This Blog is an outlet for the random thoughts of an amateur opinionator.
What's an opinionator?
An opinionator is somebody who has power without responsibility, and the ability to spout off on any subject without worrying too much about the consequences of what comes out of the mouth. All you need is an opinion and the opportunity to voice it.
TV is full of professional opinionators. The internet gives the amateur his chance.
> heLLbounD akO?
Author: aLmich
My manager shared me this post. I was hurt and teary after I've read it and so I decided to post it here with my reply...
http://rachelragaza.multiply.com
"I know I'm taking the risk of receiving hate mail and having my page bombarded with angry comments, but I believe that it's time to take a stand for holiness and righteousness. This is the TRUTH and the TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE!
HOMOSEXUALS are HELLBOUND
source:
http://www.lifeandlibertyministries.com/archives/000093.php
http://www.gomitch2.com/
FOUR REASONS & PROOFS:
I. HOMOSEXUALITY IS UNNATURAL AND ABNORMAL!
THE BIOLOGICAL FACTS show why homosexuality is a HIGH-RISK behavior.
VAGINA
• has an acidic environment which hinders bacterial and viral growth
RECTUM
• has an alkaline environment, which promotes bacterial and viral growth
VAGINA
• is lined by a thick layer of stratified squamous epithelium which is resistant to tearing
RECTUM
• is lined by a thin layer of simple cuboidal epithelium which can tear easily with unnatural forces
VAGINA
• secretes a lubricant during intercourse
RECTUM
• does not secrete a lubricant, only expels feces
In 1996, why did HOMOS comprise 58% of all HIV patients in the U.S., when they make up only 3% of the population?
Answer: HOMOS are living a lifestyle in conflict with the laws of their design. When you eat pudding with a shovel or dig a ditch with a spoon, you are using objects contrary to their design, and harm will certainly result. Homosexuals bring destruction to themselves and others. You do not need to read the Bible to know SODOMY is perverse, you just need to know WHAT YOUR PENIS IS FOR!!! Urination and copulation. The penis was not designed to be shoved up another man’s rectum. The rectum was not designed for penile penetration, a fist, a bottle, a gerbil... The tongue was not designed for the anus, urine for the mouth, etc. (all of the above perverse acts admitted to by a majority of HOMOS in scientific surveys). God created man and woman, and designed sex between them (Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!). God’s laws are for mankind’s benefit. These laws provide the boundaries where sex can be safely enjoyed and maximally productive. God is good and just; therefore these laws have sanctions for transgressors, which is why HOMOS are HELLBOUND!!!
Rebuttal: "But doesn’t scientific evidence reveal that HOMOS are ‘born that way’ and therefore are not responsible for their behavior?"
Answer: Science magazine reports that 13.5% of brothers of HOMOS are also HOMOS (7-16-93, p.322), and since only 3% of the population is, that supposedly indicates the existence of a "gay gene". However, the influence of PORN, SEXUAL ABUSE, and other SODOMITES upon siblings could just as well explain these facts. Besides, there is more evidence that HOMOPHOBIA is genetic than there is that homosexuality is - 98.7% of brothers and sisters of homophobes are also homophobic according to a Christian Anti-Defamation League survey! HOMOPHOBIA is just an ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE!!! People are NOT born SEX PERVERTS! How dare you blame your Creator for your miserably perverted, shameful sexual habits!!! You chose to be a SEX PERVERT contrary to the laws of your design and the laws of your Designer. You were born a VIRGIN, and God’s law demands that you stay that way until marriage to the opposite sex. Besides, HOMOS cannot procreate! They contribute no offspring to the next generation of their society. If macroevolution were true, popular homosexuality would threaten the survival of the species, and be selected against in a healthy population.
"...More than 3,700 psychiatrists ...in the U.S. believed that there were no legitimate scientific reasons for the American Psychiatric Association’s change in fundamental psychiatric theory" when they took homosexuality off of the D.S.M. III’s list of sexual-psychological abnormalities. "In a poll of 10,000 psychiatrists ...in 1977, of which 2,500 replies were received, approximately 68% believed that homosexuality was a pathological adaptation (as opposed to a normal variation)."
(American Journal of Psychotherapy, July 1978, pp.421-425)
Rebuttal: "But don’t some animals engage in homosexual activity? Doesn’t this prove it is natural?"
Answer: Some animals like sheep do engage in homosexual behavior. However, this only proves that homos are as dumb as sheep! It does not prove it is natural for humans made in the image of God. The males of some ape species have sex with their young, the female black widow spider eats her mate, mice may even eat their young when they feel threatened, some sharks leave gaping bite marks on their mates during sex, other animals force themselves upon the opposite sex - would this justify this behavior in humans? I think not! We have a conscience (con means "with", science means "knowledge"), which is an intrinsic knowledge of right and wrong, justice and injustice. The Bible says the conscience is God’s law written on our hearts (Rom.1-2). It is the source of that GUILT you feel in your bosom. Man’s conscience distinguishes him from the animal kingdom, and the law on that conscience will be the standard by which ALL ARE JUDGED ON JUDGMENT DAY! (However, consciences can be seared by persistent sinning and rejection of truth, but this does not mean the transgressor is less guilty.)
II. HOMOSEXUALITY IS A VIOLENT LIFESTYLE!
SUICIDE rates of HOMOS compared to normal people:
"...gays and lesbians attempt suicide 2 to 7 times more often than heterosexual comparison groups." (Grollman, Suicide, Boston: Beacon Press, p.58)
" ‘Some notes on Suicide’... In more than 50% of the cases studied, homosexual tendencies were uncovered." (Weinberg & Bell, Homosexuality: An Annotated Autobibliography; NY: Harper & Row, 1972; p.220)
"GAYS" are the biggest "GAY-BASHERS"!
"In Boston, the Victim Recovery Program at the Fenway Community Health Center was established seven years ago for VICTIMS of GAY-BASHING. Now HALF the phone calls concern DOMESTIC VIOLENCE." (Newsweek, 10-4-93, p.75) (i.e. Sex perverts beat each other up and report it as "gay-bashing"!)
"Many of the (HATE SPEECH) crimes that concern anti-violence activists are in fact gay-on-gay crimes. Into this category fall many ‘pick-up murders,’ so called because they are committed by troubled men who pick up strangers in bars, go home with them for sex, and then rob and KILL them." (Washington Post, July 17, 1997, "Across U.S., Gay Anti-Violence Groups Respond to a Familiar Alarm")
MOST SODOMITES are illegal drug users!
In scientific surveys, HOMOS admitted to much more frequent ILLEGAL DRUG USE compared to the normal population (45%, 64%, and 90% in different surveys).
"As far as passionate crimes... the homosexuals are the ones that come to mind
for really throwing themselves into their work, so to speak. You generally find
THE MOST FEROCIOUS CRIMES ARE HOMOSEXUAL."
(Chicago police officer, interviewed in WHAT COPS KNOW, by Connie Fletcher; NY:Villard Books, 1991, p.67)
Leading serial killers are ALL HOMOS!!!
Donald Harvey (37 murders), John Wayne Gacy (33 murders), Patrick Wayne Kearney (32 murders), Bruce Davis (28 murders), Dean Corli, Elmer Wayne Henley, David Owen Brooks (27 murders), Juan Corona (25 murders), Jeffrey Dahmer (17 murders), Stephen Kraft (16 murders), William Bonin (14 murders)... (New York Times / Associated Press article, 8-15-92)
MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY IN THE SODOMITE POPULATION:
6,737 obituaries from 18 U.S. homosexual journals over 13 years were compared to a large sample of obituaries from regular newspapers. The study found:
The median age of death of married men was 75 and 80% died old (>65 yrs.)
The median age of death for unmarried or divorced men was 57 and 32% of them died old.
The median age of death for married women was 79, and 60% of them died old.
However, the median age of death for QUEERS was the same nationwide:
Only 2% surviving to old age!
If AIDS was the cause of death, the median age was 39!
For the 829 HOMOS who died of something other than AIDS, the median age of death was 42 and only 9% died old!
The 163 lesbians had a median age of death of 44 and 20% died old!
They were 116 times more likely to be murdered, 24 times more apt to commit suicide, and had a traffic-accident death-rate 18 times the rate of comparably aged white males.
Heart attacks, cancer, and liver failure were exceptionally common.
18% of lesbians died of murder, suicide, or accident - a rate 456 times higher than that of white females aged 25-44!
The age distributions of samples of HOMOS in the scientific literature from 1858 to 1992 suggest a similarly shortened lifespan
III. HOMOS SPREAD DISEASE AND DEATH!
AIDS Statistics: AIDS kills over 30,000 Americans yearly. 65% of those fatal cases are SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED (mostly SODOMITES). Almost all of the others got it through shooting drugs with a SEX PERVERT or receiving a blood transfusion contaminated by a SEX PERVERT. Homosexuality is considered by medical professionals to be a a HIGH-RISK sexual activity and, in addition to AIDS, HOMOS are prone to catch hepatitus A, hepatitus B, herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, intestinal parasites, tuberculosis, and a host of other contagious diseases. Medical professionals who treat AIDS patients and those who room with AIDS patients are also at increased risk.
Rebuttal: "But aren’t heterosexual women the fastest growing segment of the population acquiring the AIDS virus."
Answer: Yes. However, those who acquired HIV through heterosexual sex comprise only 8% of HIV cases, as opposed to 51% for HOMOS, 7% for HOMOS who are IV drug users, and 25% for other druggies. The increase in heterosexual transmission is related to an increase in bisexuality (their partners were HOMOS) and female sexually transmitted diseases. If a woman acquires an STD such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, or herpes, her natural defenses are broken down and her chance of acquiring the AIDS virus goes up over 300%! If all homo- and heterosexual fornicators would REPENT (STOP SINNING) and live by God’s laws, ALL STDs would end in one generation!!! God’s way is best!
IV. HOMOSEXUALS ARE CONDEMNED BY GOD!!!
The Bible says:
"If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an ABOMINATION: they shall surely be PUT TO DEATH...." (Leviticus 20:13)
"Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind: it is ABOMINATION." (Lev. 18:22)
"God gave them up unto VILE affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is AGAINST NATURE: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is UNSEEMLY (grossly improper)... they which commit such things are WORTHY OF DEATH...." (Romans 1:16-32)
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived... neither fornicators,... nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind (arsenokoites in the Greek, which means homosexuals)... shall not inherit the kingdom of God. And such WERE some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (I Corinthians 6:9-
11) YOU CAN BE AN EX-SODOMITE TOO, IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS AND BY GOD’S SPIRIT!!!
Rebuttal: "Doesn’t the Old Testament ‘holiness code’ also condemn eating shellfish and pork, and it says you must wear a certain type of clothing, etc. If you are going to condemn homosexuality, you should also condemn these things! If these things are acceptable, then so is homosexuality!"
Answer: There are three types of laws in the "holiness code": the moral law, the civil law, and the ceremonial law. Only the Jews were obligated to keep the ceremonial and civil laws (dietary laws, etc.). However, all people are obligated to keep the moral law, which is written upon their consciences. The moral law is taught by Jesus and His apostles in the New Testament. When they told people to REPENT OR PERISH (Luke 13:3), they were commanding them to STOP breaking God’s moral law. If you are not compliant with the moral law of God, which FORBIDS ALL LUST, including MASTUR-BATION AND HOMOSEXUALITY, you are headed for HELL!!! But if you REPENT and TRUST IN JESUS, who died for your sins, to save you and set you free, then you will be saved and set free by the power of God! He is not willing that any should perish, even SODOMITES, but that ALL should REPENT and find mercy for their crimes against God! No excuses! Call upon Jesus’ name NOW!!!"
My response :
I. HOMOSEXUALITY IS UNNATURAL AND ABNORMAL!
II. HOMOSEXUALITY IS A VIOLENT LIFESTYLE!
III. HOMOS SPREAD DISEASE AND DEATH!
IV. HOMOSEXUALS ARE CONDEMNED BY GOD!!!
Often we hear these sarcastic condemnations of homosexuality. God did make Adam and Eve as well as Adam and Steve, George and Barbara, Bill and Hillary, etc.. He made all people. He is the Creator of all, He is the great architect of the universe, and He made us perfect beings on HIS eyes.
Homosexuality came into being some time after the original creation - many things did: races, languages, countries, etc. History (secular and religious) is silent as to the origin of homosexuality, but it is clear that it dates back to early times. Also, homosexuality is not confined to humans, as it has been noted that many (if not all) species engage in such behavior.
A point of clarification needs to be made - the Bible is not a textbook on sex, nor should it be. The primary purpose of the Bible is the revelation of God's plan for eternal salvation - everything else if it is not directly relevant to that end is secondary and at times ignored within its pages.
With that said let's re-visit RACHEL's "IV. HOMOSEXUALS ARE CONDEMNED BY GOD!!!".
How many of you or people you know are left-handed? A minority - it is a biological variation, being right-handed is the "norm" and many lefties find that functioning in a right-handed world can be difficult. The early church actually shunned such people and attempted to force everyone to use their right hand as using one's left was considered to be against God's will and the work of Satan.
How about having red hair - do you know someone with that hair color? At one time that biological trait was considered a mark of Satan. Take skin color - many religions have throughout history taught that black skin was a curse of sinful behavior and to be despised. The list goes on and on.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is undoubtedly the most complex chemical known to man. Subtle changes within this genetic material can have "profound" effects on offspring; from hair, eye, skin color, height, weight, gender, sexual orientation, susceptibility to disease, mental capacity, etc... and yet with all those "profound" differences we are still people - so maybe those differences are not that profound at all.
To give one example of how complicated sexual identity is, let us look at the chicken. Periodically a male chicken, rooster, will be compelled to act like a hen (female chicken). He will try and "steal" a hen's eggs so that he can care for them. Since most hen's are protective of their eggs the rooster normally has to settle for nursing small rocks. In this case the rooster has clearly taken on the identity (at least in his mind) that he is a hen. A more astounding and definitive example is that of hens (female chickens). Hens have two sexual organs or gonads (like humans, where men have two testicles and women have two ovaries). The chicken's right gonad is differentiated, meaning that it specifically has developed into an ovary and this is what the hen uses in sexual reproduction. Interestingly, the left gonad is non-differentiated and is not used unless the right gonad becomes damaged. If the right gonad becomes damaged, the left organ will change into either an ovary or a testes. Meaning that the hen may remain a hen or it will become a fully functioning male chicken, or rooster. These examples show that even physiologically sexual identity is vague.
To complicate matters, the definition of one's sexual identity is based on four components: genetic (chromosomal), anatomic (physiologic), psychological (mental), and sociologic (cultural). Genetic refers to the chromosomal makeup of a person (how one is built on the inside). Anatomic is what does the person look like on the outside. Psychological refers to how one visualizes him/herself. Sociologic refers to how society refers to or visualizes that person.
From a genetic point of view there are a number (approx. 0.1% or 6,000,000) who are classified as inter-sex. Chromosomally (i.e. the types and quantities of hormones produced) their bodies behave like one gender and yet their exterior or anatomical aspect resembles the opposite gender. There are also true hermaphroditic humans. Scientifically, they are defined as having some functioning testicular tissue (male reproductive tissue) and some functioning ovarian tissue (female reproductive tissue). Relating this back to the ignorant statement "God didn't create Adam and Steve", exactly how should an inter-sex or hermaphroditic individual be classified: Adam, Eve, or Steve? And should it be suggested that he or she was not created by God. Once we recognize the complexity of determining one's sexual identity, we become aware of the massive amount of diversity created by God.
We have the tendency to see differences much easier than similarities and tend to shun, fear, despise those differences instead of glorifying God's creative diversity. So that we don't feel like we are arbitrarily discriminating we tend to incorporate our dislikes into our religion and claim that we don't judge or dislike these differences, but rather God does and we are just following His example.
God created us. He created DNA. He knew the diversity it would create and in the first chapter of Genesis he stated "It is good." So yes, God created Adam and Steve. And it is good.
When the disciples asked Christ why God created people who are blind and was it because that person or his parents had sinned. John 9:3 "It is not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him." God has created each of us so that the works of His can be made manifest in us. GLBT people are not accidents, errors, perverts, but rather chances for the works of God to be manifest.
So for you RIGHTEOUS RACHEL and all of YOU religious "whackjobs" who condemn everything you think is a "sin" - I hope that ONE day, you'll pull your heads out of your asses and realize the error of your ways...
I'll wait for the day when someone you love so dear turns out to be gay. Or how about praying that you be born again and be given the experience of being gay then tell me all your crappy ideas again?
1 Comment
MISREP - I dont feel ayney preysure rayt now...
Author: aLmich
Ka-pressure maging QA. May na-auto fail ako dinidispute ang judgment ko. Ultra sensitive pa naman yata ako kse when I asked my co-QAs iba din judgment nila.. Naaning ako. Katuwaan lang ipost ang explanation ko sa ma-purple kong manager.
---
Ms. Gay,
Cheers!
As transcribed :
20080409 : 8143988601 : : Cust: I already received the magazine Rep: National Underwriter, P&C…? Cust: P&C Rep: You’re currently getting this magazine free? Cust: Yes Rep: Okay, uhm coz it shows here in my database that you’re not getting this magazine free Cust: I’m getting this magazine free.. In fact I’m getting two (2) copies of this for free..
--------
What transpired was an actual misrepresentation as it shared the sense of presenting information in a way that does not accord with the truth. First we dont have a database that says or confirms that a customer does not receive the magazine yet. In fact we have an instruction that if a customer said that he/she is already receiving the same magazine, what the rep can do is to probe if it's really the same magazine with the specific magazine name or ask the customer if the magazine comes directly under his/her name . If so confirmed, they were instructed to let go of the call.
One thing to be considered also is the fact that what we have is a vet agent that has been exposed and educated to the fact that all our leads do not necessarily ensure qualification so probing is really needed. If the lead is tagged to be non requal it does not confirm that leads dont have it yet or in anyway not receiving it yet. Does the use of the provided probing questions and the qualifying questions.
What transpired was an implication of a purposeful twisting or emphasizing of certain statements so as to produce an inaccurate or misleading impression.
Kaaning!
Al Michael C. Calingasan
Service Quality Specialist
31st Floor, Wynsum Corporate Plaza
accalingasan@oneworldconnections.com
Phone : [632] 7027400 local 1140
> camWhoraGe
Author: aLmich
> JasoN's TarP
Author: aLmich
> MIGRATING TO WORDPRESS
Author: aLmich
This was supposed to have been my 273rd post. This is almost exciting. I feel rotten having to leave this dump but it's not because this dump stinks so much. It's that people bothered to smell the stink and blogger [almost everytime] encounters site error.
I wish I can say something really cutting about this whole leaving-the-blogger-site drama. But I don't know that it's a good idea to drop a very obvious, very nasty hint about Why "I Have To Do This". It is probably a bit late to bother with this but I can't help it. I am so in the mood to say things.
The right people know where to look. I am getting the fuck out of here.
> jOin the raCe
Author: aLmich
The first season of TARA brought us two teams from the Philippines: (1) the pink duo composed of sexy actress Aubrey Miles and model Jacqueline Yu, and (2) the Lopez couple Ernie and Jeena. Ernie is the son of Eugenio Lopez, Jr. and the brother of Eugenio Lopez III, chairman of the local network ABS-CBN. Aside from the Philippines, Malaysia also has two teams in the race. It could have been a good chance for the Philippines to win the race or, at least, to reach the finale, but unfortunately, both teams from the country were the first and second to be eliminated. What a shame!
I suspect that the AXN executives in the Philippines selected only the popular and the influential to compete in TARA. Though the new season brings another celebrity, I am glad they include the interesting couple of the retired US Navy officer Henry Reed and his Filipina wife Terri Reed. The celebrity I’m referring above is no less than Marc Nelson, paired up with his best buddy Rovilson Fernandez. Both worked as TV and event hosts in Manila, with modeling as sidelines. Hmmm, I guess Marc should replace Allan Wu already. The latter’s hosting style is quite annoying. Plus, he’s a Fear Factor loser. Too bad he’s back on screen again.
Looking at our powerhouse teams, I suddenly had high hopes for this season. They better not be eliminated early, else I’ll stop watching the show again.
> reBeL
Author: aLmich
Each day is always a start of something new and each new day gives us the power to continue with life and get what we always wanted to get. But be realistic, of course, for sleeping with Jake Cuenca is something we should never aspire in this lifetime. Only Cinderella [and company] lives in fantasy, not us.
It might have a diminutive relevance with what’s really going on with my own life now. But I'm tryin to enjoy what life offers or at least what life brings.
But I live in a vibrant city where everybody wanted to talk, to get noticed, to brag, to be recognized, to be the center of attention, to be accepted, to be significant and, perhaps, to rule. The list never ends there, because people just can’t stop. We always wanted to do things in our own little ways, and brag about the difference they might achieve. Too much freedom caused us to collide with the righteous ones, and too little achievement caused us to blame them. Guess what, we never made a difference.
> i'D raTher be mUm
Author: aLmich
Anyway, here goes nothing...
Woah! That felt GOOD!!!
> no One but JC
Author: aLmich
> i-One moRe chanCe naTin
Author: aLmich
How does a lovely couple of five years get back together after breaking up?
nagsabi sa akin na baka kaya tayo iniiwan ng mga taong mahal natin, kasi baka merong bagong
darating na mas okay. Na mas mamahalin tayo, yung taong hindi tayo sasaktan at paaasahin.
Yung nag-iisang tao na magtatama ng mali sa buhay natin,
ng lahat ng mali sa buhay mo..."
After a very tiring night at work, the four of us braved the sunlight and waited for Megamall to open. Brooke needed an eye checkup and Ron needed to buy some stuffs while we [I and Jc] decided to just be the spice to complete the menu.
..."mahal na mahal kita..at ang sakit sakit na"The couple central to the story is Popoy [John Lloyd Cruz] and Basha [Bea Alonzo] . Their story is given enough background-- they were college sweethearts who, after five years, get engaged. The conflict of the movie arises when Basha gets fed up with Popoy's controlling ways and opts to have more space and personal growth by breaking up with Popoy. Popoy, on the other hand, is devastated as his plans are quashed and deals with the break-up unwisely. The story moves forward and gets better at that point.
"ten seconds...ten seconds lang...."
..."she had me at my worst,u had me at my best...and u chose to break my my heart"
..."malaki lang ang katawan mo pero di mo ko kayang patumbahin"
> peRi-chicKen
Author: aLmich
Obviously, I'm not very cultured.
After perusing the menu and not finding anything to explain what a peri-peri chicken was [except for the phrase "spit-fire grilled chicken", which didn't help much since I had no idea what a spit-fire was], I decided to let my stomach do the thinking.
The menu centers on the chicken, which comes in Lemon Garlic, Peri Mild, and Peri Hot flavors. There's an array of side dishes to complement your chicken [tortilla chips, java garlic rice, tortillas, corn kernels, macaroni & cheese, potato salad, and coleslaw], other chicken dishes like chicken wraps and chicken strips, and some other ulams for those who don't like poultry. Prices are reasonable, ranging from Php100-300.
I'm starving from all that mental effort by this time, so I decide to load up on the carbs and order the the lemon garlic chicken, the potato salad, and the pasta. Service is quick and friendly; the meal comes in no time at all, and with it... peri-peri heaven. The chicken is perfectly moist and juicy, and comes with a special dipping sauce which seems to be made out of oil, but who cares? It's tasty! If you want to up the heat factor, douse your chicken with the bottles of Peri Mild and Peri Hot sauce on the table.
Thirty minutes later I am leaning back on my chair, rubbing my stomach. I still had no idea what a peri-peri chicken was -- it's not chicken inasal, nor is it inihaw na manok, but it definitely was peri-peri good.
*After doing my homework, I discovered that peri-peri is actually the name used for the African Bird's Eye chili in Portuguese and some African languages. It is often used in Portuguese cuisine to prepare sauces and marinades for roasted and grilled dishes... and so, peri-peri chicken!
> noT too Late for The 80's
Author: aLmich
> iBarrA
Author: aLmich
> uBer-suPer
Author: aLmich
I just watched Smallville 7… we had a somehow sunny, windy, Manila's Christmas Season weather where the only viable option was to curl up on the couch at home and watch movies and TV. And this one really struck me. There’s something to the innate goodness of Clark that I’ve missed seeing in movies and books. As of late, we like heroes who are hardboiled, cynical, damaged and “dark”. While I know as well as anyone the draw of a good antihero [all the book characters that I’ve been in love with are dark, damaged, cynical and good despite their preferences], I’m wondering if this isn’t a bad thing for us as people, that we don’t believe in good and heroic heroes anymore.
This really stood out to me in light of watching, for much of the rest of the day, the show Big Brother–more specifically, the UBER live feed that they’re playing nightly this time. Don’t get me wrong– I still like the reality show, but it strikes me that this is a microcosm of life as most of us in “the new age” [for lack of a better term] live our lives. We shut off all contact with the outside world, become intimately involved in the [ultimately meaningless] maneuvering for power within our self-limited circles, and insist on living life as though we’re playing a zero-sum game.
In some ways it’s probably more comfortable to live like this. After all, when your world has prescribed boundaries, you don’t have to worry about anything outside those boundaries, and you have a lot more control over what happens in a little goldfish bowl than you do over the whole ocean. But at the same time, when you deny the existence of life outside of the fishbowl, you render essentially meaningless ideas like “the greater good” or even alleviating suffering among people who don’t live in your bowl. Because admitting the existence of the downtrodden in the world outside would shatter the confines of a tidy game and its self-imposed rules, we often choose to disregard things we honestly shouldn’t. Thus arguing about the war becomes the matter of how much attrition of those who staged another hotel mutiny is acceptable– and really more about which political movements in the country you agree with– instead of a matter of thinking about the best interests of the people in that part of the world that, for better or worse, we have assumed some responsibility for.
Besides, when we limit ourselves to only a self-referential idea of values, all based off the “game” of life that we invented for ourselves, it becomes increasingly easy over time to talk ourselves into, at times, a complete reversal of the values that we purportedly live by. The “right to choose” becomes the “right to die” becomes “the duty to die” once one becomes a burden on the younger, prettier and stronger…
Superman, as he was originally conceived, stood for “Truth, Justice, and the American Way” [which I think meant the idealistic American way that may or may not have ever really existed, where we championed good over evil and attempted to ensure life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness–in that order–to all people in the world]. How many people do you know who believe in Truth, Justice, and living life according to a broader set of values like that? Not many, I’m guessing. I think if more of us opened our lives and understanding to the greater world, and to the need for greater values, we’d find many more people who were willing to act on those values. In that sense, we’d have a nation full of Supermen…
> iRonic
Author: aLmich
My life is really colorful. I came from a group of friends who never gets tired of reminiscing our elementary and high school days. Every aspect of my life has a certain "caption" to explain. When it comes to the word "Ironic" need I explain what song comes to mind? Of course, it is the tune that officially beckoned Alanis Morissette into stardom in 1995. I have liked her ever since her first album! In 1995 I was a 2nd year high school version of myself and the acoustic abilities, the unusual vocal nuances, moderate feminism and alternative looks of Alanis Morissette together with slightly controversial lyrics made me a big fan. Tonight that song, the word ironic, are on my mind. So I would like to leave you with a video from my youth and a song that right now expresses my disappointments whilst cheering me up.
> parTy LayouTs
Author: aLmich
> earLy cHristmas preSenTs
Author: aLmich
> LOVE-state
Author: aLmich
So far, it's been around three weeks of mediocrity. Three weeks of nonchalant concern for anything, everything I could possibly hope to care about. It's a carefree outlook that's becoming too familiar, as far as I'm concerned. Too common. Too embedded in my subconscious self.
To the point of being scary.
Why the boredom? The incessant fascination with self-destructive behavior? The unexplained wild mood swings? The thought of being jealous for no apparent reason?
It's too early to be anything that resembles any form of mid-life crisis-esque condition. It's too late for it be some kind of quasi-adolescent phenomenon. Or is it?
I don't know. It's starting to be too complicated for me. For my own good. I enjoy the challenge now and then. But this one... I am tempted to say, is proving itself to be too much for me. I thought I'm over this. I thought I'm too tough to love again.
Ha! I never thought I'd get around to saying these again. This day, most of all. Today.
But I have no answers to offer myself. That's the worse part. My mind is as blank as it could ever be. A clean slate that's not of the type we're supposed to have at this point in our lives. I am lost in my own prison cell --- bound by walls of restlessness, apathy and unabated self-flagellation.
Ah, the tragedy!
And there is no ending to this sad little tale. Nothing I'd gladly hold on to. Look forward to.
Sa mga hassle sa buhay mo?
Ayaw mo na bang
Mag-isip para sa sarili?
--- Eraserheads
If there ever is some drug I could take; a song I could listen to; an advice I could promptly put to heart. Hand it over, please.
I will forever be indebted.
> on beiNg fLubby and weaRy
Author: aLmich
For the most part, I'm imagining things. I'm thinking of those people who are able to do what they want to do --- what they enjoy the most doing. I envy those people who are out tonight. Drinking their woes away. Filling their tummies to the point of ecstatic fullness. For whatever that means.
I'm stuck inside a box. Slowly degenerating. Decomposing. A slow and yet oh so painful process.
Nothing beats watching yourself at this sorry state.
I will get out of this.
But it's taking too long. Far too long...
> taggeD ME
Author: aLmich
1. What are the things you enjoy doing when there's no one around you?
Well, I spend a lot of time in front of PC [either at home or at the office which I've named almik, btw, just recently). Either I'm browsing through blogs, doing the monitorings for iPrint agents, downloading mp3s or vector arts, listening to my already considerably large collection of mp3s, watching YouTube, writing some literary musings, or finishing artworks for the christmas party or for friends who just happened to be pressuring me like they're paying me or simply to put them here on my blog. Yes, I do all that just sitting here. Like right now.
2. What lowers your stress/blood pressure/anxiety level?
Hmmm. Well, there's ALL OF THE ABOVE. I release all that tension by busying myself with such tasks. I also read books, now and then, having coffee with either Myah, Jc or Gretch, Ortigas stroll with Kate or the rest of the QA gang. Watch TV. But the best one so far, I think, has been listening to some music I particularly fancy at any given time, while lying down. I just close my eyes and fly... I'm not a very spiritual person actually. But sometimes being one helps too.
I won't tag anyone just yet. :)
> saraP mag-UCC coFfee
Author: aLmich
Nothing beats like a good breakfast after a snorrryyy sleep.
It was my day off last Friday so I had all the stars and the moon to enjoy plus the cold wind of December for long hours of sleep. I can really feel Christmas fast approaching, the smell, the weather and the people.
"Oh my gosh I have a message" - as my cellphone's bading message alert screamed.
It's the same person sending all the good mornings and all the quotes he could possibly send in the world. I decided not to be irritated. The message prompted me to wake up and check my email messages. There was Kate and Gayle online and JC too!
Had a little chitchat with my co-QA's then JC buzzed me. Good mornings, his and hellos... "Lamig, sarap magkape", "oo nga eh", "Tara!", "Sige wait mo ko, punta ko diyan".
We headed off to UCC Coffee in Podium for breakfast, I can honestly say it was worth getting up for. It's really nice eating outdoors on such a gorgeous day with a great foods and coffee to compliment and enjoy chatting with friends. We started our meal with coffee and so these pictures tell the rest...
And yeah! we saw Edu Manzano to Game Ka Naba the day and Pichay to compliment our laughter. Itanim sa Senado! Wahahaha...
> meDiocriTy
Author: aLmich
Lying in bed earlier today after BED clubbing, I had a hard time sleeping. I texted JC "I'm home, about to sleep na". He texted back "Hindi pa ako makatulog, anyway, sleep tight". And yet after few hours of just lying there, I stood up again. I can't sleep. I just had tonic vodka, tequilla and coffee and lots of dancing but the tiresome and gruesome night didn't summon my body to sleep. The long and quite moment gave me time to think. This life is good but I want something better. It feels like everything in my life right now is mediocre. I'm mediocre. I know I should be doing stuffs that make me grow and improve. I don't feel that right now. It's like I'm stuck doing the same things over and over again. I want to do something different. Learn something new. Do something new. I feel so restless.
A friend invited me about attending this introduction to wakeboarding. I'm seriously considering it. I also want to enroll at Fitness First. After this super-busy week, I will. I also want to start reviving my out of town-trips again. I want to design clothes. I want to study and pursue ice skating. I want my own clothing line. I want to learn how to sing. I want to write a novel. I want to write a movie! I want to be an extra in a movie! I miss theatre. Shit. I used to do all these before. What happened to me? Where's my life? Where am I? It seems that in the course of getting assimilated into the world of the underpaid young professionals, of trying to fit into this mold, I lost my self. I lost my passion. I used to dream about things. I still do. But before, I made my dreams happen. Today. I feel that I've lost that power. I pray to God that I get it back somehow. I know that when I do, things will be better. I will feel better. And my role in this world will be more significant. I want to contribute more. I want to be more. And starting today, I will. God help me.
> pasT BED TimE
Author: aLmich
Gigantic mirror ballsdarting sweaty bodies;
Arms stretched
with hands cupped
like receiving manna from
heaven;
Boys grinding
to the sound of house music;
Smoke shrouding
the dance floor;
Beer guzzling,
Bass shaking,
Heads nodding.
After some months of absence,I returned to Malate -
only to realize
that despite my renewed ability
to bend and stretch my body
in ways
I have never done for a very long time,
clubbing doesn't thrill me that much
like it used to before.
Good thing I'm with friends.
With JC and Eric in tow, I enjoyed Malate
in a different sense.
I guess it's time to accept
that it's way past my BED time
For I, after so many daydreams
of reclaiming that great party experience
I had in my Malate days,
have now outgrown clubbing.
> neW parTy posTers
Author: aLmich
> sir PAULY and this BLOG
Author: aLmich
I realized WORK and FOES have been making headline news on this blog since the dramatic developments in the workplace. While this blog exposes some segments of the whole context of life at a callcenter and my personal battles, I don’t want it to spoil this blog’s whole theme of work-life balance.
I promise to make up for it on subsequent entries.
> wriTing courAge
Author: aLmich
Perhaps, I needed encouragement.
Now that I’m in a stressful world of callcenter, my association with him awoke inside me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive and to pursue the flow of my imagination in writing. And so I took a crack at free writing on this blog. Since my ex-writer-beau is an excellent, sharp-eyed editor, I suppose he reads my entries not merely for content but also for mechanics. Too bad he's to away from me now or should I say making himself too away now? Sadly, I’m becoming increasingly frustrated at not being able to craft a finished piece of writing without a glitch.
When I’m in the heat of writing, I am likely to make confusing shifts of person or verb tense as well as errors of sentence fragments and comma splices, etc.
Hopefully, my errors of grammar, punctuation and transition are not too obvious to distract my readers.
I'm just really glad this has been my emotional highway and loneliness' FedEx. And one more, this blog has been my tranquility place. A place where cons and pros meet. As you can read from some comments made by my friends and somehow-enemies, I just feel so nice knowing that even those people who hate me read this. So it's more of ENEMY = FAN now. Galing no? Ayaw nila sa'kin and yet may I basa sila blog ko... Katuwa lang. Peace people!
Then again, I’m upset and uninspired.
> i neeD to Lie LoW
Author: aLmich
Okay, I admit I find myself solidly in the “high dominance” camp. Good thing, my LORD is even more dominant to diffuse my intensity. Well, had he not been able to overpower my alpha tendencies, I would have found him unexciting.
Then again, I wish I had about a zillion sides to my personality that’s ever changing depending on the situation. Tt work, I wish I were one sovereign force to be reckoned with. With my best friends and family, I wish I were an ultimate cry-on-my-shoulder rock. And with my LORD, I wish I were a bit docile. A docile dominatrix.
Ahh... some people. Who cares?
> meDia pLayeR
Author: aLmich
They're not necessarily new. Some go way, way back while others are more contemporary, in some ways.
UMBRELLA [Mandy Moore version]
I just love it. The first time I heard the version was through KC Concepcion's TV stint - "KC From Paris to Pinas". Ther's something the way she sings it. I feel someting hitting my spines. Who doesn't?
DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT [Toploader]
While blog-hopping recently, I came upon this one where a media player was embedded in the blog page itself and which, went on to play some songs, I assume, that blog's owner fancies. The first on the list there was this song. I already had a copy of this song in my PC. But somehow, it got lost among the thousands I have stored in the machine. And it was only through this recent encounter that the song got itself reintroduced to my eardrums. Anyway, it would be several days of this song constantly playing inside my head before I eventually decided to go look for it and play through my PC.
EVERY LITTLE THING [Dishwalla]
This one I heard while I came to a friend's room one time. I also had listened to this song before, and also had a copy of it stored away. But to hear it from my officemate's PC was somehow quite refreshing. Dishwalla's other songs had been played so much in my PC that it came to a point when I suddenly stopped listening to them completely. After hearing this song though, it all came crawling back in a weird but nice kind of way.
MASAYA [Bamboo]
The band's album itself has been on my most-played playlists recently. But hearing this particular song in the radio and watching its music video at the TV just made this one more appealing, I guess. [I wish they used a different name for the band though; somehow it feel's like short of calling it Bamboo's Band]
CALL AND ANSWER [Barenaked Ladies]
This one's from the movie, EDTV [Matthew McConoughey/Jenna Elfman]. But I didn't know this until recently, when I got to watch the music video for the first time. Anyway, I was not much of a fan of the band before. But this song changed my mind. Either that, or it's simply this song alone.
KIND AND GENEROUS [Natalie Merchant]
"Na-na-na, na-na-na-na..." And so the song goes. The other day, before I switched off the television, a small-budget movie [made for television] was just starting at HBO. This song was its background music. I like Natalie Merchant --- even since her days with 10,000 Maniacs. Her voice is just so... different [for lack of something profound to say]. I even bought her album [cassette tape only] just because I was looking for this particular song. Anyway, it's nice to listen to.
PLEASE DON'T STOP THE MUSIC [Rihanna]
I just have one person in mind everytime I hear this. I'm confused but I'm posting this anyway.
> LayouTs
Author: aLmich
I've been tasked to do some of the layouts for our Christmas Party. I just hope everything will be fine.
This would be the image that will be part of the stage design.
This is only the draft for the redcarpet background ala Awards Night.
This is one of the teasers for the party posted along the corridors of the office.
> posiTive viBes
Author: aLmich
Today's a Saturday. That makes tomorrow Sunday, church day! --- what else?
So I've decided to make quick turnabout insofar as my personal sentiments are concerned, whether self-induced or caused by some external, foreign influence. I've decided to devote the main column of this blog ONLY to positive, "happy" entries. The other, less enthusiastic ones I will put on the sideblog. Meaning, they'll both be brief and even more vague than they already are. My apologies to those who attempt to make sense out of them. If any.
I just received a comment from one of my entries. The person might be hiding his [assuming na HE siya] identity but I'm just thankful he's been reading this blog. I understand him. I mean from his standpoint and from all he heard, what do you think would be his side? Maybe he has not been victimized yet or maybe he just doesn't know. I don't know. But just like what I've said, I'm okay now. Whatever happened before were all rested on HIS judgment. I don't feel that bad about that person anymore anyway. Afterall, that person has been my friend. I'm just exploring my freedom to write.
Anyone who comes across this blog, I want him or her to feel only positive vibes. No. It's not censorship. It's not being un-true to one's self. As I've explained, nothing's being hidden or removed. Only relocated. Far more than an attempt to appease any blog-hopper or reader, it's more of a therapeutic exercise for me. Maybe by trying to highlight more the better aspects of life, I too would follow suit and adopt the same philosophy which this blog shall now incorporate in its electronic "paginas". Hopefully.
With that, I shall now look for those elusive "feel-good" thoughts.
Good luck to me!
> sTarbux pLanneR
Author: aLmich
Again, I'm one of those people getting oh-so-gaga for this Starbucks planner since 2004. I helped DJ complete and claim hers as early as the 1st week of November, just last week, JC and I completed and claimed his planner. Today I claimed one for myself. Luckily I'm a coffee addict *hehehe.
Starbucks
Stickers to collect: 9 Christmas Blends, 12 Regular Drinks
Cheapest way to collect: P130.00 Short Cup Peppermint Mocha, P75.00 Brewed Coffee Total Expenses: P2,460.00
Estimated Cost of Planner: P550.00
Feel good Factor? Starbucks Coffee has had a long tradition with their Christmas Planner which started around 2004. A contribution to the foundation Spark Hope is made when you complete your planner.
Seattle's BestCoffeeStickers to collect: 6 Christmas Blends, 14 Regular Drinks
Cheapest way to collect: P130.00 Short Cup, P75.00 Hot Tea
Total Expenses: P1,830.00Estimated Cost of Package: P1500.00
Feel good Factor? SBC has made it so cheap to get so many give aways, maybe they just really forgot to give away the kitchen sink?
Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
Stickers to collect: 3 Ice blended drinks, 3 tea drinks, 3 expresso drinks, 1 Christmas blend
Cheapest way to collect: P130.00 Short Ice Blended Drink, P125.00 Short Hot Beverage
Total Expenses: P1,330.00
Estimated Cost of Package: P150.00
Feel good Factor? They're only simple notebooks but are the cheapest and easiest to collect.
> iF anD onLy iF
Author: aLmich
Yeah, I know it's such a harsh picture of reality that I'm painting for myself. Completely unhealthy and anti-social. But no matter how I hard to look at it from a different angle, another point of view, I keep ending up with the same pessimistic attitude.
It could be that I've been traumatized far too many times in the past, from situations wherein the people I trusted the most turned out to be the ones who hurt me in the worst kind of way possible. In short, best friends turned biggest assholes. I use the term friend here in the generic sense [It could refer to friends literally, acquaintances, even relatives].
During those times, I was always completely caught unprepared. Who wouldn't be? There was once a saying, "Against an enemy I can myself defend. But heaven protect me from a blundering friend." I cannot find anything more accurate than that.
It's so sad how those what you thought to be your friends turned to be a snake ready to bite you dead. I've experienced those... trust me. I had Rien as a very-well-loved-and-treasured-friend and yet she bit me. So as Farrah [*good thing we managed to reclaim the friendship] and now the same thing is happening to Ryan and Gretch [With these I meant both having trouble with each other... Ryan and Gretch are mortal enemies now and we, their friends couldn't do anything but mumble our words].Why do you have to forget the friendship? Why say I don't need you in life? Why destroy everything? Why be drowned by the attention?
But then, shouldn't we be able to distinguish these persons from the rest? Why take it against the world, simply for the actions of quite a few? I can offer no sound justification.
It's a sad fact. I befuddle even myself.
Today, I live in a very jaded world, painted in all-black. It's not a very happy place to be in, I tell you. There are not enough words for me to express how much I'd like to move away from it. But my inner demons seem to always prevail.
It also doesn't help that I still meet these fake people I despise every now and then. They just reaffirm my personal beliefs. No matter how skewed. No matter how flawed.
It's kinda funny though how I slowly end up becoming the people I hate the most...
Sighs all over the place.
If only had the insight to look deeper into people --- and find the tiniest bit of good, even in the most evil person around. Maybe I would be a whole lot better. A better person. A better man.
That is, if only.
Because I've never been the better man.
> hapi burp-daY meLLe!
Author: aLmich
> woNderinG... rambLing...
Author: aLmich
I've been browsing over all these different blogs across the internet superhighway, and I'm amazed at how exciting and colorful other people's lives must be. Yhey have all these stories, these daily encounters with the interesting kind. Hence, no problem as to what to write down on to their blogs, whatsoever.
I kept wondering why I could not experience that same ease; why I could not have this treasure-filled chest of anecdotes and what-have-you's. Then it struck me.
A great majority of all these people whose sites I found rather interesting, had really cool jobs. One would either be a writer, a photographer or an artist. Man, their jobs kick ass. No wonder they get to engage in all these fulfilling episodes.
Whereas I am stuck in this call center environment. Some people may find that exciting. Some may find time for exciting things, [de]spite of being in a call center. I don't really understand it. Whenever someone would ask me where am I working, I always have this second thought of saying the bleep [*callcenter] word. I hate those who would bravely go and stand sa stage specially sa comedy bars tapos mag-iingles kse daw taga callcenter siya [*nyeta!]. I know there's nothing to be ashamed of, but that just doesn't work for me I guess.
At least not yet.
That's why I'm either gonna have to wait for 2 years more or so, before I am able to do the things I really want to. Or by some stroke of luck, I too would be fortunate enough to find some color in this place, maybe on another job.
There. That's the most "positive" way I can think of to describe the way things are for me. Right here. Right now.
Happy Holidays!
