if i were to make a mixed tape, here's the line up

here's the list of songs i've been listening to the past couple of weeks. my music player is an iPod shuffle so basically, i listen to those songs in no particular order. i intentionally limited the number of Air Supply songs to one. doctor's prescription.

She's always a woman to me - Billy Joel
For No One - the Beatles
Nogweigian Wood - the Beatles
Walts #2 - Elliot Smith
Fade Away - Sugarfree
I have to say I love you in a song - Jim Croce
Eleanor Rigby - the Beatles
Piazza New York Catcher - Belle and Sebastian
Between the Bars - Elliot Smith
Landslide - the Smashing Pumpkins
Burn Out - Sugarfree
Sampaguita - Yano
Summer Romance - Incubus
Everything Reminds Me of Her - Elliot Smith
Even the nights are better - Air Supply

Sisyphus, again?

I reread Albert Camus, his work The Myth of Sisyphus. Originally, I thought Camus was really brilliant coming up with that interpretation. But just recently, I’m beginning to change my views on the subject. Here’s a brief background on the myth. If you already know the story skip the preceding sentences and jump to the next paragraph, but for those who don't, carry on. In Greek mythology, he was the Smart Alek who made a mockery out of Hades several time (just google the details). Sisyphus was convicted of “crimes against the gods” and was condemned to eternal labor. His punishment was to push a boulder up a mountain, and whenever he would come close to the top, the boulder would slip his grasps and the damn thing would come rolling down again. His punishment is eternal frustration.

Camus said that the Gods wanted to see Sisyphus beg on knees to ask them for their aid. But according to Camus, Sisyphus is not the type who would have his pride trampled that easily. The titan would rather be eternally frustrated than to live the rest of forever with a shattered ego. Sisyphus knows (or at least has an idea) that pushing the boulder up the hill is really an impossible task, but he couldn’t care less. The only thing keeping him going is the program in his mind telling him to continue pushing. That he might succeed despite the small possibility.

Sisyphus would learn to enjoy his predicament, thinking that everything is about trying. Life is about pushing. Senseless labor isn’t entirely senseless if do your best, or something to that effect. The glory in attempt. Smile once the boulder reached the highest t could.

But what if what Sisyphus really wants is for the Gods to pity him? Surely, his ego is too though to give up, but if the Gods offered to cut him some slack, I doubt he would refuse the offer. Everything is a means to an end. Of course that would make Sisyphus a hypocrite. If that was to be the case, wouldn’t that reduce the earlier interpretation of life to mere arrogance? I doubt that the Gods would give humanity amnesty from our earthly and seemingly senseless labor under the sun. No matter how much we beg or plead. The most we can do is to justify senseless labor with the hypocrisy of glory in attempt. Who would want to smile at project unfinished anyway?

random things about me now

I find it weird. Everything below.

• I miss my bestfriend
• I’m having a hard time sleeping at night
• I read more math books now than poetry books
• I’m having a hard time writing
• I get anxiety attacks more often
• I can lock myself in my room for a whole day, going out only to eat and urinate
• I stay up every night until 3am
• I prefer not think that I’m depress, because I see no logical reason for that
• I prefer not to think that I’m denying that I’m depress, if I am, I would know
• I miss my bestfriend
• I watch a lot of cartoons lately
• I still want to go back to the Taekwondo team
• I drink a lot of tea
• I eat a lot
• I don’t like my dreams
• It’s been one and a half year since my bestfriend last talked to me and it’s killing me
• I like really this certain girl. I enjoy talking and being with her. But she scares me. A lot.
• I don’t enjoy the things I use to do: reading magazines, dvd hunting, etc
• I spend a lot of time sleeping
• I prefer to avoid reading psychology books
• I don’t enjoy the company of my friends the way I use to. I meant that with no offence. Really
• I don’t drink alcohol anymore. (maybe everything is due to withdrawal)
• I procrastinate a lot
• I like Hunter Thomson more than I like Tom Wolfe now
• I prefer to be secretive. (so not me)
• I spend a lot of time reading Wikipedia entries
• I haven’t played sports in a long while. (kahit lagi akong niyaya magbasket ng tropa ko)
• I feel tired all the time
• I’m trying to learn to play the piano
• I feel sad that I can’t bully anyone in grad school. I use to pick on my dork classmates in college and high school
• I don’t like Marxist ideologies the way I use to
• I hesitate a lot before doing anything. This I hate about myself now, because it makes me miss a lot of opportunities.
• I watch a lot of old movies
• I’m confused with the way I want my poetry to look like
• I spent a lot of time in YM
• I miss my athletic old self
• I spend a lot of time in Multiply
• I think Facebook is for robots
• I think I know why Marx was wrong
• I like my studies but I’m having a hard time financing my education
• I miss my old muscular built. Promise. There was a time.
• I will shoot anyone who will say and think that im emo. Not kiding.

Avatar Live Action

Finally, the cast for the Avatar live action is out. Entertainment Weekly is reported that M. Night Shyamalan has picked some of the cast for his upcoming film, The Last Airbender.

Here is what we know about the cast so far:

• Noah Ringer, a karate star chosen from an open casting call in Texas will play Aang, the central character (Aang) of the story. Aang is the last of his tribe and the story follows him as he and his companions travel the world in search of trainers to teach him to master the four elements.
• Nicola Peltz will play Katara of the Southern water tribe.
• Jackson Rathbone of recent Twilight fame will play Katara’s brother, Sokka.
• Jesse McCartney, the young singer, is currently in negotiations to play Zuko, the exiled prince of the Fire Nation.

IMDB.com wrote: "The story follows the adventures of the successor to a long line of Avatars who must put aside his irresponsible ways and stop the Fire Nation from enslaving the Water, Earth and Air nations."

Here's an interview with the creators regarding the movie




This is not the real trailer, pero ang linis ng pagkakagawa.




also, here's an interesting home-made video clip:

Sad State

College attrition a staggering 50%
Metro Manila enrollment on 10-year slide

Despite the effort of 8 million Filipinos toiling abroad to send their children to school, the number of college students enrolled in Metro Manila has been steadily dropping in the past 10 years.

From 371,000 college students tallied by the Commission on Higher Education in 1998, the number dropped 10 percent to 331,000 this school year.

While the lower number could be a result of more colleges being put up in the provinces, CHED officials themselves say it is lack of money that keep the youth out of school.

There is also a perceived trend that students drop after the second year in college to go to work as agents in call centers.

Considering that population growth has been steady at three percent per year in the past decade, the number of students, at the very least should have gone up that much.

Using population growth as gauge, the number of college students by this year should have reached 480,000 meaning 150,000 students or close to half of those enrolled fell down the cracks, out of school and forced to work and deprived of chance to get college education.

Lawyer Julito Vitriolo, OIC of the Executive Director’s Office of CHED, said there would be less enrollees in the next few years as a result of the weakening economy.

Considering that growth last year was at a 30-year peak, yet enrollment dropped, schools are bracing for worse times.

Parents, he said, cannot afford tuition of private schools, resulting in the exodus from private to cheaper schools or state colleges.

"A lot of students have transferred to PUP and TUP, because the tuition is much cheaper there", Vitriolo said.

PUP enrollees have risen from 29,667 in 1998 to 33,593 this year.

In contrast, Centro Escolar Univeristy’s students dropped from 27,370 in 1998 to 14,702 this year.

Adamson University where tuition is cheaper, registered a 27 percent growth in enrolment to 19, 967 from the previous academic year, 15,686.

Arellano University Manila registered a 29 percent growth in enrolment to 9,470 from the previous academic year of 7,318.

PUP vice president for administrative affairs lawyer Augustus Cesar said the state university has more enrollees that their facilities can accommodate.

" We don’t even know what to do with them," Cesar said.

Cesar said CHED is asking Congress to increase PUP’s budget. He said PUP needs P1.8 billion, less than one percent of the total education budget of P181 billion and only half of the P3.2 billion budget of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

State colleges complain that in comparison with other Asian countries, the Philippines is only allocating education 2.5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), compared to Malaysia 6.2 percent, Brunei 3.7 percent, Indonesia 3.6 percent, Singapore 3.1 percent and Thailand 4.2 percent. GDP is the total value of goods and services produced in a country in a year.

Meanwhile UST registrar Rodolfo Clavio, said that UST has been able to maintain the number of its students.

Clavio expects other schools whose students are supported by OFW money to bear the brunt of the crisis.

He said that the expected fall in remittances from OFW parents could, in the coming years, translate to a decline in enrolment.

"A lot of our students here in UST have OFW parents. Since these students are partially dependent on OFW remittances, a decrease in remittances would result into a decrease in enrolment," Clavio said.


(Lifted from Malaya)

There are Cooler ways to Die

When your doctor says that smoking is bad for you, he’s not to just referring to your health. There are a lot to be considered when making an exit to the only world you know, and this includes your finesse in making your exit. Death by lung cancer isn’t something that you can brag about to the people in the afterlife. When he suggests that you take a nicotine gums in place of a cigarette stick in your systems rituals, you'd better take his advice. Here are some of the coolest ways to kick the bucket.

1. Get shot at. Now this is something to brag about to the netherworld people. When you get shot, there would always be a story to tell. People, or dead people, would be demanding for the details: who shot you, where did it happen, what happened to the killer, and most importantly, why did you get shot? Death by bullet is always something that you can share to the people who are interested. Whether it’s a simple mugging incident, or a massacre, or an assassination.

2. Terrorist bombing. This way, at least you get to be a part of history. When multitudes die because of terrorist attack, the whole world cries for them. I’m sure you would want the Pope to hold a prayer vigil for your departure to the afterlife.

3. The electric chair. Now this suggest that you really did something cool before you made your exit. When you’re sentenced with capital punishment it means that you were able to experience something other people dared not to even think about. The only thing that sucks is the fact that you got caught.

4. Hazing. This is another scenario when the world weeps for your death. After you die from hazing, there would be street protests, signature campaigns, and your family will have numerous television appearances. Your death will mean something. Hypothetically.

5. STD. This is self explanatory.

6. Old age and happy. This is probably the most desired. To die at seventy with your grandchildren cooking you breakfast every morning. You die at peace. In a rocking chair. You recall the stupid things you have done, the stupid people you dated, your sexcapades, your nagging old boss who’s is dead now, your stupid college professors making you do stupid projects. Here you get to summarize. You die on the sofa, holding a newspaper, with cup of coffee in front of you.

7. Of Course suicide (death by choice). Of course when you think that the rest of your life is a wreck, and there is no chance for a better future, you can always die at you own hands. You can be creative while you’re at it too. It can be in the form of the traditional Judas’ hangman, or as creative as Sylvia Plath’s head-in-an-oven. Whatever the form you choose, it will always be a statement. The fun part here is you can blame the whole world for your wrecked life using a small note you leave next to your body.

Smoking limits your chances of you making a grand exit. You would want your grandchildren to remember you for something that doesn’t involve your system breaking down due to organ failure.

Weird Article

Child dies as parents play WoW
News by Ellie Gibson

20 June, 2005

A Korean husband and wife are facing criminal charges after their baby daughter died when they left her alone in order to play World of Warcraft.

According to news site Chosun, police say the parents left their four month-old child alone in a bedroom while they went to play the MMORPG at a local Internet cafe.

When they returned five hours later, the baby was lying on her stomach and had died of suffocation.

"We were thinking of playing for just an hour or two and returning home like usual, but the game took longer that day," the couple is reported as saying.

Following a police investigation, the husband and wife will be required to defend their actions in court.

"It's unfortunate, because the tragedy could have been averted if the couple had just left their daughter with Yu's mother-in-law, who lived upstairs from them," said police.

"We booked the pair on criminal charges, judging that when you consider the situation, they were responsible for their daughter's death."

URL: http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=59697

25 Things I Learned in College

1. If you want to date one of your bloc mates, think twice before you even make a move.

2. Marriage and the Family is the most depressing subject in the universe.

3. Land Reform and Taxation is second.

4. Don’t argue with people who are a lot older than you. It’s not that you might be wrong, just don’t. Save your energy for something more productive.

5. For some people, the number achievement that you put in resumé is inversely proportional to the number of character references.

6. Talent is an advantage in the student council elections. I repeat—talent.

7. If ever you’re dating your thesis partner, never, under any circumstances, break up with him or her in the middle of the school year. Trust me on this one.

8. Some professors will appreciate it if you recite and get good grades in your quizzes; others prefer a cake from Red Ribbon.

9. The blogosphere is not a safe place to pour in your rantings.

10. What is wrong with the world? Nobody wants to find solutions.

11. Join as much organizations as you want during your freshman and sophomore years. Enjoy your free time while you still have them.

12. If you have something to say about the faculty or the administration don’t post it on the freedom board. Instead, write it on your desk. A lot of people would read it, and it will not hinder you from getting a diploma.

13. Avoid that fire extinguisher inside the AB organization room.

14. If you think that your professor is gay, don’t tell anyone until you’re sure. You might be wrong.

15. When you cheat on an exam, do it with finesse.

16. Live a clean and healthy lifestyle. Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll is overrated.

17. Sad reality: “Talo ng masipag ang magaling.”

18. Tuition increase is an inevitable phenomenon in the universe.

19. Community service feels good, if you’re normal.

20. A good grasp of algebra might save your life someday.

21. If you’re friends with the campus guards, you’re already untouchable.

22. It pays to bring an umbrella everyday.

23. Take a personality test in the guidance office at least one. You will really appreciate it.

24. What is a bad girlfriend? It is anything that occupies personal space and has weight.

25. You only have four years to actually contribute to society as a part of the academe (unless, of course, you peruse graduate studies or you decide to teach). Do what you can while you still have time to do it.

Who said that there are no Shortcuts in Life?

This is the Philippines, you can cut the cost of everything: A digital camera usually costing around eight to ten thousand pesos can be bought here at a very low price of three thousand pesos, and sometimes even lower. It’s just a matter knowing where to look. Here, you don’t need to be filthy rich to buy a camera, nor do you need huge amounts of money for a cellphone. You don’t even need to do research for your thesis; neither do you need to do a thesis to get a grade. You don’t need to get married to have marriage contract; learn how to drive to get a license; and if four years is too long for you—you don’t even need to attend a single class to get yourself a diploma. We always find a way to make life easy for us. I’m not saying that this is something that we should be proud of. My point is, in reality they exist—and we are letting them because we want them there just in case we need them. We always want to find the quickest way out. Even if it involves cutting the process short, or scrap it totally.

Why bother spending mountains of cash for education. The only thing you want in the end is a mealy piece of paper you call a diploma. And if you go to places like Recto, you will learn that 1000 pesos is a small price to pay for a document verifying four years of college education. “It’s just like the real thing,” said a woman who wants to be addressed only with the alias Aling Lucy. “No one will suspect the difference. Only a handful can tell that it’s fake.”

Aling Lucy used to peddle bananacues and rice cakes on V. Mapa, earning four to five hundred pesos per day. Life was really hard for her then—living out of an amount barely enough to pay the rent. Three years ago, a friend tagged her along to join her business in Recto: selling unauthentic documents such as marriage contracts, transcripts of records, diplomas, certifications of employment, and even school ID’s and driver’s license. “It’s illegal,” she said “But it brings dinner to the table.” Now, she earns around 500 to 1000 pesos a day, not bad according to her.

She sits on a high chair facing a table with documents laminated on all over it. She would list down on her notebook, her customers’ name and what they want. The customer is then asked to return and claim whatever it is he/she ordered. The order is then sent to a place she called “the house.” According to her, the house is heart of the operation. It is where the layout and printing is taken place. Aling Lucy has no hands on the layout. She’s just there to take orders from customers. There are people in the house tasked to do the technical stuff. The house takes 50 percent of income.

“Sometimes students would come to us asking us make receipts for their enrolment. We would add around 1000 to 2000 pesos to total amount in the receipt. We would ask them to pay only 200 to 150 pesos. So they would earn more than a thousand bucks from their parents.”

The output is very realistic. If there would be anything dubious about their products, Aling Lucy said that it’s only the color and signature.

Yes, her business is illegal but nobody seems to care. All of her operations are done in broad daylight, at plain sight of everyone on the street. She would open her stand at nine in the morning and close at five. Even police officers rarely mind setup. There would be raids from time to time, which set the whole street to panic state. But even the law is not something money can’t buy. “Police raids would often send the people here running, but they are easy to get rid of. Two hundred to five hundred pesos are enough to buy off the officials,” Aling Lucy said. “The pay offs depend on the rank of the officer,” she added. Three hundred is already too much for a rooky, but sometime 2000 pesos is not enough for a police chief. Nonetheless, Aling Lucy said that it is still a price to considering how she gets from her business at the end of the year.

Prices of her items range 200 to 3000 pesos. Grade sheets usually cost 200 pesos, and a diploma costs around 1000 pesos to 3000 pesos, depending on the prestige of the school. Aling Lucy said that the computerization of the schools is making her job a lot easier. Transcripts are now easier to fake. The process of replication is now faster because of new technology.

In some days, she would be able to entice 25 customers. But more often, three to five are all that the day can offer. It’s a tough job. Everyday she puts her life on the line, but who can blame her—it’s easy money. Besides, the world is tolerating her existence. Basic economics: the supply wouldn’t be there if the demand is not.