Coldplay First Listen - Part One

Coldplay Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends - First Listen

I am blogging my reactions to my first listen of Coldplay's new album. Be forewarned, I am a huge fan so you have to take that into consideration. Let's get started.

Lost? - Nice intro beat. So, far lives up to the acoustic version I've been listening to for a while. I'm still digging the acoustic version by a smidgen, but I'm sure I'll come around. I can really feel the cathedral/open echoing vibe this new album is sporting. It's new Coldplay. I think I'll have to get used to it.

42 - Another slow song (But, Blueberry, isn't Coldplay just all slow songs?). Okay, it's picked up the pace a little bit. I haven't gotten a "love this" moment yet for this song. The bridge in the middle is what throws me off. Actually, after the bridge, when Chris starts singing again it's not bad. It feels like Coldplay has went back to their Parachute routes more than their glossy X&Y, though I really like X&Y.

Lovers in Japan - Sick! Now I can tell I'm going to love this song-- just listen to the percussive piano. I think I may have my first "love this" moment. This is Coldplay at it's best, not too glossy, but definitely emphatic in it's driving nature. You can bob to this rock music. I'm still a questioning the layer of organ (?) or some sound that makes it feel X&Yish (think Speed of Sound-- I love Speed of Sound but this song doesn't need that background).

Reign of Love - Actually, this song is attached to Lovers. Decent. Better as a change of pace from Lovers' piano force. But what is that airy background vibe again? I never felt this from Violet Hill or Viva La Vida, so I don't know what's going on. Maybe I have it on too loud with my ear phones on. Okay it's getting better, I don't really feel it to much, or I've just been desensitized.

Yes! - The track is actually called Yes! I wasn't just sceaming in excitement. There's more acoustic guitar than the previous tracks. Wow! What instruments did I just hear? It's strings, but I'm not really good at identifying them. The strings part remind me of middle eastern sounds. It's definitely different. There it goes again. I like that part, actually. It's a nice reprieve. This album is going to take a few listens for me to love it.

Wait, the end of Yes has another song. It's upbeat and the vocals are airy and backgroundish. You can't really make out the words, but that's good in this case. It's a nice track. Also has that driving force but this time with electric guitar. Okay, I really like this track. Why couldn't this be a separate track? It's almost vocal-less, and purely instrumental. Good stuff.



This is a good chance to take a break. The title track is on (Viva La Vida) and you already know I love this track to death. It's probably my favorite of this album (so far) and of any Coldplay song probably ever. Probably.

Also, I have to go watch some awesome dancing in America's Best Dance Crew. So, holla.

Adventures on El Tren

Yesterday was the first day I might have possibly bought into the whole superstition deal that bad things come in threes.

It was Monday and I had just finished my only class for the day. It's some geometry crap that relies heavily on proofs, but anyway it was boring as usual. The first bad thing was the weather. Yes, it was hot because it's summer, but then all of a sudden, while I was trying to sleep in class, the thunder roll and the lightning strike. It started raining. It was pouring heavily and it was getting a little chilly. So when class ended I had to walk in the rain without an umbrella (ella eh eh).

Then, when I get to the subway station mildly soaking wet, I was thinking that at least I'm underground now. Well I waited for fifteen minutes and then I heard an announcement that the D train was going really slow and was at 59th street. It wasn't too bad, I was at 145th street maybe it'll get to me on time. Well after another fifteen minutes, there was another announcement that the train was still going slow and was still at 59th street.

I wonder what their definition of "going slow" is?

So I decided to suck it up and go back above ground and take the more expensive route using the metro-north railroad. I'm really cheap only because I have no job right now and as a student, I'd rather save my money for more fun endeavors like beer or movies or video games, not a train train ride.

As I get to the metro-north train station, I see that I have one minute to get on to the train that I needed. I thought to myself, wow, things are looking up, usually I have to wait a while, but at least if I run fast enough I can get on my train. So I jet across the steps probably scaring the old guy walking leisurely on the steps and as I open the door the train that I need is just about ready to close its doors. Wait! I don't even need to yell because I zoom past everyone and jump in the closest car.

Yes, I made it into my train. Bad things don't really come in threes. Except that wasn't my train. It was an express train going all the way to Connecticut passing by my dear old city just north of NYC. Sonofabitch! I had wished I would have missed the train like all those other times, but instead I make it in time for the wrong train, you ass. Anyway, I take the 40 minute ride to Stanford, and then wait another hour at the train station, all the while I am hungry because I missed dinner seeing as how my commute would now take me three hours.

I eventually take the local train back home from Standford. The thing that kept me going and focused through the hunger and waiting was I could not wait to get home at eat some lumpia. I resisted myself from buying any food at the train station. Plus, the food was just donuts because it was late at night and everyone eats donuts at night.

Finally, when I get home at 11 pm, I collapse mentally because the lumpia was not cooked and my motivation to survive the day was all for not.

Mid-Summer Movie Madness

This summer is shaping up to be a great summer for movies. Here is a list of the movies I am looking forward to starting with releases in June 20.

June 20.

Get Smart - Steve Carrell is always hilarious and the premise of him being a secret agent is too hilarious. I can't stop laughing at the trailer when Carell gets burned by lasers. Dwayne "the rock" Johnson also is a strong action-comedy guy. And, of course, Anne Hathaway is beautiful eye-candy.


June 27.

Wall-E - I shouldn't have to explain why this is on the list. In fact, Wall-E should be a list on its own. It's a Pixar movie and that should suffice. Plus it's about a cute robot in space looking for love.

July 11.

(Yes, I am skipping Hancock. I'm a huge Will Smith fan, but this superhero thing looks tired.)

Hellboy 2 - I was not excited for the first Hellboy, but it turned out to be a decent popcorn movie. The second outing looks to improve with the director of Pan's Labyrinth on the helm. You can see the great visuals and atmosphere with all the monsters and demons that Guillermo adds to the mix.

July 18.

The Dark Knight - The sequel to possibly the greatest comic book (and just plain films in general) film, Batman Begins. Need I say more. Well, I will. It's a good thing that Wall E and The Dark Knight don't premiere on the same weekend or else I would be torn.

August 1.

The Mummy 3 - People can say what they want about sequels, but the mummy franchise has always been a solid popcorn flick. This time the setting has changed to China, which mixes it up a bit. I'm surpised that I'm a little bit excited for this one.

August 8.

The Pineapple Express - This is another Judd Apatow movie. I really liked Walk Hard despite it's poor reception, so I am actually looking forward to more of his stuff. Also, James Franco is actually a hilarious guy (see his Apatow-directed skits on Funny or Die (dot) com).

August 15.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars - It's Star Wars but completely in computer graphics. Looks like a fun diversion, but I would watch it for the action and possibly great visuals. Plus it's Star Wars, whether it's good or not, you have to see it.

Tropic Thunder - I seriously cannot wait for this movie. All you have to know is that a bunch of actors, who think they're in a movie, are put in a jungle in the middle of the war. Robert Downey, Jr. (Go, Iron Man!) who plays a white actor who gets surgery to look like a black guy for the "movie". Hilarity will ensue.



So those are my picks for this summer. For a more condensed list, I would recommend The Dark Knight, Wall E, and maybe even Tropic Thunder. Happy movie watching.

Yes It Was That Awesome

The Happening was a blast. I just saw it tonight and it has to be one of the funnier movies I've seen this year. The whole theater could not stop laughing. Who knew that Mark Wahlberg could have such vibrant delivery. I mean, when he yells out "What? No!", I wonder to myself if M. Night really is a brilliant playwright. The way Marky Mark pretends to be pretending scared was awesome. He plays a character who is actually pretending to be scared of this happening. In reality you can see he has no emotion whatsoever. I also loved the whole theme of this movie. In some movies you have to guess until the end what the message or twist is. In The Happening, you don't need to guess, because your first instincts are correct. You already know what is happening, even if it seems ludicrous, even if the characters on screen mention the causes but it sounds so unbelievable that you think to yourself that it can't be that obvious. No. The Happening is beautifully simple. In fact, M. Night was able to protract a sub-15 minute short movie into a huge comedy blockbuster. He could have made an impact with a short vignette, but he literally went the extra hundred miles of the USA east coast and gave you an unbelievable adventure through miles of green pastures. Gone is the boring suspense of Night's previous efforts. No work required here, guys. If you don't believe your first guess, then The Happening sort of wraps it up with a newsreel explaining the whole event with the final verdict that no one really knows how it's all happening.

I cannot wait to see the sequel titled The What-The-Fuck-Was-That-Piece-Of-Shit.





I love you, Zooey Deschanel. Please don't hate me forever.

June Blerg

After years of waiting, R. Kelly has been acquitted of 14 counts of child pornography. There was supposedly a sex tape of Kelly and a 13 year-old girl. At first, I'm a little pissed that another celebrity gets away with things that "normal" people cannot, but then I read that the family of the girl on the video never testified. So, if it doesn't bother the victim, then I'll hold my tongue and tears.

Plus, even as much as I think R. Kelly is a douche, you have to put the case into perspective. Here, the victims won't even testify so it's understandable that Kelly walks. Whereas when an unarmed man gets fired upon with 50 bullets, the police who did the shooting walk.

Balance?

On a more personal and non sequitor note, I am so frickin' lazy. I'm actually not scared of this lazy summer because it has been a lazy and depressing 2008 for me. All I ever feel now is meh.

Psychology of a Haircut

I always thought that Asian hair was non dissimilar to your Caucasian/white folks hair until I started caring about how I wore my hair and realized how varied hair can be. According to many websites, and most people I know, one with a round and youthful face such as myself looks best with short hair. Ever since college, though I may not have yet to full discover who I am as a person, I at least know that I like to rock the long hair look more often than not. When I say long hair, I mean any style that's not your typical clean cut look that is close to your head.

Why not just wear my hair the way most people say I look good with? Yes, I have worn my hair short recently (last summer), but I like my hair to express how I am feeling. With a short hairstyle I feel that gives off the message of "Hey, let's hang. What-up?!" I feel that it is a more of in your face style. It gives off the vibe that you are open to being read. Nothing really wrong with that cut. I actually agree that I look better with short hair, and I enjoyed wearing it in the summer of last year. But, sometimes I don't feel that way.

I like long hair because, to me, it let's me take a back seat and hide if I am not feeling down to hang. I use it as a protection to blend in. Now my hair isn't long like a girl's but it's really shaggy. More puffy, actually. Asian cats don't really have hair that's feathery naturally. Mine grows thick and full. It can possibly be interpreted as unattractive, but I believe that gives me a better edge personality wise. If I can impress folks with me just being myself, then I can have any frickin' hairstyle I want. Basically, I hope to use substance over style.

Plus, I like to rock out with my hair all disheveled-like. But I foresee that even before the Fall semester begins, I may have to get into the clean cut look. The short hair does actually look even better as it grows out. I can just gel it up and get the same laissez faire vibe. Ultimately, that's the message I want to give out. Lower expectations, but when someone gets to know me, and if I let myself get closer, they will appreciate moi por moi.

Now if I can just find a salon that can give me that shag haircut on a consistent basis, then I'll be so happy.

Too Hot

It is too frickin' hot here in the Northeast. I don't know how the West and the South do it, but this 97 degrees (F) plus weather is killing me. As a matter of fact, it has made me lazier than usual, if that's even possible. I do not want to leave the house because it's too hot and my skin burns easily since I'm so pasty white.

But the world believes I should go out more.

Just for health purposes, people need the sun to get their vitamin D. But what about all the skin cancer and skin damage? I could just eat more oily fish and take supplements. But I hate taking pills. I can take vitamins, but I won't enjoy it. With this burning weather I'd swallow a whole bottle not to have to go outside.

Thank god I am only taking one class this summer in the evenings. I won't have to dilly-dally all around the city in the afternoons. While that was so much fun last summer, I was employed back then and enjoying the benefits of teaching. Now I'm in a purgatory of uncertainty with the the only thing getting bigger is probably my weight.

Ella A A

I'm late to the party (or am I early?), but I just found out about the singer/song writer Marie' Digby. She pronounces her name marie-ey. She's known for her acoustic interpretation of Rihanna's Umbrella. I'm not a huge fan of Umbrella, Rihanna did an okay job but the acoustic version Digby does gives it an edge. The hip-hop/pop/rnb vibe that the original obviously puts out is filtered in the acoustic version, but not to a point where it's not danceable or recognizable. It's great how all the beats and production of the original is still somewhat present in Marie's version.

Big ups to Marie Digby and of course Rihanna.

On a more Asukal note, how cute is Ms. Digby. Of course, once again, a half white and half Asian girl is attractive. Big surprise. Now I did hear Umbrella before I saw who actually sang it so I'm not too douchey.

Cool Hough Kids

It's a Sunday evening and I'm listening to The Cool Kids. I just found out about them, of course via what some may think are questionable means: iTunes free tracks.

It's very much in the same vein as Lupe Fiasco. People say it's a throwback to the Hip Hop of the 80s. Whatever it resembles, me likey. As long as it's not like the crap that I hear blasted through cars all over the place today. I'm not a hip hop fan--it's fun to dance to when you're out and about, but to listen to everyday? Not so much. But The Cool Kids are something I can listen to. It's not tolerable, it's actually enjoyable.

On to another topic: dancing. Specifically, that Dancing with the Stars has some really hot girls. Of course, Cheryl Burke is cute. I've known that for the past few seasons, but I only found out about Julianne Hough today. I can't believe there's another blonde I can add to my mental cutie list. She is really something. I guess that dancing does your body good. It looks fun what with all the dancing shows that have sprouted recently.

If Cheryl wasn't a reason enough to watch DWTS, then Julianne shaking it will force me. Just maybe.

Proxy

Do we live proxy lives? Well, think about what you do and what you get. Do you do something that will immediately or directly get you what you need or want?

I've never really thought about this, but I say we do live disconnected lives. If you're working, you go to work to make money. The immediate result of working is receiving money. This money then is used to get you things like food or fun. In a life that is not a proxy life, one would do something where the act of doing is the goal or its immediate outcome is the goal. Proteanview compared it to tribes who go hunt or gather to get the food that they need. Or if you wanted to have fun, you would actually do the act of having fun like dancing.

I would say that the proxy life is what allows us to have complex and sometimes fulfilling lives if conducted correctly. But this is also a broad generalization. Maybe there are people who like working for a company and actually work for the goal of helping that company. Maybe some people don't pay for their fun. Maybe some people do gather their food at the end of they day.

For those who live the proxy life, the use of money and trade has allowed us to get material wealth and satisfaction. I like my video games, and for the most part, I worked to get money to get them.

Of course, there's always more to life than this proxy and daily grind. I think those who do the proxy thing really well, make loads of money so they can do loads of things. In those cases, the proxy life works.

For me, if money didn't matter, if I felt invincible, if I didn't need to worry about the future, I think I could enjoy myself more.

But that's when I ruled the world

I can't think off the top of my head a Coldplay song that featured violins so prominently as the driving rhythm as they do in their single Viva La Vida. Of course I am a little biased since I am such a huge Coldplay fan, but I really love this song. So far, they're two for two. I really liked Violet Hill, and I think Viva La Vida really complements it. Viva La Vida has a driving beat like many Coldplay songs, but I get a laid back feeling from this single. Whereas Violet Hill is a little more determined and serious like a marching band, Viva La Vida is just a genuine enjoyable feel-good song. It's like opening a box and a gust of wind hits you and you smile and listen to to the violins playing. I'm not trying to analyze the lyrics, but I like that they gave a shout-out to Roman Catholic choirs. I can just picture a choir full of singers in the black and white church frocks on a grassy hill and everyone having a good time in the summer. Except not to hot like an American summer, but what I imagine a European trip to a field would be like.

I really don't care that Viva La Vida is played in the iTunes commercial. I'm past judging when bands sell-out. If it weren't for "selling out" I would never have heard of Coldplay back in the day. One of their songs ("In My Place") was played on Smallville, when Smallville was still bearable and interesting. Since then, I never looked back.

But, I have yet to experience them live. I'm upset, thought that in their Norther American tour, they won't be selling tickets to a New York City showing. You have to win it, so I'm hoping I have good luck.

Violet Hill and Viva La Vida feel like Coldplay's newest effort will be really fresh. They seemed more relaxed and I'm hoping that each track spawns the same desire from me to listen to them on a loop.

M. Night's "The Happening"

M. Night Shyamlan's new movie The Happening comes out this summer.  Check out the trailer first then decide.  So far, I'm very "meh" about this movie.  It's definitely not because it's by M. Night.  I've already come to terms that The Sixth Sense will be his best movie, but I am not a serial M. Night hater.  You just need to realize how good his first movie was and then tone it a tad bit down for the rest, but I actually really liked Signs and I liked The Village (but not too much).

People and animals, I think, are dying all around the world.  People are scared and panicking.  No one know what's happening.  It sounds like a good suspenseful premise.  I feel like it could be a J.J. Abrams type of Lost thing, but quieter and creepy.  But it's just the damn trailer and makes it look horrible.  Rumor has it that there's no real resolution in the movie.  It might end in a cut-to-black or the actual "happening" is invisible or imagined.  Actually, as I am writing this I am starting to feel a little hyped for this movie.  I just hope that the resolution is satisfying or at least I can syphon some deeper meaning whilst everyone else hurrah-hurrah's for the stupid Hulk movie.  (I'm still going to see the Hulk.  But not in theaters necessarily.)

I guess you shouldn't watch the trailer.  That way, the whole suspense and atmosphere of the movie won't be spoiled.  I'm going to keep my fingers crossed, but I won't be holding my breath.  (Lady in the Water just hurt me too much.)

Oil

Did you know Brazil can function well even without foreign oil?  They have cars that can run on sugarcane ethanol.  If there were a situation that prevented the import of any oil, like, oh say, we run out of this "unlimited" fossil fuel, Brazil would not flinch.  I'm calling the U.S. out on this.  Why?  Why can't we develop technology that will make our economy and security that much stronger.  We will be independent and keep the earth healthy.  We won't have to unnecessarily kiss the middle east's ass.

Oil is not unlimited.  The world will run out soon enough.  Maybe that will be the only thing that keeps people from driving.  Also, we could just stop using plastic bags in supermarkets.  It takes oil just to make those bags that people throw away after they buy their grocery.  Switch to cloth bags that you can reuse again and again.

Lost Predickshuns

What the fuck is up with Lost? Seriously. I just saw the episode in the fourth season (current) that has Locke asking a dude in the cabin how to save the island from the boat guys. This show is constantly throwing me motha-effing questions. I seriously feel like I'm being jerked around. The Lost writers are having field days where they sit around in a circle, probably on the grass in the forest, while they smoke some herbs and shrooms, and they decide to put the most unbelievable things on the show. Not too unbelievable, but just crazy enough that you think what the fuck just happen in the last hour.

You name it they have put it in the show. You thought polar bears were nuts. You thought smoke monsters were insane. Try having time traveling and flashbacks that combine with flashforwards and an island that seems to have no rules. I think that the show ends with the island just having some goddam underground railroad system that supplies the insula with all the freaky shit ever. ("Hey, let's put a polar bear and some dharma cereal on this thing and send it to the island. We got nothing else to do".)

Now Christian, Jack's supposedly dead father, and just last week, also Claire's father, is actually on the damn island. And not just on the island like where-the-fuck-am-I, but inside the cabin with friggin' Claire. Claire is not even freaked out. She has even let her infant son go. What kind of fracked up shiznit is this bowl of honkey doo?

Stop jerking me, Lost writers! It's episodes like this when I just want to shoot myself and switch back to being a Heroes fan. Sure, Heroes is Lost lite, but that's because when they give you questions they answer it.

Let's make a bet, we'll see someone get shot on the island but mysteriously reappear later on. No,not crazy enough. He'll reappear as a girl. And he'll actually be Jack from the future. She'll be Jack from the future who had a sex change because that's the only way the island would let Jack back on the island.

And then someone will discover that if you stick an iguana in your bum, the smoke monster will appear in a pinkish hue and the theme song from Charles In Charge will announce its arrival every time. That way you have a head start.

Let's see. What else will Lost come up with. Okay, Locke will learn magic during an extended stay in the cabin. Not Harry Potter magic, but stupid parlor tricks. Let's make that one singular trick. He can turn a flower into a dove. And that dove craps green meteor rocks that people can eat just in case there's no helicopter drop-off. Of course Hurley will have a ball with this dove. Not because he's fat. But because instead of a regular dove face. The dove will have the face of Libby. Yeah, motherf@#$ing Libby.

Fringe and Dollhouse

Fox has a history for being a trash hole for reality television and crappo vision in general. They do get good shows once in a while, but they don't know how to market or handle it and Fox ends up canceling it (e.g. Firefly and Arrested Development). Recently, Fox has picked up orders for two shows that have great potential for next year's television run: Fringe and Dollhouse.

What makes Fringe and Dollhouse Asukal fodder? They're made by the Lost/Cloverfield guy (J.J. Abrams) and by the Firefly/Serenity dude (Joss Whedon) respectively. Lost and Firefly are two of my favorite things. That and kittens. Plus had Iron Man not been so hot, I would say that Cloverfield is the best movie I've seen in theaters this 2008.

Of course, Fox will fuck it all up, so I'll probably end up just adding a box set of seven episodes for each show next-next season. Fringe is about a government group that studies paranormal events. From the little I've read, it sounds like an X-files show. I actually never watched X-files when I was younger, so I'm actually not really looking forward to Fringe its content; rather, I'm just riding the J.J. hype train. (He made Lost and Cloverfield, so Fringe might be good.)

I'm more excited for Whedon's Dollhouse. The last thing of Joss that I was into was Firefly/Serenity, and since that's dead, I've been lacking in the Whed department. Firefly was the bomb. But even without Whedon's name on the show, the concept sounds loads more interesting than Fringe. It's also about a government group, but it's a group of people that can have memories or personalities downloaded and use that to solve cases. It's a secret group, I am guessing, but the drama and excitement comes from the question of whether it's ethical to do such things and whether the dolls have true identities themselves. There's a lot that can be played around there. It will of course have the wit that comes with Whedon's writing. Just think of Asukal but the exact opposite.

We shall see. Hopefully there will be more box sets of Dollhouse than of Firefly at the end of its run. Oh, and Tahmoh Penikett of Battlestar Galactica will be in it alongside Eliza Dushku. Penikett deserves more screen time as he was one of the better actors on BSG. Go, Helo!

Check Out My Stimulus Package

What would I do with my stimulus check? Let's see: I'm unemployed because I quit my job months ago. I'm still in grad school part-time for a degree that will get me back into the same job that I quit. I'm living at home and living-- err, I mean, mooching off of mama and papa (emphasis on the second syllables). And, I am slowly chipping away from my savings. Actually, it's not slow, I am blowing it.

Most people are going to save it. They're the smart ones. They're the ones with discipline and jobs. They have the foresight to look to their retirements. But what can I say? I'm in my mid-20s (almost wrote 'early', arghh!) and I think I should focus on enjoying myself. About a year ago, when I was enjoying work (summer is awesome, not just for students, but for teachers) I was thinking of saving up to go travel for this summer. I wanted to save up enough to so I could pay for my brothers also. But of course, plans change. Now I'm taking it slow.

I still want to enjoy myself. So I'll feed my second addiction, which is video games! Depending on how much I get, I plan on saving it temporarily and earmarking it for a nice Playstation 3. Grand Theft Auto IV is begging to be played, but I want that PS3 bundle that comes with Metal Gear Solid IV. I may have to spend more than the stimulus, but this is a great excuse to blow several hundreds of dollars. What was I gonna save for anyway? A car? Well, maybe that would make more sense, but I have the urge to splurge on gaming. Plus, you know my Wii is horrible for anything but Smash Bros.

I dont' know. Maybe I should wait until the price of a Playstation 3 is more manageable, like around $200 to $300. Who knows if I'll even get a check.

EDIT: On second thought, I don't even have an HD tv to enjoy this sucka.

Go, Batman. Go, Batman, Go!

Just to show you how much I love Batman Begins: I came home last night tired and allergic to everything, but I still popped in BB from NetFlix, and I still was able to stay up (3 am end time).

I couldn't watch it in the family's pseudo home theater/den because my bro was studying in there, but I was not easily prevented from enjoying god bat fun. I pulled up my lappy (that's laptop for you laymen), grabbed my bed sheets and jumped on to the uber-comfy leather sofa. It wasn't an ideal set up since I had to use headphones and I had to tilt my head to see the screen, but the softness of the couch alleviated some of the problem. Hey, it was better than sitting on a chair with the laptop on a table as if I were studying. Paper!

I was actually surprised that I enjoyed Batman Begins so much on the second time. Well, I was more surprised that I hardly remembered each scene. It was as if I were watching it for the first time. Still an unbelievable movie. The ironic thing is that the realism and plausibility of the movie is what made it so good.

Batman has always been that type of hero: relatable and human. You believed this rich man is so angry at life that he became this vigilante. You believed that he was inspired by his good parents to make things better in Gotham by seeking justice and turning away from his angry vengeance. Most origin super-hero movies are like that. It's great to see how Batman came to be. Literally, it was great to see how he learned to work in the shadows, where did he get the inspiration for his special gloves and his symbol. It was great to see how he acquired his gadgets and how his bat signal came about. So good.

I was also really impressed by the star power of the movie. Most movie stars stay away from comic book roles and roles that have them play limited parts in general. Cain and Freeman, two of some of the best actors around, had little screen time compared to Bats and action, especially Freeman, but that didn't stop them from playing their characters well. It's great to see that they're not too stuck up to be in comic book movies.

One may also argue that Batman Begins stands on its own outside of the comic book genre. I actually feel that Batman Begins can be a good movie by itself unlike movies like Spider-man and Iron Man. (Absolutely, under no circumstances, am I dissing Spidey and the tin can. Awesome and almost stands with Batman Begins in the best movie category. Actually, those three movies may switch places alot in my book.)

This post is already too long. I was going to argue against the naysayers who say nay to what they think was an unexplosive movie. Maybe later.

McDonald's Paper

Right now, I am sitting in a McDonald's on Broadway and 138th-ish. It's not everyday I get to "blog" outside of, what now feels like, a permanent hole. So enjoy this little bit Asukal fans.

I woke up this morning and I finally went to school to begin my research for my paper. I'm not writing anything heavy, it's just for my thesis in education. It's probably going to be a load of bull-donkey-doo, but most papers from my experience are. Did I get much work done? Not really. But I did navigate my school's worthless digital library system so that I could download pertinent journals. If I had been just a little bit more lazy, I'd have just stayed at home and trudged through google scholar. I got at least 10 articles or so-- that should be enough. I still have to "read" them and THEN start typing the paper. I only have to have the review-of-literature and methods section for this semester, but I heard from a birdie that the literature part is the hardest. I have to look at the past work that giants have done so that I can stand on their shoulders and see farther than them. That's not going to happen.

I'll probably just wrap a portion of the giant-- the toe, maybe, and color over the wrapping paper with my own two-cents and style. It should be good enough for class.

When did I become this diminutive pretender? Was it right after 8th grade? Did I really peak ten or so odd years ago? What the frick kind of peak was that?

I hope that the next real world post is much more lively, because that crispy BLT I scarfed down is making me depressed. Or, it's the allergies-- allergies to pollen and pollo.

It's time for class now. Peace, I'm out!

Taglog Pangako Or Not

I am so jealous of this little girl I found on youtube who can speak Tagalog better than me. That's not such a huge feat, but if you take into account that I'm in my 20s and she's in her fours, it is a little embarrassing. What's even cooler is that she's a Ukrainian-Canadian baby who was adopted by a Filipino family in Canada. So take that, me!

But, oh how she's just the cutest thing in the world. She reminds me of how much I miss my little cousin when she was four. My cousin had the cutest voice with a slight lisp which made her so cute (I'm oozing cute thoughts right now). She would call me Kuya (0f course) and one time started calling her own mother Tita because she heard me and my bros call her that. Then my tita would be all "Anak, don't call me tita. Call me Mommy".

Good times.

Anyway, I realized a couple of things from this video. Even though I'm relatively young to be thinking of having my own family, I realized that I'd be perfectly happy with adoption. Color doesn't matter. I know I can genuinely have feelings for a child who's not my own blood. Plus, blood is overrated.

Secondly, I think I'm going to start speaking Tagalog at home. Sure, my family speaks English to each other, but my mamay (grandpa, but in reality great-grandpa) does not. He's really old and it would be great if I can tel my mamay to stop dancing or tell him a joke or ask how he hid from the Japanese during the second world war. I see it all the time-- Americans who can communicate with their older relatives. Why can't I?

The first thing though, is I have to get over how stupid I may sound sometimes. I can sound decent when I say things like "Na saan sila Daddy?" or " Give me the remote. Tumotulog ka lang." Basically, it's pidgin Taglish. But I think I'm going to start trying to form sentences, regardless of how much of a manok I sound like. If I combine that with English Tagalog dictionaries, I think I'll be fine.

We'll see what happens. I have made so may promises like this before. Plus, I would like to be able to talk to relatives in the Philippines who live in the bukid/country-side. Some live in Manila, and they speak English, but I would love to joke around and be relaxed in the bukid.

Ciao. (God, I can't stop watching this cute little girl speak Tagalog!)

Iron Man One and a Half

This is not really a second look at Iron Man. I do want to see it for a second time (only other movie I saw twice in theaters was Spider-man 2), but I just want to nitpick the movie some more. Now that I've had more time to think about it, Iron Man ranks up there with Spider-man 2. It doesn't surpass it for a couple of reasons.

The biggest reason is that the commercials, trailers, and advertisements pretty much spoiled all the scenes of the movie. Granted, it made Iron Man's trailers that much incredible, but at the expense of some wow factors during the actual. Yes, I was wowed a couple of times during the movie, but if the trailers and commercials would just have left some things out, I know this movie would have leap-frogged right over my favorites. Excellent trailers, though. It really made me hyped for this movie.

Another reason Iron Movie does not surpass Spider-man 2, is the fight scenes. I'm not going to spoil anything, but towards the end of the movie, I was hoping Iron Man would fight the baddies with excellent fight scenes. Look at SP 2, all those high flying acrobatics and hand to hand combat with Doc Ock were incredible. I could not believe my eyes, and this was with 2004 technology. Iron Man did impress with the graphics, but he didn't really fight much. Sure he used his repulsors and missiles here and there, but there was no build up. He should have charged up his cannons at one point and deliver a final blow to his enemy. Watch the movie and you'll see what I mean.

Iron Man is still the incredible summer movie to beat this year. I highly recommend it. If the sequel, which hopefully still focuses on Stark, has more combat and his demon-in-a-bottle struggles, I can see Iron Man 2 surpassing Spider-man 2.

Kudos.

Iron Man

I just saw a night-before showing of Iron Man (Woot, Woot!). As you can tell by my wooting, I really enjoyed the movie. Either that, or I just enjoyed going to see movies the night they are released. I actually didn't know they show movies the night before-- this wasn't a midnight screening like Spider-man 3, which by the way, I saw a year to this weekend before (Maybe, I'll make a habit of this every year).

Before I give a quick review of Iron Man, I just want to give everyone a heads up: I saw this movie by myself. There were other people in the theater, but I went to it alone. Judge me if you want to, but I just don't have the call-up-and-hang-out relationship going with peeps. Most of those peeps are either broke, working, or hundreds of miles away. So you see why I had to go "dolo". Also, I would like to apologize to any English majors and my brother, if they find my use of conjunctions to begin sentences appalling. It's a bad habit. But, what are you going to do? (On purpose, I did that.)

Iron Man has marked the beginning of the summer blockbuster season. Definitely kills Spider-man 3, but if you think about it, that's not too hard to accomplish. It had all the elements of a great popcorn flick: action, boy and girl flirting, uber effects, and of course comic relief. What you won't find are corny-ass one-liners (How many hyphens have I used so far?). Thank God, for that. Nothing ruins a movie more than those stupid quips. Just watch Catwoman. Actually, the sad thing is the puns in that movie were the least of its problems.

Robert Downey, Jr plays the billionaire playboy very well. He's a fast talker and should definitely give props to the writers. Kudos. It's good to see Ms. Paltrow in something that's not by Billy Shakespeare. She's back on my good list. Right next to Chris and the band.

Iron Man is just a comic book fan's dream come true. There are nice hints here and there that reference things in the comics (War-machine, anyone? That has to be one of my favorite scenes). You should wait until the end of the credits to get a nice bonus scene. In response to that, I hope they just make some sequels focusing on Stark/Iron Man, instead of adding more heroes and villains. Take a book from Spider-man 3: You CAN actually overdose on super-heroes and villains.

This movie is for everyone. Iron Man brings back the super-hero movie in a sea full of wannabes. It deserves a seat right next to Spider-man 1 and 2 and Batman Begins.

Next Stop: The Dark Knight.

Violet Hill

Coldplay has been one of my all-time favorite bands, and they're coming out with a new album this year. Hurrah! But, they have a lot to prove to me this time around. My tastes are changing with the advent of online radio and albums available on torrent sites. I'm falling asleep as I write this (4 in the morning, anyone?) so I'll keep it short. I just downloaded (legally! via their website) they're latest single and it's been on repeat for a about the sixth time. Maybe it's because I miss Coldplay, but so far so good. My first impression is that Violet Hill sounds like a marching anthem. I'm not listening to the words, just the melody and the thump of the drums. I really enjoy this marching feeling and the guitar riffs are un-Coldplay-like. Great change of pace. If it weren't for Chris's voice, I would never have recognized this as a Coldplay track.

March on. For reasons unknown, march on.

It's the Colors, Duke, the colors!

I'm going on record to say that Speed Racer is wack. How can the whole selling point of a movie (based on commercials and advertisements) be that no other movie has looked like or moved like it? Really? You're going to tell me I should watch this piece of crap because it's so sparkly and no other turd will shine as bright? The movie looks pretty-- I'll give you that. But the visiuals look hardly ground-breaking. I know the Wachowski brothers did some new photography technique, but it's not translating through my television. Maybe in the IMAX theaters I can see a possible difference, but I hardly doubt regular theaters can convey this supposed awesomeness. First of all, I feel like throwing up. You can't put all those colors on the screen and not expect us to get sick. It's a damn racing movie. Look at Pixar's Cars. Arguably the worst Pixar movie ever, and it was about cars. Coincidence? 300 was a great movie to experience through IMAX. It was very stylized, but Speed Racer force feeds us all this visual stimulation. 300 was highly stylized. The color pallet was highly varied. Beautiful. Maybe Speed Racer will prove me wrong, and I hope so. I hope the story elevates the visuals to kick my butt so hard.

Until then, my bets are on The Dark Knight, Iron Man, and Indiana Jones.

Extended Vacation

Actor Gary Coleman is getting a divorce. I'm not here to make fun of him. So he's short, big deal. Well, maybe big is not the correct term. I'm pretty sure he has a condition, so we'll leave it at that. Plus, who am I to make short jokes.

The thing I want to point out to you is the fact that he states that he has no friends. In fact, his wife says that that is one of the problems she has with him-- that he has no friends. How is this a reason you can bring up in divorce court? You married the dude, and now you realize he has no friends? I'm a little scared now for Coleman (no pun intended, though it's quite funny). How can you have no friends? Even if you change the definition of friend to a broad term meaning acquaintance, you should have at least one. I think I'm scared because I feel like this could easily be me. I know I at least have one friend. Check out my facebook page! (Note: Social Networking sites are not really a good indication of how many friends you have.) I know I have at least one friend, because he or she is the one I can hang out with with no strings attached. I can feel comfortable around him or her.

But I don't think I confide in my friends. Hell, I don't even confide much to my brothers. Don't get me wrong, we can do fun things together like when the family goes on vacation, or we can play video games. But we don't have deep conversations that talk about our personal lives. Why? I dunno. Maybe I was raised to repress emotion? No, that's bullshit. How can I be a coward and blame my upbringing. Bottom line is I keep to myself a lot. I can hang out and do this and that, but I'm not killing myself over the fact that I'm not going out this or that weekend. I can enjoy myself perfectly fine during those perceived droughts.

Maybe when I move out (or If?!) I will be forced to be more social or open. But I think I might actually just be more of a loner then.

Well, I just need to get my priorities straight right now, which is finishing up the teacher program, so I can get back into the classroom. And this time, when I get back to teaching, I hope against all hopes that I won't chicken out and quit. You're allowed to quit once, right? The second time, I'll just have to work on improving or figure out a way to distract from the stress. Maybe I'll just save up enough and put it all in a high yield savings so that I can retire early. Why am I thinking about retiring early?

My "passion" for the sciences will have to "temporarily" be put on hold. (Heh, and what exactly has it been doing the past two years? Hmm?)

No End In Sight

One of the biggest mistakes in this Iraq war (besides the obvious reason for it, planning, and execution) was the disbanding of the Iraqi military. I just finished watching No End In Sight, a documentary about the quagmire that is the Iraq war. I am not an expert and I definitely do not know everything about this subject, but from watching this film I can honestly say that we, the U.S., first of all, had no business being there. Unless of course you are talking about Oil.

Why do I think the disbanding of the Iraq military was a huge mistake? If you think about it, the film makes sense, the people in the Iraqi military have no other form of livelihood than being int he army. That's where they make there money. Getting rid of this just pissed them off and made them run to their hidden weapons cache. Not able to provide for their family, fueled fundamentalist ideology. There was already no order, look at all the looting and property damage. Just imagine the libraries and museums with priceless artifacts of, not just Iraqi history, but of human history.

Weirdest thing was that some Iraqi generals-- those who had command over their soldiers, thousands of them, offered to US officials their help to secure the country. God knows we needed their help. This was their country. They knew their people. They could communicate with them, and they understood what they wanted. But we pissed them off and instead of giving "democracy" took away their chance to participate in the rebuilding process.

We didn't even have a rebuilding plan.

Well, this is just a rant. I'll admit I was in support of the war at the very beginning. I guess you can say I was like Senator Clinton. I actually bought the whole nonsense of the Iraqi regime's link to 9/11. I remember arguing with my friend "what about the weapons of mass destruction! Saddam is going to use them!" I was just a pawn in the Bush Administration's war machine. I guess they wanted oil. His whole administration is just fucking up.

So what happens when Iran or North Korea goes nuts? Where will I be? Will I stick around for the draft? I am now fully anti-war. I can't live with making the mistake of backing a "preemptive" strike. The enemy has to literally be on our shores, or else I will always have some doubt. There needs to be diplomacy first.

End Rant.

And private security contractors are evil. Just watch the documentary.

Am I a Girl?

I just saw the return of new episodes of Gossip Girl. It was very "meh" in the beginning, but I really like how they're defiling (not defining) innocent Jenny. Don't get me wrong, I would never want someone so sweet to turn to the dark side, but this makes for good television. It's great to see Jenny and Blair go at it. Towards the end I actually thought Jenny and Nate were going to start developing a romantic relationship, but it turns out Jenny likes to use people. I wonder if Nate sees it that way. So big ups to the Jenny versus Blair wars.

When is Eric coming out of the closet?

I actually have an idea of who "G" is going to be, just because of my trolling through television blogs. This could definitely be interesting to see if "G" could bring the dark side out of "S". Wow, Gossip Girl is sort of like Star Wars where anyone can go over to any side. Let me see. Jenny is Anakin and Blair is or was her mentor, Obi Wan. Now they're against each other. Ooh, and the force can be considered sex appeal, which everyone uses to get what they want, except if you're on the light side. Then you just stay monogamous and nice and lovey dovey like "S" and Dan. Gross!

By the way, I think this show is making me gay.

Live Blog: American Idol

9:50 pm: Bullshit on Jason Castro being safe for another week. I can't believe how huge a fan base he has that he has survived this long. I don't think he can sing or perform even remotely well. I really, really don't like him. If you switch Kristy with that douche, then I think you have the correct safe foursome. We'll se in a couple of minutes.

9:53: Back from commercial break. Who is out?

9:54: WTF!? Syesha is safe?! If Kristy is out tonight, then that's a whole boat of irony. The first time that I actually enjoyed Kristy, that she might leave.

9:55: Damn. Irony. Kristy did great last night. When is Jason Castro going? Please. I think Kristy will do well in the country genre. Hey, she's pretty and can sort of hold a decent note. If she doesn't become mildly successful, then "oh, well".

9:58: Simon Cowell is so gay. How can he sit there and look weirded out when Kristy is singing to you. Just at least sit still and pretend to enjoy it. No weird eye rolling, please.

9:59: They cut her off. I'll give her props though-- she didn't fall apart tonight when singing out. I'm surprised to say this, but I'll miss Kristy. It seems like I'm liking all the people I hated on before. But I will never ever like Jason Castro.

10:02: I need to know how to actually "live blog".

Always Be My Baby

You need to hear and see this.  Unbelievable, that I can see this for the second time and get goosebumps.  The arrangement is perfect.  David Cook impresses vocally, but more importantly, there is real emotion in the performance.  I would have never thought in a million years that a male performer could pull off Always Be My Baby.  This definitely needs to be a single because I want it now.  Amazing arrangement of an already great song.

That's a Number One Hit

Wow.  I take back all the horrible things I've said about David Cook.  Out of everything I've heard on Idol, his version of Always Be My Baby is making me seriously consider getting it on iTunes.  It was so good.  The violins and everything just made the song soar.  I can imagine listening this to this on repeat on iTunes.  You have to understand:  I really didn't like his other performances that much.  Sure, Billie Jean was pretty good, but I just really didn't get him.  That's fine.  But, this performance was spot on.  I hate to say it, but I agree with Paula that this song could be on a motion picture soundtrack.  To add to that, I loved this song when I was in 6th grade or so, and to have it be remade and still love it says a lot about what David Cook did.

Of course, I definitely have to put Mariah Carey on legend status for being such a phenomenal song-writer.  To have all her songs stand up today and even be rearranged shows her legacy.

If David hadn't blown me away, I would have made this post about how Kristy Lee Cook really impressed me.  Seriously.  She is definitely moving up on my book.   I don't know the name of the song she performed, but I agree with Mariah, it gave me goosebumps.  I didn't think Kristy could genuinely make me enjoy one of her performances with no strings attached.  No flags and no country ho downs.

David Cook was far and away the number one tonight.  I can see why some may say he has the number one spot locked.  Kristy was number two for a sweet and genuinely enjoyable performance.  I'm almost not angry that Malubay is gone.  But if you think about it, I don't think Ramiele would have added anything to a Mariah song.  But I still love Malubay.

I'm actually surprised that my favorite going into tonight, Carly Smithson, was not even in the top three for me tonight.  I hope she's still here next week, because she has some chops and her other performances should be evidence enough to keep her on top.

Bottom Three:  Syesha, Jason, Brooke White.

I'm hoping either Jason or Syesha are voted off.  But with Michael Johns having left, it's always a toss-up.

Ghetto Hospital

I had the funniest thing that's happened in a while happen.  My brother is going to school to become a nurse and he has a test tomorrow.  Part of the test involves doing some testing on a live patient.  So he needed to practice on someone and I was available so I was sort of coerced into being his guinea pig.

He started with checking my breathing and my spine for I don't know what.  I had to hunch over with my shirt off while he poked at my spine.  I couldn't sit still for the first ten minutes because I'm not used to being touched at the back.  I guess I'm very ticklish.  So I had to figure out a way to suck it up.  My mom came down and told me to just put my own hands on my back so that it would make it easier.  Now I'm sitting down with my shirt off and my hands trying to reach for my back, still slightly jittery every time my spine was poked. 

My bro couldn't get it right.  So him and mom started yelling at each other.  She came over with her own cold hands and started prodding me.  They're both prodding.  Surprisingly my mom is quite strong and I think I almost fainted because she was jabbing me at certain pressure points.  I guess all Asians do know some form of Karate.

Then my brother had to check my blood pressure with that contraption that everyone is familiar with.  So no big deal, right?  Well he checks my right arm.  Gets a reading.  But has to check my left arm to make sure (It's in the manual).  But he accidentally punches me in the face when taking off the thing-a-ma-bob.  Then when he does my reading for the left arm, he wonders why my blood pressure reading is different from my left arm.

Then there's more poking.  And then he has to use tape to mark parts of my back.  He uses some tape, but I'm so pasty white that he has to use extra tape so that it stands out.  He tried scotch tape and then some band aids and what not.  So he leaves this on me for an hour because he had to take a break to review the textbook.  But then he almost forgets that I have tape on my back.

Let me tell you, it's the anticipation of pulling off the tape that was more painful.

Are nurses suppose to curse out patients?  Visa Versa?

Catching Up: BSG season 3 episode 11

I think I hate Laura Roselin.  I sympathize with Baltar's situation.  Sure, he was a sucky president on New Caprica even before the Cylon occupation, but what was he to do when the Cylons approached him-- approached the entire human race?  In my eyes, he only had two options:  defy the Cylons and die on spot, all for what?  Or, he could have worked with the Cylons, which he did.  It kept him alive and possibly all the other humans.  Seriously, if he just defied the Cylons, sure the humans would have had more respect for him, but for what cause?  The Cylons would have just become the rulers or placed a different dummy president instead of Baltar.

Lose-lose situation.  I don't think Baltar should be blamed.

I have a similar argument for Jammer.  He was trying to work peacefully with the Cylons.  But I guess he did have a choice.  He didn't have to join the security force.  So maybe I don't feel too bad that he was sent out the airlock.

And to the situation of this particular episode.  Four base stars could have easily taken down Galactica.  No question.  I don't think Galactica should have had any say on the situation.  I guess the Cylons are just dumb machines after all.  ("Oh, wow.  Galactica's going to shoot all of its nuclear warheads?"  The Cylons should have the same number-- times four!)

Roses

I guess it's about an hour later. I seriously nursed that drink. Doesn't matter. It was okay. I have a small buzz . . . at least, I think I do. I nursed it while I uncharacteristically perused my Facebook page. I really hate it, but recently my shut-in status has forced me to keep "in touch" digitally with various acquaintances.

Don't you find it weird that there's an ebb and flow to the status of your relationships with people. One minute you think you're friends and then the next you're barely even strangers. I'm not saying something bad goes down between you and them, but just that you can never keep them close. Maybe it's just me. Never good with any sort of relationship.

It's also weird how Green Apple flavored vodka makes you a tad insightful. Or it could be because I'm listening to Meg & Dia with a buzz. I used to be able to drink a bit before I became this introspective.

No Matter.

Maybe I really should have gone to that M & D concert. Well, it was an Angels & Airwaves concert with Meg & Dia as openers? Guests? I just didn't have anyone to go with. Next time. Next band, I will definitely go regardless of my companion situation.

I will still rock as hard in the crowd. Here's hoping that I follow through with this new decision.

Out.

The Best Day of 2008

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Today was definitely the first beautiful day of 2008. I can feel the depression of the prolonged winter starting to fade away. It's about damn time. Only the spring/summer can get make me feel better (what with the being unemployed and unsure about almost everything in my life).

Right before I sat down to write this post (0214 hours on Friday), I spied my parents' Smirnoff Green Apple. It says it's a vodka (of course?) with a touch of green apple. I only know green apple from those lollipops and jolly ranchers. I like it on those items, but oh my god this drink tastes like crap. I thought I was so cool mixing it with orange juice to make a screw driver, but the green apple was too strong. I think if I didn't taste the green apple then that would be the perfect taste. I can't stress enough how crappy this drink tastes. If you're a non-drinker, just trying this will turn you off from any drink. Some people say that beer tastes like crap. I say you just gotta try different beers and build your tolerance. You will find your niche-beer. You can go your working man route or go for your imports-- many choices. But vodka shouldn't taste like crap. That's why I just mixed in another part of orange juice. It actually tastes acceptable, now.

Or maybe I'm just so light weight that I'm feeling a buzz. Hmmm?

I miss being social. I do enjoy my alone time and I don't know any other way, but I do have good times when I'm around "friends" and friends, so in a way, I miss those days. Maybe it had to do with me being employed and having expendable income. But more importantly, I was in contact with more people. Now I'm just a shut in. That's why I'm hoping the summer makes things a little better. It can at least make it feel as if everything is gonna be okay.

It's almost as if I'm just a wandering zombie. I don't feel any highs any more. The lows I was feeling when I first left my job have become so commonplace that I've even become numb to them.

I will never say that I regret quitting/resigning. It has given me some perspective to what I need to do (i.e. get back to work). I at least know that I took a chance at leaving my job and I know how it feels to be at home and unemployed while the rest of the world passes by. I think I can endure the crap I got from work better now. Hopefully, I find a better school and I can grow as a teacher and not let the kids get to me. It's either that or be this bum-zombie I am now.

That's why I think the sun and warmth can help me. Summer in the city is the best. I can get lost in the crowd and just wander and enjoy what the city has to offer.

Whatever. Just needed to vent. I don't regret. I just have to look forward.

And maybe stop being so damn lazy as my parents say. True.




...oh, and American Idol sucked hard tonight. I can't believe Michael Johns is gone. Inconceivable. Everyone else, with the exception of Carly Smithson, pales in comparison. I will definitely be looking forward to Michael's future work.

My Hand Says "Give Back".

I can't believe how corny David Cook's performance was tonight. I'm talking about how at the end of the song he shows his hand to the camera and on it he has the words "give back" written-- you know, in the spirit of American Idol Gives Back week. So corny, that I almost felt bad for him. I'm not particularly a fan of David Cook, and it's nice to see that he is human and can have bad performance. I guess his smug style got to him and his performance suffered. Really. He could have just let the writing on the hand thing go. However, I actually didn't hate his song choice. It finally took some guts to pick something out of the blue. I think in his mind, David thought he would hit one out of the park with this performance. He probably thought that the idol gives back theme, combined with what he thought was a good song, topped off with his corny hand would create this cataclysmic performance that would continue is dominance week after week.

Ironically, I'm gonna start toning down my David Cook haterating (not a spelling mistake). When someone does something embarrassing (and corny), you can only let him go and just be. David Cook is off my shit list.

But, the other David (Archuleta) is still on. I really, really, don't understand how he can just coast through and be so frackin' popular. He has had bad performances people! Why can't you see that?

Jason Castro is temporarily off my list this week since his Somewhere Over the Rainbow was not entirely horrible. God, I hate it when the performers I don't like week after week finally make a good song choice and perform it well. That's why Kristy Lee Cook is still in it. She's milking America's natural resource of flag-lovers and Evangelical Christians. Maybe those two groups are the same? And once again, I actually liked Kristy's performance. It was one of her best. (No, that American song she sang last week with the flag in the background wasn't hot. It just struck a chord with certain peeps.)

So Kristy gets a reprieve this week from my list. So then who is on my list if the top two shit-listers have a break this week? My apologies go to Syeisha and possibly Brooke. Can I put David Archuleta in my list, please America? Well, if Arch refuses to be in the bottom, then Syeisha and Brooke will have to do. Syeisha because she seems to have this I'm-a-diva attitude about her. It's as if no one likes her. She only got along with Ramiele. But she's on my list mostly because of her boring performances. She is a very good singer, mind you. But she always chooses the songs of phenomenal vocalists. I mean, who can do Whitney Houston justice? If you perform that and a Fantasia song, you have to be awesome.

Brooke White was my favorite once. I really, really liked her. I don't NOT like her. I just think she's getting boring and possibly annoying. She always seems to be nearly in tears with each of her performances. The thing is, most of her performances aren't really tear-jerkers. They've just gotten boring. She has an oldie voice. Sorry, Brooke. I know it's probably who you are, but I don't think you're cut out for this business.

If anything, please keep Michael Johns and Carly Smithson on American Idol, America. Sure, Carly might have had a rare off night. She has always been on point every week, but her performance really did come off as angry.

Fox News Alert

I always hear about the right-wing bias that Fox News has, but I never really witnessed it firsthand. Well, I don't know if you can consider what I am witnessing right now as evidence, but it still says something. There are three major cable news networks here: MSNBC, CNN, and of course, Fox News. Right now, around 2:50 pm (EST), General Petraeus is facing congress. He's supposed to talk about the progress of the surge of the US army in Iraq and whether there should be a pull-out once the surge is over. You know the deal about the US occupation/war in Iraq. It's important to hear firsthand from the general what's going on and what's in store for the future.

Well, I flip to CNN, the hearing is on. I flip to MSNBC, it's also on. But when I flip to Fox News, I see that dude from the VH1 show Best Week Ever talking about how The Simpsons is banned from Venezuela. Interesting choice for counter-programming. What happened, Fox News? The Iraq War not important enough to talk about? I know all new sources have their bias, but can Fox News at least pretend to not be.

April 5

The premiere for the fourth season of Battlestar Galactica passed last night. I was not able to finish the third season in time. I decided to take my sweet time. It's hard to find good television and I'd rather not bum rush through the whole season (I'm around the 7th episode).

I did see Enchanted last night. I liked it alot. Sure, it was meant for kids, but Amy Adams sure wasn't hehe. I haven't seen a prettier girl on the movie screen in a while. I hope I see more of her in the movies, but I don't know if I'd like her in more mature rolls. If she stuck to strictly PG-13 affairs, then that would be great. The music was great. I've always been proud of Alan Menken because he represents for my hometown alma mater. But of course, Once had to win the Oscar for best original music. And I fully support that decision, though Enchanted did have good music too.

I seriously can't wait for the weather here to get better. I'm tired of the clouds and the cold wind. Once I get my feet on the ground, I should consider moving to the South or to the west coast. I was thinking of San Fransisco. My cousin moved there and she loves it. Though, I've heard the weather there is temperate and not the always-summer that other parts of California gets.

My writing has been suffering. :)

NBC 2008-2009

NBC, you know, the channel, revealed its plans for the 2008-2009 television season. Why is Knight Rider in it? Did anyone watch the remake/movie this spring? Wasn't Bionic Woman a big enough flop? I feel like vomiting.

Heroes is coming back of course. You know how I feel about Heroes. Maybe I can cleanse my palette with Battlestar Goodness before I force myself to watch Hiro Nakamura teleport to the wild, wild west and fall in love with a cowboy.

What does look interesting is the description of the drama titled Kings. It's described as a modern day version of the story of David. I like good versus evil stuff.

Malubye bye (I'm sorry but I had to do it)

There were some bad song choices, but she has a strong voice.  But Castro and Kristy were also on similar paths.  Jason just phones in every goddam' performance with his goofy-ass guitar playing whispering style.  Bottom line is it's getting tired and your number shoulda been called tonight.  His corny performances were only corned-out by Kristy Lee Cook.  All I have to do is remind you guys of that rodeo-infused performance of 8 Days a Week.  All that performance needed was some clowns.

Here's to Ramiele Malubay.  My Tita says you'll be the bomb in the Philippines, but that's not the same as being on American Idol.  Plus, my aunt falls asleep watching AI so what does she know?

I'm sad to see Ramiele go.  I thought the "Pinoy People Power" would've kept her on for a little higher than 9th place.  At least now I can hate Castro a little longer.

Irks and Dirks: Battlestar Galactica

It's April 1 and the tv world is about 3 days away from the premiere of the final season of Battlestar Galactica.  Of course, I am in a pickle seeing how I have only just finished the second season (omg, how good were the final episodes?), and I have the third season to plow through. 

In celebration of this event (What has my life come to that television has become an event?), I will talk about what irks and dirks me about BSG.  I couldn't find a word to rhyme with irks, and I really wanted this post to rhyme.  So let's pretend that dirks is the opposite of irk.  Now, I will talk about a bad thing and then a good thing about Battlestar Galactica.

IRKS

Let's pretend that in the future that the entire human population (pre-Cylon attack) was (will be?) 5 billion people.  That's an extremely conservative number since in the future there will be other planets that the human race have populated.  In Battlestar Galactica, around 50,000 humans survived the attack.  If you do the math, that's only 0.00001 % of the human race that survived.  Even less since my estimates are conservative.  

If the Cylons are so powerful, how could they not destroy this extremely small number of people.  More importantly, how can 50,000 (not all fighters, and some are children) fight off the Cylons enough to survive for months on the run?  This is the population of a town.  How can they be self-sufficient while on the run in outer space?  The show explained some things like how they get their fuel for the fleet, but I can't suspend my belief enough to explain how, basically, a town can run from advance machines who outnumber them by alot.

DIRKS

Just ranting.  But, Oh how glad I am to have found such a great show.  Action and Drama and Suspense.  Plus there is this whole theme of "the meaning of life" and "destiny and God".  When the show is at its best (the end of season 2), this theme combines with space action to give you the best television.  Better than anything on the broadcast networks.  But I'm glad this show is on cable.  It would have probably been cancelled like many other tv gems (Firefly, anyone?).

The acting is on point.  My favorite character is Dr. Baltar with Chief coming in a close second.

This post is getting too long and it's getting late (early?) so I'm going to have to end it.  But I'm planning on making another Irks and Dirks post soon on Battlestar Galactica.

Next Time on Irks and Dirks:  the death of some characters that I liked, awful love triangles, and more on my two favorite characters.

Now time for a Season 3 run!

Ciao!

Sugar Origins

I discovered this song a couple of years back via Coldplay's cover.  Hence the name of this blog.  Also, a free sugar packet goes out to whoever guesses what Coldplay song "nothing matters except life and the love you make" comes from.

Peaces!

Now here is Echo & The Bunnymen with "Lips Like Sugar".

Hots for Teacher

There's news today of three (!) teachers who allegedly had sex with their students.  This is coming from Tampa, Florida where another similar incident occurred a while ago.

As a teacher (currently unemployed) it bugs me out a little that this is going on.  The high school kid in me is thinking "Hey, why didn't I go to school in Tampa?", but the more reasonable person in me is thinking "I have to be careful when I go back to work".  I know I have my quirks and eccentricities, but I pray-- I seriously hope, that something like this isn't one of them.  Sure, when I was in school there may have been, at most, one teacher I found attractive, but it's not like I felt like acting on it.  I think every male student who has ever had a "cute" teacher has had those thoughts.  But this is ridiculous.

I should have deleted this 10 years ago.

How long has it been seen we first met? More than a decade? I know I'm too young to be remembering these things. You don't know these things. Of course. I never told you anything. Not even in that book. What was I to do? Was I supposed to? Everyone was going to read it, and I have not been known to be so open. So I wrote this and I wrote that. I used the word "swell" to describe something that meant much more to me. Sure I was young and I didn't know any better or didn't feel anything else. But for better or for worse, I really did feel those things. Or maybe I'm putting her on a pedestal. Others have told me I tend to do that. So let me try to change that as I type this. I can speak to you now that we're on the floor. You don't have to stay here long. Just long enough so that your last memory of me isn't polite conversations and the top right corner of a page in that book. I'm doing this in hopes of not shaking whenever I hear your name. It's not even your name. You don't own it. I'm doing this so that I don't have to keep writing these things. I thought I was done. There's a paper ball somewhere with writing that should have been the last. Yet I find myself writing again. This will have to be the last. It has to.

I hope you know how I felt about you then. I'm not going to say it now. That was over ten years ago. Normal people have moved on. I wish I could be clearer. You will always be that beautiful girl. Not Swell. Even if we aren't friends (were we ever?), you will still mean something to me after another 10 years. For my sake, I hope you won't, but the last ten years has left a precedent.

Sayaw, Mamay, Sayaw

This Lips Like Asukal post is a response to the (apparently real?) FOBs versus Fil-Ams debate.

With all the other issues that are going on in the world, I am a little surprised that Filipino-Americans and Filipinos have a little spat going on. Can we please just squash this? Maybe I'm just blowing it out of proportion just because I came across this video on youtube, but just the fact that there might be tension between these groups is annoying. I'm sorry, but I can't describe it any other way because it's too stupid an issue to describe with words.

In a nutshell, immigrant Filipinos in the U.S. and Filipino-Americans (American born) have an issue with each other. From what I gather, it mostly has to do with Fil-Ams who ridicule these Fresh-Off-the-Boathers (FOBs) because they do not behave the way other Filipinos do (i.e. FOBs do not act Fil-Am, they have accents, they have different customs). Likewise, there's also the immigrant Filipinos who put down the Fil-Ams for acting white or not being Filipino enough.

Just describing this is making me gag. (Tastes like chips and southwester dip-- my gagging, not the issue, or is it?)

Just so you know, I am a Filipino-American, but I have a good idea of what Filipino immigrant is: my family. I think the whole issue comes down to people finding their identity in a diverse culture. Some people feel the need to put down other groups in order to build their identity. They do this to show that they are dissociating themselves from such groups. Fil-Ams feel the need to separate themselves from immigrant culture, while Filipinos feel the need to dissociate themselves from a dilution of their culture.

Gagging some more. (Tastes the same as before but now it has a citrus tang to it.)

Now this division is more pronounced in the west coast of the U.S., because of the greater population of Filipinos and Asians in general. Because there are a fewer number of Filipinos in the east, Filipino-Americans gravitate towards the immigrants to gain more knowledge and keep in touch with Filipino culture. Actually, I got this idea from the video. As a Fil-Am, had there been other Filipinos in my school when I was growing up, I am sure that I would have associated myself with them. But regardless of coast, this division is really stupid. Just stupid.

Both sides need to clear their heads. Yes, I wish I knew how to speak Tagalog. I understand like many Filipino-Americans, but unfortunately, when I try to even say the most simplest things like "Grandpa, you'll have even more difficulty sleeping if you drink coffee", I sound like a chicken being punched in the gut while trying to read a book of syllables with a couple of k's and ng's. But, I also understand that my parents felt that I would not be successful in school if I did not learn English first. They thought speaking to me in Tagalog would prevent me from learning English. In reality, children of non-English speaking families eventually acquire English through the school system. Many of my friends who were not Filipino but grew up in immigrant households learned to speak their family's language first and did just find in school (Hey, they were in the accelerated class with me so so much for that advantage).

If I don't speak tagalog, does that make me not Filipino? Well, how do I say this: bullshit. Translate for me my Filipino friends (tae ng kalabow?). If that were the case, then we would not even be considered Americans because we speak English. Are we English then (Mornin' Guvna!)? How about my uncle's family who only speaks Cebuano? You should get the point. If Filipinos in the Philippines cannot even decide to speak one language, you cannot expect Filipino-Americans to have their Filipino club in high school be conducted in the Pinoy mother tongue. Honestly, I wish I could speak tagalog, but that does not make me any less Filipino.

This works both ways. Just because an immigrant comes to America and does not speak the language, does not make them illiterate. So why do some people insist on making fun of other people who speak English but with accents. This is addressed in the video when a Filipino-American girl explains who hurtful it is when others think her father is dumb because he has a rich accent when he speaks English. First of all, Americans, most people in the world are multi-lingual. English is not the be-all-end-all. Just the simple fact that someone is speaking to you with an accent should show you how smart they are. They are able to converse, to whatever degree, with you in a language that is not their native. Think about it. Can you speak to them in their language. I don't think so. I shouldn't even have to explain anymore-- in fact, if you hear an accent when anyone speaks to you in English, bow down. Salute them for even learning to say 'screw you' when you laugh at them, and all you can do is give them the finger because you have no room left to learn three new words in your ignorant, small brain.

As a Filipino-American, I just happen to identify myself as being both American and Filipino. American because I grew up here in this lifestyle with American ideals and dreams. Filipino because I grew up with their values and customs. (My parents were not American and did not completely assimilate into American culture, you know. Even if they are Republicans now. Hehe. Ouch, I'm crying a little.)

I really hope that I do not come across as one of those arrogant Filipino-Americans to Filipino immigrants. Both groups can learn from each other. There's already so much discrimination between ethnic groups and cultures in America that Filipinos cannot survive if they cultivate hate amongst themselves.

Peace, I'm Outtie.

They Brought Their 'A' Game

The 2008 Top 10 Idol contestants brought their 'A' game tonight.  I've said it before and I'll say it again-- this season is the strongest season of Idol.  It's getting really difficult to pick the bottom performer and you know I've been looking carefully at the performances.  It's definitely going to go down, as usual, as a popularity contest rather than a singing competition; so the ones who stay have to have an extra edge in personality and likability.  Let's start off in order (as best as I can remember).  Disclaimer:  I am awesome and therefore you should only read if you can handle awesome.  Okay?  Begin.

Ramiele, my secret girlfriend (shhh!) and part time lover (double shhh!):  

I'm a little biased here.  I'm going to like her pretty much no matter what, but she did have a really strong performance.  It was just unfortunate that she had to go on first.  I've been reading round the web, and many will agree that the first slot on the show tends to be the death slot.  If you want a contestant out of the show, just put them in the beginning.  I'm hoping that this week breaks the trend.  Ms. Malubay is just too good to go home right now.  Plus, she's a cute Pinay (Woot!).

Jason Castro the one who phones in all his performances (That's a bad thing):

Jason should be in the bottom three, but he probably won't be.  He still has all the girls' hearts a twitter.  Getting tired of his non-singing and just guitar singing.  You could barely hear him over the back-up singers tonight.  I really hope he's close to done if  not tonight.

Syiesha Mercado (Strong Singer, Forgettable everything else):

Sorry if I spelled her name wrong.  She's still a strong vocalist and performer, but I just can't get pass her averageness.  It seems contradictory.  How can such a good singer be average.  Maybe her personality isn't interesting.  All I know about her is that she makes this annoying impersonation of a crying baby.  I am really sorry for this, but she might have to go bye bye soon.

Chikezie the orange tux guy:

Sorry about the spelling (see a pattern here?).  I really wanted to root for this underdog, but his song choice was horrible this week.  He needed to modernize his performance.  I supported him when he did the oldies a couple of weeks ago, but now it's time to show that he can put his strong voice behind a contemporary performance.  I would not be surprised to see him in the bottom three.  If Castro does not leave, then Chikezie will have to do.  But if Cheesy stays, then he needs to heed my advice.  I want to support him.

Michael Johns the Aussie:

Finally, this Aussie belts out a song like I knew he could.  At least no one can say he peaked in Hollywood week.  After tonight, I'd have to say Queen is his bread and butter.  He should definitely stick to rock ballads and stadium ballads.  You know, the type that gets your lighter out and swaying from side to side.  My gut instinct feels that he should be in the top three.  Hopefully, America doesn't forget about him and he gets stuck in the bottom.

Carly the Irish lass:

Love this girl, but not in the way I love Malubay.  I really liked Carly's performance.  Still one of the better singers in the show.  I really hope she's not in the bottom three again this week.  America messed that one up and she deserves to be on American Idol.  Plus, I loves me some Irish.

David the evil one:

Sorry that I'm hating on Archuleta.  I just feel that many people have prematurely crowned him this season's winner.  Yes, Imagine was a great performance, but he definitely slipped in his other performances.  The disastrous Stevie Wonder performance the other week should have put him in the bottom three and at least on notice.  But no!  His minions of tweens and teens are texting and phoning him all the way to the top.  I guess it's his personality and I'm also just a hater.  But you have to agree that there are other people on the show who deserve more credit once in a while and not just Arch who sounds out of breath from being son damn humble all the time (nothing wrong with humility except when the girls in the front row keep screaming).  Well, he's still gonna be here until the end so I don't know why I'm even talking.

Brooke White the girl next door:

I love this girl too.  Her modesty and humility might start to get on my nerves, but luckily she toned it down slightly.  She messed up the beginning of her performance and had to restart immediately.  Should she be ousted for that?  No.  If the evil one gets a free pass, surely Brooke should be free from that criticism.  I actually agreed with the judges that she should have played solo throughout the whole song.  She didn't blow me away but you already know who I think should be gone this week.  Ms. White should be safe for a while longer.

Kristy the southern gal:

You might think that I love this gal too (yeah, she's cute), but I already have my top three girls.  But tonight, based on her previous performances, Kristy did a decent job.  It's a little unfair to everyone else that she's still on the show week after week of mediocre performances, but she at least had this good performance to justify her staying on another week.  If for some reason she gets in the bottom three and is sent home, she at least goes home on a good note.  God Bless America and Ramiele.  (I had to.)

David Cook the rock guy who takes 80s songs and does weird things to them:

I have to say, I actually really enjoyed Cook's performance.  I never thought Billy Jean could become a slow rock song, but he pulled it of nicely.  I will have to say that he seems to be a little too smug here and there.  It's as if he thinks he's the shit and that he can take any song and turn it into rock gold.  What save him, to me, from becoming a douche was that he actually smiled and showed some emotion when he got positive reviews from the judges.  Thank God.  I didn't want to hate him like I did with Amanda Overmeyer (the girl with the rock voice).  I mean, yes American Idol is a cheesy competition, but most talent/popularity shows are.  Enjoy it a little more even if you feel you're too cool for the show.  No one is above Idol.  If Cook turns into Amanda, then he should be punched in the tight pants.  Enjoy.

Who Should Go Home?  Tie between with Castro and Chikezie.

I Remember Little Foot

Like many people who grew up in the late 80s and most of the 90s (some of us have yet to grow up *ahem* moi *ahem*), I developed a liking to animated feature films. When you hear those three words, you might immediately associate those cartoon movies with Disney. Well, I do too. But there were a couple of movies that were not part of the Disney Canon, back in the day, that have fonder memories of than of big D's. I am referring to Don Bluth's movies of the 80s, specifically An American Tail and The Land Before Time (Ducky!).

In the 90s, maybe because I was older and more aware of the world, I was able to mark the passage of time with the annual releases of Disney films. I can recall the timeline starting with The Little Mermaid all the way up to Tarzan. Each film uniquely reminded me of where I was in my life. (Hey, weren't you just a kid? How different could each year be besides going from grade to grade in school? Score one for you, I guess.) I loved loved loved Disney's musical format. I thought every animated film would have their characters at one point spontaneously combust (boom!) into song. I remember there was a time when I could not wait for my parents to get me the new Disney sing-a-long book which I would read along and spoil the movie ahead of time. No worries, because I would at least know the words to the song. No one can knock Lion King off of any list, ever. Finding Nemo comes close, but I am biased a little towards the musical format of the 90s. Also, I am glad that Disney's animation studios are going back to drawings rather than CGI films (See: The Princess and The Frog).

Recently, I started wondering what existed before 1989's Mermaid. Why does my timeline of animation (tanlinimation?) begin on 1989 when I had a couple of years under my tiny baby belt? Sure I was young, but I should at least have memories of merchandise in later years. Well, I do remember Oliver & Company ("Why Should I worry!") which pre-dated Mermaid, but only because of a picture book that I had. But that's it.

But sure enough that's where An American Tale and The Land Before Time fit into my tan-line-imation. You see, after doing a quick Wikipedia search of those movies, I have discovered that the creator/animator of those films, Don Bluth, was an ex patriot of Disney. Those two films actually fared better than Disney's films in the 80s. Talk about a shift in power. I really do believe those films were and are on par with the 90s films of Disney. I do not remember much about An American Tale, but I have home video evidence that The Land Before Time was to me then what The Lion King/Finding Nemo is to me now. I do not think I can watch TLBT today because it would make me cry. It would make a grown man cry. I cannot express how much that film turns me back into a little kid. Every weekend or any slow afternoon, my brothers and I would be rolling around in the carpet with that tape on in the background. It's a small gem from my childhood.

I propose a toast to Don Bluth. Cheers!