Oct. 1-12 means Spanish Film Fest time in Greenbelt 3.  Unfortunately, this is not free like that Cine Europa in Shang.  Tickets are  priced at Php 65; but still, not bad right?

So I'm thinking I want to watch these movies if I get the chance:

Miguel Y William

Genre: romance, comedy

Leonor leaves London to marry a rich, widowed duke in Castile, also leaving her lover, William Shakespeare, a promising playwright. In Spain, she meets Miguel de Cervantes, a man of letters who has lost faith in his talent. Shakespeare arrives to prevent the marriage between his beloved and the duke and so Leonor sees the chance to bring together the talents of the two writers to create a unique work.

El Orfanato

Genre: horror

Laura returns to the orphanage where shespent the best years of her childhood to discover that it has acquired ahaunted, unhappy air. She then sets out to learn what happened at the orphanageafter she left, plunging headlong into a netherworld where the dead reach outto the living.

Nocturna

Genre: animation, fantasy

Tim leaves the orphanage he calls home to find out why the stars have disappeared from the sky. He embarks on an exciting journey where he encounters the denizens of Nocturna, a parallel world that comes to life as we lie asleep, with a mission to find Moka, keeper of the night, to plead him to return the stars to the night sky.

Friends, we will watch this aight?

For the rest of the movie synopsis, check here

Long overdue post about this new little thing called Easy English PSL.

Easy English PSL

Honestly, it looks alot like ipod right?  This little MP4 player is actually something that could help your kid learn american english in a niftier way. Storage chip comes with 104 Aesop’s fables, 20 A Child’s Garden of Verses poems, 37 teaching manners, 154 Mother Goose rhymes and tons of vocabulary words.

You know how those videoke thing works?  It's pretty much like that, only the video you see is actually relevant to what is being read (or sung, as is the case with videoke).  So while the player is reading, the words being read lights up.  Then, when the screen changes, you hear a sound signalling the change.  See?  Very much like videoke, albeit, more productive. 

Launching was attended by these people, check out what they said:

• Yapatoots
  
• Ennah, Comsci student
• Azrael (photos)

The birthday is coming up in a few weeks.  I am now a few days away short of *gasp* 27.  Man, I'm old.  Why I still feel like I'm 21, and acts like a 16-year old, is beyond me.  Hopefully this maturity thing follows fast, prolly in dog ages, by the time I hit the 27.

And because 27 gifts is a little bit too much, let me just stick to wishing for the 7 things I want for my birthday:

HP B2133-VB Mini note

Should be better if it comes in pink with XP instead of Vista (Vista annoys me), and has longer batt life, but I like everything else, so yeah, there.

nokia n77

Yenny (from sony eriksonn, get it???) is broken.  Ok, not broken really, just that the scroller thingy isn't functional anymore.  So it makes things hard.  Plus, I still don't like eriksonn that much, so if I'm buying new phone, I'm switching back to nokia.  Preferrably one with wi-fi, music, and lotsa' memory space.  Was told the N-series is pretty much the cheapest line with wi-fi, and this is the only one i saw without the flip.  Not liking flips to much either.

chucks!

I need to get me new sneakers.  Cos i don't really like heels all that that much (although the sandals need uploads soon, i'm starting to have nothing to wear), and my only 2 pairs of rubbers are getting seriously worn out.  Also, chucks are starting to get to me.  In a good way.  Only problem is, they most prolly get squishy when it rains, right?

hoodies!

I'm starting to like hoodies in general lately.  Mebbe cos of the cold.  This one from topshop looks really cute.  Should mebbe go shopping one of these days.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T2

To be honest, I simply like this baby cos it looks uber-gwapo.  The DSC-T77 has better features, but heck, what do I know about cameras?  I just need a point-and-shoot variety which takes clear pics, has the steadyshot feature (I don't have steady hands), and is small and lightweight.  Our cam is nice, but it's pretty bulky.

Panglao, Bohol

No, of course I don't want a beach resort.  But I do need a beach trip.  Preferrably when the weather gets all warm and sunny.

world peace.

*bow*

The bestfriend left a few weeks ago to work as a physical therapist in New York.  She’s staying with a couple of professors we had back in college.  No, they did not get their New York City Health jobs in some website, although, if you are looking for one, there are sites galore to go check. 

I miss her.  I would be in Manila thinking, I want to eat at this place later, or watch this movie at Rob Place.  Then, I would realize she is not in Manila anymore.

I have a thing for friends I can drag anywhere at a moment’s notice.  Do not get me wrong, I still like my schedules and routines, but sometimes impromptu invitations are fun too, especially if you’re not in the mood to go home yet.  And that’s where my money keeps going to, dining out and movies.

I should actually stop eating out, and start shopping instead.  In spite of this habit of eating out a lot, I seem to still be losing weight.  I don’t get it.  It’s not like as if I go on diets.  Yes, I got pretty stressed last month, but it’s ok now.  I have this theory that maybe it’s because I don’t sleep early.  So, I’m doing this asleep by midnight thing.  I hope it works.  Otherwise, I’d have no pants left.

Also, did you notice how I ended this entry with something completely different from where I began?  I do get derailed easy.

College deliberation was a few days ago.  For the uninformed, deliberation is where we decide whether to pass or fail students who were below the passing mark.

First time I heard of it, I thought the whole thing was stupid.  The whole point of having a cut-off mark was cos that's the minimum standard set for the students, anything below that means the standards have not been met. 

In all fairness to the students, staying in the program requires gallons of blood and sweat.  You need a general average of 2.5 and below to be in good standing, 2.51-2.75 to be in probation (which if you're in twice, you get kicked off the program), and anything above 2.75 means you need to start looking for a new school.  Then again, you know what you're getting into when you decided to stay in the program right?  If you want an easier course, where meeting the good standing average is easy, you could always shift early.

No, I am not the evil instructor who fails everyone subject for deliberation, but yes, I have  failed a few.  Hopefully those kiddies will not be attempting to kill me in my sleep.  Here are a few of the reasons some give me for passing a student, that I totally disagree with (yes, this may make me seem like I lack a conscience, but I tend to favor justice over mercy):

They're too poor to afford another school.

I understand that the financial aspect of life really sucks, but being poor should not be an excuse to get more slack.  So if your students were rich, it's ok to fail them, but if they're poor, you are without conscience if you do?  That's fair?  What's the opposite of being an elitist?

Pretty much like the first one, and instructor admitting that student really is pretty slow; but still would like to give him a chance cos some people excel even if they sucked at it in school.

WTF?!  Given that line of reasoning, then we might as well pass everyone.  Who knows who'd turn out "excelling" at their shit.  I was telling them how maybe he's not doing good in this program cos this is not the program for him, maybe he needs to shift to another course.  This is the reasoning they gave me.  And that he can't shift to another program in the univ cos next fail, he gets kicked out.  So why didn't you let him go before?! *sigh*

No logical reason given.

Bah.

Two of the 3-year-old kids were talking:

Kid 1: Mommy ko 'to.

Kid 2: You have kuto?

Kid 1: Mommy ko 'to!

Kid 2: You have kuto!

Two 4-year-old kids were fighting about who's got a more scarier parent when mad:

Kid 1: Mas nakakatakot mommy ko.  Buntis pa yun! (My mommy's scarier.  And she's pregnant.)

Kid 2: Ay, hindi.  Mas nakakatakot mommy ko, konting buntis di yun! (Oh no.  My mommy's scarier, she's slightly pregnant.)

I know these moms they were talking about, and I'm not really sure if they say pregnant like as in really pregnant, or cos mommy has big tummy. *heh*

So last Monday, I got my free journal for 2009 from Bona Coffee

new planner

I'm supposed to compare this to the Starbucks planner.  But since they weren't very specific which Starbucks planner to compare it to, I decided to comapare it to the 2006 version

Starbucks planner

cos they pretty much look alike, so I figured why not just see how they match with each other given the existing similarities.

To be honest though, I've never been a fan of bound planners.  It's harder to write for me cos you can't turn the other page all the way to the back, it doesn't fall flat on the table, and you can't rip off a page.  Not that you should be ripping anything off, but I like having the option.  Ok, that did not make sense, but I'm sticking to it anyway.

In terms of cover, I prefer Starbucks classier design.  The journal title of Bona Coffee's is just screaming too much for me.

Starbucks: 1

Bona Coffee: 0

In terms of size, Starbucks is longer but thinner, and also lighter.  I like my planners not so heavy.  My bag is heavy as it is, and while I appreciate hardbound, it kills my shoulders to have that extra weight.

Starbucks: 2

Bona Coffee: 0

Aside from the outside, there are only two things I look for on the inside: the monthly calendar page (that's what I'm calling it anyway), and the daily space to write stuff in (yes, I like to make things up).

monthly calendar page

In this aspect, I prefer Bona Coffee's journal to Starbucks'.  I like how there's alot of space to write in.  Sure Bona Coffee's is full of fun factoids, but it's not that much of a big deal for me.

Starbucks: 2

Bona Coffee: 1

daily space

I prefer how Bona Coffee's planner has more clear cut separation of days, but I like that Starbuck's daily entries comes with lines.  I can't write in a straight line is why.  But since I like both, I'm calling it even.

Starbucks: 3

Bona: 2

So overall, I still prefer Starbucks' planner more than Bona Coffee's journal.

What about you?

Comments would be awesome.

For the past on and off months, I’ve been addicted to chuzzle.  For those who does not know it, it’s actually a very simple pc game.  It’s basically color matching.  You put furballs of the same color right beside each other, and if you get a three or more formed, they pop.  I love the popping sound they make.  Chuzzle, however, is a .exe file, so I’m not sure if there’s also mac games and iphone games of that version, available.

There is this site though that offers games played in macs.  Some games are free, but most are paid, with the prices ranging from $3 to $80.  Looking through the available games, there are a few games that I’m familiar with.  There’s fever frenzy, which is pretty much like diner dash.  You seat a patient, admit him, you treat, you send him home.  There’s also Summer Session, whichis described as sim dating game.  This reminds me a little of the game I played in PSP where you’re sim character needs to socialize for a certain number of times with any of the other characters, to be able to kiss the other sim.  And by kiss I meant, major steamy makeout session.  There is no chuzzle game, unfortunately.  The good thing about this though is that it’s not just for mac-users, it is also available as downloadable iphone games.

I have to write this before I forget, better yet, before the "rational" kicks in.  If I let myself, I will be completely into you.  The thought scares me.

I am doing this solely because I need to write progress reports, and I am not in the mood to finish it yet.  I will cram this in a few.

Let the random-ness begin...

1.  Odd numbers are cute, especially if they happen to be prime numbers too.  I don't get it either, I just think they look pretty.

Smores Choco Caramel

2.  Rustans Frostings' cupcake, major yummy!  Saw a stand in glorietta 4's food court, each cupcake is sold at 35 bucks 9at least that picture up there.  Price ranges from 35 to about a hundred depending on the flavor).  Not bad if you compare it to Sonja's.  It's less sweet pa, so I'd really rather go for it.

3.  I seem to crave alot for Chimara's California roll.  It's just really good.  It has kani, cucumber, mango, sesame seeds, and some greens.  I like the tangy sweet sauce they use for it too.  Not so heavy on the tummy though, so you'll prolly need two to fill you up.  One order with drinks and chips costs P145.

4.  Mutant Chronicles was awful.  Seriously.  Makes for great makeout movie though.  Do.  Not.  Ask.

5.  Max Payne wasn't so good either.  Slow motion moments where I expected them to do Matrix, and was utterly disappointed.  Mila Kunis, though, gorgeous gorgeous girl with a mini armalite of sorts.

6.  So according to mythbusters, armalites can't cut trees.  Uh-huh.  Yeah, cos that's what I think of first when I see a tree I hafta' cut.  not that I cut trees.  Nor have ever held an armalite.  ever. 

Yeah, that was not only random, but completely pointless as well.

7.  Tropic Thunder on the other hand, is one funny movie.  Go watch it now!

8.  One great sushi place just very recently discovered was the resto in Shangrila mall, Ortigas' lower ground floor.  It's really near the foodcourt, beside Wendy's.  I will edit this once I figure out the place's name.  They serve really big makis and sushis.  Enough to feed you really.

9.  So I've been hanging out almost every week in Shangrila lately.  I think it all started with the Cine europa thing.  I'm close friends with MRT now.

10.  I think this is alot funny:

don't you?  It's from Questionable Content.  Yeah, yeah.  It reminds me about the guy, too.  tee-hee.

11.  Been invited to free lunch at Bubba Gump, Trinoma for tuesday.  Yey!  They must've gotten my addy from the blog tour last May.  Free good food, I want.  So yeah, it's kinda' far, but it's just an MRT ride away.

12.  The birthday's tomorrow.  Gah!  I'm 27 already.  How old?!

Guess where I spent my lunch?  Guess? 

guess?!

If that isn't enough clue, then mebbe this dude would help clear things up for you

complete with his box of chocolates!

Yup, I went to Bubba Gump.  There was a blogger's event to launch some new dishes, and to introduce the new non-Tom-Hank version of Forrest Gump.

photo from Az

And here are the bloggers I sat with

L to R: Mr. Gump, Junel, Joy, Robby, Shari, and me!

Among the food they served I like two things the most: the dynamite shrimp (which I unfortunately have no picture of), and

That Chocolate Thing

gone na

Yumminess ever!  Sure the packaging wasn't all that.  I mean, it looks like a recycled jar or something, but it's just plain good.  Whip cream on top of vanilla ice cream.  The brown bit is the "flourless" chocolate cake.  It reminds me of stokolatina of Cyma, only bigger, and in a jar.  Also with no melted chocolate in between.  Fine, so they're not all that alike.

They also served grilled shrimp salad (I love the dressing, but having shrimp in it was a bit weird), and

Spicy Jambalaya Pasta

A little too spicy for my taste.  There were also mashed potatoes, and chicken fingers.

Also I got a cute little keychain out of it

keychain!

yeah, we're close now.

So after about 2 years of keeping the old template, and modifying it slightly here and there  cos I know shit about css really, I finally have a new one!  I know, how girly pink right?  But I personally think it was done with great taste.

And now I present my new layout, courtesy of joiz!

So much better than I expected.  Thanks lots!

Last saturday, we had a "field trip" to Ocean Park in Quirino.

And by we, I meant us.

Apparently, my lack of sense of direction is contagious.  Cab driver got lost; insisted that Rizal stadium is Quirino Grandstand.  I mean, seriously manong, do I look that dumb not to notice?

Fortunately, we found a better cab.  Unfortunately, rain decided to follow.  Stayed for a bit.  Just enough to make the open grounds wet and muddy.  Great day to be wearing flip flops!

Now, I looked at the blog sites of people who've been there, and they said the lines get pretty long.  Naturally, I did not believe them. Who'd have thought, saturday IS field trip day.  School kids by the busload waiting inside.

So here's how it goes, you get a number, then wait for your number to flash on the screen

Guess the number flashing at the counter that time!

Some choco chips and intro to some ridiculous movie later, we are in.

MEET THE FISHIES: (technically there's also a crustacean)

How am I feeling today?

Calling out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancing in the streets

Dancing in the streets - David Bowie

I must be happy then.  Hmm. Yep, I guess.  Gotta' hug the pillow lots, had some yummy ghetto crepes, and bought new shirt, so yey!

Where will I get married?

Please come home for Christmas
If not for Christmas by New Years night

Please come home for Christmas - Eagles (I have lotsa' Christmas songs okay!)

Does this mean I get married New Year?  Cool.  I get to make my own sparks after. *tee-hee*

(more of the meme)

I have been room cleaning for the longest time, and I still don’t know where to put my old books.  I seem to have collected quite a few during the school years.  Thank God first two years in UP did not really require much book buying.  We sort of depended more on taking notes and photocopying materials.  Getting in the majors meanwhile, resulted in having tons of books I no longer need.  Mainly because newer editions are out that made old books pretty much useless for me.  I have two options for now: sell it, or give it away.  Selling it means that I get the junk out and get money back, which is definitely good.  Not everything is sellable though, so might as well just give it away just to get rid of it all.  I was supposed to give it to college where I work, maybe one of the students there can use it.  However, I’m seriously too lazy to bring it with me.  Hauling all those books all the way to Manila can cause some serious back injuries.  Also, really just lazy.

There this site where you can Sell TextBooks online.  They’re pretty picky on the types of books they buy though.  It has to be in good condition, meaning no tears, broken bindings, damage, writings, ete.  They also don’t buy old books, books without ISBNs, magazines, comic books, outdated computer books and the likes.

It sounds pretty good actually, they even reimburse your shipping 100% if it exceeds $10, I just don’t know if they accept books from the Philippines.

*Paid post

I'm bored and pissed.  I need colors. oh yeah, GUESS WHAT?!

Beach bums in the metro, you can now get 15% discount from your airfare in SeaAir by using this promotional code:

cgjp26aa

Just go to their website:SeaAir, click your loctaion, destination, dates, and number of people you're with, then input the code in the bottom, voila!

Promo period is open from October 20, 2008 until December 15, 2008.  Flight dates covered by the discount is from October 20, 2008 to February 14, 2009.

And this would be the fine print:

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SEAIR FLY VOUCHER
1. SEAIR Fly Voucher may only be redeemed through online booking
2. Voucher value is redeemed by entering its Code at the appropriate box in
the website, www.flyseair. com
3. Offer expires after the given period of the voucher validity
4. Travel period should be within the period identified in the voucher
5. Voucher value will be deducted from the basic airfare
6. An error prompt will be shown if voucher value exceeds the airfare amount made during the booking
7. Minimum number of passenger per booking may be required unless specified in the voucher
8. Voucher may not be used in conjunction with other offers such as special fares and any other promo
9. Discount is not valid for Leisure Escape Packages or any packages offered by partner resorts or travel agents.
10. Standard terms and conditions of the fare and ticket rules will be followed
11. If there will be any cancellation or changes in the booking made, refund of the discount or any reinstatement of the promotion is not allowed
12. Voucher may not be exchanged for cash value
13. SEAIR has the right to cancel the promo code voucher at any time without prior notice

 THE END

/edit:

it's sorta got blood now (well, feathers flying technically, it's a pillow!).  there's something off with the last image, but dunno how to fix yet, so it will do.

this pretty much sums up relationships.  i'm so smart! *teehee*

In line with the Halloween blog post I am posting later, here is one little tidbit you got to know about zombies: they freeze in the cold.  No I don’t mean mass produce walk-in refrigerators by the thousands to prepare for a zombie attack.  No, it just means that cold, snowy countries have it good come winter of zombie attack.  This said, it must be good to know some skills in the snow, right?

How else does one move fast in the snow but with skis and snow boards?  Sure you can use snow mobiles, but only if you have a steady supply of fuel.  Zombie attack means basic commodities, including fuels, may be in short supply.

Now, how to learn how to ski and snow board?  First rent the appropriate ski and/or snow board equipment.  If you are planning to practice your skiing or snow boarding skills in Colorado, you can check beaver creek ski rentals for your needs.  Reservations may be done online, and they will deliver these to you  on your specified dates, with matching ski boots to match.  And, yes, they are paying me to advertise them.  Next, make sure you have appropriate layers of clothes for the trip.  And lastly, do not forget the first aid kit.  You will surely have a lot of accidents along the way, but hey, it's all for future, so hang in there.

I'm sure you all know about my strange fascination with zombies, as seen here and here.  so i basically just stuck to movies.  And because of lazy downloading skills, I haven't upped my collection just yet.  What I do have now is this book:

A book about what went down during the Zombie war

Here are a few things which I think will be helpful in case of a zombie attack:

1.  Do not get bitten.  The zombie infection is passed when bodily fluids come in contact with zombie fluids.  It's pretty much like STD, only without the sex (eew).

2.  Dispose of decapitated zombies properly.  This means either digging up a place to put them in, or setting them on fire.  They are highly toxic, contact with animals, kill the animals.  They must be dealt with care.

3.  In case of a zombie infection, suicide is the only resolution.  Waiting it out just means you get reanimated and become part of the zombie horder minutes, days, weeks later.  Amputation might work if done fast enough, and bite is incurred in an extremity.

4.  Protect yourself by staying somewhere zombies can't reach you, like an upper floor with no stair access, or up on a tree or a treehouse.  Zombies can't climb trees nor jump high.

5.  While staying on water may be a good idea, as zombies can't swim, but it should be at a level high enough where zombies walking on seabeds won't reach you.  Zombies survive underwater.  Also make sure none onboard is infected.  It only takes one.

6.  Wherever you are staying, makes sure that you have enough supplies with you.  This includes food, potable drinking water, clothes, medicine kit, flashlights with batteries, and something for self-defense.  Being near an accessible source of food and water would be a major plus point.

7.  Rememeber zombies die only if you take off their brain.  So when shooting, always aim at the head.  If you have a sword-type with you, cut off it's head.  Guns which does not take time to reload, easy to fire, and is relatively accurate, should work well for you.  Downside though is that you need to have plenty of ammos handy all the time.  A sword, machete or katana meanwhile, is great if you know how to use it.  If you don't, it might be better for one-on-ones.  You should always have one with you in any case.

8.  Zombies swarm.  So most of the time, they come to you in hordes.  Their moans attract other zombies to food (meaning you).  Don't let yourself be cornered.  Avoid narrow alleys unless you know a safe exit point.  As in absolutely sure.  THere might be another horde waiting for you on the other end.  It's still best to stay in open areas where you can easily run away from them.

9.  Zombies walk.  Or crawl, if the don't have legs anymore.  So it's a good idea to pace yourself.  Alternately brisk walk and run when a horde is chasing after you.

10. Most importantly, DO NOT PANIC.  It is as important here as say, when you are first reading about The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy owned by a real alien.