Razpberries

2010-08-19T08:49:00.000-07:00

Again, it's that time when I have exhausted all possible websites to visit, updated all my social networking applications, cleaned out my inbox, deleted spam mail, and read the news that I come upon this blog once more with so much time and so little to say. Much have changed since my last post. A new president sits on the throne yet same bs going on in the political arena. Too much drama going on with Kris that I got tired following recent updates about her. And on a sad note, my maternal grandfather just passed away; the hero, our hero, who served and continues to serve as an inspiration not only to me but to the whole family as well. He was a soldier, public servant, farmer, father of 12, grandfather to the 33 of us, a great-grandfather to quite a few, and a loving husband for more than 60 yrs fulfilling his oath to his wife that till death do they part. My grandmother passed away almost 3 years ago, and it is not a coincidence that on the occasion of her 3rd death anniversary falls the 40th day of death of my grandfather, otherwise known as Particular Judgment in Christian eschatology. That, my friends, IS love. Wow, even I couldn't help but be impressed. This is an in-your-face manifestation of a love that transcends earthly life. Ok ok so I'm not myself today. Me talking about love and earthly life bs is pure weed. That being said, it was the first time that I was able to witness a live 21-gun salute during my grandfather's interment. I then learned that a 21-gun salute is not really 21 guns, nor 21 successive shots. Its 3 shots each, done by 7 police officers simultaneously. I dont know if they have other mathematical variations on how to do it but that was how they did it last Saturday. Immediate members then released white balloons for I dont know which reason, and after the burial proper, we had to go back to the house of the deceased to wash our hands in some leafy herbal concoction. It was an emotional day for all of us, yet a triumphant one in the sense that it was a fitting end to a life that was led in a fruitful and an unforgettable manner, one that will be remembered for years to come. To Tatay I bid you good journey.

Pre-Election Tantrums

2009-12-17T20:43:00.000-08:00

I heard the news on TV that the Supreme Court has allowed voter's registration to last until sometime in January. Woot! I just need to get my ass off to the COMELEC office to have my voter record transferred. I'm registered in Manila and I dont want to register as a new voter in the province since that would no doubt classify me as a flying voter slash multiple registration. Hello bars. I just wish that they wouldn't give me as hard a time as I did when I tried to register the first time. I mean c'mon do I really have to fill up those forms in triplicate? Have you ever heard of a photocopying machine people?

Meanwhile, voter or not, I just wanted to express my views on some of the "presidentiables" who are dying to dip their hands into the government coffers (at the highest level). When their ads are creeping into my tv schedule, I have every damn right to express my views. I think I'm going for Manny Villar. I dont really believe his shit about pro-poor agenda, but he'll try and most likely to succeed. At trying. At least he has a platform to debate on. Him being rich already being a real property tycoon is not really a guarantee that he will not further enrich himself at the expense of the presidency. Uhmm, its not just about the dough. Power comes with it too, remember? Be that as it may, I believe that he has genuine intentions and has the capability and experience to steer the country forward. We so desperately need a strong president to do the job of "executing the laws" and he could just be the "man for the job." Noynoy Aquino on the other seems seems to be a losing case. I'm not really sure what his plans are for the government, except that "he'll lead/light the way." With a battalion of actors/actresses, b-class entertainers and media personalities going along with him. The only credit to his name is that he's the only son of a martyred senator and an ex-president. That's a lil bit short of a resume for someone who's aspiring to be a president don't you think? He's been in politics for like what, 10, 15 years and what "change" exactly has he been able to accomplish? As for Gilbert Teodoro, I don't know him. I don't think the voting population does either. Moving on, Joseph Estrada. Really. He IS the lost case. For all intents and purposes. He lost the presidency. He lost the cases afterwards. And he will lose this race. If he is ever allowed to run. Which I don't think he will be. He will lose that battle at the Supreme Court.

I'm still expecting more tv ads to flood in. So im stacking up on dvds and books to survive me through the holidays. Don't expect a Christmas message from me. Consider this as THE message.

2009-05-16T06:24:00.000-07:00

Its been awhile since I last posted something here. I am way too lazy to write unless I'm getting paid for it. Since my internet is acting up, and my Facebook applications (read: games) take too long to load, I tried to think of something else to do. Anything at all. Suddenly, I remembered this blog. I checked and it hasn't been suspended yet for non-activity. Ok, cool! So what now? First off, I only have about 3 followers so I am assuming that they too haven't been visiting for awhile, otherwise they would have deleted me already. So we have something in common after all (aside from the fact that they're my cousins).

Next, I realized my time is wasted on these useless games that I've been addicted to since late last year. I swear I need counseling and rehabilitation. I have programmed my daily activities around these games. And Twitter is no help either. I first heard about Twitter from friends, and then the internet, and then on tv. At that time when I signed up for an account, I had huge issues with the character limit which was so frustrating, I mean what can I write with 140 characters? It's not even enough for all the exclamation points that I so carelessly use ad nauseum! I gave up and forgot all about it. But after Ashton and Demi got so pop in the Twitter world (reportedly being paid for it, those lucky bitches), I decided to give it another go. Now I got about 11 followers, hoot! I'm gonna do a lil bit of research on how to make that 500. Shah!

At the Twitter homepage I saw this: "If you aren't familiar with Twitter, it is one of those things, like MySpace, that sounds totally ridiculous and stupid when you first hear about it. But once you start using it, you realize how much fun it is." (Eric Nuzum, Author of The Dead Travel Fast)

And I noticed that Myspace had added a chat feature. Im not sure how recent this is since I also haven't been visiting Myspace for quite some time now. Facebook rules! LOL!

Time to Twit! Follow me @ raZpberry!

Mac Studio Fix

2008-11-19T21:58:00.000-08:00

Not everybody is a natural beauty, and that's ok, so said Chris Crocker in his YouTube video entitled Make-up is my friend !

So what do mere mortals like us do when we're not bestowed with natural beauty as defined by the "billion dollar fashion industry?" Well, we make ourselves up. With make-up. Now they say that make-up is just to enhance our appearance, and that what really matters is inner beauty. Well, I don't have inner beauty, so I'll deal with my outer beauty instead, thank you very much.

The foundation of a great outer beauty is well, foundation. I have been using Revlon lately (given to me by a dear friend) and when I could already see the metal base of my cake foundation, it was time for me to buy a new one. My new favorite mall did not carry the product so I had to settle for whatever was there lest I am unable to find a store which carries Revlon and risk running out of my foundation. The horror! I'd rather have a shortage of oxygen than my precious foundation.

So that's how I found M.A.C. My other friends were already using M.A.C. but it was kinda expensive for me. And I felt that it was a little bit heavy for everyday use since I was under the impression that M.A.C. is leaning towards the professional cosmetics market.

Well, I decided to try it and just scratch it off as a lesson learned if I do not like it. I was assisted by this girl who had the most incredible green eyeshadow which reminded me of a peacock. I asked her who did it, and I was quite surprised when she said she do her own make-up. Okay, 10 points for expertise. I told her I was looking for a cake foundation, and without hesitation, she gave me shade no. nc40. Okay, another 10 points for product knowledge. She applied it to me and told me that this shade was perfect for me. At that point, since she only applied it to a small part on my lower right cheek, I honestly couldn't tell. It was barely visible. Of course being the fussy buyer that I was, I asked for shades a tone lighter and a tone darker than the one she suggested so that I can make a comparison. She willingly obliged and applied both shades on my face. And there it was. I can now see the subtle differences between the three shades. Impressive.

I got it and paid at the counter. I noticed how the other girls there all had these incredible eyeshadow in varying colors and shades that seemed to be their uniform. When I got home, I tried it on. I was again amazed at how light it felt on my face. And when I looked at the mirror, it was truly invisible. Like I never put any of it on.

To test a foundation, I always use a camera and take a picture of myself to see what it looks like on film. I also needed to check if there will be a noticeable line between my face and my neck. I don't need my face to look like it was pasted on my neck due to contrasting colors.

Well, I wouldn't be gushing about my M.A.C. foundation if I didn't get the results I wanted, albeit being unexpected. I simply looked flawless without looking like I had any make-up on. Pores disappeared and best of all, I could wear it daily. No irritation whatsoever. I'm happy with it, and the camera loves it. I feel confident with my natural beauty now more than ever so the price is so worth it.

Jenny Humphrey: The girl I love to hate

2008-11-10T00:06:00.000-08:00

If you are a fan of CWs tv show Gossip Girl, then you'll know what the ride has been for Jenny hanging out with the Upper East Side elite. I really didn't like her during the first season, and the second season seems to be no better.

She was that desperate lil girl wanting so much to fit in with the it crowd. Blair promptly took advantage of her and devised schemes to make her realize time and again that she is not Upper East Side material. Being the pawn that she is, Jenny just cant take a hint and even lied about making out with a closeted gay guy (who she eventually outed) just to be part of their crowd.

Season 2 now focuses on Jenny, the school drop out. Wanting so much to prove that she can make it as a fashion designer, she first turned down an offer for internship with another designer, instead sticking with Eleanor Waldorf and eventually quitting to start her own line.

Several times have I screamed and wanted to strangle her. Don't do it! What the hell are you doing?! Say it, say it! What in the world is wrong with you??? are some of my favorite expressions when it comes to Jenny. Arggh, I cant even stand her new look, I mean what's up with the hair? And how many sticks of eyeliner did you have to put on to prove a point that you're a rebel? Now you're falling for Nate? C'mon!

I wonder which crowd the writers are trying to win over with a character like Jenny Humphrey? And what lessons can we gather from Jenny? Let's do a review, shall we? To the young, aspiring fashion designers - drop out from school; hang out with shady characters to make it big; crash social events to showcase your designs. To little sisters everywhere - don't listen to your parents; make out with your brother's best friend. To all social climbers - steal expensive clothes; hang out with gay socialites.

Nice, very nice. So Jenny, I sincerely hope that you make it big. Just drop the eyeliner. I get your point.

P.S. Nate is rumored to get Jenny pregnant. OMFG! -Blair.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

2008-11-06T21:50:00.000-08:00

I'm quite excited about the upcoming sequel of DreamWorks animated film Madagascar, set to be released anytime this month (07 Nov in the US). Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa picks up where the first one left off, where everybody was trying to get back to New York. The four main characters Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer) and Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) are back, together with the penguins and the lemurs from the first film. This time, they will find themselves in Africa - where they were supposed to be shipped to in the first place - and encounter species of their own kind for the very first time

My favorite character was the hypochondriac Melman the Giraffe voiced by David Schwimmer. And the penguins. I was so lol during that scene when the four penguins successfully escape to Antarctica and found it to suck, and left after being there for a few moments. Although one can't help but be reminded of Ross from Friends hearing David's voice and all that, but in all fairness, I think that's what his character is all about. It was so funny when he dug up his own grave and wrote his last will and testament on the sand, only to be washed away by the waves.

I don't know why critics didn't love it the way I did. It was fresh, funny and produced great visuals. Moreover, the characters were cute without being cheesy. True, it may not be the Shrek that everybody's so crazy about, but it can't be all Shrek all the time. Somebody's gotta think up of new storylines and I believe that DreamWorks delivered.

So I'm heading down to the movies to catch their Escape 2 Africa. I saw the trailers and the scene alone where they were crashing and King Julien said it was more fun when you raise your hands is enough to make me wanna watch it.

Shrink test for future Catholic priests?

2008-11-06T09:50:00.000-08:00

The Vatican has recently issued a document urging candidates for the Catholic priesthood to undergo psychological tests to screen out heterosexuals unable to control their sexual urges and men with strong homosexual tendencies. As per the Vatican, these tests are not obligatory but are resorted to on a case-by-case basis when seminary rectors wanted to be sure if the candidate is qualified for the priesthood. It did not indicate at which point of theological studies the candidate is to be examined, but from the wording of the Vatican document, I suppose it could be anytime.

Now I gather that the basis for the issuance of this document is because of a sexual abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic Church six years ago and the effects thereof. So what happens to those found out to be incapable of leading celibate lives, or those capable of abusing their authority by sexual means? Expulsion or a ban from being a priest, I guess. The report only mentions screening out these candidates and does not mention sanctions or further action on the part of the Church, if any. And when asked why a man with homosexual tendencies could not become a priest as opposed to a man with heterosexual tendencies, the head of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski said that homosexuality was "a deviation, an irregularity and a wound" that would not allow a priest to fulfill his mission properly.

I would have been happy if it ended on the part which says candidates with strong, uncontrollable sexual urges. I am having quite a difficulty understanding why sexuality is an issue in the first place. Hello, priests are supposed to be celibate. Cardinal G's stand on homosexuality in the clergy is a fallacy which leads to my conclusion that a priest with a sexual orientation is a deviation by itself. You can't have a sexual orientation if you have devoted yourself to a lifetime of jacking off.

It is simple, really. I don't know why they have to drag some gay shit issue into this. Celibacy means no sex. You want sex or cannot control the urge to have sex, don't be a priest. Be it towards an altar boy, or a nun, or whatever the fuck it is that you're yearning for, if you can't control it, get out. That should be the purpose of those tests. No more, no less.

So why not stop there? Uncontrollable sexual urges. Period.

Proposition 8 approved

2008-11-05T20:39:00.000-08:00

The Constitution of the State of California now prohibits gay marriages after the 2008 General Election ballot approved Proposition 8 which amended the provisions thereof to specifically state that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

Now I did not talk about Proposition 8 in previous blogs because it was a non-issue for me. Aside from the fact that I'm not from California, I had all the while believed that it was NOT going to be passed. I mean c'mon, it's California, for crying out loud. Imagine my surprise when news came out that Proposition 8 passed.

Proponents of the amendment argue that marriage has to be protected at all costs, and must be between a man and a woman since the primary responsibility of the family is to procreate. This argument ignores the very nature of a marriage contract - that it is a contract. The gay agenda is not just about commitment and warmth and affection between two loving gay individuals to be recognized, nor is it just about equal protection among homosexuals and heterosexuals alike, but also equal protection among themselves. How can gay couples exercise these rights without a valid marriage in the first place? Read: divorce. True, gay couples cannot procreate without any sort of intervention by a third party as compared to that of heterosexuals, but procreation naturally occurs with or without marriage, or haven't these people noticed? From biblical times up to present, who ever said that marriage is required in order for humanity to continue to exist? Again, the procreation argument overlooks the fact that a marriage is a contract. It is an agreement between two individuals thus giving them inalienable rights that the law has to recognize. These rights are what gay couples are after. I agree with Apple when it voiced out its opposition to Proposition 8, that it is a fundamental civil rights issue. Note that it mentioned that it is not just a civil rights issue, but a fundamental one. The gay rights movement is beyond crying out and condemning discrimination. That was some 30 or 40 years back. What it is seeking out are those fundamental civil rights that are supposedly accorded all citizens under the equal protection clause.

Another issue arises from this constitutional amendment. What happens to the status of married gay couples in California? Under the US Constitution, ex post facto laws are prohibited which means that a subsequent law cannot retroactively apply to change the legal consequences of acts committed or the legal status of facts and relationships that existed prior to the enactment of that law. Since the California Supreme Court had ruled that gay marriages are legal, the subsequent passing of Proposition 8 cannot retroactively apply to invalidate those marriages entered into by gay couples who in good faith were acting under the rule of the law. Take note that Supreme Court rulings have the force and effect of law.

Tall Coffee

2008-11-05T06:54:00.000-08:00

I've always wondered how can a small cup of coffee be called "tall!?" I know people by now are used to ordering their voguish Starbucks drink, with impeccable knowledge of blends and brews, but did it ever cross their minds that “small” is the opposite of “tall?"

This is just one of those screwed up ideas perpetuated by the Starbucks propaganda. Renaming a size of a cup of coffee so that people won't feel bad that they just paid top dollar for what, a cup of coffee? Don't get me wrong, I am a Starbucks fan but I am a fan of coffee even more. Misleading people that its OK to order a $5 cup of coffee because of the sophistication that comes with it is forgivable - its called marketing. But when quality is compromised and more and better choices are laid on the table, one can't help but think am I getting what I paid for?

What exactly are you paying for when ordering a Starbucks coffee? Starbucks aims to offer a haven or a place away from home or office. It offers WiFi connectivity in most stores worldwide, free electricity, mood lighting, soothing music (caveat: soothing may be subjective here) and super comfortable chairs that makes you uncomfortable for that very reason. So its really not the coffee per se but the experience it offers.

But ultimately, its the coffee that we go there for (well, for me anyway). I don't understand why one has to understand the mind-boggling preparation involved in making a drinkable cup out of it. What I need Starbucks to do for me is when I smell coffee and order one, they should give me that cup of coffee. Coffee which has no under taste, not watery and strong enough to jumpstart my much needed caffeine fix for the day. If other people needs to order a complicated drink, they should have a separate lane for them. Starbucks needs to have some sort of an express lane where all you have to say is "I need coffee, give me a cup."

So now, Starbucks is scrambling to get its ass back on track after the phenomenal U.S. expansion had since dwindled and led to layoffs and closure of stores . Expansion is now targeted in foreign markets where demand for the product and the brand continues to rise. Good for us. It would be us the consumers who will benefit from a healthy competition being given to Starbucks. As for the Starbucks loyalists, well just ask yourselves when was the last time you ordered a Tall Caramel Macchiato and got a small one?

How an Obama administration will affect me

2008-11-04T23:19:00.000-08:00

Yes, you're reading it right. I also have some point of view on politics. This issue is appropriate as it would appear that Mr. Obama is winning. Let me point out though that I am a McCain supporter. Although I am not a US citizen, ergo not a voter, I had been thinking how the outcome of the 2008 US presidential elections will affect me. After all, news on this matter is clogging my homepage and I had been getting emails about it so in a way, it already has affected me. Much to my chagrin.

First off, war in Iraq would end. Obama has always opposed the policies of the incumbent Bush on Iraq and has proposed a redeployment of US troops stationed there. I think this is the single biggest issue that affects the rest of the world as this would stabilize oil prices coming from the Middle East. Do note that the reason for invasion of Iraq was to disarm it of its alleged weapons of mass destruction, though none had been found there. Legality of this invasion has been questioned thus affects all peace-loving countries. I believe that Obama's stand on the Iraq policy could be the reason why he is popular even abroad. If a country suddenly decides to declare war against another, I have every reason to be concerned as that other country could be mine.

Next is his immigration policies. He has supported immigration policy reforms and is in favor of improving the US visa programs. He believes in earned pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants and in fact has supported granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. This would in turn create more job opportunities for those immigrants and help their respective families, both in and out of the US. More talent will pour into the US as immigration policies become more clear-cut and comprehensive, but I doubt if this is for the good of the country being left by the talent. The reason I am hesitant to migrate to the US is because of its long and burdensome immigration rules - crap that I don't need. If these rules change for the better, I might think about migrating there. For now, I am happy where I am.

As regard his foreign trade policies, nothing new there. Same old US policy on fair trade which is really not fair at all. What caught my eye as I was browsing through his website was his policy on trade bulleted as: End Tax Breaks for Companies that Send Jobs Overseas. We know that Asia has been tapped by American giants such as Nike and the US I.T. industry for cheap labor. And we know how those companies are capitalizing on lower wages abroad. Obama does not believe in tax deductions for those companies moving their operations overseas. How it will affect these Asian countries remains to be seen in the long run. Having been employed by one of those companies that outsourced its employees, I know how such US investments had helped generate thousands of jobs and if pulled out, would create a sudden rise in the unemployment rate in these countries.

Since official results are not yet completed, lets wait in joyful hope that this time around, American policies could bring about real change as promised by both major candidates. Either way, whoever wins will inherit a global financial crisis on his hands and an unpopular war to boot. All I can say is, good luck with your new job, Mr. President.

iOwn iPhone

2008-11-04T10:26:00.000-08:00

After crossing over from PC to Mac a few months back, I now officially consider myself an Apple whore. So when a telcom here carried the 3G version of the iPhone, of course I had to have it. I haven't had the chance to get the iPhone when it was originally released since it was only available in the US then. I didn't want to get a jailbroken device because 1. its illegal 2. price was absurd 3. no warranty and 4. lack of features. Steve Jobs promised a load of new features with the 3G iPhone and price was lower than the previous gen, plus many of my friends were getting one (or two, as the case may be) so ok, Im getting one. Im still keeping my Sony Ericsson though.

This is not a geek review since I would have no authority to discuss geek stuff. I'd rather talk about how it feels holding it and the overall experience I've had since I got it. First on the list is the price. I don't have a problem signing up for a 2-year plan just to get it. What many people have an issue with is the price of the plan itself since in the long run, they say it is expensive. There is no denying that. The iPhone is not really for the mass market, I think, in spite of its lower price compared to other similar devices. Just a year ago, the Nokia N95 was double the price of the iPhone, at the same plan. Its just that you can also get a Nokia phone without being forced to sign up for a 2-year plan. Oh well.

The iPhone 3G's design is flawless. The curves on its sides are giving the impression that its thinner than it actually is. Its not heavy and the size fits perfectly in my hands. What can I say, Apple has mastered the art in designing its products. The screen resolution is amazing. I have already watched several Youtube videos and it delivered the quality I was expecting. The full multi-touch screen can be quite unnerving for those not used to it, but its pretty much straightforward. Push the screen up if you want it to go up and vice versa. Zoom in or zoom out by either spreading two fingers across the screen or pinching them back. Besides, I've been known to lose stylus pens in the past so this is a welcome change for me. Sending SMS can be a challenge though. The keys may be larger than the previous generation iPhone, but its not for Edward. The predictive text input is not helping at all and is rather annoying. Im not sure yet how to turn it off, but I don't think there's an option for that.

Perhaps the best thing about the iPhone 3G is the third-party applications. If only I can get them. It appears that before any application can be downloaded, you have to have an iTunes account first, which means you have to register and give your credit card information to them. Even if you are downloading a free application. Yes, even if its free. I have no intention of giving any such information to them. So Im stuck with my iPhone without any cool applications in it.

Overall, its a great device and a cool-looking phone. It's a must-have for me, but still I'm keeping my Sony Ericsson with me.

The Metrosexual

2008-11-01T00:17:00.000-07:00

Its payday and what better to do on a Saturday than shop. I woke up early, as in - 10:00 a.m. early - and went to the mall. I was planning to buy a new pair of shoes, and there's this tennis plimsoll from Fred Perry that I was so craving for for a long time now. Every time I went to the Fred Perry store, it was always with somebody else who would immediately point out that I dont have enough space in my shoe rack to put it in, or I wouldn't be able to wear it since I still have other shoes that I haven't even worn yet. Plus its not cheap. For me, anyway. But this time, Im going there alone. So I sneaked out of the house but when I got there, there were no stocks in the color that I wanted. Arrgh! I can smell a conspiracy going on. It was raining heavily so I was too lazy to go to another mall. Plus I only had a pair of slippers on and I hated to get my feet wet. So there I was undecided as to where to go, or what to buy instead. When I passed by the cosmetics section, I saw this incredibly cute guy manning the Jean Paul Gaultier booth. So I went over to him thinking to myself whatever he's selling, I'm buying. Damn his nose, why does it have to be so straight? Im not, so no surprise here. My strategy was to pass by him as if I didn't notice him and just wait for him to call my attention. Which was exactly what happened. Piece of cake. When he said hi, I turned to look at him wearing my celebrated facial expression, the why-are-you-bothering-me-cant-you-see-im-busy look that could make Miranda Priestly proud. He then showed me the Le Male line of products and to make the long story short, I bought a gift set and got his number. What really caught my attention was the bronzer for men, aptly called Better Than Tan Moisturizing Bronzer. I know that there's this whole niche in the market the fashion industry is referring to as the metrosexual, but it made me think am I one? Does being gay automatically classify you as a metrosexual, or does being gay automatically excludes you from being one? Just how big is this market and what influence does it have in the fashion industry? I googled the word and the first thing that came up was Wikipedia's definition, which states that "Metrosexual is neologism of the 2000s generally applied to heterosexual men with a strong concern for their appearance, or whose lifestyles display attributes stereotypically attributed to gay men." So there you go, ladies. This pretty much clear things up, or maybe not. They used to label David Beckham as the metrosexual icon. Ok. But I read somewhere that Ryan Seacrest has also been referred to as such. Not ok. Metrosexuals are straight, or supposed to be. Be that as it may, metrosexuality is not really a signifier of gender but more on preferences with respect to fashion and lifestyle on account of its deviation from the traditional masculine norms. So David and Ryan may really have one thing in common after all.

I so love Mark Simpson's definition of the word archived in Salon.com: "The typical metrosexual is a young man with money to spend, living in or within easy reach of a metropolis – because that's where all the best shops, clubs, gyms and hairdressers are. He might be officially gay, straight or bisexual, but this is utterly immaterial because he has clearly taken himself as his own love object and pleasure as his sexual preference. Particular professions, such as modeling, waiting tables, media, pop music and, nowadays, sport, seem to attract them but, truth be told, like male vanity products and herpes, they're pretty much everywhere."

My take is, its just a great and effective marketing strategy which brought upon a whole new market and is in fact called by Simpson as the most promising consumer market of the decade.

Postscript: I found this definition of the word metrosexual in Uncyclopedia. It said "A Metrosexual is the slang term for a person who is sexually excited by public transit." I literally rolled on the floor laughing.

My Mac Experience

2008-10-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

Along with practically everybody else, I grew up learning my way around computers running on Microsoft OS. When a friend got a Macbook, I was actually surprised. My first question was, do you know how to use it? He said, "Well, I dont know how to use a PC either so it really wouldn't matter, would it?" Good point. He was never the one to use computers, nor laptop since he didn't need to. I suppose he just wanted to have a laptop to sync his ipod with and the white color of the previous generation Macbook attracted him like a moth to light. But still, I had my reservations. This was before Mac OS had the capability to run Microsoft Office. When news came out that Mac can now run Word and Excel, I got curious. And somewhat excited. I browsed through some online forums and people who went over to the other side all had good things to say about their Mac. Did I just get myself persuaded? No. But I would go to the Apple website several times each day and clicked on the gallery, examining the clean lines of the Macbook and slowly began to fall in love. Ahh, the full-sized keyboard, the trackpad, the display, and the white apple glowing! So it was only a matter of time before I came up with a few thousand bucks and bought myself a Macbook. It really was the way the Macbook looks like that sealed the deal. I figured if Im unable to use it, or if its way too complex for my taste, I could just sell it off, or give it as a present to my sister. The moment I took it out from the box, I experienced what I can only describe as orgasmic. It really is beautiful. Not that I haven't seen it before. But the thought alone that I own this particular piece of Macbook, what a coup! I went through the simple process entering my name, location and such and then I was good to go. Of course I also went through the initial stage of getting myself familiar with the basics, such as minimizing and maximizing and those simple tasks operated by keyboard shortcuts but after a few days, I got the hang of it. Well, most of it anyway. And to think I havent had the time to watch instructional vids in the Apple website. In short, I managed to discover and explore my Macbook all by myself. Which really goes to show that it is simple. I've always hated the word simple because it is too vague for me, but the Macbook really is. No other words can express how my experience with Macbook is. Now, maybe its time for me to go and watch those Apple vids and for sure, I'll find out more about this little piece of equipment Im now naming my bestfriend. My Macbook would be sure to top my list of three things I'd like to have if ever Im stranded in an island. Go figure.

Malacca Excursion

2008-10-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

I was in Malaysia for about 3 days when my friend suggested that we go to Malacca for an overnight stay since he had nothing better to do on that particular weekend. We decided to meet at Johor Bahru, the capital city of of Johor in southern Malaysia, which is walking distance from Singapore, where he will be coming from. Agreeing on the time, 7:30 in the morning, I was there at the immigration office around 7:11 a.m. since I didn't want to be late. And I woke up early so what the heck, punctuality is a virtue. I called my friend to ask him where he was and I was actually surprised when he said that he's just at the train station waiting for another friend who will be coming with us as well. Oh great, now I have to wait a little bit longer than I had to. Initially, it was fine, but an hour went by, then another, still no sign of them. I called them again, and to my shock, they are still in Singapore, waiting to get to the border. Apparetly, there was one hell of a traffic jam because everybody in Singapore suddenly decided to go to Malaysia during that particular Saturday. It was gonna be a long weekend due to the following Monday being a holiday. In all, it was a three-hour wait at the customs office that should have been spent in my hotel room with the AC and a nice warm bed. After that initial hassle, we then took a bus which would take us to Larkin station. The bus ride cost RM1.20 per head and took about 10 to 15 minutes to get there. Once we were at the station, we ate first at McDonald's which I guess is the only McDonald's for miles around judging from the number of people standing there eating since all the seats were taken - some people even had the temerity to let their baggage occupy the seats despite all these people, including us, standing right over them. Some people cant take a hint. After eating, we went around looking for bus companies plying the Johor-Melaka route and we coudn't find any. All the trips were fully booked for that day due to the long weekend, but the optimists that we are, we asked around and luckily, there was this bus which has an unscheduled trip leaving in about 10 minutes. Go! after paying RM19.00 per head for tickets, we were now on our way to Melaka! The ride took around 3 hours, which I honestly didn't expect. I thought it was just about an hour or so, two at the most. It stopped at Melaka Sentral and based on my friend's looks, they too were haggard. From the immigration hassle, then the inconvenience at the bus terminal, and the 3 hour trip - we bought return tickets on the same minute that we arrived there. It was around 3:00 p.m. and the next coach is leaving 7:30 p.m. We booked it and then decided to eat at the mall. We took a taxi and paid RM20.00. Along the way, we saw the historical church, the belltower, and after eating, we rode the revolving tower. It costs RM20.00 for foreigners, RM10.00 for locals. After that fun ride, we walked towards this replica of a Portuguese trade ship and took some pictures there. Since it is a museum, we paid RM3.00 for the entrance fee. They will give you a plastic bag to put your shoewear on since no footwear is allowed inside. It was almost 7:00 p.m. when we were done, so we went back to Melaka Sentral and took the ride back to Singapore. Another 3-hour ride which we slept off. We then promised to go back and enjoy Malacca as it should be enjoyed. Let' see.