With a father like this...

(from www.gocomics.com)

I've always thought that Calvin's dad is really cool, his geeky dorky look notwithstanding. The way he explained things to Calvin has always made me laugh, but at the same time also made me think. I wonder what the world would be like if it really was the way Calvin's dad explained it to him?

Oh well, it really is a complicated world, but it's the only one we've got. There are days when I wish things were a bit easier, but I guess the truth is, we all probably wouldn't want a simplistic world, would we? There won't be any excitement, which is really what fuels us all probably.

Anyway, having a dad like Calvin's would sure make for an interesting life, I think. I can only imagine what he must have been like when he was Calvin's age, ha ha ha.

It's panic time

Calvin: You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood.
Hobbes: What mood is that?
Calvin: Last-minute panic. (Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes)

I must say, this is true for me. I can get myself all pumped up to write when I'm nearing the deadline (and sometimes, when I've passed the deadline). And right now, I am in the last-minute panic mood. I should be writing about the processing of pig dung at the moment, but I thought I'd take a break and get a blog entry for the day.

I wish I were one of those writers who can just sit in front of the computer and type away something creative within a short period of time, but I'm not. Oh, once in a while, I get inspired, but that's a very infrequent once-in-a-while. I dream and dream of the day when I will be able to do that though. A friend of mine keeps assuring me that very few writers can probably churn out really good articles in a flash, but that's still a very few, which means there are those who can do it. And I do wish I could do that. Still, I should be happy that I do get inspired to write at all.

Let me share with you my ultimate writer's dream: being published in the National Geographic. I don't know why, but I have such respect for that magazine. I love that magazine, and am glad that I've been a member since 2000. If I could afford it, I'd sign up as a lifetime member. Of course, writing for it, well, that's just a dream. I don't think I'll ever get anything published there. I like natural and earth sciences, but, sigh...I don't think I have the guts, let alone the talent, to write for that mag. My friend Ka would pooh pooh me and say I shouldn't say that but...

Speaking of magazines, I wish I could renew my subscription to Discover and Scientific American. Too expensive to do so right now, and I remember being so frustrated with my Discover subscription before because a lot of my copies never made it to me.

Oh well, I better get back to my piggy article. I do love those pigs though, and the fact that they're indirectly my bread and butter makes me love them more.

I did it

Think P.I.G. - that’s my motto. P stands for Persistence, I stands for Integrity, and G stands for Guts. These are the ingredients for a successful business and a successful life. (Linda Chandler)

Why, that's very good advice. I would like to take on P.I.G. as my motto in life too (very fitting, considering my job), only I've got a big problem particularly with the P part.

As it is, I gave me Guts a bit of an exercise today. Some time back, I wrote in Isa's Balog that I wanted to change my hair color. Well, I finally mustered enough guts to get it done this afternoon. I must say I'm pretty happy with the results, although it still is a bit odd looking at myself in the mirror. I thought I'd be a bit more shocked with the result, but I was kind of cool about it actually.

Anyway, I await the comments of my family and friends. My aunt, who was with me when I got my hair done, said it looked really nice, not too different from my real hair color. My son said "ang ganda ganda mo, nanay." (Perhaps his wanting to play the gameboy had a lot to do with the comment.)

Well, whether I like it or not, I'm stuck with this for a while. (Hey, I'm already thinking the next color, bwa ha ha!)

UPDATE: Thought I'd post a picture of me and Ben (me with my new hair color). Cayie said now I'm like Archie, carrot-topped. He he he.

Ah, laughter...

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. (ee cummings)

My son has such an infectious laugh. Well, at least his spontaneous laugh is infectious, not his fake laugh (which is irritating). And that was what he was belching out earlier when I was tickling him like crazy. At some point, I stopped tickling and just looked at him and once again it dawned on me that I have this beautiful kid that I love so much, my heart could break.

Anyway, we played around for maybe half an hour, and it was a half hour full of laughter. This day surely isn't wasted.

Book buying moratorium

The Bookfair has come and gone...and I have nothing to show for it. I didn't even go. I could've joining my friends Cayie and Te on their Bookfair Adventure, but no, I had to do something else.

Oh well, it's probably a good thing I didn't go. I've decided not to buy any books between now and Christmas (at least) to try and cut back on my personal spending (meaning buying stuff for myself...very, very hard to do!). Had I gone, either I would've splurged on books or would've been depressed because I would have forced myself not to buy books. Neither very appealing at this point. I thought I'd be able to get something from Fully Booked in Gateway, but the books there are still expensive, despite the sale.

Thankfully, I got a book from Cayie for my birthday (The Best American Science and Nature Writing - 2003 edition), which I am enjoying to the fullest. Reading popular science and nature articles is interesting so this book is perfect. I like the very first article, which discussed the role of the grandmothers in families. It appears more and more researchers are delving into the issue. Since I hope to be a grandmother someday, the article was good food for thought. Interestingly enough, in some studies, the paternal grandmother (which I may eventually be someday) appears to have no impact, or even negative impact. Hey, I ain't going to be one of those paternal lolas, he he he.

So far, I've read seven articles, and they've all been interesting. One of them takes a look at how the lopsided way the US responded to 9/11 attacks. I think I'll save my comments on that for another entry. I gotta go get ready to pick Ben up from school now.

Whose money is that?

Tyrants, petty or otherwise, have a way of thinking that money entrusted to them by the people to be used for the people is theirs to dispense with as they like, or keep for themselves. (Conrado de Quiros)

Let me start by saying I'm a big fan of Mr Conrado de Quiros. I don't always agree with everything he says, but at the very least, his columns are always good for thought. Today, he had some great things to say again, and the above quote comes from his piece from the Inquirer (Naked Truth).

This particular quote stuck to my mind because earlier in the day, I was reflecting for the umpteenth time on the various signs on the roads that our dear politicians put out to trumpet their projects. You know, those signs that goes "Road widening projects of blah blah blah...", or others that banners whatever projects they may be supporting, sponsoring, etc. etc. Weird how if you read the signs, it would seem that these politicians are spending their own money for the projects. I mean "from the funds of" blah blah blah certainly sounds like they are dipping into their own pockets, doesn't it? I often wonder if Filipinos take the time out to look at these signs and think about the fact that it is actually them, the tax paying public, that are actually paying for these projects.

(3 Sept 2006)
One of my cousins sort of justified this strategy of politicians to put up posters/signs as a way for constituents to remember them and thus ensure name recall in elections. After all, without these signs, people wouldn't know if they'd done anything while in office, or something like that. Be that as it may, I still think it's wrong.

I've got another pet peeve. The street signs, where not only do you see the street names, but also the name of the barangay captain or the councilor, or whoever gawdfosaken official might have been behind the signs. I don't know if others get as peeved as I do when I see these signs, but they sure bother me to no end.

At the very least, these signs are a waste of money. I'm sure those things cost a bit, especially since costs are likely padded for kickbacks.

Then again, at least these are projects I can actually see. What about those politicians/government officials who have decided to appropriate supposed-to-be project fund into their own pockets. Let's face it, when it comes to corruption, this country is really an expert, or rather, the people running this country are experts. As CDQ notes, these tyrants (and they are!) are very good at keeping money entrusted to them for themselves. What else would explain the sudden wealth of many of the politicians/government officials in this country?

This is one reason why it's such a frustrating thing to pay taxes in this country. I wouldn't mind paying taxes, if only I can see that they are really going towards the improvement of the country and government services. But my eyes are already strained to the max, and still, I hardly see anything. I'm sorry, but painting the posts of doesnt' exactly match my definition of improved services. Those posts may be clean (not really), but the potholes still pains my butt whenever I unfortunately drive over them. And what about those MMDA art is actually eyesores. And these are just mundane things. There are many, many more and this blog already too long for me to enumerate them. Geez, what will these people think of next to waste money on?

The problem with our politicians/government officials is that they've gotten so greedy. Greedy for power, greedy for money. Maybe I shouldn't be angry with them, maybe I should feel sorry for them. But no, I am pissed at them. They waste their time accusing each other of wrongdoing, when they are all guilty of it anyway. At the end of the day, they divert into their pockets what isn't theirs at all. They say they are working for the people and for the country. Well, that's just a bunch a bull now isn't it? I know we're not the only country in the world suffering because of fools in government, but I wish so badly I can see something good in the future. But no, I see the spawns of the people in government now taking over the same positions. Sad, sad, sad. I look at the ordinary Filipino and see no bright future for them. Their situation will just get worse and worse, they'll get poorer and poorer, while those jokes in government will get richer and richer. And when some things get bad for them, they can just pop out of the country and live off happily elsewhere with the money they've taken inappropriately from good ol' Juan. Sigh...

Oh well, I don't want to end this entry on an angry note. So I'd like to make mention of one government worker who extended some help to me last month . I was at the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources sometime in August researching for a report on the tuna industry. I was sent to several offices before I was finally pointed towards Ms Consuelo "Ching" Baltazar (unfortunately, I lost her card, and I can't remember what division it was she heads). Anyway, Ms Baltazar very nicely asked me what I needed and told me where I can get the information. (One of her staff also gave me valuable information, but I don't remember her name.) She also told me to call her up if I needed more information. Since I usually have negative experiences with government workers (especially in the SSS), I thought she deserves mention. I still want to believe that most people working in government are good people—I'm just one of those who seem to have the luck of running into those government workers who don't understand the meaning of the word service—so it's nice to meet one once in a while.