bushwhacked

What i meant by that is...Bush is whacked! I just cant stand this guy. I know you must be thinking, there she goes again ranting again. Okei, I am...but with good reason. This is an issue I feel strongly about and I cant just sit back and be passive about it.

I came across this article about rejecting the reinsertion of the feeding tube to this brain damaged woman, Terri Schiavo. She may be brain damaged and in a vegitative state meaning she cant move, think, speak, respond and do those cognitive functions but she can blink and breathe on her own. Removing her feeding tube would mean starving her and in two weeks, this would eventually result to her death. I think this is just inhumane and appalling. If I remember my laws on euthanasia correctly, two factors that enables you to legally and morally kill the sick person if the person is completely dependent on machines for more than a considerable period of time and if the person has no hopes of recovery. Schiavo is not completely dependent on machines as she is capable of breathing on her own and the doctors that her parents hired said that she may have the capacity to move with intensive theraphy. So killing her is out of the question. I cant believe Bush is saying he cant intervene in her case. I find that weird, in the US where he is President, there are things he cant intervene in like this while outside US, he feels free to intervene in Iraq's affairs and claim that they have weapons of mass destruction that were never ever found. Isnt that so ironic? Its as ironic as advocating for pro-life while sending troops to war for a false cause and losing their lives as if it were just props for a freak show. Im not claiming to be the fountain of wisdom here but wars are a never ending cycle of retaliation and death that will only result to tragedy. I think, we lose more than we are gaining. A person's life is not something tangible that you can restore once it is gone. Life should be revered and valued not only because it is short but also because it is borrowed from God. He gave us the chance to live it and its not in our hands to take our lives or other's lives for that matter. Our mortality is up for Him to decide, not ours.

Im not really a John Kerry supporter, but anyone who runs against Bush gets my support 100%. I really hate it that Bush won but thats life. Nothing I can do about that now, all I can do is stand up and advocate for what I think is right. I value life, not just my own but others too. Terri may not live long but the point is that we tried to save her instead of signing her death sentence... Live and let live!

Bottom line:

Save Terri Schiavo

Stop the war

thats all there is to it

boxing and whinning

I don't really like boxing. I am more of a [wwe] wrestling fan than boxing. Wrestling is more dynamic, you can use your hands, feet, elbows [and improvise with any foreign objects near by..haha] plus, it has a story line, its scripted so there is this motive why this person is beating the crap out of the other person as opposed to boxing where you can only use your hands and no hitting below the belt. Its more bloody and gruesome and barbaric since its main thing is just to knock opponent unconscious. The only upshot here is that its a measure of skill and its real. That is what I know.

There was this much anticipated boxing match between Pacquiao and Morales in MGM Grand Las Vegas televised live. Everyone in our house was super psyched about it and every tv in our house was tuned to it. Needless to say, I was left with no choice but to watch it and it seemed pretty interesting at the time and so I did. I thought that in boxing all you had to do was punch your opponent in the face for so many times until he passes out cold. How exciting is that? there is not much strategy needed. But then, I soon saw that its more scientific than I initially thought. I noticed Morales was psychologizing Pacquaio, studying his moves. He indulging his weakness which was his ego, everytime Pacquiao thought he was on top, that was where Morales struck him hard and I must admit it was quite impressive. I soon realized that boxing is not just this blood sport but a mind game as well. I could tell by round 3, even before the controversial head butt that Morales had the match won. Morales was more of an experienced boxer, bigger, stronger, had better strategy or at least a strategy going to the game than just punching your opponent with all that you've got. The bottom line here is that he was the better man between them and eventually, he was awarded the championship which was from Pacquiao.

After the match, Morales seemed more tired than hurt while Pacquiao was a bloody mess. Though I would have to give him props for not ending up in Morales' list of knock outs. Though his ego didnt really disintegrate along with the beating he got. He claimed that he almost had Morales beat by knock out. Which got me laughing my butt of cause it seemed more likely that he would pass out than Morales getting beat. I know that my loyalty should be with Pacquiao given that he was our pride representing the country but I just find it pathetic that he would whine and complain after he got beat. He then blamed the head butt, making it difficult for him to see clearly and then there's this cable person he was talking about which I dont quite understand. He said that there was this problem with this person that plagued his mind during the fight so he couldnt consentrate well. Its just pathetic. The worse part is, most fellow countrymen here are siding with him, claiming that he was screwed. Their blind loyalty hinders their objective reasoning. Pacquiao is still young, he's just 26. He can still learn to be a better boxer he need not blame every circumstance that might be the reason for his defeat. He has the potential, he just has to learn how to use it. Morales was just the better man, thats just that. If ever I get to see Pacquiao in the future, I'll surely tell him that and hopefully, someone would rush me to the hospital. ha ha ha..

Im relatively new at this so its just now that I finally figured out how to post pictures on this blog. I took this picture earlier this month..so this isnt really recent plus my hair isnt really curly. I'll post new pictures after I see the results of the photo shoot I did last week. Till then...

cropped
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who ever said a student's life is easy?

This week has been so stressful. Tons of home work in statistics, oral defense in Macbeth, reading assignments for the general provision of contracts, 4 chapters of philosophy...has just got me running for some time out! I do love to read and learn about stuffs but if you've been reading for the nth hour, its not as fun as you think and you begin to see the alphabets swirling around you in space. With so many details, its just information overload! Not to mention my future commitments like project papers, future quizzes, graded recitations...oh my!

Thank God its Friday and I finally get to unwind before I embark on another academic journey next week. My mom just called up and asked me if I wanted to go out since it was midnight madness was on tonight. Do I? OF COURSE!! I desperately need a break, watch a movie, zone out and take my mind off things...

Being a college student isnt as easy as it seems, we just make it look good! :)

victim of fate or free will?

yesterday, our class in literature had to do an oral defense on an shakespearean classic, Macbeth. I'm not really one for tragedies, but this one was totally fascinating. I rememebered what my philosophy teacher told us, about the katharsis in watching tragedies,[ may it be in the movies, books or in the soap operas] it makes us better than ourselves as opposed to comedies that make us lesser than ourselves, im not sure but i think it was aristotle she quoted by that. i have always thought of tragedies as miserable and gruesome but now, in this example i can clearly discern what aristotle meant by that. there are no proclaimed protagonist and antogonist here yet there is still the conflict, it explores human nature, feeding on our weakness and if we indulge ourselves a bit too much, it swallows us whole just like in real life. there are really no antagonists in real life, we are all basically good until we lose that goodness in indulging in a weakness that ultimately destroys the good that is inate in all of us. it can be a varied weakness, for Macbeth's case it was greed. Well, I did fairly good in that exam but thats not the topic i want in delve into in this entry.

at some point after the exam, our professor asked us if Macbeth was a victim of fate and of free will. i though about it, listened to my classmate's opinions and finally came to my own conclusion that Macbeth was a victim of his own free will. Considering that the three witches did in fact, tell him what was to become of him wasnt enough proof to blame fate for what has become of him. for some people, fate is what you are to do, where you are to be, what you are to become. im still on the fence if destiny is really true or its just something people call the things that happen to them that they cant find anyone else to blame but themselves hence they call it destiny. Most of the time, i tend to lean towards the latter. I think that fate or destiny, is a state of potentiality, where this or that could happen but it still all rests upon you if you are to act towards that potentiality for it to become actuality. For Macbeth, the witches told him his destiny, they way he acted toward that professy was to his own preference, even if his wife told him to kill Duncan it was still and ultimately his decision to actually commit murder and his evil actions thereafter. It was his decision to kill MacDuff's family and Banquo for that ambition of his that consequently led to greed and it was his greed that became his downfall so it was his will that he was a victim of, not fate. What he got was only the consequence of his actions, fate had nothing to do with it.
the end doesnt justify the means.

chinese apreciation day

A month after Chinese new year, I find myself...in Chinatown!! Buying some authentic green tea that we have grown to love. I just had to share that one. They say that there is a fine line between coincidence and fate. I dont really know but this day has been filled with so much coincidences that just blew my mind....or am I just thinking too much? Not that this is a countdown. Im not Chinese, there isnt even a fraction of a quarter or anything in our bloodline that is even remotely Chinese. Im half Hispanic if anything else. So the Chinese new year shouldnt really affect me in the least or at least it shouldnt have.

Exactly this day last month was Chinese new year and I just find it ironic that the official beggining of the Chinese lunar calendar is the same time we decided to end this crazy almost 2 year infatuation. With someone Chinese too. Don't feel sorry for me, the relationship was kinda winding down anyway and it was just then that we decided to formally end it once and for all. No hard feelings. So I guess, this lunar year gives the Chinese a new jump start on things and for me, a chance to start anew with my life. In that way, Im Chinese. Even before him, I already found myself fascinated by the Chinese...their culture, their philosophy, their art and most of all their cuisine. With an authentic Chinese guy, it gave me a front row perspective into what is Chinese. As a matter of fact, I can even speak and understand basic Mandarin. That's how fascinated I am. Im still learning it since one of my goals in life is to be multilingual.

And since this seems like a Chinese appreciation entry, I'll delve more into that previous relationship. It was fun and great while it lasted. It was a real learning experience for the both of us. The most important lesson I learned was that opposites do attract but unlike magnets, they dont really last. What we ultimately need at the end of the day is someone, more like ourselves. I dont mean that you should have all things in common, that would just be freaky! You may have different personalities, customs, religion, race, preferrences but at the end of the day, you both hold the same beliefs or philosophies in life. Although I was really fascinated with Chinese things and he was purely Chinese [the embodiment of just that], it didnt work cause our personalities were just too polar to romantically connect. I knew we were better off as friends, I just didnt want to admit it right away. You just cant force things that arent meant to be.

Its back to the drawing board for me...and its quite fun to be single again. I dont really have any specifications for the next potential special person in my life...He may be Chinese, he may not... but the most important thing for me will be that we are compatible enough to connect and thats the basic, most significant thing.

rants of a college girl

"what am I gonna take for college?" I thought back in junior high. I pondered for a bit then came to the conclusion that I still had a year to explore the possibilities. In senior high, I still havent decided, so I just checked courses that might be useful for me in the future but still I had nothing particularly like. I checked out accounting since it seemed like a stable job, though not insanely in demand like nurses but all companies need accountants and there are a lot of companies out there. I'm bound to get a job. Besides, how hard can it be? I thought to myself since I prided myself for getting a 98% grade in our basic accounting subjects in highschool. [brags]. Eventually, I got in the university I wanted and I found myself taking up a applied economics and accounting. Great! a double major course! I checked it out thinking, this must be great, like a 2 in 1 thing. I must be getting the better end of the deal...boy, was I in for a surprise!! A double major course meant, double the torture! The then easy peasy accounting turned into a nightmare from hell. The basic accounting subjects I took in high school were discussed in 2 weeks maximum and things got harder from there. Its like the noose tied around my neck became tighter and tighter and tighter that I soon was gasping for my breath. I could look into my future in this course and all I see is myself going insane, pulling my hair in frustration that I lost a single cent and couldnt balance the whole damn balance sheets and fricking income statements. Economics was the better end of the deal. It wasnt as demanding though it can get really tough. I felt like I could survive but its not really something I have the liking to.

I have thought of shifting to another course but the question I asked myself back in junior high came back to haunt me. I still havent decided what to take for college even if I am IN college already. Now, Im mastering in a field that is yet to be decided or I'm floating as some would call it. I have a knack for pyschology and philosophy [as i soon realized] and astronomy but nothing I seriously want to pursue. I mean, I don't wanna be a councilor or a shrink or a philosopher in the future, those are just my sidelines. Things that I am good at but I dont want a degree in it. I think the major problem that I have in choosing a course is that I honestly dont see myself working in an office as most people are expected to be, as an employee, in a routinary job that eventually becomes mechanical for me. I want something exciting and challenging. I love to travel the world and discover their cultures. But somehow a degree in tourism isnt as impressive. I want a job where I can shop, eat, travel and explore and get paid for it. Like this woman I saw on tv, her job is to buy things [money provided by the company] then she writes about it, if she likes it and stuff or one that travels the world and documents it or studies the people there..something like that..what course is that?..but reality check..there arent that many job opportunities like that.. those people who have jobs like that are extremely lucky besides, although the wonders of the galaxy enchants and mystifies me, there are a variety of courses offered but nothing in that direction...the closest you can get is to become a weather nut...no way!! I love to act on stage and sing but its not really a serious carreer to delve into.

The course Im seriously considering right now is business management. though its not really in my list of preferrence, its the closest I can get to a serious and stable job and at the same time it provides enough flexibility for me to be my own entreprenuer as they say. I can do business, I can go work in an office [if ever] or work for myself. I can pursue my interests and still have a business on the side. I just hope this is it..

the phantom of the opera
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the phantom of the opera

Truth be told, I didn’t really have the intention of watching the movie initially. The trailer was quite impressive and mystifying with the special effects, the lavish props and the wonderful costumes. It had an interesting story line. The only actors I recognized there were Minnie Driver and Miranda Richardson, who were talented and seasoned performers in their own rights. But it just didnt appeal to me enough for me to get a ticket and go watch the movie.

My professor in Literature 2 suggested that we watch the movie and make a paper out of it. Okay so I watched it out of necessity, but I would have to admit that it would have been a shame to miss this movie. It was a fitting adaptation to its famous theatrical play counterpart. It was just as grand and breathtaking. It even explained some of the questions one might have upon watching the play, like how did the phantom came about and his relationship with the woman. The actors fit perfectly into their roles. I'm just wondering if they were the ones who really sang their parts or someone else sang it for them. My favorite was Charlotta, it was just so dynamic and funny that I couldn't get myself to dislikng her character. I've always thought of Minnie Driver as a shy, prim and sweet character but she really transformed into what was needed to produce the persona of Charlotta which was just so...[finding the right word..]..fascinating! She was impressive with the accents too. Back to the movie, my favorite part was when they sang "all i ask of you" by the balcony. It was just so touching that I could feel for the characters as well, the love that emanated from the couple and the pain that the phantom felt from witnessing the event.

By the end of the movie, I find myself enthralled and singing to the songs in the movie while the person who watched it with me, Josel found herself having a crush with the phantom. Although half [or one-fourth] of his face was distorted, Josel still found him handsome as a lot of people who have watched it might also agree with her. The only negative feedback I got from my friends who have watched it is that the girl who played Christine was not pretty enough. I don't know, but she was alright by me. She may not be the modern definition of what a beautiful woman should be but she had this face that seemed to have risen from the rennaisance period, sweet, virginal and old fashioned. All in all, it was a movie worth watching and I'm glad I didn't miss it.

ground breaking

As a young girl, I always had a diary, those cute dainty little notebooks with locks that you can crack at your convenience. In this journal, I narrate the events of this particular day, share my dreams, gush about my crushes and spill my little secrets. Write about what made me smile, cry, laugh…you get the idea…It’s like a freedom wall for me, where I could say whatever I want whenever I want, about whomever I want...only through the confines of the pages, of course. Looking back on it and scanning those entries, I’d laugh my butt off every time! Its amazing to read how Barbie dolls can be a matter of life and death to a little kid, how Archie or Betty and Veronica double digests are as sacred as the Bible, how candies are like a kid’s vitamins...why I always fail to catch Santa Clause every single year? Top 10 reasons why Jason Priestly is the one for me… stuffs like that. It may be trivial matters but they make quite an interesting read, I’ve seen how much I have changed and how the world has changed over the years. The world can seem like a magical place when you are a kid, then fades as you grow up. Reality sets in, complicates or simplifies matters but then it makes life all the more interesting.

I still have a journal [or at least I think so] and I try to write whenever I could. I have been so busy with my friends, studies, extracurricular activities and basically living “life” that I don’t have time to take time to put it into writing. What makes this one different then, you must be thinking. Hmm..well, I have unlimited internet access when I’m at school so I use it whenever I can. I love to surf the net as much as I would like to [I emphasize...would like to] surf some waves. Recently, for some reason, I frequently come across some computer work that I get stuck with the computer for hours so I might as well take this risk and give it a shot since I’m not really comfortable writing on the computer. I am more of the traditional pen-paper writer, I don’t know why. I guess you can say I’m trying to outgrow that weakness along the way.

I love writing down my thoughts cause its part of my “creative” process. When I think about things, it gets messy, twisted and complicated. As Robbie Williams said, “I can start a sentence, but by the end of the sentence, I contradict myself 3 or 4 times…I don’t know what I think!” that totally applies with me too until I get issues cleared up and come up with a decision that I’m going to stick to. Life is a journey and along the way there are some wrong turns, some mistakes that we have to learn from so that when we pass that way again, you will know better than to choose that path again. I think I just made my first quotable quote there. Haha. So anyway, on that path I am hoping to meet people who share my ideals, learn from them and ultimately find more about myself. With that being said, let’s begin this journal…

Here we go…