Thoughts on Election 1.

Hitting the sack really has the mind going places. A good friend sent me a text message to watch the senatoriables' debate airing on a prominent local broadcasting channel. My first reaction was, "I didn't register dude 'coz I know it wouldn't matter anyway, and I'm sorry for the complete lack of enthusiasm" so I didn't bother to pick up the remote control lying at an arm's reach. Instead, it got me thinking what that channel would normally air on that time slot if it wasn't voting season. What I deduced from that situation is that the TV station literally cleared up one of their shows just to make room for this which means there are viewers, and when there's an audience, there's money (thank the advertisers for this). I know there's a degree of importance when some people start to make money out of it. Personally, I don't like governance because of the way it twisted the word 'politics' in most countries, which was by the way put into positive light the very first time by my political science professor, but the nearer the election date draws near, the more I can't not think about it.

One of the many things I learned from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy is that you must take it very seriously, dead-serious even when you are destined to rule over a race, because you are thrust with the power to lead a nation to flourish or to its peril. History is literally in your hands. There is a saying I happened upon on the Recess cartoon (a long time ago) that goes, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" and Sauron's character is the very personification of that, doing anything and everything to stay on top, selfish and unmindful of others, treating them all as "expendable". Aragorn on the other hand, is very much aware of the sins of his ancestors and is terrified of the possibility that the innate greed that runs deep in his blood might catch him off guard and spring forth, fueling time and again the perpetuation of evil, so he shuns away from the temptation of power and longs for the peace that was snatched from the races that fought and died for it. Even though he was insecure about it, there were others who believed in him because he possessed king-like attributes, namely:
• Nobility - He understands the word 'Honor' and lives by it. In these deceitful and chaotic times, pity those who cannot fathom it.
• Kindness/Compassionate - He cares for even the smallest race, the hobbits and respects their purpose, even though it would be easier to bully and make fun of them.
• Temperance - He let a steward take over the kingdom of Gondor and chose to be a ranger instead of being the rightful heir. He declined the ring from Frodo when he was offered it (Boromir failed that test).
• Charisma - He easily gains the respect of his fellow men (living and dead) as well as other races, maybe because of the discipline and strength he showed when he chose exile instead of the kingdom.
• Humility - He does not unnecessarily and boastfully lord over his comrades and for this, his words and instructions are accepted and respected.
• Fidelity/Faithfulness - He knows love has bound him to Arwen, and he does not give in to rebound easily (Eowyn) even when he thought the elf has gone for good, and fortunately for him, he thought wrong.
• Impartial/Considerate - He does not let anger and bitterness guide his actions. He does not pass judgment onto others even when he can strike them dead (Wormtongue, Saruman's henchman in Rohan). He gives credit where credit is due (Acknowledging the hobbit's efforts to quell evil).
• Courageous - He does not give in to despair. He gives confidence and inspiration to others even when there seems no reason to be (Battle at Helm's Deep).

Mind you (and I don't get tired of putting emphasis on this), being the descendant of the previous kings did not persuade even himself that he is fit to rule over his fellow men, it is by these qualities that he has shown (therefore, don't think that I am secretly rooting for someone). When was the last time we have ever seen anyone close to this? Some might think that I wasn't acting responsibly when I chose not to register and therefore didn't intend to vote, but I have my reasons and one of them is this. All these candidates may have the money for the campaign, but no good businessman will let an investment, especially a large one go bad. A good leader however, has the "command responsibility" mindset and for the sake of accountability, "takes one for the team", which by the way is Team Philippines. Yes, that is all of us, and when the time comes that someone realizes that campaign money is just money, and will actually take the opportunity to break the vicious cycle and make the country not even the slightest bit ashamed that their allegiance is with the Philippine Flag, only then will I make time to be a part of the voting population.

Dreams of the Jobless

Blogger. Contributor. Writer. Sana ganito na lang ang aking trabaho: mag-isip at mag-"sulat" (oo na, typing ang tama). Pero dahil hindi naman lahat ng naiisip ko ay maaaring isulat at hindi lahat ng sinusulat ay maaaring kumita ng pera, kailangan pa rin maghanap ng trabahong magsusustento ng aking pamumuhay balang-araw.

May nabasa akong balita tungkol sa pagpapalit ng kotse ng mga pulis sa ginintuang lupa ng amerika at ang unang pumasok sa utak ko ay, "Sana ang trabaho ko na lang ay yung pulis na nanghahabol ng mga lumalabag sa batas, para lang mai-maneho ko yang kotse na yan" tutal, mahilig naman ako sa kotse at ako'y natutuwa sa kakayahan ng mga ito na magmabilis ng andar. Isa pa, kung naging pulis nga ako, hindi uubra sa akin ang mga batas pantrapiko (hindi ko sinasabing ako'y mahilig lumabag ng batas, ayaw ko nga ng abala na maidudulot noon kung sakaling mangyare yun eh), lalo na yung mga inimbentong batas ng mga lintik na taga-siyudad ng Makati na hinubog lamang sa dahilanang pangkurakot. At siyempre, magkakaroon ng halaga at maipaglalaban ang aking salita pag ako'y nagsusumbong sa "internal affairs" kung sino ang mga nangungurakot sa kalsada. Ang problema lang kasi, kapag dito sa Pilipinas ako naging pulis, anung kotse ang maipapaubaya sa naatasang manghabol? Buti pa sa "Fast & Furious 4" na ilang beses ko napanood nitong nakaraan na buwan sa HBO, ang bidang federal agent ay pwedeng kumuha lang basta-basta sa impound ng kotseng kakailanganin para sa misyon niya. Hindi lang yun, may nagagamit pa siyang garahe kung saan pwede niya kalikutin ang buong katawan ng kotse, loob hanggang labas. Eh dito? Alam na. Tsaka kung trabahong makakapangsustento ng pamumuhay ang hinahanap ko at kung ayaw ko sa kurakot, hindi maaaring tahakin ang ganoong hanapbuhay. Sa palagay ko kaya walang manghahabol dito ay dahil sa problema sa presyo ng gasolina. Baka ako pa pagmultahin.

Kung anu-ano talaga naiisip ng mga walang trabaho, pero minsan pare-pareho. Mabuti sana yun kung maraming naidadagdag dito sa ating pinakamamahal na mega-blog eh noh? Hanggang sa muli.

Butas Part 3.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang aking sarili kaya eto na ang pangatlong (at huling?) installment ng Butas Series.

Pinagtatakahan ko lang rin talaga kung bakit ang mga Venetian blinds, merong tatlong options: full sunlight in/zero-privacy (nakatago), blocking sunlight out/full privacy (nakababa) and sneaky-sneaky mode/varying-privacy-na-mukhang-stalker/serial killer (nakababa pero nakabukas). Meron naman kasing normal blinds, yung parang tarpaulin yung material tapos dalawang options: either raised or lowered. Unang-una, ang hirap kasi linisin ng Venetian blinds. Pangalawa, yung "pampadali" sa paglilinis, (wag na tayong magulat) binibili. Pangatlo at ang pinaka-importante sa lahat, wala naman dito (at hindi ako maniniwala kahit pilitin) na taga-Venice eh. Sa palagay ko kahit ang mga bampira, kurtina o kaya yung normal blinds ang gagamitin eh. Siguro nga para lang ito sa mga sadyang maarte kung gaano karaming photons ang pumapasok sa loob ng bahay nila.

Maghahanap pa ako ng iba pang mga butas na pwede pag isipan, hanggang sa muli! kthxbai. ;)

Butas Part 2.

Tada! Part 2 is here! Lumayo na tayo sa usapang speakers at tumungo naman tayo sa susunod na pinakamaingay sa isang karaniwang araw sa kwarto ko... (especial na araw kapag pangatlo lang ito at ang winner ay ang haligi ng tahanan)

Ang bentilador. Bow.

Magtaka ka na, dahil pagtatakahin kita. Naisip ko lang, bakit nga ba ang mga bentilador may screen na hindi tumutupad sa layunin? Siyempre, ang una nating iisipin na purpose ng screen ay 'Safety!', pero malamang sa hindi ay para sa bata lamang yun (deep down, alam mong gusto mo ako kontrahin at sabihing maraming clumsy dyan, pero katabi nung deep down na yun, alam mong tama rin ako). Naisip ko, mas safety para sa fan blades ang screen kesa sa mga daliri ng mga chikiting.. Which brings us to the story-telling part of this post.. :D Sa aking natantong dual memory, may naaalala akong nabasag kong fan blade ng isang natatanging bentilador dahil ito ay nakabukas at ako ay malikot. The End. Sinabi kong dual memory kasi hindi ko sigurado kung ako nakabasag at nasaksihan ko lamang, o baka sa ibang lifetime nangyare, o baka naikwento lang rin sakin. Cool noh. May naiimagine rin akong part ng story kung saan kinalas ko ang buong bentilador, tinago sa aking bag ang mga kasyang parte, at ang iba ay binasura, at sinumbong na ninakaw ang kawawang bentilador, pero hindi ko alam sa dual memory ko kung totoo pa ba ito o ginusto ko lang mangyare...

Anyway, naisip ko kung ang mga filter mula sa naunang post kaya ang naging screen ng mga bentilador para hindi na kasya daliri ng mga bulinggit (at daliri ko kung na-tripan kong makita kung mapipigil ng isang daliri ang low-med-high fan levels ng test subject)? Kung nangyari naman yun, kukulangin ang pwersang pampahangin para masabing nape-preskohan tayo. Eh kung mag-aircon na lang kaya? Nawala na abaniko namin eh.

Butas Part 1.

Mabuhay! Ito'y dulot ng matinding kagustuhan ng aking mga daliri maitala ang kaisipan hanggang sa punto na hindi na ako makatulog..

Hindi ba kayo nagtataka kung bakit ang mga speakers, more often than not, may parang filter/strainer? Kinakailangan pa bang himayin ng mga filter na ito ang tunog na lumalabas sa speakers, na ang layunin talaga ay magbigay ng tunog based sa iyong input? Parang counter-productive ung specific part ng speaker kung iisipin natin ng ganun di ba? Pero kung ikukumpara natin sa mga concert hall kung saan tumutugtog ang mga orchestra, merong mga dingding na kinakabitan rin ng mga nasabing filter para itago ang totoong hugis ng mga pader na hindi kanais-nais sa mata pero sumusunod ayon sa acoustics para maganda ang resonance, reverbration at yung pagtalbog ng sound waves sa mga nasabing pader (whew, napakahabang pangungusap at hindi ko alam yung term para sa huling element). Aesthetics issue para dun, pero sa speakers kaya? Ano sa tingin mo? yes, parang adcong2009 lang eh. Watch out for Part 2, coming soon! Sooner than you think.