fixed.

Varzditumerchgotiv is a city 150 miles south of Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. Together with other members of WAGW (Warriors Against Global Warming), we spent a week frolicking in the snow and I even learned how to ski. I loved their traditional food called skyr, although I couldn't quite distinguish what kind of meat it is. It wasn't long however before I started missing Pilipinas.

Now that I'm back I can start writing again.

Happy New Year you fools!