Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Excerpts
I'm taking a page from Carrie and putting down excerpts of books I've been reading for the past month or so. Yeah, yeah, I know I should be writing a real blog entry but I'm just too busy right now. I promise I'll write about what's been going on in my universe soon. I can't believe it's only the third month of '06! I feel like I aged a year...Oh, right. I did, haha! Anyway, here, the books that gave me sleepless nights:
Times are bad when witches or whatever they are, exchange their cauldron for a library, filing cabinets, and a place in the bestseller list.--The Dumas Club, Arturo Perez-Reverte. I was sorely disappointed in this book. Or maybe the translation wasn't that good? Nah, I don't think that's it. The ending sucks. But--SPOILER ALERT!!--I did like the fact that the beautiful mysterious young girl in the book, who ended up being the protagonist's sidekick, may in fact be the Devil and that she's been wandering all this time on Earth pining for heaven. Sad, what?
Every now and then, you'll see a tattered piece of 1950s signage, something exuberant that harks back to flash bulbs and frozen glamor. Most have been torn down now, replaced by brutal information boards stamped out in Helvetica, the official typeface of purgatory. Helvetica isn't designed to make you feel anything good, to promise adventure or gladden the heart. Helvetica is for telling you that profits are down. that the photocopier needs servicing, and by the way, you're fired.--The Straw Men, Michael Marshall. Got this cold contact at NBS in Ali Mall when I was rushing to get to the bus station for Donsol. I realized that I didn't have anything to read with me so I grabbed the first promising novel off the shelf. The book gods must love me. This is a fantastic debut novel. I have since found out that he has two more novels out. Needless to say, I'll be on the lookout for them. Review to follow soon. And isn't the observation about Helvetica on-point? It's like Arial, the official font of bureaucracy. Ok, ok. Only publishing nerds will get me.
Civilization slipped into its second dark age on an unsurprising track of blood, but with a speed that could not have been foreseen by even the most pessimistic futurist. It was as if it had been waiting to go. On October 1, God was in his heaven, the stock market stood at 10,140, and most of the planes were one time (except those landing and taking off in Chicago, and that was to be expected.) Two weeks later, the skies belonged to the birds again, and the stock market was a memory. By Halloween, every major city from New York to Moscow stank to high heavens and the world as it has been was a memory.--Cell, Stephen King. It's by King so what else can I say? It kicks ass.
His heart skipped and a thousand suns flashed up in novas...All will be well and all manner of things will be well. Only believe; be true; stand; do not falter now.--The Talisman, Stephen King. I had a tattered copy of The Talisman that I bought at a booksale. Unfortunately, I don't know who borrowed it. I have felt the loss keenly. Good thing the good people at King's publishing house saw fit to release a new edition. Those who aren't King fans won't believe this, but King can write with an elegance approaching genius.
Times are bad when witches or whatever they are, exchange their cauldron for a library, filing cabinets, and a place in the bestseller list.--The Dumas Club, Arturo Perez-Reverte. I was sorely disappointed in this book. Or maybe the translation wasn't that good? Nah, I don't think that's it. The ending sucks. But--SPOILER ALERT!!--I did like the fact that the beautiful mysterious young girl in the book, who ended up being the protagonist's sidekick, may in fact be the Devil and that she's been wandering all this time on Earth pining for heaven. Sad, what?
Every now and then, you'll see a tattered piece of 1950s signage, something exuberant that harks back to flash bulbs and frozen glamor. Most have been torn down now, replaced by brutal information boards stamped out in Helvetica, the official typeface of purgatory. Helvetica isn't designed to make you feel anything good, to promise adventure or gladden the heart. Helvetica is for telling you that profits are down. that the photocopier needs servicing, and by the way, you're fired.--The Straw Men, Michael Marshall. Got this cold contact at NBS in Ali Mall when I was rushing to get to the bus station for Donsol. I realized that I didn't have anything to read with me so I grabbed the first promising novel off the shelf. The book gods must love me. This is a fantastic debut novel. I have since found out that he has two more novels out. Needless to say, I'll be on the lookout for them. Review to follow soon. And isn't the observation about Helvetica on-point? It's like Arial, the official font of bureaucracy. Ok, ok. Only publishing nerds will get me.
Civilization slipped into its second dark age on an unsurprising track of blood, but with a speed that could not have been foreseen by even the most pessimistic futurist. It was as if it had been waiting to go. On October 1, God was in his heaven, the stock market stood at 10,140, and most of the planes were one time (except those landing and taking off in Chicago, and that was to be expected.) Two weeks later, the skies belonged to the birds again, and the stock market was a memory. By Halloween, every major city from New York to Moscow stank to high heavens and the world as it has been was a memory.--Cell, Stephen King. It's by King so what else can I say? It kicks ass.
His heart skipped and a thousand suns flashed up in novas...All will be well and all manner of things will be well. Only believe; be true; stand; do not falter now.--The Talisman, Stephen King. I had a tattered copy of The Talisman that I bought at a booksale. Unfortunately, I don't know who borrowed it. I have felt the loss keenly. Good thing the good people at King's publishing house saw fit to release a new edition. Those who aren't King fans won't believe this, but King can write with an elegance approaching genius.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
For she's a jolly good fella
Friday, February 10, 2006
Morons and evil people
"People are evil."
"Not evil," Fermin objected. "Moronic, which isn't quite the same thing. Evil presupposes a moral decision, intention, and some forethought. A moron or lout, however, doesn't stop to think or reason. He acts on instinct, like an animal, convinced that he's doing good, that he's always right, and sanctimoniously proud to go around fucking up, if you'll excuse the French, anyone he perceives to be different from himself, be it because of skin color, creed, language, nationality, or in the case of Don Federico, leisure pursuits. What the world really needs are more thoroughly evil people and fewer borderline pigheads."
"Not evil," Fermin objected. "Moronic, which isn't quite the same thing. Evil presupposes a moral decision, intention, and some forethought. A moron or lout, however, doesn't stop to think or reason. He acts on instinct, like an animal, convinced that he's doing good, that he's always right, and sanctimoniously proud to go around fucking up, if you'll excuse the French, anyone he perceives to be different from himself, be it because of skin color, creed, language, nationality, or in the case of Don Federico, leisure pursuits. What the world really needs are more thoroughly evil people and fewer borderline pigheads."
--The Shadow of the Wind, CARLOS RUIZ ZAFON
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Charmed
Girls, you just gotta read about Jessica Zafra's Philip Seymour Hoffman sighting. Grabe, I want this woman's life!
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Don't fondle your food--10 food rules to live by
Been thinking about health stuff recently, first because it's MANUAL's health issue so I've been assigning, editing, and basically breathing in health and fitness articles for the past several weeks now. (Note that just because I've been thinking about it, doesn't mean I'm doing it. I have a gym membership that I don't use, my butt is as wide as [fill in whatever image you think appropriate], and I get winded going up two flights of stairs.) Second, there's an upcoming trip to Cebu two weeks from now and well, you can't actually be in the beach without wearing a swimsuit, although I just might forgo swimming (torture!) for fear of being mistaken for a beached whale, especially since I'm with my officemates who are all thin model-like women! Sigh. If only for this, I miss college, when I ate whatever wanted and diet was a dirty four-letter word! Then again, that's probably the reason I'm this big now. It's all those midnight snacks catching up on me!
Anyway, enough griping. Reality is reality. I am what I am--as Maricel Soriano used to say. Going back to the title of this piece, I'm copying part of an article that'll come out in our March issue. These are actually pretty good advice. I think I'll keep 'em in mind--after I scarf down this Big Mac, that is.
Don't Fondle Your Food--10 food rules to live by
[By Hoze Arando, coming out Manual March 2006 issue]
1. Try to keep meals on a regular schedule, but if you do not feel hungry at mealtime, fast until the next meal.
2. Eat slowly and savor your food. Chew it thoroughly, remembering that digestion begins at the mouth.
3. Eat only four or five different foods at one meal. Complex mixtures are difficult to digest. Don't snack between meals.
4. Don't overload your system. Fill half the stomach with food, one quarter with liquid, and leave the rest empty. (It takes 20 minutes for the brain to get the message you are full.)
5. Maintain a peaceful attitude during the meal. Try to eat in silence and don't let unsavory thoughts enter your mind and gut.
6. Change your diet gradually.
7. Before you eat, remember God or the Universal Life Force that dwells in all food.
8. Try to fast once a week.
9. Eat at least one raw salad every day.
10. Eat to live, don't live to eat.
Nice 'no?
Fearless forecasts: Check out this article on Oscar predictions. Hilarious!
Anyway, enough griping. Reality is reality. I am what I am--as Maricel Soriano used to say. Going back to the title of this piece, I'm copying part of an article that'll come out in our March issue. These are actually pretty good advice. I think I'll keep 'em in mind--after I scarf down this Big Mac, that is.
Don't Fondle Your Food--10 food rules to live by
[By Hoze Arando, coming out Manual March 2006 issue]
1. Try to keep meals on a regular schedule, but if you do not feel hungry at mealtime, fast until the next meal.
2. Eat slowly and savor your food. Chew it thoroughly, remembering that digestion begins at the mouth.
3. Eat only four or five different foods at one meal. Complex mixtures are difficult to digest. Don't snack between meals.
4. Don't overload your system. Fill half the stomach with food, one quarter with liquid, and leave the rest empty. (It takes 20 minutes for the brain to get the message you are full.)
5. Maintain a peaceful attitude during the meal. Try to eat in silence and don't let unsavory thoughts enter your mind and gut.
6. Change your diet gradually.
7. Before you eat, remember God or the Universal Life Force that dwells in all food.
8. Try to fast once a week.
9. Eat at least one raw salad every day.
10. Eat to live, don't live to eat.
Nice 'no?
Fearless forecasts: Check out this article on Oscar predictions. Hilarious!
Friday, February 03, 2006
Whatever happened to personal responsibility
I just read in the Inquirer about a man filing a suit against Apple claiming that using his IPod caused hearing damage, quite reminiscent of the person who sued McDonald's because the hot coffee bought from a McDonald's outlet spilled on that person while driving. There are other similar suits, I know. It just made me wonder: Why is it that it seems to me more people are blaming something else for something that went wrong, but which they had control over anyway. More and more people seems to be passing the buck to someone else or something else, and neglecting to take responsibility for their actions. I don't know. I've always thought that when you do something, and it results on something negative, you ultimately have to take responsibility for it. Isn't that how things are supposed to be? I'm not saying I'm perfect, and that I never pass the blame on to someone. But something like this Apple incident (and even the things going on in this country) make me stop and think...sadly...how accountability has been shot. It's like in the words of Howard Jones, no one ever is to blame.
I think if more people just take more responsibility for their actions, things would be much better in this world.
I think if more people just take more responsibility for their actions, things would be much better in this world.
