Spooktacular

Finally, my pirate friends have provided a copy of “Patayin sa Shokot si Remington, Zombadings, Part I”.

I have eagerly awaited for this film because of the media hype this “indi” film has garnered.  For an indi-film, the accolades and promotion it received was similar to what a major-production outfit received.

After an enjoyable hour and a half of watching this film, I would agree with the critics that this indi-film both has commercial values and social awareness issues embedded by the director.

The “commercial values” helped this film move the box-office receipts no doubt.  First is the use of sub-titles to translate “gay-speak” language into English was definitely innovative.  Second, the use of “Big-Star” names to quickly identify the characters in cameo roles kept the audience guessing as to who will play what, till the end of the movie. Third, the use of music and dance numbers through out the film provided the much needed comic relief.  Fourth, the portrayal of “gay” zombies as part of the vengeance-squad was a touch of genius.  Hollywood and British films are making a killing every time they use zombies as a back-drop for their movies. The recent success of the tv-series “The Walking Dead” is a testimony to the continuing fascination of the people to the zombie phenomenon.  The commercial values put enough “economic-blood” into this movie in order for the common people to go out at watch this at the cinemas. Pretty soon, this indi-film maker would eventually find his way into the commercial main-stream.

There were a number of  “social awareness” issues that this film put forward in a subtle way. It gently took “stabs” in the ills of our present-day society while in the guise of comedy.  First stab – the culture of the Pinoys to prefer drinking the whole day rather than go to work.  Second stab – the lack of training and budget of the Police Force to perform their work decently and at par with the world’s standards. Third Stab – the apparent discrimination of gays/lesbians in the workplace and the community.  The gays were stereotyped as loud, cross-dressing bitches who could only work at “carinderias”and beauty parlors.  Fourth Stab – the corruption of Politicians who in this movie asked all the beauty contestants for a sexual-favor if they wanted to win the beauty contest or get “financial assistance” from the congressman.  Fifth Stab – the proliferation of  “gay sex” as an emerging source of income from the underprivileged. Yep, don’t close your eyes, commercial sex isn’t all about women folks, men do it too, because 80% of our population are below the poverty line; the men will eventually bite the bullet and get fucked from behind.. Let’s get real, commercial-sex will continue to thrive unless government shapes up our economics.

The movie tries to strike a balance between box-office appeal while tickling our social-awareness.  There are also good morals or lessons in the story that the director allowed the characters to simply voice it out in the film.  The first lesson is about love and strength of the family ties. Yep, in this film you would see and hear how the village macho-guy trades places with his gay son in order to save the latter from a curse. The second lesson is about  acceptance of a person not withstanding the person’s sexual orientation.  If I may paraphrase, …”it is better to be gay if being gay means fighting for what you believe is right”.  Being gay never meant to have a “defeatist”attitude. On the contrary a gay person should always be in the “thick of battle” to ascertain that his basic rights will never get trampled  by anyone.

Oh by the way, I lruly adored the scene where the female cop, played by Janice De Belen, emptied her 9mm bullets from her Beretta service-pistol on the forehead of the Zombading beauty-contestant that the corrupt politico danced with. 

Two Lines

You can not imagine how a litmus paper showing “Two Lines” after it is dipped in a tub containing a woman’s fresh urine can change that woman’s life completely.  

Two Lines appearing on a strip of Litmus Paper means the “stork ”will be delivering a baby in the next couple of months.

Our Snake Charmer if officially  “off-market ” as she prepares herself to be part of a world-wide community known as Motherhood.

I wish you well Kim, your baby -  good health, and to Noy,  a warm congratulations!

Pirate of the Air Waves

It’s Saturday night, the kids and the wife are exhausted from all the outdoor activities we did.  They go the bedroom and hit the air-conditioning for some relief versus the evening heat. I settle down with my portable movie-player at the dining room table and start watching some movies I downloaded.   Yep, I am my own pirate.

To say that the “Expendable” is an action movie is really an understatement.  It has a powerful cast that kicks ass even when the actors are just lounging about in the movie. It features Sly Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Randy Couture, and Steve Austin.  The fight scenes are crisp and fast, however,I particularly pay attention to the knife-fighting sequences.   I have a “thing”for blades and its practical application.  I must say, Jason Statham handles the knife pretty well in the movie.  But the question really is – what’s the message of the story after all the dust and explosion settles? It’s actually a grim reminder that we, the ordinary people in the work-force, can be replaced, retired, or fired at any given time. So people, better stay sharp and  focused on your work.  Don’t be caught fucking around because really, ten new college graduates would gladly fill in your spot at an instants’ notice.  To all the people who slack-off and don’t want to finish school for one reason or the other, wake up. The reality is that the working-world has sonofabitch rules and one of them is getting a degree before you are allowed to compete in the corporate rat-race.  You will also be labeled as an “expendable” if you keep putting off school. I wont be surprised if you will find yourself old and with no stable job because you chose to hold on to the “contractual chain” for much too long. Get back in school, finish it.

“Real Steel” takes us into the future where humans are no longer allowed to fight in the ring.  Whether it is boxing, muay-thai,mixed martial arts or anything of that sort is considered illegal because it could maim and kill another human being for sport.  Instead, fighting-robots are built to fight in the ring.  Androids controlled by their human-masters is not a bad idea. It actually preserves the humans from bashing each others head and that’s ok with me. The fighting ‘bots is just the back-drop for the story about a father who meets his son for the first time in eleven years.  The story is actually the triumph of the human-spirit against adversity when the trouble is within the family.  The son in this movie is actually more mature than the character of the father, played by Hugh Jackman.  It is the pureness of the boy’s heart which awakens his father’s senses.  The awakening is a slow and dramatic process until the father finally owns up to his responsibility of being a parent. Children, don’t give up on your parents. Parents, sometimes your children are wiser than you think.

“The LakeHouse” tells of a mystical tale between a couple distanced by time.  Yep, it’s a  bit complicated at first because two stories are developing at the same time while they are actually happening two years apart.  The character of Keanu Reeves is living two years in the past while the character of Sandra Bullock is living at the present time.  They apparently both lived in the same lake house at two different points in time.  It is the rusty Mail Box on the front lawn that serves as their conduit between time.  They would exchange letters through the mailbox and get to know each other better. They both know it a relationship that can’t work but they try anyways.  In the real world, that happens a lot. Not the part where you encounter a mystical gateway through time. The part when we encounter possible relationships  at the wrong time.  Hell yeah, you know what I am talking about. You don’t have to look far. Almost everyone who knows anyone has a story like this.  But don’t loose hope.  Maybe in this lifetime you can’t make it work. However, in your mind, nothing stops you from caring for that special someone that is already bounded by time.  

Well would you look at that, it’s 2:30 am. I have to knock-off now. 

Brown Bottles

I chose to pick up a weapon and stand on the wall.  This wall protects the financial freedom of the people who also made their choice to be under my protection.  Standing on the wall is a thankless job.  When you are “right”,  that means something went absolutely-fucking wrong with the wall and the institution you are trying to protect takes a hit.  On the other hand, when you are “wrong” it means your ass is on the sling.  The institution sees only your failure to anticipate  the things to ensure that the wall of protection remains strong.

Being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea doesn’t even compare to the way decisions that we, soldiers on the wall, make everyday.  That’s why I only take volunteers as part of my team.  If you think you are only forcing yourself to stand on the wall, better get out. It could get a lot worse, very fast.

I give my snappy-salute to all my volunteer-soldiers who have to endure all the shit that is thrown their way and still manage to smile.

I may rant and curse. But I am loyal to the wall where I stand watch.  I will be here again tomorrow, my weapon in tow, and head held up high.  But tonight, I might find respite in downing a few brown bottles.    

Basang Basa sa Ulan

The artesian well has been a vital water-system since the old testament of the Holy Bible.  The builders of artesian wells dig vertical shafts deep into the ground until they tap into a water-source trapped beneath bed-rock and soil.  They then widen the shaft and build mortar-support so the walls  won’t collapse on itself.  An artesian well can be rigged with a pump using hydraulics to suck out the water from the ground.  A bucket tied to a long rope has also been as effective in gathering water from an artesian well. 

There are drawbacks from relying on artesian wells as a water source. First, it is bound to dry up.  Since you are simply drawing fluid “trapped” under the earth, you don’t expect the well to give you a perpetual supply  water.  It will eventually run out.  That is the reason why alternative water supplies are now being seriously studied world wide.  Secondly, when the source of the water-trap begins to dry up, the ground on top will eventually sink.  This is called “liquefaction”.  When the pressure of the water is released, the walls of the water-trap beneath the ground slowly  collapses.  This phenomenon causes the top-soil to degenerate and slowly “sink” the communities where the artesian wells are located. 

While man-made dams seem to be the solution to the supply of drinking-water and irrigation requirements, it is also not a permanent solution.  Man-made dams can collapse.  Man made dams collect water from rain-fall or temporarily store water flowing down from elevated sources. If an El Nino phenomena occur on a five-year stretch, we are looking at parched throats from an angry mob. The next world war may not be a fight for the resource of oil but from drinking water.  Red-China will be at the forefront of this scenario as they may simply block all the melting ice-water that flows from their territories down to the rest of the Asian region.

There is a push from scientists to study a  “rain-collection” program as a supplement to dams. The scientists are suggesting that society start collecting rain water in their own houses, apartments, building, and condominiums. Collected rain-water is supposedly distilled and would need minimum chemical treatment for it to become potable. In my beloved Pilipinas, there are only two seasons and one of them sends so much rain water each year. 

If this rain-collection program can be implemented on the local-government level requiring each house, apartment, condominium, and building to safely-store rain water, we are looking at a more sustainable water supply for the generations ahead.      

Head Shot

People tend to exaggerate things if they want to slant the situation their way.  Even if it’s really not a bad situation, slanting the story, so to speak, can make it appear worse than it actually is.

Dito sa pabrika ng posporo, may ganitong nangyayari.  Ginagawan ng malalang kuwento ang isang tao para lumabas na isa siyang “halimaw”.  Pinipilit pag tahi-tahiin ang mga kwento ng ibat-ibang nagsasabing “biktima” ng  pangigipit ng ating “halimaw”.

You don’t go accusing people of things that you can’t fucking prove.  If I was the counsel of “halimaw”, I would sue his accusers sorry asses for libel, defamation or slander. Am sure I would find one that would neatly fit the bill.

Nakakaduda ang tiempo ng mga sinasabing nagrerekalamo. Meron nga ba talagang nag-rereklamo? O ito ay pinpilit lang na ilang mga tao para maka-gawa ng ikakasira ng iba?  Eh bakit? Ano motibo? Dahil kaya sumisikat na ang bituin ng sinsabi nilang “halimaw” at hindi nila ito matanggap? Dahil dati ay itinapon nila sa basurahan ang pobreng taong ito at nang nalinis na niya ang basurahan eh hahanapan nila ng butas? 

By simply asking around the alleged harassment victims, I have gathered enough data to come to my own conclusion.  The “harassment” events, while they may be morally incorrect in hind-sight, appears to have been triggered by the alleged “victims” themselves.  In some of the cases, it only appear to be a string of “striking-out” from prospective date attempts.  At best, this is a case of a horny-bastard who wants to dip his hand in many honey-jars.  At worst, he has very poor pick-up lines that makes him appear to be a loser at getting a date.

Ikaw na ang mag-mina ng ginto sa basura. Di ka kaya ka-inggitan ng mga nag-patapon sa iyo dun? Ano ba naman ang maka pag-pagawa ka ng mga ulo posporo na may kabuuong halaga ng tatlong bilyong piso!  Ingat ka, baka ma head-shot ka ng mga naiingit sa iyo.

Stay low. Stay quiet. Getting shot in the head like a Zombie is not worth all the effort you put in your job.  If it’s any consolation, not everybody can be fooled all the time. 

“Let the one among you without fault of their own cast the first stone against this man standing steadfast behind this wall”…..  

Quiel

The 4^th  Roman “Jun” Gonzaga Fun Shoot was held last Sunday, October 02, 2011 at the Front Sight Shooting Range, Pasig City.

Ten shooters braved the winds and drizzle of typhoon “Quiel” and battled for the prestige of placing first.  Coming in “first” meant having the prestige of buying the next round of breakfast for all the shooters!  Hey, that’s why they call it Fun-Shoots. You play to enjoy your game, have same laughs,  improve your skills along the way, and enjoy the free-food; courtesy of the top-shooter from the previous month!

The Fun-Shoot is where you “apply” the shooting skills you have been honing at the firing range.  During a Fun-Shoot, you get to fire your weapon on the move which is really neat! You also get to fire from various positions that you normally can’t do during a regular target practice.  We fired from the kneeling position behind  a concealed barrier to simulate  real-world gun-fighting .  We were asked to shoot at moving targets! Those rope-activated “swingers” simulate bad-guys who are trying to cover from shots you fire. Then there’s “handicapped”shooting or using just one hand to fire your weapon. This is to simulate what happens in the event that one of your arms get hit during a fire-fight and you need to continue shooting your weapon to end the conflict.  But the most anticipated targets of the fun-shoot are the “6×6” plates that simulate head-shots!  It’s like your in the apocalypse and you have to shoot zombies in the head so you don’t get bit and be part of the walking dead crew!

While the Fun-Shoot is more of building camaraderie among shooters, there is also the undertone of real competition among the shooters.  I don’t think of it as competing with my fellow shooters. My mind set is to constantly improve myself by competing  against  my “best time” and “dope” ( accuracy on previous engagement). To my mind, shooting is a practical sport.  Therefore, the application is more for practical results – kill them all and don’t get killed while you’re at it.  To me, it doesn’t really matter what my ranking is after the end of Fun-Shoot. What matters is that I have improved my reaction time in target acquisition and improved my accuracy in sending rounds down range to the intended targets.

I believe in the fighter’s dictum – “Train Hard, Fight Easy”.  It’s wise to get your skills honed to muscle memory, so panic doesn’t eat you alive in that sticky situation when you have to deploy your zombie-killer.

Stage One was a 24 target course where we shot from various standing and kneeling positions while simulating a wounded arm.  I was 24 for 24 with 19 rounds hitting the alpha zone.

Stage Two was composed of two running courses with a total of 15 targets. The stage was  made tougher by  including 2 “swinging targets”.  I fucking missed a pair of rounds at the last two swingers  which were mandatory 2 hit-targets. Fuck!

Stage Three was a shoot-out which put the single-stack magazine shooters at a disadvantage.  The stage was a 29 minimum-hit course. My four single-stack magazines can hold 32 bullets which meant I  only had a three-round spare for misses or dud-rounds(improperly reloaded bullets that don’t go bang).  I ran the course and hit 24 of the 29 mandatory hits.  I encountered five dud rounds.  Oh well, breaks of the game really fucks big-time.  It was an eye-opener! In a real gun-fight, the bad guys don’t wait for you to reload - they will kill you.  I guess I have to source one more magazine clip.

I go home after a satisfying day at the range. I’ll have to clean the zombie-killer this afternoon and get ready for my regular practice this coming Tuesday.